Lenovo ThinkVision L2440x review: Lenovo ThinkVision L2440x

The Lenovo ThinkVision L2440x is the first consumer-level LCD monitor we've reviewed that has LED backlighting. This 24-inch display proved to be an excellent performer with games and movies, showing accurate color reproduction and deep blacks. It includes the "ergonomic trifecta" of screen pivoting, rotation, and height adjustments. And it includes DVI, VGA, and HDMI connection options. Priced at $750, the ThinkVision L2440x is the most expensive 24-inch monitor we've reviewed. Is it worth it? In a word, no. There are much cheaper LCDs, such as the $390 V7 D24w33, which offers the same screen size and comparable performance. The $620 Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP boasts better overall performance, and the $550 Lenovo ThinkVision L2440p has an identical design as the L2440x, with very similar performance, but does not include an LED-based backlight. We'd recommend any of the three displays before the pricey L2440x.

Design and features
Compared with the HP w2408h True Color Widescreen with its long 1.25-inch wide bezel, the Lenovo's smaller, 0.75-inch wide bezel takes up a little less room on your desktop, even though the screen sizes are the same. The panel depth continues this trend; it's only 1.25 inches thick, compared with the Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP's 1.8-inches thick panel and the Samsung SyncMaster T240HD, whose panel is 2.2 inches thick. The flat, half-moon-shaped footstand is 12.25 inches wide and 8.25 inches deep. This is a wide foot stand, but if the height of the screen is adjusted to its maximum 4.5 inches, the display will wobble quite a bit when knocked from the sides. However, when the panel is at its lowest height, there is minimal wobbling. The screen pivots 90 degrees vertically and rotates about 50 degrees to the left and right. It tilts back about 20 degrees.

On the back, the connection options--including DVI, VGA, and HDMI--have been placed off to the left side a couple inches away from the neck, making reaching them and connecting cables a simple and quick process. On the left side of the panel, hidden from direct frontal view, are three USB ports placed one on top of the other.

Next to the video connections is an additional USB downstream port and one USB upstream port. Under the neck of the stand, on the back panel is a strap used to route the power and video cables to the center of the display. You can then use the included plastic covering, which attaches to the back of the stand and will then funnel the cables in a neat and orderly fashion. There is a wide groove in the top back of the panel, which is used as a carrying handle for increased portability. The handle is comfortable and even my hands--which are fairly big--were able to fit in the grove easily.

The onscreen display array is located in the lower right-hand corner of the bezel and comprises four buttons. Brightness and contrast controls are included, as are color options. You can change the color temperature based on the four presets, which include Reddish, Bluish, Neutral, and SRGB. Conversely, the OSD lets you access and change the values for red, blue, and green directly.

The features we really appreciate are the specific controls that allow you to customize the OSD directly. Being able to set the menu position and how long it stays onscreen before disappearing can be useful tools when calibrating. Each OSD button is thin, but wide enough so that if calibrating in a dark room you'll be able to run your fingers over them without easily overshooting the button you're looking for. You'll have to memorize the button placement though, since the only illumination you'd have in a dark room is the single green LED to the right of the power button.

Manufacturer's specifications:
Resolution: 1,920x1,200
Pixel-response rate: 5ms
Contrast ratio: 1,000:1
Brightness: 300cd/m²
Connectivity: HDMI, DVI, VGA
HDCP compliant? Yes
Included video cables? HDMI, DVI

Performance
The Lenovo ThinkVision L2440x is the first Light Emitting Diode backlight-based, consumer-level LCD CNET Labs has tested. The Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP and the Lenovo ThinkVision L2440p, like most LCDs, use cold cathode florescent tube-based backlights. Instead of having several florescent tubes stretched horizontally across the screen as CCFL-based backlights do, in an LED screen there are many individual LEDs all over the screen that can each be turned off or on. This gives LED displays much more precise control over the amount of light coming through the screen. The main purported advantages of an LED backlight are better energy efficiency, more accurate and precise color reproduction, a conceivably thinner panel design, and a higher potential brightness level. Lenovo states that the L2440x consumes 29 watts to operate. We were surprised that this was only 6 watts less than what the L2440p consumes, according to Lenovo.

The Lenovo ThinkVision L2440x received an 88 in CNET Labs' DisplayMate-based performance tests. Although the display scored high in most of our color accuracy tests, the reigning 24-inch performance champ, the Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP with a score of 90, had more visibly accurate color during the DisplayMate tests. The Lenovo ThinkVision L2440p, which shares the same design as the L2440x, but uses CCFL backlighting, scored an 87. The only differences we noticed were slightly more accurate colors and less backlight bleed through on dark screens on the L2440x. In normal room lighting while doing office work, it was hard to see a difference in quality.

The Lenovo ThinkVision L2440x scored a maximum brightness rating of 286cd/m², which edged the L2440p's score of 268cd/m² but trailed the 452cd/m² that the Dell posted. We noticed that when viewing the CCFL-based screen of the L2440p for more than a few seconds our eyes would feel strained; however, when looking at the L2440x's screen that is LED-based, we did not perceive of any strain. This occurred even when both monitors had their brightness set to zero. Your mileage may vary when it comes to eyestrain, but we thought it was worth mentioning.

World of Warcraft looked great on the L2440x with vivid and accurate colors that were not saturated and had no signs of streaking. The game had a "soft focus" look to it when viewed on the L2440x. The image was not blurry, but polygonal models' edges weren't as prominent as they were on the L2440p.

In CNET Labs monitor test room, our lab benches sit higher than a normal desk. Given this, the lower viewing angle of a monitor is immediately noticeable, especially when playing a game. While playing WoW, unless we were at the optimal level to the screen (one-quarter of the screen distance down) there would be visible shadows at the top of the screen that made details difficult to see. If you slouch while Web surfing or gaming, be prepared to have a difficult time seeing the detail. You could always just sit up straight, but in our opinion, you shouldn't have to.

As for movie playback, we watched a few choice scenes in Kill Bill Vol. 1. In this real world test, the L2440x had a deeper black level than the L2440p, the Dell 2408WFP, or the Samsung SyncMaster T240HD. While the color of the Dell looked oversaturated at times and on the Samsung slightly muted, on the L2440x color looked more accurate. When we turned the brightness down to its lowest on all four monitors, the L2440x still had the deeper blacks. This is where we could see the advantage of the LED technology most notably. The L2440p produced accurate colors too, but thanks to its higher black level the colors weren't as precise as the L2440x.

Find out more about how we test LCD monitors.

Service and support
Lenovo supports the ThinkVision L2440x with a three-year warranty that covers the backlight. The company offers 24-7 toll free phone support, but, unfortunately, Lenovo doesn't include e-mail or chat support.