Philips 221V8LN Assessment | PCMag

Essentially the most notable promoting level for the Philips 221V8LN ($69.99), a 22-inch laptop monitor, is its affordability. Whereas different funds displays could often dip to or under the $70 mark whereas on sale, the 221V8LN is among the only a few that constantly sells at such a modest value. Like lots of its cut-rate brethren, it has a small display screen, a modest decision, restricted ergonomic changes, and a meager port choice. However its picture high quality is best than many somewhat-higher-priced displays we’ve got seen. It subsequently earns our Editors’ Alternative award as a wonderful funds general-purpose monitor.

A Price range Monitor for All Seasons

The 221V8LN is equally helpful for home-office and leisure functions. Its coloration protection and pixel density make it appropriate for gentle picture modifying, in addition to working with line artwork and diagrams, and it does properly in rendering motion pictures. The vertical alignment (VA) panel with a 75Hz refresh price and AMD FreeSync compatibility places it in good stead for informal gaming, too.

(Credit score: Molly Flores)

Light-weight and compact, the 221V8LN can slot in tight areas, like a desk in a dormitory room. When mounted on its stand, the all-black 221V8LN measures 14.5 by 19.4 by 8.7 inches (HWD) and weighs 5.9 kilos. The total HD (1,920-by-1,080-pixel, or 1080p) display screen spans 21.5 inches, measured diagonally. A display screen with these specs has a 102 pixel-per-inch (ppi) pixel density, making certain a fairly sharp picture by the requirements of a non-professional monitor. The VA panel helps preserve the monitor’s value down and gives greater distinction than in-plane switching (IPS) screens are able to.

(Credit score: Molly Flores)

The bottom and stand are plastic. Meeting is tool-free; the shaft snaps into place in again of the chassis, and the bottom rotates into the underside of the shaft till it catches. These parts could be faraway from one another by miserable a pair of latches. Though they do not really feel notably robust, the bottom and shaft maintain the panel fairly regular. Commonplace on a funds monitor, the 221V8LN’s stand is ergonomically restricted, offering solely tilt adjustment, as much as 5 levels towards or 20 levels away from the person. I might have favored for the display screen’s cupboard to be be mounted somewhat bit greater on the stand. The 221V8LN has a sq. array of holes, positioned 100mm aside, to suit the bracket for a VESA mount for arm or wall mounting.

(Credit score: Molly Flores)

The Philips 221V8LN has a primary port choice, one that’s typical of funds displays, with one HDMI and one VGA port. This ensures compatibility with the overwhelming majority of desktop and laptop computer computer systems in use at the moment. (Exceptions? Laptops which can be restricted to USB-C connectivity, although you continue to might be able to join them utilizing an adapter.) There’s additionally a jack for headphones or powered speaker(s), to output audio that’s obtained from the pc over an HDMI connection. The ports all face downward in again, however as a result of the 221V8LN is a small and light-weight show, they’re straightforward sufficient to succeed in by tilting the panel or setting it screen-side-down on the desk.

Philips presents among the best monitor warranties within the enterprise—4 years—and to the corporate’s credit score, its protection generosity extends even to funds displays, together with the 221V8LN.

Testing the Philips 221V8LN: Strong Brightness, Nice Shade Protection

I did our luminance, distinction, and coloration testing utilizing a Klein Ok-80 colorimeter and Portrait Shows Calman 5 software program. Philips charges the 221V8LN’s most brightness at 250 nits (candelas per meter squared). In our testing, it fell a bit wanting that, coming in at 224 nits, which remains to be a strong brightness measure for a funds monitor.

In our coloration testing, the 221V8LN coated 98.9% of the sRGB coloration house (see the chromaticity chart under), a wonderful determine for a monitor of its value.

(Credit score: Portrait Shows)

We weren’t in a position to take a look at the 221V8LN’s distinction; it has a rated distinction ratio at a wholesome 3,000:1, typical of a VA panel and considerably higher than the 1,000:1 distinction ratio at which most in-plane switching (IPS) shows are rated. In viewing our ordinary suite of take a look at pictures and number of video clips, colours appeared true and fairly properly saturated. The 221V8LN confirmed a large dynamic vary for a funds monitor, doing properly in rendering element in each brilliant and darkish areas.

Verdict: A Little bit of Price range-Panel Magic

In most methods, the Philips 221V8LN hews to the funds monitor credo: a small display screen, 1080p decision, primary ergonomics, and a restricted port choice. The 221V8LN’s VA expertise helps preserve its value down, whereas the 75Hz refresh price and AMD FreeSync make it a good selection for low-impact gaming. It will not win any brightness awards, however in any other case does properly in picture high quality, with stellar sRGB coloration protection and good retention of each brilliant and darkish element, placing it in good stead for video watching and light-weight picture modifying.

(Credit score: Molly Flores)

To make sure, some funds displays are extra feature-rich than the 221V8LN is. The Editors’ Alternative-winning HP 24mh, as an example, provides DisplayPort connectivity, peak and pivot adjustment, and twin 2-watt audio system. However the Philips 221V8LN is available in at lower than half the HP’s value, and it features a four-year guarantee. The 221V8LN subsequently earns its personal Editors’ Alternative award as a funds general-purpose monitor. As long as you are okay with the comparatively small display screen dimension, it is a strong funds purchase.