5 Types of Touchscreen with Their Pros and Cons

May. 06, 2024

5 Types of Touchscreen with Their Pros and Cons

Touchscreens have become an integral part of our daily lives, appearing in everything from smartphones to ATMs. When selecting a touchscreen for a particular application, it's essential to understand the differences between the technologies available. Here's a concise overview of five common types of touchscreens, along with their advantages and disadvantages.

Overview of Touchscreen Technologies

With the advancement of smart devices, touchscreens have become inseparable from our daily routines. Devices ranging from electronic gadgets and vehicle tools to daily entertainment instruments and shopping navigation systems now heavily rely on touchscreen technology. Understanding the benefits and limitations of each type of touchscreen can help in making an informed decision when selecting a device.

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Touchscreens are primarily categorized into five types based on their operational principle: capacitive, resistive, infrared, surface acoustic wave, and low electromagnetic guidance touchscreens. Below, we delve into the nuances of the four most commonly used types.

Capacitive Touchscreen

Operation

A capacitive touchscreen relies on the conductive properties of the human body to function. Consisting of four layers of glass, the innermost and interlayer are coated with ITO (Indium Tin Oxide). The outermost layer is a protective layer of silica glass. When a user touches the screen, it disrupts the electric field, allowing the system to detect the touch point.

Pros

Minimal post-production corrections, enhancing efficiency and reducing defects.
Long working life.
Superior light transmittance and clarity compared to resistive touchscreens.
Cost-effective for large-size displays.
Supports multi-touch technology.

Cons

Large-area touches can interfere with functionality.
Not effective with gloved hands or non-conductive objects.
Inconsistent light transmittance may cause color distortion.
Sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.

Resistive Touchscreen

Operation

A resistive touchscreen operates based on pressure applied to its surface. It consists of two ITO-coated layers separated by a gap. When pressure is applied, the layers make contact, forming a conductive connection detected by the system to pinpoint the touch location.

Pros

Cost-effective and technologically mature.
High environmental adaptability; unaffected by dust or moisture.
Stable performance; responsive to both human and object touch.
High accuracy; suitable for high-resolution displays.

Cons

Easily scratched, leading to functionality issues.
Poor light transmission can result in high power consumption.
Multi-touch functionality can be inaccurate due to uneven pressure.
Relatively low touch sensitivity.

Click to check the Difference Between Resistive Touchscreen and Capacitive Touchscreen.

Infrared Touchscreen

Operation

Infrared touchscreens use an array of infrared light beams across the screen. When an object interrupts these beams, the system calculates the touch point based on the disrupted beams.

Pros

Unaffected by electrical interference such as static electricity.
Cost-effective and easy to install.
Compatible with various computer systems.

Cons

Limited usability on larger screens.
Prone to external light interference.
Not resistant to water or oil, and small debris can affect performance.

For more details, please visit our website Touch-China. Additional reading: Monitors & Displays

Surface Acoustic Wave Touchscreen

Operation

This type of touchscreen uses ultrasound waves that detect touch by measuring the disruption in the wave pattern. Installed on a flat, spherical or cylindrical glass, it sends out ultrasonic waves from transmitters and detects disruptions via receivers.

Pros

High clarity and excellent light transmittance.
Durable with good scratch resistance and responsiveness.
Resistant to environmental changes like temperature and humidity.

Cons

Less suitable for screens larger than 30 inches.
Vulnerable to moisture damage.
Requires regular cleaning to maintain functionality due to susceptibility to dirt.

Custom Solutions at RJOYTEK

At RJOYTEK, we specialize in offering personalized LCD TFT display solutions tailored to your unique requirements. Whether it's different materials for gloves, operational in water or saltwater environments, or advanced features like hover touch and 3D force touch, we provide customized touch solutions.

Need assistance? Contact us for more information! If you need a detailed view of our TFT LCD touchscreen panels, visit our ALIBABA SHOP to chat with us online.

5 Types of Touchscreen with Their Pros and Cons