LG's IPS235V is a Full HD monitor with an IPS panel for
under $188. However, it doesn't look like a budget monitor because of its
brushed- metal-effect bezel and graceful stand, and it has a full complement of
VGA, DVI and HDMI inputs. This means you can connect your PC and a games
console or Blu-ray player at the same time, although you'll have to route audio
through an AV amplifier or the headphone port on the rear as it doesn’t have
built-in speakers.
The menu system is controlled by unlabelled buttons below
the screen. When you press one, a pop-up appears to show you the options. To
access image quality options, you can select a preset mode, which disables the
standard controls, or choose the User mode and control the brightness, contrast
and color manually.
We found the Movie and Photo modes blew colors out of
proportion, oversaturating them and losing detail, while Text was too dark. The
sRGB mode produced the best balance, but we needed to turn brightness up as
well. We left sharpness at its default, because it can add a grain to the image
that’s unnecessary.
The IPS235V’s color options are its secret weapon. Instead
of choosing a preset color temperature, such as Warm, Medium or Cool, you can
select User and access hue and saturation controls for six colors: red, green
and blue, plus cyan, magenta and yellow. This is best used with a
color-calibration tool to get the most accurate colors.
Unless you work with photos or videos and need accurate
results, the IPS235V’s sRGB mode produces warm, rich colors and excellent
contrast. In our gaming test, we didn’t notice any ghosting, either, which adds
credence to LG’s claims of an 8ms response time. It might not have the faster
120Hz response times of more specialised gaming monitors, but the increase in
color depth and contrast is worth the upgrade from a TN panel.
The IPS235V’s excellent image quality and low price make it
a bargain, but since its release we've seen more budget IPS panels from AOC,
Philips and ViewSonic. Unless you need an HDMI port or a headphone output,
ViewSonic's VX2336S-LED is better value.
Technical data
Price: $167
Verdict: A budget IPS panel with VGA, DVI and HDMI inputs
and good color options
23in widescreen LCD: 1920x1080 native resolution, VGA,
DVI, HDMI inputs, 3H hard coating, headphone output
Details: www.lg.com
|
