Which LCD screens are there?

You are probably looking for an LCD screen. If this were not the case, you would never have ended up here on the site. Buying an LCD screen is not as easy as you might think. This is mainly due to the fact that there are countless options to choose from. This variety of options makes it difficult for many people to take the plunge. Fortunately, we are here to help you. In this article we will show you everything about choosing the right type of LCD screen for your project.

LED vs. LCD – what's the difference?

Before we go into the different types of LCD screens, it is useful to first take a brief look at what the technology behind LCD actually entails. Some people think that LED is something completely different from LCD. This is just not quite true. The fact is that LED can be regarded as a special type of LCD panel. The LED panels usually consist of two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution in between. When an electric current passes through the liquid, the crystals are aligned. This determines whether or not light can pass through. You can see it as a kind of hatch that lets in or blocks light.

Older LCD screens use cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) for illumination, while LED-supported LCD screens use a series of smaller, more efficient light-emitting diodes to illuminate the screen. At the moment, LED has kind of become the standard. If you are looking for an LCD screen, there is a good chance that it will be equipped with LED. However, this does not have to be the case, because you can also opt for the older types of LCD screens that do not have LED support. When choosing an LCD screen, it is necessary to take into account the following factors, among others:

• The response speed of the LCD panel
• The contrast of the colors and the color depth during use
• The viewing angles of the screen while gaming/editing
• The economy and consumption of the screen
• The connection options for the panel itself
• The price of the relevant LCD panel

Different types of LCD panels

With the above information you should know better what the advantages of LCD screens are. What you just don't know yet is what types of LCD screens are available. To help you make your purchase, we have listed the most common types of LCD screens for you below. Thanks to this overview you know better which options you can choose.

• Twisted Nematic (TN) – Twisted Nematic LCD screens are the most widely produced and used types of monitors you can find today. They are most commonly used by gamers because they are inexpensive and have faster response times than most of the other display types on this list. The only real downside to these monitors is that they are of low quality and have limited contrast ratios, color reproduction and viewing angles. They are sufficient for everyday work, but for the really professional gamers this is not really the best option. If you have a low budget, then it is a good basic option to choose.
• In Plane Switching Screens (IPS) – In Plane Switching screens are considered one of the best of the best when it comes to LCD technology. This is mainly due to the fact that they offer superior viewing angles, excellent image quality and vivid color accuracy and contrast. They are most commonly used by graphic designers and in other applications that require the highest possible standards of image and color reproduction. They are also popular among gamers who really want to get the most out of their games. It goes without saying that you have to spend some money for these LCD screens. Of all types, this screen is also the most expensive option to choose.
• Vertical Alignment (VA) – Vertical Alignment panels are between TN and IPS panel technology in terms of quality. While they have much better viewing angles and a higher quality of color reproduction than TN panels, they also tend to have significantly slower response times. Even their most positive aspects cannot match IPS panels. This makes the VA panels generally a good option for people who are looking for a slightly better quality than that of the TN panels, but who don't feel like paying the top price for this.
• Advanced Fringe Field Switching (AFFS) – AFFS LCDs offer much better performance and a wider range of color rendering than even IPS panel technology. The applications of this type of LCD screen are so advanced that they can minimize color distortion without compromising the extremely wide viewing angle. This screen is typically used in highly sophisticated and professional environments, such as in the cockpits of commercial aircraft. If you're looking for a good screen, you'll never end up with this option as they are simply too expensive. Chances are, of course, that these screens will become a lot cheaper in the future.

Find the right LCD screen

Our hope is that thanks to the information above, you will have a better understanding of what types of LCD screens are actually available. By putting your wishes and needs together, it is also possible for you to arrive at the LCD screen in no time that matches what you were looking for. For a large-scale range of all possible screens, you have come to the right place. By taking a look yourself you will immediately see what is possible. Be sure to check out our other articles here on the site, because we'll show you a lot more about choosing the right parts!