How bad is T430s/T420s's screen?

[wgemini]

Heard tons of horror stories about the HD+ screen. Is it not as good as IPS bad or just totally unusable bad? 

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

obviously it is not good as the IPS, but it is actually quite usable for office based apps. If you are watching move then you need to be within 45 degrees angle to get the accurate colour.

If you are mainly using it for movies and photoshop touchup, then this screen is really not for you.

[wgemini]

Is it just a matter of viewing angels? I heard it has severe pixelation. No photoshop, but might watch movies from time to time. 

[tripplec]

The tilt is important and the colour/contrast change a lot moving it up down on mine. I've the std screen left or right of center wil have dimmer experience. It ok if you Male & Female you have the cozy up solution to have you head closer to center and sit really close.

It doen't work for my buddie though I have to turn it so he can see properly. We don't sit close together!

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

some of the T420s screen that i have seen had the screen door effect.

[nibs Guru]

It depends on who made the screen. I just had mine replaced. New screen is a Samsung LTN140KT03-401. I like it and no screen door.

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

nibs did you replace the screen on a T420 or a T420s?

[nibs Guru]

T420. It was replaced under warranty due to white splotches. I thought that they used the same part number.

[gilsongj]

Let me put it this way: it's hard to find worse screens in other laptops these days. I can't think of any.

With IPS available in other laptops (Lenovo or not) and the new "Retina" making its way into the laptop reign, it's easy to undestand that Lenovo is agressively cutting corners/cost in the screen components department.

I've had numerous Thinkpads and I have a T420s today.... and I say this with a broken heart: I'm considering switching to other brands for my T420s replacement.

[veechee]

I had a T410s and I loved the screen.  I switched to a T420s and the screen is noticeibly inferior.  I still like the features, size and weight of the T4x0s series computers, but the screen really is terrible considering what we're paying, and I would even pay more for a better screen.  Lenovo offers IPS on the X2x0 series ThinkPad's, which they should do for the T4x0s as well.