IPS vs LED -What’s The Difference? Explained

ips vs led

When buying a new gaming monitor, it’s crucial to understand the screen technology and which one is ideal for your needs. There are a number of elements to consider, ranging from panel to resolution and backlight technology, but all of these names and technologies can be bewildering. For example, IPS vs LED.

With so many various screen technologies accessible to gamers, it’s critical to understand the key differences between IPS vs LED displays.

IPS vs LED -What’s The Difference?

Let’s have a look at the foundations of IPS and LED panel technology before diving into the primary differences.

What Is An IPS (In-Plane Switching) Display?

The acronym IPS stands for in-plane switching, and it’s one of the most common TFT LCD panel technologies today. You’ll also come across TN (twisted nematic) and VA (vertical alignment panels).

What Is An IPS (In-Plane Switching) Display

The IPS panel was created to address issues that were widespread in older panel types, such as low viewing angles and restricted colour reproduction. As a result, most IPS panels now have substantially broader viewing angles than their TN and VA counterparts, as well as the most vivid and brilliant colours of the three most common panel technologies.

IPS panels, on the other hand, aren’t ideal – they’re the most expensive of the three, aren’t as quick and responsive as TN panels, and can’t provide the same level of contrast as a VA panel.

What Is LED?

Now we go on to LED, which is an entirely other animals. The term “LED” is an abbreviation for “light-emitting diode,” which is not a panel technology. Instead, it’s a sort of backlight, as the name implies. As previously stated, all LCDs require an active backlight, and LED is the most widely used backlight technology today.

What Is LED

When it comes to LCD panels, there are two types of LED backlight: direct-lit LEDs and edge-lit LEDs.

LEDs that are edge-lit are positioned around the screen’s edges. This technology produces more energy-efficient displays, as well as some of the narrowest LCDs today, giving them a lot of aesthetic appeals. They may not be as luminous as displays with a direct-lit LED backlight, and they may also suffer from backlight uniformity and ghosting issues.

Behind the screen, direct-lit LEDs provide superior backlight uniformity and overall brightness. On the disadvantage, other than being a little bulkier, their contrast isn’t quite as good, however, this may be compensated for using local dimming.

Local dimming displays are sometimes known as “full-array” displays because, while the LEDs are still placed in the same way as in a typical direct-lit LED display, they are arranged into blocks that can be switched on or off separately, enabling certain portions of the display to be darker than others.

Difference Between LED and IPS Displays?

IPS LED
IPS Stands for In-Plane Switching.LED Stands for the light-emitting diode.
In IPS panels, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in parallel to the substrate plane.LED is a flat panel display technology that uses an array of light-emitting diodes as a source of light.
IPS panels use more power and have relatively longer response times than their counterparts.LED displays use less power and exhibit faster response times and refresh rates.
IPS panels offer unmatched colour accuracy and superior screen consistency LED panels offer superior picture quality with a better contrast ratio and brighter picture
IPS panels have much wider viewing angles without any distortion or shift in colours when viewed from different anglesLED panels to demonstrate similar viewing angle characteristics with reasonable performance in the vertical and horizontal angular directions.

While the two are frequently contrasted, they are essentially functionally distinct pieces of technology. LED is a backlight tech, but IPS is a panel technology, making a direct contrast impossible. But we can still go through how the performance of each kind impact to give you a better understanding of how your monitor will perform with one or both options — or even both.

Power Consumption

LEDs consume extremely little energy from the start. It is worth mentioning, however, that simple LED displays would consume even less power than their IPS LED equivalents. This is related to the graphics on the screen and how much light is required to illuminate them. Darker and less vibrant graphics require less light, which means the LED screen may cut power to save energy.

On the other hand, IPS displays are all about producing high-quality pictures that are sharp and clear. Because there is no variable power usage between colour changes here, you will need more power to keep up with the high-quality visuals.

Display Type

The major distinction is between brightness and colour. IPS displays allow you to see the monitor from nearly any angle without seeing any colour shifts on the screen. As a result, you may lean back, front, and to the side without the pictures disintegrating. 

The focus of LEDs, on the other hand, is on brightness. While colouring may be washed out based on the brightness settings, the screen will always be lighted.

Response Time

Depending on the pace of what you’re seeing, those stunning images slow down reaction time on IPS panels. Without the proper configuration or configuration adjustments to compensate for the displays’ concentration on visual quality, FPS games, for example, can easily result in excessive input latency.

Basic LED displays are known for having little input latency and the potential to attain high refresh rates. If you’ve read any of our game settings articles, you’ll know that the tipping point for most shooters is 144Hz – 250Hz, which you should be able to achieve with a typical TN LED display.

Heat

In general, the less energy a device consumes, the less heat it generates. Because high-resolution IPS displays provide such stunning images, they consume more electricity and generate more heat.

Due to the changeable display capabilities of the backlit panel, most high-quality LEDs emit relatively little heat. If you’re worried about overheating or can’t afford to pay for other parts to compensate, this might be a decisive issue.

Image Quality

The fundamental goal of an IPS display is to provide high-quality pictures. And they’re fantastic at it.

In the meanwhile, standard LED displays without in-plane switching panels can’t compete in terms of visual fidelity. This is the main difference between the two technologies. Standard LEDs perform better, but at the expense of clarity, whereas IPS panels are performance hogs with stunning visuals to compensate.

Price

A moderate to high-level IPS monitor isn’t cheap, and beauty comes at a cost.

A decent LED monitor, on the other hand, maybe both be economical and dependable, especially if used for gaming. This feature has the potential to make or break the IPS panel. It all comes down to how much you’re prepared to spend on a display to have a better visual experience.

Should You Purchase an IPS or LED Monitor?

As previously said, they are two distinct pieces of technology, and comparing them directly is not a fair comparison. In actuality, depending on the brand and monitor you’re contemplating, you’ll often encounter compatible combinations of the two and may be able to find a good middle ground to buy.

Should You Purchase an IPS or LED Monitor

If you can’t decide between an LED or an IPS display, consider the following:

What do you intend to do with it?

If you’re interested in images or performance.

What is the maximum amount you are willing to spend?

If you’re going to use the display for graphics, editing, or other types of creative visual work, you’ll want to spend a little extra money on an IPS monitor. If you intend on playing fast-paced shooters or other multiplayer games, an LED monitor with a TN panel will give you the best results.

Again, there isn’t a clear-cut distinction between the two forms of technology. Choosing an IPS display is a significant investment that may not pay off in the long run. And, more than likely, an LED display will be the best choice, with a wide range of high-quality displays available at a reasonable price.

In truth, the best option is to select a display that combines the two and effectively sacrifices both aesthetic and performance. It’s the best of both worlds, and it means you won’t have to make as many sacrifices one way or the other.

What Is The Monitor’s Function?

You must select a monitor that is appropriate for your intended purpose. An IPS display is the best option if you want to utilise the display for any form of creative visual work. This is because the varied viewing angles, rich visuals, and good colour fidelity will greatly assist you.

In the meanwhile, if you’re seeking a gaming display to play fast-paced shooter games, an LED display could be the ideal option. To make up for the absence of viewing angle and poor image quality, the LED monitor you purchase should preferably include a TN panel. You can also choose Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays, which have a superior visual quality to standard LED displays.

Which Is More Important To You: The Aesthetics Or The Performance?

Another topic to consider when deciding between IPS and LED displays is if the monitor’s visuals or performance are more important to you.

IPS displays, as previously said, provide great image quality. However, because it uses more power, some customers say that it becomes quite hot, to the point that they are concerned. This is why many people have doubts about the performance of IPS displays.

LED displays, on the other hand, do not generate heat. Its performance is also commonly regarded as trustworthy and steady.

What Is Your Budget?

When it comes to purchasing monitors, you should set a budget that is appropriate for your needs. Regardless of whether it’s an IPS or LED monitor, the more features and panel types included, the higher the price. LCD panels, TN and VA panels, and other non-IPS panels, for example, are predicted to be more expensive than IPS panels alone.

What Is Your Budget

LED displays are the greatest option if you want to get the most bang for your buck. There are a plethora of affordable solutions accessible on the market. You also get greater feature compatibility than with IPS display technology.

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Conclusion

Each monitor has its own set of advantages to consider. However, regardless of the IPS or LED display monitor you buy, as long as it meets your demands and preferences, the odds of you regretting your decision in the long term are minimal.

Overall, IPS displays are a great choice if you don’t mind spending a lot of money and want a monitor with a lot of viewing angles and great picture and colour quality. However, due to its high energy consumption, it may get rather hot at times.

LED monitors, on the other hand, can be precisely what you need if you’re on a tight budget. To compensate for its shortcomings, there are a plethora of reasonably priced choices with LCD or TN screens. In terms of performance, they are also more dependable and long-lasting.

That’s all there is to it! This is a detailed comparison of the two most popular display types: IPS and LED displays.

Zayn

About Author

Hello, I am Zayn, a tech enthusiast, and have been writing on this topic for the past 10 years. I have had my hands on hundreds of tech gadgets over the years and know what it takes to make a quality product that stands out from the crowd. That’s why; I only focus on providing test results, reviews, and buying guides for technology devices. Thank you very much for taking the time to look at my bio; it really means a lot!

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