FHD vs QHD+ Screen Quality (Photos)

Have had the chance to own both now, and in my opinion.. the 1080p (FHD) version has a much better display (LG model: LP140WF3) in terms of wider viewing angles and considerably less color shifting. I compared them both to my MacBook Pro (notebook on the right of both photos), which to me has the best Samsung display, and the FHD version came closest to it as far as clarity.

On the FHD, I can turn my head at any angle, and the texts to the right of the Nintendo logo stay sharp and readable, where on the QHD+, it starts to blur out quicker. Also notice the red on the X to close out the window.. the FHD's color stays vivid, where the QHD+ below is washed out.

Now it's possible that I received a bad QHD+ panel, but from doing a bit of research, Razer only uses this Sharp model: LQ140Z1JW01, so I doubt that there are huge discrepancies between them. Notebookcheck has an explanation to the blurriness of the QHD+ panel on their review of another notebook that uses the exact same panel. You can see the links on my previous thread here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/disappointed-in-qhd-display.772553/

Now I know the angles and the lighting might not be 100% the same, as I took these at separate nights.. But from my own experiences and after hours of use, the photos below are pretty much on point as to how they really looked in person.

FHD


QHD+

 

I think Sharp definitely have some quality control/ yield issue with their screen. Personally I have to go through 4 machines before I got one without major issue. I think @acabal also have to exchange a few time before he got a screen that he satisfies.

While I think the viewing angle can certain be improved, I really don't see my machine has such horrible wash out at the top of display like in your picture. Also it looks like you have the pink tint problem that I had in one of my returned machine. If you look at the lower left hand corner of your QHD+ display, you see that it's bit more pink than the right hand side (which is a bit too yellow/green, maybe due to viewing angle?). I think @acabal also got 2 machines that have this problem.

Also, I think the brightness on the QHD+ version is way too bright even on the lowest setting. Can you comment on the brightness of the 1080p display? How low can you turn the brightness down. Currently, I have use a software to add a transparent tint to the display to lower the brightness even more when I use it at night.

 

20150313_234618 by wawawa posted Mar 14, 2015 at 3:08 AM

My phone is a bit crappy during low light condition, so the picture is a bit grainy.

You can see the color shift on the right hand side. But the top of my screen doesn't get washed out like yours.

 

Have you used any other profiles for the screens? Other than built in windows icc


Sent from an AT-AT on Hoth

 

no, both photos were taken with stock profiles.

 

Yea for sure there might be QC issues, but for the price and the time, I just didn't want to go through the exchange process anymore, considering I just went through another with Alienware before this. And I don't think the color shifts and view angles could be improved much, just from Notebookcheck's explanation of the panel having two layers with the matte underneath the also coated gloss panel. I think the combination of the matte and the "Anti-glare" they coat the gloss panel with is prohibiting that display from showing its true self. If you look at the other Notebookcheck review.. that notebook has the same exact panel, but without the gloss layer, and the results were better color, less shifting, and improved viewing angles.

The FHD can go just a bit lower in brightness than the QHD+. The lowest setting on the FHD is perfect at night I find. The thing with the QHD+ is that on about 50% to high brightness, I could see the "Anti-glare" coating they used.. which ironically made it looked hazy.

 

ledzep,

a bit OT, but what kind of battery life difference do you see between FHD and QHD Blades ?

 

i only had the QHD+ for about 3 days, so i didn't get to really test the battery, but the FHD should theoretically have a bit more, considering the panel draws less power.

 

Thanks ledzepp.
And what kind of battery life do you get with the FHD in office/web scenario ? is it possible to get 6 hours ?

 

Wow! What a difference indeed. I would definitely be going for the FHD if I was in the market for a RB2015. The lower price would be welcome and would allow me to invest that difference in additional storage. I just wish the additional RAM would be available with FHD. Annoying that it isn't.

 

On mine I was using it for web browsing for about 3.5hrs and still had 53% battery left. This was on the lowest brightness and the keyboard on its lowest brightness. I was in a dark room. Though yes, you can eek 6hrs out of it.

 

i haven't really tested it thoroughly, but i can get 5+hrs avg easily with brightness at 64% and keyboard lights at the 4th level.

 

Hi @ledzepp14

I can't thank you enough for your review on the Sharp IGZO panel, I too have set apple's retina screen as my standard and so far I can't find any notebook with a comparable display. I know that some people say that you won't be looking at the screen from off angles but I don't think it's true, for a screen that small you sometimes need to look at something upclose and when you do that the corners look ugly due to the color shift. And I agree that a $2700 notebook should have a better display than that.

I was extremely disappointed with my Samsung 4k screen and was thinking of buying another laptop (either blade or the batman) with a Sharp IGZO screen, thank goodness for your review I just saved myself at least a couple thousand dollars

So did you finally return your blade?

 

hi. do note tho that i mentioned i might've gotten a lemon display, since others have chimed in that theirs aren't as bad.. but they do still see the color shift. either way.. i wasn't satisfied with it considering the amazing display i was coming from with the MBP. and the double layer of anti-glare really dulls that Sharp display (ironic naming). the slightest head turn, and you could see the color shift and blur right away. i did return the QHD+ version, but i now have the FHD as a keeper, as i found the LG display in that to be good enough. still not on par with the Samsung in my MBP, but for a 1080p panel.. it's good, and i've gotten used to it after a week. i also returned 2 Alienware 15s before the Blade.. and man.. the 1080p panels on thos AW's were horrific. the other option i was looking at was the Asus G501. if you're not looking to play very demanding newer games, then this might be something you could look at as an alternative to the Blade. Asus build quality is pretty good as well. too bad they didn't put a 970m or at least a 965m in there tho.

 

Doesn't Samsung make the Apple panel?

 

Yes, same but different the Samsung 4K I have is not the same Samsung used in macbooks

 

Noted but I think other people don't have a macbook to compare it to, thus "not too bad" might mean something different ...... your review is the only one that compares it to a macbook something that I've always wanted to know

 

I do.. I don't see a difference big enough to have a conversation about.

 

Noted let me know if you're selling your macbook, I'm in the market for a laptop with retina screen ......

 

Notebook check review on Blade 2015 is up, http://www.notebookcheck.net/Razer-Blade-14-Early-2015-Notebook-Review.138997.0.html, screen image is http://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/_processed_/csm_20150327_104834_e84bd6c8a6.jpg, just FYI

 

here's the late 2013 MBP (same model I have) screen image for comparison:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/_processed_/csm_mbpr13_blickwinkel_05ca2c8324.png

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Apple-MacBook-Pro-Retina-13-Late-2013-Notebook.105035.0.html

photo is dark, but you can get an idea of the color shift compared to the Blade

 

Yup and this might be better picture of the retina screen

http://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/_processed_/csm_BlickwinkelMac_22f5acf69a.jpg

what I notice the most is that the black strips on the sides of the picture don't become whitish

 

The color shift argument is overrated. It is true that the rMBP has no color shift but the color shift happens at very unrealistic angles. Nobody sits at 150 degrees from their screens. At realistic angles, both displays are equally good. But while I'm here, I want to know why you guys find color shift at these angles so important. Am I overlooking something?

 

You also have to remember that Apple often pays for MUCH higher quality control that other makers or specify a quality level over the makers own, and as Apple is a huge buyer other companies are left having to either 1) wait a LONG time for more after Apple gets theirs, or 2) accept the next quality down so they can ship on time and not run out of stock.

 

because my own experience with the QHD+ and its color shifts were not even at extreme angles. it really was noticeable compared to the MBP. the slightest tilt of my head, and i could see parts of the screen blur out. it's possible i may be more sensitive to this, or maybe i really am just spoiled by the MBP's display. have i owned a different notebook with a different display, then yea.. this might not even be a big deal, but SeagateBoy was wondering how it might compare to a MBP, so i'm just being honest and telling him that he might not be satisfied in this particular Sharp panel Razer uses. even the FHD panel holds color accuracy better.

 

For me it's because when I need to look at something up close, the corners would be at extreme angles and suddenly they look weird and it's annoying the hell out of me and sometimes when I work with 2 laptops I have to look at one from quite an extreme angle, or when I'm having my dinner I'll put my laptop beside it instead of in front of it to minimize splatter, well generally I move my head quite a lot when using my laptop it's due to my grad school days when a few people need to look at the same screen and since most people used Apple there was no real issue looking from extreme angles so I'm more sensitive about this issue
and most importantly for me it's a $2000++ laptop, if Apple can do it right I feel others should too, I don't mind paying a couple hundred bucks extra for a great display because personally, the display is the one thing that I have direct experience on, the CPU/GPU/RAM give more of indirect effects

So in a sense you're right, it's subjective, when I'm at "realistic angles" it's perfectly fine but quite a significant portion of the time I'm actually at "unrealistic" angles

 

Yup, and I appreciate that, the thing is I've been "spoiled", during my PhD years not too long ago almost everyone in the physics department used Apple (Isaac Newton is apparently a role model for most physicists ) so I got used to the display quality of the retina screen. Since it's already 2015, I thought every laptop would have a comparable display to the retina (and also since the LED/AMOLED technology is quite common on TVs/phones nowadays). I didn't expect windows laptop to lag that far behind apple in terms of screen technology, GPU wise Apple is far behind of course.

 

You're just highlighting how everyone needs something different and everyone's opinion is valid for THEMSELVES alone. 99.9% of my usage is me looking at it straight on. I really don't care about viewing angles unless there's a 3 degree sweet spot. Thankfully the razer panel is far, far better than the 900p one in the 2013. And even then, I bet I could live with that. I chunk my rMBP 13 into that as well. I could care less about viewing angles as long as they are wide enough to suit my needs without being annoying.

And, why are you viewing your laptop at dinner? Take a break and enjoy eating and think. It's good for you.

 

Yes, you're right, it's a personal thing as I mentioned a few times. Since I have no TV I use my laptop at dinner instead and I'm also trying to avoid an annoying person who lives in the house

 

Is there a Microsoft store near you? If so, I highly recommend you check it out in person first. It's quite possible that ledzepp14 got a bad screen.

 

Thanks for the input. That's what I always tell people as well, in person is usually different from online, sadly I live up in the mountains, literally, I can get weed here but not Microsoft store

Although I think his description is quite accurate since I've asked other people as well about the Sharp IGZO and got roughly the same answer.

 

Just a comment on Apple retina, quoted straight from notebookcheck's new review http://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-MacBook-Pro-Retina-13-Early-2015-Notebook-Review.139621.0.html
"Not every IPS panel is similar: Displays with this technology are generally known for their good viewing-angle stability, but there are actually pretty big differences between the individual models. The panel in the MBP 13 is at the highest level in this respect and hardly shows any deviation in terms of contrast or the colors, even with very flat angles. You can clearly see a difference compared to the slightly less expensive rivals like the Asus Zenbook UX303LN."

viewing angle pic here http://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/_processed_/csm_Blickwinkel_0c0a4f4de6.jpg

Again, it's subjective, if it doesn't bother you then you can just ignore it, but it's a big deal for me

 

Apple needs to make a gaming notebook.. i would buy that in a sec. that or they could actually update their 15" with a decent GPU.

 

Agree! I'm waiting for the next refresh for the 15" MacBook pro, should be coming soon