How Curved Displays Became the New Darling of Commercial Display Industry

2025-05-07

Only through comparison can we determine superiority. To unravel why curved displays have become the industry's favorite, let's first analyze the comparison table below and trace the evolutionary history of display technology—the answer will then become evident.

Display performance parameter comparison table

Display type Performance Parameter	CRT/Cathode Ray Tube	LCD/Backlit Liquid Crystal	LED/Light-Emitting Diode	OLED	PDP/Plasma Display
Color/Image Quality	Unlimited colors, excellent color quality, ideal for professional graphics/High resolution, low motion blur, perfect for fast-moving images.	Low resolution contrast ratio/Small viewing Angle	Improved color and brightness over LCD	High contrast, true-to-life colors, delicate	Excellent color/Image clarity
Size/Weight	Bulky/Heavy	Compact/Lightweight	Thin/Light	Thinnest/flexible	Bulky/heavy
Energy consumption/Environmental protection	High power consumption/Radiation	Low Power Consumption/Eco-friendly	High heat/no radiation	Low power consumption/Eco-friendly	High energy consumption, high heat / Low radiation, environmental protection
Lifespan/Maintenance	Short lifespan/Difficult maintenance	Long lifespan/Easy maintenance	Long lifespan	Short lifespan/difficult maintenance (burn-in, flickering issues)	Short lifespan/Difficult maintenance
Response Speed	Fast	Fast	Slower than LCD	Fast	Slow
Cost	High	Affordable	Higher than LCD	High	High

Display Images of Various Screen Types:

Historical Context
The evolution of display technology—from CRT to LCD and plasma, with transitional rear-projection systems—has driven advancements in television displays. Progressing from backlighting to LCD, 3D, UHD, and OLED, the industry reached a milestone in 2014 with the introduction of curved UHD LCD TVs, marking a definitive technological trend.

Ergonomic Superiority
The spherical shape of human eyes makes flat screens inherently distort visual perception, especially noticeable on larger displays. Curved screens, however, align with ergonomic principles, delivering a more natural viewing experience. Users gain a cinematic immersion, with wider optimal viewing angles at the edges, enhanced comfort, and unparalleled presence. Their sleek arc design also aligns with modern aesthetics—much like streamlined cars or rounded smartphones.

In 2014, curved LCD panels became the first to pass performance certification by China’s CESI (Electronic Industrial Standardization Institute), a landmark achievement for the industry.

Market Trends

Currently, LCD and OLED dominate curved display substrates:
• LCD-based curved displays: Ranging from 23.8 to 55 inches.
• OLED curved displays: Optimized for larger screens.
Curved displays adopt human-optimized curvature, ensuring equidistant visibility from the viewer’s eyes to every screen point, thus offering broader fields of view and deeper immersion. While higher curvature increases manufacturing complexity, user tests confirm that screen size, not just curvature, dictates visual excellence.
With refined manufacturing and technological breakthroughs, curved displays have achieved remarkable improvements in contrast and brightness uniformity, solidifying their status as the commercial display industry’s rising star!