Shenzhen Chenghao TFT and Monochrome LCD Display Development and Manufacturing Processes
22 October, 2025
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Transflective vs. Conventional Transmissive TFT – Key Considerations for Underwater / Outdoor Applications
Transflective itself is also a type of TFT LCD.
Normal TFT = fully transmissive TFT (relies entirely on backlight).
The core differences between the two lie in:
- Backlight structure
- Power consumption
- Sunlight readability
- Price
- Underwater usability
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I. Structural Differences
Normal Transmissive TFT
No reflective film at the bottom. Fully relies on backlight. External ambient light cannot participate in imaging — light only travels forward from the backlight.
Transflective TFT
A semi-transparent reflective coating is added to the bottom layer: half of the light passes through (backlight mode), half is reflected (ambient light mode).
Pixel design includes both reflective and transmissive areas — dual optical path.
II. Power Consumption (Most Critical for Underwater Devices)
Transflective Display
- Strong ambient light / sufficient natural light underwater → backlight can be turned off → saves 60%–80% power (only LCD driver consumes energy).
- Dark / deep water without light → backlight on → power consumption ≈ normal TFT.
- Best choice for shallow water / nearshore applications with natural light and battery power.
Normal Transmissive TFT
- Backlight must remain on at all times.
- To achieve underwater / sunlight visibility, backlight brightness must be increased significantly → higher power consumption, shorter battery life, more heat.
III. Display & Outdoor / Underwater Visibility
Strong light, surface sunlight, shallow clear water
- Transflective: the stronger the ambient light, the clearer the image — no washout or black screen under direct sunlight.
- Normal TFT: image appears washed out under strong light — requires higher backlight power.
Deep water without ambient light
- Transflective (backlight on): colors slightly faded, lower saturation.
- Normal TFT: vivid colors, high contrast, better image quality.
IV. Price & Cost
- Transflective TFT: requires special optical coating → 30%–80% more expensive than same-size normal TFT, higher customization threshold.
- Normal Transmissive TFT: mature production, ample supply chain → low cost, widely available in stock.
V. Selection Guide for Underwater Scenarios
- Nearshore, shallow water, underwater operations with natural light → Choose transflective: power-saving, sunlight-readable, longer battery life.
- Deep sea, totally dark environment (no natural light) → Choose normal transmissive TFT: better color quality, lower cost.
VI. Limitations Comparison
- Transflective: naturally weaker color saturation, average black level, higher purchase cost.
- Normal TFT: poor readability under strong light / underwater sunlight, high power consumption when set to high brightness.
Contact us today to discuss your specific underwater or outdoor display requirements. Our technical team is ready to help you select the optimal solution for your application.
