LED displays

DIP (Dual In-line Package)

DIP LEDs are traditional-structure light-emitting diodes featuring two lead pins and an epoxy resin package. They are mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) using through-hole technology, with each color component (red, green, and blue) implemented as a separate LED. DIP technology dominated the LED display industry from the late 1990s until the early 2010s and is still widely used for large outdoor displays and long viewing distance applications, where high brightness, durability, and low cost are the primary requirements.

Features:

Very high brightness of 7,500–10,000 nits, making it particularly well suited for direct sunlight conditions.

Exceptionally durable construction, designed to withstand moisture, vibration, and temperature fluctuations ranging from −40 °C to +60 °C.

Large pixel pitch of P10–P31.25, resulting in a minimum recommended viewing distance of approximately 10 metres.

Narrower viewing angle of approximately 110° horizontally, providing greater brightness concentration for long-distance viewing.

Separate single-colour LEDs (R, G, and B), delivering vibrant primary colours and a long service life of up to 100,000 hours.

Excellent heat dissipation, as the LED leads conduct heat directly away from the PCB

IP65–IP67 protection rating, fully suitable for outdoor use.

Typical applications: roadside billboards, stadium scoreboards, traffic information displays, and perimeter advertising.

SMD (Surface-Mounted Device)

SMD LEDs are compact surface-mounted diodes that are soldered directly onto the printed circuit board (PCB) without lead pins. Each SMD package contains all three colour channels (RGB 3-in-1), providing excellent colour uniformity and a wide viewing angle. Today, SMD is the most widely used LED technology, forming the backbone of both indoor and outdoor LED display applications.

Features:

High brightness of 800–10,000 nits, suitable for both indoor environments and 24/7 outdoor operation.

Available in multiple package sizes — SMD1010, SMD1515, SMD1921, SMD2020, SMD2121, SMD2525, and SMD3535 (depending on the required pixel pitch and brightness).

Wide range of pixel pitches from P0.9 to P10, enabling solutions for both close-range and medium-distance viewing.

Wide viewing angle of 140–160°, ideal for LED displays requiring consistent colour reproduction from multiple viewing positions.

3-in-1 RGB technology, delivering seamless colour blending and a uniform image without colour distortion.

Colour gamut of approximately 95–110% of the Rec. 709 standard, providing sufficient colour reproduction for most commercial applications.

Moderate heat dissipation, depending on the LED package size and the PCB cooling design

Service life of 80,000–100,000 hours, depending on operating conditions and brightness settings.

Typical applications: shopping centre displays, conference rooms, control centres, retail digital signage, and façade LED displays.

HOB (Hybrid On Board)

HOB is a hybrid LED technology that combines the advantages of both SMD and COB. Like COB, the LED chips are mounted directly onto the printed circuit board (PCB), but each pixel is individually protected by a small resin encapsulation instead of a single continuous coating. This design offers greater mechanical durability than SMD while allowing easier maintenance than COB, as individual pixels are more accessible and can be replaced more efficiently. HOB has become a popular alternative for professional broadcast studios and rental display applications.

Features:

Fine pixel pitch of P0.9–P2.5, ideal for close viewing distances and high-resolution LED displays.

Greater impact and scratch resistance than SMD, thanks to the individual encapsulation of each pixel.

Easier to repair than COB, as individual pixels can be replaced separately.

High contrast ratio of up to 20,000:1, delivering deeper blacks thanks to the resin capsule's surface finish.

Wide viewing angle of 160°+, comparable to the best SMD LED solutions.

More uniform display surface than SMD, with reduced moiré effects when filmed on camera.

Brightness of 600–1,500 nits, optimised for indoor environments.

Service life of 100,000+ hours, comparable to COB technology.

Typical applications: TV studios, virtual production backgrounds (XR/LED volumes), control rooms, rental displays, and premium commercial LED display installations.

GOB (Glue On Board)

GOB (Glue-on-Board) LED technology applies a transparent, highly durable protective layer over the surface of the LED module, fully encapsulating the LEDs. Unlike COB technology, where the LED chips are mounted directly onto the PCB and encapsulated as part of the manufacturing process, GOB uses conventional SMD LEDs with an additional protective coating applied afterwards. This layer protects the LEDs against impact, moisture, and dust while significantly improving the display's overall mechanical strength, making SMD LED displays well suited for outdoor environments and high-traffic public applications.

Features:

High mechanical durability — protects the display surface against scratches, impacts, and accidental contact damage.

IP65+ front protection against moisture and dust, making it suitable for outdoor installations and public environments.

Pixel pitch range of P1.2–P4, offering a wider selection than COB while retaining the flexibility of SMD technology.

Longer service life than standard SMD technology, typically providing 20–30% greater operational lifespan.

Excellent heat dissipation, enabled by the uniform protective layer and an optimised thermal management design.

UL94 V-0 flame-retardant rating, meeting stringent safety requirements for public buildings.

Lower cost than COB, while retaining most of the durability advantages.

Supports touch interaction, with the resin protective layer designed to withstand direct contact without damage.

Typical applications: outdoor LED displays, transportation hubs (airports and railway stations), stadiums, high-traffic public areas, interactive touch display solutions, and museums.

COB (Chip on Board)

COB (Chip-on-Board) LED technology integrates dozens to hundreds of LED chips into a single light source mounted directly onto the printed circuit board (PCB), without individual packages, and then encapsulates them with a uniform protective resin layer. Unlike SMD technology, where each pixel is a separate component, a COB display has a continuous, smooth surface. This design provides exceptionally uniform light output, efficient heat dissipation, and outstanding image quality, particularly at close viewing distances and in camera-based applications.

Features:

Ultra-fine pixel pitch of P0.4–P1.8, ideal for ultra-high-resolution display applications.

Very high luminous output and efficiency, suitable for applications requiring high light intensity

Compact design, providing improved thermal conductivity and stable operating temperature

Very uniform light output, reducing hotspot effects compared to SMD solutions

Less glare and softer light, thanks to the larger emission surface

IP65 front and IP54 rear protection ratings, providing a dust-resistant and scratch-resistant construction.

High contrast ratio of up to 25,000:1, achieved through a deep-black surface coating.

Colour gamut of 110–120% Rec. 709 / approximately 95% DCI-P3, suitable for professional camera capture and content reproduction.

Service life of 100,000+ hours, maintaining stable colour accuracy throughout its operational lifespan.

Typical applications: control rooms, premium conference rooms, broadcast studios, cinema and live event applications, and corporate display solutions.

MIP (Micro LED in Package)

MIP (Micro LED in Package) is a transitional technology between conventional SMD and true MicroLED. It packages microscopic LED chips into individually tested and quality-controlled components, which are then mounted onto the printed circuit board (PCB) using a standard SMT assembly process. This approach addresses one of the biggest manufacturing challenges of true MicroLED—low-yield mass transfer—while delivering image quality close to MicroLED at a significantly lower production cost. MIP is a rapidly emerging technology and is widely regarded as one of the leading commercial solutions for the next generation of LED displays.

Features:

Ultra-fine pixel pitch of P0.4–P1.5, ideal for the highest-resolution LED display applications.

Individually tested LED components, ensuring consistent colour accuracy and an exceptionally low defect rate (below 1 ppm).

Easier to repair than COB or MicroLED, as individual MIP components can be replaced.

Easier to repair than COB or MicroLED, as individual MIP components can be replaced.

High contrast ratio of 30,000:1 or higher, enabled by the extremely small light-emitting areas.

High contrast ratio of 30,000:1 or higher, enabled by the extremely small light-emitting areas.

Improved thermal conductivity and stability, as each component is individually optimised.

Service life of 100,000+ hours, maintaining colour accuracy throughout its entire operational lifespan.

Rapid industry adoption between 2024 and 2026, positioned in terms of cost between SMD and MicroLED.

Typical applications: premium virtual production stages, high-end home cinema systems, luxury retail digital walls, professional colour grading environments, and architectural display installations.

MicroLED technology uses extremely small LED chips (typically less than 100 μm), with each chip functioning as an individual pixel and light source. Unlike MIP technology, the LED chips are transferred directly onto the substrate without intermediate packaging, requiring a highly complex mass transfer manufacturing process. This enables exceptionally high resolution, outstanding contrast ratios, and precise pixel-level brightness control. MicroLED currently represents the highest tier of LED display technology, delivering maximum image quality, energy efficiency, and long operational life for the most demanding applications.

Features:

Ultra-fine pixel pitch of P0.3–P0.9, enabling 4K and 8K resolutions even on displays smaller than 100 inches.

Very high brightness of up to 5,000 nits with exceptional energy efficiency, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments.

Exceptional colour accuracy with an extended colour gamut of 140%+ Rec. 709 / approximately 100% Rec. 2020, exceeding the colour performance of OLED technology.

Long service life of 100,000+ hours, with no degradation of organic materials.

No burn-in effect, as no organic light-emitting materials are used (unlike OLED technology).

Infinite contrast ratio, with each pixel capable of being switched completely on or off, similar to OLED technology.

Stable performance at high brightness levels, making it ideal for professional applications and HDR content.

Response time below 1 ns, making it suitable for gaming, simulation, and scientific visualisation applications.

Modular architecture, enabling virtually seamless displays in custom shapes and sizes.

Typical applications: ultra-premium broadcast studio backdrops, flagship retail installations, scientific visualisation centres, luxury home cinemas, and world-class control rooms.