Understanding IPS Screens: What Are They?

To understand what IPS screens are and what technologies they are equipped with, readers can refer to the following article by Mytour.

1. Understanding IPS Screens

IPS stands for In-Plane Switching, a display technology used in LCD screens. IPS screens were designed to address limitations present in LCD screens by the end of the 1980s, using Twisted Nematic (TN) technology.

TN was the only available technology at that time, widely used in LCD screens. Some limitations and drawbacks of this technology include narrow viewing angles and limited color reproduction. IPS-LCD screens offer wider viewing angles and better color display.

Essentially, IPS-LCD screens are primarily used in mid-range and high-end smartphones. All Apple Retina displays are equipped with IPS-LCD technology, as well as Motorola Droid and some other TVs and tablets.

IPS-LCD utilizes 2 semiconductor layers per pixel, whereas TFT-LCD only uses one semiconductor layer. This requires a more robust backlight, resulting in better color display and wider viewing angles.

However, the drawback of IPS-LCD screens is their higher energy consumption compared to TFT-LCD screens, possibly up to 15% more. Additionally, the production cost of IPS panels is higher, and the manufacturing process takes longer.

2. Advantages of IPS Screens

The most notable advantage of IPS screen technology lies in its wide viewing angles. This is because the technology can alter the physical behavior of liquid crystal layers, causing the molecules to react to the electric field parallel to the screen. Furthermore, this technology also delivers superior color reproduction.

Under direct sunlight or bright light, IPS screens are easier to view and less prone to glare compared to AMOLED screens because IPS screens are integrated with a backlight.

Additionally, another advantage of IPS screens is their longer lifespan compared to AMOLED screens. Essentially, the shorter lifespan of AMOLED screens is due to organic components tending to degrade faster.

3. Disadvantages of IPS Screens

One of the biggest drawbacks of IPS screen technology compared to TN and AMOLED is its higher power consumption. IPS screens typically consume more power than TN screens by up to 15%. Additionally, IPS screens use a stronger backlight, unlike AMOLED screens, to enhance screen clarity. This results in higher power consumption and faster battery drain.

Furthermore, due to the more complex manufacturing technique of IPS screens, the cost is higher compared to TN LCD screens. Therefore, this screen technology is often equipped on high-end devices. Common electronic devices are more commonly equipped with TN LCD screens.

Some IPS screens have poorer contrast ratios compared to AMOLED screens. The processing speed of IPS screens is also slower compared to TN and AMOLED screens. Due to this limitation, IPS screens are usually not suitable for viewing high-resolution movies or playing video games.

However, over time, IPS screen technology has significantly improved. Some IPS screens have better contrast ratios, such as Apple's Retina display. Because the production cost of IPS screens is much higher than that of ordinary screens, this screen is mainly used in high-end devices.

4. Devices Using IPS Screens

Currently, there are numerous devices equipped with IPS screens on the market, specifically, most Apple devices, ranging from phones, tablets to laptops. There are several reasons why companies favor IPS screens, with the most important being screen quality.

On the other hand, standard PC devices tend to use TN screens, which are less expensive. Some TV models use VA screens, which can display darker tones with more detail. Overall, although there are many devices on the market using IPS screens, it is not the only available screen technology.

5. Should You Buy an IPS Screen?

IPS screens are significantly more expensive than other conventional screens, such as TN screens. The lowest price for an IPS screen typically starts from around $300 USD, sometimes it can be higher or lower, depending on the screen size.

High-end IPS screens can cost up to thousands of USD. These premium displays boast higher resolutions and color gamuts, wider color ranges, improved image quality or features, integrated calibration tools, larger screen sizes, and more.

If you're wondering whether to buy an IPS screen or not, it depends on various factors, including the nature of your work. For those working in visual arts, equipping yourself with an IPS screen is essential.

Another factor to consider is your budget. Sometimes, you may spend a heap of money on a mid-range IPS screen when that same amount could buy you a premium TN screen, which is better.

So this article by Mytour just introduced you to what IPS screens are. Furthermore, if you have any doubts or questions needing clarification, readers can leave their comments below the article. You can explore more about screen resolutions such as qHD, HD, FullHD, 2K, 4K here.