A Beginner's Guide to the Technology Behind IPS Display GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Home Theater & Entertainment > TV & Displays

A Beginner's Guide to the Technology Behind IPS Display

IPS-LCD displays are superior to TFT-LCD displays

By Liane Cassavoy Liane Cassavoy Writer Boston University's College of Communications Liane Cassavoy is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire who has been reviewing and writing articles about smartphones since 1999. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 31, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email TV & Displays Samsung Projectors Antennas HDMI & Connections Remote Controls IPS is an acronym for in-plane switching, which is a screen technology that is used with LCD screens. In-plane switching was designed to address limitations in the LCD screens of the late 1980s that used a twisted nematic field effect matrix. The TN method was the only technology available at the time for active matrix TFT (Thin Film Transistor) LCDs. The main limitations of the twisted nematic field effect matrix LCDs are low-quality color and a narrow viewing angle. IPS-LCDs deliver better color reproduction and wider viewing angles. Apple Inc. IPS-LCDs are commonly used on midrange and high-end smartphones and portable devices. All Retina Display Apple iPhones feature IPS-LCDs, as does the Motorola Droid and some TVs and tablets.

Information on IPS Displays

IPS-LCDs feature two transistors for each pixel, whereas TFT-LCDs use just one. This requires a more powerful backlight, which delivers more accurate colors and lets the screen be viewed from a wider angle. Courtesy of Amazon.com IPS-LCDs don't show when the screen has been touched, which you might notice in some older monitors. This is particularly advantageous for touch-screen displays like those on smartphones and touch-screen laptops. The downside is that an IPS-LCD consumes more power than a TFT-LCD, possibly up to 15 percent more. They're also more expensive to make and have longer response times.

IPS Advances in Technology

IPS has gone through a number of developmental phases within Hitachi and LG Display. Hitachi widened the viewing angle with Super TFT (IPS) in 1996.It also released Super-IPS (S-IPS) in 1998 to remove color shifting.In 2001, Advanced Super-IPS (AS-IPS) improved transmittance from 100/100 (in 1996) to 130/250.Hitachi improved the contrast ratio in 2004, 2008 and 2010 with the releases of IPS-Provectus, IPS Alpha, and IPS Alpha next gen. LG Display's IPS technology timeline looks like this: Contrast ratio was improved in 2007 with Horizontal IPS (H-IPS). Enhanced IPS (E-IPS) improved the viewing angle and reduced the response time to five milliseconds, while also widening the aperture for light transmission. It was released in 2009. 2010 saw Professional IPS (P-IPS), which offered more than a billion colors and more orientations per pixel. IPS-Pro is highly advanced and expensive. LG Display released Advanced High-Performance IPS (AH-IPS) in 2011 to improve color accuracy, increase the resolution, and provide more light when in lower power mode. Lifewire / Zach Sweat

IPS Alternatives

Samsung introduced Super PLS (Plane-to-Line Switching) in 2010 as an alternative to IPS. It's similar to IPS but with the added benefits of a better viewing angle, a brightness increase of 10 percent, a flexible panel, better image quality, and a 15 percent lower cost than IPS-LCDs. In 2012, AHVA (Advanced Hyper-Viewing Angle) was introduced by AU Optronics to provide an IPS alternative that featured IPS-like panels but with higher refresh rates. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Super AMOLED vs Super LCD: What's the Difference? What to Look For in a Gaming Monitor Neo QLED vs. OLED: What's the Difference? The 9 Best Computer Monitors, Tested by Lifewire What to Look for When Buying a Projector Acer R240HY Review: Eye Candy with 16.7 Million Display Colors What Is NEO QLED? An Overview of Cellphone Displays CRT vs. LCD Monitors The 8 Best 60-inch TVs of 2022 The 7 Best 24-inch LCD Monitors of 2022 The 4 Best Touchscreen Monitors of 2022 What Is a Liquid Retina Display? HP VH240a FHD Monitor Review: HD on a Budget The iPad's Screen Resolution for Different Models The 4 Best 5K and 8K Computer Monitors of 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies