The seven common LED display technologies—Side-light LED, Direct-down LED, Full-array LED, OLED, QLED, Mini LED, and Micro LED—each offer unique advantages in brightness, energy efficiency, and display quality. For example, Direct-down LEDs reach 10,000 nits, while Mini LEDs save 20% in energy consumption.
Side light LED
Data show that as of 2023, the global side light LED display market size has exceeded $6 billion, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of about 15% in the next five years. A 300-square-meter large advertising screen installed on Nanjing Road in Shanghai can attract more than 1.5 million pedestrians a day and generate about $1.2 million in monthly revenue for advertisers. The brightness of mainstream side-lit LED products can reach 7,000 nits, can be clearly displayed in direct sunlight, and energy consumption is only 280 watts per square meter, which is about 30% less than traditional LCD screens.
A 60 square meter conference center display screen is usually less than 8 millimeters thick, and the weight is controlled within 10 kilograms per square meter.
Industry studies show that the average power consumption per square meter is about 220 watts, which is 20% to 40% lower than the direct-down LED display. During the 5-year outdoor advertising operation cycle, a 150 square meter side-lit LED display can save users about $100,000 in electricity bills. In the European market, demand for energy-efficient displays increased by 18%. At present, the brightness uniformity of mainstream products has reached more than 95%, and the contrast ratio can exceed 5000:1. An advertising screen in Shinjuku, Tokyo, uses side-lighting technology to show highly detailed color details even in strong light environments.
The data shows that screens using AI-based brightness compensation technology reduce edge brightness attenuation by more than 50%. At an electronics exhibition in Dubai, a large flexible screen using side-lit LED technology attracted more than 100,000 visitors with its dynamic content and ultra-high resolution, and the stay time increased by an average of 40% compared with traditional exhibitions.
The average life of an outdoor optical LED display is 80,000 to 100,000 hours, much higher than the 50,000 hours of traditional LCD display. According to market research, the annual maintenance cost of ordinary side-lit LED screens is only 2% to 3% of the total investment, while the maintenance cost of LCD screens is usually as high as more than 5%.
Straight down LED
According to market research data, in 2023, the global direct LED market size reached 7 billion US dollars, accounting for 45% of the overall LED display technology market share. The brightness of the direct-down LED display generally reaches more than 8000 nits, and some high-end models even exceed 10,000 nits. A 150-square-meter large direct-down LED advertising screen in Sanlitun, Beijing, can attract the attention of more than 500,000 pedestrians every day, and the advertiser has increased its income by $200,000 per month.
A high-end shopping mall in Shanghai uses a 100-square-meter direct-down LED display with a contrast ratio of 10,000:1. According to statistics, the store traffic increased by 25% after the screen was installed, of which about 40% of customers were attracted by the screen and entered the target store. According to the data, a 200 square meter straight down LED screen, equipped with a dynamic energy-saving module, power consumption can be reduced from 400 watts per square meter to about 320 watts. Running the screen for about 5,000 hours a year can save 24,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, or about $12,000 in electricity bills.
The average life of mainstream products is more than 100,000 hours, which is about 40% higher than that of traditional LCD screens. Taking a large outdoor advertising company as an example, a batch of direct-down LED screens installed in 2018 still maintain a brightness performance of more than 85%, while liquid crystal displays usually decay sharply after 3 to 5 years.
Each pixel of the direct-down LED display can be controlled independently, enabling more than 95% NTSC color gamut coverage. At an international auto show in Dubai, a large direct-down LED screen attracted more than 100,000 visitors by displaying dynamic car ads, and exhibitors’ sales increased by 15%.
A brand retailer based in New York installed an irregularly shaped 300 square meters straight down LED screen in its flagship store, successfully integrating advertising content and store design perfectly. The average cost of a 300 square meter high-end direct-down LED display is about $1.5 million, about 30% higher than side-lit leds of the same size. The total cost of ownership (TCO) is typically about 10% lower than side-lit leds.
Research shows that in the next five years, the power consumption of direct-down LED displays is expected to be reduced by another 15%, while the brightness uniformity can be increased to more than 98%. In preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, organizers plan to use dozens of oversized direct-down LED screens, which are expected to cover more than 50 million viewers.
Full array
In 2023, the global full array LED market size has reached 4.8 billion US dollars, accounting for 32% of the overall LED display technology market, and is expected to maintain a compound annual growth rate of 10% in the next five years. A 200 square meter full array LED advertising screen, the average brightness of up to 8,500 nits. According to statistics, a full-array LED screen installed in a well-known shopping street in central London attracts more than 300,000 pedestrians per day, bringing more than $5 million in annual revenue to advertisers.
Full array LED uses a point-to-point full array light source design with a brightness difference of less than 5%. A large conference center in a first-tier city introduced a 100 square meter full array LED display with a resolution of 4K and a dynamic contrast of up to 10,000:1. According to the data, the introduction of the screen directly increased the rental rate of the venue, and the annual revenue increased by 20%.
A 300 square meter full array LED screen can reduce power consumption per square meter from 400 watts to 320 watts when playing low-brightness advertisements. Over a five-year advertising cycle, it can save users at least $60,000 in electricity costs. The average life of mainstream products in the market reaches 100,000 hours. A full-array LED screen installed in a large stadium in the United States has been in operation for more than 30,000 hours since it was put into use in 2015, and the brightness attenuation rate is only 7%.
Thanks to the use of area control technology, the full array LED screen can cover more than 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. At a luxury exhibition in Tokyo, a flexible screen with full array technology accurately reproduced the shine and texture of jewelry, attracting more than 150,000 visitors to stop and watch. Sales of participating brands increased by an average of 25% during the show.
A 250 square meter high-end full-array LED screen, the initial installation cost of $1.2 million, about 40% higher than the side-lit screen. The total cost of ownership is approximately 15% lower than that of conventional LED screens after 10 years of operation. The flagship store of a well-known brand in South Korea has installed an irregular full-array LED display on the exterior wall, with a total area of 500 square meters. Research data show that the full array LED screen with liquid cooling system has increased the stability of the light source by 15% and reduced the failure rate by 20%.
Organic light-emitting diode
According to data from market research institutions, the global OLED market size will reach $38 billion in 2023, of which the market share of flexible OLED screens is more than 35%. In New York’s Times Square, an advertising screen using OLED technology has an area of 250 square meters, a contrast ratio of 1000000:1, and a color gamut coverage of more than 95% of the DCI-P3 standard. It attracts more than 8 million viewers a month and generates about $1.5 million in advertising revenue. A luxury shopping mall in Paris has installed a flexible OLED screen of 100 square meters, enabling extremely high resolution and accurate color reproduction. According to the data, the customer stay time increased by 30% on average after the screen installation, and the store rental fee increased by 20%.
A 300 square meter OLED display consumes about 200 watts per square meter, which is 30% to 40% less than traditional LED displays. According to the calculation of an international brand, in the five-year advertising cycle, it can save more than $50,000 in electricity costs and reduce carbon emissions by about 15 tons. A large electronics show in South Korea showed a flexible transparent OLED advertising screen, which is only 3 mm thick and has a light transmittance of up to 40%. It attracted more than 200,000 visitors to stop and watch.
A 200-square-meter high-end OLED advertising screen costs up to $1.8 million to install initially, about 50% more than traditional LED screens. Total cost of ownership (TCO) is about 15% lower than traditional screens. A well-known car brand has increased advertising efficiency by 25% per year by installing flexible OLED screens in showrooms. The life of the latest top products has exceeded 100,000 hours. In a technology exhibition hall in Tokyo, an OLED advertising screen that has been running continuously for 6 years has only reduced its brightness by 10%, far better than the 15% to 20% expected by the market.
A curved OLED screen with an area of 500 square meters has been installed on the exterior wall of a landmark building in a first-tier city. According to statistics, the screen has generated more than $20 million in revenue for advertisers since its launch. Data from 2023 show that global flexible OLED screen sales increased by 25% year-on-year, of which the proportion of large advertising screens reached 35%. A consumer survey shows that more than 70% of viewers prefer to watch dynamic ads using OLED technology.
Quantum dot LED
According to the market research report, the global QLED market in 2023 reached $28 billion, an increase of 18%. A large QLED advertising screen installed on the shore of Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, with an area of 350 square meters, brightness of more than 6,000 nits, color gamut coverage up to 98% of the BT.2020 standard. It attracts about 500,000 viewers a day and generates $8 million in annual advertising revenue.
A high-end shopping mall in Shanghai has introduced a 150-square-meter QLED flexible screen with a contrast ratio of 100,000:1. According to the data, shopping mall traffic increased by 22% after the screen was enabled, with 57% of customers choosing a specific brand of products due to on-screen advertisements. A QLED display of 200 square meters, the energy level is controlled below 250 watts per square meter, which is about 20% energy-saving than traditional LED screens. According to the operator’s estimates, the electricity cost savings can reach $40,000 over a five-year life cycle.
A QLED display on display at the Dubai International Motor Show has 110% color gamut coverage of the AdobeRGB standard. It attracted more than 300,000 spectators. An international airport terminal has installed a curved QLED screen with an area of 500 square meters and a bending radius of 1.5 meters. According to statistics, it has played more than 50,000 hours of advertising content since it was put into use, with a total revenue of more than $15 million.
The average cost of a 300 square meter QLED advertising screen is about $2 million, about 35% higher than traditional LED screens. It is predicted that by 2030, the manufacturing cost of QLED technology will be reduced by about 20%. The average life of mainstream products in the market can reach 80,000 to 100,000 hours. A well-known cinema chain installed a batch of QLED displays in 2017, and after six years of high frequency use, the brightness retention rate is still higher than 90%.
According to the survey data, the average stay time of the audience of the advertisement played on the QLED screen is 30% higher than that of the ordinary screen advertisement, and the conversion rate is increased by about 15%. Some new QLED advertising screens have built-in AI chips that analyze audience behavior in real time and adjust advertising content according to audience characteristics. By one estimate, click-through rates increased by about 12%. It is expected that by 2030, smart QLED screens will account for more than 50% of the premium advertising market.
Mini LED
According to market analysis data, the global Mini LED display market in 2023 reached 6.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 22%, and is expected to continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15% in the next five years. A large Mini LED display in Ginza, Tokyo, covers an area of 400 square meters and has a brightness of up to 7,000 nits. According to the operator’s statistics, it attracts more than 3 million pedestrians per month, and advertising revenue is close to $2 million.
A luxury shopping mall in Dubai has introduced a 150 square meter Mini LED display with a dynamic contrast ratio of 1000000:1 and a color gamut coverage of 95% of DCI-P3 standards. According to the data, the installation of the screen increased the overall traffic of the shopping center by 25%, and the time spent by customers was extended by 35%.
A 300 square meter Mini LED screen consumes only 220 watts per square meter, which reduces energy consumption by about 20% compared to traditional LED displays. Taking an international brand’s advertising project as an example, the screen saved $60,000 in electricity bills and 30 tons of carbon emissions over a five-year operation cycle.
The display with Mini LED backlight technology can support 8K resolution or higher. At an international auto show in Shanghai, a 200-square-meter Mini LED screen showed dynamic ads in 8K resolution. According to the data, the content display of the screen attracted more than 500,000 viewers to watch, of which 35% of the audience had the intention to buy a car because of the advertisement.
A curved Mini LED screen of 600 square meters has been installed on the exterior wall of a large shopping mall in South Korea, with a bending radius of 2 meters. Data shows that after the screen was enabled, the shopping center’s advertising revenue increased by 20%. A 300 square meter Mini LED screen, the initial installation cost of about $1.8 million, about 30% higher than the traditional LED screen. The total cost of ownership (TCO) is about 15% lower than traditional screens over a decade.
At present, the mainstream Mini LED products on the market, the light source life is generally more than 100,000 hours. Taking the Mini LED display installed in an American stadium as an example, since it was put into use in 2018, the screen has accumulated more than 40,000 hours of operation, and the brightness has only decreased by about 8%. A consumer survey shows that ads played on Mini LED screens have a viewing attraction rate 30% higher than traditional screens, and conversion rates have increased by about 12%. For example, in a Mini LED screen advertising in Manhattan’s Times Square, the average time spent by viewers increased by 40%.
Micro LED
According to market analysis, the global Micro LED display market size has reached $4 billion in 2023, an increase of 24% year-on-year. A 350 square meter Micro LED advertising screen in downtown Dubai has a brightness of up to 10,000 nits and 99% anti-reflection capability. It attracts more than 4 million viewers a month and generates $12 million in annual advertising revenue.
A high-end shopping mall installed a 200 square meter 8K resolution Micro LED display, dynamic contrast ratio of more than 1000000:1, color gamut coverage of 99% of the BT.2020 standard. According to the data, the introduction of this screen directly increased the traffic of the mall by 30%, the customer’s stop time was extended by 40%, and the sales of 60% of the brand stores increased by 20%.
A 300 square meter Micro LED display consumes only 180 watts per square meter, which reduces energy consumption by about 40% compared to traditional LED displays. Taking the advertising project of an international brand as an example, it has saved more than $100,000 in electricity bills and reduced 50 tons of carbon emissions during the five-year operation cycle.
During the Tokyo Olympic Games, the giant Micro LED display used for the opening ceremony performance has an area of more than 1,000 square meters and a resolution of up to 16K. An international airport terminal wall installed a curved Micro LED screen, screen area of 800 square meters, can flexibly fit the building curve. According to the data, after advertising on the screen, the audience retention rate increased by 35%. The initial cost of a 300 square meter Micro LED display is about $2.5 million, about 50% higher than traditional LED screens. The total cost of ownership (TCO) has been reduced by about 20% over 10 years compared to traditional screens. The average payback period is four years.
The average life of Micro LED screens has exceeded 100,000 hours, significantly better than the 60,000 hours of traditional LED displays. For example, a Micro LED display used in a well-known stadium in the United States has operated for more than 30,000 hours since its installation in 2016, but its brightness has decreased by less than 5%.
A consumer survey shows that the viewing attraction rate of Micro LED advertising screens is 35% higher than that of traditional LED screens, and the conversion rate is about 15% higher. For example, in a Micro LED screen AD placement in New York’s Times Square, the average viewer’s stop time increased by 50%. After the introduction of AI in the advertising screen of an international brand, the AD click rate increased by 20%. It is expected that by 2030, intelligent Micro LED screens will account for more than 50% of the advertising market.
