A smaller, taller PC monitor
What most people seem to be looking for in a monitor these days – and what, therefore, monitor companies are most likely to try to sell you – is a huge widescreen display, typically 27 inches across the diagonal, with an ultra-slim bezel, a basic stand, and some fashionable features like high refresh rates to make games look smoother. But that’s not quite what some of us want. That size may be too big for a small study at home, and how comfortable the screen is to use depends less on whether it can update more than 60 times a second, and more on whether you can set it at exactly the right angle and height.
In that case, Iiyama’s ProLite XB2481HS-B1 could fit the bill. It’s aimed at office use, but with Full HD (1920x1080-pixel) resolution and colour reproduction that covers a reasonable 94 per cent of the sRGB range, it could also work well for amateur photographers, video editing and watching TV. The display itself is just under 24 inches, which still feels quite spacious when it’s right in front of you on a desk.
Most importantly, this model has a new stand design with a very tall yet sturdy arm at the back that lets you raise the screen up to 215mm (eight-and-a-half inches), as well as providing a good range of tilt. You can keep it low, push it back and angle it up towards your face, or bring it up nearly to eye level and look straight at it, depending on what feels right for you. If difficulties with your eyesight or posture make using a computer feel awkward, or if you’re just trying to avoid problems by varying your sitting position regularly, this could be a big help. It also pivots to a vertical (portrait) format for editing documents.
The LCD panel is of the VA type, which may not update fast enough for keen gamers, but allows black pixels to stay almost completely black, improving contrast. We weren’t disappointed with the results: black text looked exceptionally crisp, and images benefited from one of the widest ranges of contrast you’ll find on any monitor. It also stays clearly visible from a wide angle. More expensive ‘high DPI’ screens offer a sharper image, and some displays do give more accurate colour, but for its price bracket this is a very good all-round performer.
What it doesn’t have is any frills. There’s just one input of each type – DVI for most PCs, HDMI for other devices and VGA for antiques – and no USB hub, so you’ll have to trail your keyboard and mouse cables to your PC, and plug drives into it directly. You do get a pair of small speakers built in, though. And for a plastic monitor the ProLite XB2481HS-B1 looks attractive, with just half an inch of plain bezel. The menu buttons for display options are on the back, which makes them fiddly but discreet.
For reasons best known to the retail industry, discounts on monitors tend to vary from week to week, so the price we found (£130) may have gone up or down a bit by the time you read this. But if you shop around you should always be able to find the ProLite XB2481HS-B1 for about £150 or less. If you’re looking for a screen that has adequate resolution, great image quality and plenty of adjustment, that’s a deal we can recommend.
VERDICT
It’s not the cheapest, the biggest or the most exciting budget monitor, but its flexibility could make this one the right choice.
SPECIFICATIONS
23.6in VA LCD • 1920x1080-pixel resolution • 1x HDMI port • 1x DVI port • 1x VGA port • 2W stereo speakers • 248x230x180mm (HxWxD) • Two-year warranty