How to Choose the Right Digital Signage Hardware for Your Business

Digital signage has become a cornerstone of modern communication strategies for businesses across various industries. From retail and corporate environments to casinos, airports, college campuses, hotels, and more—digital signage can be found everywhere.

Multiple hardware options are available in the market, but not all industries and applications require the same hardware solution. In this blog, I’ll examine some of the more common digital signage players—including Windows, BrightSign, Android, and system-on-a-chip (SoC) displays—and give insight into the best applications for each player type.

Understanding more about these different hardware options is key to ensuring you get what you need while still considering your ability to scale cost-effectively. While initial cost is always a consideration, the ability to scale and manage your digital signage network is equally important.

Digital signage networks often continue to grow in both size and complexity after the initial implementation. Additional endpoints meet new and more complex use cases. This is a key point to consider for those just getting started in digital signage.

Many businesses start with simple applications and gradually scale up. For instance, Delta Air Lines began with simple employee communication screens and eventually expanded to more sophisticated digital signage solutions, demonstrating how a digital signage network can grow to support a variety of use cases. You can learn more here about that expansion—and everything else that Delta relies on for digital signage.

As you’re thinking about which applications you want to run now, and into the future, it’s a good idea to consider which players are best suited to meet your needs.

An Evolution in Digital Signage Player Hardware

In the early days of digital signage, Windows players dominated the landscape due to their robust functionality and a lack of commercial-grade alternatives. While a large number of signage users still rely on Windows devices for all types of applications, there has been notable momentum toward non-Windows options in recent years.

Fueled by technological advancements and the demand for lower cost and higher flexibility, BrightSign, Android, and System-on-Chip (SoC) display options are all now widely used for commercial-grade digital signage. Today, our customers are finding that while some Windows-based players can power every application, not all applications require the most powerful player.

The reality of the digital signage landscape is that the right digital signage player can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your messaging. However, not all applications require the same type of player. Let's delve into the specifics of each player type and understand their best use cases and applications.

Windows

Windows devices support a wide range of applications with strong remote management and monitoring capabilities, something enterprise organizations with large-scale deployments appreciate.

From the ASUS NUC to the Dell Optiplex, Windows devices come with endless configuration options from a number of different manufacturers. So how do you decide which one is right for you?

When we think about Windows devices, we typically categorize them into three different tiers—entry-level devices, general use, and high performance. For the purposes of this article, we’ll use Intel products to illustrate the differences in each tier and discuss where each of these types of players might best be utilized.

Entry Level—Intel Celeron Processors

Windows devices with Intel Celeron processors are best used with lightweight applications like static readerboards, full-screen promotional content, meeting room signage, and simple playlists of images and videos.

These types of applications are often required across all the industries we serve, and these devices are typically at a much lower price point. If you have endpoints that will only be running these types of applications, this low-powered tier could be the right fit.

General Use—Intel 13th Generation+ - i3 / i5

This player tier contains the devices that give you the most flexibility in your use case at the mid-range price level. This tier is the best choice for running a variety of applications—ranging in complexity—that might include data integrations, videos, text crawls, interactivity, and many combinations thereof. This is the most used Windows tier we see in the market, and we have customers in all industries, from hospitality to transportation, who use this type of device.

High Performance—Intel 13th Generation+ - i7+

Digital signage endpoints with demanding applications that require high processing power and advanced graphics capabilities typically require a higher-performance device. Think 4K+ video walls, fast-paced, video—heavy interactive content, and more.

These types of players, while higher in price, are typically designed and sourced for highly custom and experiential endpoints. This level of performance is not usually required for your average digital sign, but it might be the right fit for that unique “wow-factor” endpoint.

BrightSign Players

BrightSign devices, media players built specifically for digital signage, are known for their reliability, security, and longevity. We noticed a surge toward BrightSign devices around six years ago after the release of their Series 4 devices—a shift marked by significant implementations from companies like Ferguson, which leveraged our platform and BrightSign hardware to deploy a large-scale digital signage network to hundreds of locations.

BrightSign offers a range of devices catering to different levels of content complexity and use cases. This range of devices ensures that there is a suitable option for every application, from simple promotional content to complex digital signage experiences.

BrightSign LS5

This player is ideal for entry-level applications like full-screen promotional loops, corporate communications, and simple announcements. It is also an excellent fit for lightweight signage use cases.

BrightSign XD5

This is a versatile player that can handle many general sign builds, including full-screen 4K video playback and common dynamic multi-region HD templates like L-Bars, readerboards, and menu boards. This device is PoE+ capable and has a wider range of inputs and outputs for USB peripherals like touch screens and external sensors.

BrightSign XT5

This player is ideal for your more complex applications and is best for high-resolution content, including multi-region 4K templates with dynamic elements. This higher-end device is also PoE+ capable and has an even wider range of inputs and outputs, including an HDMI input for Live TV implementations.

Android Players

Throughout the digital signage landscape, you’ll find budget-friendly Android hardware from a variety of manufacturers, including standalone Android devices as well as displays fully integrated with Android computing hardware.

The affordability and simplicity of Android devices make them an attractive option for businesses looking to deploy digital signage without a significant upfront investment. Companies might consider starting with low-cost Android players for proof-of-concept deployments to prove out the ROI of digital signage.

This approach could allow businesses to experiment with digital signage and gradually scale up as their needs evolve. For example, a company might begin with the Amazon Signage Stick to display simple promotional content and then upgrade to more powerful devices as they expand their digital signage network and use cases.

Standalone Devices: Firefly, Amazon Signage Stick

Both the Firefly and Amazon Signage Stick are suitable for simple applications like full-screen content loops or static multi-region templates. Many of our customers are starting to use these types of players for promotional content, employee communications, or even to stand up a proof of concept for digital signage, as the cost is minimal.

System-on-Chip (SoC)

System-on-Chip (SoC) displays are integrated solutions from display manufacturers like Philips, Sony, LG, Samsung, and more. Players are built into the displays, eliminating the need for an external device. SoC displays offer a streamlined and efficient approach to digital signage, as they combine the display and the media player into a single unit.

With advancements in SoC technology, these devices are being used more broadly by signage users across industries for certain types of applications.

SoC displays are particularly popular in environments where simplicity and cost-efficiency are paramount. For instance, in the hospitality industry, SoC players are often used for meeting room signage and full-screen promotional content, providing a seamless and integrated solution that reduces the need for additional hardware.

Conclusion

Choosing the right digital signage player depends on your specific needs, including the complexity of the content, the scale of the deployment, and your company’s IT requirements.

At Poppulo, we support the major player types—Windows, BrightSign, Android, and SoC—allowing you the flexibility to manage a diverse range of devices within a single, unified cloud platform. This means you don’t have to limit yourself to one type of player. You can select the best player for each specific application.

Poppulo is here to consult on your digital signage projects and ensure you get the ideal solution tailored to your needs. For more information on digital signage players or anything else related to digital signage, reach out. We’re here to help.