With the rapid development of digital display technology, LED display screens have played a vital role in commercial displays, stage performances, conference centers and other occasions with high brightness, high contrast and excellent display effects. As one of the key parameters of LED display screens, pixel pitch is directly related to the resolution, viewing distance and visual experience of the display screen. Do you know the difference between them? How to choose?. SightLED will explore these details in depth.
What are P1 and P1.5 LED screens?
Definition of pixel pitch
Pixel pitch (P for short) refers to the distance between the center points of adjacent LED lamp beads, usually in millimeters. P1 means that the lamp bead spacing is 1 mm, and P1.5 is 1.5 mm. The smaller this value is, the higher the pixel density per unit area, the stronger the picture fineness, and the more detailed information can be presented.
Technology evolution trend
P1 LED screen:
As a high-end product in the current commercial field, P1 LED creens mostly use COB (Chip on Board) packaging or Micro LED technology. These technologies not only improve the pixel density, but also significantly enhance the stability and reliability of the display screen.
Application:
- Virtual production
- Advertising TV stations, etc.
P1.5 display:
P1.5 LED display is one of the mainstream small and medium pitch solutions. They mainly use SMD packaging technology. SMD packaging technology is mature and easy to repair. P1.5 screen can provide high cost performance while ensuring image quality.
Application:
- Conference room
- Retail showroom and other occasions.
Eight core differences between P1 and P1.5 LED screens
Physical spacing and resolution
| P1 LED Screen | P1.5 LED Screen | |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel Density | 1,000,000 dots/m² | 444,444 dots/m² |
| Optimal Viewing Distance | 0.5-3 meters | 1.5-5 meters |
| 4K Resolution Size | 2.5m×1.4m | 3.7m×2.1m |
Compared with the 444,444 dots/m² of the P1.5 screen, the P1 screen integrates millions of pixels in 1 square meter, and the pixel density is increased by about 125%. Therefore, the P1 screen can completely eliminate the jagged feeling and provide a more delicate and realistic visual effect.
Packaging technology differences
P1 screen technology route:
If the P1 screen uses COB packaging technology, it directly solders the LED chip to the PCB substrate, without a bracket structure, and the protection level reaches IP54.
Flip-chip COB: Using Flip-Chip technology, the heat dissipation efficiency is increased by 40%, and the brightness uniformity is greater than 98%, which further improves the stability and reliability of the display.
SMD three-in-one:
RGB chips are integrated in a single package, with mature technology, convenient maintenance, and relatively low cost.
GOB protection: The surface is covered with transparent epoxy resin, and the anti-collision performance is increased by 3 times, which is suitable for scenes requiring higher protection performance.
Comparison of cost structures
Take a 10㎡ display screen as an example, the cost structure comparison between the P1 screen (COB package) and the P1.5 screen (SMD package) is as follows:
| Project P1 Screen (COB) | P1.5 Screen (SMD) | |
|---|---|---|
| Module Cost | 3,000/m² | 2,000/m² |
| Installation Complexity | Special frame required | Standard splicing structure |
| Maintenance Cost | Whole module replacement | Single lamp bead repair |
The initial investment of the P1 screen is about 50% higher, but because it uses advanced COB packaging technology, the failure rate is reduced to 0.01%/year. In the long run, the operation and maintenance cost is more advantageous.
Optical performance
Brightness comparison: The brightness range of the P1 screen is 800-1500cd/m² (using adjustable light quantum layer technology), while the brightness range of the P1.5 screen is 600-1200cd/m².
Color gamut coverage: The color gamut coverage of the P1 screen reaches NTSC 110% (using gallium nitride LED chips), while the color gamut coverage of the P1.5 screen is NTSC 92%.
Energy consumption and heat dissipation
At the same brightness, the power consumption of the P1 screen is 450W/m² (thanks to the COB integrated design to reduce the driving voltage), while the power consumption of the P1.5 screen is 520W/m² (SMD packaging has more circuit losses). Therefore, in terms of energy consumption, the P1 screen performs better.
Application scenario differentiation
P1 screen preferred scenarios:
- Broadcasting-level virtual production (color depth 16bit)
- Medical imaging consultation (DICOM standard calibration)
- Financial trading hall (millisecond refresh rate)
- Occasions with high image quality and high stability.
P1.5 screen application:
- Shopping mall digital signage (support HDR10)
- Conference room all-in-one machine (touch integration solution)
- Stage background screen (3840Hz high refresh rate), etc.
- Occasions that need to take into account both image quality and cost performance.
Technology life cycle
P1 screen: The LED display screen based on COB technology. It has a service life of 100,000 hours (brightness decays to 70%).
P1.5 screen: If It is SMD small pitch display screen. Its actual service life is 60,000~100,000 hours.
Installation and maintenance differences
P1 screen:
- Front maintenance design accounts for 80%
- Modularization does not require professional equipment
- Maintenance cost is high but failure rate is low.
P1.5 screen:
- Supports post-maintenance
- Replacement time for a single lamp bead is greater than 5 minutes
- Convenient maintenance and low cost.
- P1.5 and P2 screen selection strategy
- Cost-effectiveness critical point analysis
When the viewing distance (D, meters) and the pixel pitch (P, millimeters) meet D=3000P, the human eye will not be able to distinguish pixel particles. From this, we can get:
- Critical distance of P1.5 screen: 4.5 meters
- Critical distance of P2 screen: 6 meters
Decision suggestion:
If your budget is limited and the viewing distance is greater than 4.5 meters (such as a hotel banquet hall), we recommend that you choose a P2 screen, which can reduce costs by 30% without affecting the visual effect.
Ambient light adaptability test
In a strong light environment with an illumination of more than 500 lux (such as a glass curtain wall exhibition hall):
The brightness of the P1.5 screen needs to be increased to 1200cd/m² to ensure visibility.
To achieve the same visibility, the P2 screen needs a brightness of 1500cd/m², and the power consumption increases by 25%.
Therefore, in a strong light environment, the P1.5 screen can maintain good visibility while maintaining low power consumption.
SightLED innovative P1 and P1.5 LED Screen solution
We use a dynamic pixel reorganization algorithm to play 4K content. It can achieve an equivalent 4K visual experience. Our advanced technology can significantly improve the picture quality and viewing experience without increasing hardware costs too much (only 8%).
Flip Chip COB LED Display
Pixel Pitches: P0.625/P0.78/P0.93/P1.25/P1.56/P1.87mm
✔️Better display performance: Chip-on-Board (COB) packaging technology uses surface light sources for illumination, resulting in high color fidelity and better detail representation, making it suitable for high-resolution imaging
✔️Reliability: High integration reduces the number and size of components, thereby reducing the failure rate.
✔️Excellent heat dissipation:The heat of the COB display screen is dissipated directly through the PCB board, making it suitable for harsh environments and long-duration operating scenarios.
How to choose P1 or P1.5 screen
When you finally choose P1 or P1.5, you should consider the following factors:
1. Determine the core needs
Do you need touch interaction? If so, you can choose P1.5 integrated LED display.
Do you need 24/7 continuous operation? If so, you can choose weather-resistant P1 COB display.
2. Calculate the cost-effective formula
Total cost of ownership = (initial cost + maintenance cost × 5 years) / effective display area
By calculating the total cost of ownership, you can consider the initial investment and long-term operation and maintenance costs, so as to make a more informed choice.
Field test verification
You can also ask the supplier to provide on-site grayscale testing (displaying 32 levels of grayscale) and dynamic smear testing (fast scrolling text). These tests can intuitively reflect the picture quality and dynamic performance of the display, helping you make a more accurate selection decision.
Recommendation:
Pursue the ultimate image quality:
You can choose the P1 COB screen, which is suitable for XR virtual production scenes within 3 meters.
Balance cost-effectiveness:
The P1.5 SMD screen is an ideal choice for conference rooms and retail showrooms. These scenes have certain requirements for image quality, but pay more attention to cost performance.
Adaptation to special environments:
The P1.5 GOB protective model is suitable for high-frequency vibration venues such as stadiums. These venues have high requirements for the protection performance of the display screen. Our P1.5 GOB protective model improves the anti-collision performance and stability of the display screen through technical means such as surface coating of transparent epoxy resin.
Conclusion
We have roughly introduced the differences between P1 and P1.5 LED screens. When you choose them, you should establish a multi-dimensional evaluation system and comprehensively consider factors such as image quality, cost, and application scenarios.
Future trends show that as Micro LED technology matures and costs decrease, products with spacing below P1 will gradually become popular. But in the next 3-5 years, P1.5 screens may have more cost-effective advantages.
