CRT （阴极射线管）显示器的时代已经结束。尽管有些人正在重新发现CRT(CRTs)有多么出色，但当今绝大多数显示器都是平板显示器。然而，仅仅因为现代屏幕具有或多或少相同的外观，并不意味着它们在引擎盖下是相同的。
您身边有多种平板显示技术。平板显示器中的特定技术类型会影响从图像的复制方式到显示器成本的方方面面。
我们将着眼于当前和即将推出的最重要的面板技术以及每种技术的优缺点。有了这些信息，您可以在下次必须购买电视或显示器时做出明智的决定。
扭曲向列 (TN) LCD
TN面板是LCD(LCD)（液晶显示器(Liquid Crystal Display)）的最基本形式。该名称指的是所有LCD(LCDs)工作原理的基本原理。一种特殊的液晶材料会根据电流扭曲成排列或不排列。通过这种方式，这些显示器可以通过改变通过每个像素的红光、绿光或蓝光的量来再现全彩图像。
现代 TN(Modern TN)面板比那些真正让您后悔从CRT切换的早期型号要好得多，但现在普通观众会对典型的主流 TN 屏幕感到满意。
选择 TN 屏幕有两个主要优点。首先是快速响应时间。这是对显示器从一种状态变为下一种状态所需时间的度量。缓慢的响应时间会导致图像模糊和重影。这就是为什么有竞争力的游戏玩家倾向于青睐 TN 面板，因为找到响应时间低于毫秒的面板并不罕见。
TN面板的第二大优势是价格。在所有其他条件相同的情况下，TN 屏幕几乎总是比其他技术便宜。
不幸的是，有问题。它们的视角相对较差，可能会显得褪色并且无法再现鲜艳、准确的色彩。更糟糕的是，IPS显示器（我们将在下面讨论）现在可以达到类似的响应时间，而不会影响图像质量。
平面内切换 (IPS) LCD
IPS技术是专门为解决 TN 技术的主要弱点而开发的新LCD方法之一。(LCD)IPS显示器提供准确的色彩再现、鲜艳的色彩和出色的视角。
IPS技术也从本质上侵蚀了 TN 屏幕的响应时间优势，但这取决于具体的型号。请务必检查您感兴趣的任何IPS屏幕上的响应时间规范。(IPS)
与 TN 面板相比， IPS(IPS)屏幕稍显不足的一个领域是黑色的再现。然而，黑色再现不佳是所有LCD技术都存在的问题。这是一个正在全面改善的问题。
(IPS)对于从事视频编辑(video editing)、照片编辑、设计和其他对色彩准确性很重要的职业的人来说， IPS显示器通常是最佳选择。尽管您仍然需要校准IPS显示器才能真正确定正确的设置。
IPS屏幕也适合游戏玩家，尤其是不关心60Hz以上刷新率的玩家。虽然确实存在高刷新率IPS屏幕，但与同样快速的 TN 面板相比，它们的价格溢价很高。总的来说(Overall)，对于电脑显示器来说，IPS显示器是大多数用户的最佳选择。
垂直对齐 (VA) LCD
VA 面板将所有LCD(LCDs)使用的液晶置于不同的方向。也就是说，当施加电流时，它们相对于显示器的玻璃垂直对齐。与 TN 和IPS(IPS)方法相比，这改变了光线通过显示器时发生的情况。
VA 面板最重要的优势之一是它们可以在LCD显示器中产生最好的黑色电平。这种平板显示器设计还提供比 TN 或IPS更宽的视角。
这就是为什么 VA 面板经常用于电视，而不是电脑显示器。计算机(Computer) 用户(users)通常单独工作并从最佳中央观看位置观看屏幕。一群人观看电视，有些人从离轴位置看屏幕。对于坐在屏幕左侧或右侧较远的观看者而言，VA 面板可最大限度地减少颜色偏移和其他失真。
VA 平板有两种子类型：MVA（多域垂直对齐）(MVA (Multi-domain Vertical Alignment))和PVA（图案化垂直对齐）(PVA (Patterned Vertical Alignment))
MVA平板显示技术是作为 TN 和IPS显示器之间的中间地带而开发的。随着 TN 和IPS的改进，对这种折衷的需求减少了，但现代MVA技术以“高级”和“超级” (MVA)MVA技术的形式占有一席之地。
PVA技术是三星(Samsung)的专有技术，您会发现他们对其进行了各种专有调整，以提高颜色准确性或亮度等方面。
OLED平板
OLED 或有机发光二极管显示器使用与(Organic Light-Emitting Diode)LCD(LCDs)完全不同的原理。它们由含有产生光的有机化学物质的像素组成。LCD(LCDs)使用通过面板的背光来使显示可见。这使得LCD(LCDs)很难产生真正的黑色，因为总是有光线透过面板。OLED(OLEDs)通过简单地关闭这些像素即可实现完美的黑色水平。
高端(Premium)智能手机和高端电视(TVs)使用OLED平板显示技术。它几乎在所有方面都优于LCD技术，除了更容易遭受“烙印”，即图像保留在屏幕上。Oled 也可以做得非常薄，用于时尚的壁挂式电视(TVs)或在不使用时很容易隐藏的电视。
OLED仍然相当昂贵，但多年来价格一直在下降。LG 尤其以几乎可以认为合理的价格销售 OLED 电视。
话虽如此，LCD制造商一直在改进他们的技术，以使其更接近OLED的功能，而且价格要低得多。三星(Samsung)以厚颜无耻的名字命名的QLED电视就是一个例子。
Mini LED 平板
Mini LED平板只是标准的LCD面板，可以是任何类型。区别来自背光技术。起初，LCD(LCDs)采用荧光灯管背光，会产生亮度不均等各种问题。然后LED 背光灯(LED backlights)，点缀在屏幕边缘，显着改善了这种情况。如今，高端电视(TVs)使用“局部调光”，其中许多LED(LEDs)被放置在面板后面的整个表面。
例如，一台电视可能有 12 个调光区，由于每个区域的亮度都经过精确控制，因此可以更好地呈现真黑。
Mini LED(Mini LEDs)比现有的LED阵列小很多倍，因此可以在电视中放置数百甚至数千个局部调光区域。他们承诺以更实惠的价格接近OLED的视觉能力。(OLEDs)特别是对于较大的显示器。
microLED 平板
最后，我们拥有 microLED 平板显示技术。您还不能购买使用这种技术的显示器，但可能不会太久。如果您认为迷你LED(LEDs)很小，请抓住您的帽子。微型LED(LEDs)非常小，以至于它们本身可以用作像素。没错，microLED 显示器没有LCD面板。你正在看着数以百万计的微观光。
该技术承诺为OLED显示器提供卓越的图像质量，而有机化合物不会随着时间的推移而衰减。如果您想了解更多信息，请查看OLED 与 MicroLED：您应该等待吗？(OLED vs MicroLED: Should You Wait?)进行深入细分。
您认为哪种平板显示技术可提供最佳的整体体验？您主要关心成本还是性能？您认为还有其他显示技术应该包含在此列表中吗？我们很乐意在评论中收到您的来信。
Flat Panel Display Technology Demystified: TN, IPS, VA, OLED and More
The age of the СRT (cathode ray tube) display is well and trυly over. Although some people are rediscovering how grеat CRTs can be, the vast majority of displays today are flat panels. However, just because modern screens have more or less the same appearance, doesn’t mean that they’re the same under the hood.
There are multiple flat panel display technologies to be found all around you. The specific type of technology in your flat screen display influences everything from how the image is reproduced to what the display costs.
We’ll be looking at the most important current and upcoming panel technologies and the pros and cons of each. Armed with this information, you can make an informed decision the next time you have to purchase a television or monitor.
Twisted Nematic (TN) LCDs
TN panels are the most basic form of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The name refers to the basic principle of how all LCDs work. A special liquid crystal material twists into alignment or out of alignment based on an electrical current. In this way these displays can reproduce full-color images by varying the amount of red, green or blue light passing through each pixel.
Modern TN panels are much better than those early models that really made you regret switching from CRT, but these days general audiences would be happy with a typical mainstream TN screen.
There are two main advantages to choosing a TN screen. The first is a fast response time. That’s a measurement of how long it takes for the display to change from one state to the next. Slow response times can lead to blurry images and ghosting. This is why competitive gamers tend to favor TN panels, since it’s not uncommon to find ones with a response time under a millisecond.
The second major advantage of TN panels is price. With all other things being equal, TN screens are almost always less expensive than other technologies.
Unfortunately, there are problems. They have relatively poor viewing angles, can appear washed out and don’t reproduce vibrant, accurate colors. What’s worse, IPS displays (which we’ll discuss next) can now reach similar response times without compromising on image quality.
In-plane Switching (IPS) LCDs
IPS technology was one of the new LCD approaches developed specifically to address the major weaknesses in TN technology. IPS displays offer accurate color reproduction, vibrant colors and fantastic viewing angles.
IPS technology has also essentially eroded the response time advantage of TN screens, but that depends on the specific model. Be sure to check the response time specification on any IPS screen you’re interested in.
One area where IPS screens fall a little short compared to TN panels is in the reproduction of blacks. However, poor black reproduction is a problem all LCD technologies share. It’s an issue that’s being improved across the board.
IPS monitors are generally the best option for anyone who works in video editing, photo editing, design and other professions where color accuracy is important. Although you do still have to calibrate your IPS display to really nail the right settings.
IPS screens are also suitable for gamers, especially those who don’t care for refresh rates above 60Hz. While high refresh rate IPS screens do exist, they carry a stiff price premium compared to equally speedy TN panels. Overall, when it comes to computer monitors, IPS displays are the best choice for most users.
Vertical Alignment (VA) LCDs
VA panels put the liquid crystals that all LCDs use into a different orientation. That is, they are aligned vertically relative to the glass of the display when a current is applied. This changes what happens to light as it passes through the display compared to the TN and IPS approaches.
One of the most important advantages of VA panels is the fact that they produce the best black levels among LCD displays. This flat panel display design also offers much wider viewing angles than either TN or IPS.
This is why VA panels are often used in televisions, rather than computer monitors. Computer users generally work solo and view the screen from the optimal central viewing position. Televisions are watched by groups of people, with some looking at the screen from an off-axis position. VA panels minimize color shift and other distortions for those viewers sitting far to the left or right of the screen.
There are two subtypes of VA flat panels: MVA (Multi-domain Vertical Alignment) and PVA (Patterned Vertical Alignment)
MVA flat panel display technology was developed as a middle-ground between TN and IPS displays. With the improvements of both TN and IPS, the need for this compromise is lessened, but modern MVA technology has its place in the form of “Advanced” and “Super” MVA technology.
PVA technology is proprietary to Samsung and you’ll find that they’ve made various proprietary tweaks to it that improve things like color accuracy or brightness.
OLED Flat Panels
OLED or Organic Light-Emitting Diode displays use a completely different principle than LCDs. They consist of pixels that contain organic chemicals which produce light. LCDs use a backlight through the panel to make the display visible. This makes it hard for LCDs to produce true black, since there’s always light shining through the panel. OLEDs achieve perfect black levels by simply switching off those pixels.
Premium smartphones and high-end TVs make use of OLED flat panel display technology. It’s superior to LCD technology in almost every way, apart from a higher tendency to suffer “burn-in”, where an image is retained on the screen. Oled can also be made incredibly thin, making for stylish wall-mounted TVs or ones that are easily hidden when not in use.
OLEDs are still quite expensive, but prices have come tumbling down over the years. LG in particular sells OLED televisions with prices that can almost be considered reasonable.
That being said, LCD manufacturers have been making improvements to their technology to bring it closer to what OLED can do, at a much lower price. Samsung’s cheekily-named QLED televisions is one example of this.
Mini LED Flat Panels
Mini LED flat panels are just standard LCD panels which can be of any type. The difference comes from the backlight technology. At first, LCDs were backlit with fluorescent tube lights, which produced uneven brightness and various other problems. Then LED backlights, dotted around the edges of the screen dramatically improved the situation. Today higher-end TVs use “local dimming” where numerous LEDs are placed behind the panel across its surface.
For example, a TV might have 12 dimming zones, which allows for better representation of true black thanks to precisely controlled brightness in each zone.
Mini LEDs are many times smaller than those existing LED arrays, making it possible to put hundreds and perhaps thousands of local dimming zones in a TV. They promise to approach the visual prowess of OLEDs but at a much more affordable price. Especially for the larger displays.
microLED Flat Panels
Finally, we have microLED flat panel display technology. You can’t buy a display using this technology yet, but it probably won’t be long. If you thought mini LEDs were small, hold on to your hat. microLEDs are so small that they can be used as pixels themselves. That’s right, a microLED display doesn’t have an LCD panel. You’re looking at millions of microscopic lights.
This technology promises superior image quality to OLED displays, without the decay organic compounds suffer over time. If you want to know more, check out OLED vs MicroLED: Should You Wait? for an in-depth breakdown.
Which flat panel display technology do you think offers the best overall experience? Do you care mainly about cost or performance? Are there other display technologies you think should be included in this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
