Has anyone actually compared the x220 IPS panel to the t420 panel?

I'm trying to decide between the two. The X220 has the IPS panel option while the T420 has the optional 1600x900 display. I could care less about viewing angle, as I'm more concerned about color and contrast. Which one would offer the better display for my needs?

 

I have seen both in person and personally no there is not much difference in contrast and color. If you plan on getting the 900p for the t420 there will plenty of working space compared to the x220 tablet where there is little with the 12.5" 1366x768 res. Both are great computers. The decision just depends on your needs.

 

The t420 1600x900 display has a distinctly higher white point. Side by side, the t420 high res screen is obviously more blue.

 

1366x768 is HD while 1600x900 is HD+ which is around 60% gamut color (60% HD)
Does anyone know the gamut color of the 1366x768?

 

Don’t know how accurate this is, but found this on YouTube.

YouTube - ‪Lenovo X220 (IPS) - Screen Gamut vs sRGB - 67,8%‬‏

 

I'm to having this dilemma between x220 and t420. My main issue is short palmrest in x220 and comfort of working on 12,5" display in cases where I it would be my main machine for a few days.

Right now I'm thinking seriously about t420s with the bay battery. It may be good compromize between mobility and work comfort.

 

If it makes you fell any better I had the t400 and t410 for a total of 5 years both are very good pc's and I highly recommend the t420 over the x220. My teacher used an x220 12.5" and always leaned up against the screen squinting his eyes because the thing is so damn small. I wouldn't get it because it will strain your eyes and there isn't enough rel-estate to work with. The 1600x900 on a 14.1" T420 is perfect in my view and will give you space you need that a 1366x768 doesn't.
Take your time with this, and feel free to keep asking questions.

 

Actually, some simple trigonometry would show that the HD screen on the X220 has a PPI of about 125, whereas the HD+ screen on the T420 has a PPI of about 131. This would mean that things appear smaller on the HD+ screen on the T420.

 

Here's the color gamut of the x220 ips screen, as measured by an i1display2.

I can confirm the findings of the youtube video above.

 

Wow the IPS panel has that low of a gamut range. Was hoping more like desktop IPS screens 85+. I'm in the same boat the screen size is the only thing holding me back from purchase. The weight is awesome but I am a code so real estate important.

 

Where the IPS screen thrashes the other Thinkpads is contrast and viewing angles. T420 contrast ration 162:1, X220 IPS is 743:1. And if the T420 vertical viewing angles are anything like my T400, it'll drive you bat crazy constantly adjusting the screen to find that narrow range that doesn't distort. And where the T420 annhialates the X220 is screen size and resolution.

 

Having had the T400 (WXGA+ CCFL screen), I can say the T420 is unequivocally better. Brighter, with more contrast. The viewing angle needs to be tweaked occasionally still, but not near as often. As much as I'd love a 16:10 aspect ratio, I'd choose the T420's 16:9 over the T400's 16:10 any day.

 

May I ask a question about your experience and opinion about screen size of the x220 ? What's your opinion about working for 4-5 hours at 12,5" screen and short palmrest keyboard typing ? Aren't your wrists end eyes tired after longer time ?

Right now I'm almost decided to get the x220. In Europe I can get it for almost 50% less money than t420s, t420 is too bulky and as my current notebook will probably take almost half part of my briefcase.

 

I know man, I know. When I saw IPS, I thought, OHHH must be like 85% gamut.

Nope. Yes, this is a little bit of a buzzkill. You certainly can't do real color critical work on this panel. (Despite some saying the opposite).

In the panel's praises, it has excellent gamma tracking, from the brights all the way down to the darks. Also, Its contrast and viewing angles are EXCELLENT. Although the brightness is average.

 

Well how's this for user comfort, I use my X220 12-14hrs hours a day without any external monitor. The screen is a delight to use for all the reasons I mentioned. Additionally, the resolution is correct for this screen size. If they had gone with 1600x900 in this 12.5" screen, the DPI would've been ridiculously high and you would've been squinting at everything. The transition from 1440x900 to 1366x768 was pretty smooth for me, didn't notice it after the first hour.

Before I first started using recent X-series, the shorter palm rest was a major concern for me too, but it hasn't been a problem at all. It's the same thing where you get used to it within a few hours of use.

Yes, the X-series size is absolutely wonderful. T-series are great if you absolutely need the screen size and resolution, but for someone who moves around a lot the small size and very low weight just can't be praised enough. And you don't really have to make any compromises for the sveltness since you still get a full-power processor and can also have the hard drive setup in my signature which means no need for an external hard drive. On top of all that they threw in the IPS screen which just totally completes the package. And as always, the battery life is just unbelievable too.

 

Thanks you for your feedback. Tomorrow I'll probably order my x220. t420s also looks good with bay battery but for the price difference with fluctuate around 500euro I can get mid-range external LCD ( I heard positive opinions about dell u2311h, is it a good choice ?), keyboard and maybe upgrade HDD to SSD.

 

If with your cost savings, you can get all those additional "excellent" components, go for it!

With the availability of both the desktop experience together with the notebook portability, you will have the best of both worlds with little draw backs.

 

It's not the newest or the best "that will come at an even greater and possibly unnecessary expense", but it's pretty good. The following article may help you to decide.

Dell U2311H Review

Augment that with a nice SSD for an overall slick system and you'll be laughing.

 

Yes, That site is excellent. If you want a standard gamut monitor, I suggest you look at the NEC EA232wmi. It is also reviewed on that site.

If you don't know why you might need a high gamut monitor, then I suggest you don't get one.

 

I only regret that x220 have only one mSATA slot so client must decide between mSATA SSD and 3G modem. I decided to get 3G due to better signal strength than USB stick/EC.

I can get brand new u2311h for 169euro, I definitely would prefer some PVA monitor but in this price range there's no way to get new 22-23" PVA screen.

@floz23
This NEC costs in Europe twice more than u2311h, in this price range i can get Eizo Foris FS2331 but i don't think that for my purposes it's worth to pay for it.

 

U2311h is a good monitor if you are on a budget, much better than the equivalently priced TN monitor on the market.