The Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30 is a high-end monitor designed to meet the demands of executives and professionals. It offers an expansive IPS Black display and comes heavily armed with connectivity that makes it a flexible tool for your workstation. However, it is pricey, like the nearly identical Dell U4924DW, so it deserves a deeper look to know if it’s a worthy investment.
Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30 Specifications
- Screen Size: 49 Inches
- Resolution:5120 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 32:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS Black)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 2000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Speakers: Yes (2 x 5 Watts)
- Stand: Height–Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel–Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (200 x 100, 100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 DSC x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, USB-C Thunderbolt 4 PD100W x 1, USB-C Thunderbolt 4 Out PD27W x 1, USB 3.2 x 4, USB 3.2 Upstream x 1, RJ45 LAN x 1, 3.5mm Jack
- Dimension (W x H x D): 47.84” x 22.69” x 9.99”
- Weight: 34.83 lbs
Design and Features
The Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30 has a more industrial aesthetic similar to what most P-series Lenovo monitors have. The design resembles the old IBM aesthetic with its all-matte black finish with very discrete red accents. It has very minimal bezels, which are very hard to notice due to the massive size of the display.
Unboxing this thing is a challenge because its so big and heavy like most of its counterparts. It doesn’t take up too much depth, and its base is flat and regular-shaped, but it’s almost four feet wide. It’s also very heavy for a monitor at almost 35 pounds, so seeking assistance is needed while setting it up.
Lenovo’s renowned build quality is also present on this model since it belongs to the ThinkVision portfolio. It has a lot of plastic, but everything is precise and durable. The included stand is firm and stable, although it can still slightly wobble because of its sheer size and weight.
The Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30 has an OSD joystick at the back for easy access to its settings and features. Lenovo designed the OSD quite well since it’s easier to navigate and manipulate compared to what other brands offer. You also get functionality with Lenovo Artery 2.0, so there isn’t much the brand can do in this regard when it comes to convenience.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for your convenience. Pivoting wasn’t included since it’s impossible to use a screen as wide as this in portrait mode. You can use VESA mounts, but they are only necessary in distinct instances.
The biggest attraction for the Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30 is its connectivity layout, which includes a ton of options. You get DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 slots, along with a 100W Thunderbolt 4 port. You also get a TB4 daisychain output with 27 watts, four USB 3.2 slots, a third USB-C slot with 15 watts, RJ45 LAN, and 3.5mm analog jack for headphones. These can help you streamline a complex workstation, making this monitor valuable for studios and executive offices.
The monitor is rounded up by a pair of 5-watt speakers for basic audio applications. They are loud and clear enough for conferencing and some media consumption, but they’re not great for entertainment or gaming. It also has existing support for the Lenovo MC60 camera, but that is, unfortunately, sold separately.
Display and Performance
The Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30 sports a 49-inch IPS Black panel with a 5120 x 1440 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 4ms response time. The backlight has a 350 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 2000:1. This model doesn’t advertise HDR features, but it isn’t equipped for true performance in that regard anyway.
DQHD or dual QHD literally means what it stands for since this monitor is equivalent to two 2560 x 1440 monitors minus the bezel in the middle. It will give you a massive canvas for fantastic productivity and workflows, adding an invaluable layer of convenience for daily tasks. It will need a better GPU to handle the stress in games, but this variant was not meant for that, and it’s only 60Hz.
The Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30 covered 100% sRGB and 93% DCI-P3 for fantastic colors in any medium. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of only 1.53, so most users can use it right away once it is out of the box and assembled. Only minor adjustments will be necessary unless you plan to use it for photo or video editing.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 0.6, putting it ahead of some editing monitors in the market. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to achieve the same results, and those are not cheap. We can only recommend them if you are into color-critical work, but it is completely unnecessary for other tasks.
Its backlight reached 351 cd/m2 at 100%, which is plenty for prolonged use if you are concerned about eye safety. Its contrast reached 1822:1 at 35% brightness, making it considerably better at rendering dark scenes than regular IPS monitors. It’s not comparable with VA or OLED types, but it’s a big improvement in that regard.
Its panel uniformity had some minor issues at the edges of the screen, but they are not disturbing most of the time. Dark scenes will reveal some clouding on the affected areas, but lighter or full-color backgrounds are not as affected. Note that this can vary with every unit made due to tolerances, so there are better ones out there.
The Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30 was not built for speed, so it’s not great for fast-paced games. Immersive titles are enjoyable on it, though, even if it’s limited to 60Hz. Using a modest amount of overdrive helped, but setting it too high added a bit of overshoot in some scenes.
The Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30 also doesn’t have FreeSync or G-Sync compatibility since it’s a business model. 60Hz is much these days, but optimizing your graphic settings is wise to keep framerates at 60Hz and avoid tearing. Its input lag sits at 10ms at 60Hz, so it is fast and responsive enough for all types of tasks.
Thoughts on the Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30
The Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30 is an excellent choice for a high-end workstation that requires functionality and great image quality. The IPS Black panel is tuned to be accurate out of the box, and it offers a contrast ratio that most IPS alternatives will not match. It is packed with modern features that are becoming more and more essential as we upgrade our computers to the latest models.
However, the Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30 had a very high MSRP of $1999.00 when it was released. We also hoped that it came bundled with the webcam gadget, even if its price has gone down quite a bit. It’s a fantastic business or editing monitor, but we recommend catching it at a sale.
Pros:
- Fantastic Colors and Contrast
- Crisp and Clear Screen
- Plenty of Connectivity Options
- USB-C Thunderbolt 4 Connectivity
Cons:
- Expensive
- Big and Heavy
- Built for Webcam, but Not Included
About the Author: 
Paolo has been 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; he believes that 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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