9 Types of Digital Signage Devices & Which to Choose
April 21, 2025
Choosing the right hardware is just as important as the content you display. With so many digital signage devices on the market, it can be overwhelming to know where to start—especially when each business has different needs. Whether you're setting up a menu board in a café, guiding visitors through a hospital, or creating a jaw-dropping video wall for an event, there’s a perfect device for the job. In this guide, we break down the top categories of digital signage hardware—from browser-based smart TVs to immersive IoT displays—so you can choose the best option based on your goals, space, and budget. Let’s find your ideal setup.
1. Smart TVs (browser-based)
✅ Best for: Affordable setups without extra hardware.
Smart TVs are internet-connected televisions with built-in web browsers, allowing them to run digital signage software without the need for external media players. They’re ideal for businesses seeking a simple, budget-friendly signage setup—just plug in, connect to Wi-Fi, and display content through a web-based platform like Juuno. These TVs support dynamic content like menus, announcements, and videos, and can be managed remotely from a computer. It’s a plug-and-play solution that’s perfect for non-technical users.
Use cases:
☕ Small Businesses: Display promotions, business hours, product highlights, and social media feeds without needing IT support.
🏫 Schools: Share announcements, event reminders, or motivational quotes in hallways and common areas.
🍽️ Restaurants: Turn any smart TV into a digital menu board with rotating menus, specials, or ingredient details.
🏢 Offices: Post company updates, celebrate employee milestones, or stream real-time dashboards in breakrooms or lobbies.
Example devices:
Samsung Smart TVs – Best all-around for price, quality, and browser support.
LG Smart TVs – Great visual quality, supports webOS-based signage.
Amazon Fire TV – Budget-friendly option with a Silk browser.
Recommended software:
Juuno, a browser-based digital signage platform that requires no additional hardware
OptiSigns
ScreenCloud
2. Digital signage media players
✅ Best for: Businesses needing offline play and higher performance.
Designed to enhance digital signage performance, these compact devices connect to displays via HDMI and handle content playback independently. Unlike browser-based setups, they support offline functionality, advanced scheduling, and high-resolution multimedia without relying on a smart TV’s built-in browser. Ideal for businesses with more complex needs—such as video walls, interactive kiosks, or locations with unreliable internet—these media players offer greater processing power and flexibility. Common options include Amazon Fire TV Stick, Intel NUC, and Chromebox, all compatible with popular signage software like OptiSigns or OnSign TV.
Use cases:
🎯 High-Performance Content: Run complex multimedia like 4K videos or animations without overloading smart TVs.
🛠️ Offline Environments: Maintain content playback even with spotty or no internet access—ideal for rural areas or temporary setups.
🧱 Video Walls: Power synchronized, multi-screen displays with centralized control via powerful media players.
🖐️ Interactive Kiosks: Drive responsive touch displays for wayfinding, product lookup, or self-service applications.
🔌 Hardware Integration: Use with commercial-grade displays that don’t have native OS/browser capabilities, adding flexibility to your signage setup.
Example devices:
Chromebox / Chromebit
Amazon Fire Stick / Fire TV 4K
Raspberry Pi (for developers and hobbyists)
Intel NUC Mini PC
Recommended software:
OptiSigns (with Fire Stick)
OnSign TV (hardware agnostic)
NoviSign (with Android boxes)
3. All-in-one commercial displays
✅ Best for: Brick-and-mortars needing always-on displays.
All-in-one commercial displays are professional-grade screens with built-in media players, designed for continuous, high-performance operation in demanding environments. These displays eliminate the need for separate hardware, offering a sleek, integrated solution for digital signage. With features like remote content management, enhanced brightness, and rugged construction, they’re perfect for high-traffic areas. Popular in retail, hospitality, and healthcare, brands like Samsung and LG offer models specifically built for 24/7 use, making them ideal for businesses that need reliable, always-on screen performance.
Use cases:
🛍️ Retail Stores: Showcase promotions, new arrivals, and branded content on vibrant, always-on displays built to grab attention.
🏨 Hotels: Greet guests, display event schedules, and promote on-site amenities with a polished, professional screen.
🏥 Hospitals & Clinics: Share important health messages, directions, or wait times in patient areas, ensuring 24/7 uptime.
🚉 Transportation Hubs: Deliver real-time transit info, safety alerts, and advertising to travelers in airports, train stations, and bus terminals.
🏢 Large Corporate Lobbies: Reinforce branding, display welcome messages, or run news and KPI dashboards continuously and securely.
Example devices:
Samsung SMART Signage QMR series
LG UHD Commercial Displays
ViewSonic Commercial Displays
These come with built-in media players, remote content management, and often don’t require separate devices.
4. Tablets and kiosks
✅ Best for: Interactive displays
Used for touch-based experiences, these compact, portable screens are perfect for customer-facing applications like self-check-in, digital directories, and interactive menus. They typically run on Android or iOS and can be mounted or placed on counters for easy access. Their intuitive interfaces make them ideal for self-service scenarios, while supporting apps for digital signage, scheduling, or wayfinding. Commonly found in lobbies, restaurants, and retail environments, they enhance convenience and user engagement.
Use cases:
📋 Customer Check-Ins: Let visitors or patients check in digitally with ease at receptions, lobbies, or front desks.
🍽️ Interactive Menus: Offer a touch-to-browse digital menu at restaurant tables or counters, with imagery, descriptions, and pricing.
📍 Digital Directories: Help visitors navigate buildings with searchable maps and directory listings on a mounted kiosk.
🛍️ Retail Product Lookup: Allow customers to browse inventory, view specs, or check item availability in-store.
📅 Appointment Scheduling: Enable users to book services or meetings on the spot, improving flow and reducing staffing needs.
Example devices:
iPads / iPad Minis
Android Tablets (Samsung Galaxy Tab, Lenovo Tab)
Touchscreen kiosks with Windows or Android OS
Recommended software:
NoviSign (supports touch interactivity)
SnapComms (for workplace communication)
DigitalMenu.TV (for menu displays)
Video walls & large LED panels
✅ Best for: Large-scale visuals in events, airports, or stadiums.
Composed of multiple display panels tiled together, this device category creates a seamless, large-scale screen ideal for impactful visuals in expansive spaces. Often used for advertising, branding, or information display, these setups include LCD video walls or LED panels with ultra-narrow bezels or edge-to-edge designs. Managed by media players or video processors, they support synchronized, high-resolution content across all screens. Common in airports, sports arenas, and trade shows, they deliver unmatched brightness, durability, and visibility—perfect for environments that demand attention-grabbing and immersive digital signage solutions.
Use cases:
🎤 Events & Conferences: Display keynote speakers, sponsor ads, or session schedules across massive screens that capture every eye in the room.
🎨 Exhibitions & Trade Shows: Create eye-catching branded experiences with dynamic video and motion graphics across multiple panels.
✈️ Airports & Transit Stations: Share real-time travel information, alerts, ads, and announcements in high-traffic passenger zones.
🏟️ Stadiums & Arenas: Enhance the fan experience with game footage, player intros, sponsor reels, and crowd prompts on jumbotrons or ribbon displays.
🛍️ Malls & Public Spaces: Use large-scale digital displays for immersive brand activations or high-end advertising in shopping centers and plazas.
Example devices:
LG Direct View LED
Samsung IF Series LED
Absen LED Panels
Requires a controller/media player like BrightSign or Userful to manage playback.
E-paper displays / shelf edge displays
✅ Best for: Retail stores
These low-power digital displays use electronic ink technology to show pricing, promotions, and product details directly on store shelves. Known for their high visibility and paper-like readability, even under bright lighting, they’re perfect for grocery and retail environments. E-paper displays update content wirelessly and consume power only when the image changes, making them highly energy-efficient. Brands like SES-imagotag and Viewneo offer models that integrate with inventory systems to streamline pricing updates and enhance the in-store shopping experience with real-time product information.
Use cases:
🛒 Grocery Aisles: Display up-to-date prices, discounts, and nutritional info right next to the product on the shelf.
🏷️ Retail Price Tags: Replace traditional paper tags with dynamic labels that automatically sync with your POS or inventory system.
🕐 Real-Time Promotions: Instantly roll out flash sales or time-sensitive discounts across your entire store with a few clicks.
📦 Inventory Management: Link e-paper displays to your backend system to reflect stock levels or alert staff for restocking.
🌿 Sustainable Branding: Reduce waste and printing costs by eliminating the need for paper price labels and signage.
Example devices:
Viewneo Tabletop E-Paper Display
SES-imagotag VUSION labels
These are energy-efficient and great for real-time updates on pricing and inventory.
Wayfinding & directory displays
✅ Best for: Corporate offices and museums
Mounted in lobbies, hallways, or entry points, these interactive or static screens guide visitors through large or complex spaces. They display directories, building maps, event schedules, and room locations, often with touchscreen functionality for personalized navigation. Frequently used in malls, corporate campuses, and healthcare facilities, these displays reduce confusion, improve visitor experience, and eliminate the need for printed maps. Powered by digital signage software, they can be updated in real-time to reflect changes in room assignments, event locations, or tenant information.
Use cases:
🏢 Corporate Offices: Guide employees and visitors to meeting rooms, departments, and amenities across large campuses.
🛍️ Shopping Malls: Display store directories, promotions, and real-time navigation to help shoppers find exactly what they need.
🏥 Hospitals: Assist patients and families in locating departments, clinics, or specific healthcare providers within sprawling facilities.
🏛️ Museums & Cultural Centers: Help visitors explore exhibits, upcoming events, and special installations with interactive floor plans.
🏨 Event Venues & Convention Centers: Show schedules, room assignments, and live updates for multi-session conferences and gatherings.
Example devices:
Touchscreen kiosks
Wall-mounted touch monitors
Outdoor displays with anti-glare coating
These often pair with custom software for interactive maps and navigation.
Meeting room signs
✅ Best for: Offices managing shared workspaces.
Installed outside conference rooms or shared workspaces, these compact digital displays show real-time availability, upcoming bookings, and meeting schedules. Synced with calendar systems like Google Workspace or Microsoft Outlook, they help prevent booking conflicts and improve space utilization. Many models feature touchscreen functionality for on-the-spot reservations and status updates. Common in modern office environments, meeting room signs streamline room management and foster better collaboration by making it easy for employees to find and reserve available spaces quickly and efficiently.
Use cases:
📆 Room Availability Display: Show whether a room is free or occupied in real time, helping teams quickly find available space.
📝 On-the-Spot Booking: Enable employees to reserve rooms instantly via touchscreen, directly from outside the room.
📬 Calendar Sync: Automatically update displays with booking data from Google Calendar, Outlook, or other scheduling platforms.
🔄 Reduce Conflicts: Eliminate double bookings and improve visibility into room usage across teams.
📈 Space Optimization: Analyze room usage data to make better decisions about space planning and resource allocation.
Example devices:
Joan Meeting Room Displays
Roomzilla-compatible tablets
Crestron Room Scheduling Panels
Sync with calendars like Google Workspace or Outlook.
Custom installations & IoT displays
✅ Best for: Smart buildings.
Tailored for immersive experiences and advanced functionality, these displays integrate with sensors, cameras, and IoT systems to deliver dynamic, context-aware content. Common in smart buildings, museums, and experiential retail, they include transparent OLEDs, smart mirrors, projection mapping setups, and responsive displays triggered by motion or product interaction. Often custom-built, these installations go beyond basic signage to engage audiences through interactivity or environmental cues. By combining digital signage with data inputs—like temperature, presence, or demographics—they create intelligent, memorable experiences aligned with innovation, storytelling, or brand immersion goals.
Use cases:
🏙️ Smart Buildings: Trigger personalized content or environmental controls (like lighting or HVAC) based on occupancy, ID badges, or motion.
🛍️ Experiential Retail: Engage shoppers with motion-activated product stories, smart mirrors, or AR-driven product demos.
🏛️ Museums & Exhibits: Deliver interactive learning through touchscreens, gesture-activated content, or projection mapping that adapts to visitor behavior.
🎯 Innovation Labs & Tech Hubs: Showcase real-time dashboards, simulations, or prototypes using responsive displays and multi-sensory installations.
🎥 Brand Immersion Installations: Use transparent OLEDs or synced audio-visual environments to create jaw-dropping storytelling experiences that leave a lasting impression.
Example devices:
Transparent OLED displays
Projection mapping setups
Smart mirrors
Micro-LED tiles
Requires integration with advanced CMS and sensors for dynamic content.
No matter your industry or goals, there’s a digital signage device that can elevate how you communicate, inform, and engage your audience. From plug-and-play smart TVs to immersive custom installations, the right hardware makes all the difference in delivering seamless, effective content.
Ready to launch beautiful digital signage without the complexity? Try Juuno today and get started in minutes—no extra hardware required.
