Why choose a professional display?
A professional display may not seem to have a clear immediate advantage over a consumer display in a commercial setting. Professional displays do not use as many marketing terms, such as OLED and QLED, and they are often more expensive. They can also look less attractive, and they usually do not come with a mount or feet. If they seem to provide the same functionality as a consumer TV, why choose a professional display?
If you need a simple screen for signage in a lobby or want to set up a videoconferencing room, you might think that a standard screen with an HDMI port is enough. But consider useful features such as disabling the physical buttons on the display so the screen cannot be turned off in a public lobby, or having the display turn on automatically when the videoconferencing setup starts and turn off automatically at the end of the day. Below, we will explore several reasons why you should choose a professional display over a consumer display.
You can compare specifications, and these are often better.
Professional displays have specs that can be compared. Unlike consumer TVs, which often have a host of marketing terms that look like specifications. Try to compare the brightness of different consumer TVs; most of the time, this information cannot be found. Professional displays show true information about brightness in nits (cd/m2, candela per square meter), and they have datasheets showing their power usage and usage times. You will find professional displays that are rated for 24/7 usage or have different haze levels for different environments.
What are some key features found on professional displays?
Different brightness. Does your lobby have a lot of sunlight coming in? You might need a very bright display to counter the incoming light. This specification is displayed with the term nits or cd/m2.
Haze level or a matte screen. If your room has a lot of bright artificial light, a screen with a high haze level might be a solution. The lights won't reflect as much in the display, keeping the image clear and easy to see from all angles.
Operating hours and onsite warranty. Consumer TVs are not made to be on all day in a professional setting. Having a consumer TV on in a professional setting for a long time might even affect the warranty. Professional displays are rated for 16/7, 18/7 or 24/7 usage. Having the display on the entire day with the correct rating won't affect the warranty. Often this warranty is three years but can be extended.
Professional features like signal recovery, auto on/off timers, and scheduling will help you greatly in a professional setting. You are also able to push settings to multiple displays or copy settings from one display to another for large roll-outs.
Professional displays can be used in portrait mode, and some are even able to work lying down.
Professional displays are less likely to change year over year. A manufacturer will push out a new line of displays with new features every year, but this happens less often with professional displays, keeping deployments easier and more predictable and allowing you to keep the same look and feel when adding extra screens.
I will try to specify more differences on other pages. Try to visualise the setting your display will be used in to find the perfect display. Consumer TVs are made for picture quality and entertainment purposes, but you do not need a streaming service like Netflix on your display in a store or lobby.
Commercial displays are made for reliability and professional environments. They are designed to work for long periods at a time: a different kind of screen for a different use.