Advantages of IPS display panels:

If youve ever begun searching for a new computer screen, chances are youve probably come across the term IPS. Its at this point that you may be asking yourself,what is an IPS monitor?Andhow do I know if an IPS monitor is right for me?

To answer these questions we must first understand two things:

So, why is this important? A monitors panel technology is important because it affectswhat the monitor can doandfor which uses it is best suited.Each of the monitor panel types listed above offer their own distinctive benefits and drawbacks.

Choosing which type of monitor panel type to buy will depend largely on your intended usage and personal preference.After all, gamers, graphic designers, and office workers all have different requirements. Specific types of displays are best suited for different usage scenarios.

The specific type of LCD panel affects many different aspects of screen performance including:

Different panel technologies offer unique profiles with opinions on thebesttype of LCD being subjective and based on personal preference.

The reason for this is because none of the different monitor panel types as they are today can be classified as outstanding forallof the attributes mentioned above.

Below well take a look at how IPS, TN, and VA monitors affect screen performance and do some handy summaries of strengths, weaknesses, and best-case uses for each type of panel technology.

IPS monitors or In-Plane Switching monitors, leverage liquid crystals aligned in parallel to produce rich colors. IPS panels are defined by the shifting patterns of their liquid crystals. These monitors were designed to overcome the limitations of TN panels. The liquid crystals ability to shift horizontallycreates better viewing angles.

IPS monitors continue to be the display technology of choice for users that wantcolor accuracy and consistency. IPS monitors are really great when it comes tocolor performanceandsuper-wide viewing angles. The expansive viewing angles provided by IPS monitors help to deliver outstanding color when being viewed from different angles. One major differentiator between IPS monitors and TN monitors is that colors on an IPS monitor wont shift when being viewed at an angle as drastically as they do on a TN monitor.

IPS monitor variations include S-IPS, H-IPS, e-IPS and P-IPS, and PLS (Plane-to-Line Switching), the latter being the latest iteration. Since these variations are all quite similar, they are all collectively referred to as IPS-type panels. They all claim to deliver the major benefits associated with IPS monitors great color and ultra-wide viewing angles.

When it comes to color accuracy, IPS monitors surpass the performance of TN and VA monitors with ease. While latest-gen VA technologies offer comparative performance specs, pro users still claim thatIPS monitors reign supremein this regard.

Another important characteristic of IPS monitors is that they are able to support professional color space technologies, such asAdobe RGB. This is due to the fact that IPS monitors are able to offer more displayable colors, which help improve color accuracy.

In the past, response time and contrast were the initial weakness of IPS technology. Nowadays, however, IPS monitor response times have advanced to the point where they are even capable of satisfying gamers, thus resulting in a rising popularity inIPS monitors for gaming.

With regard to gaming, some criticisms IPS monitors include more visible motion blur coming as a result of slower response times, however the impact of motion blur will vary from user to user. In fact, mixed opinions about the drawbacks of IPS monitor for gaming can be found all across the web. Take this excerpt from one gaming technology writer for example: As for pixel response, opinions vary. I personally think IPS panels are quick enough for almost all gaming. If your gaming life is absolutely and exclusively about hair-trigger shooters, OK, youll want the fastest response, lowest latency LCD monitor. And that means TN. For the rest of us, and certainly for those who place even a modicum of importance on the visual spectacle of games, I reckon IPS is clearly the best panel technology. Read the full articlehere.

IPS monitors deliver ultra-wide 178-degree vertical and horizontal viewing angles. Graphic designers, CAD engineers, pro photographers, and video editors will benefit from using an IPS monitor. Many value the color benefits of IPS monitors and tech advances have improved IPS panel speed, contrast, and resolution. IPS monitors are more attractive than ever for general desktop work as well as many types of gaming. Theyre even versatile enough to be used in different monitor styles, so if youve ever compared an ultrawide vs. dual monitorsetup or considered the benefits ofcurved vs. flat monitors, chances are youve already come into contact with an IPS panel.

IPS Monitor Advantages:

IPS Monitor Drawbacks:

IPS Monitor Best Uses:

TN monitors, or Twisted Nematic monitors, are the oldest LCD panel types around. TN panels cost less than their IPS and VA counterparts and are a popular mainstream display technology for desktop and laptop displays.

Displays based on this monitor panel technology are ideal for cost-conscious consumers and entry-level multipurpose use.

Despite their lower perceived value, TN-based displays are the panel typepreferred by competitive gamers. The reason for this is because TN panels can achieve arapid response timeand thefastest refresh rates on the market(like this240Hz eSports monitor). To this effect, TN monitors are able toreduce blurring and screen tearingin fast-paced games when compared to an IPS or VA panel.

On the flip side,however, TN panel technology tends to be ill-suited for applications that benefit from wider viewing angles, higher contrast ratios, and better color accuracy. That being said, LED technology has helped shift the perspective and todays LED-backlit TN models offer higher brightness along with better blacks and higher contrast ratios.

The greatest constraint of TN panel technology, however, is a narrower viewing angle as TN monitors experience more color shifting than other types of panels when being viewed at an angle.

Todays maximum possible viewing angles are 178 degrees both horizontally and vertically (178/178), yet TN panels are limited to viewing angles of approximately 170 degrees horizontal and 160 degrees vertical (170 /160).

In fact, TN monitor can sometimes be easily identified by the color distortion and contrast shifting thats visible at the edges of the screen. As screen sizes increase, this issue becomes even more apparent as reduced color performance can even begin to be seen when viewing the screen from a dead-center position.

For general-purpose use, these shifts in color and contrast are often irrelevant and fade from conscious perception. However, this color variability makes TN monitors a poor choice for color-critical work like graphic design and photo editing. Graphic designers and other color-conscious users should also avoid TN displays due to their more limited range of color display compared to the other technologies.

TN monitors are the least expensive panel technology, making them ideal for cost-conscious businesses and consumers. In addition, TN monitors enjoy unmatched popularity with competitive gamers and other users who seek rapid graphics display.

TN Monitor Advantages:

TN Monitor Drawbacks:

TN Monitor Best Uses:

Vertical alignment (VA) panel technology was developed to improve upon the drawbacks of TN. Current VA-based monitors offer much higher contrast, better color reproduction, and wider viewing angles than TN panels. Variations you may see include P-MVA, S-MVA, and AMVA (Advanced MVA).

These high-end VA-type monitors rival IPS monitors as the best panel technology for professional-level color-critical applications. One of the standout features of VA technology is that it is particularly good at blocking light from the backlight when its not needed. This enables VA panels to display deeper blacks and static contrast ratios of up to several times higher than the other LCD technologies. The benefit of this is that VA monitors with high contrast ratios can deliver intense blacks and richer colors.

Contrast ratio is themeasured difference between the darkest blacks and the brightest whites a monitor can produce. This measurement provides information about the amount of grayscale detail a monitor will deliver. The higher the contrast ratio, the more visible detail.

These monitors also provide more visible details in shadows and highlights, making them ideal for enjoying videos and movies. Theyre also a good fit for games focused on rich imagery (RPG games for example) rather than rapid speed (such as FPS games).

MVA and other recent VA technologies offer the highest static contrast ratios of any panel technology. This allows for an outstanding visual experience for movie enthusiasts and other users seeking depth of detail. Higher-end, feature-rich MVA displays offer the consistent, authentic color representation needed by graphic designers and other pro users.

VA Monitor Advantages:

VA Monitor Drawbacks:

VA Monitor Best uses:

How does OLED compare to LCD?

There is another type of panel technology that differs from the monitor types discussed above and that is OLED or Organic Light Emitting Diode technology. OLEDs differ from LCDs because they use positively/negatively charged ions to light up every pixel individually, while LCDs use a backlight, which can create an unwanted glow. OLEDs avoid screen glow (and create darker blacks) by not using a backlight. One of the drawbacks of OLED technology is that it is usually pricier than any of the other types of technology explained.

Choosing the Right LCD Panel Technology

When it comes to choosing the right LCD panel technology, there is no single right answer. Each of the three primary technologies offers distinct strengths and weaknesses. Looking at different features and specs helps you identify which monitor best fits your needs.

With the lowest cost and fastest response times, TN monitors are great for general use and gaming. VA monitor offers a step up for general use. Maxed-out viewing angles and high contrast ratios make VA monitors great for watching movies and image-intensive gaming.

IPS monitors offer the greatest range of color-related features and remain the gold standard for photo editing and color-critical pro uses. Greater availability and lower prices make IPS monitors a great fit for anyone who values outstanding image quality.

LCD or Liquid Crystal Display is a type of monitor panel that embraces thin layers of liquid crystals sandwiched between two layers of filters and electrodes.

While CRT monitors used to fire electrons against glass surfaces, LCD monitors operate using backlights and liquid crystals. The LCD panel is a flat sheet of material that contains layers of filters, glass, electrodes, liquid crystals, and a backlight. Polarized light (meaning only half of it shines through) is directed towards a rectangular grid of liquid crystals and beamed through.

Liquid Crystals (LCs) are used because of their unique ability to maintain a parallel shape. Acting as both a solid and liquid, LCs are able to react quickly to changes in light patterns. The optical properties of LCs are activated by electric current, which is used to switch liquid crystals between phases. In turn, each pixel generates an RGB (red, green, blue) color based on the phase its in.

Note: When searching for monitors you can be sure to come across the term LED Panel at some point or another. An LED panel is an LCD screen with an LED (Light Emitting Diode) backlight. LEDs provide a brighter light source while using much less energy. They also have the ability to produce white color, in addition to traditional RGB color, and are the panel type used in HDR monitors.

Early LCD panels usedpassive-matrix technologyand were criticized for blurry imagery. The reason for this is because quick image changes require liquid crystals to change phase quickly and passive matrix technology was limited in terms of how quickly liquid crystals could change phase.

As a result,active-matrix technologywas invented andtransistors(TFTs) began being used to help liquid crystals retain their charge and change phase more quickly.

Thanks to active-matrix technology,LCD monitor panels were able to change images very quickly and the technology began being used by newer LCD panels.

Ultimately, budget and feature preferences will determine the best fit for each user. Among the available monitors of each panel type there will also be a range of price points and feature sets. Additionally, overall quality may vary among manufacturers due to factors related to a displays components, manufacturing, and design.

If youre interested in learning more about IPS monitors, you can take a look at some of theseprofessional monitorsto see if they would be the right fit for you.

Alternatively, if youre into gaming and are in the market for TN panel thesegaming monitoroptions may be along the lines of what youre looking for.

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What is an IPS Monitor? Monitor Panel Types Explained ...

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