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Which is better TFT screen? tn TFT vs IPS lcd

Which is better TFT screen : tn TFT vs IPS LCD display?

If comparing tft screen in display performance, IPS LCD is better than traditional a-si TN tft lcd display in viewing angle and color conversion, IPS is with higher contrast than TN tft lcd. If comparing in power consumption, IPS tft panel is higher around 15% than regular tft screen (TN display mode), if comparing TN panel vs ips in cost, IPS lcd is higher around 30%~50% than ordinary TFT panel. In this article, we would introduce the differences for IPS lcd and tft lcd in details.

To evaluate the display performance, we have to evaluate from the key characters of tft display. Instead of AMOLED or pm OLED display, lcd display is passive display, it can not emit light by itself, it have to use light source for displaying, we call it backlight, since we always use it as the light source on the back of LCD display. So the lcd display module’s key characters is the viewing angle, contrast, response time, brightness of the lcd module, NTSC (color saturation), resolution. The brightness of lcd is mostly related to the backlight brightness, and NTSC is related to the color filter of lcd, the resolution of IPS lcd and tft lcd have no big difference, so we are mainly discuss the viewing angle, contrast, response time and power consumption for IPS LCD vs TFT in this article.

Why IPS LCD have a better viewing angle than tn tft panel?

The reason is the arraying ways of IPS LCD and tft lcd display, because the liquid crystal elements planed in horizontal, it only switch on when power on, so the lights would be blocked when we view it from difference direction. While for TN tft lcd, its liquid crystal elements array in vertical, some of lights would be blocked when we view it from difference directions, especially in wide viewing angle, the color inversion would be happen. Please see the display effect in difference viewing angle for IPS LCD vs tft lcd:

ips vs tft lcd on viewing angle

Viewing angle of TFT LCD IPS vs tn TFT:

Viewing directions

IPS viewing angle

tn TFT viewing angle

6 o’clock

85°

65°

12 o’clock

85°

55°

3 o’clock

85°

65°

9 o’clock

85°

65°


IPS lcd , no color inversion in all viewing angles (find more detail about 2.4" IPS TFT LCD):

Which contrast is better? IPS vs TN tft panel

The contrast of IPS LCD is better than tft lcd, why? Because as we mentioned on the upper, IPS LCD is negative display mode, and the light can not transmit it when power off, it would be more black when in display off,

the LCD contrast value = the luminance of display on / the luminance of display off,

so TFT LCD IPS is more easily to get the high contrast because it have more blacker background when in power off. Because the high contrast on IPS LCD, so IPS lcd can be more brilliant color image – this is a huge advance in technology than a Twisted Nematic (TN) display.

IPS tft screen has better color re-production than TN TFT LCD panel.

TN TFT VS IPS LCD

The display response time: TFT LCD IPS vs TN TFT panel

Generally, IPS have fast response time than TN TFT LCD, why? Because the liquid crystal elements inside the IPS LCD is in plane, the IPS liquid crystal is switched in one plane when power on, while TN TFT LCD’s liquid crystal is twisted when power on, it need more time than the IPS LCD switched in one plane, that is the reason why IPS TFT LCD have faster response time than regular tft lcd. A faster response time for IPS LCD, it would improve the display “tail” especially when the screen display in fast movement video.

IPS tft screen TN TFT panel
Contrast 600:1 300:1
Response speed 0.3mS 10mS
viewing angle Full viewing angle
85°/85°/85°/85°
12:00/6:00
65°/55°/65°/65°
Side viewing No change on color Color get dark and dim in wide viewing angle

The power consumption: IPS vs TFT lcd panel

TN TFT LCD has more than around 15% power consumption than IPS lcd. The reason still comes from the array way of liquid crystal inside the IPS LCD. because the liquid crystal elements are arrayed in the plane, the power would be save for switching on liquid crystal in IPS than twist it in tft lcd, that is the reason IPS screen is better than TN TFT lcd in power consumption.

Regarding the IPS LCD have better contrast, but in the same time, it have less transmissive ratio, so we need more light from lcd backlight, if used more led chips, so it also need more power to the lcd backlight, so the total display module might need more power consumption if the backlight driving current for IPS LCD. so we need to more concern about the backlight current consumption instead of the IPS tft panel  itself. The main power consumption would be from the lcd backlight, not the IPS tft panel.

Which cost is better: IPS vs tn tft lcd?

The ips lcd cost would be higher around 30%~50% than TN tft lcd, the main reason is less tft lcd manufacturers are making IPS LCD, but the market is high demand, so the ips lcd price is higher than tft lcd. on the other hand, the tft lcd production technology is more mature than IPS LCD, it has a better production ratio than IPS LCD.

Which is more suitable for adding touch screen: IPS lcd vs TFT?

If adding the resistive touch screen, there would be no a big difference for IPS lcd or tft screen. If adding the capacitive touch with frame bonding, that is capacitive touch joint the lcd screen via glue tape on the lcd frame, there would be a gap of air layer between the capacitive touch and lcd, if in this way, it still no big difference for IPS LCD screen and TFT.

But if the capacitive touch with the lcd screen in optical bonding, that is full joint between the lcd screen and capacitive touch, IPS lcd screen would be better than TN tft lcd screen, because tn tft screen would be more easily to create “ripple” when touch on the capacitive touch screen, the reason is still comes from the liquid crystal elements array mode.

What is IPS LCD screen?

IPS (In-Plane Switching) lcd is still a type of TFT LCD, IPS TFT is also called SFT LCD (supper fine tft ), different to regular tft in TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, the IPS LCD liquid crystal elements inside the tft lcd cell, they are arrayed in plane inside the lcd cell when power off, so the light can not transmit it via the IPS lcd when power off, When power on, the liquid crystal elements inside the IPS tft would switch in a small angle, then the light would go through the IPS lcd display, then the display on since light go through the IPS display,  the switching angle is related to the input power, the switch angle is related to the input power value of IPS LCD, the more switch angle, the more light would transmit the IPS LCD, we call it negative display mode.

IPS display theory

What is tn tft lcd?

The regular tft lcd, it is a-si TN (Twisted Nematic) tft lcd, its liquid crystal elements are arrayed in vertical type, the light could transmit the regular TFT LCD when power off. When power on, the liquid crystal twist in some angle, then it block the light transmit the tft lcd, then make the display elements display on by this way, the liquid crystal twist angle is also related to the input power, the more twist angle, the more light would be blocked by the tft lcd, it is tft lcd working mode.

TN display principle

A TFT lcd display is vivid and colorful than a common monochrome lcd display. TFT refreshes more quickly response than a monochrome LCD display and shows motion more smoothly. TFT displays use more electricity in driving than monochrome LCD screens, so they not only cost more in the first place, but they are also more expensive to drive tft lcd screen.The two most common types of TFT LCDs are IPS and TN displays.

Why needs an IPS tft screen:

If you use your screen for creative purposes, to watch movies, video, or mount the screen on the wall that need to view it in all viewing angle, you' may think, do i need an IPS tft screen? the answer would be " yes", you need an IPS for getting the best viewing angles and color accuracy. because IPS LCD is 170 degree wide viewing angle, people could see the display image without the color shift.

Maclight IPS tft screen:

Maclight display ( www.szmaclight.com) is offers off-the-shelf Color TFT display technologies in both TN and IPS, the sizes have 2.4”, 2.8” 3.5” ,4.3”. 5” 7”, 10.1” IPS LCD and tft lcd module, Maclight has the ability to modify LCDs to meet your unique needs.


0.96" IPS lcd display module:0.96 ips lcd module ==>

  • 0.9 inch ips tft lcd display module
  • 80x160 dots tft lcd
  • suitable for wearable display
  • IPS full viewing angle tft display
  • ST7735S controller ic
  • 4 wires spi interface.
1.54" square IPS lcd module:1.54 ips lcd module ==>
  • 240x240 dots IPS tft lcd
  • suitable for wearable display
  • capacitive touch screen optional
  • 1.54'' square lcd display, ips tft display panel
  • ST7789 controller ic, MCU interface
2.4" IPS LCD screen: ==>
  • full viewing angle tft lcd2.4 ips lcd screen
  • high contrast tft display
  • touch panel screen optional
  • 240RGBx320 resolution 2.4' tft.


2.6" IPS LCD TFT:2.6 IPS TFT LCD ==>

  • 240RGBX320 dots ips tft
  • Full viewing angle
  • ILI9341 IC drive
  • MCU/SPI/RGB interface


2.8" IPS TFT screen:==> 2.8 inch ips tft module

  • 240RGBX320 dots ips tft
  • full viewing angle tft lcd
  • touch panel screen optional tft display
  • ST7789V controller ic,
  • MCU/SPI/RGB interface

3.5" IPS LCD module-Landscape type:3.5 ips lcd module 320x240 ==>
  • QVGA 320RGBX240 dots tft lcd
  • Free viewing angle tft display
  • High brightness tft,  sunlight readable, 800 nits
  • ST7272 driver,
  • RGB interface,
  • resistive and capacitive touch screen optional.

3.5" IPS LCD module-Portrait type:3.5 IPS LCD module 320x480 ==>

  • 320RGBx480 dots
  • SPI/RGB/MCU interface
  • ILI9486L driver ic
4.3" ips lcd module: ==>

  • 800RGBx480 dots4.3 ips lcd module
  • wide temperature
  • Free viewing angle
  • HX8264-E & HX8664-B driver ic,
  • RGB interface

5.0" ips lcd capacitive touchscreen:5 IPS LCD module ==>

  • Wide temperature tft , -30~80 degree working temperature
  • Full viewing angle
  • 800x480 pixel
  • Capacitive touch screen and resistive touch optional
  • Sunlight readable tft with high brightness backlight optional

7" lcd ips 1024x600:==> 7 inch ips tft lcd display 1024x600

  • IPS tft lcd
  • full viewing angle tft display
  • 1024 RGB x600 dots tft lcd
  • Touch panel optional
  • High brightness backlight optional

10.1" IPS tft screen: ==>10.1 inch ips tft lcd display

  • 1280 RGB x800 dots tft lcd
  • LVDS interface
  • Capacitive touch screen optional
  • Sunlight readable high brightness backlight optional


TFT technology IPS & TFT Display panel Features

Before we go into the differences, let’s talk about features of each technology. Note that we’re not talking TVs, computer, or tablets, but screens on a much smaller scale, (think 7” or smaller) which uses different rules to fit that scale. First, it’s interesting to discover that the TFT display technologies is the most common type of color display technology; more monochrome displays still out-sell color, due to lower cost and lower power consumption, however, the narrow poor visibility of TFTs in direct sunlight is their downside; but I’m getting ahead of myself here.

IPS technology has come a long way in regards to cell phones and other LCD screens that are even much smaller. (Picture digital clocks on a radio, microwave, and hand-held games) Some of the features of an TFT LCD IPS screen include:

  1. Wider viewing angles – crystals are aligned horizontally rather than vertically, so it allows for better angled viewing, perfect for smaller screens, where you need to rotate the screen for better viewing
  2. Lower power consumption, resulting in longer battery life – again for smaller screens, this works great, because even though this technology requires more power, a smaller screen has less power drain.
  3. Brilliant color image – this is a huge advance in technology, from a Twisted Nematic (TN) display that only produced 6-bit color, to an 8-bit color display with the IPS technology
  4. Variations to help with user’s viewing requirements or desires – there are several different forms of IPS technology: Super-IPS, (S-IPS) Advanced Super IPS, Advanced S-IPS, where the liquid crystal molecules stay parallel to the front and back panels, instead of perpendicular when a voltage is applied
  5. Consistent, accurate color, under different viewing angles
  6. Clear images and stable response time, which allows for faster response time – good for videos.

TFT display technologies have developed over the years and have become quite popular in tech circles. The features offered with this advancing technology are:

  1. Superior color display – for technology that requires it or for consumers that desire color screens
  2. Not only is the color superb, but the clarity outstanding
  3. Features a longer half-life, (half-life is the amount of time in hours before the display is 50% as bright as when it was first turned on), than OLEDs and comes in varying sizes, from under an inch up to over 15 inches
  4. Capacitive Touchscreen or touch panel, which is in the majority of Smartphones and allows for additional functionality, specifically for zooming and scrolling
  5. Resistive touch panel which is lower in cost and are usually standard on most TFT devices
  6. Aspect ratio control, which refers to a screen’s ability to maintain an aspect ratio of a source image at the hardware level, and 1:1 pixel mapping, used to literally “map” the exact number of pixels specifically in the source resolution to pixels on the screen
  7. No “ghosting” (ghosting is when an image will stay on for a short time when instead it should be off)
  8. Variety of displays, which can be interfaced through a variety of bus types, including 18 and 24 bit for red/green/blue, LVDS, and 8 bit and 16 bit for a CPU – many controllers allow for two or more different types of interfaces on the same TFT screen

History of IPS technology

IPS is the use of light modulating properties from unlit liquid crystals for providing a flat panel or electronic visual display. TFT, which stands for Thin Film Transistor, is an LCD display variant built and marketed for enhanced color, as well as contrast and black levels. IPS further improves display technology by providing better color reproduction and a wider, more accurate viewing angle. IPS TFT LCD technology is widely used for high-performance computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. When Apple brought it to the public’s attention, it took off, and as they say, the rest is history; but, it really didn’t become widespread or worldwide until just the late 1990’s. Since then, IPS screens have been implemented in homes all over the world, with variations to suit one’s electronic needs.

The active matrix IPS TFT LCD was developed by Hitachi in 1996 as a solution to the display limitations of TN TFT LCDs (Twisted Nematic) from the late 1980s, which are standard non-IPS LCDs. The TN display is known for its flawed viewing angles, such as inverting colors at extreme angles, and poor color quality. By contrast, IPS displays provide wider viewing angles and higher quality color reproduction by altering pixels to be parallel, rather than perpendicular. In an IPS screen, the liquid crystals run parallel with the panels when energized. In a TN display, the crystals turn perpendicular to the top of the panel. High-performance tablets and smartphones deploy IPS display technology because these electronics are commonly used to watch movies, video chat and store photos. The improved angle and color technology features provide an overall better experience for the user. Creative professionals also benefit from an IPS monitor because an IPS LCD that provides a wider color gamut and greater viewing angles help achieve better aesthetic accuracy and superior results.

Other IPS versions include the following technologies:

  • Super TFT (IPS) for a wide viewing angle
  • Super-IPS (S-IPS) for color shift free and an improvement on pixel refresh timing
  • Advanced Super-IPS (AS-IPS) for high transmittance
  • Enhanced IPS (E-IPS) for an enhanced diagonal viewing angle and reductions in response time
  • Horizontal IPS (H-IPS) for an improved contrast ratio and an Advanced True White polarizing film that creates a more natural color of white
  • Professional IPS (P-IPS) for truer color depth

History of TFT LCD (Thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display) technology

A thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display (TFT LCD) is a variant of a liquid-crystal display (LCD) that uses thin-film transistor (TFT) technology to improve image qualities such as addressability and contrast. A TFT LCD is an active-matrix LCD, in contrast to passive-matrix LCDs or simple, direct-driven LCDs with a few segments.

TFT LCDs are used in appliances including television sets, computer monitors, mobile phones, handheld video game systems, personal digital assistants, navigation systems and projectors.

TFT LCDs are also used in car instrument clusters because they allow the driver to customize the cluster, as well as being able to provide an analogue-like display with digital elements.

The relatively inexpensive twisted nematic display is the most common, consumer, display type.[citation needed] The pixel response time on modern TN panels is sufficiently fast to avoid the shadow-trail and ghosting artifacts of earlier production.[citation needed] The more recent use of RTC (Response Time Compensation / Overdrive) technologies has allowed manufacturers to significantly reduce grey-to-grey (G2G) transitions, without significantly increasing the ISO response time.[citation needed] Response times are now quoted in G2G figures, with 4ms and 2ms now being commonplace for TN-based models.[citation needed]

TN displays suffer from limited viewing angles, especially in the vertical direction. Colors will shift when viewed off-perpendicular. In the vertical direction, colors will shift so much that they will invert past a certain angle.

Also, most TN panels represent colors using only six bits per RGB color, or 18 bit in total, and are unable to display the 16.7 million color shades (24-bit true color) that are available from graphics cards. Instead, these panels display interpolated 24-bit color using a dithering method that combines adjacent pixels to simulate the desired shade. They can also use a form of temporal dithering called Frame Rate Control (FRC), which cycles between different shades with each new frame to simulate an intermediate shade. Such 18 bit panels with dithering are sometimes advertised as having "16.2 million colors". These color simulation methods are notice able to many people and highly bothersome to some. FRC tends to be most noticeable in darker tones, while dithering appears to make the individual pixels of the LCD visible. Overall, color reproduction and linearity on TN panels is poor. Shortcomings in display color gamut (often referred to as a percentage of the NTSC 1953 color gamut) are also due to backlighting technology. It is not uncommon for displays with simple LED or CCFL-based lighting to range from 10% to 26% of the NTSC color gamut, whereas other kind of displays, utilizing more complicated CCFL or LED phosphor formulations or RGB LED backlights, may extend past 100% of the NTSC color gamut, a difference quite perceivable by the human eye.

The transmittance of a pixel of an LCD panel typically does not change linearly with the applied voltage, and the sRGB standard for computer monitors requires a specific nonlinear dependence of the amount of emitted light as a function of the RGB value.

Advantages & Disadvantages TFT LCD IPS and Tn tft LCD panel

So, are you ready to delve into the pros and cons of these two technologies? Granted, we’ve touched on their features and differences, but now it’s time to ask yourself, which one is better for me or my business?

We’ve been talking largely about Smartphone screens, but since both technologies work on smaller screens, such as clocks and timers or digital thermometers, let’s focus on those.

ADVANTAGES OF IPS DISPLAY

Because of their superior color and clarity of images, devices using an IPS screens are easy to install on walls, due to their compact form and low-depth. The Super IPS screens offer a higher angle of 170˚ for better clarity and wider viewing, particularly at night. Images remain stable and clear and not sparkly, shiny, like other screens; they also have a longer battery life and screen life, (on smaller screens of course) because of the lower electrical output. The release of heat is lower, again because of the reduced electrical consumption. The colors are also more vibrant and clear, not pixelated like other lower quality-type devices. As mentioned earlier, there are also many variations of IPS technology to suit your needs and desires.

DISADVANTAGES OF IPS DISPLAY

Now we will go over the downside of IPS screens, which we briefly touched on above, which includes a major disadvantage: cost. If you’re just looking for an average Smartphone or don’t need all the fancy coloring and clarity for LCD displays, then cost may not be a big factor; however, this is the main reason why IPS technology is beginning to come down. As with every new invention, discovery or technology, demand is everything. Another disadvantage is that colors may not always transcribe correctly or accurately, which may or may not be a deterrent. Also, high resolutions are not always readily available for personal applications. In certain circumstances, the brightness may not be enough, especially in darkness.

ADVANTAGES OF TFT DISPLAY

With TFT display technologies, less energy consumption is a big deal, especially when dealing with bigger screens, and of course less electricity means lower cost, overall. The visibility is sharper, meaning no geometric distortion, which is great for these tired, old eyes. The response time and physical design of the screens are also appealing. TFT displays can also save space and be placed virtually anywhere in an office or home, because of the brightly lit feature and crisp clear images.

DISADVANTAGES OF TFT DISPLAY

Some cons of TFT screens deal with the viewing angle, which create distortion, resulting in a less-than-perfect image. Static resolution, meaning the resolution can’t be changed, may also cause a problem, but newer models seem to have tackled that issue. The accuracy of the display of colors is not perfect, specifically strong blacks and bright whites, so when printing an image, it may not display the spectrum of colors.

And there you have it. In the future, even this superb technology will change and new, more exciting technology will take its place. But until then, IPS & TFT screens are forging ahead with their own advances and improvements, so stayed tune. You don’t want to miss it.

Maclight display(www.szmaclight.com) is focus in lcd display, IPS TFT and tn tft lcd are our main productons, welcome to contact us at: [email protected]

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