Upgrading to a new monitor is exciting and incredibly daunting, as you must decide on the screen’s size, resolution, and technology. Monitors are one of the most difficult peripherals to select because there is so much technical jargon and acronyms.
If you’re shopping for a monitor today, you will encounter various acronyms, such as LED, IPS, LCD, and TFT that describe TV display technology. Understanding the fundamental difference between common screen technologies can help you find the right monitor. This article looks at the differences between IPS and LED panels.
What is an LCD?
Before understanding how LED and IPS screens differ, it’s important to know the basics of LCD screens. LCD is the most popular flat display technology, with most monitors and TVs today using the technology. It stands for liquid crystal displays, where monitors use liquid crystals to modulate light. Before you get that carton damaged, understand the type of LCD panel you are getting based on your needs.
What is an LED display?
Light-emitting diode (LED) is a flat-panel display that generates light from a collection of light-emitting diodes. It refers to the backlighting of an LCD monitor, with most LCD monitors using LED backlighting. In an LED display, the LEDs serve as a backlight in lighting up individual pixels.
LED technology monitors offer a brighter display with less power consumption. They are significantly thinner, brighter, and last longer than other display technologies. LED monitors have a broader dimming range and a higher dynamic contrast ratio. Usually, larger displays, such as TVs or outdoor displays frequently employ LED technology.
What does IPS mean?
In-plane Switching (IPS) is an LCD panel technology that shifts how the liquid displays align to produce color. It is among the most popular display technologies today, and for a good reason. Most IPS panels today provide noticeably wider viewing angles than comparable displays.
In an IPS panel, the crystals are always aligned the same way, with an electric pulse shiftinLCD Monitorg those 90° to switch between active and resting states. Out of the widely used panel technologies, they exhibit the most realistic and vibrant colors.
IPS panels and monitors use perfectly aligned liquid crystals to produce bold colors and on-screen color contrast. It features an 8-bit RGB color depth that can reproduce over 16 million colors.
How do an IPS and an LED panel compare?
Both LED and IPS are flat-panel display technologies. LED TVs are popular for their minimum energy consumption. They consume less power since they use light-emitting diodes for backlights.
IPS display panels offer more image accuracy and have better color reproduction in small viewing angles. It produces high-quality visuals better than any other monitor, which makes them great for photo editing. The IPS panels are also known for wide viewing angles and good contrast ratios compared to other alternatives.
It also has better sunlight visibility and readability than other displays. The IPS display maintains clear visibility and readability without interruption, even under harsh natural or artificial lighting conditions. However, IPS displays are not perfect for every application.
Which panel is better for gaming?
Response time is an important consideration when looking for a gaming monitor. Since IPS displays have better visuals, their response time is lower than LED monitors. LEDs are better options for response time and power consumption. LED displays consume significantly less energy than IPS screens, despite being brighter than their LCD-based competitors.
Anyone looking for a luscious display should consider an IPS display. They focus little on response time as a selling point. LED offers a quick response time, making it a better option for gaming. They also produce little heat because of the variable display capabilities of the backlit screen. IPS gaming monitors have better image colors than LED displays because of their accuracy and sharpness.
Should you buy an LED or IPS monitor?
LED and IPS are different pieces of technology, so it is unfair to compare them directly. Choose an IPS display if you want to use the display for graphics work, editing, or creative visual work. If you focus on gaming, go for an LED monitor with a TN panel for consistent performance.
If you are split between getting an IPS or LED, consider factors like your budget, what you want to do with it, and whether you care about performance or visuals. Find a monitor that marries both visuals and performance. This way, you won’t sacrifice one aspect over the other as much. This means finding an LED LCD with an IPS display.
The IPS suits professionals such as graphic designers, photographers, and video editors. The wide viewing angles also make them ideal for entertainment when watching your favourite shows on a computer.
Can IPS and LED work together?
Despite the difference in technology, LED and IPS are compatible enough to work together. They both use LCD panel technology, with IPS bringing better picture quality, while LED technology offers less power consumption and better color contrast.
Conclusion
A monitor’s panel technology determines what a monitor can do. Choose a type of monitor based on what you intend to use, given that gamers have different requirements than those for office work.
Each panel technology offers unique profiles; meaning deciding on the best LCD is subjective. IPS and LED are types of LCD panels that perform different functions. IPS displays are ideal for users who value consistency and color accuracy. LED is a budget-friendly option with less power consumption.
