Making Sense of Nits Brightness: A Guide to Understand and Choose the Best Display

Have you ever wondered how you can still see your smartphone screen clearly on a sunny day? The answer lies in the nits of your device. Although nits may seem like a technical term, understanding them is essential for choosing the right display. In this article, we’ll demystify nits and explain why they matter for your devices. We’ll also explore the difference between nits and lumens, how to measure nits brightness, and the ideal nits brightness for various displays.

Everything You Need to Know About a Nit

A nit is a unit used to measure luminance or brightness in displays like laptops, televisions, and tablets. It stands for “candela per square meter,” referring to the intensity of light. The higher the number of nits, the brighter the display. The term “nit” likely comes from the Latin word “nitere,” meaning “to shine.” Hence, it has become the accepted way to describe display brightness.

How Bright is a Nit?

To put the brightness of a nit into perspective, imagine the light produced by one lit whale oil candle. If you place that candle in a container measuring one meter on all sides, the light that reaches the surface of the container is equivalent to one candela per square meter, or one nit.

Why Do You Need to Care About Nits Brightness?

Knowing the number of nits in a device helps you find displays with greater brightness. Higher nits are essential for outdoor devices like smartphones and tablets, ensuring clear visibility even in sunny conditions.

Differences Between Nits and Lumens

Nits and lumens are related units, but nits are used specifically for measuring display brightness. One nit equals one ANSI lumen, which is the total light emitted by a surface measuring one meter on all sides. However, one nit contains more luminance than one ANSI lumen.

How to Measure Nits Brightness?

You can find information about your device’s nits in the product specifications provided by the manufacturer or through detailed product reviews. Additionally, there are apps and software available to help you determine your device’s nits brightness. You can also use tools like a digital lux meter to make the necessary computations.

What is the Ideal Nits Brightness?

The ideal nits brightness depends on the type of display. For tablets and smartphones, a minimum of 500 nits is recommended for use in bright rooms and sunny outdoors. Computer monitors and laptops typically have nits ranging from 200 to 600, while televisions should have 600 or more nits for excellent display, especially for high dynamic range TV types.

Wrapping Up

Understanding nits brightness is crucial, especially for portable devices like smartphones and tablets. By considering the number of nits offered by a display, you can ensure clear visibility in various lighting conditions. So, the next time you buy a device, be sure to pay attention to its offered nits.