IGZO vs IPS – What’s The Difference? Are You Thinking..No Jargons Please..Please Please...
Ever heard of the IGZO-TFT IPS? If you have but somehow got lost in all those letters, here’s a quick guide for you to know what it is and why it’s being compared to the aSi-TFT IPS display.
What is the IGZO-TFT IPS?
Before going straight to what the IGZO is and what it stands for, here is a quick recap of where you will find it and a few other relevant monitor components. Going through the TFT and IPS acronyms can prevent you from getting flooded with all that technical stuff.
First up is IPS. The IPS is one of four types of panel displays. The other three are the TN, VA, and OLED. You might have heard of this when you were shopping for your monitors. They are all part of the LCD panel family. However, among the four, the IPS is known for its high-quality contrasts. It’s also famous for its colour accuracy and consistency. Needless to say, this is the ideal panel for those who love graphics.
The IPS has other amazing features too, like wide viewing angles and fast response time. Sure, it’s not the most rapid in response times as TN still holds the crown for that), but newer models with IPS displays can have response times at almost 1 millisecond.
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - January 5th, 2014: CES convention attendees examine 4K footage shown on LG s newest 4K OLED Curved Ultra High Definition featuring its IPS display technology.
The second thing you have to understand is the TFT. It is short for a thin-film transistor which is a type of liquid crystal display (LCD). It got its name because it uses TFT technology that delivers better image quality. Its structure is more of an active matrix LCD. TFT is found in a number of appliances and gadgets that have screens. They can even be found in some car parts.
If you will notice you have broken down the IGZO-TFT IPS by understanding what IPS and TFT mean. All that is left is the meaning of IGZO. IGZO is short for Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide. It’s a type of transistor placed in the TFT. No, it isn’t a different panel attached to the TFT; it is just a transistor. Since it isn’t a panel, you can use it for other panel displays. It’s compatible with the TN, VA, and OLED.
Why is IGZO-TFT IPS Important?
With so many innovations in the display industry, you must be wondering if this invention is significant for your viewing experience. The IGZO-TFT IPS improvements can be best described with a comparison with the aSi-TFT IPS displays.
The aSi-TFT IPS is one of the first versions of the TFT IPS transistors. It’s a lot similar to the IGZO, but the main difference is that it needs a lot of power to achieve the same quality of backlighting that the latter does. This alone is a big no-no for those who plan on saving on their electricity bills.
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - January 5th, 2014: Panasonic shows off their printed OLED 4K Curved Ultra High Definition displays in a dramatic S curve to CES 2014 visitors.
The first advantage of the IGZO-TFT IPS is power consumption. With all the climate change issues today and electricity not getting any cheaper by the year, power consumption is an important concern to a lot of people. Fortunately, the IGZO-TFT IPS is a more efficient version of the aSi-TFT IPS. The IGZO is at least 80% more efficient than its predecessor, which is already a significant improvement on its own. This efficiency can be attributed to the higher electron mobility.
Another advantage of the IGZO is that it has a higher pixel density. A higher pixel density means that each inch of the screen has more pixels that produce more accurate and brighter colours. In effect, you get a high-quality display. What’s impressive here is that even if it has a better image quality, those images are produced with less energy.
The advantages don’t stop there because IGZO also has faster response times and refresh rates. It has all the traits you need if you are looking to up your performance during combat and racing games.
Factors to Consider When Buying IGZO
IGZO is the newest kid on the block for transistors for LCD screens, but is it something you should buy already? Here are a few factors to consider.
1. Budget
In all honesty, IGZO is quite expensive. It would feel like an investment on your part because with the promising improvements it has compared to the aSi-TFT IPS, you can easily justify its hefty price tag. However, some will argue if it’s really that worth it, especially if you have to buy it now. Again, the IGZO is new, so there is still a lot of chances that its price will go down once it becomes more commercialized.
Today, there are only a few brands manufacturing the IGZO, and most of those brands are known brands that are not exactly known for being affordable. Nonetheless, if it’s an investment you are willing to make, no one is stopping you from buying your IGZO.
2. Necessity
After all the advantages you’ve read above is the IGZO something you need? Say, you have the budget to buy your much-coveted IGZO screen, but will it be a worthy buy? It might help to think about what you’re buying it for and if it will make a significant difference in your gaming experience. Usually, if you are looking at performance, then the quick response time and the high refresh rates the IGZO offers is pretty convincing.
3. Availability
Since it is relatively new, not a lot of TV and monitor brands have the IGZO. You would either have to go to the leading stores or order online so that you can get your hands on it. Because it’s not readily available, the hassle of having to look for an available stock is also going to a problem.
Conclusion
Overall, the IGZO has a promising future, especially since it offers a considerable increase in power efficiency. Apart from the improvements in the performance and image quality, the IGZO can become the next revolutionary product for screens like micro and miniOLEDs. You might experience a few inconveniences looking for available stock, but apart from that, there’s nothing wrong about this new model in the block.