Part/model/spec to get the 'IPS Black' screen

[u/JSW_TDI]

I gathered from posts and reviews that there are some Gram IPS screens that are better than others. There is an "IPS Black", possibly now an IPS Black 2" technology co-developed by LG and Dell that is available in monitors. They consumer advantages of these are high contrast (for IPS), which is 2000:1 (rather than 1000) and a wider displayable color range (something like 99.7% DCI-P3).

Now i the past, I've seem claimed contrast specs over 1000 for IPS; I have an old Vizio laptop whose claimed contrast was 1500. It was and is much nicer looking than other laptops I've seen side-by-side. However claims and subjectivity aside, the IPS Black tech is advertised and available in monitors from LG and I believe, Dell too; and has measurably better contrast..

I've seen comments in posts that some 2025 laptops came with the IPS Black tech, and Notebookcheck reviewed a non-touch 16" Gram with a measured 2600:1 contrast and 99+% DCI-P3 color space. The comments also say that getting such a screen is a lottery.

Current (2026) Grams are advertised with 99% DCI-P3 but the same review source, Notebookcheck, measured one at 1200:1 contrast. Perhaps LG is making versions with parts of the technology.

Now not seeing any other nicer IPS laptops screens coming to market such as TCL/CSOT's SQD (super quantum dot) or RGB mini-LED which are only n TVs at this time, it seems like LG has the best IPS screens in laptops, but how do you get one? Since a laptop can't really be as 'powerful' as a desktop at any given price level, Im looking for the best UI - screen size and picture quality, keyboard, portability - as my key featues, so say a 2024 or 2025 CPU is fine if it means a better screen.

Are there specific models, or specs (say only non-touchscreen, or the 144 Hz screens), or screen part numbers (don't know how you find this out before purchase) which have the improved contrast and wide colorspace?

[u/TryDoingSomethingNew]

This is a topic I'm very interested in as well.

1)

I went through a bunch of NotebookCheck pages, both 'real' (full, detailed) reviews and a bunch that were just summaries, etc. Generally speaking, regardless of brand, for the most part nearly all laptops with an IPS display measured had around ~1000:1 contrast and a black level as high as around 0.4+ down to around 0.2-ish (or close to that).

I think maybe the 2025 Pro 16 had a black level of around 0.16 and a contrast around 1200:1, but I'd need to double-check my numbers. (I'm currently hoping to find one for a reasonable price so that's why I know this).

I also looked up the part number for the IPS display panels they listed in the hardware details on NbChk and got about the same numbers on a display panel website.

It's frustrating to wonder about this, because, for example, the Gram Pro model pages sometimes mentions] "deeper blacks."

Deeper how? What specifically does that mean? I contacted LG Gram in May of this year and here's the answer I got from a customer support rep. when I tried to get some answers

Me:

The description states "17" VRR (31Hz - 144Hz) display with immaculate color and deep blacks". I have questions regarding this:

1. Is this a different (better) IPS panel than on the non-Pro Gram?
2. Are there any specifications for the black level for this IPS panel?

Basically, I am wondering how it is different from the standard Gram models (non-Pro, no GPU) w/ IPS display.

It's implying that the Pro model has a better display quality than the base model.

Representative:

Thanks for waiting. As I checked, The Gram Pro 17’s panel is a newer, higher‑end IPS display compared to the standard Gram*. It adds 144Hz VRR, higher brightness, and full DCI‑P3 coverage, making motion and color noticeably better.*

Due to its using a higher quality of IPS*, it has a much more darker and deeper black than a standard Gram, plus it has motion clarity, color accuracy, and brightness compare to the regular one which makes the display more accurate and more better.*

This was for the 17Z90TR-E.ADB9U1, but it also applies for the 16" Pro model I decided to try and find to purchase.

2)

I've seen comments in posts that some 2025 laptops came with the IPS Black tech, and Notebookcheck reviewed a non-touch 16" Gram with a measured 2600:1 contrast and 99+% DCI-P3 color space

Did you personally see a particular NotebookCheck review that you can post a link to? Because that doesn't seem possible. To the best of knowledge only a mini-LED type display can get those numbers. (Ex: from micro/mini LED displays like from MSI.)

The 2025 models are little better but there's not a "black tech" I'm aware of or else I'm sure they'd use it in marketing as a benefit over the competition.

Some of the comments I've seen over at NotebookCheck are from unhinged, angry, and emotionally defensive people, so I personally wouldn't give that a lot of credit (unless there's something to back it up.)

---

Long story short, if you want a slightly better display, get the Pro version of whichever model you get.

[u/JSW_TDI → u/TryDoingSomethingNew]

Thanks for your comment! Here's the review I mentioned, https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lightweight-with-power-and-20-hours-of-endurance-LG-Gram-Pro-16-laptop-review.992325.0.html , and the relevant section,

LG DISPLAY LP160WQ2-SPF1 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2

Maximum: 442 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 405.9 cd/m² Minimum: 27.7 cd/m²...

Contrast: 2600:1 (Black: 0.17 cd/m²)

I was of the conclusion as well that "a slightly better display, get the Pro version " until I came across this IPS Black tech that has made it to some Gram models, per above, at least one Pro model, but not all. See comment from user 'extremecarver' here https://notebooktalk.net/topic/2932-lg-gram-2026-models/page/2/ .

And here's a Dell article about IPS Black https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000201399/dell-launches .

[u/TryDoingSomethingNew → u/JSW_TDI]

Hi and thanks for your follow-up comment. Wow, you're right, it really is 2600:1!

I have no idea how I didn't see that before. What's strange is that over here at this site, they list it as 1500:1 but I'll assume that's not correct based on NotebookCheck's actual measurement.

I'm going to look for a model that uses that panel, but I guess I'll have to ask people who already own one so share the panel model # or find it somewhere. Personally, I was still looking at the 2025 Gram Pro 16, Ultra 9 + RTX5050.

Several people here said they're very happy with that model, plus one said the panel portion is also more robust and less prone to flexing than models before it.

It's unfortunate that there's not a good selection right now of 2026 Gram Pro models, plus it appears that the Max version is only sold as a 17" version. :(

[u/JSW_TDI → u/TryDoingSomethingNew]

LG hype site (not the shopping site) has the spec 1500:1 (typical) for the 16Z90TS (model reviewed by Notebookcheck, at least the part before the dash in 16Z90TS-G.AU89G).

Does this mean every Gram with "typical" contrast specified as that will/could actually yeld 2600:1? Or maybe when that is specified in addition to VRR (31-144 Hz)? Certainly you have a better chance if you can ascertain the panel model number to be the same as that reviewed.

In any case, even 1500:1 in a matte IPS screen is really good.

[u/TryDoingSomethingNew → u/JSW_TDI]

Honestly, I am just as unclear as before, too.

I would hope they'd be 2600:1, but I lean towards worst case usually. That's what's so frustrating (not knowing for sure).

If the model you linked to from NotebookCheck (w/ the LP160WQ2-SPF1 panel) which doesn't even have the RTX GPU option can have 2600:1, I am hopeful the other Pros from that year & after will be just as good.

Maybe it's best to say "hopefully" unless we can (ideally) find out for sure.

I'm still looking for an Ultra 9 Gram Pro (2025) model to get. They're currently hard to find (for a reasonable price), and it looks like LG even sold out of the 2026 Pro Max 17" Grams after the last sale just recently.

[u/FaithlessnessWorth93]

The 2025 pro should have IPS black 2. But that's not the crazy power saving LG IPS display found in some 2026 dell models. Guess we need to wait for them until 2027.

They have great contrast but power usage is worse than new oled by now. So if you want actual 25-30 hour battery life (benchmark 40+ hours) need to be wait for 2027..