evthelegend wow this is good, have you been able to find a reason as to why these panels work so much better?
Seems like a lack of post-processing/sharpening/contrast enhancement/noise reduction "features" within the panel's LCD controller itself.
IMO, color post-processing -- especially types that easily manipulate depth perception like red/blue fringing -- seem to cause way more strain and "brain fog" for me, compared to flicker-related strain (with the exception of classic "strobe-like PWM that's both 'invisible' and intense" which gives me headaches, even in lightbulbs and CRTs.)
BTW, the panels are:
AUO B140RTN03.0 (1600x900 14" TN, Matte, manufactured 2015, revision H/W 6A, F/W 1).
AUO B140XTN02.D (1366x768 14" TN, Glossy, manufactured 2015, currently installed and forgot to write down revision lol).
They are 6-bit but dithering can be disabled with ditherig.exe. Disclaimer: they still have that "mild" PWM (but not strobe-like), and some pixel inversion flicker. But they are so comfortable compared to the other panels I've tried that I'm beginning to think flicker isn't the main issue here.
To install them in Lenovo T480, all I had to do was temporarily disable the battery in BIOS, take off the bezel, unscrew and disconnect the original panel, and screw the new one in.
The only "hard" part was slowly/carefully taking off the bezel the first time because they stick some adhesive to it. (After the first time, it's way easier to remove the bezel!)
Also, I still have Intel UHD drivers disabled even with better panels, if you want to know why, see details here:
I disable UHD 620 drivers in Windows (this means Windows uses Basic Display instead) since Intel drivers definitely can cause "their own issues" too. Even on my "safe" old laptop, the screen still gets worse with 2015-era drivers enabled -- there is "extra" colors I can see around sharp edges, and text looks fuzzier.
This is a different problem, unrelated to the LCD, that will take more effort to solve (for example, compiling custom Linux drivers which AFAIK no one has "seriously" done yet).
I agree with the older threads about "Intel-related" issues starting a LONG time ago with HD Graphics 4000 and Version 9 drivers -- still not fixed today.
Fortunately, laptops are fast enough now where scrolling, watching HD videos, running VMs, and having many browser tabs open is still smooth with Basic Display drivers. (You can also temporarily enable drivers to adjust brightness or enter sleep mode, and disable them after.)
There are also AMD Ryzen laptops with easily-swappable LCD like Lenovo T495, but I have no idea whether AMD graphics is better or worse. The only thing I know is that these panels are working on Lenovo T480 with Windows 10 v1809 + Intel drivers disabled.
I have a feeling newer/supported Windows 10 versions like 21H2 have a good chance of working with these panels too -- at least with drivers disabled -- unsure about Windows 11 though.
Here's why I think the AUO TN panels are working:
Many images that include lots of dense, high-contrast lines seem to be very "pure" in the area "around" the lines -- instead of feeling like all of the lines are "sticking my eyes to them" or have bluish or reddish glows/halos/shadows around them.
Another way to explain it is that looking at a part of the screen "feels the same" regardless if there's a totally blank space there, or if there's a really "complex" thing there.
(Whereas on "bad" screens, it is painful to look at any part of the screen where there is "complex information-dense content" or a "large blurry/stretched/distorted image", and the "painful areas" actually change depending on the onscreen content. That LG IPS I was "initially optimistic about" failed because it had this issue).
A test I did that I am VERY satisfied with, and has actually pushed these panels to the point I actually might recommend them, is that I set some "complex" images as my wallpaper like engineering diagrams or intricate architecture, and they didn't "distract me" from my work -- it felt the same as setting a simple wallpaper. Not even my original Lenovo Yoga can do this, so this is actually an improvement to my "safe screen".
I actually feel so freed by this, since it seems like I can finally use any wallpaper I want instead of needing to set a "solid color background" to focus.
(I originally thought this was purely because my brain needed less distractions and more simplicity, but again this seems to be actually caused by the screen itself.)
evthelegend will look more into trying a tn panel as my IPS doesn't seem to be cutting it.
TNs have more potential yes, but it doesn't seem like just TN alone is what makes these good.
As I mentioned, I have five old TN monitors and all of them are some degree "unusable" or "strainy" to me -- even one from 2005. Some are OK for "basic computer use", but immediately start messing with my brain once I start reading e.g. a textbook, a code file, or complex diagrams. Even if they're connected to an old computer.
Plus, I've tried old MacBooks with TN panels and they didn't work for me (even when running Windows/Linux). 2008 MBP had no PWM, but looked blurry and felt brain fog/tiredness/disorientation when reading documents. 2009 MBP was at least readable and "clear", but had super intense "strobe PWM" even at max brightness, in addition to some other weird color processing, and the strain was too painful to continue using it.
So these AUO TN laptop panels are super unique for me. For 4 days now I have been able to use them AND feel comfortable using them. And with some content, even more comfortable than my "safe screen" is(!) And they are connected to a semi-modern laptop. These are the first panels I've tried where, so far, I'm not feeling the urge to go back to my "safe screen".
Something to check after getting Tab Ultra is whether the virtual touch keyboard is smooth or is constantly missing keypresses. On my Ultra, the touch screen is super inaccurate even after installing third-party keyboards like SwiftKey.
Because of this, the Ultra is less useful for me than I wanted since I have to carry around an external keyboard to type anything. Also, the official magnetic keyboard disconnects constantly and can't be reliably used on surfaces that aren't totally flat like my lap.
IMO, if your Ultra ends up having the same issue, I'd suggest getting a Palma instead since my Palma has great touch accuracy. Using SwiftKey, I can type on Palma just as fast as my phone with no typos. (Or try one of their other tablets with pen support if you need that -- no idea about touch accuracy on those though)
Despite the smaller screen, the Palma is wayyyyy more useful for me since I can actually type on the touchscreen