Laptop Screen Upgrade Possibilities
Reasons to upgrade the screen
Many laptops are equipped with low grade displays, as laptop manufacturers can achieve lower price. This may limit the user experience and make working with the laptop uncomfortable. Fortunately replacing a non-touch screen with a better one is almost always possible and affordable. This opportunity must be considered especially when there is another reason to replace e.g. a faulty or damaged screen.
Touchscreens are almost never possible to be replaced with a different type, so they will not be mentioned further.
What can be improved?
There are several features that can be improved by replacing the display:
- Resolution - the higher resolution provides fine image and represents more graphical information. It is very useful for e.g. electronic tables;
- Technology - replacing a TN screen (a.k.a SVA - Standard Viewing Angle) with IPS screen (WVA or UWVA - Ultra Wide Viewing Angle) is possible almost always and contributes to overall higher image quality;
- Advanced specifications - Brightness, Contrast, Color gamut, etc. can be improved;
- Speed - higher refresh rate and low response time are important for gaming laptops.
Upgrade conditions
- Mechanical - both the old and the new screen must have the same outline dimensions and connector positions;
- Interface - LVDS and eDP are not interchangeable; number of pins and pitch (connector size) must be the same, e.g. 30-pin 20mm; 40-pin 25mm; 40-pin 20mm, etc.;
- Hardware - The laptop may be limited by GPU, BIOS, or most often - by the screen cable. E.g. most LVDS cables have 40-pin connectors, but there are only 30 wires connected to it. These cables are limited to HD Ready 1366x768 resolution. Another example: many modern HP laptops with 40-pin 25mm interface support Ultra HD (4K) resolution, but do not support QHD (2.5K) resolution.
In order to discover whether your laptop's screen is upgradeable, you must first identify the current screen. Then you can look at the diagrams below, and ask us for advice. We have always encouraged our potential customers to contact us, because we have many years of on-field experience and we can provide information that is unavailable from other sources.
You will find below upgrade-downgrade chains with the most common types of screens from 14" to 17.3". There are very few opportunities for smaller screens, so they are not listed here.
represents the chance of success to upgrade to a higher class screen
represents the chance of success to downgrade to a lower class screen
LVDS screens - only the resolution can be an upgrade criterion. Most screens with higher resolution provide higher contrast and gamut too.
14" normal | B140XW01, N140B6-L02, N140BGE-L11 -L12, LP140WH1(TL), LP140WH4(TL), LTN140AT02, LTN140AT07, HT140WXB, BT140GW01 | <30% | B140RW01, B140RW03, LP140WD1(TL)(xx), LTN140KT01, LTN140KT04, LTN140KT07, N140O6-L01 -L02, N140FGE-L11 -L12 | Usually possible on HP EliteBook and Dell Latitude business laptops. | ||
14" slim | B140XW02, B140XW03, B140XTN02.0, B140XTN03.1, LP140WH2(TL)(..), LP140WH8(TL)(..), LP140WHU(TL)(..), N140BGE-L31 -L41 -L42, N140B6-L06, LTN140AT08, LTN140AT10, LTN140AT11, LTN140AT12 | <30% | B140RW02, B140RTN03.1, LTN140KT03, LTN140KT05, LTN140KT12, LP140WD2(TL)(..), N140FGE-LA2 | Usually possible on HP EliteBook and Dell Latitude laptops. Lenovo ThinkPad T420/T430 may require a different cable. | ||
15.6" normal | BT156GW01; B156XW02, B156XTN02.0 2.1 2.2 2.3, LP156WH2(TL)(..), LP156WH4(TL)(..),LTN156AT02, LTN156AT05, LTN156AT17, LTN156AT24, LTN156AT32, N156B6-L.., N156BGE-L11, N156B -L21, NT156WHM-N50 | <20% | LTN156KT02, LTN154KT04, B156RW01, LP156WD1, N156O6-L01 | >90% | B156HTN01.0, B156HTN01.1, B156HW01, B156HW02, LP156WF1(TL), LTN156HT01, LTN156HT02, N156HGE-L11 | Resolution over HD Ready is usually supported by business laptops like HP EliteBook, Dell Latitude and Lenovo ThinkPad. |
15.6" slim | B156XW04 v.0-v.5, N156BGE-L41, LP156WH3(TL)(..), LP156WHB(TL)(..), B156XW03, B156XTN03.2, LTN156AT30, LTN156AT35, NT156WHM-N10 | <20% | B156HW03 v.0, B156HTN02.1, B156HTN03.2, B156HTN03.3, B156HAN01.0, N156HGE-LA1 -LB1 -LG1, LP156WF4(TL)(..), LP156WF6(TL)(..) | Possible only on some Dell Latitude business laptops. Almost never possible on consumer laptops. | ||
17.3" normal | B173RW01, LTN173KT01, LTN173KT02, N173O6, LP173WD1(TL)(..), N173FGE-L11 -L21 |
>90% | N173HGE-L11 -L21, B173HW02 V.1, LP173WF1(TL)(..) | Possible almost always except on a few Lenovo IdeaPad and Fujitsu laptops. | ||
eDP screens by size and form factor
14" 16:9 screens
14" eDP 30-pin, 320mm wide
|
LP140WHU(TP), LP140WH2(TP), LP140WH8(TP), B140XTN02.E 2.1 3.2 3.3 3.4, LTN140AT20, LTN140AT29, LTN140AT35, N140BGE-E33, HB140WX1-301 -401 |
>90% |
B140RTN02.3, B140RTN03.0, N140FGE-EA2, N140FGE-E32, LP140WD2(TP)(..) |
>90% |
N140HGE-EAA -EA1, NT140FHM-N41, B140HTN01.1, B140HTN01.2, B140HTN01.E, HB140FH1-401 |
100% |
N140HCE-EAA -EAB, N140HCA-EAA -EAB, B140HAN01.1, B140HAN01.2, B140HAN01.3, B140HAN02.1, LP140WF3(SP), LP140WF6(SP), NV140FHM-N41 |
100% |
Full HD 1920x1080 IPS New models - 315mm wide with mounting brackets N140HCA-EAC, TV140FHM-NH1, B140HAN04.0, NV140FHM-N48 -N49 |
14" eDP 30-pin, 315mm wide
|
B140XTN07.1 .2 .3, N140BGA-EA4, N140BGA-EB4, NT140WHM-N34, NT140WHM-N44, NT140WHM-N46, MB140AN01-2 |
>90% |
B140HTN02.0, N140HGA-EA1, NT140FHM-N32, NT140FHM-N43, NT140FHM-N44, NT140FHM-N45 |
100% |
B140HAN04.0 .1 .5, LM140LF2L, LM140LF3L, LP140WF8(SP)(P.), LP140WFA(SP)(..), LP140WFH(SP)(D.), N140HCA-EAC -EAD -EAE, NV140FHM-N48 -N49 -N4B -N4H -N4K -N4L -N4M -N4V -N4X |
100% |
Full HD 1920x1080 IPS High end N140HCE-EN2, N140HCE-GP2, NV140FHM-N6C, N140HCG-GQ2, NE140FHM-N61, NV140FHM-N61 |
15.6" 16:9 screens
15.6" eDP 30-pin, 360mm wide
|
B156XW04 v.6 v.7, B156XTN03.1 3.5, B156XTN04.0 4.1, B156XTN07.0 7.1, LP156WHB(TP), LP156WH3(TP), LTN156AT39; N156BGE-E.. N156BGA-E.., NT156WHM-N12 -N32 -N42 |
>90% |
N156HGA-E..; N156HGE-E..; B156HTN03, B156HW03, NT156FHM-N41 |
>90% |
LP156WF4(SP), LP!56WF6(SP), B156HAN04.., B156HAN06.., LM156LF1L, LM156LF3L, LM156LF6L, NV156FHM-N42 -N43 -N46 |
100% |
Full HD 1920x1080 IPS New models - 350mm wide with mounting brackets N156HCA-EAA and many others |
100% |
Full HD 1920x1080 IPS High end N156HCA-GA3 and many |
15.6" eDP 30-pin, 350mm wide, 280mm wide control board
|
N156BGA-EA3, NT156WHM-N34 -N35 -N44 -N45 -N48, B156XTN08.0, B156XTN08.1 |
>90% |
B156HTN06.0, B156HTN06.1, B156HTN06.2, N156HGA-EA3, NT156FHM-N51 -N61 -N62 -N63 |
100% |
B156HAN02.1 2.2 2.3 2.4, LP156WF9(SP), N156HCA-EAB -EAC, NV156FHM-N47 -N48, LM156LFAL, LM156LFCL, LM156LF5L |
100% |
Full HD 1920x1080 IPS High end B156HAN09.0, NV156FHM-N61 -N66 -N6A -N6D, N156HCA-EA1 -EA3 -EN1, N156HCG -GQ1 |
15.6" eDP 30-pin, 350mm wide, 260mm wide control board for Lenovo
|
N156HGA-EA3, NT156FHM-N63 |
100% |
N156HCA-EAC Rev. C1 C2, LP156WFH(SP)(P1), NV156FHM-N4S |
100% |
Full HD 1920x1080 IPS High end N156HCG -EN1, NV156FHM-N69 |
Gaming screens 15.6" 350mm wide, eDP 40-pin 25mm, high refresh rate
|
NV156FHM-NX1 -NX2 -N4U, LM156LFGL, B156HAN13.0 13.1 13.2 |
100% |
B156HAN08.0, B156HAN08.2, B156HAN08.3, B156HAN08.4, LM156LF2F, N156HMA-GA1, N156HRA-EA1 |
100% |
Full HD 1920x1080 IPS 144Hz High end NV156FHM-N4G, NV156FHM-N4K |
>90% |
Full HD 1920x1080 IPS 165Hz High end NV156FHM-NY8 |
Gaming screens 15.6" 350mm wide, eDP 40-pin 20mm, high refresh rate
|
B156HAN12.1, NV156FHM-NY7 -NY9, LP156WFG(SP)(T1) |
>90% |
Full HD 1920x1080 IPS 240Hz LQ156M1JW03, LQ156M1JW09, NE156FHM-NZ1 -NZ2 |
>90% |
B156HAN12.0, LQ156M1JW25, LP156WFG(SP)(V2) |
>50% |
B156HAN12.5, LQ156M1JW30, NE156FHM-NZ3 |
16" 16:10 screens
16" eDP 40-pin 25mm backside connector (bent board)
|
N160JME-GTK |
100% |
NV160WUM-NX1 -NX3, NE160WUM-NX2 -NX6, N160JME-GEK -GT1 |
>90% |
NE160QDM-NY1 -NY3, MNG007DA1-1, MNG007DA1-8 |
>90% |
NE160QDM-NZ2 |
16" eDP 40-pin 25mm, bottom board
|
WUXGA 1920x1200 IPS 120Hz or more |
>90% |
NE160QDM-N62 |
>90% |
NE160QDM-N64 |
>90% |
NE160QDM-NY2 |
<80% |
NE160QDM-NZ1 |
17.3" 16:9 screens
17.3" 400mm wide, eDP 30-pin |
N173FGA-E34 -E44, B173RTN02.1 2.2, LTN173KT04, NT173WDM-N11 -N21 |
>90% |
N173HCE-E31, B173HAN01.0 1.3, LP173WF4(SP)(F1.), LP173WF4(SP)(K1.), NV173FHM-N41 |
17.3" 390mm wide, eDP 30-pin |
B173RTN03.0 3.1, NT173WDM-N15 -N23 |
>90% |
B173HAN04.8, NV173FHM-N49 |
100% |
Full HD 1920x1080 IPS High gamut B173HAN04.2 4.3, N173HCE-E3A -E3B -E3C |
17.3" 390mm wide, eDP 40-pin (Gaming and design) |
B173HAN04.7, NV173FHM-NX1 |
>90% |
B173HAN04.9, NV173FHM-N49 |
100% |
Full HD 1920x1080 IPS 144Hz High gamut B173HAN04.0, N173HCE-G33, NV173FHM-N44 -N4A -NY1 |
>80% |
QHD 2560x1440 IPS 165Hz High gamut NE173QHM-NY1 |
>90% |
QHD 2560x1440 IPS 240Hz High gamut NE173QHM-NZ1 -NZ2 |
