Capacitive touchscreens and resistive touchscreens are two common touchscreen technologies, which exhibit certain differences in terms of working principles, touch experiences, and application scenarios. The following will provide a detailed introduction to their characteristics and distinctions.

I. Working Principles

1. Capacitive Touchscreens: 

Capacitive touchscreens operate based on the principle of capacitance. The screen surface is coated with a conductive material. When a finger touches the screen, the weak electric current carried by the human body induces a change in the electric field on the screen surface. The capacitive touchscreen determines the touch position by detecting this change in the electric field.

2. Resistive Touchscreens:

Resistive touchscreens function based on the principle of resistance. A resistive material covers the upper part of the screen, and another resistive material covers the lower part. The two layers of materials are separated by small gaps. When the touchscreen is pressed, the two layers of materials come into contact, and the touch position is determined by measuring the change in resistance at the contact point.

II. Touch Experiences

1. Sensitivity

Capacitive touchscreens feature high sensitivity, enabling multi - touch functionality and supporting gesture operations such as finger swiping, zooming in and out. In contrast, resistive touchscreens have relatively lower sensitivity and can only achieve single - point touch.

2. Precision

Capacitive touchscreens offer high touch precision, capable of accurately identifying the coordinate position of the touch point. Resistive touchscreens, however, have relatively lower touch precision and may have a certain degree of error.

3. Transparency

Capacitive touchscreens have high transparency, and the touch operation does not affect the screen display effect. Resistive touchscreens, on the other hand, have relatively lower transparency, and there may be some obstruction during touch.

III. Application Scenarios

1. Capacitive Touchscreens

With high sensitivity and touch precision, capacitive touchscreens are suitable for scenarios that require frequent touch operations or multi - touch, such as smartphones, tablets, and automotive navigation systems.

2. Resistive Touchscreens

Resistive touchscreens are relatively inexpensive and durable, making them suitable for scenarios where the requirement for touch precision is not high, such as industrial control equipment, cash registers, and ATMs.

IV. Comparison of Advantages and Disadvantages

1. Advantages of Capacitive Touchscreens

• High sensitivity, providing a good touch experience.

• Support for multi - touch, enabling more flexible operations.

• No impact on the screen display effect during touch.

2. Disadvantages of Capacitive Touchscreens

• Higher cost.

• Require specialized capacitive materials for manufacturing.

3. Advantages of Resistive Touchscreens

• Relatively low price.

• Good durability, less prone to damage.

4. Disadvantages of Resistive Touchscreens

• Relatively lower sensitivity and touch precision.

• Only capable of single - point touch.

In conclusion, capacitive touchscreens and resistive touchscreens differ in working principles, touch experiences, and application scenarios. The specific choice of which touchscreen technology to use depends on the actual requirements and budget.