Classification of LCD Screens

This is the most mainstream classification standard for LCD panels, including four common types with distinct performance characteristics and application scenarios.

TN (Twisted Nematic) Panel features an extremely fast response speed and low production cost. However, it has poor viewing angles and ordinary color performance. It was widely used in early e-sports monitors and is gradually phased out by upgraded panels nowadays.

VA (Vertical Alignment) Panel includes derivative types such as MVA and PVA. Its core advantages are high contrast ratio and pure black display with rich color presentation. The main drawback is ghosting in high-speed moving images. It is primarily applied in televisions and audio-visual dedicated monitors. In addition, A-MVA and S-MVA are upgraded VA versions customized by AUO and Innolux respectively, mostly used in television products.

IPS (In-Plane Switching) Panel covers multiple improved versions including ADS, H-IPS and E-IPS. It excels in ultra-wide viewing angles and uniform color display, making it suitable for color-sensitive scenarios. Its only shortcoming is the relatively low native contrast ratio. It has become the mainstream choice for office monitors and graphic design displays.

PLS Panel is Samsung’s improved version of IPS with similar core performance to standard IPS panels. It is a niche product and rarely used in current market products.

Liquid crystals themselves cannot emit light, and different backlight solutions determine the power consumption, thickness and display quality of LCD screens.

CCFL Backlight is a traditional tubular backlight solution with large thickness and high power consumption. It has been completely eliminated from the mainstream market.

LED Backlight is the current mainstream solution, divided into three types. W-LED (white light LED) features low cost and is widely used in ordinary civilian devices. RGB-LED adopts three-color LED light sources with ultra-high color gamut, applied in high-end televisions. Mini-LED realizes partitioned local dimming, greatly improving screen contrast and overall display hierarchy.

TFT-LCD is an active matrix LCD panel, which is adopted by almost all modern mainstream display devices such as mobile phones, monitors and televisions.

STN and HTN are early passive matrix LCDs, mainly used in old black-and-white screens of calculators and industrial instruments, which are completely outdated now.

According to structural forms, LCD screens are divided into rigid glass LCDs and flexible LCDs. Rigid LCDs dominate televisions and computer monitors, while flexible LCDs are extremely rare in the market (most flexible screens on the market are OLED products). In terms of optical modes, transmissive LCDs are suitable for indoor daily use, while reflective LCDs are mostly applied in outdoor devices such as electronic price tags and sports watches.

Different LCD panels have their own positioning. IPS panels are preferred for graphic design and daily office use; VA and Mini-LED screens are more suitable for television viewing and video entertainment; traditional TN panels are no longer mainstream in e-sports, replaced by high-performance e-sports IPS panels.