LCD screens in a nutshell (page 4: IPS, VA, TN)

Chronological history of the past two years

IPS, In Plane Switching

Since 2001, the IPS technology has little or none progressed. Even if these monitors characteristics are increasingly attractive (some of the model have a 16 ms response time), in practice they are the least reactive and the worst for gaming. The lack of sharpness is a lot more present than with the VA or TN screens. Unless maybe if you have the last top-of-the-range products (like the NEC 2080UX+, we just received one but didn’t have the chance to test it yet tested), these screens are not well adapted for a play use. The TN and VA screens are less expensive and have better results for games and movies.
Colors rendering have a little bit improved in the last two years, but slower than TN and VA screens. However, they have an enjoyable color rendering, wide vision angles, and screens using this technology have remarkable ergonomics.

Still, we feel that during the last two years, the technology has stagnated. However, after the IPS, the Super-IPS, the Advanced-IPS, a new range of panel is arriving: the Super Advanced-IPS. Is it going to be the right one? The answer is on its way.

VA, Vertical Alignment

Fujitsu Siemens initiated the VA technology under the MVA designation. Samsung is now using it under the PVA designation, Sharp under ASV and CMO under Super MVA. In 2001, the response time was 25 ms and now the response time is … 25 ms. The only exception is the Samsung SyncMaster 193P. This screen is the first 20 ms. Reactivity is indeed a little bit better than with the 25 ms VA, but some improvements are still necessary. TN screens remains distinctly more reactive. Nevertheless VA screens outweigh TN screens on most of the remaining area. Black color rendering is often superior; vision angles are as wide as TN angles are narrow and colors are more accurate. These screens display 16.7 millions colors and the TN doesn´t.

TN, Twisted Nematic

Mostly used in middle-ranged and entry-level screens, the TN technology made its way to the top with several technological breakthroughs. They have been most frequent than on IPS or VA screens.

Without reaching the competition level, TN vision angles became wider. Other improvement, the last panel range (12 ms) is generating a credible black colour. But most of all, response time on TN screens is noticeably faster than IPS and VA screens.

However we are still in a similar position as we were in 2001. The fastest panel in all our tests is a 20 ms even if 12 ms panels exist. This panel is even beginning to date. Build by a Korean manufacturer, BOE-Hydis, this panel has been used in the Iiyama AS4314-UTG, the Hercules ProphetView 920 Pro, the Acer AL1731...