– Tech sector prices rising due to datacenter boom and component shortages.
– PC makers cut costs by using cheaper, lower-quality components.
– Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 7 base model costs €450 more than its predecessor.
– Low-end screen covers only ~60% sRGB, offering poor color accuracy.
– Best option for customers may be buying the older Gen 6 model while available.
Rising Tech Prices Hit Laptops Hard
Prices are climbing across the tech world, all thanks to the boom of datacenters and the chaos in supply chains for memory, SSDs, and processors. This price hike is a nightmare for PC builders. Who actually wants to fork out more cash for a laptop that cost way less just last year? It is a really though situation for everyone.
How Manufacturers Soften the Blow
One trick to ease the pain is for companies to cut corners on cheaper parts. They might stick in slower CPUs, smaller SSDs, or less RAM, while also fitting terrible screens. This is becoming a common theme, and its not a great look for consumers who expect quality.
A perfect example of this is the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 7 we recently looked at. We tested the most basic version you can buy in Germany, and it starts at around €1,600. That is approximately €450 more expensive than the last generation base-model, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 6 Intel, which is a big jump for a new model.
- Screen size: 14-inch
- Resolution: WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Color gamut: Only about 60% sRGB
The Cheap Screen Problem
What gives it away as a low-cost screen is the colour gamut. It covers a measly 60 percent of the sRGB range, so colours look washed out and inaccurate. For a laptop at this price, that is a major letdown, and it makes photo editing or watching videos less enjoyable.
To be fair, Lenovo offered the exact same screen on the old model too. However, it was rarely used in consumer configurations. Nearly every T14 Gen 6 you could buy in Germany came with a better 500 cd/m² display that hit 100% sRGB, so most people got a decent panel.
Current Configuration Situation
Now, almost all configurations under €2,000 have this inferior screen as standard. This is a frustrating situation for customers. There is basically no perfect solution without compromises, except maybe grabbing an older Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 6 while it is still available.
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