When discussing LED displays, terms like pixel, pixel pitch, and real vs. virtual pixels are used frequently but may be confusing at times. Let us define these in simple terms to better comprehend why they are important and how they influence the performance of an LED display.

What is a Pixel?
A pixel is one unit of light on an LED display. It is the same as a pixel on a computer monitor, a light dot which can be switched on, switched off, or changed to produce different colors. In our actual pixel products, one pixel is made up of three colors — Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) — each one unit of light.

What is Pixel Pitch?
Pixel pitch is the distance from one pixel center to the next. It is significant because it is what determines resolution and display acuteness. For instance, a pixel pitch of 2.5mm is where the distance from a pixel center to the next is 2.5mm. Smaller pixel pitches are closer to the resolution scale, which is what is best suited for near viewing.

Real Pixels vs. Virtual Pixels
You should know the difference between real and virtual pixels while choosing a suitable display for your needs.
Real Pixels
Real pixels are simple. Here, the screen contains the same number of real pixels as there are pixels that are utilized to display the image. It's a 1:1 relationship, and thus the screen will only be capable of supporting the same amount of pixels as are present. Real pixels are employed where precise detail and picture accuracy is most important.
Virtual Pixels
Virtual pixels are a bit deceptive. In this case, the number of physical pixels is fewer than what can be handled by the screen, and a 1:N configuration is formed (N=2 or 4 typically). What this means is that images larger than the resolution of the physical pixels can be handled by virtual pixels, i.e., smoother images are supported. Virtual pixels are generally applied in software or hardware-based display systems for "multiplying" the pixels.
They differ according to the virtual pixel type, i.e., 2x virtual or 4x virtual, based on the pixel multiplexing level. They differ based on the RGB lights configuration, i.e., 1R1G1B virtual or 2R1G1B virtual. Milestrong's MCOB Series, for example, offers real and virtual pixel configurations to meet various display requirements.

In short, simply knowing how real pixels, virtual pixels, and pixel pitch work will help you make the right decision when shopping for LED displays that provide the resolution and image quality you require.