Every BrightSign Series 5 player runs the same BrightSignOS, the same BrightAuthor:connected authoring tools, and the same BSN.cloud management — what changes up the range is video performance (Full HD → 4K → 8K), HTML5 graphics power, and I/O (HDMI input, USB, serial, multiple outputs). The range now mixes Series 5 (LS5, XT5, XC5) and the newer Series 6 (HD6, XD6) generations. This guide walks the current ladder — LS5, HD6, XD6, XT5, XC5 — so you can buy exactly as much player as the job needs.
The Series 5 ladder at a glance
| Family | Models | Designed for |
|---|---|---|
| LS5 | LS425, LS445 | Entry-level signage — menu boards, simple looping video and images. LS445 steps up the video and HTML performance. |
| HD6 | HD226, HD1026 | Mainstream 4K signage with solid HTML5 dashboards. HD1026 adds the expanded I/O package (USB, serial, IR interactivity). |
| XD6 | XD236, XD1036 | Advanced 4K — dual 10-bit 4K60p decode, PoE+, and WebGL graphics for data-driven displays. XD1036 adds expanded I/O. |
| XT5 | XT245, XT1145, XT2145 | Flagship 8K performance on a Rockchip RK3588 with NPU, PoE+ powered. XT1145 adds a 4K HDMI 2.0a input for live TV; XT2145 drives two screens from one player. |
| XC5 | XC2055, XC4055 | Enterprise multi-output: XC2055 drives 2 screens, XC4055 drives 4 screens from a single chassis with PC-class 3D graphics. |
The decision flowchart
- Driving more than one screen from one player? → XC2055 (2 outputs), XC4055 (4 outputs), or XT2145 (2 outputs, PoE+).
- Need live TV / a video feed into the sign? → XT1145 or XT2145 — the only models with an HDMI 2.0a input.
- 8K canvas, 4K video walls, or AI at the edge? → XT245 — single 8K60p decode, dual 4K60p decode, NPU.
- Heavy HTML5 dashboards / data visualization in 4K? → XD236 / XD1036.
- Standard 4K signage loop? → HD226 / HD1026.
- Simple menu board or looping promo on a budget? → LS425 / LS445.
Standard vs expanded I/O — what the model numbers mean
Within each family, the smaller model number is the standard I/O package and the bigger number is the expanded I/O package. Expanded I/O adds the interactive toolkit: USB ports for touch screens and sensors, RS-232 serial for display control, and on the XT5, the HDMI input. If your sign just plays content on a loop, the standard package saves money. If it reacts to people — touch, motion, barcode scanners, button decks — buy expanded I/O.
PoE+ on the XT5 family
All three XT5 players power themselves and their peripherals over PoE+ — one network cable delivers content, control, and power. For ceiling-mounted and hard-to-reach installs that eliminates the electrician line item entirely.
Warranty
BrightSign warrants Series 5 and newer players for 2 years out of the box — and registering your players at brightsign.biz upgrades that to the free 5-year warranty program. We're an authorized dealer, so every player we ship qualifies: registered, warranted US retail stock, not gray market.
How to buy
Every player on this site shows its real price and checks out online with a card. Volume order, PO, or tax-exempt? Call 321-747-3220 or request a quote — stocked models ship same day from our US warehouse.