From the advertising billboard you see in your shopping mall, to the screens organizations use to surface crucial company information. If you’re looking to build your own digital signage network, you may be wondering how companies get from the point of deciding “let’s do it” to beautiful displays that seamlessly integrate with the tools and systems they already use.

In this guide we’ll show you how to choose the best digital signage hardware for your needs. 

Through six key sections, we’ll talk you through all of the components that make up a digital signage network like screens and media devices. We’ll share the pros, cons, and potential of each hardware option depending on content requirements, size of network, pricing, and limitations. 

If you don’t need an in-depth look at each hardware option and just want to find something quickly, use our hardware selector tool instead.

1. How to choose a digital signage screen

There are many things to consider when choosing the best TV screen for your digital signage. What works for one person may not work for someone else. 

Your needs will be shaped by multiple factors, particularly your content and your location characteristics.

Are you setting up digital signage in a school with an enterprise level network, both large and small screen sizes, image, 4K video, and app content? Then you will need one type of solution. 

Are you setting up an advertisement network with screens in multiple out-of-office locations with the need for theft protection, remote device management, and the ability to play simple image and 1080p video content? Then you will need something quite different.

Will you be showing content for 8 hours or less a day? Then maybe you should buy a consumer display. Or, perhaps, you want to show content 24/7, then maybe you should buy a professional display. 

The better you understand your needs, the better you’ll be able to choose the correct screen size and type.

For more information on which screen will suit your digital signage needs best, check our Help Center for our full list of recommended Consumer screen displays or our recommended Professional screen displays.

Different screen types for digital signage 

When you think of digital signage, you might think of giant screens in Times Square or large screens showing information at an airport. But these aren’t your only options. Here are a couple of different screen types, and the best scenario for each: 

Tablets or iPads - best for scenarios that require a touch screen or kiosk setup or where the viewer is not far from the screen. For example, outside meeting rooms, in elevators, or next to products in supermarkets.

Monitors - best for a cost-effective way to show content on a screen. If you’re looking for anything 17-32 inches, it’s more economical to get a monitor. If you need a screen that’s 32 inches or more, you’re better off getting a TV.

Non-smart TVs - best for a budget-friendly large-screen option. A non-smart TV is a bit like a dumb PC monitor in that it doesn’t have much power on its own and needs to be “made smart” by a media device, like a plugged-in Chromecast with Google TV. But on the outside, these generally look as good as any other screen.

Smart TVs - best for an all-in-one solution, or where you don’t have the space or ability to hide away media devices. A smart TV is essentially a TV with built-in computing capabilities and software - known as System on Chip (SoC). Operating systems might include Android TVs, Tizen TVs from Samsung, webOS TVs from LG, and even some based on Windows or Linux.  However, when choosing a smart TV, it’s important to look at the specifications and performance. Many stunning smart TVs are surprisingly low-performance or run on older versions of Android.

Read More: Setting up Samsung Tizen digital signage

Consumer TVs - Consumer TVs are displays designed for personal use, meaning they are designed for less display time, more or less 8 hours per day at most, as you probably won't be watching TV for more time than that in one day. If you use a consumer TV for 24/7 digital signage usage you will find that experience accelerated screen burn-in, reduced longevity, and color distortion.

Professional TVs - Professional TVs, also known as commercial-grade TVs, are specifically designed for digital signage and are designed for longer display times, usually 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, or 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (you'll often see a 16/7 or 24/7 display time rating on professional displays' spec sheets). Professional displays have advantages over consumer TVs in terms of build quality, durability, brightness, and outdoor use.

Do you need a commercial-grade TV to run digital signage? 

Despite what many manufacturers tell you, you don’t have to buy a commercial-grade screen (one that you buy from a reseller or specialist partner) to be able to run digital signage. But there are reasons why you might choose one over a consumer-grade screen (one you can buy from your local hardware store or on Amazon). One key reason is that they are specifically designed for longer use periods. A consumer display warranty is much shorter than a commercial-grade display and only covers you for a maximum of 1-2 years, whereas a commercial display warranty can cover you for up to 5-10 years. A consumer warranty may be voided if you use it for 24 hours seven days a week and results in a burn out, whereas a commercial panel is designed for that and almost expected to be “always on”. Commercial options are also often brighter, sharper, can handle more rigorous use cases, and won’t fade or burn from a few months of use.

Saying that, the world is changing, and just like you might use an iPhone or a Windows PC at work (both consumer-grade devices), you can also build a very professional digital signage setup on a consumer-grade TV. As we’ve seen firsthand, many enterprises are choosing to do this rather than forking out hundreds of thousands of dollars on hardware that has little additional benefit. 

2. Choosing a digital signage media device

When we talk about digital signage hardware, we’re usually talking about one of the following:

A media player device or “signage” device connected to a TV or monitor, turning what would otherwise be a regular TV or monitor into a smart, connected device, capable of being used for digital signage

A smart TV all-in-one device or tablet that has both a screen, computing power, and operating system needed to be used for digital signage

The different types of media players include:

Consumer Media Players -  When it comes to consumer-grade media players, they are intended for household use and are not intended for continuous 24/7 usage. If utilized in a commercial setting, the item may be damaged since the build quality is not as high or robust. Consumer media players are ones you would find at your local electronics shop and are often built of plastic, which makes them less expensive but also sensitive to heat. The Chromecast with Google TV is currently our favorite consumer media player.

Commercial Media Players - Commercial media players are built to last for extended periods of time without incurring internal component damage. Because they are largely made of metal, they are significantly more durable and can withstand lengthy usage in the worst circumstances. Above all, the main difference between consumers and commercial media players is computational capacity. Commercial media players have faster processing power and can handle more demanding content, such as 4K videos and zones. In fact, we built our own commercial media player, the Station P1 Pro to check all of the most important boxes.

Industrial Media Players - As well as having the same level of computing power, the key difference between commercial and industrial media players is the extra features that help the device maintain a consistent output of content regardless of the environment. So what does that mean? Well, industrial media players are also built with metal chassis to dissipate heat like commercial media players, but they also come with shock-absorbing features, moisture protection, dust protection, and the ability to operate in very high or very low temperatures. The physical chassis is designed much stronger to withstand any environment that has vibrations, smoke, or even grease. Environments with high pollutants, such as fast-food restaurants, bus terminals, factories, ski resorts, hot weather, cold weather— you name it these displays can handle it. Some industrial media players can also push multiple displays with ease.

Unless you have bought a smart TV where you know you can download your digital signage software directly (double check, this isn’t a given), you’ll need to add a media device to your package. 

We looked at more than 250 media devices made by some of the biggest names in the business to find out which ones work best for digital signage and why. We then split them up according to budget and categorized what we consider a consumer, commercial, and industrial media player. We hope this information helps you make a better-informed decision when picking a media player so you can have the right hardware to properly interact and engage with your audience for your digital signage.

Note: While there may be times that discontinued devices can be a good value via refurbished deals, we didn’t list any here, focusing instead on new devices with full warranties.

Budget consumer digital signage media devices (under $100)

Our first recommendation is the budget consumer option. If you are looking for a device that will accomplish simple digital signage tasks in a more consumer setting and has a shorter warranty period, then this is the best option for you. There are some fantastic consumer devices under $100 that can transform your display into a connected, smart TV capable of playing content up to 4K. 

The obvious advantage of devices in this category is price and easy plug and play capability. However, being a consumer media player you may not be able to display complicated content or even use the device for long periods of time. For more information on what a consumer media player is check out section two. 

You need a device capable of playing up to 4K, as some devices only support 1080p.

You need a device that can store cached media content locally, as some devices are not designed to and do not come with much storage space.

You need enough power to support advanced apps or zoning (where a digital signage display is divided into multiple sections, all showing different types of content), as some devices are not designed to.

Also check to see if the device you want is available in your region, as some devices are not available in all markets. 

You need a device that can play in demanding environments. 

You need remote device management capabilities.

The best devices in this category are Chromecasts with Google TV and Android media boxes.

There are also some great consumer-grade Android-powered devices that are less than $150.

The Chromecast with Google TV released by Google in late 2022 is a big step up compared to previous Chromecasts; it runs the latest version of the Google TV, so it comes with a full operating system and is equipped with a remote control to navigate through your screen. 

Currently costing around $99, the Chromecast can handle playing 4K content with ease, has fast Wi-Fi, comes with only one HDMI port, supports advanced apps, and has zoning. And if you need Ethernet support, the Chromecast with Google TV supports a great Ethernet adapter you can easily purchase. 

Unfortunately, this device does not have remote management options, and, like the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, there's no option for bulk purchases.

Choose the Chromecast with Google TV if you want an affordable device with a lot of power and you’re willing to research shipping, warranty, and other manufacturer-specific quirks.

Quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 8GB of storage,

Support for Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HDR10+ (gives richer colors and depth with a higher brightness - when compared to previous Chromecasts).

It is a small puck that is fairly easy to conceal behind a display if you are using it in public places.

Comes with one HDMI port and USB-C port.4

While Fire TV Sticks are easy to set up, have fast WiFi and official Ethernet adapters, connect via HDMI, and come with a one-year warranty--they recently received operating system updates that make them hard to recommend for digital signage.

We think the best option now from Amazon is the Signage Stick. This is Amazon's made for digital signage player which comes with popular CMS including ScreenCloud pre-installed, making it ready to go out of the box.

We recommend only using an Amazon Fire TV Stick if you have one lying around and are okay with manually opening your digital signage player every time you turn on your screen.

Chromecast with Google TV (and, in a pinch, Fire TV Stick) are affordable devices and are great if they are available in the country you are in. They are both under $100 and are a great start to your digital signage journey. But, if you are looking for a more business-ready device, you probably don't want to use an Android TV-like device. In this case, we recommend choosing something like an entry-level commercial digital signage media player like the option we listed below.

Budget commercial digital signage media devices (under $100)

Our newest player is designed to be an affordable and lightweight digital signage media player, perfect for those starting out. As one of the lowest priced and highest spec players on the market, PIXI is designed for all day displays with enterprise grade security and remote device management too.

But don't be fooled, just because it's a more affordable version of our popular Station P1 Pro, doesn't mean it's less powerful. 

It's powered by ScreenCloud OS, built on Android, and designed to integrate with ScreenCloud's CMS for a 99% glitch-free experience. And with plenty of RAM and storage on-board, PIXI is designed to keep running even if there are connectivity problems.

PIXI is designed for offices, retailers, hospitality businesses and situations where you want to quickly scale your digital signage network while keeping costs low but quality high. 

For those looking for a device to power screens in more demanding environments, such as in industrial settings or under direct sunlight, it's advisable to look at the Station P1 Pro.

Consumer media players are fantastic for setting up a few digital signage displays in your shop or office, but if you want to go more business-ready while remaining within your budget, we suggest purchasing a cheap commercial-grade media player like the Ugoos X4 Cube media player.

Starting at around $60.00, the Ugoos X4 Cube is a powerful Android-powered industrial media player designed specifically for digital signage business use cases. Unlike Amazon or other Android TV devices, the X4 Cube runs a more complete version of Android, so it's much easier for you to use more business apps and services like remote device management options. It is also available to purchase in bulk, which is important for larger businesses. 

The Ugoos X4 Cube is a small, sleek, rectangle black plastic box that can easily fit behind any TV. The X4 Cube runs an Android 11 operating system and supports an Amlogic S905X4 Quad core CPU, as well as Ethernet and Wi-Fi support, with 2GB DDR4 of available RAM to support digital signage use.

There are some minor drawbacks to consider with low-cost options, such as the fact that the remote control is of poor quality. Although this isn't a deal breaker because it has never interfered with usage. Second, root access is required to set up remote device management for a more secure setup.

To summarize, the Ugoos X4 Cube is a great device if you want more business features like remote device management and have the option to buy in bulk for larger businesses. Although this box is lightweight, it performs extremely well and is manufactured with quality. We suggest not to judge a book by its cover with this one as it truly gives you your money's worth.

Entry level commercial digital signage media players ($100-$200)

An entry-level device is perfect for getting started as these typically come at a much more affordable price and have a lower processing power but still have commercial capabilities! 

When choosing an Entry-Level commercial media player, you'll want to take the following into consideration:

These lower cost media players are a reliable option but within their own limits as they can only stream to a single or dual display, so when purchasing an entry-level device it is important to have realistic expectations. If you would like to stream to multiple screens, perhaps a medium to high end media player will suit you better.

These devices have less power so if you are pushing content that has animations, scrolling tickers or widgets, your screen might not look as crisp and images will be jittery. 

Entry-level devices have less storage capacity. Storing your content in the local cache ensures your content will play smoothly and ensures content will continue playing without internet connection.  

Great recommendation for menu boards, directories, and other displays with a lighter content load. 

If you want a much stronger media player with more control features, we recommend the Ugoos AM6B Plus, which costs around $219. The Ugoos AM6B Plus has a slightly faster processor, such as the Amlogic S922X-J SoC, than the Ugoos X4 Cube, which runs the Amlogic S905X4, so you can be confident that it will run your digital signage content with minimal interruptions.

Because it is intended for business use, this device has a metal chassis and a high-quality build to help dissipate heat and allow you to play content for extended periods of time without the device degrading.

Looking for the best digital signage hardware? Our guide looks at screens, media players, software and much more to power your digital signage displays.

The Buyer's Guide to Digital Signage Hardware: Pros, Cons and Potential

The Buyer's Guide to Digital Signage Hardware: Pros, Cons and Potential

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