Vertical Alignment (VA) and In-Plane Switching (IPS) are two of the main competing display panel technologies used in monitors and TVs today. Deciding between VA vs IPS displays can be challenging given the subtle differences. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll review the key aspects of VA and IPS to understand how they differ in terms of performance, visual quality, pricing and ideal use cases.
What Are VA and IPS Display Panels?
Both VA and IPS refer to types of liquid crystal display (LCD) backlighting panels used in monitors and TVs. They work by manipulating liquid crystals to block or transmit light from an LED backlight system to produce images.
VA stands for Vertical Alignment. As the name suggests, the rod-shaped liquid crystals are arranged vertically in their natural resting state. When off, they block all light transmission, allowing for strong native contrast ratios.
IPS stands for In-Plane Switching. Rather than a vertical alignment, the liquid crystals are arranged in-plane, or parallel to the display panel. This allows for wider viewing angles compared to VA, with less color and brightness degradation at off-center angles.
A Brief History of VA and IPS Panels
IPS panel technology was introduced by Hitachi in 1996, offering superior viewing angles and color reproduction compared to traditional Twisted Nematic (TN) LCD panels prevalent at the time. This quickly made IPS popular for consumer displays.
Not long after, VA panels emerged as an alternative aiming to bridge the gap between IPS and TN technology. Released commercially around 1999, VA offered improved contrast ratios approaching plasma displays of the era, along with moderately better viewing angles than TN, but still lagging IPS.
In the 2000s and 2010s, IPS received further development, with LG releasing S-IPS (Super IPS) and AH-IPS (Advanced High Performance IPS) variants pushing color, response times, refresh rates and other parameters to new levels. Today both IPS and VA continue advancing, making the choice between them trickier than ever before.
VA Panel Pros and Cons
VA technology offers some clear advantages, though isn‘t without downsides:
VA Panel Pros
- Excellent contrast ratios, up to 6000:1 for the deepest blacks
- Moderately wide viewing angles
- Very high refresh rates, up to 360Hz
- Brightness levels on par with IPS
- Lower costs for same size/resolution monitors
VA Panel Cons
- Mediocre color reproduction 72% NTSC typical
- Slower pixel response times, often 8ms or higher
- Narrower viewing angles than IPS, color shifting is visible
- Motion blur or smearing is more likely
IPS Panel Pros and Cons
Likewise, IPS offers some compelling strengths but also a few weaknesses:
IPS Panel Pros
- Vibrant, accurate colors up to 99% DCI-P3 gamut
- Extremely wide 178° viewing angles
- Fast pixel response for gaming, as fast as 1ms
- No visible color shift at wider angles
- High refresh rates up to 280Hz
IPS Panel Cons
- Expensive, especially high refresh gaming monitors
- Contrast ratio only 1000:1 typically
- Blacks appear more gray than dark black
- Potential "IPS glow" artifact visible in dark scenes
Key Differences Between VA and IPS
| Characteristic | VA | IPS |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid Crystal Alignment | Perpendicular, vertical | Parallel, horizontal |
| Native Contrast Ratio | 3000-6000:1 | 800-1500:1 |
| Color Gamut Coverage | 72% NTSC | Up to 99% DCI-P3 |
| Viewing Angles | Average, shifts after 20° | Extremely Wide, 178° |
| Pixel Response Times | 8ms or slower | As fast as 1ms |
| Peak Refresh Rate | 360Hz | 280Hz |
| Price for Same Specs | $$ | $$$ |
So in summary, VA specializes in contrast with deeper blacks while IPS excels in color vibrancy and speed. This can make IPS better for gaming while VA tends towards media viewing or office work.
6 Key Facts About VA and IPS
To recap the differences at a high level:
1. IPS has superior, more accurate colors and wider viewing angles than VA.
2. IPS also has faster response times, critical for gaming and videos.
3. VA delivers much higher contrast for darker blacks in movies and images.
4. IPS is the go-to choice for color-critical work like photo editing and graphic design.
5. VA costs less than IPS with the same specs, though with some visual compromises.
6. For gaming, IPS>VA for responsiveness while VA competes on lower price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VA better than IPS overall?
In most cases IPS is considered better than VA thanks to faster speeds, better viewing angles and colors. The one exception is very dark room media viewing where VA‘s superior contrast provides an advantage.
Which is better for PC gaming: IPS or VA?
IPS is generally much better for gaming. Response times and pixel transitions are faster to keep up with the demands of high frame rate games. Visual quality is also more consistent when viewing at an angle.
Is VA or IPS preferable for office work?
IPS usually wins for office environments as well. The combination of excellent visuals, consistency at off-angles, lower eye fatigue and focus friendliness give IPS panels an edge for productivity.
How does picture quality actually compare between VA and IPS?
While specs might appears similar on paper, IPS will look more vibrant and "alive", especially for images and videos with a wide variety of colors and values. VA provides better contrast differentiation for predominantly dark content.
So in closing, while both VA and IPS continue advancing in the display market, IPS maintains a lead across more general use cases including gaming, graphic design and office work. But VA still competes well on pricing and excels at contrast if those are higher priorities.
