The Lenovo ThinkVision P34w-20 is a sophisticated hub monitor that offers accurate color and fantastic suitability for business applications. It features USB-C and KVM functionality which will enable it to work as an all-in-one display for your workstation devices. However, the Lenovo ThinkVision P34w-20 is quite pricey since its category has recently been competitive, so let’s check it out to see if it’s worth the investment.
Lenovo ThinkVision P34w-20 Specifications
- Screen Size: 34 Inches
- Resolution: 3440 x 1440 UW-QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 300 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 3 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, DP 1.2 Out x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 1, USB-C 3.1 PD65 x 1, USB 3.0 x 3, RJ45 x 1, 3.5mm Audio Jack x 1
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 32.2″ x 18.5″ x 9.6”
- Weight: 23.81 lbs
Design and Features
The Lenovo ThinkVision P34w-20 looks like most ThinkVision monitors so it looks sophisticated and business-oriented. The monitor has a matte black finish with subtle red accents on the base and at the back. The display is bezel-free on three sides, so there are fewer distractions while working or enjoying media.
It is not sized like your usual business monitor, so you have to take into account its dimensions and your desk space before buying. The monitor’s 32-inch width can cover your speakers, but at least it’s less than 10 inches in depth so it shouldn’t make your workspace feel cramped. It is quite heavy at 23.81 pounds, so it might be wise to ask for help during assembly and setup.
Its build quality is superb as expected from a brand that’s popular because of the functionality and reliability of its products. It uses plenty of plastics, but you’ll know that the panels are property reinforced since they don’t flex with moderate force. The stand is stable and firm so the screen doesn’t shake or sag unless you nudge it accidentally.
What we first disliked about it is its use of OSD buttons instead of a joystick which is more convenient. The button layout is at least labeled at the front of the bottom bezel, but it still takes more time to manipulate and navigate the OSD. Premium models like this should employ as many creature comforts as possible since they usually ask for more money versus competitors.
The stand included with the package offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for your convenience. It’s easy to get a comfortable viewing angle with the default setup so you won’t have to spend more cash to upgrade it. You can use VESA mounts, but they only become necessary if you have multiple displays or if desk space is limited.
One of the highlights of the Lenovo ThinkVision P34w-20 is its connectivity layout which includes DisplayPort 1.2, DP 1.2 out for daisy-chaining, HDMI 2.0 slot, and a USB-C connector with 65W and DP Alt mode. The video inputs are rounded by KVM functionality so you can maximize your workflows through different systems.
You also get an RJ45 LAN port, an audio jack, and three USB 3.0 slots for peripherals and accessories. All of these add more possibilities in the way you can use the display for your work. The USB-C slot technically fulfills its hub monitor classification since it allows you to dock a laptop as well, provided that it only needs a maximum of 65 watts to charge while its in use.
The Lenovo ThinkVision P34w-20 also has built-in speakers with 3 watts of power per channel. They are usable for basic tasks like conference calls and background music. However, they aren’t powerful enough for media consumption and gaming, so you will still need headsets for that.
Display and Performance
The v boasts a 34-inch IPS panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 4ms minimum response time. The backlight has a 300 cd/m2 maximum while the contrast is listed at 1000:1 like most IPS panels. This monitor is a business model so it doesn’t have entertainment-grade specs like HDR certification or Adaptive Sync.
34-inch QHD or UWQHD monitors are perfect for productivity since they offer extra space that will allow you to tile multiple applications together. This makes workflows smoother and faster, so the idea is that you will get more done with a display like it. It’s also sharper and more detailed than your typical office display so reading and viewing will be a pleasure.
The Lenovo ThinkVision P34w-20 renders 99% sRGB and 80% DCI-P3 for full vibrancy and correct saturation. Its not the most accurate out of the box, but its deltaE average of only 2.15 means most won’t feel the need to calibrate it. It is ready for use right away unless your work involves photo and video editing.
Calibrating it reduced that dE average to 0.89 which makes it suitable for color-critical work. The problem is that you will need a colorimeter to achieve this since there is no way to correctly tweak and measure it without one. The gadget itself isn’t cheap, so getting it will only be practical if the best possible accuracy is essential to your job.
Its backlight reached 297 cd/m2 at 100% so it can fight off glare in well-lit rooms. Its contrast reached 934:1 at 60% brightness so it’s within the specification of the IPS panel. However, that also means that it can’t produce deep blacks like VA panels, so night or dark scenes can look washed out or grayish.
The Lenovo ThinkVision P34w-20’s panel uniformity had some issues due to inconsistencies in the backlight’s spread. There are also some backlight leaks on the top and bottom edges of the screen which will show up as clouding on dark images. Note that this is normal for IPS monitors, but it’s also entirely possible to get a better unit due to this technicality.
It’s also not the most responsive monitor out there since it’s limited to 60Hz and it is not designed for fast-paced applications. It is not blurry per se, but some persistence and smudges can be noticeable in quick or contrasting transitions. You need to use its overdrive, although using its maximum level won’t be ideal since it induces visible overshoot.
The Lenovo ThinkVision P34w-20 doesn’t have FreeSync or G-Sync like most of the brand’s ThinkVision models. That’s understandable since they were designed for business, although VRR would be handy in this resolution. Input lag sits at 9ms at 60Hz, so it is not sluggish even if you use it for casual gaming.
Thoughts on the Lenovo ThinkVision P34w-20
The Lenovo ThinkVision P34w-20 is a great choice if you need a well-designed solution for business or remote work needs. Its equipped with essential features like USB-C, plus its IPS panel offered excellent image quality in both its default and calibrated state. It is built like a tank just like the other ThinkVision devices in various fields, so it should last quite a while to make the investment worth it.
However, the Lenovo ThinkVision P34w-20 is quite expensive for a monitor with a common screen. Devices with similar specifications like the Dell P3421W cost less, although some special features like KVM are missing. This option is a good investment, but it’s only practical if you truly need its unique features.
Pros:
- Excellent Accuracy (Default and Calibrated)
- Plenty of Features
- USB-C
- Simple Design and Robust Build
Cons:
- Expensive
- Limited Availability
- Low Contrast and High Black Luminance
About the Author: Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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