XT vs XD vs HD vs LS: which model for which job
The four BrightSign® series differ in what the hardware can physically do, not in how well they run software. Buy for the capability the screen actually needs, and you'll spend less and replace less.
Pick by capability, not by tier. HDMI-In and genlock are physical features of the board, and no software can add them to a model that lacks them. Everything else (playback, scheduling, offline resilience, the portal) is identical across the range.
The expensive mistake runs in both directions: specifying XT across an estate of menu boards, or specifying LS for a wall that then drifts. This page is here to stop both.
Capability by series
One XiPlay license unlocks the same full software on all four; what differs is the hardware.
| BrightSign® series | XT Flagship | XD Advanced | HD Mainstream | LS Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum output | 4K | 4K | Full HD | Full HD |
| HDMI-In passthrough | — | — | — | |
| Genlock / frame-locked walls | — | — | — | |
| Touch & interactivity | — | — | ||
| Full XiPlay software | ||||
| Best for | Video walls, live-feed layouts, flagship screens | High-detail and touch-interactive screens | Menus, comms and everyday signage | Simple always-on displays, lowest cost |
Series-level capabilities. Check the exact SKU against BrightSign®'s own specifications before ordering, because line-ups change.
Start from what the screen has to do
Building a video wall?
You need one player per screen, all from the same series, on wired Ethernet. Genlock, the tightest frame-locking, is an XT-series capability. Sync groups work on other families too, but plan the wall around one family, never a mix.
Video-wall requirements →Need a live TV or camera feed on screen?
That's HDMI-In passthrough, and it's XT-series hardware. No software can add an input the board doesn't have, so if a live source is in the brief, the model decision is already made.
All features →Touch or interactive layouts?
XT and XD carry the interactivity story. If users will touch the screen, don't specify HD or LS to save a few pounds per unit; you'll replace them.
All features →Just looping a playlist reliably?
LS or HD. This is the majority of signage, and it's where estates most often over-buy. A menu board doesn't need 4K and genlock, so spend the difference on more screens.
Per-device pricing →Before you order for a wall
A sync group must be one model family
You cannot sync an HD player with an XD player. Every unit in the wall must be the same series, on wired Ethernet (clocks align over PTP), running the same BrightSignOS version, with identical resolution, frame rate and media length. Mixing families, dropping to Wi-Fi, or mismatched frame rates are the usual causes of a wall that drifts, and no software can fix a wall that was bought wrong.
The full video-wall requirements →BrightSign® model questions
What's the difference between BrightSign® XT, XD, HD and LS?
Capability scales with the tier. XT is the flagship: 4K, HDMI-In passthrough and genlock frame-accurate video walls. XD adds 4K playback and interactivity. HD is the full-HD workhorse for everyday signage. LS is entry-level for looping content and basic scheduling. All four run the complete XiPlay software; what differs is what the hardware itself can do.
Which BrightSign® model do I need for a video wall?
Every screen in the wall needs its own player, and all of them must come from the same series on a wired Ethernet network running the same BrightSignOS version, with matching resolution and frame rate. Genlock, hardware-level frame locking, is an XT-series capability; other families still sync at the playback level via sync groups.
Do I need 4K?
Usually not. 4K matters when the viewer is close to a large panel: a lobby wall, a retail hero screen, detailed menu type. A screen read from across a concourse gains little from it. Buying 4K across an estate that doesn't need it is the most common way to overspend on signage hardware.
Can I mix models in one deployment?
Across an estate, yes: mix freely, and license each player the same way regardless of tier. Inside a single video wall, no: a sync group must be one model family. Mixing families in a wall is one of the most common causes of drift.
Does XiPlay cost more on the higher models?
No. Licensing is per device at the same price on every series, and one license unlocks the complete software, so there are no feature tiers and no hardware surcharge. An LS and an XT cost the same to license.
How long do these players last?
They're solid-state and fanless, with no moving parts, which removes the two components that most often kill consumer media boxes used for signage (the fan and the spinning storage). That's the core reason estates standardise on purpose-built hardware for 24/7 duty.
Not sure which model fits?
Tell us what the screens have to do, and we'll tell you the cheapest series that does it, even if it's the entry one.