Comparison Phantom RM-50 vs Phantom TDM 430

- On the dashboard. Car monitors designed to be mounted on the dashboard of a car, usually on top. This installation imposes certain restrictions on the size of the screen (see “Size”): not every screen will fit into the space between the panel and the windshield, especially if we are talking about a modern car with a strongly inclined windshield. Therefore, the diagonal of such models usually does not exceed 10", and before purchasing it is advisable to make sure that the desired model will fit in dimensions. Monitors installed on the dashboard are designed mainly for viewing from the front seats; in particular, they are popular with taxi drivers - as TVs , and for working with automated order distribution systems.

- Ceiling. Car monitors designed for installation on the ceiling of the cabin. With this installation, you do not need to fit the device into a rigid size frame, and therefore, if you are looking for an option with a larger screen, you should pay attention to ceiling models - almost all car monitors with a display diagonal larger than 10.1" are designed for this type of installation (although There are also more compact options). Car monitors of this type are designed primarily for rear seat passengers - viewing from the front seats will be inconvenient, if not impossible. Accordingly, this option can be recommended for those who often travel with passengers in the back - for example..., for family cars. Another use case is passenger buses and minibuses. However, there is an exception to this rule - compact devices mounted on top the dashboard and designed to assist the driver (for example, when working with a navigator or rear view camera).

— In the headrest. In this case, it means installing the monitor in the headrest of the front seat; Often such models are sold as ready-made headrests installed in place of the standard ones. Of course, only passengers in the rear seats will be able to see such an image. As a result, such monitors are similar in purpose to ceiling monitors (see on top), but have their own characteristics. Firstly, the size of the screen (see “Size”) in this case does not exceed 10", and secondly, only the passenger sitting directly behind the front seat can comfortably look at the screen (while the ceiling screen is visible to everyone almost equally) Therefore, this option can be called a “screen for one.” Among the models with installation in the headrest, not only single screens are produced, but also paired sets designed for installation in both headrests at once. However, for a number of reasons, such devices are more suitable for luxury cars. ; for normal household use for several people, a ceiling monitor will be much more convenient.

— On the headrest. Monitors that are installed on the headrest. The key difference from the models described on top is the ability to install and remove them from their place. Thus, the car monitor can be mounted as needed and in the event of a malfunction, labor-intensive dismantling is not required, as in the case on top.

- In the mirror. Despite the name, most car monitors of this type are not installed directly into existing mirrors - they themselves are rear-view mirrors with built-in screens that are mounted in the cabin instead of standard ones, using the same mount. Another option - an overlay on the standard mirror itself - is much less common. This type of device is characterized by small diagonals and is intended primarily for displaying service information: video from rear view cameras, data on incoming/outgoing phone calls (some models can be used as a Bluetooth car kit), etc. However, the ability to view video in such models may also be provided - this can be useful in traffic jams and during long stops.

- On the armrest. Models installed on the armrest of a chair - usually using a U-shaped mount, which is also rotatable and allows you to hide the monitor from view when it is not needed. This installation method is rarely required, so it is not particularly widespread.

- On the windshield. Car monitors, which in their design and mounting are as similar as possible to navigators, are only extremely simple and the main purpose of such devices is to display information from auxiliary cameras and sensors (parking sensors). Thus, the necessary information is always before your eyes.

Diagonal screen size of the car monitor in inches. The larger the screen, the larger the image on it and the easier it is to view it from a distance. At the same time, large displays require an appropriate amount of space for installation, which can be critical in cramped car interior conditions. And looking at a large screen up close is not always convenient.

For most types of auto monitors (see "Installation"), the diagonal from 7" to 10" is considered optimal. At the same time, ceiling models can significantly exceed this figure, reaching 15 "and even more. Devices for installation in a mirror, on the contrary, have small displays of 3-4" (more are not required for them). If the characteristics of the mirror monitor indicate a large screen of 7-10", most often this means a display elongated in width, the image on which is divided into 2-3 parts (for example, for simultaneous broadcasting from different parking cameras).

The screen resolution of a self-monitor indicates the number of luminous dots (pixels) that make up the visible image. It is usually written in two numbers, indicating the size in pixels horizontally and vertically. In this case, we can say that the higher this indicator, the clearer and more detailed image the monitor is able to provide. This is especially important for large screens (see "Diagonal"), on which graininess from a low resolution would be especially noticeable. In addition, appropriate displays are also recommended for watching movies in high quality, detailed photos and other similar content — otherwise, all the initial advantages of the “picture” may be negated.