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What is an IPS monitor?
IPS is one of the four main types of monitor panels, all of which come under the LCD technology umbrella. Also known as In-Plane Switching monitors, IPS displays use liquid crystals, which are aligned in parallel to produce vibrant colours and imagery that are both consistent and accurate.
This kind of monitor is very widely used due to its high-performance level and versatility; it's perfect for both work and play, and generally has better viewing angles than other panel types. This makes them better for entertainment set-ups, and design work where colour accuracy is key.
What is a TN monitor?
Just like IPS, TN (or Twist Nematic) monitors use liquid crystals, but rather than being in parallel alignment, TN crystals are perpendicular to one another, which means the display colours are prone to vary when you change the angle of your screen.
Although TN monitor technology has been around for longer than IPS, it tends to be more budget-friendly, and it's the go-to monitor choice for keen gamers. This is primarily because it can achieve higher refresh rates, making for more responsive and smoother gameplay.
What does high refresh-rate mean?
Simply put, the refresh-rate refers to the number of times your monitor updates per second. Generally, the higher the refresh-rate, the smoother animations and motion will appear on your screen.
This is more important for some users than for others - for example, while you may not notice a low refresh-rate whilst working in a word document, it's more evident during gaming or watching movies. With a higher refresh rate, system responsiveness can also increase, giving gamers a competitive edge.
