Top 10 Monitors for 2012
November 24, 2011 Category: News No Comments 
As another year draws to a close it is a time for reflection and renewal. 2011 saw the launch of some very exciting monitors – including a number of 3D models using both active and passive technologies from the likes of LG, HP, Samsung, Acer and ASUS. It also saw a number of refreshes of popular monitor lines such as the Dell UltraSharp and HP ‘ZR’ series as well as various budget and mid-range consumer models. There was also the replacement of the iconic Samsung PX2370 and P2450 with some ‘refreshed’ models. We have kept a close eye on all of the monitor launches this year and have been continuously testing and gathering feedback to ensure that we can give the best impartial buying advice to confused users everywhere.
From this mountain of new computer monitors we have picked 10 of the best which offer something exceptional in the way of performance, aesthetics, features and value. These models were all released during 2011 but should offer excellent performance for years to come. Some of the models listed below come in various sizes. There is no guarantee that performance will be identical in all respects for the alternative sizes but in many cases the image produced will be similar. The order was also very difficult to pick – if you happen to prefer a monitor listed at 9 or 10 over one listed number 3 or 4 (for example) don’t lose sleep over it as they’re all excellent choices.
10 - LG D2342P
The LG D2342P incorporates the FPR (Film Pattern Retarder) passive 3D technology used in LG’s 3D TVs into a highly affordable 23” monitor. This technology works with both AMD and Nvidia GPUs using the lightweight and battery-free passive 3D polarising glasses (included). The monitor also includes ‘TruMotion 120Hz’ frame interpolation which is designed to smooth rapid motion in movies in particular by inserting intermediate frames. The monitor is otherwise your typical 23” 1920 x 1080 TN panel monitor and is one is the cheapest 3D-capable monitors currently on the market.
9 – ViewSonic VX2453mh-LED
The ViewSonic VX2453mh-LED strikes an excellent balance between price and performance. It is a thin, efficient and inexpensive 23.6” ‘full HD’ monitor which pumps out good natural colours with decent vibrancy and appropriate levels of saturation. Despite the low price ViewSonic has managed to include multiple HDMI ports, ‘SRS Premium’ speakers and a unique ‘dual stand’ design which allows you to choose between the conventional stand and an alternative ‘photo frame’ kickstand arrangement.
8 – Samsung S23A550H
The Samsung PX2370 was quite an iconic gaming monitor noted for its vibrant but varied colours, good contrast, exceptionally bright and efficient LED backlight and exceptional responsiveness. It also had a unique aesthetic appeal from its unusual ‘square’ look and Samsung’s usual ‘Touch of Colour’ refinements. The Samsung S23A550H is the ‘spiritual successor’ to this iconic monitor and offers much of what people love about the PX2370. The image is vibrant and varied image with plenty of adjustment options on the OSD. Responsiveness is exceptional with next to no input lag and well-handled pixel overdrive for low levels of trailing. The unique aesthetic charm is also there – and Samsung has thrown in some useful extras including ‘Eco’ motion and brightness sensors to allow the monitor to shut off when not needed and intelligently adjust the image according to ambient lighting.
7 – ASUS VE278Q
The ASUS VE278Q is a very well-rounded 27” monitor and quite easily one of the best 27” TN panel monitors around. The image is well balanced with a good shade variety, good level of vibrancy and strong contrast. It is also highly responsive with tuneable and well-implemented pixel overdrive (Trace Free) and low levels of input lag – making it an excellent choice for gamers. The monitor is exceptionally bright but with a good luminance adjustment range and also features an ‘AI Light’ feature which adjusts the screen brightness according to ambient conditions.
6 – Dell U2312HM
Dell is often a manufacturer people will turn to in the search for a high quality monitor that is easy to adjust, well-built and covered by a comprehensive warranty. The Dell U2312HM is the latest 23” IPS offering in the infamous UltraSharp series and fits the bill nicely. It offers excellent colour accuracy with good performance straight from the box and makes for a rich and varied experience in any application. It is also going to keep many gamers happy with its exceptionally low input lag and well implemented grey to grey acceleration – making it surprisingly responsive for an IPS panel monitor. The build quality and adjustability is also very good and the monitor is backed by one of the best in the business as far as warranty and customer service is concerned. More information can be found in our review.
5 – Samsung S27A950D
The Samsung S27A950D is the 27″ member of the SA950 series of 3D monitors. This model generated a lot of excitement at CES back in January 2011, not only because it would be one of the world’s first 27″ 120Hz 3D monitors but also because it looked rather unique and to many people stylish. The monitor certainly has plenty of aesthetic charm on the outside but also some ‘inner beauty’ – it isn’t all about style over substance as some may envisage. By combining Samsung’s glossy ‘Ultra Clear Panel’ screen surface and a well implemented 120Hz refresh rate you are left with a rich, vivid and fluid gaming experience that is simply one of the best available. The monitor also sports integrated 3D functionality using Samsung’s active shutter solution. More information in our review.
4 – Samsung S24A350H
The Samsung S24A350H is an excellent all-rounder and Samsung’s current mainstream 24” model. Technically the monitor replaces the excellent Samsung P2450H and equally excellent B2430H and aesthetically is some way between these with a more curved look than the P2450H but with some of the rose accents that are missing from the B2430H. Aside from being more slender and energy efficient, with an LED backlight, performance is very similar to the venerable models it replaces. Colour is well balanced giving images a good natural look with good shade variety and a nice hint of vibrancy where needed. Contrast is strong giving good bright whites and quite deep-looking with good distinctions in between. The responsiveness doesn’t let this monitor down either as it features good pixel overdrive which can be disabled if desired and exceptionally low input lag – and the price speaks for itself.
3 – Dell U2412M
The choice of modern 1920 x 1200 monitors is dwindling in favour of the increasingly ubiquitous 1920 x 1080 ‘Full HD’ resolution models. The Dell U2412M is the latest 24” addition to the UltraSharp range. It is a lower cost alternative to the U2410, ditching wide gamut colour support and the H-IPS panel in favour of the cheaper standard gamut WLED backlight and e-IPS panel. It does, however, retain an excellent level of stand adjustability and the 1920 x 1200 resolution whilst offering excellent IPS colour performance straight from the box. It is also highly responsive with low input lag and effective grey to grey acceleration to reduce trailing and make for a smoother gaming experience. It is very competitively priced and is easily one of the best all-rounders released in recent times. See our review for more information.
2 – Samsung S27A750D
The Samsung S27A750D turns a lot of heads with its super-thin bezels (even at the bottom), finger thin screen and chrome-covered stand. The monitor is just as nice to look at when it’s turned on, offering supremely rich and vibrant colours with stunning variety from its glossy Ultra Clear Panel screen surface. Colours are also unusually consistent for a TN panel monitor of the size which further stresses the point that TN panel monitors are not ‘all the same’. It is also exceptionally responsive with virtually no input lag, a true 120Hz refresh rate and well-implemented pixel overdrive that as good as eliminates trailing. The contrast performance is also excellent with deep blacks (perceptively very deep thanks to the screen surface), stunningly bright whites and clear and pure luminescent colours. The unit we reviewed also boasted very good luminance uniformity which further enhanced the image quality characteristics. On top of this it supports GPU-independent stereoscopic (active) 3D straight from the box – more information available in our review.
1 – LG IPS226V
As mentioned previously it is extremely difficult to pick out 10 of the best monitors released during what has been an excellent year for monitors and try to order them in some way. The PC monitor that we have given the number one spot to really does deserve ‘special praise’ for offering extraordinarily good value for money. The LG IPS226V is one of the cheapest IPS panel monitors around and is actually so cheap that people are put off buying it from a mixture of fear and confusion. Despite being priced similarly to TN panel offerings of the same size it can offer superior viewing angles and colour reproduction from its IPS panel which is really the ace up its sleeve. Furthermore the monitor is very responsive and quite similar in this regard to the more expensive modern IPS monitors from Dell and HP in particular – this is one area where most of the ‘cheap’ IPS models will fall down, but not this one. It truly is an exceptional product given the price and performance on offer.
Others to look out for
There were some models that came very close to making it into the ‘top 10’ but for various reasons didn’t make the shortlist. In some cases too little is known about the products, there are minor niggles, they aren’t widely available at time of writing or the dice simply didn’t roll in their favour when it came to shortlisting. The monitors listed below are excellent products in their own right and deserve a mention. There have been some other excellent monitors released this year, such as the HP ZR2440W, but there are just too many to list – feel free to discuss these in the ‘comments’ section.
There were some models that came very close to making it into the ‘top 10’ but for various reasons didn’t make the shortlist. In some cases too little is known about the products, there are minor niggles, they aren’t widely available at time of writing or the dice simply didn’t roll in their favour when it came to shortlisting. The monitors listed below are excellent products in their own right and deserve a mention. There have been some other excellent monitors released this year, such as the HP ZR2440W, but there are just too many to list – feel free to discuss these in the ‘comments’ section.
HP 2511x
The HP 2511x is something of a rarity in the monitor world due to its unusual (25”) screen size and glossy (HP BrightView) screen surface. The image produced is smooth and clear with a good level of vibrancy and excellent contrast, whilst the screen size is good for people who want a little extra over 24” but aren’t willing to jump up to 27”. Overall this is an exceptional monitor for the price and really is one of the more unique screens released recently. It was technically launched during December 2010 but is part of HP’s 2011 TN panel line-up (hence the 11x suffix) – unfortunately availability is restricted to the United States and for that reason it wasn’t shortlisted.
LG IPS225V
The LG IPS225V is the 21.5” member of the LG IPS5 series – a more conventionally styled alternative to the IPS6 series. The price of this monitor is just as attractive as the 6 series model and it comes factory calibrated with a certificate to show for it. Our preliminary testing suggests that the 2.2 gamma target and 6500K whitepoint is pretty much achieved straight from the box and that is something you rarely see on any monitor, even one with an IPS panel. Our testing also suggests that the responsiveness of the monitor falls a little way short of the excellent IPS226V but this will be studied in more detail when we review this model fully. At time of writing this model is only available in the UK and elsewhere in Europe which is partly why we chose not to shortlist it.
ASUS VG278H
The ASUS VG278H is the world’s first 27” 120Hz 3D monitor to integrate Nvidia 3D Vision 2. The monitor itself offers exceptional responsiveness in 2D with nicely implemented pixel overdrive and next to no input lag whilst allowing for some retina-scorching luminance. This luminance is combined with the ‘LightBoost’ technology of Nvidia 3D Vision 2 to help overcome some of the dulling caused by the 3D glasses. It may not have the vibrant clarity to its image that the Samsung monitors enjoy or the unique aesthetic charm but the matte screen surface doesn’t suffer from unwanted reflection in any light. It is also highly adjustable, offering swivel, tilt and height adjustment as well as the ability to be VESA mounted. Unfortunately AMD users and those not interested in 3D will be paying a premium for this one but it’s the best 27” 120Hz matte screen monitor available. More information can be found in this review summary.
Samsung S27A850D
The IPS panels crafted by LG are becoming increasingly ubiquitous and when it comes to colour production and viewing angles (and now responsiveness) Samsung’s VA panel technology was no match. The Samsung S27A850D utilises Samsung’s new PLS (Plane to Line Switching) panel type which is designed to offer similar performance to IPS. In practice the SA850 delivers stunning deep and rich colours and couples the usual advantages you’d expect from such a monitor – high levels of stand adjustability and good OSD functionality. A big selling point for this monitor compared to its IPS competitors is the light haze screen surface which enhances the clarity and vibrancy of the image and works well alongside the 2560 x 1440 resolution and compliment the depth offered by the slightly extended colour gamut and 2.4 native gamma. More information can be found in our S27A850D review.
BenQ EW2430
The BenQ EW2430 is the successor to the EW2420, featuring the same VA panel and LED backlighting. The monitor has undergone some aesthetic refinements and with plenty of brushed metal at the bottom of the bezel and on the stand it has a surprisingly high-grade feel given the price. The combination of VA panel and light haze (‘semi glossy’) screen surface delivers exceptional contrast with bright and crisp whites, deep blacks and good shade distinctions in between. In our review we noted much better default settings and gamma than on the EW2420 we have tested previously and some slight improvements to the overdrive implementation. Having said that the monitor does still pale in comparison to modern TN panel and IPS panel monitors when it comes to responsiveness and inter-unit variability seems to be present as it was with the EW2420. Given this and the lack of availability in North America it didn’t quite make the shortlist.
Samsung S23A700D
The SA750 and SA950 series are certainly very desirable products but for many people the price premium is just too much. They have dropped in price a little since launch and hopefully that trend will continue. If you’re interested in the 23” versions there is a cheaper alternative in the form of the S23A700D. This is very similar to the S23A750D when it comes to performance but uses a more conventional design – and includes a DVI Dual Link port for 120Hz output which will be welcome news for those without DisplayPort on their GPU. As with the SA750 and SA950 series it includes integrated 3D functionality with a pair of Samsung SSG-3150GB glasses included. There is a lot to like about the monitor given its price with a very thin bezel, Ultra Clear Panel screen surface, 120Hz capability and excellent all-round performance. Unfortunately availability at time of writing is very patchy in the UK and non-existent in the United States so this one didn’t make the shortlist either. More information is available on this article.
BenQ XL2420T
The BenQ XL2420T is the successor to the XL2410T 120Hz gaming monitor. The monitor was not released at time of writing so we can’t say much about performance but we know this is one people are keeping a keen – and it should be released in time for Christmas. There is a lot to like about the monitor ‘on paper’, including the 24” screen size (which is a little larger than the usual 23-23.6” you get on most 120Hz monitors), fully adjustable stand and some funky little red additions to give the monitor a bit of personality. The monitor also promises some interesting features which are discussed in more detail in this article. We will be providing a review of this model as soon as possible and will update this page when the monitor is available and our review is published.
And that concludes our list of the Top 10 Monitors for 2012 – although really it’s more like ’16 excellent monitors from 2011′. Unlike most computer hardware these are not likely to become obsolete overnight or replaced with anything far superior in 2012. There may be some little refreshes here and there and new models added – and we will certainly be keeping an eye on things and bringing you all of the latest PC monitor news as it happens. We keep track of the latest and greatest models as they are available in our recommended monitors section which is certainly worth visiting for the latest recommendations across various categories.