Key Takeaways
1. ThinkPad screens have historically been subpar, with low resolution and poor color performance until improvements began around 2015.
2. Current standard screens in the ThinkPad T series still lack quality, with some models featuring outdated WUXGA panels despite slight brightness improvements.
3. High-quality OLED displays with 2.8K resolution are available but are often hard to find in newer models like the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 6.
4. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 6 primarily offers a Low Power panel as the best option, which, while decent in brightness, is slow and has a low refresh rate.
5. There is a demand for better display options in the T series, as competitors are starting to offer higher refresh rate panels, highlighting a gap in Lenovo’s offerings.
Screens have long been a weak point for the ThinkPad line. In the past, mainstream models, like the 14-inch T400 series, often featured low resolution and color performance with dim TN and IPS displays. It wasn’t until around 2015 that we started to see better IPS screens, and it was with the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 that we finally got a resolution greater than Full-HD (1,920 x 1,080), introducing a WQHD screen (2,560 x 1,440).
Current Display Quality
Even now, the standard screens in the ThinkPad T series fail to impress. WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) resolution panels with limited color coverage still exist, although brightness levels have improved somewhat lately. On the brighter side, there are high-quality OLED displays available with a 2.8K resolution (2,880 x 1,800) that provide HDR, extensive color gamut, and swift refresh rates, but they can be hard to find.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 6 Experience
For instance, take the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 6 equipped with Intel’s Lunar Lake that we reviewed recently. Oddly enough, this configuration doesn’t come with an OLED screen option from Lenovo, relegating it to WUXGA IPS panels instead. While this isn’t the worst thing ever, the issue really lies in the limited screen choices available.
Our review unit of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 6 Intel (which you can find on Amazon) is equipped with the Low Power panel, which is the only worthwhile option for regular customers. The two base panels featuring 45% NTSC are merely there to lower the entry price; the ePrivacy feature is something that’s mainly relevant for corporate users, so it’s not recommended for anyone outside of big companies.
Need for Better Panels
That leaves the Low Power panel as the best choice. Unfortunately, while it offers decent brightness, it still falls short in other areas. It’s a slow panel with a low response rate and only a 60 Hz refresh rate. While 60 Hz is adequate for office work, anyone considering this as a personal laptop should really look for better options these days.
Some brands are now providing 90 Hz IPS WUXGA displays, and we believe it is about time Lenovo follows suit! After all, the T series isn’t a budget line, and those basic panels still exist to help keep the starting price low.
