Nits
A nit is the unit of screen brightness: one nit equals one candela of light per square metre of the display.
On this page 3 sections
How it works
A nit measures how much light a screen sends towards your eyes from each square metre of its surface. One nit is one candela per square metre. A higher number means a brighter picture. A candle flame is roughly one candela, so a screen of several hundred nits gives off the light of several hundred candles spread over a square metre.
What the numbers mean
- Typical brightness is the level a screen holds while showing a normal, full-screen picture.
- Peak brightness is the highest level the screen reaches, usually only for a short time or only on a small bright area, such as a highlight in an HDR video.
- Outdoor brightness figures are often quoted for sunlight mode, which the screen may enter only in strong light.
What it does not promise
A nit figure alone does not tell you how a screen looks. Peak numbers are measured under special test conditions, and a screen can fall well below them in everyday use, especially when it gets warm or the battery is low. Reflections, anti-glare coating and panel type also change how bright a screen feels in daylight. Brightness is separate from contrast, colour accuracy and sharpness.