Easy to understand even for beginners! Three types of monitor panels (IPS, VA, TN): Which one is right for you?

Hello everyone! This is Naomi.
When choosing a monitor, have you ever been confused by technical terms like "IPS," "VA," and "TN" ?
This time, we will introduce these three types of panels in an easy-to-understand manner.
Which one is better for gaming, watching videos or editing photos?
Read to the end and you'll know which one is best for you!

The biggest appeal of IPS panels is that they are "color accurate and look beautiful from any angle" !
When editing photos, I rarely have to worry about whether the color is correct.
Even if you look at the screen at an angle with a friend, the colors are less likely to shift or become dark.

• High color reproducibility and wide color gamut compatibility
• The wide viewing angle means there is little change in color or brightness when viewed from the left, right, top, or bottom.

• Even if you block the light, some backlight light may leak through.
• Prices tend to be slightly higher than VA and TN when looking at the same specs.

"Deep blacks and strong contrast" perfect for watching movies!
The contrast ratio is the greatest strength of VA panels. The contrast ratio is a numerical value that indicates the difference between bright and dark areas.
If this is high, when you watch a movie with a dark scene you will be amazed and wonder, "How can they reproduce such deep blacks?"

• It is a soft panel, so backlight leakage is less likely to occur. Most curved monitors use VA panels.
  (Note: IPS panels may be used for large screens of 34 or 49 inches or larger, or ultra-wide monitors with an aspect ratio of 21:9.)
• High contrast ratio and excellent black reproduction allow for images with large differences in brightness.

• The viewing angle is narrower than IPS. The smaller the angle between your line of sight and the monitor, the more the color shifts and the whiter the display appears.

• The response time is slightly slower than IPS or TN, so there is a slight possibility of afterimages being visible in fast-moving games (e.g., TN: 1ms, IPS: 5ms, VA: 10ms).

"Fast response time and cheap" Recommended for gaming beginners!
Of the three types, the TN panel has the fastest response time.
"Response time" refers to the speed at which the image on the screen changes. If this speed is fast, even in scenes where enemies move in the blink of an eye, like in FPS games,
The image is less likely to blur or leave afterimages, and responds immediately to operations.

• Fastest response speed
• The most economical of the three types

• The viewing angle is narrow, so colors may appear darker or shift significantly when viewed from an angle.
• Color reproduction is inferior to IPS and VA, so colors may appear slightly pale.

When actually looking at a monitor, you can easily tell the difference by looking at the following points.

Look at the screen from about a 45-degree angle.
TN panels have significantly shifted or darkened colors, VA panels have pale, whitish colors, and IPS panels have almost no change.

Let's try displaying a dark scene.
VA panels have very deep blacks and are not easily affected by ambient brightness, IPS panels have blacks that appear slightly floating, and TN panels often lack darkness in general.

Try playing a video with fast moving motion (e.g. a car racing scene).
TN panels have smooth image transitions with no afterimages, IPS panels are the next smoothest, and VA panels may have a slight chance of showing afterimages.

Once you understand the characteristics of the panel,
The next key point is to choose the best one based on what purpose you will use the monitor for .

→IPS panel: For tasks that require color accuracy, the IPS panel's high color reproduction and wide viewing angles are beneficial.
In particular, choosing a model that supports a wide color gamut such as "sRGB 99% or more" or "DCI-P3 90% or more" will improve the quality of the finished product.

→VA panel: Deep blacks and high contrast immerse you in the world of the movie.
It is especially recommended for people who often watch in dark rooms, and it is also more affordable than IPS, making it economical.

→TN panel or fast response IPS panel: TN panel has a fast response time and minimizes image retention when playing games.
If you also care about color and viewing angles, you can choose an IPS panel that supports a 1ms response time.

Above we have introduced the differences between the three types of panels and how to choose one.
If you choose something with a clear "primary use" in mind, you'll be more satisfied in the long run.
Finally, to add a bit more, the TN panels currently on the market are basically aimed at gamers,
It comes with a high refresh rate and ultra-short response time, which is why it's generally priced higher.