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LCD Display Resolution Terminology: 3 Steps to Quickly Understand

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When choosing or evaluating LCD display resolution, understanding key terms like pixels, PPI, and resolution itself is essential. These concepts form the foundation of how images and text appear on LCD screens. Whether you’re selecting a display for marine equipment, bathroom interfaces, or other industrial applications, having a clear grasp of LCD display resolution fundamentals will help you make informed decisions. Let’s break it down step by step.

1280x800 LCD display resolution: 10.1inch

Pixels: The Building Blocks of LCD Display Resolution

Before diving into resolution, it’s important to understand pixels. A pixel is the smallest unit of an image on an LCD screen, typically composed of sub-pixels in red, green, and blue (RGB). Displays create images by combining thousands or millions of these pixels.

The term “pixel” comes from “Picture Element.” Each pixel’s size depends on the physical size and resolution of the LCD display. For screens ranging from 2 inches to 15 inches, the pixel density directly impacts image quality. More pixels mean more detail and clarity, which is critical in industries like marine navigation and bathroom control panels where precision matters.

Understanding pixels is the first step toward grasping LCD display resolution.

PPI: Pixels Per Inch and Its Role in LCD Display Resolution

After pixels, the next important concept in LCD display resolution is PPI (Pixels Per Inch). PPI measures how many pixels fit into one inch of the display. A higher PPI means more pixels per inch, which results in sharper, clearer images.

PPI is vital for industrial applications such as marine instrumentation, bathroom electronics, and other professional devices where clarity and legibility are paramount. Two displays may share the same resolution, but their PPIs can vary due to different screen sizes. Smaller screens with higher PPI offer better detail, which is especially important for detailed interfaces.

At CDTECH, we specialize in providing LCD modules with optimized LCD display resolution and PPI for various industrial sectors, ensuring our displays meet specific clarity and performance needs.

PPI Formula:

The standard formula to calculate PPI is:

$$
PPI = \frac{\sqrt{W^2 + H^2}}{D}
$$

Where:

  • W is the display’s width in pixels
  • H is the display’s height in pixels
  • D is the diagonal size of the display in inches

For example, a 10-inch display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels would have:

$$
PPI = \frac{\sqrt{1920^2 + 1080^2}}{10} \approx \frac{2202.91}{10} = 220.29
$$

This means approximately 220 pixels per inch, indicating a high pixel density and sharp image quality.

Resolution: The Key Metric in LCD Display Resolution

Resolution defines the total number of pixels a display can show, usually written as “width × height,” such as 1920×1080. It directly affects the sharpness and clarity of images and text on the LCD.

Resolution and PPI work hand-in-hand in LCD display resolution: two displays can have the same resolution but different screen sizes, leading to different PPIs. Higher PPI generally means better image clarity, which is essential for industrial displays used in marine, bathroom, and other professional fields.

Choosing the right resolution is critical when designing or selecting displays to ensure the visual performance meets application demands.


Reference Table: Common Small Screen LCD Resolutions

Resolution NameAbbreviationPixel DimensionsAspect RatioNotes
Quarter Common Intermediate FormatQCIF220×176~4:3Early mobile video devices
Half VGAHVGA320×4803:2Small mobile devices
VGAVGA640×480 / 480×6404:3 / 3:4Older device standard
Quarter VGAQVGA320×2404:3Mini VGA resolution
Wide QVGAWQVGA400×240 / 480×2725:3Wider QVGA version
Wide VGAWVGA800×4805:3Handheld devices
Super VGASVGA800×6004:3Higher resolution than VGA
Wide SVGAWSVGA1024×60016:9 or 16:10Wide-screen SVGA
XGAXGA1024×7684:3Projectors and monitors
Wide XGAWXGA1280×80016:10Popular notebooks
Ultra XGAUXGA1600×12004:3High definition
Wide Ultra XGAWUXGA1920×1080 / 1920×120016:9 / 16:10Full HD and WQHD displays
Custom Bar Type (CDTECH)BARTYPE-3.9″480×12815:4Unique resolution for CDTECH’s 3.9″ screens
Custom Bar Type (CDTECH)BARTYPE-4.3″800×130~6:1Slim design for compact applications
Custom Bar Type (CDTECH)BARTYPE-4.6″800×3205:2.1Industrial use
Custom Bar Type (CDTECH)BARTYPE-5.8″800×3205:2.1Smart devices
Custom Bar Type (CDTECH)BARTYPE-6.5″1024×40016:6.25Detailed data displays
Custom Bar Type (CDTECH)BARTYPE-7.0″280×1424~1:5Narrow and tall displays
Custom Bar Type (CDTECH)BARTYPE-8.8″1280×32016:4Dashboard displays
Custom Bar Type (CDTECH)BARTYPE-12.3″1920×72016:6Large industrial panels

At CDTECH, we provide a wide range of small screen LCDs from 2.4″ up to 15.6″ with optimized LCD display resolution for marine, bathroom, and industrial applications. Whether it’s for precision marine navigation or user-friendly bathroom controls, our LCD modules deliver the clarity and reliability you need.


How Pixels, PPI, and Resolution Work Together

Understanding LCD display resolution means understanding how pixels, PPI, and resolution relate to each other to affect image quality. The right combination ensures your application’s display is sharp, clear, and reliable—critical factors in industrial environments.

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Rahm Fan

I’m in LCD module sales at CDTech. I write about my work, industry insights, and lessons I learn as I grow in this field.

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