Why Monitors Are Thick and Bulky While Tablets Are Thin: A Detailed Analysis

Monitors and tablets both come with display technology, but their physical characteristics differ significantly. This article delves into the reasons behind the thickness and bulkiness of monitors and why tablets are often thinner. We'll explore the design differences, technical specifications, and the technology behind these devices.

Design Goals and Component Differences

It's important to understand that the design goals for monitors and tablets vary greatly. While both devices serve the purpose of providing a display, their applications and portable nature require different priorities.

Monitor Specifications

Thicker Monitors: Many modern monitors are often fastened to a bracket for use, whereas a normal TV can be set up as a monitor in one of your HDMI sockets. Some sets also feature multi-point monitor plugs, but using a spare HDMI socket is recommended for better image quality and clarity. Simply press the 'input button' on your remote to see if you have a spare socket not being used. For tablets, however, there's no such connection option.

Technical Specifications

Not all flat panel monitors have AC transformers built in, but they do require controller boards to take multiple inputs such as VGA, DVI, DP, and HDMI and convert them to the panel's native signaling, such as LVDS. A tablet display has none of these. Additionally, some monitors come with a USB hub and a sturdy frame for VESA mounting. This extra equipment necessitates more room for passive cooling, which contributes to the overall bulkiness of monitors.

Design Goals and Technical Challenges

When designing a panel for a portable product, minimizing thickness, weight, and power consumption are top priorities. However, for a monitor or TV panel, brightness and uniformity take precedence, often at the expense of thickness and simplicity. Therefore, monitor panels tend to be thicker than those intended for laptops and tablets.

Power Supply Differences

Monitors have power supplies that run on mains voltages, which requires a bit of bulk. In contrast, tablets typically run on a single lithium cell. This is why it's common for a little portable charger to be thicker than a tablet. The main reason is that the power supply and other components in monitors consume more space in the build.

Conclusion

In summary, the thickness and bulkiness of monitors can largely be attributed to their design goals and technical specifications. While monitors prioritize brightness and uniformity, tablets are optimized for portability, which translates to thinner designs. This detailed analysis provides insights into why these devices have different physical characteristics, helping you understand the engineering and design challenges that go into each product.