X1 Carbon WQHD with LG panel - not so hot...

Required Viewing before reading: Came across a thread where a user had a problem with getting an LG screen, saying that he got one and it was inferior to an AUO screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZyoQYbkhFs

Let me start by saying I have had six of these carbons now. (most through work)

A 1st gen i7 x1 non-touch - okay, but poor battery life
A 1st gen i7 x1 touch - okay, but poor battery life and horrible screen film on a high res screen.

A 2nd gen i5 non touch - great battery life, horrible keyboard track point
A 2nd gen i5 touch high res - great battery life, horrible keyboard track point and awful film on screen.

so in comes the new 3rd gen i5 WQHD IPS model I got yesterday.

it's so close to perfect, last night I thought maybe the brightness wasn't all the way up, but it was..

This morning it was sitting here next to two 2nd gen i5's from last year. Their brightness looked like two or three more notches brighter! (but wait, they aren't even IPS screens!?)

Did a little checking, looks like it's an LG panel (Download Aida64, under Display on the left hand side, then under Monitor) Mine came back as this one --> LG Display LP140QH1-SPB1 Overview - Panelook.com

I did see someone else say "It doesn't look as bright" - so now I'm sitting here wondering if they are doing the same thing with these IPS panels? If so, I guess this one is going back..

Here's just a quick photo, Gen 3 QHD IPS LG Panel on LEFT, Gen 2 1600 x 900 AU Optronics TN panel on RIGHT (14.0” HD+(1600x900) 250nit TN )

3rd Gen LG IPS panel = 300 CDM - http://www.panelook.com/LP140QH1-SPB1_LG Display_14.0_LCM_overview_21975.html
2nd Gen AUO TN panel =250 CDM - http://www.panelook.com/B140RTN03.0_AUO_14.0_LCM_overview_19559.html

Yet the 2nd gen LOOKS brighter than the 3rd.. puzzling.

 

Maybe the current X1 production line is all LG panels now? What will you do if that is the case?

 

That would be too bad. I guess I'd stick with the 2nd gen (free from work) as my main laptop. I just can't deal with spending 1700 dollars on a top of the line laptop and the screen isn't as bright as last years cheapo TN model..

 

Sorry if this questions is too obvious--but did you make sure to turn off the adaptive brightness settings on the new one?

 

Yes - I was hoping that'd be the issue, it is not.

Hopefully others will test to see which panel they get and report back on brightness. I'm dreading having to explain to a random CSR about my 2nd gen TN panel with 250cmd being real world brighter than my 3rd gen IPS 300cmd.. with the goal of returning it without a restocking fee.

I really wanted this to be the perfect laptop!!

 

Tried this color profile? http://www.thinkscopes.com/?wpdmdl=1145

 

What's a valid way to show test results - what is this color profile about?

 

I wouldn't assume there is another panel for this machine. The LG/AUO panel debacle with the T440 series is a completely different screen and resolution.

I did a check check w/AIDA64 and I have the same screen as you. It's plenty bright, marginally brighter than the IPS screen on my X230 (which Notebook check tested~265 NITS). I tried to take a photo, but it didn't really didn't work out too well-too much ambient light. But at least on the X1 WQHD screen I'm using, it's not dim.

I do remember that I had to turn off the adaptive brightness in multiple places to get it to actually turn off-both a Windows setting and an Intel setting. The first time I tried, it didn't actually turn off, and then it was pretty dim. Hopefully this is the issue? Otherwise, maybe you just got a bad example of the screen.

 

Personally I find it to be plenty bright. Currently using it 4-5 notches under the max brightness. Max brightness is a little too much on my eyes

 

You seem to have the perception that all LG panels are bad. This is not the case of course. LG makes some excellent displays. And it isn´t like all AUO displays are great either...with T420/T430, the AUO HD+ was the worst one.

Maybe you have gotten a defective unit. It should be 300 nits like the 2nd Gen X1 Carbon with 2560x1440.

 

4 to 5 down on mine is dull... not even close enough to use in normal day light.

 

I checked all the intel settings, where is the one you're referencing ?

 

Assuming Windows 8, go to charms bar>settings>PC and Devices>Power and Sleep>Adjust Screen>toggle slide bar.

On the gen 2, for some reason I had to do this here and at the Intel interface--otherwise, the adaptive brightness stayed on.

 

One other place to check: Intel Graphic Properties > Media > Image Enhancement > Film mode detection | Adaptive Contrast Enhamcement

I had this issue even after doing the other stuff, then streaming Netflix-it got dark again, and stayed on after going back to text.

 

Well I sent that one back.

And just met the best lenovo rep ever tonight.

I simply told him my past with lenovo (it's pretty extensive, I am part of a tech dept where we always order the top of the top from lenovo). I told him I'd already bought and sent a 3rd gen back because of screen brightness.

I then said "This time I plan to get the regular HD screen, I would like to be able to return it if the brightness of the screen isn't as bright as my 2nd Gen AUO panel. "

He knew all about AUO vs LG and gave me his number, assured me it'd be as bright as the 2nd gen or better and put in writing that I can return with no restocking fee if I'm not happy.

Thrilled with that kind of service and don't care for a second about not going IPS or 2k. I think the FHD screen is going to be better for real world use anyway. I'll report back when I get it!

 

ps. it would be great if someone who got the IPS TOUCH panel would comment.

 

I have the touch and I just compared it to my T540P with 3k display and it seems on level 8 the T540P is about as bright as the X1C at max. Put the T540P up 2 more to 10 at max brightness and it's very noticeably brighter. I don't think I've ever run the T540p at that brightness before, so not sure it matters too much, but time will tell. That could be another way they are getting the extra battery life out of the X1C.

 

Just an FYI, my first x1 gen 3 was not as bright as my second replacement:

It's this one:
http://www.panelook.com/LP140QH1-SPA2_LG Display_14.0_LCM_overview_21977.html

It's listed as a 300nit and i have the touch model.

 

Max brightness on my X1 Gen3 is like 70% of my Gen1.
Both non-touch.

Gen1 is a bit blueish
Gen3 is quite yellowish

 

It's a shame Lenovo still manages to ship panels that are just ok instead of great. Really wanted a Gen 3 but I haven't seen a solid review of the machine and display.

 

I've been researching the X1 Gen 3, and in one of the YouTube review videos I recall the reviewer mentioning that the adaptive backlight was enabled in the BIOS. I'd be interested to know if disabling it there made a difference.

 

Jeff,

Did you ever get the FHD x1 gen 3 from Lenovo?? I am having the same issue as you exactly and would be interested in sending back for FHD if that resolved the problem. Love the laptop but the screen is painfully dim.

 

Hey there,
I did get the FHD panel from lenovo. It was a TN screen and the viewing angles were of course not even close to as nice as the IPS, however the brightness is just what is expected, NICE and bright. I ultimately sent that back took because....

I now have a t450s FHD IPS model now as well. I grabbed that because I heard it was superior.

I have the 2nd gen x1 carbon TN 1600x900 panel right next to the 3rd gen t450s FHD IPS - the t450s screen is very close to the brightness on the 2nd gen x1c tn panel.. it still isnt as bright though. Which is just critical to me.

On a side note:
The dell xps13 touch screen is SUPER bright compared to all of the lenovo's.. if we could have that screen on the lenovo body, with the keyboard and trackpoint - that'd be perfect.

Unfortunately I dont know why lenovo can't put a top of the line screen on their top of the line laptops..

for now the t450s is going to a user that wont notice it (it really is bright enough if you haven't had other super bright laptops) and my 2nd gen x1c got a new ebay touchpad and some tape across the capacitive strip where I constantly am hitting it by accident.

 

received my x1 carbon 2015 last week,and seems like screen are yellowish. any color calibration profile sharing?

 

Also looking for a calibrated color profile, for panel LP140QH1-SPB1.

*edit*

Really like the color profile linked in the following review of the 2014 carbon. http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review...bon-Touch-20A7-002DGE-Ultrabook.113926.0.html. You can find the link next to the "Distribution of brightness" image.

Not sure it's the same panel, but looks good anyway.