Are you looking to buy a perfect monitor for your new setup or want to upgrade to a new display device? Well, you have a lot of options to choose from. But, in this article, we are going to compare two very popular types of displays i.e. IPS vs PLS panels. If you want to pick the right one and are not able to make a decision, you will find helpful information through this article.
We are going to uncover all the important aspects of both these types of display panels so that you are left with no queries. The PLC and IPS display panels are pretty popular in the field of monitors. If you are trying to buy a good monitor, it is possible that you end up finding any of these monitors.
The PLS panels are developed by Samsung whereas the IPS panels are a sub-type of LCD panels. If you are buying high-end LCD panels, you will get to buy an IPS panel most probably.
Whereas, the PLS panels will offer their own benefits to the users. Samsung claims that this panel is cheap to manufacture and comes with numerous advantages for the users such as high brightness levels, better sharpness, and contrast values as well.
But, because Samsung is manufacturing it by itself, there is no proof of whether it is cheap or expensive. But, you can see it being used in various popular Samsung LCD displays.
When it comes to making the right decision, the IPS can be our main choice because it is much more popular than the PLS. But, you should understand your requirements first of all before making the decision. So, we are going to tell you the main things you will get with both these types.
Because each technology comes up with its own pros and cons, it is good to reveal everything before you go into the market for purchase. So, without any delays, let’s get started.
What are PLS Display Panels?
As we discussed earlier, the PLS (Plane to Line Switching) display panels are developed by Samsung. It’s their own innovation with which they are offering numerous advantages to the users as compared to other traditional devices.
If we talk about the company’s claim, Samsung says that the PLS panels are capable of delivering 10% better results in terms of sharpness and brightness.
The company says that it is cheaper to produce as compared to the others.
Along with that, the company claims that better image quality is the primary benefit you will get along with any PLS display. Let’s talk about the main pros and cons of the PLS panels.
Advantages of PLS Panels
- Lower production costs
- Easy to develop slim display devices
- 10% more brightness
- Flexible panels
- Better viewing angles
Disadvantages of PLS Panels
- Not easy to find more products with PLS Panels
- Some products might be expensive
There could be numerous other advantages and disadvantages you may see with the PLS panels of a specific brand and model. So, make sure to research properly before you go for any product available in the market.
What are IPS Panels?
The IPS panels (In-Plane Switching) are perhaps the most popular panel technology used in LCD displays. However, this technology has become a little bit older now. But, still, you can easily find an IPS display anywhere and at any time.
If we look at the features, the IPS technology is considered as the upgraded version of VA panel technology. The IPS panels are known for their immersive display quality and accurate color correction.
So, if you are doing any task on your PC where colors are important, IPS displays are suggested. Also, the viewing angles are great.
It is a perfect combination of great color quality and an effective response time as well.
Advantages of IPS Panels
- Faster response time
- Better colors, contrast, and sharpness
- Impressive color accuracy
- Great for gaming, graphics designing, and photo editing tasks
- Cheaper in price
Disadvantages of IPS Panels
- The static contrast ratio is not good
- Higher levels of motion blur
- Image Ghosting and LCD Glow problems are common
Which one is best for gaming? PLS vs IPS Panel
For gaming, PLS can be considered as a good option because they are more slim devices with good color reproduction. Also, problems like ghosting and LCD glow are not very common. But, these kinds of monitors are not easy to find.
If you find some Samsung monitors using the PLS display panel technology and they are surely a good option to choose from. But, the IPS panel has a wide market and the products are easily available.
Also, they are universally accepted because of their average offerings.
Some high-end IPS panels are just impressive because you get no issues like ghosting in them. So, if you are ready to spend a little bit more, an IPS Display can be a perfect option for your gaming tasks.
But, if you love using Samsung devices and looking to buy a Samsung monitor for your setup, you should surely try finding a monitor with the PLS technology. If you are going for a Samsung monitor with IPS technology, you actually have various other impressive and affordable options available in the market from companies like HP, Asus, etc.
So, the IPS display panel is a good option if you don’t want to spend a lot and want a good gaming experience at the same time.
The Most Popular Computer Monitors Compared List
Image | Model | Resolution (px) | Size | Refresh Rate | Check Price |
 Image-credit: Amazon | Alienware AW3420DW | QHD Wide 1440p | 34.1" | 120Hz | |
 Image-credit: Amazon | Sceptre | FHD 1080p | 24" | 75Hz | |
 Image-credit: Amazon | HP VH240a | 1920 x 1080 | 24" | 60Hz | |
 Image-credit: Amazon | Dell S2418H | 1920 x 1080 | 24" | 60Hz | |
 Image-credit: Amazon | AOC C24G1 | 1920 x 1080 | 24" | 144Hz | |
 Image-credit: Amazon | HP | FHD 1080p Ultra Wide | 27" | Synchronizing | |
 Image-credit: Amazon | Dell UltraSharp U2720Q | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) | 27" | Synchronizing | |
 Image-credit: Amazon | LG UltraGear 27GN750-B | FHD 1080p | 27" | 240HZ |
How to make a decision between the IPS panel and PLS panel?
Here, we are going to know the main aspects which you will have to keep in mind while choosing between the best IPS and PLS panels. Let’s discuss them one by one.
Response time
This might not be major choosing criteria for most of the users but it is surely a deciding factor for gamers. The response time is actually the time that a display device takes to change one color to another like a refresh rate.
The lower the response time, the smoother will be your transitions and hence the viewing experience. Any response time below 10ms is considered good for average users.
However, for gaming, below 5ms is a good number. So, whether you are picking the PLS or the IPS panel, make sure to take care of the response time properly.
Viewing angle
This is one of the major factors affecting your viewing experience on a monitor. This will make a lot of difference when you consume media or do anything where a straight viewing angle is not common.
For example, if your monitor has a very low viewing angle and you viewing it from the side, you may not be able to catch the visuals properly. Consider understanding your requirements before you make your decision.
A good viewing angle will surely contribute to your overall experience on the monitor.
Colors and Sharpness
If your monitor is capable of producing most of the colors on the color gamut, you will have a better viewing experience. A good sharpness will help you achieve much more impressive visuals. This is very important when you are about to buy a monitor for tasks like graphics designing, video editing, etc.
IPS panels are known for their immersive color reproduction and enhanced sharpness. However, the PLS panels are not behind. So, you can easily decide whether you want to pick the first one or the other one.
The high-end PLS panels tend to offer a great color experience as compared to most of the IPS displays. But, it will depend totally on the brand and type of your monitor.
Brand
As you are aware now that the PLS is a display panel technology offered and manufactured by Samsung, you will see most of the monitors developed by Samsung itself. In other words, you do not have a lot of options when you want to choose a good PLS display. You will just have to go for the Samsung monitors.
So, if a specific monitor is having a PLS panel and some disadvantages, there is no need to pick the product for any reason.
However, the IPS monitors are offered by numerous companies such as Dell, HP, Samsung, Asus, and Acer. So, there is always a lot of variety available for you.
Price
The IPS display panels and hence the monitors are available at cheaper rates because it is now old technology. But, Samsung also promises that all these PLC display monitors are going to be cheap in price.
So, it is up to your research that how you are choosing the right product for you. The price is an important deciding factor here.
But, if you do a direct comparison of most of the available products, you will find that the PLC panels are much more expensive as compared to the IPS panels.
Why PLS Monitors are so rare?
If you look inside the monitor market, you will find that the PLS monitors are very rare to find. Some models like Samsung LS27F354FHNXZA are available on Amazon but you can’t see many monitors like this one.
Whereas, if you go and search about the IPS monitors, you can see hundreds of options available for you. This happens because the IPS panels are now well versed and they are popular among companies.
Perhaps Samsung hasn’t decided to enhance the PLS’s reach to other manufacturers and that’s the reason why it’s not easy to find lots of good monitors in this category. But, whether you want to buy PLS or IPS, you always have an option to make a wise decision.
Now, whether you choose IPS or PLS, it is your responsibility to pick the right one. Hope the above buying guide will help you with this.
Final Verdict
We hope that this article will help you choose the best PLS and IPS display in a proper manner now. If you have any other ideas or suggestions regarding this article, just let us know in the comment section. We would love to hear from your side now.
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