Introduction
The TM1616 and TM1650 are two of the most compact LED display driver ICs in the Titan Micro Electronics (天微电子) lineup, and they come in the same 16-pin packages. That similarity is exactly why engineers and purchasing managers so often search for a “TM1616 vs TM1650” comparison before finalizing a bill of materials: choosing the wrong one either wastes cost on unused functionality or forces a redesign when keyboard scanning turns out to be required.
This comparison is written for buyers, not students. If you are sourcing display driver ICs for appliance control boards, set-top boxes, instrumentation panels, or compact consumer products in India, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Middle East, Europe, or the USA, this guide gives you the practical differences, the decision criteria, and a clear sourcing path for both chips at competitive China supply chain pricing.
Product Overview
Both ICs are designed and manufactured by Titan Micro Electronics (天微电子), the Shenzhen-based semiconductor company behind the widely used TM16xx display driver family. Both use a two-wire serial interface that keeps host MCU pin usage to a minimum, both operate from a 2.8V to 5.5V supply, and both provide 8-level brightness control with built-in display RAM.
The TM1616 is the leaner member of the pair: a compact, display-only LED driver intended for products where the front panel shows information but takes no input. It drives multi-segment LED displays in a segment-and-grid configuration and requires no keyboard scanning hardware or firmware handling.
The TM1650 adds a built-in keyboard scanning circuit on top of its 8-segment × 4-bit (or 7-segment × 4-bit) display driving capability. That single difference defines its role in the market: the TM1650 is the appliance-grade workhorse found in air conditioner panels, set-top box front ends, and washing machine controllers, where one chip handles both the LED display and the matrix of front-panel keys.
Technical Specifications
The table below compares the two ICs side by side, based on manufacturer datasheet data:
| Parameter | TM1616 | TM1650 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Titan Micro Electronics (天微电子) | Titan Micro Electronics (天微电子) |
| Function | Compact LED display driver | LED display driver + keyboard scan |
| Display Mode | Multi-segment LED drive (segment and grid configuration) | 8-seg × 4-bit / 7-seg × 4-bit |
| Interface | 2-wire serial (CLK, DIN) | 2-wire serial (CLK, DIO) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.8V – 5.5V | 2.8V – 5.5V |
| Brightness Control | 8 levels | 8 levels (software adjustable) |
| Keyboard Scan | No (display only) | Yes, built-in key-scan circuit |
| Drive Current | Adjustable segment drive current | Segment output up to 200mA (max) |
| Package Options | SOP16, DIP16 | SOP16, DIP16 |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +85°C | -40°C to +85°C |
| Display RAM | Built-in | Built-in |
The electrical overlap between the two parts is substantial — same package family, same supply voltage range, same brightness levels, same industrial temperature range. The decisive difference is functional: the TM1650 carries keyboard scanning hardware and firmware registers that the TM1616 does not have, and in exchange costs slightly more. Everything else in your selection should follow from whether the panel has keys.
Applications
Where the TM1616 Fits
The TM1616 belongs in display-only products. Typical designs include electric kettles and rice cookers with basic digital readouts, portable fans, timer modules, digital clocks, small measurement instruments, and status indicators on industrial controllers. In the high-volume appliance manufacturing clusters of India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, the TM1616 is used when the control board needs a clean numeric or segment display and the product’s inputs are handled by simple GPIO switches or encoder knobs that do not justify a key-scan IC.
Where the TM1650 Fits
The TM1650 dominates in products where the display and the user interface share the same small panel: air conditioner control panels, set-top box front displays, washing machine controllers, microwave oven panels, and similar appliance interfaces. Because the TM1650 scans the key matrix internally and reports key events over the same two-wire interface, the MCU needs no additional I/O expansion for a panel that combines a 4-digit display with a bank of keys. This is why it remains one of the most requested Titan Micro parts among appliance OEM and ODM buyers across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
TM1616 vs TM1650: Which Should You Choose?
Use the decision matrix below to match the right IC to your design:
| Selection Criterion | Choose TM1616 If… | Choose TM1650 If… |
|---|---|---|
| Panel inputs | No keys on the display panel | Front-panel keys or touch buttons need scanning |
| Display requirement | Compact multi-segment display | 4-digit, 8-segment (or 7-segment) display |
| BOM cost priority | Lowest cost display driver wins | One chip for display + keys beats two ICs |
| Firmware effort | Simplest possible display code | Acceptable to handle key-scan registers |
| Board space | 16-pin footprint, minimal support parts | 16-pin footprint, eliminates separate key controller |
| Typical products | Kettles, fans, timers, instruments | Air conditioners, set-top boxes, washing machines |
| Proven design base | Compact consumer electronics | Large installed base in appliance industry |
Choose the TM1616 when your product shows a display but takes no input through the display driver. It is the leaner, lower-cost option, and its firmware model is as simple as the TM16xx family gets.
Choose the TM1650 when the panel combines a display with physical keys. The integrated keyboard scanning replaces a discrete key controller or MCU I/O expansion, which usually makes the total system cost lower than using a TM1616 plus a separate key-scan solution.
If neither part fits your digit count or key requirements, the same family offers proven alternatives: the TM1637 (SOP20, 8-seg × 6-bit with keys, extremely popular for 4-6 digit modules), the TM1668 (SOP24/SSOP24, 3-wire, compact panels with keypads), the TM1638 (SOP28, larger panels with 8×3 key scan), and the TM1628 (SOP28, up to 13-seg × 4-bit for large appliance panels). For pure LED panel driving without keys at higher capacity, see the TM1640. Our three-way guide to the TM1637 vs TM1638 vs TM1650 covers that decision in more depth.
One practical warning for design-in teams: although the TM1616 and TM1650 share the SOP16/DIP16 package family, pin assignments and register maps are not guaranteed to be identical. If you plan to migrate an existing board from one chip to the other, request both datasheets and verify pinout and command compatibility before releasing the layout change. Our technical team can support this review.
Buying Guide: How to Select a Reliable TM1616 or TM1650 Supplier
Whether you settle on the TM1616, the TM1650, or both across different product lines, supplier quality determines whether your production schedule holds. Evaluate every potential supplier against these criteria:
1. Original Source Verification
Insist on genuine Titan Micro parts with traceable lot numbers and original factory packaging. The TM16xx family is widely copied, and remarked or relabeled chips routinely surface in open-market listings. A credible distributor will state the manufacturer openly and provide documentation with every batch.
2. Supply Stability
For appliance and consumer electronics production, a single missed delivery can stop a line. Ask about buffer stock for SOP16 and DIP16 variants, typical reorder lead times, and how the distributor handles allocation during industry-wide shortages.
3. Quality Inspection
Incoming inspection should cover marking legibility, pin condition, moisture barrier packaging, and date-code consistency. For first orders, request samples and test them on your reference board before committing to production quantities.
4. Export Experience
Cross-border IC shipments need anti-static packaging, correct HS classification, and complete customs documentation. Choose a distributor with a track record of shipping to India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the USA, with tracking and predictable transit times.
5. MOQ Flexibility
Prototyping teams need 10-50 piece quantities; production buyers need thousands. A supplier who serves both — with pricing that scales fairly between them — removes friction from your entire development cycle.
Why Choose Newfly Electronics
Newfly Electronics is a China-based IC distributor specializing in Titan Micro Electronics display driver ICs. We supply overseas electronics manufacturers, engineering teams, and purchasing organizations across India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the USA.
- Both models in stock — We supply original TM1616 and TM1650 ICs in SOP16 and DIP16 packages, plus the full TM16xx family including TM1637, TM1640, TM1628, TM1621B, TM1638, and TM1668.
- Competitive China supply chain pricing — Titan Micro has no dedicated overseas sales team and quotes high prices to foreign buyers. Our direct channel relationships deliver the same original parts at significantly more competitive pricing.
- Stable supply — Inventory in both package variants with reorder capability for production volumes.
- Export experience — Regular shipments to India, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Europe, and the USA, with full customs documentation and tracking.
- Technical support — Datasheets, pinout diagrams, and application guidance for both ICs, including migration reviews between family members.
- Flexible MOQ — From 10 pieces for prototyping to bulk production orders, on fair scaling terms.
For further reading, our detailed comparisons of TM1650 vs HT16K33 and TM1668 vs TM1628 cover the most common cross-brand and cross-family sourcing decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between TM1616 and TM1650?
The core difference is keyboard scanning. The TM1650 integrates a key-scan circuit alongside its 8-seg × 4-bit LED display driving, while the TM1616 is a display-only driver. Both use a 2-wire serial interface, both operate from 2.8V to 5.5V, and both come in SOP16 and DIP16 packages. Choose the TM1616 for display-only products and the TM1650 when the panel includes physical keys.
Are TM1616 and TM1650 pin compatible?
Both ICs come in the same SOP16/DIP16 package family, but pin assignments and internal register maps should be verified against the official datasheets before swapping one for the other on an existing PCB. Do not assume drop-in compatibility — request both datasheets and review them, or ask our technical team for a migration assessment.
Can TM1650 be used in a display-only design?
Yes. The TM1650 works in display-only applications — the keyboard scanning feature simply remains unused. However, if your design will never use keys, the TM1616 is the more cost-effective choice with equivalent display performance in the same 16-pin footprint.
Which Titan Micro ICs support keyboard scanning?
Within the TM16xx LED driver family, the TM1650, TM1637, TM1638, TM1668, and TM1628 all include keyboard scanning with different display capacities and key-scan depths. The TM1616 and TM1640 are display-only drivers. Our TM1637 vs TM1638 vs TM1650 guide compares the three most popular key-scan parts.
Where can I buy TM1616 and TM1650 ICs?
Newfly Electronics supplies original TM1616 and TM1650 LED display driver ICs from Titan Micro Electronics (天微电子) at competitive China supply chain pricing, with small-quantity and bulk order support and export service to India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the USA. Email sales@newflyelectronics.com or WhatsApp +86 15112635657 for stock, pricing, and datasheets.
Do you provide datasheets for both chips?
Yes. Newfly Electronics provides the TM1616 and TM1650 datasheets — including pin configuration, electrical characteristics, serial interface timing, and application circuits — to qualified customers together with quotation requests.
Request a Quotation
Need TM1616, TM1650, or both for your next production run? Send us your required quantity, package preference (SOP16 or DIP16), and delivery destination, and our team will respond with pricing, lead time, and datasheet access within one business day.
- Email: sales@newflyelectronics.com
- WhatsApp: +86 15112635657
Whether you need 10 pieces for a prototype or a recurring production supply, Newfly Electronics is your reliable source for original Titan Micro display driver ICs. Contact us today for a competitive quotation.