Lenovo ThinkVision M14d 2.2K Portable Monitor Review

---

The Lenovo ThinkVision M14d is the successor (or a variant?) to the original ThinkVision M14 we reviewed before. It is a 14-inch high-resolution portable monitor that requires only one USB-C connector for both image signal and power.

The new monitor is priced at $500 (MSRP), substantially more than the $249 its predecessor launched at. Let’s review the technical specs and in-person tests before you can decide if Lenovo has priced this correctly.

Industrial Design

Lenovo has kept the overall successful design of the original ThinkVision M14, and they look strikingly similar from a distance. The new model is slightly heavier at 1.3 Lbs (vs. 1.26 Lbs), but you won’t feel the difference. I only saw this while scanning the specifications.

The new M14d has an aspect ratio of 16:10 instead of 16:9, which matches Lenovo’s new laptops that have also transited. 16:10 provides a bit more vertical space, which is better for productivity and looks better if the external display matches the laptop display ratio.

The monitor can lay flat on a table or stand up at a 90-degree angle, making it usable as a regular display, a low-laying control monitor, or even a VESA-mounted screen. There’s even a foldable support to raise the height of the monitor if needed slightly.

Nowadays, I always travel with a couple of laptops and an external monitor. It’s just tough to do heavy editing or coding on a 14” or 15.6” laptop monitor, and having an additional monitor boosts productivity. The downside is that you must transport it, which is why the featherweight is incredibly useful here. Fortunately, Lenovo has included a protection sleeve.

At the moment, I would worry about having it inside a suitcase. Still, conceptually, that’s possible since there is no internal battery, and airlines would probably not mind if you transport it in checked luggage. I would worry about the display flexing too much when subject to airline transportation luggage abuse.

It is compatible with a VESA 100 mount, although you might have to use shorter screws because this display is much thinner than your typical desktop flat monitor. I tried mounting it on a VESA arm, and that worked well too.

Dimensions: 314.35 x 215.28 x 14.05 mm
Viewable area: 301.52 x 188.45 mm

Ports and Interface

The monitor stand has two USB-C connectors, one on each side. They include video signal transmission in DP 1.2 Alt Mode, and the data protocol is USB 2.0. The monitor also acts as a USB HUB and has a USB PD power passthrough.

If you have a single USB-C port on the laptop, you can still connect the monitor to the computer and a peripheral to the second monitor’s USB-C port. Ideally, the laptop would have two USB-C ports, one for Power.

You can connect a power source (up to 65W) to charge a laptop via the monitor’s USB-C port. It is also possible to connect peripherals (USB HUB, Keyboard, Mouse, etc.) to the available USB-C connector. Note that USB devices connected to the monitor should consume less than 2.5 Watts (5V/0.5A) per the USB 2.0 standard.

There’s a rocker to control the display’s brightness, and for physical security, a Kensington lock is available if you want to secure the monitor to a desk.

Without a PC

If you connect the monitor to a USB-C (5V/1.5A) power source, it is possible to use the second USB-C port to connect a phone, console, or other compatible devices to the monitor (=USB-C DP Alt-mode ). We’ve demonstrated this in our previous ThinkVision M14 review, and nothing has changed concerning that.

The lowest supported resolution is 640×480 (60/70Hz), and the maximum resolution is 2240×1440 (60Hz). Almost all of the standard resolutions in-between are supported, but download the user manual from the Lenovo website (PDF) if you want to be 100% sure.

Could -almost- be a teleprompter display

When using this monitor, I thought that Lenovo should add a little bit of electronic to allow for a “mirror” mode because the ThinkVision M14d’s size makes it compatible with many teleprompters.

The only thing missing is a mirror mode, the image that would flip the image horizontally to make text readable when looking at the teleprompter’s mirror. Mac OS has a mirror mode, so mac users can go ahead without this addition, but Windows users would benefit from it.

Lenovo could add this simple feature and ultimately own that teleprompter display market because “teleprompter” displays don’t typically impress with their image quality, design, and capabilities.

Display Quality

The image quality is excellent, with a maximum brightness of 300 NITs and nearly a 100% sRGB color gamut. This level of image quality is difficult to reach for portable monitors, and it’s not uncommon to see competitors with barely 65% coverage of the sRGB gamut.

The 2240×1400 resolution is visibly superior to the previous 1080p resolution. Such a pixel density makes text smoother, and everything is more agreeable if your visual acuity can see such details.

This monitor is great for general work, including coding, web development, and creative/photo/video semi-professional work.

Conclusion

There’s no question that the Lenovo ThinkVision M14d (official page) is a great portable monitor. It is incredibly mobile and light, but at the same time, it can work in a professional environment and be VESA-mounted.

Its image quality makes it one of the best options for professionals. The 2.2K resolution is noticeably more comfortable for the eyes when working on small text or graphics with minute details.

But the $499 price is, without a doubt, a friction point, especially when you can buy its predecessor for $250 or less. I think that Lenovo understands this, and when I checked, I often saw this monitor being direct sold at Lenovo.com for much less.

If the price seems too high, check the actual “street price” for this monitor, and you might be pleasantly surprised. If you want something a bit bigger, I’ve also tried the ThinkVision M15 because I like the 15.6” size. I hope to see a ThinkVision 17” soon!

Hubert Nguyen
Categories: Reviews
Tags: Lenovo, Lenovo reviews, monitors