For many years, IPS (in-plane switching) panels were the default choice for monitors due to their color accuracy and wide viewing angles. But VA (vertical alignment) technology has improved significantly in recent years.
Modern VA panels can rival or even surpass IPS in some areas like response times. This has led to an ongoing debate over whether IPS or VA panels are better suited for gaming, professional work, and everyday use.
IPS Monitors Pros and Cons
IPS panels were introduced in the late 1990s and boast wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction. This makes them well-suited for color-critical work and situations where the screen will be viewed from different angles.
However, IPS panels tend to have lower contrast ratios and backlight bleed. Here’s an in-depth look at the pros and cons.
IPS Panel Pros
Wider viewing angles
One of the biggest advantages of IPS panels is their wide viewing angles. Unlike TN and VA panels, IPS displays maintain their color accuracy and brightness even when viewed from off-center angles.
This makes them well-suited for work environments where multiple people need to view the screen or for setups with secondary monitors angled off to the side. The wide viewing angles also make IPS great for watching movies and videos from anywhere in a room.
Better color reproduction
IPS panels also offer better color reproduction compared to VA and TN. Most modern IPS displays cover over 99% of the sRGB color space and many high-end models cover a wide swath of the Adobe RGB gamut.
This allows for more accurate and vibrant colors, which is crucial for color-critical work like photo editing, graphic design and video production. IPS is the go-to panel technology for most professional displays.
Faster response times
Finally, IPS panels tend to have faster response times than VA, particularly for gray-to-gray transitions. While VA has caught up in recent years, IPS still offers superior response times on average.
This faster pixel transition helps reduce motion blur in gaming and video playback. For competitive esports gaming, only TN panels are significantly faster than modern IPS displays.
IPS Panel Cons
While IPS monitors excel in various ways, they also come with their share of disadvantages. Let’s review the common criticisms of these panels.
IPS glow in dark scenes
The tradeoff with IPS panels is they cannot produce deep blacks like VA and OLED displays. IPS displays have comparatively low native contrast ratios, typically around 1000:1 for desktop monitors. This results in blacks appearing more like dark grays. IPS monitors also exhibit “IPS glow”, a silverish white haze visible on dark backgrounds when viewed from off-center.
The low contrast and IPS glow become most noticeable in dark room viewing or scenes with letterboxing bars. For this reason, IPS monitors are not ideal for dark room home theater setups. The glow can also be distracting in dark game scenes or when viewing content with black borders.
More expensive
IPS panels tend to be more expensive than equivalent VA options. For example, a 27″ 1440p IPS gaming monitor generally costs $100-150 more than its VA counterpart. High-end professional IPS monitors with advanced features like hardware calibration run into the thousands. The premium pricing puts IPS displays out of reach for many budget-conscious shoppers.
Finally, while IPS is fast compared to VA, it still lags behind old TN (twisted nematic) panels in terms of raw pixel response times. TN panels can achieve 1ms or lower gray-to-gray response, enabling cutting edge 360Hz refresh rates tailored for esports. IPS panels top out around 4-5ms GtG, capping their refresh rates at 240Hz typically. So hardcore competitive gamers may still prefer TN for its blazing fast response times.
Summary
In summary, IPS panels offer better off-angle viewing, color accuracy and responsiveness than VA alternatives. But these advantages come at the cost of weaker contrast and blacks, IPS glow in dark content, and higher prices compared to equivalent VA monitors.
IPS makes the most sense for color-critical work where viewing angles and color reproduction are priorities. But for dark room movie viewing or gaming on a budget, VA panels have compelling advantages that shouldn’t be overlooked either.
VA Monitors Pros and Cons
VA panels were developed as an alternative to IPS. They offer higher native contrast ratios, darker blacks, and faster response times compared to IPS.
However, VA panels have much narrower viewing angles and can suffer from ghosting or smearing in fast-moving images. VA panels tend to be more affordable as well. Let’s dive into the distinct advantages and drawbacks associated with VA monitors.
VA Monitors Advantages
Higher contrast ratios
VA panel technology offers some key advantages over IPS, especially when it comes to contrast ratio and black levels. VA panels are able to achieve much higher native contrast ratios, typically around 3000-5000:1 compared to 1000:1 for IPS.
This allows VA displays to produce truly deep, inky blacks that appear closer to an OLED than an LCD. The high contrast also enables more vivid colors and added depth to images. These characteristics make VA panels well-suited for dark room viewing and movie watching where black levels are critical.
Darker blacks
The higher contrast of VA also benefits gaming by making night scenes and dimly lit environments more immersive. Dark areas that would look grayish on IPS take on a rich, dark appearance with VA. High native contrast also helps VA panels render HDR content better than IPS alternatives. So for media consumption and gaming, VA’s strengths in contrast and black levels give it an edge over IPS.
Cheaper option
Additionally, VA panels have traditionally been cheaper than equivalent IPS options. A 27″ 1440p 144Hz VA monitor can often be found for $100-200 less than its IPS counterpart. This makes VA monitors appealing for buyers on a budget who still want good image quality. The fact that many VA monitors come with a curved screen is also a plus for some users.
VA Monitors Disadvantages
Despite their strong contrast and pricing advantages, VA panels aren’t without their challenges. Here are the main concerns to be aware of before making a decision.
Slower response times
However, VA panels also have some inherent weaknesses, most notably their pixel response times. While modern VA panels have improved, they still lag IPS in terms of raw pixel transition speeds.
This can lead to smearing or ghosting artifacts in fast moving images. For this reason, hardcore competitive gamers tend to prefer IPS or TN panels. But for more casual gaming, a good quality VA monitor can provide a great experience.
Narrower viewing angles
VA viewing angles are also more limited compared to IPS, leading to color and gamma shifts when viewed off-angle. So VA monitors are best suited for head-on viewing. Finally, while VA contrast is excellent, their black uniformity can be a bit inconsistent, with darker patches in parts of the screen. This is most visible in very dark content.
Summary
So in summary, VA’s strengths are outstanding contrast and black levels that benefit dark room viewing, movies, games, and HDR content. Weaker response times may lead to smearing in fast motion, and narrow viewing angles cause image degradation from the sides.
But their advantages in contrast and affordable pricing make VA monitors a compelling option for many users versus pricier IPS displays. Just be sure to read reviews on specific models, as VA quality can vary.
Key Factors to Consider
When choosing between IPS and VA display panels, there are several key factors to weigh based on your intended use case and priorities.
VA or IPS – Which is Better for Gaming?
For fast-paced, competitive gaming, factors like response time and refresh rate are critical. In general, IPS panels offer faster gray-to-gray response times than VA, resulting in less motion blur and ghosting. Typical IPS response times of 4-5ms are suitable for high refresh rate gaming up to 240Hz.
Meanwhile, VA response times are often between 5-8ms, making them less ideal for esports gaming where blur-free motion clarity is essential. However, with the right model like Samsung’s Odyssey monitors, modern VA can still provide a great gaming experience. So competitive gamers need to research response times and overdrive performance in reviews before purchasing.
Visual Quality
VA panels excel at contrast ratio, producing over 2-3x deeper blacks than IPS. This lends VA monitors a more cinematic, immersive quality in games and movies. However, IPS provides better color accuracy out of the box, covering more of the sRGB color space.
IPS is also less prone to color and gamma shifting when viewed off-angle. But IPS exhibits glow in dark scenes, while VA viewing angles are too narrow for wide seating positions. So consider your room setup – a dark room where contrast matters favors VA, while a bright room or wide viewing sweet spot suits IPS better.
Productivity Use
For general desktop work, web browsing and productivity, visual aspects like text clarity and eye comfort are vital. Here IPS panels have the advantage, as their pixel structure produces sharper text and causes less eye strain over long use.
VA’s slower dark pixel response can lead to smearing or ghosting around text on darker backgrounds that some users may find fatiguing. So for productivity and office work, IPS is usually the superior choice.
Budget
In the budget monitor segment below $300, quality VA panels tend to be cheaper than similarly specced IPS options. So VA presents a better value proposition for buyers on a tight budget.
But the story flips in the high-end monitor market, where IPS monitors with cutting-edge gaming features cost less than equivalent VA counterparts like Samsung’s Odyssey lineup. So budget is a significant variable in the IPS versus VA decision.
Conclusion/Recommendations
Overall, IPS panels provide the best blend of gaming performance, productivity usage, and flexible viewing for most users. Their fast response times, color accuracy and eye comfort edge out VA.
But VA remains an excellent choice for those prioritizing contrast and immersive blacks in a dark home theater setup. For competitive esports gaming, only TN panels are noticeably faster than IPS. So our recommendation is an IPS monitor for mixed gaming and desktop use, and a high-end VA option for movie buffs and casual gamers who play in the dark.
FAQ
Does refresh rate impact IPS/VA differences?
Yes, higher refresh rates can reduce some of the key advantages of IPS over VA monitors. At 60Hz, IPS exhibits much clearer motion and less ghosting than VA. But at 165Hz or 240Hz, a good VA monitor can approach IPS-levels of clarity while retaining the superior contrast.
However, IPS continues to have faster response at high refresh rates too. So competitive gamers who need every last bit of motion resolution will still favor IPS. Casual gamers are less likely to notice the differences at 100Hz+. Ultimately, a high refresh VA monitor is a more viable option compared to 60Hz, but doesn’t negate IPS strengths.
Are curved or flat screens better for each panel type?
For IPS, a flat screen is preferable, as IPS already has shift-free viewing angles that a curve doesn’t enhance. And a curved IPS display introduces subtle distortions at the edges.
For VA, a curve helps offset some of the poor off-angle color and gamma shift issues. It brings more uniformity for a centered viewer. A 1500R curve or lower is recommended for 32″ and larger VA monitors to counter their narrow viewing angles.
What’s better for console gaming on a TV – IPS or VA?
For the living room, a VA TV is usually the best option. The superior contrast and blacks create a more immersive, cinematic experience for console gaming and movie watching. Features like local dimming boost VA TV contrast further. And the narrow viewing angles are not detrimental for centered, head-on TV usage. An OLED TV is ideal but expensive.
IPS TVs offer wider viewing but suffer from IPS glow in dark scenes. Their lower contrast and backlight bleed detracts from the experience. So VA TVs are preferred for console gaming and home theater use cases.
Is one panel type better for photo/video editing?
IPS panels are considered better suited for color-critical work like photo editing, graphics design and video production. Their more accurate color reproduction and lack of contrast shift when viewed off-angle make them the favored choice of creative professionals.
While modern VA panels have good color gamuts, only professional IPS displays are designed to cover the entire Adobe RGB color space. So content creators who need true color fidelity still gravitate toward high-end IPS.
How do TN panels compare to IPS and VA?
TN (twisted nematic) panels have the fastest response times but suffer from extremely narrow viewing angles and color/gamma shift when viewed off-center. Their colors and contrast also lag IPS and VA panels today.
So TN has been mostly phased out except for esports gaming. TN 240Hz monitors have slightly faster pixel response than even IPS, but virtually no one uses TN for multimedia or productivity use. For the best blend of speed and visuals, IPS and VA have surpassed TN technology.
Are there alternatives like OLED to consider?
OLED is considered the holy grail of display technology, combining perfect blacks, incredible contrast, wide viewing angles and virtually instantaneous response times. They outclass both IPS and VA.
The only issue is that OLED monitor options are still quite limited compared to LCDs. And their pricing is very high, especially for larger 27″ and ultrawide sizes. But we are now seeing gaming-focused OLED monitors like the Alienware AW3423DW which deliver an unrivaled experience.
So if budget allows, an OLED monitor is the best available. But until pricing reaches mass market levels, IPS and VA remain the top mainstream options. For most buyers, an IPS monitor with high refresh rate delivers the optimal combination of visuals, performance and value.
