LCD Vs. E-Ink Pricer ESL/Electronic Shelf Label: Which Is Better?

LCD Vs. E-Ink Pricer ESL/Electronic Shelf Label: Smart retailers now want richer, more dynamic, interactive, and appealing solutions, and pricer ESL (Electronic Shelf Label) is the perfect tool for that.

Because of the numerous benefits it offers, ESL demand is now growing in popularity.

In 2024, the market for ESLs is estimated to exceed 240 million units, and we are here to tell you all about this versatile technology.

Types of ESL Screens

There are two types of display screens in ESL: e-ink and LCD. Let’s go over them individually to thoroughly understand which one is better:

1. E-ink Pricer ESL

Simple segmented pricer ESL tags can be created using E-ink technology, giving retailers the ability to send additional data to the shelf edge, such as images, customer reviews, inventory levels, and competitors’ prices, in addition to the ability to change prices.

E-ink shelf labels are called bistable as they are designed to continuously display the last programmed image, price, or text even if you unplug them from the power source or remove their batteries.

This is why all the major providers of ESL & retail signage use E-ink.

2. TFT-LCD Pricer ESL

A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is a pricer ESL display screen using TFT (thin-film transistor) technology.

It is the first generation of ESL with LCD and infrared communication.

The Pricer tags show the numerical values in a manner similar in nature to a calculator. An ESL tag with a liquid crystal display has seven bars and segments for each number.

It is deemed a cost-effective label option, featuring an alphanumeric segment display for simple, quick, shelf-edge communication. However, it may fall back on efficiency.

What Makes E-Ink Better Than LCD?

Currently, the pricer ESL market is leaning heavily on the E-ink ESL due to the numerous benefits it offers in comparison to LCD.

Since it is less costly, the ROI is quite evident, and obviously, its efficiency and effectiveness are incomparable.

• Power Consumption

The best part about e-ink displays is that they only use energy when something is changing. It minimizes power usage and is one of the reasons E-Ink devices have such extended battery life.

Additionally, the reflecting electrophoretic display technology used by E-Ink eliminates the need for a backlight, which is often used with LCD displays.

On top of that, E-ink displays may occasionally use a front light; however, this is usually a good thing because it uses less power than an LCD backlight, as LCDs do not transmit light very effectively when they are turned on.

• Weight

In terms of weight, the E-ink label is much lighter than an LCD ESL.

For example, an LCD-based display with a lower screen size of 12.9″ weighs an average of 25.2 ounces, whereas a 13.3″ E-ink display with a plastic TFT and identical internal components can weigh only 12.3 ounces (349g) (713g).

• Color

In an LCD, each pixel has three color filters that let red, blue, or green light through so that the viewer may see it.

When these colors are combined, they may produce a wide range of colors. On the other hand, E-ink only shows up to three colors.

Although three colors are the default implementation in pricer ESL, we are currently seeing the possibility of adding more.

• Viewing Angle

Customers can readily see pricer ESL tags on the very top and lowest shelves because of their extremely wide viewing angle.

On the opposite, the disadvantage of using a liquid crystal display tag is that the viewing angle is limited and only provides clear visibility if you are standing right in front of it.

This is one of the reasons why there are difficulties in displaying certain letters.

• Stability

The technology used by E-ink is usually referred to as “bistable.” It means that when all power sources are turned off, an image on an E-ink screen will still be visible.

Because of its bistability feature, devices utilizing E-ink have incredibly long battery lives.

On the flip side, since LCD devices require a continuous power supply, even a small fluctuation might cause total disruption in the usage.

Invest in the Best Pricer ESL Technology with FET’s 4.2″ E-Ink Display

If you are an electronic shelf label manufacturer, FET’s 4.2″ E-ink display FET E042A09-A1 is a must-have for you.

This smart display screen is being used in all retail industries, including grocery, DIY, electrical businesses, pharmacies, cosmetics, department stores, and even clothing retailers.

Pair the smart E-ink display up with your pricer ESL devices and benefit from the fantastic features it has to offer, such as:

• High contrast
• High reflectance
• Ultra-wide viewing angle
• Ultra-low power consumption
• Pure reflective mode
• Bi-stable display
• Commercial temperature range
• Landscape, portrait modes
• Hard-coat anti-glare display surface
• Ultra-Low current deep sleep mode

Over a decade, Forfuture Electron Technology Co., Limited has been heavily involved in the optoelectronic display sector, focusing on R&D, manufacturing, and wholesale sales of OLED displays.

Thanks to their hands-on industry experience, the company offers smart display solutions to a wide range of problems for many businesses!

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