What Display Tech is Best? TN vs IPS vs VA - 2021 Update

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00:00 - Welcome Back to Hardware Unboxed
01:15 - Difference in Technologies
02:50 - Viewing Angles
04:17 - Brightness
04:42 - Contrast Ratio
07:34 - Bit Depth
08:12 - Color Gamut
10:49 - Refresh Rate
11:59 - Response Times
15:02 - Backlight Strobing
15:46 - Summary

What Display Tech is Best? TN vs IPS vs VA - 2021 Update

Disclaimer: Any pricing information shown or mentioned in this video was accurate at the time of video production, and may have since changed

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[devindykstra]

4:35 it is absolutely terrifying seeing that many blue bars at once

[pyronical]

I’m here for the cheeky late night incognito browser sessions.

[benjaminoechsli]

Always glad to see update videos on "state of the market" topics like this. Thanks, Tim!

[Nokterian]

IPS is my favorite panel, not going back to another got the LG 32GP850 it's so nice to the eyes.

[misterspitfire]

Things have changed quite a lot in 12 months. Last year I needed to replace my monitor, and people back then were recommending TN for gaming, IPS for serious graphics work, and discouraging people from buying VA screens at all. At that time, VA was the 'middle ground', decent response time and decent view and colour range. but for some reason people didn't like the technology! I took a gamble and ventured into that so-called 'middle ground' and bought a VA screen... I'm so pleased I did, because they weren't so popular, I got a bargain! Thanks for a great video!

[skunkzr]

You guys are my favorite monitor review source hands down pure professionalism right here. Thank you for that.

[warlordwossman]

Tim if you happen to see this and HUB is interested an update on ultrawides in 2021 would be great to see!

[Plestora]

I bought my 24G2 in February of last year because of your review and have loved it ever since. Thank you Hardware Unboxed.

[richardgu]

8:37 "The exceptions to this are garbage, trash tier entry-level junk some OEMs like to punish their low-end laptop buyers with"

DAMN

[OneDollaBill]

Id stay away from the Va panels unless were talking about the high end samsung models. Most other Va's have terrible smearing/ghosting and the panels are just slow in general.

[skykingusa]

You are one of the best at summarizing in simple terms the overall findings and what everyone wants to know in the end. Excellent, and thanks for the video!

[zgoaty]

Gotta love the LG C1 just being put in there to tell monitor manufacturers, “This is the mark you all need to hit!”

[jmporkbob]

I love the deadpan "late night cheeky incognito browser session" delivery

[michaelmonstar]

Here's the dilemma I'm facing when it comes to image-quality, disregarding speed for this instance; So when you want better contrast, you'd get one of the better VA-panels, but if you want better color-accuracy/gamut, you'd get one of the better IPS-panels. - For me, being the creative stickler that I am, that would mean an IPS-panel. - However, I don't entirely agree that you've covered everything with color-accuracy/gamut when it comes to image-quality for production in that sense. There's more to color-accuracy and that's also lighting and shading and the like, which is basically contrasting. - Why would you exclude black-levels when considering image-quality for productivity/creativity? - That's like saying; "The sound that comes out of these speakers is fantastic and so it's great for productivity, but the noise-floor is quite high and it distorts on the louder peaks."

Am I missing something about what is so "lacking" about the contrast in IPS-panels compared to VA-panels, or why it supposedly doesn't matter for productivity as long as the colors are good?... There seems to be a disconnect there. - However, that said, when I look at a calibration-website and check the outermost samples of gray shades, I can make a distinction between those and absolute black and white, despite having an IPS-panel and not a VA-panel. - So, I guess there isn't any information missing. - Should I consider the higher contrast on VA-panels just to be a case of the intensity of the experience and not actually what information it's capable of displaying?...

That's what I can conclude from it, because otherwise any "professionals" using an IPS-panel would be in trouble in terms of light-work and such. - And you can always alter the experience of a screen by altering the environment, like making it darker or adding light behind the screen for example.

And by the way, I was just doing this entire comment with YouTube's default dark mode, which is high contrast bright white letters on a very dark background (forgot to put on Dark Reader at a way softer contrast), and I have image-retention on my retina now, so I guess this mid-range IPS-panel I have has contrast enough. - ouch

[Duskr]

Thanks for the G7 review previously, I went from being annoyed at the light gray "dark" game levels with my IPS to being absolutely in love with my 27" G7.

[dbgmediainc]

Let me help some decide:
1-When to buy TN monitor: Play only lower graphics but fast competitive games such as Fortnite, overwatch, Apex, PUBG, no other needs for this monitor, only speed matters at an affordable price.
2- When to buy an IPS monitor: Play all types of games, specially nice looking AAA title games. Monitor is used mainly during the day time, or when all windows and lights are on thanks to IPS better brightness and stopping glare. Fast monitor as TN for games but also with great color accuracy that can easily be used as well for work environment thanks to their sharp images and text, great viewing angles.
3- When to buy VA panel: Play all types of games specially great looking AAA titles games but mainly strategy, adventure games ( TombRider comes to mind) since VA is a bit slower than both IPS and TN monitor when it comes to playing competition fast moving games such as Call of Duty, Battlefield, Apex, etc... Monitor is used mostly at night time and or in a dim environment, lights off, etc... so glare from lights and lack of brightness does not affect the viewing experience as much, also because VA have such great blacks meaning excellent contrast ratio therefore a dark environment is the perfect condition for this monitor to be used and get the most out of it.

Don't beat yourself up like I did always trying to get a monitor that checks all boxes. Does not exist, even $2000 monitors lack something a cheaper one is better at. I personally decided to stick to a 2 monitor set up over time. IPS for daytime used and main monitor for work and when playing games such as Call of Duty. VA monitor as second monitor and where I would play at night adventure games where speed wasn't need it, mainly looking for comfort in the eyes and great colors and contrast, excellent picture quality in beautiful AAA games.
Rhis being said I do not have cheap monitor, each of my monitors cost around $500 at 27" and 32" 1440p @ 165hz, perhaps reason why I found the sweet spot in terms of quality, price, enjoyment. By the way no I did not pay full price for the monitors, got the IPS on sale for $400 and the VA on Black Friday for $250. Patience was key

[hellowill]

Interesting, I always thought IPS was the best for image quality, didnt know its worse contrast than VA.

[ThePirateParrot]

Outside of the monitor sphere, VA has received huge amounts of development spending as VA is regarded as the superior technology in the TV space where much more emphasis is placed on contrast and black levels.I generally prefer the way it renders and pretty much always have since buying a nec 24wmgx3 back in the day. I am not super sensitive to smearing and im terrible at competitive shooters anyway :P so the pop it gives your games is great.

[randoir]

Thanks for explaining the different types of monitors and the shortcomings of each type . Thanks for updating the info on what's changed over the years as well

[rosiemckay]

I'm studying for the CompTIA A+ and this is so helpful to understand the difference between the different sorts of displays! Thanks :)