SMD or DIP LED for outdoor LED display technology?

Since the beginning LED displays have been based on DIP or PTH technology, with each red, green and blue diode welded through their pins at a certain distance one another depending on required resolution and viewing distance, with a minimum pixel pitch of 10 mm.

LED screens based on DIP or PTH technology are very bright, low power consumption and reliable. More recently Surface Mount Technology has become more and more popular, with miniaturised RGB diodes in a little casing welded directly on the printed circuit board. SMDs have always been considered the right LED option for indoor application, in shops, sports halls, TV shows, stations etc.

With some special treatments and protections that make them waterproof and brighter, SMDs are now also used for outdoor applications, advertising, stadiums, concerts, roads etc. Thanks to the smaller diameter, LEDs can be positioned at a distance that is shorter than 10 mm, down to 2.6 mm, ensuring excellent resolution from close distance also in a small screen size. 3.9 mm, 4.8 mm and 6.67 mm are the most popular SMD outdoor LED display models today.

In general the picture quality of outdoor SMD Led displays is perceived as superior at a shorter viewing distance, being individual colors and pixels less visible from there. SMD angle is the same (> 120°) horizontally and vertically, allowing for optimal vision from any position. A screen based on SMT is clearly better looking, notwithstanding its lower brightness and, at same brightness level, higher power consumption than DIP/PTH.

As far as reliability, durability and lifetime are concerned, it all depends on the quality (“dice” and encapsulation) of the components utilized, as not all SMDs are certified and guaranteed for permanent outdoor use (perhaps they are for mobile use only) but high-quality SMDs can offer performances that are generally superior to DIP/PTH. MacroPix can help you take the right decision at any moment