Graphic LCD vs. TFT LCD, does have to be the latter technology surpasses the other. However, in terminal applications, more consideration is given to compatibility and utility. Both technologies have their advantages.

Graphical LCD, also known as monochrome graphic LCD or dot-matrix LCD, has been in use for many years.

The technology is older than current cutting-edge displays such as TFT LCDs, but it is by no means a “traditional” type of display. In fact, the popularity of such displays will increase. Graphical LCD displays offer limited color options unlike TFT (Thin Film Transistor) or OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode). They display graphics mostly in monochrome and require less power to run. Here recap of the main differences between graphic LCD and TFT LCD.

Structure

Graphic LCD： Graphical LCDs usually consist of a set of character or graphic elements, each with its own control and drive circuitry. They consist of rows and columns and can display a matrix of pixels, but usually cannot display color.

If you want to know more about the features of  graphic LCD, you can read the related articles

FAQs of Graphic LCD: Concept, Classification, Common Dot Matrix and Driver (tailorpixels.com)

TFT LCD： TFT LCD is a full-color liquid crystal display consisting of many liquid crystal pixels, each driven by its own thin-film transistor (TFT). TFT LCD can display high-quality images by controlling the brightness and color of each pixel.

Quality of Display

Graphic LCD： Graphical LCDs usually have low resolution and limited capabilities of the display, which can only display simple characters and graphics. They are usually suitable for simple embedded systems or low-power applications.

TFT LCD： TFT LCD has a higher resolution and depth of color, which can display more meticulous and rich images. They are suitable for demanding graphics and video displays, such as smartphones, tablets, and televisions.

Viewing Angle and Contrast 

Graphic LCD： Graphical LCDs typically have low viewing angles and contrast, and the display may vary when viewed from different angles. The contrast may be limited by the quality of the light source and display background.

TFT LCD： TFT LCD has a better viewing angle and contrast ratio, which can provide a consistent display effect at a large viewing angle. The higher contrast, the clearer the image displayed.

Power Consumption

Graphic LCD： Graphical LCDs have low power consumption and are suitable for low-power applications and battery-operated devices.

TFT LCD： TFT LCDs generally have higher power consumption, especially when displaying large color images and videos, since they require more power to drive the pixels.

Application

Graphic LCD： Graphic LCDs are usually used in applications with simple display requirements such as embedded systems, industrial control, and instrumentation. 

The mainstream dot matrix is 128×64, 320×240, 192×64, and so on.

TFT LCD： TFT LCDs are widely used in consumer electronics such as smartphones, tablets, TVs, and computer monitors that require high-resolution and high-quality images. 

Customization

Graphic LCD: The tooling cost and MOQ of customization are the most reduced of the relative multitude of advancements, and they are generally customized according to customer design. It permits the client to get an LCD fabricated to the specific measurements mentioned, including custom symbols and segments.

TFT LCD: If customize the TFT LCD panel, the development cost is more than US $100,000, and the MOQ is at least 100k/year. Therefore, it is usually customized on the basis of panels in the existing market, to change the features such as brightness, touch, and FPC.

The above is a comparison of the characteristics in general. At present, the technology is still being updated, especially TFT LCD, which is facing the market challenges of newer technologies, such as OLED and micro oled, and caters to the application market of cutting-edge technology.

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