What is the difference between IPS and Flexview?

[garnet]

If any?
Which TP models have FV/IPS?

[Ibthink]

FlexView is an IBM marketing name for screens with very wide viewing angles, which normally are IPS screen.

There were and now again are many ThinkPads with IPS screens. Up to the T60, they were marketed as Flexview screens. Here is a short list, no guarantee for completeness:
- ThinkPad A30p and A31p (I think the very first models with Flexview screens, 1600x1200 IPS screens)
- ThinkPad R50p with 2 Flexview IPS variants (1600x1200 and 2048x1536, until this year the highest resolution screen ever in a ThinkPad)
- ThinkPad T42p/T43p with 1400x1050 and 1600x1200 Flexview IPS screens
- ThinkPad T60p with 1400x1050 and 1600x1200 Flexview IPS screens

These are the older models with Flexview screens. All of them workstations, and all of them 15". All 4:3, with the introduction of Widescreen, Flexview disappeared.

Then there are the X-Series Tablet models, which also all had IPS or VA screens, though I don´t think they were marketed as "Flexview". X41t, X60t, X61t, X200t, X201t, X220t and X230t all had IPS screens.

Recently, Lenovo has started to ship nearly all new ThinkPads with IPS screens, which are not marketed as Flexview. These new non-Tablet models are:
- X220 / X230 (12.5" HD (1366x768) IPS)
- X240 and ThinkPad Yoga (12.5" HD and FHD (1920x1080) IPS)
- T440s / T440p (14" FHD IPS / AHVA)
- T540p / W540 (15.5" FHD++ / 3K (2880x1620) IPS)

[Medessec]

My X60T's Device Manager picks up the SXGA+ screen as a FlexView display, so I guess they did use the name in some X-series. Some XGA screens are even identified in device manager as "FlexView".

But that list you've posted is pretty bang on- especially with the R50p. It's important to know that the QXGA-res IPS can only be found on the R50p as a factory-fitted feature, however T4x and T6x Thinkpads are constantly fitted with the screens as a modification.

But yah. In a nutshell: IPS is an abbreviation for "In-Plane Switching", a technology used in LCD panels to accomplish better viewing angles and image quality: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPS_panel

"FlexView" is a brand name used initially by IBM in the A3x, T4x and R5x, and then by Lenovo in the T6x and X6x(according to my tablet.) to identify their IPS LCDs, usually a non-standard option available for their laptops, or a standard fitting for higher-end or performance laptops.

[ajkula66]

Definitely a very good reference list by Ibthink...a couple of small additions:

A30 and A31 were available with 15" SXGA+ IPS LCDs but the fact of 1400x1050 resolution does not guarantee that the screen is a FlexView on these models, both TN and IPS were available as options.

R51, T42, T43 and T60 (none of them with a "p") were also available with 15" SXGA+ IPS LCDs.

Hydis-produced panels found on T60/p, X41T, X6* and X20* tablets were AFFS, which is based on IPS, but never officially marketed as FlexViews.

The original "FlexView" LCDs were produced by DBU which became ID Tech, and LG Philips.

Lenovo's current IPS and AHVA offerings are made by LG Philips and AUO respectively, at least from what I'm to understand.

[AnakiMana]

I did notice FlexView listed on my new T440p and listed there in tabook. I don't know if they "market" it, but they sure do still use that term.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[ajkula66]

I did notice FlexView listed on my new T440p and listed there in tabook. I don't know if they "market" it, but they sure do still use that term.

Heh...even a retired FlexView farmer like myself can learn something new every day...

Thanks for sharing.

[AnakiMana]

I did notice FlexView listed on my new T440p and listed there in tabook. I don't know if they "market" it, but they sure do still use that term.

Heh...even a retired FlexView farmer like myself can learn something new every day...

Thanks for sharing.

Thank YOU guys! I love learning all this stuff from the folks in here. I'm a long time computer guy, but just recently got obsessed with ThinkPads.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[Ibthink]

Lenovo's current IPS and AHVA offerings are made by LG Philips and AUO respectively, at least from what I'm to understand.

Thats correct. But they now also get some displays from Panasonic (the 15.5" 2880x1620 screen in the W540 is made by Panasonic). The 12.5" screens come from LG (both HD and FHD on the X240), the 14" screen is from AUO.

I did notice FlexView listed on my new T440p and listed there in tabook. I don't know if they "market" it, but they sure do still use that term.

Good to know, thanks.

[Cigarguy]

I'm glad the industry as a whole is embracing high res and IPS screens again. We got smartphones and tablets to thank for that.

[ajkula66]

But they now also get some displays from Panasonic (the 15.5" 2880x1620 screen in the W540 is made by Panasonic).

Wow.

Thanks for this piece of info. That's likely to be a spectacular screen. We own a Panasonic TV which is IPS and the picture is outright stunning.

I mean, yeah, it could always be better but I don't believe in spending something like $5K on a TV...