TN vs. VA – Which One is Better? (Detailed Guide)

TN panels are composed of liquid crystals between two polarizing filters. The crystals twist when an electric current is applied, allowing light to pass through. TN panels are by far the least expensive, but they are also somewhat outdated and less popular.

TN vs VA

VA, or vertical alignment, employs crystals that are aligned vertically and tilt to allow light to pass. You do not need to get confused between TN vs. VA display panels anymore.

You will have all the essential knowledge about these panel types in this comparison write-up. Let’s get started;

What is a TN Display Panel?

Twisted Nematics, abbreviated as TN, were the first panel types. They were flat-screen panels that mainly substituted the technology of cathode ray tubes. However, they had significant flaws that led to the development of VA and IPS panels. So far, its primary limitation has been its limited viewing angles.

TN vs VA panel

Colors will vary if you look at a TN panel monitor or TV from the side. Because friends and family watch most monitors and televisions, they fail horribly to offer accurate pictures and colors.

However, viewing angles were not the only disadvantage of TN screens; they also lacked color reproduction. These panels are incapable of displaying 24-bit actual color, but their descendants, such as VA and IPS, excel in this area as well.

TN displays are typically the cheapest, despite being the oldest panel type and, by most accounts, the original LCD. Their greatest asset is their quick response time. Only TN panels could give 1ms or faster pixel update response until recently, making them the obvious choice for gaming.

The same is true for refresh rate, sometimes known as frames per second (FPS). Only TN panels can achieve 240Hz, whereas other varieties are limited to 150-200Hz. 

TN panels rarely exceed 1000:1 contrast and do not cover 100% of the typical RGB color gamut. This is the tiniest color space, limiting visual display. The main disadvantage of TN panels is their narrow viewing angles, which can be as low as 170/160 degrees.

This means viewing from a wide angle will reveal significant color shifts and a slight visual fade. However, the image fade of earlier years has been much reduced on contemporary TNs.

TN Panels Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Manufacturing costs are low.
  • Excellent performance when viewing angles are centered.
  • Excellent for achieving high refresh rates and quick response times

Cons:

  • Outside of the high-end, color reproduction is poor.
  • Off-center viewing angles are terrible.
  • The contrast is poor.

What is a VA Display Panel?

In VA or vertical alignment panel type, liquid crystals are aligned vertically concerning the glass substrate. The VA panels’ contrast ratio is its most remarkable attribute, making them ideal for media viewing.

VA vs TN Panel

Due to the high contrast ratio, most TV makers use VA panels. This signifies that the image is more visible. The VA panel’s black uniformity is superior to the IPS panel; thus, the image in the center of the screen will be more flawless and free of light effects.

LCDs gained color and increased viewing angles when vertical alignment panel manufacturing became available. VA panels feature a substantially more extensive color range than TNs and the highest contrast of any LCD type.

While not as quick as TNs, VAs have improved and perform almost as well, with response time of 2-3ms and refresh rates of 200Hz. They outperform standard RGB and frequently achieve the far more affluent and broader Adobe RGB color gamut, as well as having 178/178 viewing angles. 

VA Panels Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • VA has objectively superior contrast than TN panels
  • The color reproduction and precision of VA are comparatively nice
  • Viewing angles are good 

Cons:

  • Viewing angles are  inferior to some other quality panels 
  • VA panels are more prone to motion blur and ghosting because of their very fast pixel response time
  • Less suitable for gaming without high-end refresh rates

Significant Features for Comparison Between TN and VA Panels

There are some crucial factors that we need to keep in mind when we try to compare any panel type. And that panel related features are:

Picture Quality

Sceptre C248W-1920RN Display Performance

Color representation on gaming screens with TN panels is lower than on other screens. Colors appear a touch duller when compared to, say, an IPS panel. As a result, there are no TN monitors that support DisplayHDR.

The viewing angle is considerably narrower than on other types of game panels. A TN screen is typically chosen for its other properties.

A VA display is a decent compromise between IPS and TN displays. The color spectrum is comparable to that of an IPS panel, and the viewing angle is slightly narrower than that of an IPS screen but broader than that of a TN monitor.

VA gaming displays excel in contrast ratio in particular. On this type of screen, the distinction between light and dark is highly evident.

Contrast Ratio

Monitor contrast ratio compare

VA panels offer a distinct advantage in this situation. TN panels have the lowest contrast ratios, often ranging from 600:1 to 1200:1. IPS panels are significantly better, with contrast ratios ranging from 700:1 to 1500:1, although they are still inferior to VA panels.

In brief, if you frequently use your computer in a dark room, a VA panel is the only type of LCD panel that can create deep blacks in a dark room. If you’re not in a dark area, the contrast difference is barely perceptible, especially since many monitors include anti-glare coatings that can diminish the display’s effective contrast ratio.

Refresh Rate

refresh-rate

These displays feature the highest refresh rate in their price range due to the technology in a TN gaming monitor. TN displays with refresh rates of 144Hz, or higher are no exception.

As a result, most games run smoothly, and there are no stuttering graphics. If you connect the high refresh rate to G-Sync or Freesync, the number of Hz concurrently increases and decreases with the number of frames per second.

This property’s VA monitors are also average. Although many VA panels have a refresh rate of 60Hz, this type of screen can also have a refresh rate of 120Hz or more. You can play all your games smoothly, even with a VA screen.

Response Time

What is Response Time

The slow response rate of TN gaming monitors is well known. This type of screen typically has a response time of 1ms. As a result, with a TN panel, you never have to worry about blurred lines. Not even in the most frantic games.

By default, screens with a VA panel offer the fastest response time, around five milliseconds. This implies that motion blur is the most noticeable on these monitors.

Development is also in full swing here, and as a result, VA displays now feature much faster panels. These are equivalent to TN panels in the most expensive price category.

TN vs. VA Gaming Comparison

refresh rate for gaming

TN panels are the ideal choice for gamers interested in competitive multiplayer, where every split-second counts. If you enjoy shooters or fighting games and want to compete against other gamers or want the maximum frame rate available, TN is the way to go. Remember that you won’t receive the best colors or image quality, but you will get fast display speeds.

VA panels can handle almost any game you throw at them. They’re the ideal jack-of-all-trades, so if you’re a gamer with diverse interests in several genres, a VA is for you. Whatever you play, you’ll receive terrific performance and excellent image quality.

Competitive gamers whose sole goal is to win are an exception. Because VAs aren’t as fast as TNs, if a kill/death or win/lose ratio is more important to you than contrast ratios, go with TN. Otherwise, a VA monitor is a no-brainer.

Suppose you are a gaming enthusiast looking for the best monitor for your current setup. It would be best if you used either IPS or TN panels. Because TN panels have fewer viewing angles than IPS screens yet have incredible refresh rates and the fastest response time, they are ideal for competitive online games.

For starters, gaming requires a slower response time and a higher refresh rate. When we evaluate the panel types regarding response time and refresh rate, the TN panels come out on top. As a result, TN panels are preferred in Esports and competitive gaming.

TN vs. VA Photo Editing Comparison

TN vs. VA Photo Editing Comparison

Because of their high-quality contrast ratio, brightness level, wider viewing angles, and color gamut compatibility, LCD monitors are commonly utilized in the picture and video editing. Color gamut and color accuracies are essential considerations in image and video editing.

Compared to the TN and VA panels, the IPS panel has a broader color range and more precise color reproduction. So an IPS panel is required for picture and video editing. You can pronounce the IPS panel as the victor of this aspect.

When utilizing your system for picture and video editing, you need a response time of at least 7ms for your photo and video editing system panel type. For photo and video editing, you don’t need such high refresh rates.

For this purpose, a refresh rate of 60Hz is adequate. As a result, considering the refresh rate when selecting the right panel is not very important. As a result, you can choose between IPS and LCD panels.

When you share a screen with your partner for assistance or coordination while doing photo and video editing work, wider viewing angles are essential characteristics of your screen. Because the IPS panel has wider viewing angles than the VA panel, it provides an ideal experience sharing a working screen. 

TN vs. VA Office Work Comparison

TN vs. VA office work Comparison

When you use your setup for studying or working in the office, you must still indicate the type of work you will perform on the system. Then you’ll be able to determine which panel type will meet your immediate needs.

However, VA panels perform admirably in office and study requirements because the VA screen has a substantially higher contrast ratio than the IPS panel. A brighter screen is required for reading a book, study material, or an official document. As a result, you will undoubtedly choose a VA panel over a TN panel. 

You can determine that VA is the winner in this aspect based on the results of the office as mentioned above work comparison. The only thing to consider is the refresh rate. If your studies or office work entails a lot of videos, you’ll need a higher refresh rate for a smoother visualization.

As a result, you must select an IPS panel with a greater refresh rate. If your work does not necessitate high refresh rates, you can use TN or IPS. A refresh rate of 75Hz is ideal for office and study activities.

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