Update: This is our original explainer virtually display technologies. While most of the information below remains accurate to this mean solar day, we've seen the introduction of much faster IPS displays too as a revolutionary updates to VA panels, particularly from Samsung Odyssey gaming monitors. We've likewise since tested over 100 monitors, and then we have a lot more insights to share about performance.

Read the updated explainer:
TN vs. VA vs. IPS, What's the Difference in 2022?

By far the most common types of display panels used on PC monitors are TN, IPS and VA. We're sure you've heard these terms before if you've researched monitors to purchase, and to be clear, the type of panel is a fundamental piece of data that reveals a lot about how the monitor will conduct and perform.

A cursory overview is in order, earlier nosotros focus on the individual characteristics of each technology and how they perform.

TN is the oldest of the LCD technologies and it stands for twisted nematic. This refers to the twisted nematic effect, which is an result that allows liquid crystal molecules to be controlled with voltage. While the actual workings of a TN-upshot LCD are a footling more complicated, substantially the TN-effect is used to alter the alignment of liquid crystals when a voltage is applied. When at that place is no voltage, so the crystal is "off," the liquid crystal molecules are twisted 90 degrees and in combination with polarization layers, permit light to pass through. Then when a voltage is applied, these crystals are substantially untwisted, blocking low-cal.

VA, stands for vertical alignment. Every bit the name suggests, this technology uses vertically aligned liquid crystals which tilt when a voltage is applied to let lite pass through. This is the key difference between IPS and VA: with VA, the crystals are perpendicular to the substrates, while with IPS they are parallel. There are several VA variants, including Samsung'southward SVA and AU Optronics AMVA.

VA (Vertical Alignment) homeotropic alignment shown to a higher place

IPS stands for in-plane switching and, like all LCDs, it too uses voltage to control the alignment of liquid crystals. Yet different with TN, IPS LCDs use a different crystal orientation, one where the crystals are parallel to the drinking glass substrates, hence the term 'in plane'. Rather than 'twisting' the crystals to change the amount of light let through, IPS crystals are essentially rotated, which has a range of benefits.

There are many IPS variants on the market, with each of the 3 big LCD manufacturers using a unlike term to describe their IPS-type technology. LG simply calls their tech "IPS" which is piece of cake for everyone. Samsung uses the term PLS or plane-to-line switching, while AU Optronics uses the term AHVA or advanced hyper viewing angle. AHVA shouldn't be confused with regular VA displays, information technology's an annoying and disruptive name in my opinion, but AHVA is an IPS-like technology. Each of LG'due south IPS, Samsung'south PLS and AUO'due south AHVA are slightly different but the fundamentals are rooted in IPS.

So in summary, TN panels twist, IPS panels use a parallel alignment and rotate, while VA panels utilize a vertical alignment and tilt. Now allow's become into some of the functioning characteristics and explore how each of the technologies differ and in general, which technology is better in any given category.

Viewing Angles

By far the biggest divergence between the 3 technologies is in viewing angles. TN panels take the weakest viewing angles, with significant shift to colour and contrast in both the horizontal and especially vertical directions. Typically viewing angles are rated every bit 170/160 just realistically you'll become pretty bad shifts when viewing anywhere except for dead eye. Higher-end TNs tend to be somewhat better but overall this is a large weakness for TNs.

VA and IPS panels are both significantly better, with IPS beingness the best overall for viewing angles. 178/178 viewing angle ratings are a realistic reflection of what y'all can expect with an IPS, you won't get much shift in colors or contrast from any angle. VAs are good in this regard but non equally adept as IPS, generally due to dissimilarity shifts at off-center angles. With VAs and specially TNs having some colour and contrast shifts when viewing at angles, they're not as well suited to colour-critical professional work as IPS panels, which is why you see most pro-class monitors sticking to IPS.

Brightness & Contrast

In terms of brightness there'due south no inherent differences between the technologies because the backlight, which determines effulgence, is separate to the liquid crystal console. Withal there are significant differences to dissimilarity ratios, and this an surface area most people look at when determining which panel type they want.

Both TN and IPS panels tend to have a contrast ratio effectually m:1, although in my testing I accept noted some differences. TN panels tend to have the lowest contrast ratios when calibrated, with an entry-level panel sitting between 700:1 and 900:1 and good panels pushing up to that one thousand:one mark. IPS has a larger range, I've seen some equally low as 700:1 like TNs, still the very best tend to push upwardly higher than TN, with 1200:ane equally the upper range for desktop monitors and some laptop-grade displays reaching as loftier as 1500:1.

Neither TN nor IPS become to the range of VA though. Entry-level VA panels start with a contrast ratio of 2000:1 from those that nosotros've tested, with the best easily exceeding 4500:1, although 3000:one is a typical figure for most monitors.

TVs brand extensive apply of VA panels and there dissimilarity ratios can be fifty-fifty college. It's not unusual to see over 6000:i. So if you want deep blacks and high dissimilarity ratios, you'll need to go with something VA.

While IPS panels tend to be a heart ground for contrast they exercise suffer from a phenomenon called "IPS glow," which is an apparent white glow when viewing nighttime imagery at an bending. The best panels exhibit minimal glow but it'due south all the same an issue across all displays of this type.

Color Quality

Color quality is another difference many people cite between TN displays and other display panels in particular. And this can exist split into ii categories: color depth or fleck depth, and color gamut.

In both of these regards, TN panels tend to fall on the weaker finish of the calibration. Many TN displays, in particular entry-level models, are only natively half-dozen-bit and use frame rate command, otherwise called FRC or dithering, to achieve standard 8-bit output. 6-bit panels are decumbent to colour banding, while native viii-bit panels have smoother color gradients and therefore better color output.

Not all TN panels are half-dozen-bit. The top-stop TNs are native 8-bit, but it's safe to say most TNs volition merely be native 6-bit, even today. If you are after a native 8-bit brandish, you'll need to go with either IPS or VA, where many more panels come up native 8-scrap.

While in that location are still 6-bit entry-level IPS and VA panels, pretty much all mid-range to high-stop options are eight-bit.

Equally for native true 10-scrap, typically you'll need to look for an IPS panel, which brand upwards the majority of native 10-flake panels. Some VA panels tin can do information technology, just they are rare. Nearly displays you purchase that claim to exist x-bit, are really viii-bit+FRC, with simply high-end professional person-form monitors offering a native 10-bit feel.

Color Gamut

This is another surface area where VA and IPS provide a superior experience. The best TN panels tend to exist limited to sRGB, or in the example of the worst entry-level panels, don't even cover the entirety of the sRGB gamut. Wide-gamut TN panels do exist, simply they are rare.

VA panels typically offset with full sRGB coverage as a minimum, and depending on the panel can push higher. VAs that use a quantum dot motion-picture show, typically from Samsung, offer higher gamuts, around the 125% sRGB or 90% DCI-P3 mark. Virtually of the wide gamut VA monitors we've tested autumn between 85 and 90% DCI-P3 coverage, which is a decent result, though the best can approach 95% or higher.

With IPS panels, in that location is the largest variance. Entry-level IPS displays tend to offer 95% sRGB coverage or less, while the majority stick to full sRGB coverage. Then with loftier-end displays, usually for professionals, information technology's not unusual to come across total DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB coverage. Of all the wide gamut IPS displays I've tested, the lowest DCI-P3 coverage I've seen has been 93%, with over 95% a typical figure. This makes IPS the best engineering science for wide gamut piece of work.

Refresh Rates

Throughout most of this discussion we've been talking nearly TN as the worst of the three technologies. Then far, it has the worst color reproduction, contrast ratios and viewing angles. Only it does accept one fundamental advantage, and that comes in the class of speed. TN panels have historically been the best for both refresh rates and response times, however that trend is slowly changing for the better.

Non long agone, we argued that simply with a TN panel it was possible to hit 240 Hz, doing so at 1080p and after up to 1440p. Near recently, however we've seen IPS monitors hit the highest mark ever for a consumer-grade gaming monitor at 360Hz, and do so very assuredly. Nosotros're sure other monitors will follow only as of writing, the Asus ROG Swift PG259QN tin can deliver both the fastest response times and an authentic color experience using an IPS console.

More than mainstream monitors using IPS panels tend to range from the regular 60Hz for productivity, upwards to 165 Hz and 240 Hz depending on the market they're aimed at. VA panels summit out at around 240 Hz at the moment.

Most IPS displays, especially high-grade options for professionals, every bit well equally entry-level office monitors, are either lx or 75 Hz. Meanwhile, a significantly larger number of VA panels across a wider range of sizes and resolutions are high-refresh, while the big selling betoken of TN is its super high refresh capabilities.

Response Times

Another major consideration is response times, which govern the level of ghosting, smearing and overall clarity of a panel. Early IPS and VA panels were very slow, however this has improved a lot with modernistic panels, so the differences between the three technologies aren't as pronounced as they once were. TN still holds an reward here.

Most TN panels have a rated transition fourth dimension of 1ms, or even lower with some recent releases. Actual grey to grey averages nosotros've measured for TN panels tend to be in the two-3 ms range when overdrive is factored in, which makes TN the fastest applied science.

IPS panels are next in terms of speed, though as tends to be the example with IPS, there is a wide variance between the best and worst of this type. High-end IPS monitors, typically those with high refresh rates, tin accept a transition time as fast as 3ms. Compared to the all-time TN panels, this nonetheless makes IPS slower. Withal entry-level IPS panels or those without overdrive sit down closer to the 10ms range, while mid-tier options tend to occupy the 5 to vii ms bracket.

VA panels are consistently the slowest of the iii types, only again, high-terminate gaming monitors take been pushing this farther on every generation. The accented fastest VA panel we've measured and so far has a 4ms response fourth dimension which is very impressive, though more typical numbers are betwixt viii and 10 ms for gaming monitors. VA panels also tend to be less consistent with their transitions; some individual transitions can exist fast, while others very slow, whereas IPS panels tend to hover more than effectually their overall grayness to grey average.

While a lot of people are unlikely to spot the difference between an 8ms VA console and a 5ms IPS, TN panels overall tend to be noticeably clearer in motion, but that gap is endmost with every generation. The slowness of VA panels too limits their existent globe refresh charge per unit: a 144 Hz panel that only manages a 9ms response fourth dimension, is actually delivering an image most equivalent to a 110 Hz console. Whereas most 144 Hz IPS panels tin can transition faster than the 6.94ms refresh window, leading to a true 144 Hz experience. So that's something to consider.

Wrap Up

As a quick summary, TN panels are the fastest and have the highest refresh rates, however they have the worst viewing angles past far, as well every bit weak color performance and typically the lowest contrast ratios. TNs are typically used for ultra-fast gaming displays, as well every bit budget grade displays, for both desktop monitors and laptops.

IPS is a center-basis technology. They typically have the best color performance and viewing angles, mid-tier response times and refresh rates, along with mid-tier black levels and contrast ratios. Due to its top-end color output, IPS panels are the go-to pick for professionals, but y'all'll also observe them in entry-level displays, role monitors, most laptops and a handful of gaming monitors.

VA panels are the slowest of the 3, merely have the best dissimilarity ratio and black levels past far. Colour performance isn't quite at the level of IPS, but they still offering a significantly better feel than TN in this regard.

With response times for the best modernistic VAs approaching the level of a typical IPS, along with wide back up for high refresh rates, VA monitors are commonly used for gaming monitors. Entry-level VAs also tend to be superior to entry-level TN and IPS panels, though yous won't find VA used in laptops.

There'due south no correct respond to which monitor engineering is best, because all have their strengths and weaknesses which is why all iii coexist on the market today. Nonetheless if y'all want our recommendation, we tend to gravitate towards VA panels for most buyers, specially gamers and those afterwards something entry-level. Creative professionals should be looking exclusively at IPS monitors, while those after something clay inexpensive or ultra high refresh for competitive gaming should opt for TN, although superior latest-gen IPS and VA offerings are finally matching or fifty-fifty beating the best of TN in some regards.

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