Viewing angle test
Look at these patterns straight on, then move your head left, right, up and down, and step to the side. Anything that changes colour, brightness or contrast is a viewing-angle shift.
What's normal for each panel type
| Panel | Off-axis behaviour | What to look for here |
|---|---|---|
| IPS | Colour holds well; blacks glow at an angle (IPS glow) | Grey stays neutral; dark areas turn silvery from the side |
| VA | Contrast and gamma shift even at small angles | Dark steps brighten and wash out from the side; edges of large screens look lighter |
| TN | Strong shift, especially vertically | Steps invert (dark becomes light) when viewed from below |
| OLED | Excellent; slight colour tint at steep angles | A faint pink or green cast at extreme angles |
On a laptop, tilt the lid back and forward while looking at the grey steps. The angle where every step is visible and the grey looks neutral is the right one for you. See also the backlight bleed test, since IPS glow is an angle effect too.
Questions people ask
Which panel type has the best viewing angles?
OLED and IPS keep colour and contrast best off-axis. VA panels lose contrast and shift gamma from the side, and TN panels shift strongly, especially when viewed from below, where the image can invert.
Why does the top of my screen look different from the bottom?
On a large or close monitor, you view the top and bottom edges at an angle even when sitting straight. VA and TN panels show this as a brightness or gamma gradient. Tilting the monitor or sitting further back helps.
Does a curved monitor help viewing angles?
Yes, for one viewer. A curve keeps the edges closer to perpendicular to your eyes, which reduces edge shift on VA panels, one reason many large VA monitors are curved.