I was looking for a budget full HD monitor and was looking at this LG: http://www.ebuyer.com/284104-lg-ips225v-lcd-led-21-5-hdmi-monitor-ips225v-bn# Because of its price at the time which was £130ish I decided to go with a Benq G2220HD which was about £80 and has been delivered today but I haven't opened it. Now I've bought the LG monitor as well, as it went down to £99, but there are some reviews on it saying there's backlight bleeding: - Bad build quality. The screen wobbles like crazy, even while typing lightly on my keyboard. The stand was supposed to be able to tilt but so far even with full force applied I am unable to get it to move. - Backlight bleeding in corners. It's quite noticeable when displaying darker images. - Purple hue to blacks. When you look at the monitor straight on you cannot see it that much, but look from the side and it is quite noticeable. Now the Benq has 30 reviews all giving 5 stars, saying how great it is, so I'm not sure what to do! I am going to send one of the monitors back, but which one do you think?
Yeah, I mean everyone bangs on about how good IPS monitors are, but I would like to test them out but I'm worried by opening the boxes and using them amazon or ebuyer might say I can't return them.
Get them both out of the boxes and try them out? As far as I'm aware (and someone else here can probably clarify this) distance selling regulations say you are allowed to open the box, try the product out etc then return it for a full refund. Seems like the best way to find out which one you want to keep. I would be surprised if you kept the benq... dodgy stand or not, the LG is an IPS panel, which is going to look awesome stood next to the cheap TN one. EDIT: You ninja'd me. I need to learn to write replies faster.
This is on ebuyer's returns FAQ: If you have simply changed your mind about any item ordered and you wish to return it, then in line with the Distance Selling Regulations (DSR) you can do so provided you inform us of your decision within 7 working days of receipt. The item must not be used and must be 'as new' when returned to us.
Backlight bleed can affect ANY consumer level monitor. It's a manufacturing defect and it's purely down to luck that you dont get any on your model. Dont get too hung up about it, though, because its really only noticeable if you are viewing films/games with dark scenes (generally not noticeable for normal computer desktop viewing). Also, the 'purple hue to blacks' issue is probably the IPS glow issue on blacks/dark colours. Basically, IPS displays, especially the cheaper ones, do not have perfect viewing angles and do indeed suffer from a glowish tint when you view the display off-centre. Their viewing angles are still better than TN's, which have a noticeable vertical colour shift, but they are still not perfect and you shouldn't expect them to be. I know that the BenQ's G range are some of the best TN's out there with fantastic colours/contrast/black depth, but also know the cheaper LG IPS displays are extremely good value for money and should have better viewing angles. In all honesty the picture quality when viewing straight on will not be that dissimilar and its really down to inputs/stand/build quality and other features which would persuade me for one or the other (in this example). The LG supports HDMI, which the BenQ lacks, and it has a more efficient LED backlight so will be slimmer and use less energy to run. I presume they are both matte displays which is good. Id probably go with LG but the BenQ is proven and reliable quality (with worse viewing angles but probably better contrast/black depth than the LG), but like others have said you should be able to try them both under DSR and decide for yourself.
The reason for the positive reviews is ebuyer filters out the bad ones. There was a thread about it not long ago.
If I open them both, I'm shafted if they turn around and say they won't refund me cause its been opened.
Personally after having tried out some mid range IPS monitors, other than the viewing angles, I didn't notice much of a difference to my iiyama TN's. It's all personal preference really. IPS tend to be more expensive but more often than not (for gaming) have higher response times ~5-8ms I think, whereas even cheap TN's will be 2ms, so less ghosting.
As far as I know, they technically cant under DSR. You have a 7 day cooling off period where you can cancel the contract and get a full refund regardless if you use the product for a short duration. It would be an unwanted item and you are cancelling the contract, which you have a right to do in law if it was a distance sale. You dont have to justify why and it does not matter if the product is fault free. You turn them on and whichever you prefer you keep. As long as you take reasonable care of the item and do not damage it, you can return it to them (irrespective of what their T&Cs say, because DSR law supersedes them). Think of it like this, in a shop you get to see a product in action, and maybe use it. DSR enables people to examine products and see that they are getting what they paid for. Taken from http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/general/oft698.pdf However, you probably will have to pay for the return of goods, because DSR only says you don't have to pay return postage IF they do not mention this in the supplier's T&Cs. Again taken from above link: Also, Ebuyer's condition that it "must not be used and must be 'as new' when returned to us" is in violation of DSR law. Why? Because opening up the packaging and using the item to see if it works properly and so forth, does NOT breach your obligation as a buyer to "take reasonable care of the goods". You can try the goods out and still be taking reasonable care of the goods. See this from the Oft website (in response to a seller asking if they can require buyers not to open the packaging when returning under DSR):
Interesting. I'm not bothered about the stand and I prefer the look of the IPS one to the Benq, but out of the 2, which would be the best monitor for gaming? Mainly BF3 and Skyrim
If you pay with credit card and have not payed off the sum you can always ask for help from the credit card company IF the seller has already refused.
For the LG monitor, let's say this: You get what you paid for. Basically, the more you pay your IPS panel, the better the image, the less back light bleeding will be visible, perform better, the better the view angles, and at some point, no tint issue. It is common to have the 4 corner back light bleeding on IPS panels. On TN panels it's usually the bottom or all 4 corners, depending on how they places the back light, and which backlight technology they used (CFL or white LED's). The difference is that on IPS panels it's only visible on full really dark or black screens, while TN's are visible everywhere. A wide screen view, or like this bit-tech page, where you have black lines to the left and right, the backlight won't /should not be visible. If you want to see an IPS panel in action (although most likely better than the LG that you'll get), have a look at the Apple Display, or any iMac (old or new). The iMac uses an entry level IPS panels (entry S-IPS panel to be specific), while the Apple Display features a much better IPS panel (the same one as the Dell U2711, but glossy, and obviously without the customizability (brightness control only), inputs, and so on, an H-IPS panels. The LG panel that you are looking at, looks to be a budget IPS panel. Most likely, an entry or bellow, e-IPS (e for economy) panel is used.
I am no good with budget monitors. I generally don't like them, as I see them as hindering my computer experience. Also, usually budget monitors don't get the same treatment in reviews as higher end. Some reviews says it's the best since slice bread. I disagree, and it's clearly not true.. they always assume price, and it's these sites that get people to buy them, and tell to manufacture "we want more crap please!". But assuming I had no choice: As the IPS panel is budget, I would not expect much from it. IPS is in nature more expensive technology... so they might have cut a lot to reach this price. I would expect the same as a TN panel but with wider view angle, at the cost of higher input lag and ACTUAL response time (about all consumer aimed monitor manufacture lie with the numbers on the box). It's not going to be awful. But I would see it as an office monitor over anything else. As you are mostly an FPS player, I would go with the TN panel. So the BenQ. Do the jump to IPS panel, when your budget is MUCH higher, and when you are seeking for better looking games, impressive visuals, wide view angle, over input lag. In other words, when you play FPS games just for fun and not competitively, and play all sort of genre of games. What kind of budget? Look at the prices of the Dell U2312HM, U2412M, and U2410. Where, of course, the U2410 is much better. And, also, HP line of IPS monitor (models with adjustable stand and more than brightness control) for ideas.
