Skip to main content

Lenovo’s $2,499 monitor uses Mini-LED technology to take on Apple’s Pro Display

Credit: Lenovo Image used with permission by copyright holder

If Apple’s $5,000 Pro Display XDR panel is too expensive or if you just prefer Windows, scaling down to Lenovo’s 27-inch, 4K ThinkVision Creator Extreme monitor may be a better fit. Lenovo announced the new monitor ahead of CES 2020, and it’s one of the first Mini-LED displays we’ve seen so far.

Priced at half the cost of Apple’s pro solution, the $2,499 ThinkVision monitor makes it far more affordable for creatives while still delivering some pro features. It supports 99% of the DCI-P3 color space and includes 100% sRGB coverage. And thanks to the use of Mini-LED backlighting (with 1,152 zones), the ThinkVision Creator Extreme is also capable of supporting HDR1000 to bring details out of shadows and highlights while reaching 1,000 nits of peak brightness.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The monitor includes USB-C connectivity to help create a clutter-free work environment, but HDMI and DisplayPort support remains intact for connecting older systems. And for multi-screen twist, there’s even a little smartphone stand built into the base of this display so you can keep up with notifications while working on your next Photoshop masterpiece.

Creatives will be able to purchase this panel starting April, but Lenovo also brought some of these pro feature to some of its more affordable options.

Lenovo ThinkVision P27h-20

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Boasting similar aesthetics as the Creator Extreme, the ThinkVision P27h-20 shares its more technology-forward sibling’s screen size, but keeps things even more affordable with a $549 starting price. To keep the price low, the P27h-20 makes do with a QHD 1440p resolution panel, rather than 4K, though you’ll still be able to do some light creative editing on the panel’s factory calibrated screen, which supports 85% of the wide DCI-P3 color space. At its brightest settings, the P20h-20’s 250 nits is just a quarter of the Creator Extreme.

With this panel, you’re still getting the barely there bezels as slim as 0.08 inches, a sleek all-black design with Lenovo’s signature red accents, and a clutter-free work space if you’re connecting a modern USB-C laptop. Older systems can still connect via HDMI or DisplayPort, however.

Like the Creator Extreme, there’s a slot built into the P27h-20’s base that serves as a cradle for your smartphone, allowing you to keep up with alerts and notifications for enhanced multitasking productivity.

Lenovo ThinkVision T34w-20

Image used with permission by copyright holder

For multitaskers who prefer to work outside of the standard rectangular screen, the $799 ThinkVision T34w-20 is an ultrawide panel with a 21:9 aspect ratio that’s perfect for juggling multiple windows. This 34-inch panel comes with a WQHD resolution panel for those who need the screen real estate of a multi-monitor setup without the bulk or clunkiness of having to connect two display side-by-side.

Lenovo’s “Near-Edgeless” screen technology keeps bezels to a bare minimum, and even though the vertical alignment (VA) panel tops out with a 60Hz refresh rate, response times as quick as 4ms allows you to use this screen for casual games in a pinch on your downtime.

Multitaskers will be able to pick up this panel when it launches in March.

Lenovo ThinkVision T24v-20

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The most affordable ThinkVision out of Lenovo’s CES 2020 lineup is the ThinkVision T24v-20. But don’t let this panel’s $279 price fool you into thinking it doesn’t pack in technology to help simplify your workflow. Designed for general office and knowledge workers, the 24-inch 1080p panel is made for video conferencing and seamless integration with Windows.

Located at the top is a 1080p RGB IR camera with dual-array microphone with face racking technology. There’s a ThunkShutter cover for the camera when you’re not using it for privacy, and the IR camera supports facial recognition for password-less logins with Windows Hello. The screen also comes with dual speakers, useful for those who need to take a lot of Skype calls in the office.

The panel doesn’t support USB-C, so you’ll need an adapter to connect more modern laptops to the panel’s VGA, HDMI, or DisplayPort connectors if you decide to pick up the panel in April.

Editors' Recommendations

Chuong Nguyen
Silicon Valley-based technology reporter and Giants baseball fan who splits his time between Northern California and Southern…
The best monitors of CES 2021: HDMI 2.1, OLED, and more
best monitors ces 2021 monitor lead image

Computer monitors are more important than ever in 2021. Whether it's for working from home or for powering next-generation gaming, manufacturers have brought a huge number of new monitors to CES 2021.

While announcements pretty much done, these are my picks for the best new monitors announced at CES, or take a look at some of the best new laptops and gaming laptops at CES.

Read more
Asus’ massive 43-inch HDMI 2.1 display is half TV, half gaming monitor
asus rog strix 43 inch hdmi 21 ces 2021 swift pg32uq

Asus is joining rival Acer in embracing the new HDMI 2.1 standard, which will allow desktop monitors to be used for either PC or console gaming. HDMI 2.1 support makes Asus' new gaming displays versatile enough to be used with either Sony's PlayStation 5 or Microsoft's Xbox Series X consoles, as well as on desktop rigs supporting Nvidia's RTX 3000 series graphics cards or AMD's Radeon RX 6000 GPUs, as well as laptops. Standout features for the ROG Strix, ROG Swift, and TUF Gaming displays from Asus include 144Hz refresh rate, fast response times, and HDR support.

"ASUS is introducing 28-, 32- and 43-inch 144 Hz HDMI 2.1 gaming monitors for PC and console gamers," the company stated in a press release. "Ideal for PC gamers, these displays support the newest graphics cards for stable 4K gaming with refresh rates beyond 100Hz."

Read more
The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 2’s awesome e-ink screen is even bigger this time
lenovo updates thinkbook plus gen 2 new thinkbooks ces 2021

Lenovo has significantly expanded its small business-focused ThinkBook line at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, with the highlight being an updated ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i that dramatically improves the first-generation laptop that features an e-ink display on its lid.

Also being introduced are a new ThinkBook 13x i, a ThinkBook 14p Gen 2, and a ThinkBook 16p Gen 2. Check out the best new laptops of CES for more reasons for the latest releases.
ThinkBook Plus Gen 2

Read more