The selection of display screen size for treadmills requires a balance among viewing comfort, overall machine structure, and cost control. Recently, Tongtai Shixian has commenced mass production of its 18.5-inch display module, specifically designed for use in treadmills and other smart fitness equipment. With full high-definition image quality, a flexible integration scheme, and reliable performance, this module enhances the visual and interactive experience of fitness equipment.
Why 18.5 Inches Has Become the Mainstream Size
The increasing adoption of the 18.5-inch screen in mid-to-high-end household and light commercial treadmills is underpinned by clear ergonomic and market rationales.
According to ergonomics, under normal exercise conditions (looking straight ahead with slight head movement), the comfortable horizontal field of view is approximately 30° to 40°. The distance between the treadmill display panel and the user’s eyes is typically between 60 and 80 cm (considering the operating handlebar and forward-leaning posture).
Based on a viewing distance of 70 cm, the horizontal width of an 18.5-inch (16:9) screen is approximately 41 cm, corresponding to a horizontal field of view of about 32.5°, which falls precisely in the center of the comfortable range.
In comparison, a 15.6-inch screen has a width of approximately 34 cm and a field of view of about 27°, which is relatively narrow. This may cause users to unconsciously lean forward while watching videos or following workout sessions, thereby affecting their running posture.
A 21.5-inch screen has a width of approximately 48 cm and a field of view of about 38°. Although it provides stronger visual impact, the overall width of the equipment increases significantly, imposing higher spatial requirements for home use and increasing overall machine costs.
Therefore, 18.5 inches is a size-friendly option that maintains viewing experience while keeping machine width and cost under control.
Single LCM Module: Providing Design Flexibility for Treadmill Manufacturers
The 18.5-inch module mass-produced by TOPTE adopts the “single LCM module” delivery method. An LCM (Liquid Crystal Module) refers to an integrated display component consisting of core parts including the liquid crystal panel, driver IC, backlight, and FPC. A “single LCM module” specifically refers to an independent, standardized liquid crystal display module that does not include peripheral components such as touch panels, enclosures, or main control boards.
This approach offers tangible benefits to treadmill manufacturers:
1. Flexible Touch Solution Integration
Mid-to-high-end models: A high-sensitivity capacitive touch panel can be optionally integrated to support operations such as swipe-based song changing, incline adjustment, and course selection, resulting in smooth interaction.
Entry-level models: The module can be used without a touch panel solely as a display, where exercise data is controlled via physical buttons or a mobile application, thereby reducing costs.
2. Convenient Integration into Overall Equipment
The bare module occupies minimal space and is thin (typically only 6–8 mm), facilitating integration into the treadmill’s central control unit with additional components such as:
Left and right channel speakers
Wireless heart rate receiver module (ANT+/Bluetooth)
NFC sensing area (for membership login or data synchronization)
Front-facing camera (for AI posture correction or workout recording)
3. Precise Cost Control
Bundled full-component solutions (including enclosure, touch panel, and mainboard) often incorporate many features unnecessary for treadmills (e.g., wide temperature range, dust/water resistance, explosion-proof design). The single LCM module allows manufacturers to pay only for the features they require, avoiding functional redundancy.
4. Simplified After-Sales Maintenance
If the touch panel is damaged during transportation or use, the “single LCM module + independent touch panel” solution requires replacement of only the touch layer, not the entire display assembly. This reduces maintenance costs by more than 50%.
FHD TFT Module: Enhanced Exercise Experience with 1920×1080 Resolution
This module employs TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) LCD technology and achieves a resolution of 1920×1080 (Full High Definition, FHD), delivering a perceptible improvement in the treadmill user experience.
1.High-Definition Workout Video Streaming
Whether displaying pre-installed scenic running footage (such as Alpine trails or coastal highways) or third-party fitness application (e.g., Keep, Peloton, Zwift) instructor-led courses, the FHD resolution ensures clear and detailed image quality, enhancing immersion. Users no longer complain of “blurry, mosaic-like images.”
2.Wide Viewing Angle for Multiple Viewers
Treadmills may sometimes be observed or guided by family members or trainers alongside the user. TFT technology, combined with optimized liquid crystal alignment, delivers horizontal and vertical viewing angles of up to 160°, minimizing color shift or brightness attenuation even when viewed from the side.
TOPTE: Making Fitness Equipment Displays Clearer and More Reliable
Leveraging its accumulated technical expertise in the display field, TOPTE can provide personalized single LCM module customization solutions in 18.5 inches and other sizes, tailored to customer requirements regarding overall machine structure, interface definition, brightness specifications, and appearance design.
