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P2.6 vs P3.91 Rental LED Screen: Which is Best for Your Event? (2025 Guide)
If you are planning an event, a church service, or a trade show, you are likely facing the most common dilemma in the AV industry: Should I choose a P2.6 or a P3.91 LED video wall?
Choosing the wrong pixel pitch can be a costly mistake. Pick a P3.91 LED panel for a small meeting room, and your audience will see pixelated grains. Pick a P2.6 fine-pitch screen for a massive outdoor festival, and you might waste 40% of your budget on resolution nobody notices.
At UnifyLED, as a leading China LED display manufacturer, we help you make smart investments. In this guide, we break down the differences between P2.6 vs P3.91 Rental LED Screen based on viewing distance, price per square meter, and cabinet durability.
Quick Answer: The "3-Meter Rule"
Choose P2.6mm (High Resolution): If your audience is standing closer than 3 meters (10ft). Best for: Corporate events, TV studios, and luxury wedding LED walls.
Choose P3.91mm (Cost-Effective): If your audience is further than 4 meters (13ft). Best for: Concert stages, large church LED screens, and outdoor festivals.
Cost Insight: P3.91 LED wall price is typically 30%–40% lower than P2.6.
Table of Contents
1. Visual Comparison: P2.6 vs P3.91 Indoor LED Video Wall Resolution
To understand the visual difference, we must look at the LED pixel pitch density of the LED modules.
P2.6 Fine Pitch LED Screen: The pixel density is approx. 147,456 dots/sqm. This high density creates a seamless, 4K-ready experience suitable for high-end digital signage and close-up viewing. Not sure if your screen size can reach 4K? Read our guide on understanding LED screen resolution to match standard 16:9 formats.
P3.91 Standard LED Screen: The pixel density is approx. 65,536 dots/sqm.
Minimum Viewing Distance for LED Panels
A simple rule helps you decide which LED display panel fits your venue:
P2.6 Video Wall: Best viewed from 2.6 meters (8.5ft) and beyond.
P3.91 Video Wall: Best viewed from 4 meters (13ft) and beyond.
💡 Pro Tip: If you use cameras for live streaming (e.g., in a House of Worship), P2.6 is safer to avoid moiré patterns. Ensure you choose 3840Hz High Refresh Rate ICs.
Quick Specs Comparison: P2.6 vs. P3.91
Feature | P2.6 (Indoor Premium) | P3.91 (Event Workhorse) |
Pixel Pitch | 2.604mm | 3.91mm |
Best Viewing Distance | 2.5m – 3m+ (Close Viewing) | 4m – 10m+ (Mid-Long Distance) |
Pixel Density | 147,456 dots/m² (Ultra HD) | 65,536 dots/m² (Standard HD) |
Brightness | 800 – 1000 nits (Indoor) | 1000 (Indoor) / 4500+ (Outdoor) |
Durability | Delicate (Handle with care) | Robust (Great for frequent touring) |
Budget / Price | (Higher Investment) | (Cost-Effective) |
Best Application | Luxury Events, TV Studios, Auto Shows | Concerts, Festivals, Conferences |
The Golden Rule: How to Calculate the Perfect Viewing Distance?
Don’t guess! Use this standard industry formula to determine if the screen will look pixelated to your audience.
The Formula: Pixel Pitch (mm) × 1000 = Minimum Viewing Distance
For P2.6: 2.6 × 1000 = 2,600mm (2.6 Meters).
Verdict: If your audience is seated closer than 2.6m, they might see the individual pixels (grid effect).
For P3.91: 3.91 × 1000 = 3,910mm (~4 Meters).
Verdict: Perfect for stages where the first row is set back at least 4 meters from the screen.
2. Cost Analysis: P2.6 vs P3.91 Rental LED Screen Price Difference
Customers often ask: “Why is the rental LED screen price for P2.6 higher than P3.91?”
The cost difference lies in the component structure. A P2.6 LED cabinet requires 2x more LED lamps (Kinglight/Nationstar) than a P3.91 cabinet to cover the same area. Since the LED lamp is the most expensive part of the screen panel, the manufacturing cost rises.
Budget-Friendly Option (P3.91): If you are building a massive stage background screen (e.g., 10m x 5m), choosing P3.91 can save you thousands of dollars.
Premium Option (P2.6): If the screen size is small (e.g., 3m x 2m), the total price gap is negligible.
(Need a precise LED display price list? Contact UnifyLED for a Factory Direct Quote)
3. Durability Check: P2.6 vs P3.91 LED Panels for Touring Events
For AV rental companies, the durability of the LED display cabinet is crucial for ROI. You move these screens every day, and dead pixels cost money.
Cabinet Specs: Both models usually come in standard 500x500mm die-cast aluminum cabinets. They are lightweight and feature fast-lock systems for quick rigging.
Why P3.91 is Stronger: It uses larger SMD2020 lamps which have a stronger solder bond to the PCB. It is the “workhorse” of the event industry.
Handling P2.6: P2.6 uses tiny SMD1515 lamps. They are more fragile. If you choose P2.6, we highly recommend adding Corner Protectors to your cabinets.
4. Application Scenarios: When to Choose P2.6 or P3.91 Displays?
Still undecided? Here is the best application breakdown for your LED project:
✅ Best Scenarios for P2.6 LED Video Wall:
Corporate Events: Boardroom presentations requiring clear text.
TV Studios & Broadcasting: High refresh rate and no flicker on camera.
Luxury Weddings: Where guests take photos close to the screen.
Recommended Product: UnifyLED P2.6 Indoor Rental Series
✅ Best Scenarios for P3.91 LED Rental Screen:
Music Festivals: Large scale background screens.
Outdoor Events: (Note: Ensure you ask for Outdoor P3.91 with IP65 rating).
Touring Concerts: Where durability and quick setup speed matter most.
Recommended Product: UnifyLED P3.91 Event Series
5. FAQ: Common Questions about LED Screen Rental
Generally, no. Indoor rental screens typically have lower brightness (800-1000 nits) and are not waterproof (IP31). For outdoor events, you need an Outdoor P3.91 LED Display with IP65 rating and 4500+ nits brightness.
Yes! P2.976 (or P2.9) is the perfect "middle ground." It balances the high resolution of P2.6 and the lower cost of P3.91. Many rental companies use it as their universal stock.
Average power consumption is around 200W-300W per square meter. It depends on the brightness settings and the content displayed.
6. Conclusion
Both P2.6 and P3.91 LED screens are excellent choices, but they serve different purposes.
Need crisp details for close viewing? Go with P2.6.
Need a massive screen for a large crowd? Save money with P3.91.
As a professional LED Display Factory in China, UnifyLED manufactures both models using top-tier components. Choosing the right pixel pitch is only half the battle. To ensure your content runs smoothly during the event, you also need to select the correct control method. Not sure if you need a live processor or a cloud player? Check out our guide on Synchronous vs Asynchronous LED Control Systems.
Ready to start your project?
Send us your stage dimensions. We will design the cabinet layout and offer you the best factory price within 1 hour.
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