If you’ve ever searched for a new computer screen, you’ve likely come across the term “IPS.” At this point, you might be wondering: What is an IPS monitor? And how do I know if it’s the right choice for me? Well, you’re not alone. With so many technical terms and specifications thrown around, shopping for a monitor can feel like navigating a maze of jargon.
But don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to discover why IPS monitors are considered the gold standard for color accuracy and viewing angles, or find the perfect one for your creative work here.
Before we get into the details, there are two key points you should know:
- IPS is one of the four main panel types used in monitors, alongside TN, VA, and OLED.
- All of these panel types fall under the broader category of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology.
So, what does that mean for you? Simply put, the type of panel your monitor uses has a direct impact on how it looks, how fast it responds, and how versatile it is for different tasks. Gamers, graphic designers, and office workers all have unique needs, and different panel types cater to these needs in different ways.
If you’re ready to jump straight to the details about IPS monitors, click here. Otherwise, let’s start with the basics of what an LCD panel actually is.
What Is an LCD Panel?
LCD or “Liquid Crystal Display” is a type of flat monitor panel that uses thin layers of liquid crystals sandwiched between two layers of filters and electrodes. Unlike older CRT monitors, which fired electrons at a glass surface, LCDs rely on a combination of backlights, liquid crystals, and filters to produce images. This design allows for thinner, lighter, and more energy-efficient screens — which is why LCDs are now everywhere.
To understand how an LCD works, think of it like a window with adjustable blinds. The goal is to control how much light passes through. Here’s a simple breakdown of the process:
- Backlight Turns On – This is the “sun” shining behind the blinds. It provides a constant source of light behind the screen.
- Light Becomes Polarized – The backlight produces unfiltered light, but LCD panels apply a filter to make it polarized. Polarized light means only specific light waves are allowed to pass through.
- Liquid Crystals Twist to Control Light – These liquid crystals are arranged in a rectangular grid and act like the “blinds” that open and close. When an electric current is applied, the liquid crystals twist to control how much of the polarized light gets through. This twisting process happens thousands of times per second, allowing LCD screens to display motion.
- Light Passes Through Color Filters – After the light passes through the liquid crystals, it hits the red, green, and blue (RGB) color filters, producing the full range of colors you see on screen.
So, why use liquid crystals (LCs) at all? They’re used because of their unique ability to maintain a parallel shape. Acting as both a solid and liquid, LCs can quickly “twist” their alignment when exposed to an electric current. This twist controls how much polarized light passes through to the next layer of the display. By adjusting this twist, liquid crystals can block some light, let all of it through, or anything in between. This process is what allows each pixel to control the brightness and color of the image.
Note: When searching for monitors you can be sure to come across the term “LED Panel”. These are LCD screens with an LED (Light Emitting Diode) backlight, delivering a brighter light source while using much less energy. As they can produce white light as well as traditional RGB color, they are the panel type used for HDR monitors.
When LCD technology first hit the scene, it wasn’t as fast as it is today. Early LCD panels used passive-matrix technology and were criticized for blurry imagery. This is because liquid crystals need to change phase quickly to display moving images and passive matrix technology was too slow. This meant the viewer would see ghosting and motion blur, which obviously isn’t ideal for fast-moving content like games and videos.
To solve this, active-matrix technology was invented. Instead of controlling all pixels as a group, active-matrix displays gave each pixel its own TFT (Thin-Film Transistor). As a result, the liquid crystals could retain their charge and change phase more quickly, paving the way for modern IPS, VA, and TN panels.
How Panel Type Affects Performance
Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, let’s tackle an important question: Why does the type of LCD panel matter so much?
Essentially, the panel type shapes the “personality” of your monitor, influencing its performance and determining which tasks it’s best suited for. Here are some of the key performance factors affected by panel technology:
- Response time and input lag: How fast the pixels change from one color to another, critical for gaming and fast-moving visuals.
- Viewing angles: The clarity and color accuracy you get when viewing the screen from the side.
- Color reproduction: How vivid, accurate, and true-to-life the colors look on the screen.
- Contrast ratio: The difference between the deepest blacks and brightest whites, crucial for watching movies or working with high-contrast visuals.
- Black levels: The depth and richness of dark scenes, which impacts everything from cinematic content to creative work.
Each panel type — IPS, TN, VA, and OLED — has its own unique combination of these characteristics. While some people swear by one type over another, the truth is, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” solution — at least not without breaking the bank. It all depends on what you value most. Are you a competitive gamer who needs the fastest response time possible? Or are you a creative professional who prioritizes color accuracy and screen consistency?
Next, we’ll break down how the different LCD Panel types influence screen performance. We’ll highlight their strengths and point out their limitations so you can determine which one best suits your needs.
What Is an IPS Monitor?
IPS (In-Plane Switching) is a type of LCD panel technology known for its ability to deliver exceptional color accuracy, wide viewing angles, and consistent image quality. Unlike older TN (Twisted Nematic) panels, which struggle with poor color reproduction and limited viewing angles, IPS panels offer a superior visual experience. This is achieved through the horizontal alignment of liquid crystals, which allows them to shift in unison, resulting in richer colors and enhanced visibility from multiple angles.
Over the years, IPS technology has seen multiple upgrades, each enhancing its performance. Variations like S-IPS, H-IPS, e-IPS, P-IPS, and PLS (Plane-to-Line Switching) have fine-tuned IPS’s already impressive capabilities. PLS, the most recent development, further improves efficiency and sharpness. While each version has its own unique features, they all share the same core strengths—superior color accuracy and ultra-wide viewing angles.
These advancements have made IPS monitors the preferred choice for creative professionals like photographers, graphic designers, and media producers. Thanks to support for professional color spaces like Adobe RGB and DCI-P3, creators can trust that the colors they see on-screen will accurately represent the final product. The wide viewing angles also ensure that multiple people can review the screen without visual distortions — a key benefit in collaborative work environments.
If you’ve heard that IPS monitors aren’t ideal for gaming, you’re not alone. Back in the day, IPS monitors had slower response times and lower contrast ratios, which led to motion blur during fast-paced scenes. But times have changed. Today’s IPS monitors have made massive improvements in response times, and many of them are now fast enough to keep up with modern gaming demands. As a result, more and more gamers are choosing IPS for the better color quality and viewing angles it provides.
That said, motion blur is still a common talking point. However, it’s not necessarily a big deal for all gamers, as opinions on the “drawbacks” of IPS monitors for gaming vary widely across the web. Here’s what one gaming technology writer had to say on the topic:
“As for pixel response, opinions vary. I personally think IPS panels are quick enough for almost all gaming. If your gaming life is absolutely and exclusively about hair-trigger shooters, OK, you’ll want the fastest response, lowest latency LCD monitor. And that means TN. For the rest of us, and certainly for those who place even a modicum of importance on the visual spectacle of games, I reckon IPS is clearly the best panel technology.” – Read the full article here.
IPS Monitors: The Bottom Line
When it comes to versatility, IPS monitors tick all the right boxes. With ultra-wide 178° viewing angles, stunning color accuracy, and steadily improving response times, they’ve become the go-to choice for a wide range of users. From graphic designers to photographers, video editors, and even gamers, IPS panels offer a level of visual clarity that other panel types struggle to match.
Their ability to deliver wide, distortion-free viewing angles makes them a natural fit for a wide range of setups, so if you’ve ever compared an ultrawide vs. dual monitor setup or considered the benefits of curved vs. flat monitors, chances are you’ve already come into contact with an IPS panel.
IPS Monitor Advantages:
IPS Monitor Drawbacks:
- Below-average static contrast ratio
- “IPS Glow” – A faint white glow that appears when viewing dark content from sharp angles. This is mostly seen on lower-end or budget IPS models.
- More motion blur than in a TN monitor
Who Should Use an IPS Monitor?
What Is a Twisted Nematic Monitor?
TN monitors (short for “Twisted Nematic”) are the oldest LCD panel types around. Known for being affordable and fast, TN panels cost less than their IPS and VA counterparts, making them a popular choice for budget shoppers and entry-level, multipurpose monitors and laptops.
But TN panels aren’t just for saving money. They’re also a top pick for competitive gamers. Why? Because TN panels offer blazing-fast response times and the highest refresh rates on the market. This means less motion blur and fewer screen-tearing issues during fast-paced games — a huge advantage over IPS and VA panels.
On the flip side, however, TN panel technology experience more color shifting than other types of panels when being viewed at an angle. While other panel types can achieve viewing angles in the range of 178 degrees both horizontally and vertically (178º/178º), TN panels are a bit more restrictive. They typically offer around 170° horizontal and 160° vertical viewing angles, and while that may sound close to 178°, the difference is definitely noticeable. This means color distortion and contrast shifting that’s visible at the edges of the screen, and this becomes more of an issue as the screen sizes increase, making the distortion visible even when viewing the display from a dead-center position.
This is why TN monitors aren’t recommended for color-critical work like graphic design and photo editing that benefit from wider viewing angles, higher contrast ratios, and better color accuracy. But while TN panels aren’t known for their color performance, they’re still a great choice for specific use cases. If you’re a competitive gamer or just need a monitor for general use (like web browsing, streaming, or office work), TN panels get the job done. Plus, today’s LED-backlit TN models offer higher brightness along with better blacks and higher contrast ratios.
TN Monitors: The Bottom Line
TN monitors are the least expensive panel technology, making them ideal for cost-conscious businesses and consumers. In addition, TN monitors enjoy unmatched popularity with competitive gamers and other users who seek rapid graphics display.
TN Monitor Advantages:
- Rapid response time
- Affordable pricing
- Sufficient contrast for general use
TN Monitor Drawbacks:
- Most restrictive viewing angles
- Not recommended for color-critical applications
Who Should Use a TN Monitor?
- Gamers
- Budget-conscious users
- General users
What Is a Vertical Alignment Monitor?
Designed to overcome the limitations of TN panels, Vertical Alignment (VA) monitors deliver better contrast, richer colors, and wider viewing angles. You might encounter specific versions of VA technology, such as P-MVA, S-MVA, and AMVA (Advanced MVA), each with slight performance improvements.
These high-end VA-type monitors even rival IPS monitors in professional-level color-critical applications. One of the standout features of VA technology is that it is particularly good at blocking light from the backlight when it’s not needed. This allows VA monitors to achieve deeper blacks and higher static contrast ratios — often several times higher than other LCD technologies. This makes VA monitors great for enjoying videos and movies, as well as games focused on rich imagery (e.g. RPGs) rather than rapid speed (such as FPS games).
Contrast ratio is the measured difference between the darkest blacks and the brightest whites a monitor can produce. This measurement provides information about the amount of grayscale detail a monitor will deliver. The higher the contrast ratio, the more visible detail.
VA Monitors: The Bottom Line
Thanks to advancements like MVA (Multi-domain Vertical Alignment), VA panels now offer the highest static contrast ratios of any LCD technology. This makes them a favorite for movie lovers, content creators, and gamers who want more visual depth and detail. Plus, for those who work in graphic design, video production, or photography, high-end MVA monitors provide consistent color accuracy and deeper, more vibrant images — making them a strong alternative to IPS panels.
VA Monitor Advantages:
- Wide viewing angles
- Outstanding contrast ratios
- Good response times
- Mid-range to high-end pricing options
VA Monitor Drawbacks:
- Slower response times vs. TN
- Contrast shift at extreme angles
Who Should Use a VA Monitor?
What Is an OLED Monitor?
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) panels differ from the LCD panel types discussed above because they use positively/negatively charged ions to light up every pixel individually, unlike how LCDs use a backlight. This means that OLEDs avoid the screen glow (and create darker blacks) associated with LED backlights.
OLED Monitors: The Bottom Line
When it comes to picture quality, OLED is in a league of its own. With perfect blacks, vivid colors, and unparalleled contrast, OLED monitors deliver an experience that’s hard to beat. If you’re watching movies, playing visually rich games, or working on creative projects, OLED will make every detail pop.
However, with this premium quality comes a premium price. OLEDs are more expensive than TN, VA, or IPS monitors, and while the performance is exceptional, not everyone needs that level of perfection. If you’re just looking for a standard office monitor, an IPS, VA, or TN panel might be more practical.
OLED Monitor Advantages:
- Perfect blacks
- Vivid colors
- Super-Fast Response Times
OLED Monitor Drawbacks:
- Higher price
- Risk of burn-in
Who Should Use an OLED Monitor?
Choosing the Right Type of LCD Panel
When it comes to choosing the right LCD panel technology, there is no single right answer. Looking at different features and specs helps you identify which monitor best fits your needs. With the lowest cost and fastest response times, TN monitors are great for general use and gaming. VA monitor offers a step up for general use. Maxed-out viewing angles and high contrast ratios make VA monitors great for watching movies and visually-intensive gaming.
Out of LCDs, IPS monitors offer the greatest range of color-related features and remain the gold standard for photo editing and color-critical pro uses. Greater availability and lower prices make IPS monitors a great fit for anyone in the market for an LCD with outstanding image quality.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how each panel type compares:
| Panel Type |
Color Accuracy |
Viewing Angles |
Response Time |
Price |
| OLED |
★★★★★ |
★★★★★ |
★★★★★ |
$$$$$ |
| IPS |
★★★★★ |
★★★★★ |
★★★★☆ |
$$$ |
| VA |
★★★★☆ |
★★★★☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
$$ |
| TN |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★★★★ |
$ |
Final Thoughts
When it comes to picking the perfect monitor, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer— it all comes down to your style, needs, and how you plan to use it. With different panel types, price points, and unique features, each option has its own strengths. No matter what panel type you decide to go for, just remember that performance isn’t just about specs — manufacturer quality, build materials, and internal components all play a key role.
Curious about IPS monitors? Dive into our collection of ColorPro professional creative monitors and see which one fits your style, budget, and workflow like a glove. Or, check out our article on how HDR technology can make your colors pop like never before.