Which is more unacceptable for display panel, the lower contrast ratio on IPS, or the narrower view angle on VA?

[sam1275tom]

Hello.

This is a open discussion.
First here's a interesting/useful article, for anyone don't know what we are talking: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/panel_technologies.htm

I have a laptop which screen is ridiculously bad, it hurt my eyes for real, even reading text is somehow hard. I think it's mainly because it have a very low contrast ratio and very narrow view angle, the black area washed out even at the lowest brightness, and even if I look directly to the center, the top and bottom are different in color...

I also have a monitor which seems use TN panel, but having a very satisfied picture, deep enough dark, and wide enough view angle.

Many people says IPS>VA>TN, but some also pointed out that, although IPS have the widest view angle, VA have the highest contrast. For people have used both of them, which advantage is more obvious / which issue is more unacceptable?
Also I know all of them have been improved year after year, although sometimes remain the same name.

Welcome to talk.
Thanks.

 

[Isokolon]

I never quite got the need for a wider viewing angle.
When I'm at my computer I sit in front of it.
Wider viewing angle is only interesting if you use your screen as for example a TV and your couch is in another corner.
Otherwise I couldn't care less for viewing angles.

As for VA it depends on how new it is.
VA made a great progress in the past years and with HDR and Quantum Dot on the horizon would definitely be my pick

 

[Solandri]

These aren't fixed static characteristics. I've seen IPS panels with great contrast ratios (1500:1), and ones with terrible contrast ratios (about 400:1). I've seen TN panels with great viewing angles (had to tilt it almost 30 degrees before appreciable color shift), and ones with terrible viewing angles (top of screen had noticeable color shift relative to bottom of screen).

So really, you have to compare on a monitor-by-monitor basis. You can't draw general conclusions such as IPS > VA > TN.

You don't say which laptop you have. Google its model and "panel swap". If it's a popular model and the screen is as bad as you say, others have probably gone through the trouble of swapping the panel for a better one. You can read their experiences and see if this is something you want to try. In particular, check forum.notebookreview.com. Most popular laptop models have an owner's thread there, where you can talk with other owners about the laptop, including possibly owners who have done a panel swap.

I never quite got the need for a wider viewing angle.
When I'm at my computer I sit in front of it.
Wider viewing angle is only interesting if you use your screen as for example a TV and your couch is in another corner.
Otherwise I couldn't care less for viewing angles.

Wider viewing angles generally refers to vertical viewing angles, not horizontal. It's possible to make a TN panel with very wide horizontal viewing angles (120+ degrees). Vertical angles is usually where they suffer.

Wider vertical viewing angles are essential for any color-sensitive work. If you're editing photos or videos, you don't want the colors shifting while editing because you slouched in your chair, whereas earlier you were sitting straight.

 

[Isokolon]

Well maybe I'm sitting to healthy^^

 

[sam1275tom]

Thank you everyone!