Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) utilize the unique properties of liquid crystals to display images on screens. In-plane switching (IPS) panels are an advanced form of LCD leveraging improved engineering that outperforms older twisted nematic (TN) LCDs.
This guide will compare IPS and LCD monitor technology in depth. You‘ll learn the history behind their development, see how IPS enhances key image qualities, and understand why IPS monitors offer the best LCD viewing experience for most people.
A Brief History of Display Technology
LCD screens first emerged in the 1970s based on early LCD research and inventions done in the late 1800s. These primitive TN LCDs switched the orientation of liquid crystals to modulate polarized light and form monochrome images.
While revolutionary for their time, first generation LCD monitors and televisions had extremely narrow viewing angles, slow response times, and color reproduction was essentially non-existent.
By the mid 1990s, the limitations of early LCD technologies were apparent. In 1995, Katsumi Kondo and his team at Hitachi overcame these issues by inventing in-plane switching (IPS) LCD technology.
Rather than relying on twisting crystals, IPS LCDs align liquid crystals in a horizontal plane then uses lateral electric fields to control their orientation. This fundamental change enabled much wider viewing angles (178° vs. 160°), faster response times, and the accurate color reproduction LCDs previously lacked.
IPS panels were quickly commercialized by LG, NEC, Samsung, and other leading manufacturers. By the early 2000s quality IPS computer monitors and HDTVs were readily available to consumers, vastly improving LCD imaging. Decades later, IPS remains the gold standard for LCD screens.
IPS vs. LCD Monitor Comparison
So what exactly are the objective differences in performance between IPS and legacy TN LCD screens? Let‘s compare some key technical specifications.
| Metric | IPS Monitor | TN LCD Monitor |
|---|---|---|
| Viewing Angle | 178°/178° | Typically 160°/170° |
| Native Contrast Ratio | 1,000:1 | 1,000:1 |
| Panel Bit Depth | 8 bit (6 bit + FRC) | 6 bit (FRC) |
| Refresh Rate | Up to 240Hz | Up to 360Hz |
| Response Time (GTG) | 5ms to 1ms w/overdrive | 1ms to 5ms |
IPS matches or outperforms TN LCDs in most areas while offering double the viewing angles and more advanced dithering for billions of accurate colors vs. just 262,000. Let‘s explore why IPS colour and viewing freedom results in such a superior real-world viewing experience.
Advances IPS Brings to LCD Screens
What specifically changed in the evolution from TN LCD panels to in-plane switching (IPS) LCDs to enable such accurate imagery?
178° Viewing Angles
Early TN LCDs appeared extremely washed out or even inverse if viewed slightly off-center because the liquid crystals would twist and distort. IPS panels solved this through…
[Additional details on IPS pixel structure and electric field activation for wide angles]Vivid, True-to-Life Colors
In addition to poor viewing angles, basic LCDs also suffered from color shift issues at off-center orientations along with low color depth. By contrast, IPS displays deliver expansive, accurate colors thanks innovative panel enhancements…
[Details on IPS color filters, rotating crystals in unison, advanced dithering]Quick Response Times
While early LCDs definitely improved static image quality from CRT monitors, their pixel response times were too slow to handle motion smoothly. Fast action resulted in visible blurring called motion artifacts. Modern IPS monitors utilize low-latency pixel overdrive technologies to match the fastest TN panels with response times reaching 1ms gray-to-gray….
Applications Best Suited to IPS Monitors
Given its excellent colour reproduction, viewing angles and well-rounded performance, which users stand to benefit most from upgrading to an IPS display?
Graphics Design and Video Editing
IPS monitors are ideal choices for…
Business Use
IPS technology offers tangible benefits for…
Gaming
Serious gamers demand both fast response and visual accuracy that IPS monitors deliver with vivid colors and…
Television Viewing
Modern IPS televisions enhance viewing enjoyment for households through expansive 178° viewing angles perfect for…
Latest Variations Further Enhancing IPS
IPS innovation continues even 25+ years after initial development. Some more recent IPS variations include:
AH-IPS – Advanced High-Performance IPS first introduced in 2009 further improved color accuracy and response times.
PLS – Plane-Line Switching developed by Samsung uses similar IPS-style pixel control with even higher brightness.
Quantum Dot IPS – Nanocrystal quantum dots expand the color gamut and dynamic range of IPS monitors.
Is IPS Worth the Price Premium?
IPS monitors still can‘t quite match the inky blacks of VA LCD panels and usually cost $100+ more than basic TN LCDs. But vibrant colors that stay accurate at extreme angles along with superb viewing freedom make IPS panels worth their moderate price premium for most buyers. Given their balanced trade-offs, IPS displays currently offer the best all-around LCD monitor performance for work, creation and play.
