Disappointed in QHD+ Display

Update: Photos a few posts down. Also, if you're a paid customer/owner, don't you dare express any concerns over a $2700 Razer product at their forums. Their mods will just censor you and delete all posts even though it's just a civil discussion among current owners who are expressing the same concerns. Anything that is not a praise of their products will just be deemed unworthy to be posted there.

Original post: I'm not sure if I've been just spoiled by my retina MacBook Pro, but the first thing I noticed when I got my Blade tonight was how the display panel is not that good. As soon as the Windows setup came on.. I was super happy that there were no funky light bleeds at all.. but I noticed that the screen kind of had this matte screen effect to it, where when you shift your head.. a haziness kind of shifted on the screen. I'm looking at my MacBook Pro right next to the Blade, opened up IGN's site, and the Blade's colors immediately shift with a little bit of head turn.. where the MacBook's display is clear and vivid even at extreme angles. Is this just how it is? Is there any way I can find out what my panel's display model # is so I could compare with you guys? Thanks

 

I have both a 2014 blade and late 2013 rMBP and I find the panel on the blade to be excellent.

 

Can you please tell me what your panel model # is and how I would go about checking mine as well? Thanks

 

You can go into device manager, the go to properties for the display panel... Last tab I think, you'll find a drop down list and in there you're looking for "hardware id".

Hope this helps, it's from memory right now.

Sorry you're not digging the display man, I know we talked about it a bit in regards to the 1080 one.

So the QHD one has some kind of matte finish to it as well? If I were you, I'd compare each of the two machines side by side with a window behind me on a sunny day, or outside. It could be a compromise in one respect, but a boon in another... We may be seeing the same thing, that ever so SLIGHT bit of color variance, but I didn't have a MBP to compare to for you. Let us know what you decide.

 

You can use AIDA64.

 

Just found a quick way to check.. Just go to adjust ClearType and it told me I have this Sharp model: http://www.panelook.com/LQ140Z1JW01_SHARP_14.0_LCM_overview_21467.html

That site says it has an "Antiglare Haze" of 42%. I wonder if this is the haziness I was describing before. The glass itself is glossy, but within it, it almost seems like there's a matte panel underneath. Whatever it is.. it reduces the viewing angles, and it causes the color shift I mentioned before.

Update: Notebookcheck confirms my thoughts on the viewing angles here with this notebook that has the same exact panel: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Fujitsu-LifeBook-U904-Ultrabook.110335.0.html

The MacBook Pro with its Samsung IPS panel is clearly better with the viewing angles and preventing color shifts.

Update #2: Here it gets interesting - In another Notebookcheck review of the same panel.. but this time with the matte version.. they mention that the glossy touchscreen and the matte versions are actually the same. The glass panel with the digitizer has just been removed, and with that.. results in wider viewing angles and significantly less color shifting: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Update-Fujitsu-LifeBook-U904-0M75A1DE-Ultrabook.114735.0.html

Well now I'm regretting going against my original decision of going with the 1080p matte version. This touch panel is indeed causing the haziness and color shifting. I just opened up Nintendo's site, since it's colorful, and the difference between the Razer and the MacBook is staggering. Just a slight movement of my head and the colors start fading quickly on the Blade, while the MacBook.. I pretty much have at such an extreme angle and the colors stay true. This is so disappointing, that I might just return this.

I hate Razer for limiting us to the QHD+ gloss version, if we want a higher configuration of storage and especially ram.

 

I think all the hidpi Razer displays are the sharp igzo

 

Just a quick example shot I took to show how hazy the Blade's QHD display gets. Not even an extreme angle yet and you can see how hazy and almost unreadable the text on the menu by the Nintendo logo gets and on the browser tabs. I even purposely placed the MacBook on the far side to give the Blade a bit of an advantage, and even then.. you can see the MacBook still shows that top menu clearly, and the colors are still crisp and lively.

 

I posted this same concern over at the Razer forums.. and guess what?.. They censored me. Completely deleted my post, when I was just voicing my concerns and gathering data. Other Razer owners were contributing to the discussion also and were just providing their own experiences. Now I'm even more disappointed at Razer.

 

Black levels of the Blade compared to the MacBook Pro.

Yes... it IS that hazy in person. I'm returning this thing. That is unacceptable for something that Razer is asking $2700 for. I'm not even sure if I should try the 1080p version now...

 

I think the 1080 screen wasn't as bad as what you're showing there, but that was the kinda thing I was talking about. On all black, I could see that haze.

 

My black levels are definitely WAY better than that. Obviously if I try to view from a decently wide angle the colors shift, but we're talking angles that would be silly to use the laptop at. I don't use my laptop at those angles so I really don't care about the viewing angles as long as they aren't to the point of having such a narrow sweet spot that it's hard to adjust. I can move a decent amount without any highly noticeable color shift and I have zero problems positioning the panel for a great image. That picture in the previous post looks nothing like my panel when I'm viewing it straight on. Even angled I don't get THAT much washout, especially black (I tried fullscreening a solid black image, brightness is at max..) . Viewing this browser window will start washing things out if I go too far, but who uses their laptop at that angle?

BTW.. here's the panel in my 2014 Blade:

Code:

--------[ Monitor ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Generic PnP Monitor [NoDB] ]

Monitor Properties:
Monitor Name Generic PnP Monitor [NoDB]
Monitor ID SHP1401
Model LQ140Z1JW01
Manufacture Date Week 23 / 2013
Serial Number None
Max. Visible Display Size 310 mm x 174 mm (14.0")
Picture Aspect Ratio 16:9
Gamma 2.20
DPMS Mode Support None

Supported Video Modes:
3200 x 1800 Pixel Clock: 248.90 MHz
3200 x 1800 Pixel Clock: 298.69 MHz
3200 x 1800 Pixel Clock: 373.25 MHz

I looked the panel up, it has a viewing angle rating of 80 degrees up,dn,left,right with a contrast ratio >= 10 at 80 degrees off of straight on. The contrast ratio head on is 1000:1. In my experience just turning my laptop around it doesn't appear to change much until you get somewhat wide, again, an angle you would never use in a normal laptop use case unless you have someone else staring at your screen sitting off to the side of you constantly. I was going to take a pic but there's so much glare (it's bright where I am right now) that the picture isn't worthwhile. I'll do it tonight or something as I am enjoying the actual sun we're seeing in NYC right now.

 

While I do notice some color shift, especially in black, mine is nowhere near as bad as yours...
But on a solid white background, I notice that my machine has some weird grey powder pattern which is kind of similar to a matte screen.

 

yup. see my 2nd link to Notebookcheck above explaining that the matte display is used underneath the glass. on top of that, from that panel info link above, it states that it also has a "42% anti glare haze" being used on the glossy glass panel.

i just returned mine. it actually gave me a headache since the texts would get blurry from the slightest head movement, and the colors would fade so quickly. reminded me of this cheap gateway netbook i had years ago. I'm still considering the 1080 version tho, since it sounds less of an issue.

 

I think something was wrong with yours as mine isn't even anywhere near that.

 

gonna give the 1080 version a try. I'm just too disappointed in the qhd one to even reconsider it.

another thing that i didn't like about the blade.. finger print magnet like crazy. even with recently washed hands, this thing loved to soak up your prints. and i wish the bezel wasn't so big. they could've fit a 15" in there easily.

 

Overall, I was happy with the display, but like I said, I didn't have a MBP to stack it up against. You have 14 days from receipt of the notebook a rep told me to evaluate it for a full refund-- although their site says from the day you order, so be careful.

Finger prints I decided I was just going to let it go for once. Forget trying to clean them. Just use it til it's covered completely ;-) They only wipe off when I used some kind of light cleaner.

 

yea a big part of it is how i am able to compare to a great Samsung panel in the MacBook Pro. the viewing angles are the best i've seen with little, if any, color shifting/inverting. there is no light bleed at all on the MBP, and the black levels are amazing with no weird haziness at all. but i know that some people who ended up with an LG panel on the MBP had issues, so i hope the LG panel in the Blade (i think that's what they put in there) is much better.

did you ever get to a point where you're happy with the fans?

 

This is actually very interesting.. At first I thought the screen was amazing - best I've ever had for sure (coming from a TN), but come to think of it, my colors shift pretty early will going to a wider viewing angle. Kind of feel a little disappointed with the screen now, although I think it's still a great screen.

Question of my own about the screen actually, has anyone noticed a weird rgb effect to the screen? It looks like as if there's a screen protector on the screen - showing weird rgb haziness. Did anyone's laptop come with a plastic film over top of their screen when they bought it? If so, I never removed a film when I bought my blade and that may be it, but have searched all over for it..

 

I was thinking, I did respond to a post on Razer Insider about comparing the screen to a Mac right? Where did that go?? Well that explains it. Sad that Razer would want to handle bad press by deleting it. I didn't follow the conversation after the initial posts, did it degrade or did they just not like that we liked the Mac screen better lol?

 

no i don't believe mine came with a plastic film over the display. what you are seeing as the haze is apparently an "anti-glare" coating per the Panellook site i linked above. and per the 2nd Notebookcheck review i also linked above.. this panel is actually made up of 2 layers.. the glossy touch panel with the "anti-glare" is just glued on top of the matte screen.. which results in the hazy look and quicker color shifting/inverting.

 

Also, I just got one of the Decalrus skins (brushed black aluminum) and it does look and feel very nice on the Razer, great solution to the finger prints.

 

No you're not imagining things.. Razer just didn't like that a couple more forum members chimed in to share their same feelings towards the display. I've seen other threads by other members there get deleted by Razer mods. Any criticism.. even from civil productive discussions, gets deleted by their power tripping mods. I stopped going there due to this censorship.

 

nice. do you have pics of it? and can you link to the specific one you got? thanks!

 

I could get some pics later tonight when I am home from work. So far I have only applied the top piece and the palm rest area piece. Debating if I want to put the bottom piece on or if it would cause the machine to run warmer.

This is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Decalrus-Non-Touch-Texture-Aluminum-BAfbrzrblade14Black/dp/B00IACWTPY

 

I thought mine had a plastic film on it also when I first got it, noticing the haze. I'm on my second QHD+ Razer (returned one for unrelated keyboard issue) and it also has the haze so I think your right that the haze is by design. Curious to see what people think of the 1080p version. My only problem there is I had preferred to purchase the Razer through the MS store to get the student discount and the extended warranty. They are currently only selling the QHD+ version.

 

yea i gave up the good discount from the MS store just to grab the 1080 version from Razer. i asked a few MS reps and they don't think they will be carrying the 1080 version. i'll let you guys know how it is. supposed to get it by thursday or friday.

 

I also gave up the warranty through MS to get the 1080p version, even though I would have much rather gone through the MS store.

Looks like I will be picking up a warranty through SquareTrade. Going to give them a call this week and make sure I understand their service. Looks like it is about $300 for three year accident protection.

 

Let me know what you think. Hope you like it. Razer confirmed the fans doing that is "normal". You'll have to under clock a bit, elevate the laptop's bottom, use an additional cooler, or some combination of the three if you want to keep it off the max fan speed while gaming modern games. Let us know how you make out.

 

Okay, that explains it. Thanks for your explanation.

I'm also interested in seeing how the decalrus looks on your laptop.