LCD : IPS is back at the TN and VA level!

Five years ago, we started our first LCD monitor survey (in French). At the time, manufacturers already agreed that in the end there would be only one technology left: IPS, VA or TN.

Five years later, the three technologies still coexist. In the meantime, however, a lot of things happened! LCDs have improved, technologies have fought each other and they have all at a time been threatened of extinction because of their delay over the other ones. Each time though, they found a way to come back in the game. Here is a small reminder of the latest events until the last one that is the subject of today's news, the renewal of IPS technology.

Here is a small bonus game: will you recognize the star monitor of each period? Turn your monitor upside down the answers are in the bottom of the news.

Episode 1 : 2001, VA is the leading technology

VA monitors are expensive but their viewing angles are very wide. They know 16.7 million colors (some TN were still at 262 K) and their reaction time is – at least on paper – the best. They display 25 ms response time when the TN are between 30 to 50 ms. VA also have the reputation to display good colors.

Episode 2: end of 2001 to 2005, TN are the gamers' choice

The release of 30 ms (2001), 20 ms (2002), 16 ms (end of 2002), 12 ms (2004) and 8 ms (end of 2004) TN panels considerably increase the reputation of these monitors classified as economical. They become the favourite of the gamers. IPS is completely left out and try to come back in 2003 thanks to the reduction of the response time to 16 ms. It isn't however convincing in games: the afterglow effect is too strong. VA stagnates at 25ms and occupies the last position with a slower response time than IPS and shorter viewing angles from 2003. VA seems to be in a very bad position.

Episode 3 : 2005, AU Optronics saves the VA

AU Optronics releases the first 8ms response time VA panel in April 2005 (product availability date). Reaction time is as good as the best TN available, viewing angles are wider and the twinkling effect in movies is less present. The first one to include this panel is the ViewSonic's VP191b. It has a huge success in the press and sales explode: the monitor is on top of the sales for months. TN monitors are threatened: some of the gamers change to VA monitors. IPS is left aside.

Episode 4 : June 2005, TN goes down to 4 ms, 3 ms and then to 2 ms

AU Optronics and Samsung release a new generation of fast panels that includes significant progresses in games reaction times. And it shows! We are now closer to the first 1ms monitors that will be released soon by BenQ and ViewSonic.

The new repartition becomes: TN for gamers, VA for polyvalent uses. ISP for…some of the graphic designers that don't want to follow Eizo, LaCie and Nec in their conversion to VA for picture editing monitors. The situation is terrible for IPS. Even the most ardent supporters are turning their back to the technology.

Episode 5: 2006, IPS goes down to 6 ms and targets gamers

Nec releases this month the first monitor equipped with a 6ms response time AS-IPS panel. Nec also breaks the myth of ISP monitors' constant response time between greys. It is of 6 ms between greys and 12 ms from black to white (ISO norm).

The monitor released, the LCD20WGX², is very pleasant on paper:
- fast response time (6 ms, we remind you that our eyes don't see differences between TN 6/4/3 and 2 ms)
- 16.7 true million of colors (TN are at 16.2)
- 700:1 contrast ratio capable of going up to 1600:1 with Advanced DVM technology, automatic brightness adaptation of the content in real time (according to Nec)
- 470 cd/m² brightness. It is much too elevated. Let's hope that Nec's standard adjustment will be lower and that it is a maximum value and not the one that is chosen when the monitor is switched on.
- 4 ports USB Hub
- 16/10 panel, resolution of 1680 x 1050 pixels
- wider viewing angles than VA and TN panels
- Nec also told us about the release of a new international sRGB standard of calibration and constant reproduction of colors.

The price: 670 € (VAT included). It is more expensive than 8ms VA monitors but it is the first one of the kind. Now we have to wait and see what the performance will be during tests. If we trust the characteristics, it should display good colors, stable and its viewing angles would be the widest of all LCDs. Is it the TN and VA killer? Just for the fun, let's hope that it is!