EVERYTHING ASKED
Straight answers about SMD screens.
What the technology actually is, what the numbers mean, and the questions that only come up in Pakistan, load shedding, monsoon, customs and who turns up when it breaks.
THE TECHNOLOGY
What it is and how it works
- What does SMD stand for?
- SMD stands for Surface-Mounted Device. It describes how the LED is packaged: the red, green and blue chips are mounted together in a single tiny package that is soldered flat onto the board, rather than each colour being a separate lamp. It is the standard construction for modern LED screens, which is why in Pakistan people say "SMD screen" when they mean an LED display.
- What is the difference between an SMD screen and an LED screen?
- There is no difference, they are the same thing. "LED screen" describes the technology and "SMD" describes how the LEDs are packaged. In Pakistan the term SMD became the common name for the product; internationally the same product is usually called an LED display or LED video wall.
- What is pixel pitch, and why does it matter more than resolution?
- Pixel pitch is the distance between the centre of one LED and the next, in millimetres. P2.5 means 2.5 mm apart. It matters more than total resolution because it sets the minimum distance from which the image looks solid rather than dotted. As a rule of thumb, the pitch number in metres is the closest comfortable viewing distance. A P10 screen looks perfect from 15 metres and like a grid of dots from two.
- What is the difference between SMD and COB?
- COB stands for Chip-on-Board. Instead of packaging each LED separately and mounting it, the chips are bonded directly to the board and sealed under a protective resin layer. That gives a flatter, more durable surface with better contrast and no individual lamps to knock off, which is why COB dominates the very fine pitches (P0.9-P1.5) and anywhere people touch the screen. SMD remains the right choice for most indoor and all outdoor work on cost grounds.
- What are nits, and how many do I need?
- A nit (cd/m²) measures brightness. Indoor screens generally sit between 600 and 1,000 nits; screens facing direct sunlight need 5,000, 6,500. Brightness should match ambient light rather than be maximised, an indoor wall run at outdoor brightness is uncomfortable to sit near, ages faster and wastes power.
- How long does an LED screen last?
- LED lamps are typically rated at around 100,000 hours to half brightness, roughly 11 years running continuously. In practice, lifespan is decided by heat, power quality and sealing rather than by the LEDs, which is why cabinet construction and surge protection matter more than the headline lamp rating.
- Is an LED video wall better than an LCD video wall?
- For anything large, yes. LCD video walls are built from separate panels, so there is always a visible bezel line between them no matter how thin. An LED wall is one continuous surface with no seams, scales to any size or shape, and goes far brighter. LCD is only preferable at small sizes and short viewing distances where cost dominates.
- Can LED screens be curved or made in custom shapes?
- Yes. Flexible modules and curved cabinets allow concave, convex and cylindrical builds, and screens can be made in non-rectangular shapes for architectural work. Curvature has to be designed at cabinet stage, not improvised on site.
- What is the difference between indoor and outdoor SMD screens?
- Brightness, sealing and pitch. Outdoor screens run 5,000-6,500 nits to stay readable against sunlight, are sealed to IP65 against rain and dust, and use a coarser pitch (typically P4-P10) because they are viewed from further away. Indoor screens are dimmer by design, need no weather sealing, and use a finer pitch (P1.5-P3, or COB down to P0.9) for close viewing. An indoor panel put outside fails quickly; an outdoor panel put inside is uncomfortably bright and needlessly expensive.
- What is refresh rate and does it matter?
- It matters if a camera will ever point at the screen. A low refresh rate produces visible scan lines and flicker on video, even though it looks fine to the eye. Anything being filmed, a studio, a stage, a press event, should be specified at 3,840 Hz or higher.
IN PAKISTAN
The questions we get asked here
- How much does an SMD screen cost in Pakistan?
- There is no single rate, because cost is driven by pixel pitch, total area, indoor versus outdoor construction and the structure needed to mount it. A finer pitch multiplies the number of LEDs per square metre, so two screens of the same size can differ several times over in price. We quote against your actual site, send the wall size and viewing distance on 0321-9458888.
- Will load shedding or unstable voltage damage the screen?
- Unstable supply is the most common cause of LED screen failure in Pakistan, more than heat, and far more than the panels themselves. Surges kill power supplies and receiving cards. Proper earthing and surge protection cost very little next to the screen and prevent the most expensive class of failure. Specify them at the start; retrofitting after a failure is more expensive.
- Can an outdoor screen survive Pakistani summers and monsoon?
- Yes, if it is built for it. Outdoor screens are IP65-rated on the front face with sealed cabinets and managed heat dissipation. The failures we are called to repair are usually water ingress through a seal that was opened for servicing and not re-sealed, or power damage, rarely the temperature itself.
- How do I know the modules are genuine and not low-grade imports?
- Ask for the manufacturer name, the datasheet and the bin grade in writing, on the quotation and not just in the proposal. A traceable module has all three; an unbranded container purchase has none, which means replacements in year two will not match the wall. We are an authorised dealer and System Integrator for Hikvision's SMD segment in Pakistan, so the supply chain behind our modules is documented.
- Is VANCOTT an authorised Hikvision dealer in Pakistan?
- Yes, an authorised dealer and System Integrator for Hikvision's SMD segment in Pakistan. In practice that means the modules we supply have a named manufacturer, a datasheet and a bin grade behind them, rather than untraceable panels bought by the container. It also means replacements in year three still match the wall.
- Do you supply sound systems and installation as well as screens?
- Yes. Display, audio, mounting structure and control software come under one contract. Most display problems are not display problems, they are a structure fabricated by someone who never saw the panel, or audio commissioned by a third party. One scope means one number to call when something needs fixing.
- Do you handle customs, import and duties?
- Yes. Equipment is imported through proper channels and the paperwork is part of the supply, not something handed to the client. This also matters for warranty: grey-market stock usually has no manufacturer support behind it.
- Who services the screen after installation, and how quickly?
- We do. We hold spares for the systems we install, and modules are swapped as units rather than repaired in place so the wall returns to uniform brightness. Our teams travel nationwide for installation and service.
- Do I need permission to install an outdoor screen?
- Usually yes, outdoor advertising displays are regulated by the local authority, and requirements vary by city and by location. Having come from the outdoor advertising side since 2001, permissions and structure are familiar ground for us rather than an afterthought discovered mid-project.
- Which cities do you cover?
- We work nationwide across Pakistan. Our priority markets are Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, and we travel elsewhere for installation and service.
- Can I rent a screen instead of buying one?
- Yes. We rent screens for concerts, weddings, conferences, sport and exhibitions, delivered and rigged with an on-site operator and spares on the truck. If a screen is needed for a single event, renting is almost always the correct answer.
Still have a question?
Send the wall size, the viewing distance and a photo of the location. That is enough for us to tell you the right pitch and quote it.
WHERE WE WORK
Not sure which pixel pitch your space needs? Read the room walks through ten pitches from P0.9 to P10 and what each one is built for. Read the FAQ. Renting for an event? See rental. Or read what we cover after the install.