Review: LG L226WTQ TFT 22" Monitor
As TFT monitors are getting larger and prices are getting smaller, is it worth plugging into a 22" set? Ian Waugh takes a view...
| Product | L226WTQ TFT 22" Monitor |
|---|---|
| Company | LG Electronics |
| Web | www.lge.co.uk |
| Price | Around £200 |
| We like | Superb image quality and a great price |
| We don't like | Stand not adjustable, lacks a few frills |
| Rating | 9/10 |
| Requirements | DVI or D-Sub connection |
17" monitors are now very cheap but for a little extra you can get a 19" monitor and this is the size most people regard now as a minimum. If you want to go larger, 24" monitors are still at a premium but 22" hits the sweet point between price and performance.
LG's L226WTQ is very well priced but have corners been cut in its design?
It looks good, with a thin silver bezel surrounding the screen and control buttons for the OSD (On Screen Display) under the left edge.
It has a remarkable 2ms response time. Games and videos are sharp and crisp with no sign of blurring.
It also has a 5000:1 contrast ratio which determines how black the blacks are and how white the whites are. The monitor has several display modes and this contrast ratio is only available in Movie mode with DFC (Digital Fine Contrast) enabled.
You may find you're happy using the other modes for non-movie applications as the brightness and contrast when reading text, for example, is not so glaring but the image is still excellent.
The L226WTQ's native (and maximum) resolution is 1680 x 1050 which is standard for a 22" monitor. The Forte Manager software helps you set up the display for optimum performance and enables an EZ Zoom feature which lets you drop down a resolution without fiddling with the controls.
There are DVI and standard D-sub inputs on the back. The DVI is HDCP-compatible so you can view Blu-ray or HD content.
Costs have been cut in the stand department. It can be swivelled but not raised and the tilt on our model was very small. Some potential users may also like to see a HDMI input and there are no USB extension sockets or speakers (but thank goodness for that as they are rarely worthwhile) but these are the areas in which money has been saved. However, for most users these won't be major considerations.
Conclusion
The L226WTQ is an excellent monitor with great image quality, superb contrast, fast response time and it looks cool, too. It should easily handle anything you want to throw at it. If the lack of a fully-adjustable stand doesn't bother you, you'll find it great value for money and it can be highly recommended
