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If you’re among the majority of shoppers who begin their buying journey online, then you might have come across the term “nits” when researching outdoor displays.
In simple words, nits represent how much light a display emits, and it’s important that you get it right because screen brightness can affect the effectiveness of your messaging, especially when exposed to direct sunlight.
Here, we’ll dive into what nits mean, why they matter, and how many you’ll need for outdoor use. We’ll also provide some best practices to help you choose the right one for your needs.
What Are Nits in Displays?
Nits are a unit of measurement for brightness. One nit is equal to one candela per square meter (cd/m²). Essentially, nits describe how much light is emitted from each square meter of the display. Higher nits mean the display is brighter. For example, a 500-nit screen will be visibly more colorful than a 200-nit screen.
Brightness affects readability and user experience. Without enough brightness, outdoor displays can look dim, blurry, or washed out. If you’ve ever tried to use your phone on a sunny day and struggled to see anything on the screen, then you get the idea.
For an outdoor display to be effective, it must have enough nits to remain clear and sharp even in bright light.
How Many Nits Are Needed for Outdoor Displays?
The Brightness Challenge Outdoors
Direct sunlight and glare from other surfaces can diminish a screen's clarity. If you don’t account for this when selecting a display, it’s easy to end up with a screen that’s nearly impossible to read. Without sufficient brightness, screens can appear dull and hard to interpret, which defeats their purpose.
When setting up an outdoor display, consider the varying light conditions throughout the day. For example, in the morning or evening, the sunlight may not be as intense, but the midday sun can be overwhelming. If the display isn’t bright enough, content won’t pop, and viewers will find it hard to engage with it.
Recommended Nit Levels for Different Environments
- Indoor Screens (200-500 Nits): In rooms or areas with controlled lighting, displays don’t need to be extremely bright. A range of 200–500 nits works well. These displays won’t be exposed to sunlight, so their brightness can remain on the lower end of the scale.
- Semi-Outdoor Screens (500–1,000 Nits): For areas with some exposure to sunlight but not direct sunlight—think shaded patios or partially covered walkways—500 to 1,000 nits should be sufficient. This brightness level allows the content to remain visible in bright but not extreme conditions.
- Full Outdoor Screens (1,500+ Nits): Full outdoor displays, particularly those placed in direct sunlight, need at least 1,500 nits to ensure content is clear and visible no matter how bright the surroundings are. These displays need to be bright enough to fight through sunlight, glare, and ambient light.
Factors Influencing Nit Requirements
Several factors can influence the number of nits you’ll need:
- Ambient Light Conditions and Viewing Angles: The amount of light the display will be exposed to matters. In places with constant sunlight or glare, higher brightness is required. Additionally, consider the viewing angle: if the display will be seen from various directions, it needs more brightness to maintain clarity from all angles.
- Screen Size and Resolution Considerations: The larger the screen, the more brightness it will need to ensure it remains visible across its entire surface. Also, displays with higher resolution (such as 4K) require more nits to keep content sharp and detailed under bright conditions.
Read also: 7 Facts to Know About Outdoor Digital Signage
How to Choose the Right Brightness of The Screen
Choosing the right brightness level for your outdoor display depends on several factors. Let’s break it down.
Assessing Your Environment
Start by evaluating where your display will be placed. Will it be in full sun, or will it be shaded by something like an awning or tree? If it's in direct sunlight, you’ll need a display with a higher brightness level—at least 1,500 nits. Also, think about how far away people will be from the screen. A display meant to be viewed from a distance will need more nits to keep the content clear.
Comparing Display Technologies
Not all displays are created equal. LED displays are far more ideal for outdoor use because they tend to be brighter and more energy-efficient than LCDs. Additionally, OLED displays offer excellent contrast ratios and are therefore preferred in environments where visibility in bright light is needed. Consider your specific needs for brightness, energy efficiency, and image quality when choosing the display technology.
To learn more, watch the Look Academy video on Digital Signage Hardware: Digital Signage Displays
Additional Features to Consider
- Anti-Glare Coatings: If glare is an issue in your location, consider displays with anti-glare coatings which reduce reflections and ensure the screen is still visible in bright environments.
- Auto-Brightness Adjustment: Some modern displays come with auto-brightness adjustment, which automatically adjusts the screen’s brightness based on surrounding light conditions. This feature helps optimize visibility while saving energy during darker times.
- Weather Resistance: If your display will be exposed to harsh weather, such as rain or snow, make sure it’s weatherproof. Many outdoor displays are designed with weather-resistant materials that help them perform well in challenging conditions.
Advancements in High-Nit Display Technology
High-nit displays are getting brighter, more efficient, and more capable, thanks to some exciting new technology.
1. Innovations in LED and OLED Technology
OLED Displays
OLED technology has always been known for its deep blacks and stunning contrast. However, the challenge with OLED was how to achieve high brightness without sacrificing image quality. Fortunately, recent developments have made that possible:
- Fourth-Generation OLED Panels: LG Display’s fourth-gen OLED panels now offer up to 4,000 nits of brightness. They’ve done this by stacking red, green, and blue elements in a new way, allowing for higher brightness while maintaining the signature OLED color accuracy.
MicroLED Displays
MicroLED uses tiny individual LEDs to create pixels, resulting in brilliant brightness and contrast. What’s impressive here is the potential to push brightness levels even higher:
- Ultra-Bright MicroLEDs: The development of microLED displays has also led to breakthroughs like the green MicroLED display capable of 1.66 million nits. This is especially exciting because it opens the door to ultra-high-brightness displays that could be used in everything from large outdoor signs to specialized applications like medical imaging.
Quantum Dot Technology
Quantum Dot displays are built with tiny semiconductor particles that can enhance color and brightness without needing a lot of power:
- Hisense’s RGB LED TV: Hisense’s RGB LED TV is pushing the envelope, offering up to 10,000 nits of peak brightness. It’s a 116-inch display that uses optical lenses containing red, green, and blue LEDs, resulting in brilliant brightness and a wider color spectrum. This technology helps them achieve deep contrast and vibrant colors, rivaling the best OLED and MicroLED displays.
2. Sustainable Solutions for High-Brightness Displays
As displays get brighter, there's a growing focus on keeping them energy-efficient. The good news is, that manufacturers are finding ways to push the brightness without pushing up the power bill. Here’s how they’re making it happen:
- Power Supply Improvements: Modern power supplies now come with Power Factor Correction (PFC), which helps convert electrical energy more efficiently. This means less wasted energy and more brightness with less power. Manufacturers are using this tech to get the most out of the energy they pull in, without overloading the system. Energy efficient displays typically have lower wattage, that is under 200 watts which you can find in the power consumption section of the product’s specs. If you need more confirmation, check if the display has Energy Star Certification, or other similar certifications that indicate it meets recognized energy efficiency standards.
- Adaptive Brightness Control: This is exactly what it sounds like—the display adjusts its brightness depending on how much light is around. In full sunlight, it cranks up the brightness to make sure people can still read the screen. When it’s dark, it dims down to save power. This feature is essential for digital signage because the lighting conditions change throughout the day, and this feature ensures that the display is always at the right brightness, without wasting energy when it’s not needed.
3. Smart Features in Modern Displays
- Machine Learning for Smarter Adjustments: Some newer displays are taking it a step further by using machine learning. These displays can learn your habits and adjust the brightness based on your usage patterns. So, if a display is set up in a busy area with heavy foot traffic during certain times of day, it can automatically adjust to get brighter when needed.
- Dynamic Energy-Saving: With smart tech, displays now adjust the brightness in real-time depending on what's being shown. If you’re displaying something with a lot of bright scenes, the screen can boost brightness. If it’s something more dim, it’ll lower it to save power. This helps keep things looking great without draining your battery or wasting energy.
Choosing the Right Nits for Outdoor Displays
Choosing the right number of nits for your outdoor display depends on a lot of factors—sunlight, screen size, viewing angle, and the type of content you plan to display. If your screen will be in direct sunlight, aim for at least 1,500 nits. For shaded or semi-outdoor environments, 500 to 1,000 nits should be sufficient. Keep in mind that higher brightness isn’t just about making the display visible—it’s about improving visibility, enhancing engagement, and ensuring durability in tough outdoor conditions. Once you get these factors right, you can pick the right display that works well in any environment.
