For a long time I was tormented by the question: how do the images of modern monitors with TN, S-IPS, S-PVA, P-MVA matrices differ? My friend ne0 and I decided to compare.

For tests we took two 24"" monitors (unfortunately we didn't find anything on S-IPS:():
- on a cheap TN matrix Benq V2400W
- on a medium category P-MVA matrix Benq FP241W.

Candidate characteristics:

Benq V2400W

Matrix type: TN+Film
Inches: 24"
Permission: 1920x1200
Brightness: 250 cd/m2
Contrast: 1000:1
Response time: 5ms / 2ms GTG

Benq FP241W

Matrix type: P-MVA (AU Optronics)
Inches: 24"
Permission: 1920x1200
Brightness: 500 cd/m2
Contrast: 1000:1
Response time: 16ms / 6ms GTG

Trends in recent years

TN matrices (TN+film) improve color rendering, brightness and viewing angles.
*VA matrices (S-PVA/P-MVA) improve response time.

How far has the progress been?

Already now you can watch films on TN (TN+Film) matrices and work with color in editors.
Play games on *VA without motion blur.

But there are still differences.

Brightness

The Benq V2400W (TN) has its initial color settings (RGB) set to almost maximum. At the same time, in terms of brightness (at maximum settings) it falls short of *VA (at medium settings). In comparisons with other TN monitors, they indicate that the V2400W’s brightness is lower than that of its competitors (alas, we couldn’t compare :)), but I can say with confidence that the brightness of *VA monitors will be higher than TN monitors.

In Benq FP241W (*VA), due to the brightness of the backlight, black is also bright. For TN, black remained completely black when we compared the on and off states of the monitors. This may be missing on other *VA models and present on the TN. (I'm waiting for comments verifying this statement :))

Black color *VA does not interfere with work at all and is associated with black (thanks to our adjusting eyes :) and a good contrast ratio of 1000:1 monitor). And the difference in black brightness is visible only in comparison (when one monitor is placed next to another).
Due to the high brightness, colors on *VA seem a little richer, and whites on *VA are whiter - on TN, it appears gray in comparison.
You yourself noticed this effect when, for example, you switched the color temperature on the monitor from 6500 to 9300, when your eyes were already accustomed to a different color temperature (probably most of the people here started changing the temperature :)). But when the eyes get used to it again, on TN the white becomes white again :), and the other temperature is either bluer or yellower.

Colors

Colors on TN and *VA monitors can be well calibrated (so that the grass is green, the sky is blue, and skin colors in photographs do not turn yellow).

On TN monitors, bright and dark colors close to each other are worse distinguished (for example, bright blue and white, on clouds, close to black (4-5%) and white (3-5%)). The differences in these colors also change depending on the viewing angle, turning negative or disappearing. But it seems that due to this, on TN monitors, black is truly black.

*VA shows the full spectrum of colors - with a good video card and settings, all color gradients from 1 to 254 are visible, regardless of the viewing angle.

Photos looked good on both monitors and had fairly rich colors.

Both monitors have 16.7 million colors (not 16.2, like some TNs) - gradients looked identical without color “misses”.

Viewing Angles

The first main difference between TN and *VA is the viewing angles of the monitors.

If you look at the TN monitor directly in the center, then from the top and bottom the screen begins to slightly distort (darken) the colors. This is noticeable on bright colors and dark colors - dark colors become black, and bright colors turn gray. On the left and right, the darkening from the corner is noticeably much less - which most likely pushes manufacturers to make monitors with large diagonals wide :). Plus, because of this effect, some colors begin to fade into others and merge.
It is difficult to look at a TN monitor from above and especially from below - low-contrast colors are distorted, become faded, inverted and merge very much.

On *VA monitors, color distortions (or rather brightness) are also present. If you look at the monitor in the center at a distance of less than 40 cm, then the white color shows slight fading at the corners of the monitor (see picture), which covers about 2-3% of the corners. Colors are not distorted. That is, if you look at the monitor from the widest angle, the picture will not lose its colors, it will just be a little brightened.
Due to the lack of distortion, *VA monitors are made to rotate 90 degrees.

Watching video on TN from the sofa is possible, but it must be directed exactly at the viewers (vertically). With *VA there are no problems with turning the screen towards the viewer; the film can be viewed from almost any angle. Distortions are not significant.

Response time

The second main difference is response time. Former.
Already now, overdrive systems are moving at full speed - and if earlier this played a major role, now it has faded into the background.

TN monitors are leaders in this area and are considered the best for gamers. The trails on them have not been seen for quite some time. In the photographs, the square flying into the corner doubled.

*VA monitors look at the TN heels. Having played Team Fortress 2, W3 Dota, Fallout 3, no distortions or blurry trails (blur effect) were noticed. Watching the video was also a success. In the photographs, the square flying into the corner tripled in size.

Visually, in the test, if you look closely, the running square on the *VA matrix had only a 1.1 times larger train.

What would I choose?

If you are trying to choose between S-IPS or *VA matrices and don't know what to choose, then I recommend *VA, which you will be very happy with. *VA is great for working with color - pay 2 times more for the name of the matrix and large viewing angles of S-IPS, compared to *VA is not worth it - the difference in quality is not worth the money.

For gaming, office/Internet work, viewing photos, simple editing of pictures, photos and videos, and watching movies alone - TN is perfect. Even with the necessary skill + specific SuperBright (Video) modes, you can watch movies on TN on the couch with minor, imperceptible color distortions (oh, why do they need a movie :)).

For processing photographs, working with color in videos (you can edit them in the right places on TN, right?), drawing on a tablet, *VA is better suited. As a bonus, you can watch movies on it while lounging in a chair (high brightness helps). And playing and doing Internet/office work on it is just as convenient as on TN.

P.s. After purchasing *VA, I immediately noticed " Welcome screen"in Windows XP there is a purple gradient at the bottom left :), which I didn’t notice on old TNs.

It always comes down first of all to choosing the type of monitor matrix. And when you have already decided what type of matrix you need, you can move on to other characteristics of the monitor. In this article we will look at the main types of monitor matrices that are currently used by manufacturers.

Now on the market you can find monitors with the following types of matrices:

• TN+film (Twisted Nematic + film)
• IPS (SFT – Super Fine TFT)
• *VA (Vertical Alignment)
• PLS (Plane-to-Line Switching)

Let's consider all types of monitor matrices in order.

TN+film

TN+film– the simplest and cheapest matrix creation technology to produce. Due to its low price it is most popular. Just a few years ago, almost 100 percent of all monitors used this technology. And only advanced professionals who needed high-quality monitors bought devices based on other technologies. Now the situation has changed a little, monitors have become cheaper and TN+film matrices are losing their popularity.

Advantages and disadvantages of TN+film matrices:

• Low price
• Good response speed
• Poor viewing angles
• Low contrast
• Poor color rendering

IPS

IPS– the most advanced type of matrices. This technology was developed by Hitachi and NEC. The developers of the IPS matrix managed to get rid of the shortcomings of TN+film, but as a result, the price of matrices of this type has risen significantly compared to TN+film. However, every year prices decrease and become more affordable for the average consumer.

Advantages and disadvantages of IPS matrices:

• Good color rendering
• Good contrast
• Wide viewing angles
• High price
• Long response time

*VA

*VA This is a type of monitor matrix that can be considered a compromise between TN+film and IPS. The most popular among such matrices is MVA (Multi-domain Vertical Alignment). This technology was developed by Fujitsu.

Analogues of this technology developed by other manufacturers:

• PVA (Patterned Vertical Alignment) from Samsung.
• Super PVA from Sony-Samsung (S-LCD).
• Super MVA from CMO.

Advantages and disadvantages of MVA matrices:

• Large viewing angles
• Good color rendition (better than TN+film, but worse than IPS)
• Good response speed
• Deep black color
• Not a high price
• Loss of shadow detail (compared to IPS)

PLS

PLS- a type of matrix developed by Samsung as an alternative to expensive IPS matrices.

For a number of reasons, liquid crystal screens are in great demand among users and are the most in demand in the domestic market. Modern LCD displays are divided into two types of matrices - IPS and TN. In this regard, many buyers have a question: what is better IPS or TN screen?

In order to understand which technology is better, you should consider all the advantages and disadvantages of IPS and TN screens. However, it is worth noting that both technologies have gone through a long path of development and improvement, which has made it possible to create screens of decent quality. Taking into account some technological features of technologies, depending on the situation, you should choose one or another screen.

When choosing a screen, there are several most important parameters to consider:

• Screen resolution;
• Color rendering;
• Color saturation, contrast and brightness of the image;
• Response time;
• Energy consumption;
• Durability.

1. TN vs IPS

First of all, you should pay attention to the screen resolution. This is one of the most important parameters that directly affects the image quality, as well as the diagonal size. To put it simply, resolution is the number of pixels on the screen vertically and horizontally. For example, a resolution of 1920x1080 means that the screen has 1920 pixels horizontally and 1080 pixels vertically. Accordingly, the higher the resolution, the higher the pixel density, and the clearer the image you can get.

It is worth understanding that modern technologies allow you to enjoy high-resolution video and photo images. Therefore, you should give preference to screens with maximum resolution. Today the highest resolution is 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD). Of course, such monitors or TVs will have a higher cost, but you will be able to fully experience all the benefits of technology.

If we talk about which matrix is ​​better than TN or IPS in terms of resolution, then both technologies are equal. They can be either low or extremely high resolution, it all depends on the cost of the device.

2. Color rendering

Color rendering is a parameter that determines the number of colors and shades displayed by the screen. The saturation of colors, as well as the realism of the picture, depends on this. Modern technologies made it possible to make screens with a fairly high level of color rendering, regardless of technology. However, there are some differences between IPS and TN screens.

2.1. Color rendition of IPS matrix

The features of this technology made it possible to create a screen with the most realistic colors. It is worth noting that IPS displays are in greatest demand among professional photo editors, as well as among those involved in image processing. This is explained by the fact that IPS monitors have the greatest color depth (black and white), as well as the largest number of displayed colors and shades - about 1.07 billion. This makes the image as realistic as possible.

In addition, IPS screens have the highest brightness and contrast, which also has a positive effect on image quality.

2.2. Color rendering of TN matrices

Although this type of matrix has high level image quality, as well as excellent color rendition, is still significantly inferior to IPS screens. In addition, such matrices have smaller viewing angles.

If it says that TN Film or IPS is better in terms of color rendering, then the answer is clear - IPS matrices are significantly superior to TN+Film screens. Although, at home, any monitor will allow you to enjoy excellent quality and color depth.

3. Response time

This parameter determines the time during which a liquid crystal molecule is able to change its position to display from black to white and back. This is especially important for those who love bright and fast special effects and colorful games. If the response is slow, you will be able to observe an effect called “loop” on the screen. In other words, some shadow will be visible behind fast moving objects. In certain cases this may cause discomfort. Measures response in milliseconds.

3.1. IPS screen response

As mentioned above, IPS screens are famous for their excellent images, clarity and accuracy of the picture, as well as realistic color rendering, however, due to some features of the technology, such displays are inferior in response to TN matrices. Of course, this difference is insignificant and almost invisible at home, but it still exists, and for some it is very important.

It is worth noting that the most modern IPS matrices have a fairly fast response, but they are more expensive than TN+Film screens.

3.2. Response of TN matrices

This type of matrix has the fastest response, which makes such monitors most suitable for fans of games and 3D films with vivid special effects.

If we talk about which IPS or TN matrix is ​​better in terms of response, then TN has an advantage. However, it is worth noting that at home all these advantages are insignificant. The choice depends entirely on personal preference.

4. So, which is better IPS or TN matrix

When choosing between these two technologies, you should take into account your personal requirements, as well as the purpose for which you are purchasing the monitor. Of course, there is an opinion that IPS matrices are a newer technology, and therefore better. However, in some situations the TN+Film matrix is ​​a more suitable choice.

If we talk about which IPS or TN matrix is ​​better for games, then preference should be given to TN+Film. TN monitors are lower cost and also have excellent response. Although, if you are not limited by your budget, then a monitor with an AH-IPS matrix will be the ideal choice for you, since such a monitor combines all the advantages of IPS and TN technologies.

It is worth noting that IPS matrices are slowly but surely replacing TN+Film screens. This is reflected in the fact that every year more and more manufacturers give preference to IPS screens. The advantages of IPS screens also include large viewing angles. Thanks to all the advantages, IPS screens are worthy competitors to plasma panels.

5. Comparison of two LG monitors with TN+FILM and IPS matrices: Video

Selecting a liquid crystal matrix

Disputes about which type of monitor matrix displays color better and has a minimum response time do not subside and are constantly fueled by leading manufacturers, for example, APPLE and LG are behind IPS technology, Super AMOLED and PLS technologies are promoted by the no less powerful Samsung. Fans are divided into warring factions, but as always happens in life, there is no clear answer.

We immediately remove matrices using TN and TN+film technology. Despite the fact that they are still sold, the technology has been obsolete for a long time. A small viewing angle, limited color rendering and edge distortion limit the scope of application of these matrices exclusively to office programs.

Matrices *VA

An intermediate option between the outgoing TN and modern IPS. It is possible to determine which matrix is ​​better, VA or IPS, only upon closer inspection - *VA has slightly worse color reproduction and response time. Of the well-known companies, such matrices are produced by Samsung using proprietary PVA (Patterned Vertical Alignment) technology, but progress in reducing the cost of IPS has practically driven them out of the market.

OLED

The image dots are created using multilayer polymers that glow when voltage is applied. Constant illumination is not required; the polymer base allows you to make a flexible screen. Despite many years of efforts by manufacturers such as LG, it has not yet been possible to significantly reduce the cost of the technology.

IPS

LCD screen technology, called IPS, was developed by Hitachi and NEC to eliminate the main drawback of TN and TN+film matrices - incomplete display of the RGB 24 bit color space. This led to color problems and professionals using outdated and bulky CRT monitors. Since 1998, LG has added to the improvement of IPS, which gradually became a leader in production and created the most famous option - the Retina IPS display for Apple devices, the resolution of which does not allow individual points of the image to be seen. In the picture on the left is the Retina matrix, on the right is the usual TN+film.

Due to good color reproduction and a large reserve for increasing pixel density, IPS matrices are widely used in 3D monitors and 4K TVs.

Advice: before purchasing, always remember that it is almost impossible to visually accurately determine which monitor matrix is ​​better in a store. Displays and TVs almost always operate in demo mode, which hides possible deficiencies in the backlight and color rendering systems. The settings are usually too high for ideal picture quality in large shopping areas, and you can be very disappointed if you turn on the “Standard” or “Normal” mode at home. Therefore, check all modes in advance!!

IPS technology has several modifications and the most popular are the following:

• S-IPS from Hitachi. Compared to the first IPS, the matrix response in dynamic images (games, videos) has significantly decreased;
• H-IPS from LG. High contrast, wide viewing angles and color uniformity across the entire screen area have made this type matrices are the de facto standard for professional graphics processing;
• AH-IPS. Development of previous technology from LG. Even better brightness and color reproduction, increased pixel density and reduced power consumption.

The emergence of alternative technologies, in addition to the marketing component, eliminated a significant drawback of the first IPS: small viewing angles, long response times and high production costs. But at the moment, these shortcomings have been practically eliminated and when asked “tn or ips which is better,” we can confidently say that IPS will be the best choice.

With competitors the situation is not so clear and you need to be guided solely by your own visual preferences. Let's take as an example Samsung company and its proprietary PLS and Super AMOLED technologies, positioned as an alternative to IPS in the following parameters:

As you can see, there is no clear leader and the final choice must be made based on the scope of application: a gaming or 4K monitor should always have best characteristics, compared to the office option.

In conclusion, the article is about one more frequently encountered search query– “which type of matrix is ​​better for a tft or ips monitor.” What is it and how is it different from regular IPS? The answer is simple: nothing, since TFT is the short name for any LCD screen with an active matrix (Thin Film Transistor), and IPS is its next modification.

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Liquid crystal displays (IPS, MVA, PVA technologies)

Sergey Yaroshenko

When creating LCD displays, three main technologies are used: TN + film, IPS and MVA. Since TN + film technology was discussed in detail in the previous article, we will focus on its technological competitors.

TN + film technology

Twisted Nematic + film (TN + film). The “film” part in the technology name means an additional layer used to increase the viewing angle (approximately up to 160°). This is the simplest and cheapest technology. It has been around for a long time and is used in most monitors sold in the last few years.

Advantages of TN + film technology:
- low cost;
- minimum pixel response time to control action.

Disadvantages of TN + film technology:
- average contrast;
- problems with accurate color rendering;
- relatively small viewing angles.

IPS technology

In 1995, Hitachi developed In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology to overcome the disadvantages inherent in panels made using TN + film technology. Small viewing angles, very specific colors and unacceptable (at that time) response time pushed Hitachi to develop new IPS technology, which gave good result: decent viewing angles and good color rendition.

In IPS matrices, the crystals do not form a spiral, but rotate together when an electric field is applied. Changing the orientation of the crystals helped achieve one of the main advantages of IPS matrices - viewing angles were increased to 170° horizontally and vertically. If no voltage is applied to the IPS matrix, the liquid crystal molecules do not rotate. The second polarizing filter is always turned perpendicular to the first, and no light passes through it. The black color display is perfect. If the transistor fails, the “broken” pixel for an IPS panel will not be white, as for a TN matrix, but black. When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules rotate perpendicular to their initial position, parallel to the base, and transmit light.