What Is an IPS Screen? How to Tell If Yours Is IPS

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What Is an IPS Screen?

IPS (short for the English term In-plane Switching) is a display technology used in LCD screens. It was developed to overcome the weaknesses of TN technology (twisted nematic field effect), which was widely used in LCD screens. Those weaknesses include narrow viewing angles and limited color reproduction. Basically, the In-plane switching method involves arranging and switching the orientation of the liquid crystal (LC) molecules horizontally between the glass substrate layers, which reduces scattered light, provides wide viewing angles and produces better colors.

Illustration of how an IPS screen works and its advantages

Research on the idea behind IPS technology began more than 40 years ago. As early as 1974, a patent was granted for the idea of arranging electrodes to create an electric field parallel to the glass substrates, but at that time the inventors had not yet found a way to apply this technique to LCD screens. After many further stages of research, IPS technology was only officially completed in 1996 by Hitachi (Japan). Soon after, LG and many other large companies in South Korea, Taiwan and Japan adopted it and started using this technology. This marked the beginning of the IPS screen era.

Advantages of IPS screens:

–     IPS screens reproduce images clearly, with accurate colors and wide viewing angles;
–     Unlike TN LCDs, IPS LCD screens do not light up when touched. This is extremely important for touch devices such as smartphones and tablets;

Disadvantages of IPS screens:

–     Compared with traditional TN technology, IPS uses about 15% more power;
–     IPS panels also cost more to manufacture than TN panels;

The iPhone 6s is the most typical example of the dominance of IPS screens

How to Tell If Your Screen Is IPS

Check with the naked eye

An IPS screen is fairly easy to recognize with the naked eye

• Colors look nice and accurate, without the “foggy” look of a TN screen
• The image stays clear whether you look from below or from above

Check your computer’s Service Tag

You can check your computer’s Service Tag on the manufacturer’s website and look at the screen information. Some manufacturers list full details of the screen; if you see the line IN PLANE SWITCHING, congratulations, your screen is an IPS screen

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