LG Electronics’ PC monitor (model name: 24ML600SW) received high praises from many aspects such as contrast ratio, color gamut, uniformity in brightness, and viewing angle during an evaluation on PC monitor quality.
Based on quality compared to price, Alphascan’s monitor (24BN61PR) and Philips’ monitor (241E1) separated themselves from the pack. Annual energy cost was the lowest for Dell’s monitor (SE2419HR).
Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) compared 9 24-inch PC monitors that had high preferences from consumers and they were from Samsung Electronics (S24R350FH, $137 (155,500 KRW)), Alphascan (24BN61PR, $132 (149,810 KRW)), Advance1 (M2408FH, $91 (102,500 KRW)), Philips (241E1, $141 (158,990 KRW)), Hansung Computer (ULTRON 2433V, $123 (139,000 KRW)), BenQ (EW2480, $160 (181,500 KRW)), Dell (SE2419HR, $137 (154,610 KRW)), HP (24mh, $158 (179,000 KRW)), and LG Electronics (24ML600SW, $167 (188,430 KRW)).
Although PC monitors that can be utilized in various ways such as gaming, video watching, and document-related work receive much attention from consumers, consumers lack objective information regarding differences in qualities between PC monitors.
“PC monitors that are used in an office setting need to have adequate resolutions while PC monitors that are used to watch video and to play games need to have large screens with high resolution and high scan rate and response time respectively.” said KCA. “Consumers need to check whether PC monitors that they are trying to purchase offer additional features such as FreeSync or built-in speakers depending on the reason why they are trying to purchase PC monitors.”
◊Monitors from LG Electronics and Philips receive high praises in contrast ratio and color gamut
Although the difference between the prices was not much, there were significant differences between the products’ contrast ratio, color gamut, uniformity in brightness, accurate level of brightness, response time, and annual energy cost.
KCA first evaluated the products’ contrast ratios and color gamut.
“In case of contrast ratio, evaluation was divided into ANSI contrast and contrast ratio of the entire screen.” said Yang Jong-cheol from KCA. “In regards to color gamut, we checked for color accuracy, color gamut, and color volume.”
Ultimately, products from LG Electronics, Advance1, Philips, BenQ, and HP received “excellent” rating.
Other four products received “satisfactory” rating.
KCA also conducted tests to check the products’ uniformity in brightness. Products from LG Electronics, Alphascan, and Philips stood out from other products while products from Samsung Electronics and Dell received “excellent” rating.
Products from Advance1, Hansung Computer, and BenQ received “satisfactory” rating while the HP product received “average” rating.
◊BenQ’s PC monitor has the most accurate gamma value
KCA found differences between the products when it came to evaluating their gamma values. Gamma evaluation is a test to see how accurately a product expresses brightness in the darkest setting and the brightest setting.
Out of the 9 products, only BenQ’s monitor showed the most accurate gamma value with 2.20. As a product’s gamma value gets closer to 2.20 (gamma value in a general PC setting), it will be able to express brightness more accurately.
Following BenQ’s product, it was LG Electronics’ product with 2.13 and products from Philips and Hansung Computer with 2.28.
Many products received “excellent” rating during a viewing angle evaluation.
KCA evaluated the products’ brightness from when they were viewed from the front and how well they were able to maintain brightness and colors from a 45° angle.
“Products are deemed excellent when they are able to maintain brightness and colors when they are viewed from both sides.” said Yang.
After the agency conducted its evaluation, all products excluding the one from Samsung Electronics received “excellent” rating.
There were also differences in brightness of products at their initial states ranging from 206 to 284 cd/m2.
LG Electronics’ product was the brightest with 284 cd/m2. On the other hand, Hansung Computer’s product was relatively dark with 206 cd/m2.
Products also had different levels of glossiness ranging from 22 to 86 GU (Gloss Unit). As GU is higher, there is an easier reflection of outside light onto the surface of screen.
Concentration level of a monitor will be lower if other matter is reflected onto the screen. Advance1’s product had the highest glossiness with 86 GU while other products’ glossiness was either 22 or 23 GU.
7 products received “excellent” rating during an evaluation for “response time” that is important for people who purchase monitors for gaming.
KCA evaluated the products’ MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time) and GtoG (Grey to Grey) that affect monitor’s response time. Its evaluation focuses on whether there was any drag or smudge at different levels of brightness and whether a product was able to quickly change brightness according to input signal.
After the evaluation, products from LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Alphascan, Philips, BenQ, Dell, and HP had relatively high response times. The other two products received “satisfactory” rating as their response times were relatively slow.
◊Dell’s monitor showed the lowest annual energy cost
There was a difference of up to 1.6 times when it came to annual energy cost.
Dell’s product had the lowest annual energy cost with $2.56 (2,900 KRW) while the product from Advance1 had the highest cost with $4.16 (4,700 KRW). Annual energy costs of products from Dell, Philips, and Alphascan were $2.65 (3,000 KRW), $2.74 (3,100 KRW), and $3.09 (3,500 KRW) respectively while costs of the products from Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics were $3.36 (3,800 KRW).
All products satisfied international standard when they were evaluated of their resolution. After KCA evaluated whether their FHD (1920 X 1080) resolution satisfied the standards requested by ICDM (International Committee for Display Metrology) and IDMS (Information Display Measurements Standard), it saw that all products satisfied the standards.
All products also did not have any safety issue such as flicker and electric shock protection.
Flicker is a phenomenon that involves rapid screen flickering. When such issue is severe, it can cause headache, tiredness in eyes, and lower concentration.
There was not a difference in input lag between the products as well. Input lag measures the time it takes for signals from external devices and external screen to be displayed on the screen. All the products had input lags below 7 ms.
HP’s product did not meet the standard for labeling requirement. After the agency checked labeling requirements of the products for “Safety Control Act for Electronic Products and Household Items”, HP’s product violated the standard as it did not indicate a safety certification number.
◊Additional features of the products
There were many differences when it came to additional features.
The products from BenQ and LG Electronics especially offered a “color weakness mode” for consumers with color anomaly. BenQ’s monitor also has a feature that is able to play HDR (High Dynamic Range) imaging signals. Besides this feature, it also offers an automatic brightness adjustment feature that allows the monitor to adjust brightness depending on the brightness of surrounding by using illuminance sensor.
All 9 products offered a low blue light mode. Because blue light is a light that belongs to wavelength between 380 and 500nm, it can interfere with one’s sleep.
7 products from Samsung Electronics, Advance1, Philips, Hansung Computer, BenQ, Dell, and LG Electronics offer FreeSync feature that resolves communication issue between Pc and monitor and reduces any issue with disconnection and broken image.
In case of built-in speakers, products from Alphascan, Advance1, Philips, BenQ, HP, and LG Electronics had them.
Staff Reporter Ryu, Jaehee | ryuj@etnews.com