Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

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bhwabeck3533
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Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by bhwabeck3533 »

I just received my new Laptop, a Lenovo Ideapad 3. It's replacing two previous Lenovo machines. My eight year-old Yoga 2 is still operational.

Here's my issue, the display on the new one is "washed out" in appearance. Not brightness, but contrast and color. I tried various settings in Windows 10, also chatted with Microsoft and Lenovo technical support without resolving. Cannot get the displays on the two machines to match in appearance. In the most simplest explanation, a side-by-side of both laptops displaying the FOX News website -- the text on the Yoga 2 is is black and on the Ideapad 3 it's light blue.

Can I get them to match, and solve my problem? Open to advice and where to find a solution.
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JoeRetire
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by JoeRetire »

Which browsers/versions are you using?
This isn't just my wallet. It's an organizer, a memory and an old friend.
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bhwabeck3533
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by bhwabeck3533 »

JoeRetire wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 10:15 am Which browsers/versions are you using?
Both are Google Chrome....same version.
anoop
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

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Normchad
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by Normchad »

anoop wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 10:27 am Did you try this:
https://www.netbooknews.com/tips/calibr ... p-monitor/
I’m not the OP, but thanks for this! I didn’t know these settings existed in Windows! Potentially this is very helpful information to have.
onourway
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by onourway »

Which screen do you have? If it's the base 1366x768 TN screen, that's probably just what a cheap screen looks like.
slickracer
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by slickracer »

I returned a new Lenovo for this exact reason. Bought an HP and have been 100% satisfied.
student
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by student »

onourway wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 11:23 am Which screen do you have? If it's the base 1366x768 TN screen, that's probably just what a cheap screen looks like.
Yes and I believe it has only 250 nits. Macbook Air (current model) has 400 nits. https://www.ruggedinformer.com/how-brig ... s-watts/4/
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by jabberwockOG »

Very unlikely yo will get two display panels on different machines to match. Even if the display panels were identical manufacturer and batch they still might not match that well because of panel manufacturing variances. With panels from two different displays and different vendors the chances of matching even basic display characteristics are slim.
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by mjb7e »

For me, it's the sharp edge on my wrists that is killing me with my Lenovo laptop.
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by bhwabeck3533 »

slickracer wrote: Sun Sep 19, 2021 8:19 pm I returned a new Lenovo for this exact reason. Bought an HP and have been 100% satisfied.
Which HP model did you buy? What was the cost? Where did you buy it? How long have you had it?

I have 90 days to return this Lenovo.
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bhwabeck3533
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by bhwabeck3533 »

onourway wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 11:23 am Which screen do you have? If it's the base 1366x768 TN screen, that's probably just what a cheap screen looks like.
How do I verify if I have a "TN" screen? What does TN stand for?
onourway
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by onourway »

bhwabeck3533 wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:08 am
onourway wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 11:23 am Which screen do you have? If it's the base 1366x768 TN screen, that's probably just what a cheap screen looks like.
How do I verify if I have a "TN" screen? What does TN stand for?
TN is twisted nematic which isn't too important to you other than they are the lowest quality screens typically with poor contrast and viewing angles.

What is the specific type number listed on the sticker on the bottom of your laptop? If your screen resolution is 1366x768 then you likely have the base TN screen.
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by 02nz »

bhwabeck3533 wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:08 am
onourway wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 11:23 am Which screen do you have? If it's the base 1366x768 TN screen, that's probably just what a cheap screen looks like.
How do I verify if I have a "TN" screen? What does TN stand for?
Another poster explained TN. You want an IPS (in-plane-switching) display, sometimes given in specs as WVA (wide viewing angle).

The difference is very obvious especially when you view from off-center. See this video for example (the laptop on the right has a TN panel, left is IPS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfpAeMhD4J4

Provide the exact model number or a link if you want us to verify 100%, but based on your description ("light blue") it's a virtual certainty that it's a TN panel.
Last edited by 02nz on Mon Sep 20, 2021 8:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
02nz
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by 02nz »

onourway wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:19 am
bhwabeck3533 wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:08 am
onourway wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 11:23 am Which screen do you have? If it's the base 1366x768 TN screen, that's probably just what a cheap screen looks like.
How do I verify if I have a "TN" screen? What does TN stand for?
TN is twisted nematic which isn't too important to you other than they are the lowest quality screens typically with poor contrast and viewing angles.

What is the specific type number listed on the sticker on the bottom of your laptop? If your screen resolution is 1366x768 then you likely have the base TN screen.
Correct, although Full HD (1280 x 1080) resolution doesn't necessarily mean IPS or equivalent, as there are many Full HD TN panels as well.
onourway
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by onourway »

02nz wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 8:19 am
onourway wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:19 am
bhwabeck3533 wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:08 am
onourway wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 11:23 am Which screen do you have? If it's the base 1366x768 TN screen, that's probably just what a cheap screen looks like.
How do I verify if I have a "TN" screen? What does TN stand for?
TN is twisted nematic which isn't too important to you other than they are the lowest quality screens typically with poor contrast and viewing angles.

What is the specific type number listed on the sticker on the bottom of your laptop? If your screen resolution is 1366x768 then you likely have the base TN screen.
Correct, although Full HD (1280 x 1080) resolution doesn't necessarily mean IPS or equivalent, as there are many Full HD TN panels as well.
I know, but for this specific model, if the resolution is 1366x768, it's a TN screen.
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by Yarlonkol12 »

Looks like the Lenovo Ideapad 3 comes with a TN panel, only the Lenovo Ideapad 5 has the IPS panel option from what I can tell. TN panels are cheaper, have poor viewing angles and tend to look washed out, especially low cost TN panels. You old computer may have an IPS or VA panel which will going to make the TN panel in your new laptop look washed out by comparison. Your old computer may also support higher display resolution then your new computer
My posts are for entertainment purposes only.
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by tortoise84 »

Most low end laptops with 1366x768 TN screens and even low end 1920x1080 IPS screens have poor sRGB color space coverage in the 55-65% range. So the colors will appear washed out and unsaturated and no amount of calibration will help this. You can check sRGB coverage from good review sites like Notebookcheck, but be sure to look at the correct model since there are many different display panels in use. e.g.:

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-Id ... 447.0.html
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 1920x1080 IPS with 56% sRGB.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-Yo ... 363.0.html
Lenovo Yoga 2 13" 1920x1080 IPS with 84% sRGB which is quite good.
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by wander »

Op, did you check the same model at Best Buy or any showroom before buying? It maybe a defect.
02nz
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by 02nz »

Yarlonkol12 wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 8:48 am Looks like the Lenovo Ideapad 3 comes with a TN panel, only the Lenovo Ideapad 5 has the IPS panel option from what I can tell. TN panels are cheaper, have poor viewing angles and tend to look washed out, especially low cost TN panels. You old computer may have an IPS or VA panel which will going to make the TN panel in your new laptop look washed out by comparison. Your old computer may also support higher display resolution then your new computer
Some corrections: IdeaPad 3 definitely comes with an IPS panel in some configurations, for example: https://slickdeals.net/f/15276535-costc ... 9-shipping

VA = vertical alignment. I've never come across VA panels in laptops, only in TVs. This gets confusing because many manufacturers use SVA (= standard viewing angle, meaning TN) and WVA (= wide viewing angle, or IPS, or equivalent - apparently there are trademark issues that mean only LG panels can officially be called IPS).
02nz
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by 02nz »

tortoise84 wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 9:12 am Most low end laptops with 1366x768 TN screens and even low end 1920x1080 IPS screens have poor sRGB color space coverage in the 55-65% range. So the colors will appear washed out and unsaturated and no amount of calibration will help this. You can check sRGB coverage from good review sites like Notebookcheck, but be sure to look at the correct model since there are many different display panels in use. e.g.:

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-Id ... 447.0.html
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 1920x1080 IPS with 56% sRGB.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-Yo ... 363.0.html
Lenovo Yoga 2 13" 1920x1080 IPS with 84% sRGB which is quite good.
Even a low-end IPS panel with limited color space coverage is vastly better than TN in contrast and viewing angles. People doing color-critical work aren't shopping for $500 laptops.
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by slickracer »

bhwabeck3533 wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:06 am
slickracer wrote: Sun Sep 19, 2021 8:19 pm I returned a new Lenovo for this exact reason. Bought an HP and have been 100% satisfied.
Which HP model did you buy? What was the cost? Where did you buy it? How long have you had it?

I have 90 days to return this Lenovo.
I don't remember the exact model but it is a 15.6" monitor, Intel processor and 512GB solid state drive and it's been a workhorse for the last 19 months while working from home. I won't buy any laptop without a SSD.
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by F150HD »

bhwabeck3533 wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 10:14 am I just received my new Laptop, a Lenovo Ideapad 3. It's replacing two previous Lenovo machines. My eight year-old Yoga 2 is still operational.

Here's my issue, the display on the new one is "washed out" in appearance. Not brightness, but contrast and color. I tried various settings in Windows 10, also chatted with Microsoft and Lenovo technical support without resolving. Cannot get the displays on the two machines to match in appearance. In the most simplest explanation, a side-by-side of both laptops displaying the FOX News website -- the text on the Yoga 2 is is black and on the Ideapad 3 it's light blue.

Can I get them to match, and solve my problem? Open to advice and where to find a solution.
have you looked at/tweaked the actual graphics card settings?

Somewhat similar issue - I found on my old Lenovo it had 'adaptive brightness' which would randomly dim the screen, it was beyond irritating. Had to go into the graphics card settings to disable it.
Then after any Windows update it seemed to magically get turned back on again. :(

Got used to finding the setting eventually.
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Re: Laptop Display Settings: It's Killing Me

Post by bhwabeck3533 »

onourway wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:19 am
bhwabeck3533 wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:08 am
onourway wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 11:23 am Which screen do you have? If it's the base 1366x768 TN screen, that's probably just what a cheap screen looks like.
How do I verify if I have a "TN" screen? What does TN stand for?
TN is twisted nematic which isn't too important to you other than they are the lowest quality screens typically with poor contrast and viewing angles.
OP here. I sent the Lenovo with the TN screen back to the seller, and bought another one with a 14.0" FHD IPS Display (1920x108), Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 610. What a difference, this screen is perfect! Thanks for the feedback.
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