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What is an WVA Display?

WVA displays are highly popular for their eye-catching color and wide viewing angles. In fact, Lenovo now offers more laptops, tablets and monitors based on In Plane Switching or WVA display technology than with the earlier TN (Twisted Nematic) construction – although TN models are still prized by some users, such as hyper-competitive PC gamers.

So, what does an WVA display really deliver? Which laptop and monitor buyers are most likely to benefit from WVA technology? And why do some users still prefer older-style TN displays? Read on for answers to these and other questions.

WVA vs. TN displays: What’s the difference?

WVA and TN are different kinds of TFT LCDs (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Displays). At the simplest level, LCDs rely on the light modulating properties of energized liquid crystals – along with coordinated light filtering polarizers (both behind and in front of the crystals) -- to control what appears on the screen. By applying voltage to each crystal (or not), light is made to pass through the polarizers (or not). When these changes are managed at microsecond intervals, you get smooth moving images.

LENOVO OFFERS DOZENS OF LAPTOPS WITH WVA DISPLAYS:

  • THINKPAD: THE WORLD’S #1 BUSINESS LAPTOP
  • IDEAPAD: STYLISH LAPTOPS FOR WORK AND HOME
  • YOGA: FLEXIBLE 2-IN-1 LAPTOP/TABLET COMBOS

TN and WVA displays differ in how their light-influencing polarizer layers are aligned. If this sounds too technical, just know that when polarizers are aligned similarly, light can pass through, but when they’re put in different orientations, light is blocked. And when you place liquid crystal molecules between the polarizer layers and apply voltage, interesting things happen:

  • TN polarizers are aligned perpendicular to each other. Without voltage, the liquid crystal molecules naturally “twist” the light so it can go from a vertically-aligned polarizer, be twisted in the crystals, and then pass through the associated horizontal polarizer. But if you apply voltage (in other words, if you disrupt the crystals’ natural properties), the light no longer gets twisted and the perpendicular polarizer orientations block light from passing through.
  • WVA polarizers are aligned in parallel, which would normally allow all light to pass through. But again, the resting liquid crystal molecules twist the light to disrupt the normal flow. So WVA displays work in an opposite manner from TN ones. Rather than the application of voltage blocking light, the voltage lets light get through. It prevents the liquid crystals from twisting the light so it can pass through the parallel polarizers as usual.

There’s a lot more to it, of course. But this gives you the general idea of how TN and WVA displays differ. And it’s these differences that give each type of display distinct advantages for specific customers. For example, the parallel polarizer alignment on WVA displays is one reason they can be viewed from extreme angles compared to their TN counterparts. Meanwhile, the way TN displays let light through by default (without applying voltage to disrupt the flow) is one reason TN displays have faster response times and refresh rates than similar WVA models.

Do I need WVA?

Your need for WVA technology depends on how you will use your laptop display or standalone monitor. Here’s a quick run-down of the relative advantages of WVA and TN displays. How does each type match your requirements?

CHECK OUT LENOVO’S IMPRESSIVE LINE-UP OF WVA MONITORS:

  • THINKVISION MONITORS FOR OFFICE AND PROFESSIONAL USE
  • BIG, BRIGHT LENOVO MONITORS FOR HOME AND FAMILY
  • THINKCENTRE MONITORS (TINY-IN-ONE TOUCHSCREENS)

Advantages of WVA displays and WVA monitors

WVA displays and monitors are known for having several advantages:

  • Wider viewing angles: The parallel orientation of an WVA display’s crystals and polarizers make them far easier to see from extreme angles, such as for viewing by large groups. Only those farthest to the side of the display will see any big diminishment in color and contrast.
  • Greater variety of colors: Most WVA displays feature 8-bit panels (8 bits red, 8 bits green, 8 bits blue), so they can better reproduce the full 24-bit color palette of a typical graphics processor (8 x 3 = 24). Many TN displays have 6-bit panels (6 x 3 = 18) and use extra steps to emulate the full color range.
  • Improved color accuracy: WVA displays are generally built to meet a higher price point than TN ones and use better backlights capable of generating far wider color gamuts (for example, Adobe RGB versus the older sRGB). The additional hues and shades allow more realistic, true-to-life colors.

One perceived disadvantage of WVA monitors compared to TN ones is their relatively slower refresh rates (the time needed to reconfigure each on-screen image) and response times (the delay when a pixel changes from an active to inactive state). But these delays are measured in milliseconds, so the vast majority of users – say, everyone but advanced PC game players -- will not be impacted. WVA is plenty fast enough for streaming movies, making video calls, and so on.

VERSATILE LENOVO TABLETS HAVE WVA DISPLAYS, TOO:

  • WINDOWS TABLETS INCLUDING THINKPAD AND MIIX SERIES MODELS
  • ANDROID TABLETS SUCH AS THE TAB SERIES AND YOGA TAB SERIES

Advantages of TN displays and TN monitors

Despite the growing market prevalence of WVA displays, there’s still a dedicated user base for TN technology. Here’s why:

  • Faster response times and refresh rates: As stated above, the nature of a TN display makes it faster at refreshing the on-screen imagery and activating/deactivating each pixel. And while the difference is only a few milliseconds (the best TN panels boast response times as fast as 1 ms -- 2-3 ms faster than top-end WVA models), competitive PC gamers typically want the fastest refresh rates and response times.
  • Lower prices (generally): It’s broadly accepted that a TN display will cost less than an WVA one with equivalent resolution, features, and so on. However, the price difference has narrowed over time, with some WVA monitors now available for $200 USD or less. Still, be wary of WVA displays that seem too inexpensive. Some users complain about so-called “WVA glow” on low-end WVA displays, with the backlight appearing brighter in some parts of the screen than others.

Ready to shop? Lenovo offers a full line of laptops, tablets, standalone monitors, and all-in-ones with different display technologies. Now that you know how WVA and TN displays differ, you’re ready to make your choice.

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