PC Monitors

The IPS panels manufactured by LG Electronics seem to have been gathering a fair bit of pace recently. Recent launches and refreshes from the likes of HP, Dell and Apple have sparked some renewed interest in this alternative to the popular (and cheap) TN LCD panel. This competition has also driven down prices and has lead to the IPS panel, once a monitor choice only for professionals, becoming far more sought after by home users. Early next year (possibly March – April), Hazro are set to launch some new 23 inch and 24 inch IPS PC Monitors – including models with various forms of LED backlighting (both WLED and coloured). Some early (and subject to change) details on these monitors can be found on TFT Central, including the promising news that Hazro’s new 23 inch panels will be specially tested for colour uniformity. TFT Central also plans to test an early sample of one of Hazro’s new monitors shortly – we’ll update you as soon as that is posted.

Apple are usually one to set the standard, but this time they seem to be chasing it with the announcement of their new 27 inch LED Cinema Display. Apple’s range of IPS computer monitors (the cinema displays) only recently came in LED-backlit flavours – resulting in lower power consumption, a brighter image and no warmup time after powering on the monitor. Over the years we have seen a gradual shift to larger computer screens (as well as TVs) and many manufacturers now offer 24 inch models and some 27 inch monitors. The latter size has gathered increasing popularity recently at the low end and the high end. Manufacturers such as Iiyama, Acer, Samsung ASUS and HannsG all provide strikingly affordable 27 inchers – but they are all somewhat limited by their 1950×1080 (full HD) resolution. Dell dominates the high-end with their 2560×1440 (WQHD) 27-inch UltraSharp U2711, although NEC and HP also provide some premium monitors of this size.

Apple has jumped in at the premium end, offering a 27 incher with pleasing specifications. Sharing the stunning 2560×1440 resolution and IPS panel technology with the Dell and then adding an LED backlight to the mix is surely a winner as far as image quality is concerned. Additonal features such as the iSight camera (very clever) and built in microphone and speakers are also welcome. The monitor also provides an ambient light sensor to adjust the image brightness according to the lighting in the room – although you probably guessed that from the sensor name, anyway. The only thing that may be worrying to some, aside from the pricetag (999 USD or probably >£700 in the UK) is the iResponse time of 14ms. Although this may seem staggeringly high compared to some other PC Monitors of late, it is actually the ISO response time that is being given here and not grey to grey. Apple’s new object of iDesire is set to launch in September for 999 USD – if you can afford it, it is a very attractive and high performance computer monitor. If not you could always sell your iPhone.

Apple LED Cinema Display 27

Some of our regular readers are probably itching to see more reviews and are worried that we have stopped doing them – but do not fret. We will be getting our hands on the Samsung Lapfit LD220H next week and will be prodding it, probing it and just generally giving it a good thorough testing. The LD220H, like all lapfit screens, looks a little like the screen of a laptop and not ordinary computer monitors- they are designed with a compact kickstand so that they can be used as an additional laptop screen, at the correct height. The LD220H also has another feature that we are keen to test out, as it doubles as an HDTV.

ASUS has released the VG236H, that is more than just a computer monitor. The VG236H is sold as a complete ‘kit’, which includes a 120Hz ’3D’ PC monitor and Nvidia 3D Vision glasses and receiver. All you need in addition is a nice PC with a compatible Nvidia graphics card – most modern Nvidia GPUs will do the job nicely. The VG236H monitor itself is a highly adjustable screen and features a 1920×1080 (1080p ‘Full HD’) resolution, 2ms response time, 120Hz refresh rate and a brilliant 400cd/m2 brightness. As with the recently announced LG W63D this high brightness level is a selling point of the monitor and is given a fancy ‘technological’ name (in this case, ‘Asus Color Shine Technology’) – whether this brightness level can be achieved without washing the image out remains to be seen, but if it can then we are in for an eye-popping 3D treat. The 2ms is marginally higher than the LG W63D’s 3ms, but again it is enhanced by a special overdrive technology (in this case, ‘ASUS Exclusive Trace Free II Technology’). The ASUS VG236H is due for immediate UK release and is priced at around £385 (remember – that includes a nice monitor and an Nvidia 3D Vision set).

Update: Overclock3D has posted a review of the ASUS VG236H. They talk in depth about 3D technology and also about their ‘real world’ experiences with the VG236H. They are impressed by most aspects of the monitor but find the screen itself to be much too glossy.

ASUS VG236H 3D monitor with Nvidia 3D Vision

LG have surprised us (in a good way) with the announcement of the LGW2363D 120Hz ’3D’ gaming monitor, which is due for imminent global release. The LGW2363D, known as the W63D for short (thankfully), features ‘enhanced 3D’ through the use of 172Hz processing. This doesn’t mean that the monitor supports a 172Hz refresh rate, but if the hype is to be believed it should make for a very smooth 3D experience. Other notable features of the W2363D include a ‘G-mode’ (gaming mode, that is) 3ms reponse time and a fairly brilliant (if true) 400cd/m2 luminance. We assume this is the maximum luminance and it remains to be seen whether this can be achieved without washing out the entire image, but even if the monitor comes close to this value it should make for an eye-popping 3D experience. As you would expect from this 23-incher, it’s a TN screen with a 1920×1080 (‘Full HD’) resolution.

At £280, the price is very much inline with recently launched 23 inch+ 3D computer monitors (such as the Acer GD245HQ). And for those of you thinking that is prohibitively expensive – look into its eyes.

LG W2363D 3D gaming monitor - look into my eyes.