Question on PC & Peripherals:

I came across this term, IPS, in a monitor brochure recently. What are IPS panels?

Submitted by CNET reader, via email

Answer:

Unknown to many consumers, there are actually different types of LCD technologies in the market. The IPS (In-Plane Switching) panels are often regarded as the best in the industry for its wide viewing angle and better color accuracy. The new-generation of IPS displays also offer improved brightness. For these reasons, the IPS technology is often employed on selected high-end LCD monitors designed for use by graphics professionals.

As a reference, TN (Twisted Nematic) panels are the entry-level class for LCD screens and they can be widely found in many mainstream monitors on the market today. The middle category of LCD displays uses VA (Vertical Alignment) technology which comes with good viewing angles and color reproduction, but they are generally not as good as S-IPS offerings.