There are two capable LCD technologies that are still available in the market and used in display screens for computer monitors and mobile devices despite the dominance of AMOLED or OLED display technology and the growing popularity of newer display technologies like MicroLED and Quantum Dot Display or QLED Display. These are in-plane switching or IPS LCD and plane-to-line switching or PLS LCD. These two have a lot of similarities in terms of their working principles and general characteristics but there are still notable performance differences.
IPS LCD vs PLS LCD: Which LCD Technology Is Better?
The fact remains that PLS LCD is built on IPS LCD technology. Both share characteristics. One of the most notable ones is that the liquid crystals in both rotate within the same plane. This results in a more controlled transmission of light and better color consistency across different and wider viewing angles. Newer versions of plane-to-line switching display panels also have response time or screen refresh rates that are on par with high-end in-plane switching display panels. The two still have some key distinctions. Below are the differences between IPS LCD and PLS LCD:
1. Technological Background
IPS LCD is a screen technology based on placing a layer of liquid crystals between two glass surfaces and aligning them to these surfaces in-plane or in predetermined directions. It became the dominant LCD technology beginning in 2006 due to the mass-production efforts of LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics. It also became the basis for the Apple Liquid Retina brand of LCDs used in MacBooks, earlier models of the iPhone, and entry-level iPads.
However, in 2010, Samsung Electronics developed an alternative LCD technology. This is the PLS LCD. The working principle is similar to an IPS LCD. It is also dubbed an IPS-type LCD panel technology. The main difference of IPS LCD with conventional IPS LCD is that liquid crystals switch both in-plane and slightly out-of-plane. The modified alignment and movement of the liquid crystals provide some improvements in image reproduction and overall performance.
2. Image Quality and Color Accuracy
An IPS LCD panel has a better viewing of around 178 degrees than a twisted-nematic or TN LCD panel. Samsung claims that its PLS LCD technology offers a slightly better viewing angle due to improved light dispersion. Tests also showed that panels based on plane-to-line switching can be up to 10 percent brighter than in-plane switching while drawing the same power. This is also due to the improved light dispersion from the modified liquid crystal alignment and movement.
Both LCD technologies provide superior image quality and color accuracy or overall image and color reproduction than TN LCD panels. Some users have noted that PLS LCD panels provide more vibrant colors. However, because of variations between manufacturers, a higher-quality IPS LCD can still produce better images and color. The difference in image quality and color accuracy are generally minimal and unnoticeable between high-quality IPS LCD and PLS LCD.
3. Cost and Durability
Samsung developed PLS LCD both to introduce improvements to the existing IPS LCD tech and in consideration of manufacturing efficiency. It has streamlined the production processes by adjusting the alignment of liquid crystals and the construction of panel layers. The technological refinements have essentially reduced the production complexity and production costs.
Another key difference between IPS LCD and PLS LCD is that the latter is more flexible than the former. This characteristic is achieved by refining the liquid crystal alignment processes. It results in a more durable LCD panel with fewer distortions like color shifts and more resilient against rapid temperature change. This durability also cuts associated post-production costs.