When it comes to gaming, choosing the right display is of crucial importance. But it’s not just a matter of choosing between an OLED, QLED, or LED TV, for true gaming performance, you need to look a little deeper.
This will naturally lead you to look at the various display panel technologies offered by some of the best LED TVs. Each of these different display technologies has its own unique visual benefits and drawbacks, so choosing between them can be incredibly headache-inducing. Your choice will depend on the type of games you play, and the visual experience you want.
Having trouble deciding between an IPS, VA, or TN display panel? Want to know which will enhance your performance? Our Reliant tech experts will help you to make the perfect choice, with the guide below!
IPS vs VA vs TN: Which Is Best For Gaming?
In order to decide which of these display types is best for gaming performance, we’ll need to take a closer look at what each one offers!
What Is IPS?
An IPS display, short for “In-Plane Switching”, most notably arranges its liquid crystals in a horizontal form. If you didn’t know, liquid crystals are the part of an LED TV responsible for creating colour. They bend wavelengths of light to emit a massive array of colours across the spectrum.
The horizontal arrangement of the liquid crystals has a number of important benefits. Most notably, it helps to increase the number of potential viewing angles for the screen. If you’re often hosting movie nights, or you want to play plenty of party games with your friends, then the wide viewing angles of IPS displays are highly beneficial.
IPS display panels are best for gathering up your friends to play some fun party games. The horizontal arrangement of liquid crystals allows IPS displays to offer truly immense viewing angles.
IPS displays are also renowned for their improved colour. They can replicate far more detailed colours than many competing displays.
If IPS displays have any drawbacks it’s that they have slightly slower response times when compared to TN displays, for example.
What Is VA?
VA displays, short for “Vertical Alignment”, work in direct contrast to IPS displays. In VA displays, the liquid crystals are arranged vertically. To put it simply, arranging the liquid crystals vertically offers a number of benefits that might make them a more attractive option to some.
The key benefit of VA displays is their immense contrast. VA displays are able to offer some of the absolute best contrast ratios in the display market. This makes them a great option for competitive gamers who want to be able to take in every detail in-game. With greater contrast, it becomes much easier to spot enemies across the battlefield in some of the world’s biggest FPS games.
However, despite offering great black values, it has been noted that VA displays have slightly more trouble with regard to colour accuracy. If you want to soak in the splendour and colour of your favourite digital worlds, then IPS displays do have a slight competitive edge. Luckily, VA displays are improving year on year. The colour inaccuracies are often so minimal that you may not even notice them!
However, for competitive gamers, VA panels offer a greater advantage. What they sacrifice in colour accuracy and viewing angles, they more than makeup for with intense detail.
What Is TN?
Which Is The Best For Gaming?So, now that we’ve eliminated TN displays from the competition, one question remains: IPS or VA?
Ultimately, the answer will come down to the types of games you want to play! If you’re looking to dive into blockbuster single-player experiences, or you want to gather up your mates to play some Mario Kart, then an IPS panel is for you. IPS offers much greater fidelity and colour accuracy and gives everyone a front-row view of the action.
VA displays might slightly sacrifice colour accuracy and fidelity, but they make up for it with top-of-the-range contrast. If you want a competitive edge over your opponents, then a VA display is the perfect option.
VA, on the other hand, is much better for those hardcore gamers who want to dominate the leaderboards without sacrificing immersion. VA offers incomparable contrast, and still offers some great visuals!
Frequently Asked Questions
IPS Vs VA Vs TN Which Display Panel Is Best For Gaming?
While TN displays are mostly defunct and hard to recommend, it’s tough to choose between an IPS or VA display. It depends on the type of gaming you enjoy. Want to play couch multiplayer with your friends? Then the wide viewing angles and high fidelity of IPS is best. Want to go solo and dominate in competitive gaming? Then the enhanced contrast of VA is best!
Which Is Better For General Use VA Or IPS?
If you’re the type of gamer who likes to dip their toes into all kinds of gaming experiences, then an IPS panel would be a great option for you. IPS offers the best fidelity and colour accuracy on the market, so it allows games to truly shine. VA, on the other hand, is much better for competitive gamers who need accuracy and fast response times!
