Both products let a shop window carry video without blocking the view behind it. They are not interchangeable, and choosing the wrong one usually shows up as a brightness problem or a maintenance problem within the first year.
The short answer
Film is for retrofits on existing glass where weight, planning permission or budget rule out a rigid screen. Cabinets are for new installations or permanent façades where brightness, service access and lifespan matter. Film is cheaper and lighter; cabinets are brighter and serviceable.
How each one is built
Transparent LED film is a flexible sheet of LEDs on a transparent substrate that bonds directly to the glass. There is no frame, no cabinet and no rear access. The glass becomes the structure.
Transparent LED cabinet is a rigid aluminium frame carrying LED bars or a mesh, mounted on a sub-structure in front of or behind the glass. It has a defined module grid, a cabinet structure and rear or front access.
Comparison
| LED film | LED cabinet | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | high, often 70–90% | typically 50–70% |
| Brightness | lower, often 1,500–4,000 nits | higher, often 3,000–6,000 nits |
| Weight on glass | very low | requires a frame and structure |
| Installation | bonded to existing glass | sub-structure, brackets, cabinets |
| Service access | replacement of sheet or section | module or bar level, front or rear |
| Curved glass | follows the curve | needs curved cabinet or segmented build |
| Pixel pitch range | coarser, typically 6–20 mm | finer, often 3.9–10 mm |
| Relative cost | lower per m² | higher per m² |
| Best for | retrofit, rented glass, low budget | permanent façade, high brightness |
When film is the right answer
- You cannot attach anything to the building. Rented retail space, listed façades and landlord restrictions rule out a sub-structure.
- The glass is curved or irregular. Film follows the surface; a cabinet needs a bespoke frame.
- Weight is critical. Film adds very little load to the glazing system.
- Budget is tight and the audience is close. At 2–5 m viewing distance, a coarse pitch still reads acceptably for logos and motion.
When a cabinet is the right answer
- You need brightness. Daylight-facing windows and outdoor façades usually need more than film can deliver.
- You need to service it. A failed bar or module can be replaced individually; film repair is more disruptive.
- You need a fine pitch. Transparent cabinets go down to around 3.9 mm, film rarely below 6 mm.
- It is a permanent installation. A rigid structure with proper cable management and drainage lasts longer.
The EA1000TiF2 fixed indoor transparent screen is the cabinet route for interior glass; the EA1000TOF2 outdoor transparent screen covers exterior façades where weather sealing matters.
The three questions that decide it
1. How bright does it need to be? If the answer is “visible in direct daylight from across the street”, film will disappoint. If it is “visible from inside the shop or at dusk”, film is often enough.
2. Can you fix it later? Ask what happens when one section fails. On film, the answer is often “replace the sheet”. On a cabinet, it is “swap the bar”.
3. What is behind the glass? If people need to see through to a display or a shop interior, high transparency matters more than brightness, and film wins on that measure.
Common mistakes
- Judging transparency from a photo. Camera angles flatter both products. Ask for the measured transparency percentage.
- Ignoring heat behind the glass. Both products add heat in a sealed space; film on a double-glazed unit can trap it.
- Forgetting power and data routing. Film needs power at the glass edge; plan the cable path before the glass is installed.
- Assuming film is temporary. It is often specified as permanent, and it is difficult to remove cleanly.
Frequently asked questions
Can LED film be used outdoors?
Some products are rated for exterior use, but sealing, UV exposure and service access all become harder. For an exterior façade, a sealed transparent cabinet is usually the safer specification.
What is the typical lifespan of each?
Both depend on duty cycle and heat. A rigid cabinet is generally easier to maintain over a ten-year horizon; film is more often replaced as a sheet.
Can I mix them on one building?
Yes, and it happens — film on the awkward curved sections, cabinets on the main façade. Plan the power and data as one system.
Send a photo of the glass
Tell us the glass size, whether it is curved, what is behind it and how bright the space is. We will tell you which product actually works there. Ask through the contact page, or see the flexible film LED display for the non-transparent flexible case.