The tests and what to look for
- Colour gradients: should look smooth. Visible stripes mean colour banding – common on budget 6-bit laptop panels.
- Grey uniformity: on a dark grey screen, look for brighter corners or cloudy patches (backlight bleed / clouding).
- Sharpness grid: fine lines should look crisp, not shimmering – useful to confirm you’re at native resolution.
- Colour bars: colours should be distinct and saturated.
- Contrast steps: you should tell apart the darkest and brightest few steps. If they merge, adjust brightness/contrast.
Tips for accurate testing
- Set brightness to around 70–100% and test in a dim room for bleed.
- Use the screen at 100% scaling and native resolution (see our resolution checker).
- Turn off night light / blue light filters, which tint colours.
TN vs IPS laptop screens
Older budget laptops often use TN panels – colours shift when you tilt the screen. IPS panels keep colours consistent from any angle. When we list laptops at BudgetLappy, we mention whether the screen is HD or Full HD; IPS FHD is what we recommend for daily use.
Frequently asked questions
What is backlight bleed?
Light leaking around the edges of an LCD panel, visible on dark screens. Some bleed is normal on most LCD laptops.
Does this work for external monitors?
Yes, move the browser to the monitor before starting a pattern.