When buying a new monitor, most people pick a screen resolution and go with the cheapest monitor they can find. A few check the response times and Refresh Rates along with the connectivity options, but that’s about it. Hardly any consider the panel type, brightness or the gamut.
Next to the resolution, these specs have the most impact on image quality and yet they are ignored by most of the mainstream consumers. This is the reason you’ll find a ton of cheap TN Panels on the market with crappy colors and poor viewing angles.
In this post, we’ll discuss the panel types used in modern-day monitors. At present, there are three dominant technologies on the market: TN, VA, and IPS panels. Certain televisions and displays have started using OLED panels, they’re still quite out of most consumers’ reach.
TN Panel (Twisted Nematic)
Twisted Nematic or TN panel is the most common and cheapest kind you’ll find on the market. They are best suited for fast-paced eSports and shooters that require high refresh rates and low response time. TN panels have the lowest input lag and response time among LCD panels while offering refresh rates as high as 240Hz. They are the easiest to produce, making them the most budget-friendly option.
However, on the downside, the brightness and viewing angles take a hit. Compared to IPS panels, the colors and viewing angles are quite poor, although the pricier models aren’t that bad. TN panels are ideal for eSports and Battle Royale titles like PUBG, Fornite, CS: GO where image quality isn’t as important but smoother gameplay is quintessential.
IPS Panel (In-Plane Switching)
For gaming, IPS panels are the most ideal. They have the best viewing angles, color accuracy along with decent refresh rates and response times. Traditionally it was hard to get IPS screens with refresh rates higher than 60 Hz but things have changed now. Many gaming monitors use IPS panels and offer refresh rates as high as 144 Hz without compromising on the response times.
The superior picture quality does come at a cost though. On average, IPS panels are 20-30% more expensive than standard TN panels. The ones with high refresh rates cost even more. 144 Hz QHD IPS monitors cost as much as $400, and these are the cheaper models. The gaming-centric screens with G-Sync or ROG branding cost even more. A decent TN panel can be had for less than $300.
If you strapped for cash, and can’t afford an expensive IPS panel, then consider your gaming habits. If you are into fast person shooters like Call of Duty or Battlefield, then opt for a high-refresh-rate TN panel. Otherwise, a 60Hz IPS panel should do just fine.
VA Panel (Vertical Alignment)
Simply speaking, VA panels offer the best of both worlds. They offer high refresh rates with better visual quality than TN panels. While not as sharp as an IPS panel, they offer faster response times at higher refresh rates.
One key feature of VA panels is that they offer the most accurate blacks. Most well-priced monitors (gaming or otherwise0 are VA panels. They come with reasonable viewing angles (178 degrees) as well as refresh rates as high as 144 Hz and won’t cost you a fortune.
In conclusion, if you want better picture quality than a TN panel but don’t have enough for an IPS, then a VA panel is your best bet. These are ideal if your workload is versatile and you like to dabble in video games as well as content creation.
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