Which matrix is better than tft tn. Monitor, how to choose. What monitor characteristics should you pay attention to? Types of matrices, aspect ratios and parameters in monitors. How to reduce eye fatigue from the monitor

Question from a user

Hello.

I want to buy a laptop, but I don’t know which one☺. All users look at the processor, memory - but I look at the monitor, I don’t know where to stop. Basically, DNS offers two types of matrices: TN+Film or IPS (a laptop with an IPS matrix is 2 times more expensive). Which one is better to choose?

Good time everyone!

In general, most inexperienced users are unlikely to be able to notice the difference in image quality on monitors (and many don’t even think about it) unless they are shown these monitors together with the same picture. Better yet, twist them in different directions - then... yes, the effect of a bomb exploding!

Well, in general, now there are monitors on sale with different types of matrices, most often there are three of them: TN (and varieties like TN+Film), IPS (AH-IPS, IPS-ADS and others) and PLS. So I’ll try to compare them in this short article from the point of view of an ordinary user (various scientific terms, such as pixel color angles, ray refraction - will not be included here ☺). So...

Comparison of PLS, TN (TN+Film) and IPS matrices

In the article I will try to indicate the main advantages/disadvantages of each matrix, I will give several photos of adjacent monitors so that you can clearly evaluate the quality of the picture. I think this way the information will be more accessible to most users.

Important!

I would like to note right away that in addition to the matrix, pay attention to the monitor manufacturer! Matrix-matrix is different, and even two monitors on TN matrices can show a different picture! I recommend first of all paying attention to trusted brands: Dell, Samsung, Acer, Sony, Philips, LG (which have already proven themselves).

And so, let's start with the most popular TN matrix (and its frequently encountered variety TN+Film, which, by and large, is not much different from it).

TN matrix

If you go to any computer hardware store and look at the characteristics of laptops (or monitors), the vast majority of cheap and mid-priced devices have a TN matrix. It has one of the main advantages - it is quite cheap, and at the same time provides (in general) a very good picture!

IPS vs TN+Film the difference is obvious! // On the other hand, you are not sitting on the side in front of your laptop (maybe even better - no one from the outside will see what you are doing!)

The main advantages of TN matrices:

one of the cheapest matrices (thanks to this, many can afford to buy a laptop/monitor);
short response time: any dynamic scenes in games or movies look good and smooth (if the monitor’s response time is insufficient, such scenes may “float”, example below). On monitors with a TN matrix, this most likely will not happen, because... even cheap models have a response time of 6 ms and lower (if the response time is more than 7-9 ms, then in many games/movies you will experience discomfort during sharp and fast scenes).
no one from the outside will be able to make out your picture: for those looking from the side or from above, it becomes faded and it is difficult to distinguish colors (example in the photo above and below ☺).

IPS vs TN (tablet and laptop, for comparison). Top view of the same picture!

IPS matrix (Glossy screen surface) versus TN matrix (matte screen surface). The same picture

Response time using the example of a sports broadcast: on the left - 9 ms, on the right - 5 ms (when viewing it doesn’t seem to be noticeable, but if you take a picture of nearby monitors, the difference is STILL noticeable!)

Flaws:

it is necessary to sit correctly and look directly perpendicular to the monitor: if you lie down slightly on a chair while watching a movie (say), the picture becomes less colorful and difficult to read;
low color rendering: if you work with photos (and graphics in general), you will notice that some colors are not so bright, and they look better on other monitors;
the probability of dead pixels appearing on this type of matrix is higher (a dead pixel is a white dot on the screen that does not convey the picture: that is, it does not glow at all. Usually it is just a white dot on the screen).

Conclusion: if you like dynamic films and computer games (shooting games, racing games, etc.), then the TN+Film matrix is a very good choice. In addition, if you read a lot, then the less bright light from the monitor has a more positive effect on your eyes, they get less tired.

For those who work with graphics (take a lot of photographs, edit photos and pictures) - a monitor with a TN matrix is not a very good choice due to lower color rendering.

Important!

By the way, many users (who work a lot and for a long time on a PC), like me, note that a bright and juicy picture does not always have a positive effect on the eyes. Some people specifically buy monitors with a TN matrix, because... they make your eyes less tired.

And I think there is a grain of truth in this (I worked for both IPS and TN for a long time - and now I have come to the conclusion that I work with a matte monitor with a TN matrix). In general, I expressed my opinion about the problem of eye fatigue in this article:

PS: it’s true that I’m not a designer, and I don’t work much with photos and bright illustrations, so this is not the ultimate truth ☺.

IPS and PLS

The IPS matrix was developed by Hitachi, and what distinguishes it from TN is, first of all, better color rendition. However, I would immediately like to note that the manufacturing price has increased several times, so monitors on this matrix are several times more expensive than on TN ones.

As for PLS, this is a Samsung development as an alternative to IPS. And it’s worth noting that the development is very, very interesting: the brightness and color rendition on it (in my opinion) are even higher than on IPS (look at the photo below).

IPS vs PLS matrices

Moreover, monitors on a PLS matrix have lower power consumption compared to the same TN or IPS (by about 10%), which can be very important when devices are running on rechargeable batteries.

Both PLS and IPS matrices have good viewing angles: the picture is not distorted and the colors do not lose their brightness and hue, even if you stand at an angle of 170 degrees (which means that everyone sitting to the right/left/center of the monitor will be see the same high-quality picture).

It is also worth adding that the PLS matrix allows you to achieve a short response time, almost the same as on TN matrices. But when choosing an IPS matrix, you need to be especially careful about this parameter: because Not all monitors have a response time of 6 ms or less (although I would already focus on 5 and lower ☺). If you often spend time with dynamic scenes in games, then an inexpensive monitor with a high response time on an IPS matrix is most likely not the best choice.

As for IPS, it has many varieties (I’ll give some of it here, but that’s not all ☺):

S-IPS (or Super IPS) – this variety has improved response time;
AS-IPS - with improved contrast and brightness;
H-IPS – more natural and natural white color;
P-IPS – increased number of colors (considered one of the best monitors in terms of accuracy and picture quality);
AH-IPS - similar to P-IPS, with improved viewing angles and more natural several shades (in fact, it is not much different from the previous one, except for a higher price);
E-IPS is a cheap type of IPS matrix, usually found on relatively inexpensive devices. However, even this type of matrix is superior in quality to most TN+Film.

By the way, when buying a monitor, you MUST pay attention to the type of surface, there are: matte and glossy. Matte ones are good because your reflection and glare are not visible on them, but they are not as bright and do not convey the picture as “juicy” as glossy ones. If you often work outdoors or your room is often illuminated by the sun, then take a closer look first of all at the matte surface (or its version - anti-reflective).

That's all, special thanks for the additions on the topic...

LCD TFT matrix technology involves the use of special thin-film transistors in the production of liquid crystal displays. The name TFT itself is an abbreviation for Thin-film transistor, which means thin-film transistor. This type of matrix is used in a wide variety of devices, from calculators to smartphone displays.

Probably everyone has heard the concepts of TFT and LCD, but few people have thought about what they are, which is why unenlightened people have the question of how TFT differs from LCD? The answer to this question is that they are two different things that should not be compared. To understand the difference between these technologies, it is worth understanding what LCD is and what TFT is.

1. What is LCD

LCD is a technology for manufacturing TV screens, monitors and other devices, based on the use of special molecules called liquid crystals. These molecules have unique properties; they are constantly in a liquid state and are able to change their position when exposed to an electromagnetic field. In addition, these molecules have optical properties similar to those of crystals, which is why these molecules got their name.

In turn, LCD screens can have different types of matrices, which, depending on the manufacturing technology, have different properties and indicators.

2. What is TFT

As already mentioned, TFT is a technology for manufacturing LCD displays, which involves the use of thin film transistors. Thus, we can say that TFT is a subtype of LCD monitors. It is worth noting that all modern LCD TVs, monitors and phone screens are TFT. Therefore, the question of which is better than TFT or LCD is not entirely correct. After all, the difference between FTF and LCD is that LCD is a technology for manufacturing liquid crystal screens, and TFT is a subtype of LCD displays, which includes all types of active matrices.

Among users, TFT matrices are called active. Such matrices have significantly higher performance, in contrast to passive LCD matrices. In addition, the LCD TFT screen type has an increased level of clarity, image contrast and large viewing angles. Another important point is that there is no flicker in active matrices, which means that such monitors are more pleasant to work with and less tired for the eyes.

Each pixel of the TFT matrix is equipped with three separate control transistors, resulting in a significantly higher screen refresh rate compared to passive matrices. Thus, each pixel includes three color cells, which are controlled by the corresponding transistor. For example, if the screen resolution is 1920x1080 pixels, then the number of transistors in such a monitor will be 5760x3240. The use of such a number of transistors became possible thanks to the ultra-thin and transparent structure - 0.1-0.01 microns.

3. Types of TFT screen matrices

Today, thanks to a number of advantages, TFT displays are used in a wide variety of devices.

All well-known LCD TVs that are available on the Russian market are equipped with TFT displays. They may differ in their parameters depending on the matrix used.

At the moment, the most common TFT display matrices are:

Each of the presented types of matrices has its own advantages and disadvantages.

3.1. LCD matrix type TFT TN

TN is the most common type of LCD TFT screen. This type of matrix gained such popularity due to its unique features. Despite their low cost, they have fairly high performance, and in some cases, such TN screens even have advantages over other types of matrices.

The main feature is the fast response. This is a parameter that indicates the time during which a pixel is able to respond to a change in the electric field. That is, the time it takes for a complete color change (from white to black). This is a very important indicator for any TV and monitor, especially for fans of games and films rich in all kinds of special effects.

The disadvantage of this technology is limited viewing angles. However, modern technologies have made it possible to correct this shortcoming. Now TN+Film matrices have large viewing angles, thanks to which such screens can compete with new IPS matrices.

3.2. IPS matrices

This type of matrix has the greatest prospects. The peculiarity of this technology is that such matrices have the largest viewing angles, as well as the most natural and rich color rendition. However, the disadvantage of this technology until now has been the long response time. But thanks to modern technologies, this parameter has been reduced to acceptable levels. Moreover, current monitors with IPS matrices have a response time of 5 ms, which is not inferior even to TN+Film matrices.

According to the majority of monitor and TV manufacturers, the future lies with IPS matrices, due to which they are gradually replacing TN+Film.

In addition, manufacturers of mobile phones, smartphones, tablet PCs and laptops are increasingly choosing TFT LCD modules with IPS matrices, paying attention to excellent color rendition, good viewing angles, as well as economical energy consumption, which is extremely important for mobile devices.

3.3. MVA/PVA

This type of matrix is a kind of compromise between TN and IPS matrices. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that in a quiet state, the molecules of liquid crystals are located perpendicular to the plane of the screen. Thanks to this, manufacturers were able to achieve the deepest and purest black color possible. In addition, this technology allows you to achieve larger viewing angles compared to TN matrices. This is achieved with the help of special protrusions on the covers. These protrusions determine the direction of the liquid crystal molecules. It is worth noting that such matrices have a shorter response time than IPS displays, and longer in comparison with TN matrices.

Oddly enough, this technology has not found wide application in the mass production of monitors and televisions.

4. Which is better Super LCD or TFT

First, it’s worth understanding what Super LCD is.

Super LCD is a screen production technology that is widely used among manufacturers of modern smartphones and tablet PCs. In essence, Super LCDs are the same IPS matrices that received a new marketing name and some improvements.

The main difference between such matrices is that they do not have an air gap between the outer glass and the picture (image). Thanks to this, it was possible to achieve a reduction in glare. In addition, visually the image on such displays seems closer to the viewer. When it comes to touchscreen displays on smartphones and tablets, Super LCD screens are more sensitive to touch and respond faster to movements.

5. TFT/LCD monitor: Video

Another advantage of this type of matrix is reduced energy consumption, which is again extremely important in the case of a stand-alone device such as a laptop, smartphone and tablet. This efficiency is achieved due to the fact that in a quiet state, the liquid crystals are arranged so as to transmit light, which reduces energy consumption when displaying bright images. It is worth noting that the vast majority of background images on all Internet sites, screensavers in applications, and so on, are just light.

The main area of application of SL CD displays is mobile technology, due to low energy consumption, high image quality, even in direct sunlight, as well as lower cost, in contrast, for example, to AMOLED screens.

In turn, LCD TFT displays include the SLCD matrix type. Thus, Super LCD is a type of active matrix TFT display. At the very beginning of this publication, we already said that TFT and LCD do not make a difference, they are, in principle, the same thing.

6. Display selection

As mentioned above, each type of matrix has its own advantages and disadvantages. All of them have also already been discussed. First of all, when choosing a display, you should consider your requirements. It is worth asking yourself the question - What exactly is needed from the display, how will it be used and in what conditions?

Based on the requirements, you should choose a display. Unfortunately, at the moment there is no universal screen that can be said to be truly better than all the others. Because of this, if color rendition is important to you and you are going to work with photographs, then IPS matrices are definitely your choice. But if you are an avid fan of action-packed and colorful games, then it is still better to give preference to TN+Film.

All modern matrices have fairly high performance, so ordinary users may not even notice the difference, because IPS matrices are practically not inferior to TN in response time, and TN, in turn, have fairly large viewing angles. In addition, as a rule, the user is positioned in front of the screen, and not on the side or on top, which is why large angles are generally not required. But the choice is still yours.

This is the pleasure of movies, web surfing, work and gameplay. To find one, you need to look not only at the classic parameters like size and resolution, but also at what type of matrix is installed. This article talks about what types of LCD monitors and matrices there are.

How do LCD panels differ from each other, what are their advantages, and what disadvantages do they have? All this will help you understand which panel is best to choose a display for specific tasks.

Explanation of concepts

Before moving on to the concepts of matrices, it is worth talking about the designations of the displays themselves. In the descriptions you can find options such as LCD, LCD and TFT screen. What is their difference?

LCD is a general designation for the category of screens to which TFT belongs, but the TFT LCD designation on the box often becomes a cause for confusion. It's actually quite simple.

LCD is a flat display based on liquid crystals: this is what is called LCD in its pure form. TFT is an LCD-based panel. But in the manufacture of such a panel, transistors are used, which are of the thin-film type. And this is its only difference from other LCD versions.

Interesting: Many manufacturers make displays curved. - just like that. It also has decent speakers with a total power of 10 watts, so there is no need to connect acoustics to it.

What are the types of LCD matrices?

There are only four main types of panels on which computer and laptop monitors are made:

TN is almost the oldest development;
IPS is perfection itself;
PLS - not inferior to its predecessor;
VA is a good development that web designers and photographers have already appreciated.

All others are just variations of the above. Below are some common modifications.

TN+Film technology

This type of matrix is used in budget devices, as well as in gaming displays. Today there are practically no TNs left in their pure form, but manufacturers often tend to ignore “Film” when describing characteristics, since this has already become the standard for modern models. Such panels are not without their drawbacks, but TN+Film also has attractive features.

Advice:If you need a super-fast monitor, then choosing is the right decision. The matrix of this widescreen display responds in 1 millisecond.

	Cons
Low cost- usually monitors with similar panels are cheaper than others. The ability to use any type of backlight allows you to reduce the price of an LCD monitor without sacrificing too much quality.	The picture quality is not the best. Precise positioning of the crystals is not about these matrices: each of them is unique, and therefore the tone of each pixel may differ.
	Color and contrast accuracy decrease in proportion to speed, as manufacturers have to sacrifice the number of possible intermediate values for the sake of responsiveness.
- a very useful quality for gamers. Various modern action games and shooters require instant reactions. This is the only way to achieve the most comfortable gaming experience.	Weak viewing angles compared to other LCD matrices. Everything is spoiled by the horizontal arrangement of filters.

As a result, we can say that this screen option is almost the best for gamers, as well as for undemanding movie lovers and users working with documents. But a monitor with such a matrix is unlikely to be suitable for designers.

IPS technology

Here the crystals are distributed evenly across the entire screen, located parallel to each other. Thanks to this solution, these matrices are distinguished by their ability to convey natural shades and excellent viewing from different angles. There are many advantages, and devices with panels in this category are very popular. They are almost universal, as they are great for gaming, watching movies and many professional tasks. In addition, recently IPS monitors are no longer as expensive as before.

What are the advantages of an IPS display:

When viewing photos or working with graphic images, matrices in this category pleasantly surprise with their color rendition. Even the black color will not differ in any way from the original. It will not become overly saturated or take on a grayish tint. When processing photos/videos, you don’t have to worry that the final result will differ from the author’s idea during the demonstration. This matrix is noticeably better than a TN panel.
Exposure to sunlight will not reduce image quality. Yes, there are glares, but the sun will not cause color distortion.
The picture quality remains high and is not distorted no matter from which corner of the room you watch what is happening on the screen. Clarity and contrast are maintained. Reminder: these LCD monitors have a maximum viewing range of 178° from any angle.
If we are talking about IPS, it will please you with its high sensitivity. Controlling a display with such a panel is the height of comfort: you can work with drawings and drawings. The screen will respond quickly to both the finger and the stylus. Artists, designers, and architects will definitely appreciate this feature.

Possible complaints:

The cost of IPS is significantly higher compared to TFT.
Not as fast a response as the same TN models, although the panel boasts a millisecond response. However, there are still few such monitors.
Devices with IPS screens consume more energy.

PLS technology

As mentioned above, this is a Samsung development that was created to give the user a worthy replacement. And the company succeeded. PLS is not to say that it is much better than IPS, but such monitors have characteristics that are similar in quality and capabilities.

The first product was released back in 2010. It was not possible to reduce the price of such devices, and, in fact, the average user did not find any significant differences from popular IPS. But professional designers still found the difference and successfully use such monitors as a “workhorse”. You shouldn’t expect something fundamentally new when watching movies or playing games.

Four best features of PLS-based LCD monitors:

Glare and flicker are practically absent, and therefore, when working for many hours at such a monitor, the eyes become less tired.
Improved color reproduction and shade accuracy make the display almost ideal for designers and planners.
Average brightness is 1100 cd/m2, which is 100 units higher than IPS.

Interesting: , created on the basis of PLS, has a cool function that smoothes textures at low picture resolutions, so that with such a monitor, even a film in poor quality can be watched normally.

Technology does not stand still, and the production of liquid crystal screens is no exception. However, due to the constant development and release of new technologies in the manufacture of screens, as well as due to special marketing approaches to advertising, many buyers when choosing a monitor or TV may have a question, which is better IPS or TFT screen?

To answer the question posed, you need to understand what IPS technology is and what a TFT screen is. Only knowing this will you be able to understand the difference between these technologies. This in turn will help you make the right choice of screen that will fully meet your requirements.

1. So, what is a TFT display?

As you may have guessed, TFT is an abbreviated name for the technology. It completely looks like this - Thin Film Transistor, which translated into Russian means thin-film transistor. Essentially, a TFT display is a type of liquid crystal screen that is based on an active matrix. In other words, this is a regular active matrix LCD screen. That is, the molecules of liquid crystals are controlled using special thin-film transistors.

2. What is IPS technology

IPS is also short for In-Plane Switching. This is a type of active matrix LCD display. This means that the question of which is better TFT or IPS is erroneous, since they are essentially the same thing. More precisely, IPS is a type of FTF display matrix.

IPS technology received its name due to the unique arrangement of electrodes, which are located on the same plane with the liquid crystal molecules. In turn, the liquid crystals are located parallel to the screen plane. This solution made it possible to significantly increase viewing angles, as well as increase the brightness and contrast of the image.

Today there are three most common types of active matrix TFT displays:

TN+Film;
PVA/MVA.

Thus, it becomes obvious that the difference between TFT and IPS is only that TFT is a type of LCD screen with an active matrix, and IPS is the same active matrix in a TFT display, or rather one of the types of matrix. It is worth noting that this matrix is the most common among users around the world.

3. What is the difference between TFT and IPS displays: Video

The common misconception that there is any difference between TFT and IPS arose due to the marketing gimmicks of sales managers. In an attempt to attract new customers, marketers do not disseminate complete information about technologies, which allows them to create the illusion that a completely new development is entering the world. Of course, IPS is a newer development than TN, but you cannot choose which TFT or IPS display is better for the reasons stated above.

As is usually the case with abbreviations used to denote specifics and technical characteristics, there is confusion and substitution of concepts in relation to TFT and IPS. Largely due to unqualified descriptions of electronic devices in catalogs, consumers initially pose the question of choice incorrectly. So, the IPS matrix is a type of TFT matrix, so it is impossible to compare these two categories with each other. However, for Russian consumers, the abbreviation TFT often means TN-TFT technology, and in this case a choice can already be made. So, when talking about the differences between TFT and IPS screens, we will mean TFT screens made using TN and IPS technologies.

TN-TFT- technology for making a matrix of a liquid crystal (thin-film transistor) screen, when the crystals, in the absence of voltage, are rotated to each other at an angle of 90 degrees in the horizontal plane between two plates. The crystals are arranged in a spiral, and as a result, when the maximum voltage is applied, the crystals rotate in such a way that black pixels are formed when light passes through them. Without tension - white.

IPS- technology for making a matrix of a liquid crystal (thin-film transistor) screen, when the crystals are located parallel to each other along a single plane of the screen, and not spirally. In the absence of voltage, the liquid crystal molecules do not rotate.

In practice, the most important difference between an IPS matrix and a TN-TFT matrix is the increased level of contrast due to almost perfect black color display. The picture is clearer.

The color rendering quality of TN-TFT matrices leaves much to be desired. Each pixel in this case may have its own shade, different from the others, resulting in distorted colors. IPS already treats images much more carefully.

On the left is a tablet with a TN-TFT matrix. On the right is a tablet with an IPS matrix

The response speed of TN-TFT is slightly higher than that of other matrices. IPS takes time to rotate the entire parallel die array. Thus, when performing tasks where drawing speed is important, it is much more profitable to use TN matrices. On the other hand, in everyday use a person does not notice the difference in response time.

Monitors and displays based on IPS matrices are much more energy-intensive. This is due to the high level of voltage required to rotate the crystal array. Therefore, TN-TFT technology is more suitable for energy saving tasks in mobile and portable devices.

IPS-based screens have wide viewing angles, meaning they do not distort or invert colors when viewed at an angle. Unlike TN, IPS viewing angles are 178 degrees both vertically and horizontally.

Another difference that is important for the end consumer is the price. TN-TFT today is the cheapest and most widespread version of the matrix, which is why it is used in budget electronics models.