Digital frame seen from the side on a walnut sideboard

LCD and IPS screens

What the screen words on the box mean.

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LCD

Britannica explains that a liquid crystal display changes the optical properties of a liquid crystal layer with an electric voltage. LCDs do not make their own light, so they need a light source.

IPS

IPS stands for in-plane switching, a type of LCD. One liquid crystal maker explains that in an IPS panel the liquid crystals lie parallel to the glass and turn in that same plane when voltage is applied. It says this makes the picture depend much less on viewing angle than in some other LCD types.

Why it matters for a frame

A frame is seen from across a room and from the side. Viewing angle is worth asking about. Ask the maker which panel type a frame uses.

LCD and IPS. What the terms mean. LCD: Liquid crystal. Needs a light source.

Sources: Britannica, liquid crystal display; Merck, In-plane switching (IPS) LCD technology. Brand names belong to their owners. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

FAQ

Is IPS a brand?

No. It names a way an LCD panel is built.

Does a frame list its panel type?

Some do. If not, ask the maker.

General information only. Features, file types, and settings differ by frame and can change with updates. Check your frame maker's manual, app, and privacy policy.