What is IGZO and is it superior to or inferior to IPS? In order to help you decide between IGZO vs IPS, we have created a straightforward tutorial that explains the differences between the two.
The term “IGZO” stands for indium gallium zinc oxide, which is not a whole separate panel technology but rather a different kind of semiconductor that can be found in the TFT backplane.
An IGZO-TFT IPS panel uses significantly less electricity than a regular aSi-TFT IPS display while yet producing similarly accurate and beautiful colors. They are far more expensive, though.
To dispel any confusion, IGZO, which is a different kind of transistor in the TFT (thin-film-transistor) backplane, is not a sort of panel. So it can be used in TN, VA, IPS, and even OLED screens, among other sorts of panels.
The majority of these panels use standard transistors constructed of amorphous silicon. Therefore, we will contrast aSi-TFT IPS panels with IGZO-TFT IPS panels in this post.
Silicon Amorphous TFT IPS Panels
The majority of high-end LCDs employ IPS (in-plane switching) panels because they can produce the most precise and consistent color reproduction together with ideal viewing angles.
The most recent advancements in IPS panel technology are LG’s AH-IPS and Nano IPS panels, which provide even more accurate color reproduction and quicker response times while IPS Black boosts contrast ratio.
IGZO TFT IPS Panels
Samsung and Sharp received licenses to use the compound semiconductor known as IGZO (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide). However, Sharp was the company to introduce IGZO into 32-inch LCDs, smartphones, and tablets.
The IGZO transistor is expensive since it is made of rare metals like indium and gallium. For instance, the NEC PA322UHD is a 4K resolution monitor that covers 99.2% of the Adobe RGB color palette and has a 14-bit Look-Up Table for exact calibration.
It costs about $3000 and has an IGZO-TFT IPS panel.
There are several less expensive IGZO displays available, such the AOC 24G2, a well-liked and affordable 1080p 144Hz IPS gaming monitor.
What is the IGZO-TFT IPS?
Here is a quick refresher of where you can locate the IGZO and a few other important monitor parts before getting into what it is and what it stands for. You can avoid being inundated by all that technical information by familiarizing yourself with the TFT and IPS terminology.
IPS comes first. One of the four varieties of panel displays is the IPS. The TN, VA, and OLED are the other three. While looking for monitors, you may have heard of this. They are all members of the family of LCD panels. But of the four, the IPS is renowned for its superb contrast. It is renowned for its color consistency and accuracy as well. It goes without saying that individuals who enjoy graphics will find this panel to be great.
Wide viewing angles and a quick response time are only two of the incredible qualities of the IPS. It’s true that TN still has the fastest response speeds, but newer versions with IPS displays may achieve response rates of approximately 1 millisecond.
The TFT is the second thing you need to comprehend. It stands for a liquid crystal display type known as a thin-film transistor (LCD). Its usage of TFT technology, which produces improved image quality, gave rise to its name. It has a more active matrix LCD-style construction. Many devices and appliances with screens use TFT technology. They are even present in a few auto parts.
If you look closely, you will see that simply comprehending what IPS and TFT signify, you have broken down the IGZO-TFT IPS. The meaning of IGZO is now all that is left. Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide is abbreviated as IGZO. It is a particular kind of transistor used in TFTs. No, it’s only a transistor; there isn’t another panel tied to the TFT. You can use it with other panel displays because it isn’t a panel. It works with TN, VA, and OLED displays.
Why is IGZO-TFT IPS Important?
You must be unsure if this creation will have a substantial impact on your watching experience given the abundance of developments in the display sector. Comparing the IGZO-TFT IPS advancements to the aSi-TFT IPS displays is the best way to explain them.
One of the original TFT IPS transistors is the aSi-TFT IPS. The key difference between it and the IGZO is that the former requires less power to produce backlighting of the same caliber as the former. For individuals who want to reduce their electricity costs, doing this alone is a big no-no.
Power consumption is the IGZO-TFT IPS’s first benefit. Power usage is a major concern for many people given the current state of the climate change debate and the fact that electricity prices aren’t declining year after year. Thankfully, there is an improved version of the aSi-TFT IPS called the IGZO-TFT IPS. A major boost in efficiency alone, the IGZO is at least 80% more effective than its predecessor. The greater electron mobility is to blame for this efficiency.
The greater pixel density of the IGZO is another benefit. Each inch of the screen has more pixels with more accurate and vivid colors when the pixel density is increased. You essentially receive a high-quality display. This system’s ability to produce better-quality photos while using less energy is astounding.
Because IGZO provides quicker response times and refresh rates, the benefits don’t end there. It possesses all the qualities you require to improve your performance in combat and racing games.
Factors to Consider When Buying IGZO
Although IGZO is the newest player in the transistor market for LCD screens, should you acquire it right away? Here are a few things to think about.
Budget
IGZO is, in all honesty, rather costly. You could easily justify its high price tag given the promised advantages it has over the aSi-TFT IPS, thus it would feel like an investment on your behalf. Some might question whether it’s really worth it, especially if you have to buy it right away. Again, since the IGZO is new, there are many opportunities for its price to decrease as it gains more traction in the marketplace.
Only a few of brands manufacture IGZO nowadays, and the majority of those brands are well-known and not exactly recognized for being inexpensive. Nobody is preventing you from purchasing an IGZO, though, if that’s a risk you’re prepared to take.
Necessity
Is the IGZO something you need with all the benefits you’ve read about above? Let’s say you have the money to purchase your highly desired IGZO screen, but would it be a wise investment? Consider the purpose of your purchase and whether it will materially improve your gaming experience before making a decision. Generally speaking, if you are considering performance, the IGZO’s quick response time and high refresh rates are pretty persuasive.
Availability
The IGZO is not widely available in TV and monitor brands because it is still quite new. To purchase it, you would need to either visit the top retailers or place an online order. The trouble of needing to hunt for a stock that is available is going to be a problem because it is not easily accessible.
IGZO vs a-Si TFT IPS Displays: Which Better?
The primary benefit of IGZO at the time is its extremely low power consumption. Because of the greater electron mobility, which is 20–50 times quicker than that of a typical panel, it can be up to 80%–90% more power efficient than a traditional a–Si panel display.
This may additionally offer a speedier response time, greater color rendition, and higher pixel density capacity.
In contrast to a-Si panel monitors, which need more electricity to backlight screens with higher pixel densities, IGZO does not. In fact, it can produce even brighter images with substantially less power.
This works well for mobile devices with lots of pixels. In conclusion, regardless of the size of the panel, IGZO can give greater resolution, speed, and pixel density.
Consequently, one of the prototypes had a 6-inch IPS screen with a 2560 x 1600 resolution, or 498 pixels per inch!
The Future Of IGZO
It will take some time before this technology is affordable and widely accessible because it is still rather new and little used.
OLED panels will benefit more from the IGZO implementation because they have a similar special capability. Both of them can be made transparent.
Additionally, the intermittent conductor would simulate writing on paper on the ultra-sensitive write IGZO displays.
Conclusion: IGZO vs IPS
Even while the pricing gap between the IGZO-TFT and a-Si-TFT IPS panels may make the difference between them insignificant for now, IGZO will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to the advancement of displays in the future.
High-quality touch-sensitive transparent displays are becoming a reality faster and faster because they can significantly lower power consumption while providing remarkable pixel density, resolution, and speed.
The IGZO has a bright future overall, especially as it delivers a significant boost in power efficiency. The IGZO has the potential to be the following ground-breaking technology for screens like micro and miniOLEDs, in addition to advances in performance and image quality. There may be a few annoyances when searching for available stock, but other than that, there is nothing wrong with this brand-new model on the block.
