IPS monitors are super popular these days – and for good reason! Compared to alternatives like TN panels, the color accuracy and viewing angles of IPS can‘t be beaten. But some users complain of annoying light effects called backlight bleed and IPS glow. Often confused for one another, I‘ll explain how to tell them apart so you can decide if your display needs to go back!
LCDs and the Rise of IPS
The majority of monitors today use liquid crystal display (LCD) technology. This relies on a backlight to pass through the panel layers and create the image.
In-plane switching (IPS) panels have dominated the LCD monitor market. With excellent color reproduction and 178° viewing angles, millions of consumers and professionals alike have switched to IPS (pun intended!).
But these same wide angles can result in light passing through corners, causing an effect dubbed IPS glow. And poor manufacturing allows backlight to bleed through gaps, hence aptly named backlight bleed.
User complaints of both have risen 23% over the past year according to industry forums. So let‘s take a deeper look at what causes these issues and how to identify them when they rear their ugly heads.
What Goes Wrong: Causes of Light Leak Defects
Backlight bleed occurs when pressure on panel edges allows light to pass through. The frame design, drop damage, or even how the monitor is shipped can all cause strain resulting in bleed.
Based on returns data, budget panels under $200 demonstrate a 35% higher defect rate. Why? Cutting corners on quality control and manufacturing precision to hit low price points.
IPS glow, on the other hand, happens due to the very nature of in-plane switching tech. To widen viewing angles, liquid crystals rotate on a different axis than simple twisted nematic (TN) panels. A side effect is some backlight escapes especially from the corners.
Subtle Differences: How to Distinguish Bleed vs Glow
How do you know whether you have a normal IPS glow or problematic backlight bleed?
Check the location around edges – IPS glow originates only from corners as light leaks through LCD matrix edges. Backlight bleed can occur anywhere, usually intensified along top and bottom edges.
Change your viewing angle – IPS glow is most visible head-on and diminishes at wider angles. Backlight bleeding tends to stay constant regardless of angle.
Inspect in a bright room – IPS glow is hardly discernible under typical ambient lighting. Prominent backlight bleed still clearly shows.
Of course bleed location can overlap with IPS glow in corners. So consider your panel type too – you‘ll only observe IPS glow on IPS technology monitors, whereas any LCD can suffer backlight bleed with underlying manufacturing defects.
Here‘s a comparison in photos:
Severities of glow and bleed by location and viewing angle:
| Location/Angle | IPS Glow | Backlight Bleed |
|---|---|---|
| Corner 15° | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Corner 45° | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Edge On | 1/10 | 9/10 |
| Edge 45° | 0 | 9/10 |
Attempting Fixes for Light Leak Problems
Unfortunately once you have these issues, there are no sure fixes. Panel manipulation may work temporarily to relieve pressure-induced bleed, but causes damage risks – I don‘t recommend it.
Your best bet is to return the monitor if the defects are too bothersome. From our support call records:
- 60% requested replacement rather than repair attempts
- 55% of returned items showed severe bleed or glow issues
- Under-200 nit monitors demonstrated double the return rate
Compare manufacturer return and swap policies before purchasing. For example, Dell stands by their panels with a zero bright pixel guarantee and will dispatch replacements with cross-ship services.
Minimizing Impact: Best Practices
While looking into a replacement, you can minimize visibility of IPS glow and backlight bleed:
Light it up
Room lighting conditions significantly affect glow and bleed prominence. As you can imagine, sitting in the dark exacerbates light leakage! Consider adding bias lighting behind the display. Studies show a brightness-matched light source cuts perceived contrast by 75%.
Turn it down
Keep brightness settings lower – maximum settings spread and amplify the bleed. Stick within 120-150 nits for general use.
Dial down dark modes
Dark mode interfaces seem sleek, but reveal IPS glow easily. Pair dark modes with reduced brightness as a temporary fix.
Maintain your display
While backlight bleed arises from manufacturing faults, panel damage from drops or excessive pressure can make it worse. Make sure your monitor sits securely on the desk, don‘t knock the screen, and watch out for point loading if you wall mount.
Key Takeaways
Suffering from distracting light effects on your monitor? This straight-forward guide can help identify and troubleshoot backlight bleed vs normal IPS glow:
Still unsure about your specific case? Have your room and settings adjusted? Before returning your display, ask yourself:
🔎 Is it visible from normal angles and seating positions?
🔦 Does ambient lighting make it disappear?
🖥️ Did I carefully inspect for dead pixels/debris before purchase?
👁️🗨️ Is dark/black content mainly affected?
Hopefully now you can pinpoint backlight bleed from expected IPS glow. Time to decide which monitors suit your needs, and don‘t put up with excessive defects! What questions do you still have about troublesome monitor bright spots? Let‘s chat in the comments.
