Kijkhoek Test

Why Should You Run This Test?

If colors look washed out, inverted, or shift dramatically when you view your screen from an angle, your monitor may have poor viewing angles. This matters if you share your screen with others, use a wide or curved monitor, or sit slightly off-center.

Common Symptoms

• Colors look different from the left vs. right side of a wide monitor
• People sitting beside you see completely different colors on your screen
• Dark areas look washed out or bright areas look dark when viewed from above/below
• Presentation audience sees distorted colors on a projected display

What Causes Poor Viewing Angles?

Panel Technology

• TN (Twisted Nematic) — Worst viewing angles. Colors invert and wash out beyond 30° off-center. Common in budget gaming monitors.
• VA (Vertical Alignment) — Better than TN but contrast and color shift at extreme angles. Blacks may look gray from the side.
• IPS (In-Plane Switching) — Excellent 178°/178° viewing angles. Colors stay consistent but may exhibit "IPS glow" (slight silvery glow at corners).
• OLED — Near-perfect viewing angles with minimal color shift.

Other Factors

• Anti-glare coating — Heavy matte coatings can scatter light and reduce off-axis clarity.
• Curved display geometry — Ultra-wide curved monitors may show slight color variation at the far edges even with IPS.

How to Read Your Results

How to Improve Viewing Angle Experience

• Position your monitor straight-on — TN panels look best when viewed directly from the center at eye level.
• Tilt your monitor — Adjusting the vertical tilt can improve color consistency for your seated position.
• Consider a monitor arm — A VESA arm lets you precisely position the screen for optimal viewing angle from your seated position.
• For shared viewing: choose IPS or OLED — If multiple people need to see the screen (presentations, pair programming), IPS or OLED panels provide consistent colors from all angles.
• For curved ultra-wide monitors — Sit at the recommended viewing distance (usually 1.5-2× the screen width) for the most uniform experience.