T420 \ T520 reviews: screen differences.

Review Lenovo Thinkpad T520 Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

Gossen Mavo-Monitor
Maximum: 231 cd/m²
Average: 193.8 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 70 %
Black: 0.33 cd/m²
Contrast: 670:1

Review Lenovo Thinkpad T420 Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

Gossen Mavo-Monitor
Maximum: 223 cd/m²
Average: 206.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 85 %
Black: 1.38 cd/m²
Contrast: 162:1

+ the RGB tests. That's a -big- black\contrast difference... -did they do any error in the test or what? Different screen manufacturer? If these are the correct figures, am dropping any 420 plans :O( and go for a 520 (or wait and see how the new HP elite 14 fares in the screen dept). Need a minimum quality for picture editing, and a 14' for travelling.

Edit: even my battered old hp's have decent screens compared to the 420, closer to the 520, which must be excellent.

example 6735b
Maximum: 226,6 cd/m²
Average: 196 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 70 %
Black: 0.5 cd/m²
Contrast: 452:1

 

That sounds like an error to me. I can't see how they could possibly come up with that result for contrast.

 

Same with the T410 vs T510

Review Lenovo Thinkpad T510 - 4349-4JG Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

Maximum: 222 cd/m²
Average: 202.6 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 79 %
Black: 0.39 cd/m²
Contrast: 569:1

Review Lenovo Thinkpad T410 2522-3FG Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

Maximum: 202 cd/m²
Average: 183.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 79 %
Black: 1.37 cd/m²
Contrast: 136:1

 

I pretty sure the figure are correct, every review site do screen review has the T420 listed 100+:1 contrast ratio. That is the one of the main reason, why I am looking at W520 and T520. The 14 form-factor is what I have been looking for, but just like the OP, I have a hard time using the contrast ratio. With that contrast ratio, it is perfectly ok to write document and other office task, but I would not want to use the screen to watch movie for a long time.

 

Let me tell you all, that with my aging eyes, the HD+ is just about the only resolution (small fonts) I would want on a 14 incher. Glad I did not get the 15 inch notbook with the 1920x1080.


1366x768, HD+, that is 1600x900 or FHD, that is 1920x1080 pixel resolutions

 

Add me to the list of people who want a 14" laptop with a decent screen. I know the Envy 14 had one, but sadly it's gone now.

 

just read this...I am about to pull a trigger on a t420 and now im second guessing...I watch alot of movies on my laptop

 

Yeah, the T420's screen doesn't seem to be all that great, as was the case with the T410. It's also not as horrible as the numbers seem to suggest, though--the T410's display seems a bit cool on my friend's laptop, but after a little bit of tweaking with color settings, it's not too horrible. Certainly okay for some movies.

Also, the NotebookCheck T520 and T510 seem to have the 1600x900 display. I'd imagine the FHD RGB-LED 1920x1080 display would be even better.

 

The worst is the Brightness Distribution. From that test, it is amazingly bad (on T520). Good graphic monitor is about 50 times more accurate.

 

MidnightSun wrote

... So the screen is horrible, but not too much... I'd rather hoped for some 'excellent, but not too much' screen comment when evaluating the 420, but seems to be a lost cause in the Lenovo 14 matte dept. >

T400s
Maximum: 297 cd/m²
Average: 255.9 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 76 %
Center on Battery: 246 cd/m²
Black: 2.88 cd/m²
Contrast: 98:1

T410s
Maximum: 283 cd/m²
Average: 245.6 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 67 %
Black: 2.99 cd/m²
Contrast: 95:1

L412
Maximum: 239 cd/m²
Average: 201.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 76 %
Center on Battery: 239 cd/m²
Black: 1.53 cd/m²
Contrast: 156:1

Some quite good brightness on these, but black\contrast !? no comment needed. & even seeing some user complaints about the T420s screen as well.

commander wrote

Am not expecting miracles for the price of a T420, but definitely do not want a serious downgrade from what my cheap old HP's screens manage (they are amazingly good for the money, and my minimum standard reference).

OK, seems I'll have to drop any Lenovo 14' dreams ftm (have used a T510 for a while and liked it a lot, eagerly wanting the 'same' with latest processor \ motherboard etc in a slightly smaller\lighter package + longer battery time, all seemed well (apart from lack of USB 3, not so important) until stopped net by the incomprehensible differences in display quality.

Last chance... any hopes for a T420 v2.0 with a display upgrade?

Edit: I've not seen the T420 in action, but trust the Notebookcheck screen measurements, they have always matched my impressions about any laptop I've used + checked the screen tests.