Commercial vs. Residential Displays: Knowing The ...

Commercial vs. Residential Displays

The old adage that you get what you pay for is relevant here, to a huge degree. Think about what residential televisions and commercial displays are expected to do, and then consider that the underlying engineering in both products reflects those expected tasks. It should immediately be clear that residential and commercial displays are not interchangeable, in either direction. Specifically, though, what separates the two? There’s a lot, including:

There is one thing that commercial and residential displays have in common, and that’s their appearance. This is why so many companies make the mistake of relying on consumer grade displays instead of those intended for commercial use. It’s an understandable, if not tempting choice, because commercial displays are more expensive than consumer televisions, often to a significant degree. And, of course, consumer televisions are available at big box stores everywhere, so when one burns out, just go get another one, right? It is a viable choice, but only if money is no object, because consumer displays are just not equipped for commercial applications, and they will merit constant replacement if thrust into a commercial role.The old adage that you get what you pay for is relevant here, to a huge degree. Think about what residential televisions and commercial displays are expected to do, and then consider that the underlying engineering in both products reflects those expected tasks. It should immediately be clear that residential and commercial displays are not interchangeable, in either direction. Specifically, though, what separates the two? There’s a lot, including:

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1. Quality of engineering – This is the big one. Residential televisions are designed to operate four to six hours a day, while commercial displays are, at a minimum, built to withstand 12 hours of operation daily. Many are designed for 24/7 operation, and the quality of construction is essential to getting that level of expected performance.

A consumer television is built with a plastic housing, smaller heat sinks and without cooling fans. As such, if it is left on around the clock, it will quickly suffer from thermal damage, which can quickly compromise the display’s function. Also, the cheaper housing is fine in the home, but in a high traffic commercial zone, it is liable to sustain physical damage, either through vandalism or inadvertent contact. Commercial displays are usually housed in durable metal, and their circuitry is protected with sizeable heat sinks and onboard fans. Overheating is not an issue, then, for commercial displays.

The difference is noticeable in terms of performance life. A residential television will provide a year, maybe two, of performance in a commercial setting. Whereas a commercial display will give five years or more in the same setting. The cost difference is wiped out in this area alone.

2. Warranty – Manufacturers build their residential and commercial displays for those applications, and their warranties reflect this as well. A commercial display is protected with a multi-year warranty that often offers on-site maintenance and replacement, and such warranties can often be extended.

A residential television warranty, though, is very limited if the television is placed in a commercial role. Typically, the warranty switches to a minimal 90-day warranty, over the counter, so constant repair and replacement is expected from the manufacturer. In many cases, the warranty is voided altogether if the display is used commercially.

3. Performance quality – This is particularly relevant in hazardous workplace settings where facility managers must adhere closely to OSHA standards regarding warning signage.

Residential televisions are built for the home environment, where ambient lighting is low, at least compared to the intense lighting found in factories and warehouses. With less backlighting and limited grayscale, residential televisions are less apparent in brightly lit areas. Commercial displays, though, are built for maximum visibility in areas with intense ambient illumination, so they can effectively replace traditional warning signage in most commercial and industrial settings.

4. Burn-in image protection – Residential televisions are expected to display moving images constantly, while commercial displays often cycle through a series of fixed images and layouts, or maintain a single layout for days, weeks or months on end.

When a single image is presented for long stretches of time, this can result in “burn” or image retention problems. It’s often referred to as a “ghost image” that looks like a shadowy copy of the image that remains even as other images are presented on the screen. It’s an eyesore, and it’s a frequent issue with residential televisions used in a commercial role. Such televisions are not designed with image retention protection, understandably, while commercial displays are, so they can hold a single layout for a long time without doing any damage to the screen itself.

5. Mounting options – Homeowners aren’t looking to get cute with how their television is arranged in a space. Horizontally-mounted to the wall or placed on a stand is how the vast majority of homeowners place their television, as the only goal is ease of viewing.

In the commercial world, though, business owners have to consider where exactly the displays is going to be mounted, what material it is going to be mounted to, and what can be done to enhance the display’s aesthetic. For this reason, commercial displays are made with VESA compliant mounting connections, intended for use with many industry mounting options. That’s not something that residential televisions are typically built with. Also, commercial displays can be arranged vertically, with no loss of performance quality or display durability, to provide some interesting display layout options. Vertical configurations can also help businesses save on space and place more displays into a smaller area – a popular option for restaurant menus installed above the counter.

And there’s more to it than that, but these points should make it obvious that there is a real difference between residential and commercial displays, and that those differences should steer a business’s approach to A/V communications. That’s not to say that all commercial displays are quality purchases, but this is a challenge that A/V integrators can help business owners overcome. An experienced A/V integrator can help a business choose the ideal

And there’s more to it than that, but these points should make it obvious that there is a real difference between residential and commercial displays, and that those differences should steer a business’s approach to A/V communications. That’s not to say that all commercial displays are quality purchases, but this is a challenge that A/V integrators can help business owners overcome. An experienced A/V integrator can help a business choose the ideal display and offer solutions to any obstacles along the way.

Learn all about the differences between consumer-grade and commercial displays and find out how to pick the right screens for your digital signage deployment.

In a digitally connected world, the purpose of television displays has expanded beyond the realm of personal entertainment. This transformation is manifested in the domain of digital signage where screens gain the potential to engage audiences to communicate important information, attract customers or educate viewers. 

Hence, understanding the differences between consumer and commercial TV displays will be crucial to your success with a digital signage deployment.  

Consumer TVs offer impressive features at a great price and they’re easily sourced and almost always available. However, they are designed primarily for personal use and can pose challenges and limitations for professional use. 

On the other hand, commercial-grade displays are more expensive but purpose-built for the demands of digital signage solutions in any kind of setting. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that you categorically have to use commercial TV displays for your digital signage needs.

Ultimately, the right choice depends on several factors including your business objectives, the intended use and your budget. This post delves into the most important differences between consumer and commercial TV displays to help you choose the best medium for your use case and let your content shine.

What is a Consumer TV display?

Consumer TV displays, also known as consumer-grade TVs are television screens designed and manufactured mainly for personal or household use like home entertainment, gaming and streaming content over the internet. 

Consumer-grade displays come in various forms and sizes, from small screens suitable for basic signage needs such as digital menu boards or waiting room screens to larger screens ideal for use in high-traffic areas like digital signage in retail stores. 

Key Features of Consumer TVs for Digital Signage

Consumer TV displays offer a wide range of features and specifications designed to enhance the viewing experience that you can take advantage of to captivate your target audience and get your message across effectively. 

However, before you opt for a consumer-grade display for digital signage use, it’s crucial to know all about the different features in order to understand both the advantages and limitations they will bring to your deployment. 

These are the most important factors to consider when choosing a consumer TV for digital signage:

• Screen Size and Screen Resolution

Consumer TVs come in various screen sizes, from compact options to larger, more immersive displays. Their screen resolution also may vary, with options including Full HD, 4K Ultra HD, and even 8K for some of the most pricey models. The right choice of screen size and resolution depends on the location of the screens, the viewing distance and the overall visual impact you are aiming for.

• Smart TV Capabilities 

The vast majority of the latest consumer-grade displays are equipped with smart features, meaning that they offer internet connectivity. This is especially important for digital signage as it eliminates the need to use digital signage media players to deliver content from a digital signage CMS to your screens. For example, a TV powered by Android OS is a very easy and cost-effective way to get started with Android digital signage.  

• HDR and Color Quality

Simply put, High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology enhances the overall quality of your content by automatically adjusting the colors, brightness and contrast of images to make them more vibrant and realistic. In addition, different consumer TVs offer different color quality features like color gamut, depth, accuracy, temperature, calibration and several other intelligent enhancement modules. 

• Refresh Rate

Refresh rate refers to the number of times per second that the TV screen updates or refreshes the image being displayed. It is typically measured in Hertz (Hz). The most common refresh rates in consumer TVs are 60Hz, 120Hz, and 240Hz, with 60Hz being the standard for most displays. In general, higher refresh rates reduce motion blur and provide smoother motion in fast-paced content – as long as it is produced at higher frame rates. 

Consumer TV displays Price Range

Consumer-grade displays are available at various price points, from budget-friendly options with basic features to mid-range models offering a balance of price and functionality, and premium TVs that come with high-end features and advanced smart capabilities. 

The price can vary significantly depending on a wide range of factors but can be broken down into three main categories:

• Budget-Friendly Consumer TVs (up to $500)

There are typically entry-level displays with all the basic features mentioned above and Full HD screen resolutions. They provide a very cost-effective solution for deployments at smaller places like digital signage in restaurants, cafes and bars where the size of the screens is not a huge factor. 

• Mid-Range Consumer TVs (up to $1000)

This category encompasses a very wide range of options with different screen sizes, resolutions and features. Mid-range consumer TVs offer better picture quality and smart TV capabilities. They are well-suited for setting up office digital signage screens for internal communications or captivating the attention of students with digital signage for schools.

• Premium Consumer TVs ($1000 and above)

These high-end consumer-grade displays are significantly larger in size and feature 4K or 8K resolutions, excellent color accuracy, advanced smart TV and connectivity features as well as cutting-edge display technologies like OLED and QLED. They are ideal for use cases where screen size is essential such as manufacturing digital signage or setting up easily visible screens in airports or train stations for a transportation digital signage solution.

All in all, consumer TVs are an affordable way to get started with digital signage. In many cases, their features and functionality will be enough to help you meet your business goals. However, it’s important to note that they are best suited for applications with shorter daily operating hours and less demanding environments. 

For digital signage deployments in commercial settings where long-term continuous operations are necessary, the durability and longevity of commercial-grade TVs will be crucial to the success of your communication objectives.

What is a commercial display TV?

A commercial display TV, also referred to as a commercial-grade TV or a professional TV,  is a television designed and built for use in commercial and professional settings, rather than personal use. 

These displays offer advanced features and qualities that distinguish them from consumer-grade TVs and are engineered to meet the demands of large businesses, manufactured with more durable components to withstand continuous 24/7 use in public spaces.

Key Features of Commercial TV Displays for Digital Signage

Due to their durability and reliability, commercial TVs are used for digital signage in various industries including retail, education, education, transportation, corporate settings, hospitality, healthcare and banks. Commercial-grade displays offer a wide range of features and qualities that set them apart from consumer TVs. 

More specifically, these are the most important aspects of commercial displays for digital signage:

• Durability and Longevity 

Commercial-grade TVs are built to be robust and durable in order to withstand constant operation. They are designed to operate 24/7 without performance degradation, overheating or screen burn-ins and are less prone to failure over extended periods of use. In addition, they are engineered to have a much longer lifespan than consumer TVs. Many commercial displays also feature UV protection to prevent screen damage from sunlight exposure.

• Brightness

In most cases, professional TVs feature higher brightness levels to ensure that all types of content are easily visible any time of the day even in very bright environments. This is crucial for digital signage in banks, retail stores, airport terminals, and outdoor places. Moreover, some commercial displays are also equipped with anti-glare coating to reduce reflections and maximize visibility. 

• Customizability

Commercial TV displays allow for extreme customization including the ability to adjust the color calibration and automatically fine-tune brightness for best picture quality for any kind of application. They are also compatible with several different mounting options like ceiling mounts, wall mounts and kiosks and can operate in either portrait or landscape orientation to accommodate different types of digital signage uses. 

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  Safety Features

Commercial-grade displays are designed to operate in outdoor settings and high-traffic public areas. They are equipped with safety features like ventilation systems, tempered glass and anti-tamper locks to ensure safety, smooth operation in any environment and resistance to extreme weather, humidity and dust. 

• Connectivity

Apart from built-in Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity capabilities, commercial TV displays also offer a wide range of different input and output options. These may include HDMI ports, DisplayPort, VGA, and RS-232. Additionally, some professional TVs come with built-in media players and operating systems that can seamlessly integrate with a digital signage CMS to make content delivery effortless. For example, by choosing a digital signage software like Yodeck, you can easily turn any Samsung Tizen-powered TV or LG webOS-powered TV into digital signs in just a few minutes. 

Commercial TV displays Price Range

Just like consumer TVs, commercial-grade displays come at different prices, from budget-friendly options suitable for basic business needs to high-end, specialized displays equipped with advanced features. Even though they are significantly more costly than their consumer counterparts, they can also be categorized into different tiers suitable for different budgets.

Here’s an indicative breakdown of the price ranges of commercial-grade displays:

• Low-end Commercial TVs ($400 – $1,000)

In this category, you’ll find small to medium-sized commercial TV displays, typically ranging from 32 to 55 inches. These displays come with basic features and offer Full HD (1080p) resolution. While they are suitable for various business applications like professional hospitality digital signage , they may lack some of the advanced functionalities found in higher-priced models.

• Mid-range Commercial TVs ($1,000 – $5,000)

Mid-range commercial displays cater to larger screen sizes (55 inches and above) and often boast higher resolutions such as 4K Ultra HD. Designed for extended use in harsh environments such as manufacturing digital signage , these displays offer commercial-grade durability and may include additional features like basic interactivity or enhanced display technologies.

• High-end Commercial TVs ($5000 and above)

This category features high-end commercial displays known for their larger sizes, advanced features, and premium specifications. Displays in this range often include touchscreen and interactivity features, video wall capabilities, high brightness for optimal visibility, 4K or higher resolutions and other unique industry-specific features.

What are the differences between consumer and commercial TV displays?

Here is a complete summary of all the differences between consumer TVs and commercial displays:

Consumer TV DisplaysCommercial TV DisplaysBuild Quality and DurabilityDesigned for home use, not built for extended operationConstructed for durability and continuous use even in harsh environmentsContinuous OperationNot suitable for 24/7 operation, may overheat or experience burn-inEngineered for continuous operation in high-traffic settingsCustomizabilityLimited customization options, fixed standsHighly customizable with specialized mounts and image quality enhancementsWarranty and SupportWarranties tailored for home use, limited commercial supportExtended warranties for commercial use, dedicated supportLongevityMay have a shorter lifespan with continuous useDesigned for a longer operational lifespanBrightness and VisibilityMay lack high brightness levels needed for outdoor useOffer higher brightness levels for outdoor and well-lit areasConnectivity OptionsLimited input/output optionsMore diverse connectivity options for professional devicesQualityHigh-resolution and image qualityEnhancements for high-quality visuals and color accuracyRegulatory ComplianceMay not meet commercial regulatory standardsDesigned to meet commercial regulatory standardsDesign and AestheticsOften designed with home aesthetics in mindDesigned for professional integration in commercial settingsTouchscreen and InteractivityGenerally do not include touchscreen or interactive featuresOffer touch functionality and interactivity in most casesCooling and VentilationMay lack adequate cooling for extended operationEquipped with advanced cooling systems for continuous useCertificationsMay lack industry-specific certificationsOften come with industry-specific certifications (eg. UL certification, FCC compliance)PortabilityLightweight and portableHeavier and less portableCostGenerally more affordable but may require replacement after heavy useHigher upfront costs but possibly cheaper in the long run

How to Choose between Consumer TVs and Commercial Displays for Digital Signage

Choosing between consumer TVs and commercial displays for digital signage depends on your specific needs, budget, and the environment in which the screens will be installed. In general, commercial TVs are better for continuous use in professional settings, while consumer TVs are more cost-effective for less demanding digital signage applications. Nevertheless, each option comes with different pros and cons. 

Here is a checklist that will help you make an informed decision when it comes to choosing the right display for your digital signage needs.

• Intended Use – Determine the specific use case and location where the TV will be placed

• Durability – Consider the TV’s build quality, heat management and durability along with any external environment factors

• IP Rating – Ingress Protection (IP) rating indicates how well a TV is protected from water, moisture and dust

• Durability – The durability of your screens will be crucial to digital signage placed outdoors or in high-traffic areas

• Size and Aspect Ratio – Select the appropriate size and aspect ratio for the optimal viewing distance

• Brightness – Evaluate the TV’s brightness levels to ensure better visibility and look for anti-glare technologies

• Operating Hours – Determine the number of hours the TV will have to be operational daily

• Connectivity Options – Assess the available connectivity options, such as HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB

• Content Playback – Check the TV’s color accuracy and ability to handle various resolutions, media formats and audio

• Interactivity – Look for interactivity features that might be essential for your digital signage needs

• Compatibility – Check for compatibility with hardware, accessories and digital signage software

• Mounting and Form Factor – Ensure the TV can be easily mounted and look for standardized VESA mounts

• Warranty and Support – Evaluate the support services as well as the warranty and expected lifespan of your TV

• Power Management – Look for power-saving features and check the overall energy efficiency of the device

• Regulatory Compliance – Make sure the TV complies with safety standards in your industry

• Total Costs – Calculate prices and upfront costs and assess the total cost of ownership and your scalability needs

How to Turn Any TV into Digital Signage

Once you have acquired the devices you are going to use for your digital signage deployment (or decided whether your existing ones are fit for this purpose), it’s time to take the next step. 

Here’s how to turn your TVs into digital signage in a few easy steps:

Step 1: Sign up for digital signage software

A cloud-based digital signage software like Yodeck will allow you to effortlessly manage your screens and content in a centralized platform from any location

Step 2: Create digital signage content 

Upload your media and use hundreds of free digital signage templates in a drag-and-drop editor to create content that will amaze viewers

Step 3: Get a digital signage media player

Connect your digital signage media player to the screen or take advantage of smart TV functionality to completely skip this step

Step 4: Push content to the screens

Create playlists and schedules for each of your screens and deliver content to your TVs at the touch of a button

Turning your TVs into digital signage is the most cost-effective way to engage your target audience by sharing useful information, promotions and entertaining content. By carefully selecting the right hardware, software, and content strategy, you can create a powerful digital signage system that will take your business to the next level.

Ready to get started?

Sign up for Yodeck’s award-winning digital signage software and turn any TV into digital signage in seconds. The first screen is completely free – forever!

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