Choosing the right touchscreen controller IC is a crucial part of designing a touch-enabled display. The controller affects performance, durability, power consumption, and integration complexity—all of which impact the user experience. Several manufacturers, including EETI, Microchip, Ilitek, Parade, Goodix, Texas Instruments (TI), NKK, and others, offer solutions tailored for different applications.
This article provides an overview of some popular IC manufacturers to help guide decision-making, but it’s important to note that no single option is universally "better" than the others. Each has strengths and trade-offs depending on the project’s use case, budget, and technical requirements.
EETI (Egalax-ETI) – Industrial-Grade Reliability
Cost: Mid-range
Support: Strong, especially for industrial and medical applications
Capabilities: Excellent for rugged environments, good driver support
EETI is widely used in industrial, medical, and military applications due to its reliable capacitive touch controllers. Their ICs offer good noise immunity, excellent OS compatibility (Linux, Windows, Android), and support for harsh environments. While their pricing is mid-range, they provide robust driver support, making integration easier.
Best for: Industrial applications needing long-term availability and high durability.
Microchip – High-End Industrial Performance
Cost: Higher-end
Support: Excellent documentation and engineering resources
Capabilities: Advanced water rejection, high noise immunity, stylus support
Microchip is a premium choice, offering industrial-grade reliability, high noise immunity, and strong environmental resistance. Their controllers are ideal for applications exposed to water, electrical interference, or extreme temperatures. While more expensive, they provide top-tier support and customization options.
Best for: Mission-critical, rugged, or precision applications requiring extreme durability.
Ilitek – Budget-Friendly and Customizable
Cost: Low to mid-range
Support: Moderate
Capabilities: Cost-effective but may lack premium features
Ilitek (ILITEK) is a good choice for cost-sensitive projects. Their ICs are often found in consumer electronics, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and mid-tier industrial applications. While not as robust as Microchip or EETI, they deliver good performance for standard touch applications at a lower price.
Best for: Projects with tight budgets that need reliable but not high-end performance.
Parade – High-Performance and Feature-Rich
Cost: High
Support: Good but less extensive than Microchip
Capabilities: Best for high-resolution displays and premium touch features
Parade is known for high-performance touchscreen controllers used in premium consumer electronics, automotive displays, and industrial panels. Their controllers offer fast response times, multi-touch capabilities, and stylus support, making them suitable for applications demanding high precision.
Best for: Premium and high-resolution displays where responsiveness is critical.
Goodix – Cost-Effective with Strong Consumer Market Presence
Cost: Low to mid-range
Support: Moderate
Capabilities: Common in smartphones, tablets, and consumer touch applications
Goodix controllers are widely used in smartphones and tablets, offering cost-effective touch solutions with good performance. While their ICs are ideal for consumer applications, they may lack the ruggedness needed for industrial use.
Best for: Consumer electronics and cost-effective commercial projects.
Texas Instruments (TI) – Robust and Power-Efficient
Cost: Mid-to-high range
Support: Excellent technical documentation
Capabilities: Low-power, high-efficiency touch controllers
Texas Instruments (TI) offers touch controllers with low power consumption, making them ideal for battery-operated devices and energy-efficient applications. Their controllers are also known for strong signal processing and noise immunity, making them suitable for both consumer and industrial applications.
Best for: Low-power applications needing high efficiency and robust signal processing.
NKK – Specialty Touch and Switch Solutions
Cost: Mid-range
Support: Niche market focus, but good engineering support
Capabilities: Designed for high-durability touch interfaces and switches
NKK focuses on specialty touch solutions, often integrating touch and mechanical switches for custom industrial interfaces. While not as common as other manufacturers, their controllers excel in unique applications requiring a mix of physical and capacitive input.
Best for: Custom industrial interfaces combining mechanical and touch inputs.
Choosing the Right Touchscreen Controller IC
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The best IC depends on your project's use case, budget, and specific technical needs:
If you need rugged, industrial-grade performance → EETI, Microchip
If cost is the biggest concern → Ilitek, Goodix
If you want high-end performance for premium displays → Parade, TI
If you need strong OS compatibility and driver support → EETI, Microchip, TI
If you need specialty touch solutions → NKK
DCL Technologies – IC Maker Neutral, Solution Focused
At DCL Technologies (DCLTEK), we don’t push one IC brand over another. Instead, we focus on finding the best solution based on your project’s unique needs—whether that’s durability, cost, power efficiency, or cutting-edge touch performance.
With our deep experience and industry relationships, we help businesses select, integrate, and optimize touchscreen controllers for applications ranging from military and medical to commercial and industrial.
Need guidance on the best touch solution for your project?
Contact DCL Technologies today—we’ll help you find the right path forward.
About DCL Technologies
DCL designs high quality display solutions that meet our clients' overall objectives.
Our mission is to be the easiest display solution provider to do business with.
Our differentiator is a focus on delivering the best experience to our clients, at every desk. Our core value strategies are focused on making it easy for Engineers, Designers and
Purchasing to get things done.
Contact:
Andrew Blum
DCL Technologies
800-407-8917
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