LCD Type matrix     |  
 Name 
········ |  Nickname ····················· |  Summary ······································· |  Positives ······································· |  Negatives ······································· |  Typical Spec 
Features ······································· |  
 | TN |  Twisted Nematic |  Produced by most manufacturers 
Dominate smaller screen market almost exclusively (15 - 19") 
Also available in larger sizes up to 27" max 
Low cost to produce, low retail costs for screens |  Responsive especially since introduction of overdrive - key choice for gamer screens 
Can natively support 120Hz+ refresh rates 
120Hz+ screens often feature LightBoost backlight systems for improved motion blur |  Most restrictive viewing angles, especially in vertical plane 
Not great for colour critical work due to viewing angles primarily 
Movie noise problematic, especially where overdrive used |  1 - 2ms G2G response time 
1000:1 contrast ratio (realistic) 
170/160 viewing angles (unrealistic in vertical field) 
16.7m colour depth through 6-bit+FRC panels 
Fairly light AG coating used 
120Hz+ refresh rate support from some |  
 | VA |  Vertical Aligment   
AMVA, SMVA, UV2A |  Early MVA panels designed to improve on TN Film. Offered improved viewing angles but very slow response times 
Later P-MVA and S-MVA panels offered improved response times. Also improved contrast ratios to 1000 - 1200:1 typically 
Modern AMVA panels from AU Optronics. Improved response times further and contrast ratios now 3000 - 5000:1 |  Contrast ratios very high with >3000:1 common in practice 
Response times adequate for most users and vastly improved over older generations of MVA 
8-bit colour depth 
Some now support 120Hz refresh rate |  Response time still normally slow compared with TN Film and IPS offerings. 
Off-centre contrast shift inherent to all MVA panel generations. Not ideal for colour critical work 
Viewing angles not as wide as IPS/PLS. Some improvements in very recent generations 
No current 10-bit panels |  5 - 6ms G2G response time (in practice mostly much slower) 
5000:1 contrast ratio (figures over 3000:1 common and realistic) 
178/178 viewing angles (somewhat unrealistic considering contrast shifts and off-centre contrast issue) 
60Hz refresh rate generally 
Some 120Hz support emerging 
16.7m colour depth through 8-bit panels 
Light / semi-glossy AG coating used |  
 | PVA |  Patterned Vertical Alignment |  Early PVA panels designed as alternative to MVA, very similar performance overall 
Later S-PVA and cPVA panels offered improved response times. Also improved contrast ratios to 1000 - 1200:1 typically 
PVA now rarely used or produced in desktop monitor market. Samsung seemingly concentrating on PLS instead. |  Contrast ratios pretty high with 1200:1 common in practice 
Response times adequate for some users where overdrive is used (S-PVA, cPVA generations mostly) |  Response time still slow compared with TN Film and IPS offerings. 
No support for native 120Hz+ refresh rates 
Off-centre contrast shift inherent to all PVA panel generations. Not ideal for colour critical work 
Viewing angles not as wide as IPS/PLS. Some improvements in very recent generations 
No 10-bit panels available |  8ms G2G response time (in practice mostly much slower) 
1000:1 contrast ratio (realistic) 
178/178 viewing angles (somewhat unrealistic considering contrast shifts and off-centre contrast issue) 
16.7m colour depth through 8-bit panels mostly, some 6-bit+FRC used 
Light / semi-glossy AG coating used |  
 | IPS |  In Plane Switching |  Early IPS panels designed for colour enthusiasts 
S-IPS improved response times somewhat. Contrast ratio still an issue 
H-IPS changed pixel structure, improved response times with overdrive, contrast ratio improved 
e-IPS and other variants of H-IPS helped drive down production costs and make IPS more mainstream 
p-IPS developed to offer 10-bit colour depth support 
AH-IPS is current generation being produced 
Alternative IPS-like technologies introduced by Samsung (PLS) and AU Optronics (AHVA) to compete |  Viewing angles are widest of the technologies. Reduced contrast and colour shift. Freedom from off-centre contrast shift seen from VA matrices 
Response times of modern generations now very good, better than VA 
10-bit panels available |  No support for native 120Hz+ refresh rates 
Older variants criticised for grainy AG coating 
Distracting white glow from an angle when viewing dark content (IPS glow) |  5ms G2G response time (in practice a little slower) 
1000:1 contrast ratio (typically achieving 800 - 1000:1 now) 
178/178 viewing angles (mostly realistic) 
16.7m colour depth common through 8-bit panels mostly, some 6-bit+FRC used 
1.07b colour support available from 8-bit+FRC and 10-bit panels 
Many older panels have grainy AG coating 
Lighter AG coating used on most modern AH-IPS panels |  
 | LCD matrix |