If you're in the market for a new gaming monitor, you're going to brush up against three distinct types of displays that all come with their own pros and cons. We're here to break down exactly what you need to know about TN, IPS, and VA panels and help you make the right choice for your exact gaming needs.

There are three display panel types that cover most gaming monitors (cutting-edge technology like mini-LED and OLED are coming, but we won't cover that here). TN (twisted nematic), IPS (in-plane switching), and VA (vertical alignment) all use the same technology at their core--molecules that react according to different voltages to move and produce an image--but their differences and evolutions have made each one good for specific use cases.

Types of panels

TN (Twisted Nematic)

TN panels are the oldest of the three, dominating the market when LCD displays were introduced and quickly phasing out those old (but still good) CRT monitors. Since TN panels came first, they also feature the most compromised performance if you're looking for a display that can make your games look their best.