Difference Between CRT Monitor and LCD

In this article, we will discuss the CRT and LCD, along with their differences. A CRT is a symbol for Cathode Ray Tube, while the acronym LCD symbolizes Liquid Crystal Display. Both CRT display screens and LCD screens are kinds of monitors that display images or videos on their screens. There are numerous distinctions between CRT and LCD displays. CRT displays have a cathode ray tube inside of them that emits rays, and when those rays strike the fluorescent screen, it emits light and hence displays the pictures.

Comparison Chart between LCD and CRT Monitors

	LCD	CRT
Abbreviations	LCD is a symbol for Liquid Crystal Displays.	CRT is a symbol for Cathode Ray Tubes.
Structure	LCDs have a crystal-like liquid inside that directs the light to the screen from the bottom of the monitor.	CRTs have an electron gun at the end of the monitor tube. This electron gun emits electron beams that strike the phosphor dots on the monitor screen.
Weights	LCDs are lighter in comparison to CRT monitors. This is the reason that LCD monitors are preferred over CRT monitors.	CRT monitors are heavy.
Display quality	LCD screens provide better display quality. Images do not flicker on the screens of LCDs.	The display quality of CRT monitors is not as good as LCDs. Images sometimes flicker on CRT monitor screens, and that is the reason for the poor image quality.
Power usage:	LCDs use less electric power than CRTs.	CRT requires more electric power for its operation.
Core mechanism	The core task of forming images is done by the crystals.	The image is formed by the striking of an electron beam from the electron gun placed inside the CRT monitors.
Cost	LCDs are more costly in comparison to CRTs.	CRT monitors are less costly than LCDs.
Responsiveness	The response of LCDs is faster in comparison to CRT monitors.	CRT monitors work slower in other aspects.

Complete definitions and explanations of both LCD and CRT are given below:

Introduction of CRTs

CRTs are the type of displays or monitors that have cathode tubes at their back and a fluorescent screen. The screen contains tiny dots of three primary colors: green, yellow, and blue. All the other secondary colors are made by combining these primary colors. We can see the proper mechanism of CRT in the figure below:

Structure of the CR Tube

As one can see from the figure, there is a cathode at the back of the tube. In front of the cathode, there is an electron gun that emits electrons. Then a positively charged anode is present in front of the electron gun. There are horizontal and vertical plates called X-plates and Y-plates, respectively. Finally, at the very front of the tube, there exists a fluorescent screen upon which the beam of electrons strikes.

Working of CR Tube

The electron gun emits electron beams. These electrons emitted from the electron gun are negatively charged, while the anode following the electron gun is positively charged. Hence, negatively charged particles are attracted to the anode that is positively charged. That electron beam passes through the vertical and horizontal plates to strike the fluorescent screen. The fluorescent screen has phosphor dots on it of three different colors: red, green, and blue. These are the primary colors, while all the other secondary colors are made by combining these basic colors. When the electron beam emitted from the electron gun strikes the phosphor dots, these dots glow. That glowing color makes the picture visible on the monitor screen.

Cons of CRT Monitors:

There are many cons to CRT monitors, due to which they are not preferred over LCD screens. Usually, CRTs are bulky, heavy, and have larger infrastructure as compared to LCDs, which are not that bulky. CRT screens do not give as good display results as LCD screens do. The images shown by the CRT monitors are not as sharp as those on the LCD screens. These monitors consume more power to operate.

Introduction of LCDs

Liquid crystal displays, also known as LCDs, are a kind of hardware that is used in many electronic devices such as calculators, Apple iPads, and computer monitors. LCD is a kind of display monitor that is thinner than CRT monitors. It has a crystal-like liquid present inside of it. LCDs have less weight as compared to CRT monitors, and they give a more appealing display of pictures, videos, etc. This is the reason LCD monitors are usually preferred over CRT monitors.

Structure and Working of LCD

To understand the complete workings of LCD, we need to look at its internal structure. The back lights are generated at the bottom of the computer monitor. On the other side, there is an element with several layers. Because of that element and its several layers, the light is evenly spread over the whole LCD, and it starts glowing.

The secret, however, is the glass panel at the top of that element. That glass panel has two layers that are aligned perpendicular to each other. The light passes vertically through that panel. To display the colors or picture on the screen, it is necessary to let the light pass vertically. Glass panel layers cannot align the direction of light. Therefore, a crystal liquid is present between the two layers of glass panel. That liquid makes sure to let the light pass only vertically when it reaches the screen. The liquid is provided with the voltage or current for its operation.

Just like CRT monitors, three kinds of colored glass panels are used in LCDs. Those colors are red, green, and blue. These are the primary colors, while the rest of the colors are made by combining these three colors.

This is how the LCD works to display pictures on the screen. The complete internal structure is described in pictorial form in the picture shown below:

Conclusion

Concluding the difference between the two types of screens, we can say that LCD screens perform better than CRT monitors for displaying images on screens. LCDs have many benefits over CRTs. LCDs are light in weight and thinner, and it is easy to move LCD monitors because of their lighter weight. On the other hand, CRT monitors are heavy and bulky.

In older times, CRT monitors were used in televisions and some computer systems as well. LCDs are used in calculators, iPads, and computer screens as well. LCDs consume less power as compared to CRTs. The response of LCDs is faster as compared to CRT monitors. CRT monitors work slower in other respects. The internal mechanisms of LCDs use a crystal liquid for their working. CRTs work with electrons that are emitted from an electron gun. Because of the better features of LCDs, they are more expensive. CRT monitors are more costly, on the other hand.

People now-a-days prefer LCDs over CRT monitors because of the benefits it provides over CRT monitors. It is used in computer systems widely. CRT monitors are seen very less now-a-days anywhere because they have mostly been replaced by LCDs.

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