VA wide viewing angle technology, due to its strong production capacity and stable quality control system, is widely used in mid-to-high-end LCD monitors or LCD TVs. VA screens belong to the soft screen category, and if you gently swipe it with your hand, water-like ripples will appear. (Editor: Ying Xu) The physical properties of both hard screens and soft screens are the same; as long as they are not subjected to heavy impact or scratched by sharp objects, they are not easily damaged. Industry experts in home appliances believe that neither hard screens nor soft screens can determine the quality of LCD TV products and should not be the sole criterion for consumers when making purchasing decisions.
The biggest feature of this technology is that its two poles are on the same plane, unlike other liquid crystal modes where electrodes are three-dimensionally arranged on the top and bottom surfaces. Since the electrodes are on the same plane, the liquid crystal molecules always remain parallel to the screen regardless of their state, which reduces the aperture ratio and decreases light transmittance. Therefore, IPS technology used in LCD TVs requires more tubes, and to a certain extent, consumes more power. The advantages of IPS screens include high viewing angles, fast response speed, and accurate color reproduction. Compared with other types of screens, IPS screens are relatively "hard," and gentle swiping with your hand does not easily cause water ripple-like deformation, hence the term "hard screen."
Although VA (soft screen) and hard screens differ somewhat in manufacturing processes, there is no absolute superiority or inferiority in performance. The former has issues with light leakage and poor contrast, while the latter exhibits color distortion when viewed from the side. However, manufacturers of both hard and soft screens have been continuously improving on their respective shortcomings. In modern times with free-flowing information, the misconception that hard screens are better and soft screens are worse naturally falls apart.
In the same setting, using the same signal source to compare two different LCD TVs, if there are obvious differences in picture quality, the key issue lies in the grade of the LCD screen and the performance of the core driver, not the hardness of the screen. Therefore, a reasonable explanation for hard screens and soft screens only reflects the production process characteristics of the manufacturers. Despite their differences, all variations stem from the same principles.
Another disadvantage is the severe light leakage problem, insufficient black purity, and slightly worse contrast compared to PVA, thus requiring optical film compensation to achieve better blacks.
Currently, screen manufacturers adopting VA wide viewing angle technology include AUO (Au Optronics), CMO (Chimei Innolux), CPT (Chunghwa Picture Tubes), Samsung, and Sharp; those adopting IPS technology include IPS Alpha and LGD.
IPS technology (In-Plane Switching) is a liquid crystal display technology launched by Hitachi in 2001, commonly known as "Super TFT." The IPS camp is led by Hitachi and includes manufacturers like LGD and HannStar Display.
The hardness of the screen is not the sole standard for selection. Samsung's PVA technology (Patterned Vertical Alignment) also falls under the scope of VA technology. It is the successor and developer of MVA technology, and the improved S-PVA can now match P-MVA. PVA uses transparent ITO electrodes instead of the protrusions in the liquid crystal layer found in MVA, allowing for better aperture ratios and minimizing backlight waste.
The debate between hard screens and soft screens has been ongoing for a long time and remains a topic of discussion among many consumers. We cannot simply say which one is better or worse, as each product has its own pros and cons. Ultimately, the decision on what to buy should come after understanding the product characteristics. Below, we first introduce the advantages and disadvantages of hard screens and soft screens.
Fujitsu's MVA technology (Multi-domain Vertical Alignment) can be considered the earliest wide-viewing-angle LCD screen technology. This type of screen can provide larger viewing angles, typically reaching 170 degrees. After improvement, P-MVA screens can achieve viewing angles up to 178 degrees, nearly meeting the current demand for home viewing. Response times can also reach below 8ms.