Viewing Angle Test

Document visible color, brightness, and contrast changes from centered and off-axis viewing positions.

This check runs directly on this page without requiring fullscreen. Review what this browser test can and cannot measure.

Before you start

Use steady room lighting and keep display settings fixed.
Start centered at your normal distance before moving above, below, left, and right.

How to run this check

Start the Viewing Angle Test
Choose a test pattern
Start centered, then view the screen from the top, bottom, left, and right
Keep display settings, room lighting, and viewing distance unchanged
Record the direction and approximate position where visible changes become distracting

What this browser test can tell you

Can help you check

Visible color and contrast changes from different positions.

Cannot measure

This test cannot identify the panel technology.

Setup, interpretation, and sources

Recommended setup

Start centered at your normal viewing distance with steady room lighting.
Move left, right, above, and below while keeping display settings unchanged.

How to interpret what you see

Record the direction and approximate position where color or contrast changes become distracting.
Exact angular color and luminance measurements require a goniometric measurement system and calibrated meter.

Methodology reviewed: 2026-07-26

💡 Why This Test?

Viewing-angle changes are visible differences in color, brightness, or contrast when you move away from the centered position.

This test helps you document those off-axis changes under repeatable conditions. It cannot identify whether a panel is IPS, VA, TN, OLED, or another technology.

✅ What You'll Check:

Relative color appearance from different viewing positions
Visible contrast and brightness changes off-center
Whether a haze or tint changes with position
The direction and approximate position of each change
Which viewing direction changes most in your setup

📖 How to Use This Test

Start the test and view patterns from your normal center position first
Move your head to view from above (stand up and look down)
View from below (crouch down and look up)
View from left and right sides (horizontal angles)
Note any color shifts (yellowing, blue tint, washing out)
Check if blacks turn gray or whites change color
Test all 6 patterns and note the direction with the largest visible change

Tip: Keep room lighting, display settings, and distance unchanged. Visible behavior alone does not identify panel technology.

Click to start the test. Move your head to view from different angles. Press ESC to exit.

Test Pattern

1 / 6

View this pattern from different angles. Note any color shifts or contrast changes.

Keyboard: Left/Right changes pattern, Space advances, and Escape exits.

🔧 Common Issues & Solutions

📐 "Colors shift/wash out when viewed from sides" (Panel type viewing angles)

What you observed: Color or contrast changed when you moved away from the centered position.

Record: Note the direction, approximate position, pattern, and type of visible change while keeping display settings and room lighting unchanged.

Next step: Use a centered position for critical viewing. The visible changes cannot reveal the display technology or supply calibrated angular measurements.

🎨 "Colors look different from the side vs center" (Delta E shift, sRGB gamut compression)

What you observed: Colors appeared different from the side compared with the centered reference.

Interpretation: This browser test does not measure Delta E, gamut coverage, or angular luminance. Those require a controlled goniometric measurement setup and calibrated meter.

Next step: Record the first position where a change becomes distracting and return to the centered position between comparisons.

💡 "Screen gets darker when looking from above or below"

What you observed: The pattern appeared darker from above or below.

Interpretation: Record the direction and approximate viewing position. The page cannot convert that visual difference into a luminance percentage or diagnose the panel structure.

Next step: Adjust the display or seating only for comfort and repeat the observation from a known centered position.

⚫ "Dark tones change when viewed from above or below"

What you observed: Dark tones changed appearance when viewed from above or below.

Context: Off-axis tone changes are visible observations. This page cannot measure gamma, black luminance, or the physical cause.

Next step: Compare dark patterns from the same centered position used for ordinary viewing and record off-axis changes separately.

🔍 "How do I know if I have IPS, VA, or TN?" (Panel identification methods)

Limitation: Visual patterns overlap across panel technologies and cannot establish whether a display is IPS, VA, TN, OLED, or another design.

Reliable source: Use the exact model's manufacturer specification, service documentation, or an instrumented teardown/review when panel technology matters.

Next step: Enter panel technology in the result only if you obtained it from documentation; otherwise leave it unknown.