#laptop display 101: display types

After choosing what CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage you need in a laptop, sometimes the next in line is its display. We know most of you have already come across terms like refresh rate or response time, or TN panels, some may have even asked the question "What in the world is G-sync?" Well today, we'll answer those questions for you in our Laptop Display 101: Display Types guide. There are currently three display types available for laptops, and the third one only recently popped up in the market -- Twisted Nematic (TN), In-Plane Switching (IPS), and Organic Light-emitting Diode (OLED). TN panels are actually the oldest of the three display types, as they have been widely used since the 1980's and were even considered as a technological breakthrough in display technology during its early development. Of course, today it now has fierce competition from other display types, but it still remains as one of the most widely used panels for laptops, especially in the entry-level and budget segment. Apart from that, these panels are also more expensive to manufacture than TN, which is why most laptops with IPS displays are in the upper-mid range to high-end category. While this is not the first laptop to sport dual-screens, the HP Firefly looks odd with a secondary display screen of just 4.3 inches situated below the primary 17" display. Read more in our articles including "Laptop Display 101: Display Types (TN, IPS, or OLED)" and "HP Firefly Laptop has 17" and 4.3" Screens".