We all have a TV or two at home. And if you have video conference meetings at work you may recognise a piece of rectangular hardware on the wall which looks like a TV, but is hopefully a commercial display.
In this article we will share 5 key differences and why it is important that your workplace is equipped with commercial displays and not TVs.
1. Designed and built for purpose
Consumer TVs:
- Designed for home use, they have lightweight and aesthetic designs, prioritising style and appearance. They are built to operate for a few hours each day and may overheat or wear down faster with prolonged daily use. Where a single image is displayed for long periods, such as a logo or digital signage, screen burn can occur.
Commercial Displays:
- Built for rugged, continuous use (up to 24/7 operation), often in public or high-traffic spaces. They use durable materials and have extra cooling and ventilation to withstand long hours and more intense usage. They are designed as a component of an audio visual solution to suit larger office spaces, so are built to seamlessly integrate with other AV equipment such as cameras, audio equipment and media players. For digital signage they can also be used in portrait orientation – something a consumer tv can’t do!
2. Warranty and Support
This is important when it comes to longer term ROI!
Consumer TVs:
- Warranties are only for residential use and are void as soon as the TV is installed in a commercial environment. If the TV has issues or fails due to commercial use, you will be liable for repair of replacement costs.
Commercial Displays:
- Often come with specialised warranties that typically last for 3 years and support extended, rigorous commercial use. Some manufacturers also provide quicker support and replacement options for commercial clients.
3. Brightness and Viewing Angle
Consumer TVs:
- Suitable for moderate lighting, like typical indoor environments. Brightness levels and viewing angles are generally lower since they’re designed for home settings. They are simply not designed to cope with well-lit meeting rooms, bright office spaces and strong artificial light.
Commercial Displays:
- Often have higher brightness levels and anti-glare coatings to remain visible in brighter commercial environments (e.g. office meeting rooms, shopping malls, airports). They also offer wider viewing angles to accommodate larger audiences.
4. Control and Management Features
Consumer TVs:
- Limited in remote management and monitoring features. Smart TVs can stream apps and access media, but they lack extensive centralised control required by your organisation to control multiple displays within an office AV estate
Commercial Displays:
- Can be controlled and monitored remotely, with specialised software to manage multiple screens. Ideal for businesses that need to update content or configurations across several locations simultaneously.
5. Features and Functionality
Consumer TVs:
- Equipped with features geared toward entertainment, such as streaming services, apps, and enhanced sound systems.
Commercial Displays:
- May lack advanced sound or streaming features but support features like media players, touch capabilities, and more extensive input/output options to integrate with various systems.
In short, commercial displays are optimised for high-use, durable performance in public and professional environments, while consumer TVs focus on delivering entertainment for home use.
So for better performance, fit-for-purpose functionality and longer term ROI it pays to invest in a commercial display every time.