LCD Panel Type Explored

Most people know that monitors come in a bunch of different shapes and sizes. And you can get them with all kinds of different features, like a high refresh rate or 3D capabilities. But there’s one more thing that affects how well your monitor works: the panel type. That’s why it’s important to understand the difference between the three types of panels before you buy a new monitor.

It’s crucial to make the right LCD panel selection. You need to know a little about the different types to make the right choice. In this blog, titled “LCD Panel Type Explored,” I will explore the different panel types available and how they affect performance.

A type of flat panel display known as an LCD panel creates images using liquid crystal display technology. LCD panels are thin, lightweight, and can be produced in large sizes, making them a popular choice for televisions, computer monitors, and other electronics.

LCD panels are made up of two sheets of glass that are held together by a thin layer of liquid crystals. When an electric current is applied to the crystals, they align themselves so that light can either pass through them or be blocked, depending on the desired image.

LCD Panel Types

There are numerous varieties of LCD panels, and each one has advantages and disadvantages of its own. Twisted nematic (TN), vertical alignment (VA), and in-plane switching (IPS) are the three most prevalent types. TN panels are the most inexpensive and have the fastest response time, but they have poor color accuracy and limited viewing angles.

Compared to TN panels, VA panels feature broader viewing angles and higher color fidelity, but they are more costly and have longer reaction times. The most costly panels are IPS panels, which also have the highest color accuracy and viewing angles.

TN (Twisted Nematic) Panels

A TN panel is the most popular type of LCD panel. They are found in a variety of gadgets, including big television displays and tiny digital watches. TN panels are a type of LCD (liquid crystal display) technology. They are named for their Twisted Nematic (TN) display mode, in which the liquid crystals twist and untwist as an electric field is applied. This mode of operation is the fastest of all the LCD modes, making TN panels ideal for applications that require a fast response time, such as gaming or video. TN panels also have the advantage of being the least expensive LCD technology to manufacture.

The earliest flat screens that were mass-produced were TN panels. Before flat screens, we had bulky-sized CRT screens. TN panels introduced these new plat screens to the market.

Modern TN panels still have major shortcomings despite significant advancements. The first one is that it only offers a small variety of viewing angles. The second one is its poor color fidelity. The color gamut comes in third.

So, why would you buy a TN display? For starters, it is a good option. TN panels are cheap and provide good value for money. Secondly, its input lag is very low, almost better than some VA panels. Thirdly, there are some TN panels that display as high as 240 Hz in terms of refresh rate.

VA (Vertical Alignment) Panels

VA vertical alignment panels are specially designed to provide optimum viewing comfort and legibility in a wide range of lighting conditions. The panels come in a variety of sizes and can be used indoors or outdoors. The panels are made of high-quality materials and are highly durable.

A good compromise between TN and IPS panels is VA panels. They provide the greatest 3000:1 or 6000:1 contrast ratios. Therefore, VA panels are preferred by TV manufacturers.

Viewing angles on VAs aren’t quite as wide as those on IPS panels. The downside to this is that screen brightness can look different depending on how you’re viewing it from different angles. However, you also won’t get that “IPS glow.”

Additionally, compared to TN panels, VA panels offer much better color reproduction. But its response time is higher than TN panels. This is why some competitive gamers usually avoid VA panels.

IPS (In-Plane Switching) Panels

IPS panels are a type of LCD panel that uses a technology called in-plane switching to produce images. This technology is different from the traditional twisted nematic (TN) LCDs in how the pixels are aligned in the panel. In an IPS panel, the liquid crystals are aligned in a plane parallel to the glass substrates, which results in better color reproduction and viewing angles. IPS panels are also known for their wide gamut, which means they can display a greater range of colors than TN panels.

IPS panels generally provide a much better viewing experience. This is because they don’t suffer from the same color shift issues that TN panels do, meaning you can view them from extreme angles without losing any accuracy. IPS panels have a good reputation when it comes to black reproduction, which helps to get rid of the “washed out” look that can come from TN panels. However, IPS panels don’t have the same high contrast ratio as VAs.

TN panels were formerly the only ones that provided high refresh rates, but more manufacturers are now making IPS panels with refresh rates of over 240 Hz. For instance, the IPS screen of the 27-inch, 1080p ASUS VG279QM has a refresh rate of 280 Hz. This means that you can enjoy buttery-smooth gameplay without sacrificing image quality.

When it comes to fast-paced video gaming, color reproduction is essential. You need a panel that can display fast-paced colors with accuracy. This is why IPS panels are the go-to for gamers.

IPS (In-Plane Switching), PLS (Plane To Line Switching), And AHVA (Advanced Hyper-Viewing Angle) Panels

These three technologies are basically the same in terms of their features, but they are developed by different companies. For example, LG developed IPS technology. Samsung has developed PLS technology and AUO developed the Advanced Hyper-Viewing Angles (AHVA) panels. These three are collectively known as IPS technologies.

IPS panels are the most popular type of LCD panel due to their superior image quality and wide viewing angles. PLS panels are a newer type of LCD panel that offers better image quality and wider viewing angles than IPS panels. AHVA panels are the newest type of LCD panel and offer the best image quality and widest viewing angles of all three types of LCD panels.

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The various panel types differ in a number of ways.

Response Time:

It takes less than 1 ms in TN and 4-5ms in VA. With regards to the IPS panel, it has a reaction time of 1-2ms.

Viewing Angles:

VA panels provide contrast ratios that surpass other technologies while also having better viewing angles than TN panels. The TN panels have very restricted and poor viewing angles, which worsens their performance. IPS is even better than TN and VA when it comes to viewing angles.

Color

TN panels don’t have great color accuracy. On the other hand, VA panels have much better color accuracy. But they’ve typically been considered the best type of panel when paired with an IPS.

Price

When it comes to IPS panels, you’re going to be paying more for them than you would for other types of panels. However, TN panels can be bought more affordably because of their lower price.

Conclusion

Choosing the right LCD panel is an important choice. As it is obvious from the title, LCD panel type explored, I explored LCD panels and their different types. I have discussed all the necessary features which will help you in making the decision to buy a new one.

As I have mentioned above, if you are a beginner and looking for a cheaper option, go for TN panels. But if you are a professional and use it for high-end tasks, then you should avoid TN panels and look for IPS panels.