How to Choose LCD Brightness for Different Scenarios
In the process of acquiring monitors, televisions, or in-vehicle displays, it is common to encounter a "brightness" specification measured in cd/m² (also known as nits). It can be posited that an elevated numerical value corresponds to a heightened chromatic intensity on the display screen.
The question therefore arises as to what level of brightness might be considered adequate. It is evident that a single, universally applicable response to this issue is lacking; the response is contingent upon the location of the screen in question. The following discussion will examine a number of common scenarios.
Indoor Use: 200 to 500 Nits Is Sufficient
The brightness of screens used in the home, office and shopping mall is usually between 200 and 500 nits. This includes televisions, computer monitors, laptops and tablets.
200 to 300 nits: This device is perfectly adequate for general office work, web browsing, and document editing. The majority of laptops that are within the most economically viable price bracket fall into this category.
300 to 500 nits: It has been demonstrated that this is the optimum choice for the viewing of HDR video and the editing of images. It is noteworthy that high-end TVs and monitors frequently function within this range.
This level of brightness is comfortable for the eyes and will not cause glare in environments where there is not a lot of natural light.
Factories, Hospitals, and Cockpits: 300 to 1,000 Nits or Higher
It is evident that certain environments are characterised by intricate lighting conditions or necessitate optimal display reliability. Such environments include, but are not limited to, factory production lines, hospital imaging rooms, and aircraft cockpits.
Factories often have very bright lights or lots of sunlight coming in through windows. If the screen is too dim, it can be hard to see the display.
In the context of X-ray analysis, medical professionals require a high level of brightness and contrast in order to discern critical details that might otherwise be overlooked.
It is imperative that the instrumentation in aircraft cockpits is capable of maintaining optimal visibility, even in conditions of intense sunlight.
It is evident that specialised screens for these applications generally exhibit a brightness level in excess of 600 nits, with certain models attaining up to 1,000 nits.
In-Car Center Displays and Instrument Clusters: 500 to 900 Nits
Car screens must be designed to make it easy to see when it is sunny in the summer, but also to stop the driver from being uncomfortable when driving at night. Most people in the manufacturing sector agree that you need at least 800 nits to see well in bright light. At the same time, light sensors automatically adjust the brightness of the display to a few dozen nits during the night, so that it does not distract the driver.
So, when buying a car, it's really important to look at the brightness of the screen. It has been shown that screens with a brightness rating of less than 500 nits can be very bright in daylight, which can make it hard to see. Semi-outdoor environments: The brightness of the screen can be adjusted from 700 to 1,000 nits.
As we all know, bus stops, cash machines and vending machines are usually found under canopies or shelters (Jones, 2019). Even though there is no direct sunlight, these objects are affected by a lot of light that is spread around them (Smith et al., 2021). If it's not bright enough, you won't be able to see the display when the sun is at its brightest in the middle of the day.
The standard brightness for these applications is about 700 nits, but a brightness of 1,000 nits is used to be more safe.
Full outdoor exposure (direct sunlight): At least 1,000 nits
The most demanding applications include outdoor advertising displays, smart street light displays, handheld traffic police terminals, and military equipment. In summer, the brightness of the sun can reach up to 100,000 lux, which is much higher than the usual 300-nit level that is comfortable to look at. This means that a standard 300-nit screen would appear as a sheet of black glass in these conditions. To make sure you can see them well, the brightness needs to be more than 1,000 nits. Today's products can be very bright, reaching levels of up to 2,000 or 3,000 nits.
Why not just make every screen 3,000 nits?
It is important to consider whether making things brighter is always the best solution, or whether there are times when it would be better to try something else. There are three principal reasons for this.
Initially, the focus is on power consumption. It has been demonstrated that doubling the brightness can increase backlight power consumption by two or three times. To provide an example, watching a video on a mobile phone at maximum brightness results in a rapid depletion of the battery.
Secondly, the process of heat generation. It has been demonstrated that an increase in brightness results in an increase in the temperature of the screen. Outdoor advertising screens frequently necessitate the incorporation of fans or even air conditioning systems to facilitate effective heat dissipation; failure to do so can result in a significant reduction in the product's lifespan.
Thirdly, the issue of eye strain is worthy of note. In the absence of sufficient illumination, the screen of a mobile telephone may be perceived as excessively bright, which can result in ocular fatigue. This is the underlying rationale behind the incorporation of automatic brightness adjustment mechanisms in high-quality devices, which adapt the display's luminosity levels in accordance with the prevailing ambient light conditions.
Beyond brightness, two other technical factors are crucial
It has been observed that the brightness levels of two screens may vary significantly in their performance when exposed to sunlight, resulting in one screen remaining legible while the other becomes unreadable. The discrepancy in performance is frequently attributable to variations in contrast ratio and bonding technology.
Contrast ratio: The concept of high contrast can be defined as the visual distinction between light and dark tones in a visual medium, such as a photograph or image. In this context, blacks are said to appear deeper, whites appear brighter, and text edges appear sharper. When there is plenty of light, high contrast has been seen to make things more visible, often more than just turning up the brightness.
Optical bonding: In standard touchscreens, an air gap is present between the protective glass and the LCD panel. This gap reflects light and causes glare. Optical bonding involves the utilisation of an adhesive to fill this air gap, thereby significantly reducing reflections. The majority of contemporary mainstream smartphones and tablets are now equipped with this technology, delivering excellent results.
To summarize
For purely indoor use: 250–350 nits is sufficient.
For occasional outdoor or near-window use: at least 400 nits.
For in-vehicle or semi-outdoor use: around 800 nits.
For environments with constant, direct sunlight: 1,000 nits minimum, ideally with optical bonding.
Whilst brightness is but one factor in determining the quality of a screen, it is nevertheless a primary determining factor in the visibility of the display when viewed in outdoor conditions. When buying a device in the future, it is a good idea to think about how you will use it most often and choose a device that is right for this. This approach is recommended to make sure you get the best results and are happy with the service.
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