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 |