VA Panel
A VA panel is an LCD screen type that uses vertically aligned liquid crystals to produce deep blacks and high contrast.
On this page 3 sections
How it works
VA stands for Vertical Alignment. An LCD screen has a backlight and a layer of liquid crystals that twist to let light through. In a VA panel the crystals stand upright when no signal is applied, which blocks most of the backlight. That is why dark scenes look close to black.
What it is known for
- Contrast is usually much higher than on an IPS panel, because blacks are deeper.
- Curved screens often use VA panels, since the technology suits that shape.
- Colours and brightness can shift a little when the screen is seen from a steep side angle.
- Pixels can be slower to change from dark to light, which may leave faint trails behind fast-moving objects.
What it does not promise
A VA panel is not an OLED screen. It still needs a backlight, so black is deep but not completely off. The label also says nothing about resolution, refresh rate or colour accuracy. Panel quality varies between makers and models, so two VA screens can perform quite differently. The label does not tell you the screen size either, so it is only one part of how a display looks in daily use.