Comparison of smartphone matrices. What is the difference between TN, IPS, AMOLED technologies. AMOLED, IPS or TN? Technology comparison

The monitor is perhaps one of the most basic elements of a computer: it determines whether your eyes will hurt after ten minutes of use, whether you can process the image correctly, and even whether you will be able to notice the enemy in time. computer game. And over more than 15 years of existence of liquid crystal monitors, the number of types of matrices has exceeded a dozen, and the price range is from several thousand to hundreds of thousands of rubles - and in this article we will figure out what types of matrices exist and which will be the best for a particular task.

TFT TN

The oldest type of matrix, which still occupies a significant market share and is not going to leave it. TN has not been on sale for a long time - mostly improved modifications are sold, TN+film: the improvement made it possible to increase horizontal viewing angles to 130-150 degrees, but with vertical ones everything is bad: even with a deviation of ten degrees, the colors begin to change, even inverting . In addition, most of these monitors do not cover even 70% of sRGB, which means they are not suitable for color correction. Another disadvantage is the rather low maximum brightness, usually it does not exceed 150 cd/m^2: this is only enough for indoor work.

It would seem that all TFT TN are hopelessly outdated and it’s time to write them off. However, not everything is so simple - these matrices have the shortest response time, and therefore are firmly established in the expensive gaming segment. It's no joke - the latency time of the best TN does not exceed 1 ms, which in theory allows you to output as many as 1000 individual frames per second (in reality it is less, but this does not change the essence) - an excellent solution for an e-sportsman. Well, besides, in such matrices the brightness has reached 250-300 cd/m^2, and the color gamut at the very least corresponds to 80-90% sRGB: it’s not suitable for color correction anyway (viewing angles are small), but for games this perfect solution. Alas, all these improvements have led to the fact that the cost of such monitors from $500 is just beginning, so it makes sense to use them only for those for whom minimal latency is critical.

Well, in the low price segment, TN is increasingly being replaced by MVA and IPS - the latter produce a much better picture, and cost literally 1-2 thousand more, so if possible, it’s better to overpay for them.

TFT IPS

This type of matrix began its journey to the consumer market from phones, where the low viewing angles of TN-matrices greatly interfered with normal use. In the last few years, the price of IPS monitors has dropped significantly, and they can now be purchased even for a budget computer. These matrices have two main advantages: viewing angles reach almost 180 degrees both horizontally and vertically, and they usually have a good color gamut right out of the box - even monitors cheaper than 10 thousand rubles often have a profile with 100% sRGB coverage . But, alas, there are also a lot of disadvantages: low contrast, usually no higher than 1000:1, which is why black looks not like black, but like dark gray, and the so-called glow effect: when viewed from a certain angle, the matrix appears pinkish (or purple). Previously, there was also a problem with low response time - up to 40-50 ms (which made it possible to honestly display only 20-25 frames on the screen, the rest were blurred). However, now there is no such problem, and even cheap IPS matrices have a response time no higher than 4-6 ms, which allows you to easily output 100-150 frames - this is more than enough for any use, even gaming (without fanaticism with 120 fps, of course ).

There are many subtypes of IPS, let’s look at the main ones:

• TFT S-IPS ( Super IPS) - the very first improvement of IPS: viewing angles and pixel response speed have been increased. It's been out of stock for a long time.
• TFT H-IPS (Horizontal IPS) - almost never found on sale (only one model on Yandex.Market, and only from leftovers). This type of IPS appeared in 2007 and, compared to S-IPS, the contrast has increased slightly and the screen surface looks more uniform.
• TFT UH-IPS (Ultra Horizontal IPS) is an improved version of H-IPS. By reducing the size of the strip separating the subpixels, light transmission was increased by 18%. At the moment, this type of IPS matrix is ​​also outdated.
• TFT E-IPS (Enhanced IPS) is another legacy type of IPS. It has a different pixel structure and allows more light to pass through, which allows for lower backlight brightness, which leads to a lower price of the monitor and lower power consumption. Has a fairly low response time (less than 5 ms).
• TFT P-IPS (Professional IPS) are quite rare and very expensive matrices created for professional photo processing: they provide excellent color rendition (30-bit color depth and 1.07 billion colors).
• TFT AH-IPS (Advanced High Performance IPS) - the latest type of IPS: improved color reproduction, increased resolution and PPI, increased brightness and reduced power consumption, response time does not exceed 5-6 ms. It is this type of IPS that is now actively sold.

The main types of matrices are:

• TFT MVA (Multidomain Vertical Aligment) - wide viewing angles, excellent color rendition, perfect blacks, high image contrast, but long pixel response time. In terms of price, they fall between budget TN and IPS, and offer the same average capabilities. So if games are not important to you, you can save 1-2k and take MVA instead of IPS.
• TFT PVA (Patterned Vertical Alignment) is one of the varieties of TFT MVA technology, developed by Samsung. One of the advantages in comparison with MVA is that the brightness of black is reduced.
• TFT S-PVA (Super PVA) - improved PVA technology: the viewing angles of the matrix have been increased.

OLED

These are the newest matrices that began to appear on the user market just a couple of years ago and at astronomical prices. They have a lot of advantages: firstly, they do not have such a thing as the brightness of black, because When outputting black, the LEDs simply do not work, so the black color looks like black, and the contrast in theory is equal to infinity. Secondly, the response time of such matrices is tenths of a millisecond - this is several times less than even that of e-sports TNs. Thirdly, the viewing angles are not only almost 180 degrees, but also the brightness hardly drops when the monitor is tilted. Fourthly - a very wide color gamut, which can be 100% AdobeRGB - not every IPS matrix can boast of this result. However, alas, there are two problems that nullify many of the advantages: this is the flickering of the matrix at a frequency of 240 Hz, which can lead to eye pain and increased fatigue, and pixel burnout, so such matrices are short-lived. Well, the third problem that many new solutions have is the exorbitant price, in some places more than twice as high as that of professional IPS. However, it is already clear to everyone that such matrices are the future, and their problems will be solved and their prices will fall.

Telling about IPS differences and TN matrices as part of advice when buying a monitor or laptop. It's time to talk about all the modern display production technologies that we may encounter and have an idea about types of matrices in devices of our generation. Not to be confused with LED, EDGE LED, Direct LED- these are the types of screen backlighting and display technologies are indirectly related.

Probably everyone can remember the monitor with a cathode ray tube that they used before. True, there are still users and fans of CRT technology. Currently, screens have increased in diagonal size, display manufacturing technologies have changed, and there are more and more varieties in the characteristics of matrices, denoted by the abbreviations TN, TN-Film, IPS, Amoled, etc.

The information in this article will help you choose a monitor, smartphone, tablet and other various types of equipment. In addition, it will highlight the technologies for creating displays, as well as the types and features of their matrices.

A few words about liquid crystal displays

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is a display made from liquid crystals that change their location when voltage is applied to them. If you come close to such a display and look closely at it, you will notice that it consists of small dots - pixels (liquid crystals). In turn, each pixel consists of red, blue and green subpixels. When voltage is applied, the subpixels are arranged in a certain order and transmit light through them, thus forming a pixel a certain color. Many such pixels form an image on the screen of a monitor or other device.

The first mass-produced monitors were equipped matrices TN- having the simplest design, but which cannot be called the highest quality type of matrix. Although among this type of matrices there are very high-quality specimens. This technology is based on the fact that in the absence of voltage, subpixels transmit light through themselves, forming white dot. When voltage is applied to the subpixels, they are arranged in a certain order, forming a pixel of a given color.

Disadvantages of TN matrix

• Due to the fact that the standard pixel color, in the absence of voltage, is white, this type of matrix does not have the best color rendering. Colors appear duller and faded, and blacks appear more of a dark gray.
• Another main disadvantage of a TN matrix is ​​small viewing angles. Partially they tried to cope with this problem by improving TN technology to TN+Film, using an additional layer applied to the screen. Viewing angles became larger, but still remained far from ideal.

At the moment, TN+Film matrices have completely replaced TN.

Advantages of TN matrix

• fast response time
• relatively inexpensive cost.

Drawing conclusions, we can say that if you need an inexpensive monitor for office work or surfing the Internet, monitors with TN+Film matrices are best suited.

Main difference IPS technology matrices from TN— perpendicular arrangement of subpixels in the absence of voltage, which form a black point. That is, in a state of calm the screen remains black.

Advantages of IPS matrices

• better color reproduction compared to screens with TN matrices: you have bright and rich colors on the screen, and black remains truly black. Accordingly, when voltage is applied, the pixels change color. Considering this feature, owners of smartphones and tablets with IPS screens can be advised to use dark color schemes and wallpapers on the desktop, then the smartphone’s battery life will last a little longer.
• large viewing angles. On most screens they are 178°. For monitors, and especially for mobile devices(smartphones and tablets) this feature is important when the user chooses a gadget.

Disadvantages of IPS matrices

• long screen response time. This affects the display in dynamic pictures such as games and movies. IN modern IPS In response time panels things are better.
• higher cost compared to TN.

To summarize, it is better to choose phones and tablets with IPS matrices, and then the user will receive great aesthetic pleasure from using the device. The matrix for a monitor is not so critical, modern ones.

AMOLED screens

The latest smartphone models are equipped with AMOLED displays. This technology for creating matrices is based on active LEDs, which begin to glow and display color when voltage is applied to them.

Let's take a look features of Amoled matrices:

• Color rendition. The saturation and contrast of such screens are higher than required. The colors are displayed so brightly that some users may experience eye strain when using their smartphone for long periods of time. But the black color is displayed even blacker than even in IPS matrices.
• Display power consumption. Just like IPS, displaying black requires less power than displaying a specific color, much less white. But the difference in power consumption between displaying black and white AMOLED screens have much more. Displaying white requires several times more energy than displaying black.
• "Picture Memory". If a static image is displayed for a long time, marks may remain on the screen, and this in turn affects the quality of the information displayed.

Also, due to their rather high cost, AMOLED screens are currently only used in smartphones. Monitors built on this technology are unreasonably expensive.

VA (Vertical Alignment) — this technology, developed by Fujitsu, can be considered as a compromise between TN and IPS matrices. In VA matrices, the crystals in the off state are located perpendicular to the screen plane. Accordingly, the black color is ensured as pure and deep as possible, but when the matrix is ​​rotated relative to the direction of view, the crystals will not be visible equally. To solve the problem, a multi-domain structure is used. Technology Multi-Domain Vertical Alignment (MVA) provides protrusions on the plates that determine the direction of rotation of the crystals. If two subdomains rotate in opposite directions, then when viewed from the side, one of them will be darker and the other lighter, so for the human eye the deviations cancel out. There are no protrusions in PVA dies developed by Samsung, and the crystals are strictly vertical when turned off. In order for the crystals of neighboring subdomains to rotate in opposite directions, the lower electrodes are shifted relative to the upper ones.

To reduce response time, Premium MVA and S-PVA matrices use a dynamic voltage increase system for individual sections of the matrix, which is usually called Overdrive. The color rendition of PMVA and SPVA matrices is almost as good as that of IPS, the response time is slightly inferior to TN, the viewing angles are as wide as possible, the black color is the best, the brightness and contrast are the highest possible among all existing technologies. However, even with a slight deviation of the direction of view from the perpendicular, even by 5–10 degrees, distortions in halftones can be noticed. For most this will go unnoticed, but professional photographers They continue to dislike VA technologies for this.

MVA and PVA matrices have excellent contrast and viewing angles, but the situation with response time is worse - it grows as the difference between the final and initial states of the pixel decreases. Early models of such monitors were almost unsuitable for dynamic games, but now they show results close to TN matrices. Color rendering *VA matrices, of course, is inferior to IPS matrices, but remains at a high level. However, due to their high contrast, these monitors are an excellent choice for working with text and photography, with drawing graphics, and also as home monitors.

In conclusion, I can say that the choice is always yours...

Just a few years ago, the choice of a monitor for a personal computer was based on the price category, where it was clear that a more expensive device had a high-quality matrix, and a cheap monitor did not shine with characteristics. At the moment, the monitor market is divided according to screen size; each manufacturer produces devices with different technologies matrices. Because of this, the purchasing choice has become more complicated. This article will help users choose the right monitor matrix type. Which better screen purchase on the market, for what purposes and how it differs from competitors, will be presented in an accessible form.

To make it clearer

Before choosing the type of monitor matrix, you need to understand the principle of its operation, as well as identify all the advantages and disadvantages. Having compiled a list of needs (for what purpose is it purchased? this device), it will be very easy to compare the actual with the desired. If you do not affect the screen size, the use of the monitor is distributed according to needs into several groups:

1. Office monitor. High level contrast is the only requirement.
2. Designer's computer (photo, pre-press). Accurate color reproduction is important.
3. Multimedia. Watching movies requires wide viewing angles and true black color on the screen.
4. Gaming computer. Important indicator- matrix response time.

The production technology and the movement of electrons between matrices is unlikely to be of interest to anyone, so this article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages, and also use data from the media - reviews from owners and recommendations from sellers. Having found out what technologies exist, all that remains is to combine them with the stated requirements and the funds allocated for the purchase of the monitor.

The state employee does not give up positions

The TN (Twisted Nematic) monitor matrix type is considered a long-liver among its competitors on the market. Due to its low price and availability, monitors with this matrix are installed in all government and educational institutions, offices of many companies around the world and in large enterprises. According to statistics, 90% of all monitors in the world have a TN matrix. Along with the price, another advantage of such a monitor is the short response time of the matrix. This parameter very important in dynamic games, where rendering speed plays a paramount role.

But the color rendering and viewing angle of such monitors did not work out. Even upgrading the TN matrix by adding an additional layer to increase viewing angles did not give desired results, just added “+film” to the name of the screen type. We must not forget about energy consumption, which significantly exceeds the operating mode of all competitors.

And yet

Apart from office use, TN+film is the best type of monitor matrix for gaming. After all, most gamers prefer to overpay for high-performance components such as a processor or video card, but they can save money on the screen. However, do not forget about color rendering; in modern games, developers try to make the plot as realistic as possible, and without a real rendering of all colors and shades, this will be very difficult to achieve.

As a result, apart from the low price and short response time, the TN matrix will not be able to surprise a potential buyer with anything. After all, it’s very hard to ignore the shortcomings:

1. Low color rendering with the inability to display perfect blacks. The defect is visible when watching dynamic films where all the action takes place in the dark - “Van Helsing”, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, “Dracula” and the like.
2. Low cost of production leads to a high probability of acquiring a defective matrix, dead pixel which is immediately visible, because it is painted white.
3. Very low viewing angles do not allow you to contemplate the picture on the screen with a large family.

A step in the right direction

The monitor matrix type VA (Vertical Alignment) uses technology with vertical ordering of molecules, and in the post-Soviet space is better known under the MVA or PVA markings. And more recently, the suffix “S”, which stands for “Super,” was added to the existing modifications, but the monitors did not acquire any special characteristics compared to their competitors, except that they became slightly more expensive.

VA technology was intended to eliminate defects in TN+film matrices, and manufacturers were able to achieve certain results, but when comparing these two screens, the user will find that they have opposite characteristics. That is, the disadvantages of VA matrices are the advantages of TN, and the advantages of VA are the disadvantages of cheap matrices. What the manufacturers were thinking is unknown, but the situation on the market has not yet changed for these matrices, even with the introduction of the “Super” label.

Advantages and disadvantages of VA technology

If VA technology is compared with the cheapest matrix on the market, TN+film, then the advantages are obvious: excellent viewing angles, very high-quality color reproduction with deep blacks. In fact, this type of photo monitor is the best in its price range. The only thing that confuses me is the response time. Compared to a cheap TN screen, it is several times higher. Naturally, a device with such a matrix will not be suitable for game lovers, since the dynamic picture will be constantly blurred.

But designers, layout designers, amateur photographers and all professionals who need to work with real color and its shades will like monitors with VA technology. In addition, the wide viewing angle, even with a strong tilt, does not distort the image on the screen. Such monitors are suitable for multimedia - watching any films with your family will be interesting, because the screen provides the opportunity to see real black color, and not its semblance in the form of fifty shades of gray.

No flaws?

IPS matrices and their various modifications have been on the market for quite a long time. However, their cost is not as attractive to buyers as the impeccable characteristics of screens that use an expensive type of monitor matrix. Only Apple knows which screen is better for a businessman and designer, the president of a company or a traveler, because all of its devices, without exception, have IPS (In-Plane Switching) matrix technology.

From year to year, all kinds of technologies appear, experts are trying to improve the quality of an already expensive and high-quality matrix, as a result of which there are a number of modifications on the market: AH-IPS, P-IPS, H-IPS, S-IPS, e-IPS. The difference between them is minor, but it is there. For example, e-IPS (Enhanced) has technology that increases screen contrast and brightness, and also reduces response time. The professional P-IPS series can display 30-bit color, but it’s a pity that the user will not clearly notice this.

Reach your dreams

Without going into deciphering the modifications of the IPS matrix, you can see that this technology is a kind of symbiosis of VA and TN+film production. Naturally, only the advantages were selected that were embodied in one device. For example, the type of monitor matrix AH-IPS (Advanced High performance) is a direct competitor to plasma panels, which have no analogues in the world in terms of high-definition image reproduction quality. Such a serious statement was made back in 2011, however, in addition to the inflated price for a device with AH-IPS matrix it has not yet been possible to prove superiority.

And yet, if a game lover has a question about which type of monitor matrix to choose - IPS or TN, then the right decision would be to purchase a more expensive and high-quality screen. Even though the price of the device is several times higher than its cheap competitor, spending time with your favorite toy will be more interesting. After all, realistic picture quality will always remain in first place.

Fun games manufacturers

We will talk primarily about the Korean giant Samsung, which constantly strives to invent new technology, but it does not always succeed, because along with the quality, the buyer is also interested in the cost of the device, which for some reason tends to increase disproportionately.

By introducing single pixel separation technology, Samsung has achieved better image clarity. This is primarily noticeable on the screen when typing multi-colored text in small font. The technology was approved by many layout designers, and monitors with PVA markings quickly found fans.

The WVA monitor matrix type was an improved version of technology from Samsung, and, judging by the low cost of the devices, it competed freely in the market. The shortcoming with the matrix response speed in all devices created using VA technology has not been eliminated.

Radical solution

The type of monitor matrix AH-IPS was of interest only to buyers in developed countries of the world. After all, for best quality you have to pay a very large sum, which is beyond the means of residents of the post-Soviet space. And there is no point in purchasing a monitor that is a little more expensive than a modern one personal computer assembled. Therefore, manufacturers of expensive devices had to reduce the cost of technology by reducing the quality in the production of components. So it appeared on the market new type matrices monitor pls(plane-to-line switching).

After analyzing the characteristics and studying the operating principle of the new matrix, you might think that this is just an improved modification of the PVA matrix from Samsung. That's true. As it turned out, the manufacturer developed this technology a long time ago, but its implementation occurred quite recently, when there was a huge price difference between middle-class and expensive devices, and there was an urgent need to fill the empty price niche.

Who won?

Apparently, this is the only case when in the war between manufacturers for the sales market, the buyer wins, who receives a worthy device in terms of its characteristics at a price that is quite acceptable to him. The disadvantage is the small selection of manufacturers, because Samsung has not released the technology beyond its concerns, so the Korean brand has few competitors - Philips and AOC.

But, faced with a choice, which better type monitor matrices - IPS or PLS, a potential buyer who decides to save money will definitely give preference to the latter. After all, in fact, there is not much difference between the devices. And if you pay attention to the fact that most mobile devices, including tablets, have a PLS matrix, which is very often presented by the seller as a more expensive IPS, then only one conclusion suggests itself.

In pursuit of perfection

Not long ago, Sharp introduced a type of monitor matrix made using IGZO (indium, gallium and zinc oxide) technology. According to the manufacturer, the material has very high conductivity and lower power consumption, resulting in a higher pixel density per square inch. Essentially, IGZO technology is suitable for the production of 4K monitors and all mobile devices produced in Ultra HD format.

The technology is far from cheap, and prices for monitors and TVs with IGZO matrix are breaking world records. However, the well-known company Apple got its bearings very quickly, concluding contracts with the matrix manufacturer. This means that this technology is the future; all that remains is to wait for the price to drop on the world market.

Best choice for gamer

Having studied existing production technologies, you can without hesitation determine which type of monitor matrix is ​​better. For games, response time and color rendition are a priority, so the choice here is limited. For those who want to save money, a device with a PLS matrix is ​​quite suitable. Although the choice among manufacturers is small, it is possible to decide among the modifications. In addition to the standard type of matrix, the manufacturer offers an improved Super-PLS model, in which the brightness and contrast are higher, and the screen allows you to display a resolution exceeding FullHD.

But if the price of the issue is not critical for the buyer, then an IPS screen will allow you to enjoy the most realistic picture. You won’t be able to get confused by the markings, because they all boil down to improving the viewing angle and dynamic contrast. The only difference is the price - the better, the more expensive. Having given preference to a device with a matrix type IPS monitor, the gamer can't go wrong.

Photo processing and graphics are a priority

It is clear that an IPS device is suitable for designers and layout designers. But is there any point in overpaying? After all, photo processing and layout involve working with colors and their shades. The response time of the matrix is ​​not considered at all. Professionals recommend not to waste money and choose a VA type of monitor matrix. Yes, this is old technology, yes, this is the last century, but in terms of “price-quality” criteria, matrices of this type have no competitors. And if you want to purchase some of the new products, then you can opt for a PLS matrix.

If there is a need to work on a high-resolution monitor, for example 4K, then professionals recommend giving preference to IGZO devices. Their price is not so far from the popular IPS screens, but they are undoubtedly better in quality.

Multimedia lovers can save money

Oddly enough, but for those who like to watch movies on a monitor screen and surf the Internet, purchasing a device with a TN+film matrix is ​​quite enough. An inexpensive gadget with an improved screen can easily replace a small TV. The problem can only appear in dark dynamic scenes, where instead of a black background the viewer will have to observe a gray cloud. If this is critical, you need to look towards VA matrices. Yes, the price is higher, but the problem with color rendering will be solved. In addition, the buyer will receive very high contrast and large viewing angles. Don't forget about the physical resolution of the matrix - the higher it is, the better the picture.

Office option

It would seem that the universal type of TN+film monitor matrix would be perfect for working with text. But, as practice shows, working with small print behind such a screen is extremely inconvenient. And if a monitor is purchased specifically for working with large volumes of text, then you should worry about your vision. Nearby technology to TN affordable price- this is VA. Regardless of the manufacturer and screen size, such a device will allow you to sit at the computer for more than one hour without any problems.

When choosing a monitor for office work, attention should be paid to both the size and physical resolution of the matrix. The diagonal of the screen for working with text should not exceed the distance from the user’s eyes to the matrix. It is also recommended to select office monitors with an aspect ratio of 4:3, because in this ratio more readable information is placed on the screen.

New trend: for your loved one

Having studied all existing technologies of liquid crystal screens, before choosing the type of monitor matrix, a potential buyer should get acquainted with the information obtained through user surveys in the media.

1. The monitor is a durable purchase. That is, the next acquisition, with a high probability, will not be earlier than in 10 years.
2. In 99% of cases, the stated requirements for equipment do not coincide with operating conditions. That is, gaming battles are taking place on an office monitor, while only news feeds are viewed on elite devices.
3. Multi-connection. For convenience, 25% of users in the world connect several monitors (2, 3, 4) to one computer, and the number of such owners is constantly growing. The convenience is that each connected device has a specific role - games, movies, office, etc.

The above information allows you to rethink your earlier knowledge. It is recommended to make a purchase based not on needs, but on desire and capabilities. Essentially, you should focus on the most expensive and high-quality device that the user can afford. You can't save money here.

In conclusion

Having found out which type of monitor matrix is ​​best for the user, what the letter markings on the device’s display mean and how it affects price and quality, you can begin to select the diagonal. However, many IT experts recommend paying attention to the resolution of the screen - how many dots per square inch it can display. Very often, the correct choice of the required resolution leads to the purchase of a monitor with a smaller diagonal, and, accordingly, to significant savings cash. The monitor manufacturer plays an important role - the matrix of its own production, the presence of a service center at the place of residence and a long warranty period hint to the future owner that he is purchasing a worthy device that will never let you down.

Oddly enough, choosing a high-quality display for a computer monitor or laptop can only be done experimentally. This article will help you understand the parameters that you should pay attention to when choosing a monitor or laptop.

How to choose a monitor or laptop display with ideal characteristics?

A high-quality display has a huge advantage in multimedia tasks on a PC, and in relation to a laptop it’s half that. Take a look at this short list of display issues to watch out for when purchasing a new mobile computer or PC monitor:

• low brightness and contrast characteristics
• small viewing angles
• glare

Replacing a laptop screen is more difficult than buying a new monitor for desktop computer, not to mention installing a new LCD matrix into a mobile computer, which cannot be done in all cases, so selecting a laptop screen should be approached with full responsibility.

Let me remind you once again that you cannot believe the promises of advertising materials of retail chains and computer manufacturers. Having finished reading mobile computer monitor and display selection guide, you can find difference between TN matrix and IPS matrix, evaluate the contrast, determine the required brightness level and other important parameters of the liquid crystal screen. You'll save time and money searching for a PC monitor and laptop display by choosing a quality LCD screen instead of a mediocre one.

Which is better: IPS or TN matrix?

The screens of laptops, ultrabooks, tablets and other portable computers typically use two types of LCD panels:

• IPS (In-Plane Switching)
• TN (Twisted Nematic)

Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, but it is worth considering that they are intended for different consumer groups. Let's find out which type of matrix is ​​right for you.

IPS displays: excellent color reproduction

Displays based on IPS matrices have the following advantages:

• large viewing angles - regardless of the side and angle of human view, the image will not fade and will not lose color saturation
• excellent color reproduction - IPS displays reproduce RGB colors without distortion
• have a fairly high contrast.

If you are going to do pre-production or video editing, you will need a device with this type of screen.

Disadvantages of IPS technology compared to TN:

• long pixel response time (for this reason, displays of this type are less suitable for dynamic 3D games).
• monitors and mobile computers with IPS panels tend to be more expensive than models with screens based on TN matrices.

TN displays: inexpensive and fast

Liquid crystal displays are currently the most widely used matrices made using TN technology. Their advantages include:

• low cost
• low power consumption
• response time.

TN screens perform well in dynamic games - for example, first-person shooters (FPS) with fast scene changes. Such applications require a screen with a response time of no more than 5 ms (for IPS matrices it is usually longer). Otherwise, various kinds of visual artifacts may be observed on the display, such as trails from fast-moving objects.

If you want to use it on a monitor or laptop with a stereo screen, it is also better for you to give preference to a TN matrix. Some displays of this standard are capable of refreshing the image at a speed of 120 Hz, which is a necessary condition for operation of active stereo glasses.

From disadvantages of TN displays It is worth highlighting the following:

• TN panels have limited viewing angles
• mediocre contrast
• are not capable of displaying all colors in the RGB space, so they are not suitable for professional image and video editing.

Very expensive TN panels, however, do not have some of the characteristic disadvantages and are close in quality to good IPS screens. For example, at Apple MacBook Pro with Retina, a TN matrix is ​​used, which is almost as good as IPS displays in terms of color rendering, viewing angles and contrast.

How to distinguish IPS from TN

If you liked the monitor or laptop, and technical specifications display are not known, you should look at its screen from different angles. If the image becomes dull and its colors are greatly distorted, you have a monitor or mobile computer with a mediocre TN display. If, despite all your efforts, the picture has not lost its colors - this monitor with a matrix made using IPS technology, or with high quality TN.

Attention: avoid laptops and monitors with matrices, which show strong color distortion at high angles. For games choose computer monitor with an expensive TN display, for other tasks it is better to give preference to an IPS matrix.

Important parameters: monitor brightness and contrast

Let's consider two more important display parameters:

• maximum level brightness
• contrast.

There's no such thing as too much brightness

To work in a room with artificial lighting, a display with a maximum brightness level of 200–220 cd/m2 (candelas per square meter) is sufficient. The lower the value of this parameter, the darker and dimmer the image on the display will be. I do not recommend buying a mobile computer with a screen whose maximum brightness level does not exceed 160 cd/m2. For comfortable work outdoors on a sunny day, you will need a screen with a brightness of at least 300 cd/m2. In general, the brighter the display, the better.

When purchasing, you should also check the uniformity of the screen backlight. To do this, you should reproduce a white or dark blue color on the screen (this can be done in any graphics editor) and make sure that there are no light or dark spots over the entire surface of the screen.

Static and staggered contrast

Maximum static screen contrast level is the ratio of the brightness of successively displayed black and white colors. For example, a contrast ratio of 700:1 means that when outputting white, the display will be 700 times brighter than when outputting black.

However, in practice, the picture is almost never completely white or black, so for a more realistic assessment, the concept of checkerboard contrast is used.

Instead of sequentially filling the screen with black and white colors, a test pattern is displayed on it in the form of a black and white chessboard. This is a much more difficult test for displays because, due to technical limitations, you cannot turn off the backlight under the black rectangles while simultaneously illuminating the white ones at maximum brightness. A good checkerboard contrast for LCD displays is considered to be 150:1, and an excellent contrast is 170:1.

The higher the contrast, the better. To evaluate it, display a chess table on your laptop display and check the depth of black and brightness of white.

Matte or glossy screen

Probably many people paid attention to the difference in matrix coverage:

• matte
• glossy

The choice depends on where and for what purposes you plan to use the monitor or laptop. Matte LCD displays have a rough matrix coating that does not reflect external light well, so they do not glare in the sun. Obvious disadvantages include the so-called crystalline effect, which manifests itself in a slight haze of the image.

The glossy finish is smooth and better reflects the light emitted external sources. Glossy displays tend to be brighter and more contrasty than matte displays, and colors appear richer on them. However, such screens produce glare, which leads to premature fatigue when long work, especially if the display has insufficient brightness.

Screens with a glossy matrix coating and having insufficient brightness reserves reflect the surrounding environment, which leads to premature fatigue of the user.

Touch screen and resolution

Windows 8 became the first operating system Microsoft system, which had a huge impact on the development of mobile computer screens, in which optimization is clearly visible graphical shell under touch screens. Leading developers produce laptops (ultrabooks and hybrids) and all-in-one PCs with touchscreens. The cost of such devices is usually higher, but they are also more convenient to manage. However, you will have to accept that the screen will quickly lose its presentable appearance due to greasy fingerprint marks, and wipe it regularly.

The smaller the screen and the higher its resolution, the greater the number of dots that form the image per unit area and the higher its density. For example, a 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels has a density of 100 ppi.

Attention! Do not buy monitors with screens with a dot density of less than 100 dpi, as they will show visible grain in the image.

Before Windows 8, high pixel density did more harm than good. Small fonts on small screen It was very difficult to see in high resolution. Windows 8 has a new system for adapting to screens with different densities, so now the user can choose a laptop computer with the diagonal and display resolution that he deems necessary. The exception is for video game fans, as running games at ultra-high resolutions will require a powerful graphics card.

We continue the section devoted to how to choose the right smartphone that will delight the user. We have already talked about what they are, what is better, pros and cons. Today we will talk about choosing a smartphone screen. The topic is quite complex and extensive, since by now there are many technologies for the production of displays, their protection, in addition, they are presented in a variety of diagonals, with different ratios, and so on. It is the screen that often becomes a stumbling block when choosing a smartphone. It's not surprising. The display is exactly the part of the device with which we have to work more. If you make the wrong choice, there is a high probability that the screen will cause a lot of inconvenience: poor-quality picture, low brightness, poor sensitivity. But don’t worry, today we will touch on each aspect, telling you about all the intricacies of choosing a smartphone screen.

Smartphone matrix type

It’s worth starting with the type of matrix. The quality will largely depend on the choice of screen matrix type. So, today it is customary to distinguish three varieties:

1. TN+film
2. AMOLED

The first two are based on liquid crystals, the second on organic light-emitting diodes. Each type is represented by several subtypes (in the case of IPS there are more than 20 different ones), which are one way or another found in the production of panels.

Some of you are wondering: “Where is TFT?” Due to ignorance of some resources, this abbreviation is often used to designate the type of matrix, which is incorrect. The term TFT refers to thin film transistors used to organize the operation of subpixels. They are used in almost every type of matrix under consideration. Transistors also come in several varieties, one of which is LTPS (polycrystalline silicon). LTPS is a relatively new subtype, which is distinguished by lower power consumption and more compact transistor sizes, which is also reflected in pixel sizes. The result: higher pixel density, higher quality and clearer picture.

TN+film

Let's return to matrices. Most of the matrices familiar to us, as already noted, are liquid crystal, that is, LCD. The principle is to polarize the light that passes through the filter, turning it into the appropriate colors. The first of the types of liquid crystal matrices is TN+film. With the spread of "film" was dropped, shortening the name to "TN". The simplest type, which is now quite outdated and is used only in the cheapest smartphones (and even then, we still need to find it). TN cannot boast of good viewing angles or contrast, and has poor color rendering.

In general, avoid TN when choosing a smartphone screen - the type is outdated.

IPS

Next comes IPS. This technology is also not young - its age has already exceeded 20 years. Meanwhile, IPS matrices are most widespread in the smartphone market. Open any online store, choose the first smartphone you come across and see my words. This type of matrix is ​​presented both in the budget segment and in the flagship segment. In addition to improved characteristics, when compared with TN, IPS have received a large number of varieties. However, you don’t need to understand everything – the smartphone market is dominated by two types: AH-IPS and PLS. Their creators are two largest companies South Korea and the whole world: LG and Samsung, respectively. What's the difference? It's practically non-existent. The two types of matrices are like twin brothers, so you can choose a smartphone with any of them without fear. Identity has even become the basis for litigation between companies.

IPS boasts more wide angles review than TN, good color reproduction and high pixel density, which provides a gorgeous picture. But the power consumption is approximately the same - in any case, LEDs are used for illumination. Since there are quite a few types of IPS matrices, they also differ in their characteristics. This difference can be seen even by eye. Cheaper IPS may be too faded, or, on the contrary, have an oversaturated color. What makes choosing a smartphone screen more difficult is that manufacturers are often silent about the type of matrix.

Definitely, when choosing between a TN and IPS screen, preference is given to the latter.

AMOLED

Even more modern type, which today is common, as a rule, among smartphones upper class. AMOLED are represented by organic light-emitting diodes, which do not require external illumination, as is the case with IPS or TN - they glow themselves. Already at this moment one can highlight their first advantage - smaller sizes. Next – AMOLED is presented with more saturated colors. Black looks especially good, during which the LED simply goes out. AMOLED displays have higher contrast, boast wider viewing angles and lower power consumption (there are some nuances). It's just a fairy tale, isn't it? But before choosing a smartphone with AMOLED screen, you should know about its disadvantages.

The most important disadvantage is considered to be a shorter service life compared to IPS. After a certain period of time (as a rule, changes in color are observed after three years), on average after 6-10 years, the pixels begin to “burn out.” Moreover, bright colors are especially susceptible to fading, so users often use dark themes design in order to extend service life. In addition, the brightness of the colors on the screen has a significant impact on power consumption. If a bright picture is displayed in light colors, then AMOLED consumes more energy than IPS. Finally, matrices based on organic light-emitting diodes are more expensive to produce.

Be that as it may, this does not negate the technology and quality of AMOLED. Sores in the form of “burning out pixels” are gradually cured, and subtypes of matrices appear that become better. For example, Super AMOLED. This variety appeared seven years ago, bringing a lot of improvements. Power consumption has been reduced and brightness increased. In addition, the air gap between the touchscreen and the matrix has disappeared, which increased the sensitivity of the screen and also eliminated the ingress of dust.

AMOLED today is considered the most technologically advanced matrices that are actively developing. If until recently they were used mainly in Samsung smartphones, today they are chosen by a huge number of smartphone manufacturers (almost every major brand has presented a solution with an AMOLED screen.

Design features of smartphone screens

But you should not only consider the type of matrix when choosing a smartphone screen. There are a whole bunch of other features that affect the final picture quality and user experience. We will focus on the most important points.

Air gap

Until recently, the screens of all smartphones were represented by two components: the touch layer and the matrix itself. There was an air gap between them, the thickness of which depended directly on the manufacturer. Naturally, the thinner the layer, the better. Companies regularly reduced the air layer, making the picture quality higher and viewing angles wider. Relatively recently, it was possible to completely get rid of the air gap thanks to OGS technology. Now the sensor layer and matrix are connected together. Despite the significant improvement in quality, there is an obvious drawback. If the OGG screen is damaged, it will have to be completely replaced, while in displays with an air layer, only the glass takes the hit.

Be that as it may, more and more manufacturers are choosing OGS screens. And we advise you to give preference to this technology. Believe me, there is no need to worry about complex repairs for the feelings that you will experience when using such a display.

A relatively recent thread that Samsung brought to the market with its Galaxy flagship S6 Edge (also had Galaxy Note, but only one edge was bent). The South Korean manufacturer will continue to develop the idea in subsequent smartphones, but other companies did not share the idea too much. The company bends the right and left side devices - the screen seems to float to the ends. This is done not only for the sake of spectacular appearance, but also for user convenience. They are brought here additional features, notifications may also be displayed here. A fascinating feature, but not for everyone.

Samsung was the most successful in implementing a curved display, so if you are interested in such a design, we recommend considering the solutions of the South Korean brand.

An even more recent trend is screens without frames. The progenitor is the Sharp company, which showed the first frameless smartphone back in 2014, but users were attracted by the frameless Mi Mix, shown in 2016. By the summer of 2017, a number of companies announced plans to release similar gadgets. Today the market is rapidly filling up, with the newest models costing less than $100.

To date, there are several variations of the frameless screen: elongated displays, which have reduced frames at the top and bottom; familiar displays without frames on three sides (except for the bottom). The first type includes Samsung Galaxy S8 is a pair of smartphones from LG (G6 and ). To the second - Doogee Mix, Xiaomi Mi Mix and many others, whose ranks are constantly replenished.

Frameless smartphones look really cool, and their low cost gives everyone the opportunity to try out modern technology.

The well-known company Apple introduced a new technology at the time of release in the iPhone 6S - 3D Touch. With it, the screen began to respond not only to touches, but also to the force of pressing. Technology began to be used, as a rule, to perform some quick actions. Also, 3D Touch made it possible to work with text, draw with greater comfort (the brush reacts to the force of pressure) and so on. The function did not become something completely unusual, but it found its user. Later, a similar technology appeared 6 and was also announced in .

Type of touch screens

Not particularly important criterion when choosing a smartphone screen, but, nevertheless, let’s dwell on it a little. There are several types touch displays: matrix (very, very rare) resistive and capacitive. Until recently, resistive screens were widespread everywhere, but today they are presented only in very rare and cheap smartphones. This type is different in that it responds to any touch: with a finger, a pen, or even control another phone. It only supports one touch and does not always work accurately. In general, an outdated type.

Capacitive screens are significantly superior to their predecessors. They already support more than one simultaneous touch, have better sensitivity, and work much more accurately. However, their production is more expensive.

Whatever one may say, the vast majority of companies have abandoned resistive screens in smartphones. And this is for the better. In addition, the cost of capacitive ones is constantly decreasing, which allows manufacturers to install them in the cheapest smartphones.

Another important aspect when choosing a smartphone screen is the number of simultaneous touches. This parameter determines what operations you can perform on the display. The first smartphones equipped with resistive screens were limited to one simultaneous touch, which was not always enough. Screens modern smartphones often support 2, 3, 5 or 10 simultaneous touches. What gives a large number of simultaneous touches:

• Scaling and zooming. One of the first features that appeared on the iPhone, the first smartphone to support two simultaneous touches. So, you can reduce or enlarge images by pinching or spreading your fingers on the screen.
• Gesture control. Multiple fingers make it possible to use different gestures.
• Game controls. Most modern games require the use of several fingers at the same time.

You shouldn't chase support for 10 simultaneous touches if you don't play on a smartphone. For the vast majority of users, 5 touches are enough, and even less demanding users will not experience discomfort with 2.

Significant parameters when choosing a smartphone screen go hand in hand. The display diagonal reflects its dimensions in inches.

An inch corresponds to 2.54 centimeters. For example, the screen diagonal of a 5-inch smartphone in centimeters is 12.7 centimeters. Please note: The diagonal is measured from corner to corner of the screen, without affecting the frame.

What screen diagonal should I choose? You will have to answer this question yourself. The modern smartphone market offers the most different diagonals, starting from about 3.5-4 inches, ending at almost 7 inches. There are also more compact options, but you can ignore them - working with miniature icons is not very convenient. The best way choose the diagonal - personally hold the smartphone in your hands. If you are comfortable using one hand, then the diagonal is “yours.”

Recommend specific numbers It is also impossible because each person has a different hand size and finger length. For one, 6 inches is comfortable to use, for others, even 5 inches is too much. It is also worth considering that smartphones with the same diagonal can be different sizes All in all. A simple example: a 5.5-inch is comparable to a 5-inch model with regular frames. Therefore, when choosing a smartphone screen, it is advisable to also take into account the thickness of the frames.

Be that as it may, there is a trend towards increasing screen diagonals. If in 2011 the vast majority of users were limited to 4 inches, then in 2014 the largest percentage belonged to 5 inches; today solutions with 5.5 inches are capturing the market.

With resolution the situation is simpler.

Resolution reflects the number of pixels per unit area. The higher the resolution, the better the quality of the picture. Again, the same resolution looks different on two different diagonals. Here it is worth mentioning the pixel density per inch, which is denoted by the abbreviation PPI. The same rule applies here as in the case of resolution: the higher the density, the better. True, experts do not agree on the exact figure: some claim that a comfortable value starts at 350 PPI, others cite larger numbers, and still others – smaller ones. It is worth remembering that human vision is very individual: someone will not see a pixel even at 300 PPI, while another will find something to complain about even at 500 PPI.

• with a diagonal of up to 4-4.5 inches, most smartphones receive a resolution of 840x480 pixels (approximately 250 PPI);
• 4.5 to 5 inches good choice is HD resolution (1280x720 pixels) (density ranges from 326 to 294 PPI)
• more than 5 inches – you should look towards FullHD (1920x1080 pixels) or even higher resolutions

The latest Samsung smartphones and a number of models from other companies have a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, which provides high pixel density and clear images. The recent flagship from Sony was presented with a 4K screen resolution, which at 5.5 inches guarantees a record 801 PPI.

Screen coating

Until recently, the screens of mobile devices were covered with ordinary plastic, which quickly scratched, distorted color reproduction, and did not have a very tactile feel. It was replaced by glass, which doesn’t care about keys lying in your pocket. Nowadays there is not a single type of glass on the market that differs in strength and, accordingly, in price. 2.5D glass with curved edges has gained particular popularity today. They not only guarantee high reliability, but also give the smartphone a more stylish look.

In addition, the screens of modern smartphones have a special grease-repellent coating (oleophobic layer), which ensures good finger glide and also prevents stains. To determine the presence of an oleophobic layer, just place a drop of water on the screen. The better the drop retains its shape (does not spread), the better the quality of the layer.

Naturally, the quality of the oleophobic layer and glass affect the cost of the smartphone. You are unlikely to find a budget model that can boast the same durable glass as the flagship solution. Today, the most popular manufacturer of protective glass is Corning, whose line ends with Gorilla Glass 5.

Additional screen

If one display is not enough for you, then a number of companies offer smartphones with additional screens. They are usually small and serve to display notifications. And YotaPhone 2, known to many, offers a second E-link display that occupies the entire back side, which is convenient to read. LG's lineup includes solutions with a small screen that displays notifications. Recently, Meizu also launched a similar smartphone with an additional screen with its flagship.

The second screen is a rather unique feature that not everyone needs. Nevertheless, such smartphones find their user, and more than one.

Conclusion

Well, it seems like we talked about all the intricacies of choosing a smartphone screen. The material turned out to be quite extensive, we hope everyone will find answers to their questions. You shouldn’t chase the most expensive screen, but saving too much is also contraindicated - we’re looking for that golden mean. Although the current mobile electronics market itself will direct you in the right direction, pointing out what is popular and in demand. Today, the risk of stumbling upon a low-quality display that will be dull when pressed is much lower; manufacturers have significantly raised the quality bar. Even third-tier companies use quite high-quality matrices in their ultra-budget smartphones. Well, all we can do is wish you good luck in your choice.

By the way, the line of articles about the criteria for the right choice does not end. We have already talked about it, check it out. Materials on choosing a processor and cameras will appear soon, so subscribe to notifications and the VKontakte group.