IPS screen on Macbook Pro 13"?

Hello everybody,

I have a question about the screen that is use on the Macbook Pro 13". Does the Macbook Pro 13" have IPS screen.

 

Not the current one, and probably not the future one either

 

None of the MacBook Pros have them. Only the new iMacs do.

 

The Macbook Pro 13" uses a TN panel. It's a higher quality panel though, with better contrast, color reproduction and viewing angles than most laptop displays.

Detailed measurements can be found on Notebookcheck.com

 

No, but it doesn't matter. I'm assuming you want an IPS for accurate color, in which case you would be better off using an external monitor. For being a TN panel, the macbook screens have pretty good color, but average resolution for their size. Overall they are pretty similar to other computers in their price range, most all laptops use TN panels.

 

Lenovo tablets are among the only laptops that use IPS screens today.

 

I believe Fujtisu does as well.

 

Actually very few laptops use a display as good as the display in the 13" MBP.

According to Notebookcheck's measurements it fully covers the sRGB spectrum. Also contrast and viewing angles are much better than normal TN panels.
http://www.notebookcheck.com/Test-Apple-MacBook-Pro-13-Mid-2009-2-53-GHz.18773.0.html

The only 13" screens that are on a similar (or higher) level are found in HP Envy 13 and Sony Z. Both start higher than Macbook Pro's base price of $1199.

 

I think Lenovo uses AFFS+ and Fujitsu uses MVA.

 

What does sony use?

 

AFAIK TN panels only.

 

Why would you want better viewing angles on a laptop screen? so people sitting next to you on the bus can see what you are doing with more clarity?

 

I totally agree. I think up to a certain point, viewing angles only help you so much, whether it's desktop or laptop.

I'd much more have sharper text and accurate colors.

 

TN panels. In the Sony Z very high quality TN panels with up to 1920*1080 resolution in 13.3".

 

I've always been partial to privacy screens, so viewing angles never really was a concern for me.

 

My good ole Sony FZ190 came with an IPS screen. $100 option back in Winter 2007

 

Really... I didn't Sony ever had it, what is your panel model? Either way, you won't be finding it from them now.

 

Don't know what the panel # are. I still use the laptop to this day, could never find a replacement laptop with 95% color gamut lcd or better. 72% was the highest I found with TN panels.

 

Check out the the 8-bit RGBLED backlit TN panel from Dell Precision M6400/M6500 and HP Elitebook 8730w? Other than that there are a few other good ones such as the X200, Fujitsu T5010, and possibly HP 8740w.

 

As far as I know Sony Z, MBP and Envy 13 also have a higher gamut than 72%. I'm not sure about the exact numbers though. I believe it's 85% for the current MBP.

 

Current macbook pro's are still in the 70% color gamut range.

 

I thought the previous Macbook Pro was 72% and the latest generation had an improvement.

But I could be wrong, I can't find any links for conformation.

 

Nah, those were dual CCFL lamp TN screens.

 

AFFS is basically IPS.

 

I know we're talking about the 13 inch, but I was wondering about the 17 inch and Apple told me it's IPS. Not sure whether to believe them.

 

It's not IPS, it's the same 6-bit TN panel as the Lenovo W700/701.

 

I seem to recall the "features" page for the MBP specifically listing it as a 72% gamut screen, but it doesn't anymore. That page now just lists it as having "a color gamut usually seen only on a desktop display." There's nothing about it being an improvement over the previous generation, though, and since most desktop TN panels are 72%, it seems most likely that that's still the case.

 

Yes as far as I know the 2010 MBP 13 uses similar screens as the 2009 MBP 13.

 

So they are lying? Hmm.

 

if apple releases a new macbook pro this fall with 17" IPS and NVIDIA 460GTX i'm sold!

 

Is it really so? IPS on iMacs?

 

yes IPS screens can be found in iMacs

as for laptops as mentioned you can get IPS screens in some workstation laptops. Wife has an 8740W with a 30 bit IPS screen in it with 150% adobe gamut, and 178 degree viewing angles. 8540W has it as an option as well.

as mentioned very FEW laptops actually have anything other than a TN screen.

 

would be nice to make some kind of list of laptops with IPS screens... i hope next pass in apple is add touchscreen in imac and ips on macbook pro
better than that only a macbook pro "tablet" edition = IPS + TOUCHSCREEN + iOS in dual boot and maybe more stuff like gps+ a 3g simcard slot for internet let's call it the macbook touch

 

They tend to stretch the truth a lot at Apple stores. I've been told everything from the processor is a quad core to the RAM being 1600MHz.

But no, the Macbook Pros are not IPS. This doesn't *really* matter though, if you're into photo editing. TN panels are mostly horrible because if you're looking directly in the middle the edges start to wash out, but on a 13" screen that rarely happens. The one thing you do have to do is constantly be aware of your positioning of the screen and tilt it so you're not looking at it from an angle.

AFAIK HP's 8740W elitebook is the only laptop with a real IPS screen. This is an expensive laptop (although cheaper than the MBP 17) and only available 17".

If you are going to be doing any serious photo editing your best option is to buy an external IPS monitor with it also, which can be fairly cheap now-a-days! For example, the 23 inch IPS Dell U2311H is only $280!

 

8540w is a 15" with the DC2 option as well

Very true but it irritates photographers and graphic pros on the move greatly having to pack an external to trade shows, site photo shoots etc.

 

The HPs 8540w and 8740w DreamColor 2s, the X201t and I believe the Fujtisu T900 uses a S-PVA panel, which is a close cousin to IPS/AFFS with better contrast, but more limited viewing angles. That's the list as far as I know. I really hope Apple puts IPS screens in the MBPs as it will put much more pressure on Lenovo to offer them on ThinkPads, which I'm more interested in.

 

In all fairness to the Sony Z it has nothing to do with the MacBook pro, given that it weights 3 pounds flat and the base models have 1600x900 resolution and at least core i5 520 CPU. It is by no means an apples-to-apples comparison, no pun intended.

I wouldnt expect to see an IPS panel on the Sony Z, but I have a feeling Apple might do it. Unlike the PC makes, Sony included, Apple has good economies of scale with a lean model lineup and solid discipline in keeping each model going for a few years before doing major structuural overhauls. Most of all they are able to command high retail prices and they have good sales margins. So Apple are well positioned to be able to order a lot of units of an IPS screen and to committ to orders over a multiyear period.

They just might do it, to add further differentiation to their product line. I wouldnt be surprised. Especially now that they have the ball rolling with heavy volume of the IPS screens on their tablets already.

As for Lenovo, dont hold your breath on IPS. Apple going IPS on the MBP line will not make Lenovo even flinch. I mean as it is Apple has probably the best screens of any maker on their MPB line and Lenovos response has consistently been to go trawling for bottom of the barrel screens, often worse in quality - objectively measured - that what is offered on netbooks. With that type of mentality, Apple upping the game on IPS screens will not even make Lenovo bat an eye.

 

There was a thread a few pages back in the What Notebook Should I Buy forum listing non-TN panel notebooks.

 

Don't be so sure. There are a lot of us who will publicly shame Lenovo and their ThinkPad brand if they don't.

 

There are several users here that agree with you but the facts are that Lenovo already admitted that they don't believe IPS will be in any of their models for the time being since it wasn't profitable enough. Things might change in the future but I doubt so in the next year or two.

 

Trust me - there have been tons of people commenting on screen quality on the Lenovo design team blogs eg "Design Matters" and several others. The response from them is extremely consistent - they dont give a damn.

So that's why I'm saying dont bother. If you want a good screen you basically can buy a Mac, a couple of Sony models and a couple of Dell models. that's it. And none of them have any meaningful IPS commitment either, other than Apple with the ipads.

 

HP in some of the Elitebooks

 

Lenovo x201T with the outdoor screen, I like it better then the vaoi z screen