When researching the different parts of a display, you may encounter bezels. TVs, computer monitors, smartphones and other displays often feature a bezel. Displays contain more than just a pixel layer and a backlighting layer; most of them contain a bezel. While the bezel isn’t necessarily a layer, it’s still a vital part of many displays.

Overview of Bezels

Bezels are frames that are installed around the perimeter of a display’s top layer. Most displays have a single bezel that wraps around their top layer.

Displays are typically built inside of a frame or housing. There’s a gap between the perimeter of the top layer and this frame, which is reserved for the bezel. Manufacturers will fill this space with a bezel. As a result, the top layer won’t touch the display’s frame. Instead, it will touch the bezel. The bezel will physically separate the perimeter of the display’s top layer from the display’s frame.

The Purpose of a Bezel

Bezels serve different purposes. In large displays, such as TVs and computer monitors, they improve structural integrity. Large displays are heavy. Over time, the weight of a large display may damage its internal components. A bezel protects large displays from damage such as this by improving their structural integrity. It will form a frame around large displays so that they are less likely to sustain damage.

Small displays can benefit from a bezel as well. It will create space between the bottom of a small display’s top layer and the rest of the display’s frame. Certain types of displays can benefit from more space in this area, including smartphones. Extra space allows manufacturers to design easy-to-use physical buttons at the bottom of smartphones. Users can press the physical buttons without accidentally touching or tapping the smartphone’s touchscreen interface with a bezel.

What Are Bezels Made Of?

You can find bezels made of different materials. Some of them are made of glass. Glass bezels are common with small displays. They offer a sleek and stylish appearance while simultaneously creating padding around the display’s top layer.

In addition to glass, bezels are available in plastic. Plastic bezels tend to cost less than glass bezels, but they serve the same purpose of separating the display’s top layer from its frame.

In Conclusion

The next time you use your smartphone, look at the perimeter around the top layer. There should be a bezel separating the top layer from the smartphone’s frame.