It's not all about speed.
Enter the Acer H226HQLbid. While the IPS panel has become famous through Korean 2560x1440p monitors such as the X-Star dp2710, which currently starts at $280, there are many great options for the budget minded gamer or standard user looking at the lower resolution of 1080p in the sub $150 price range. The Acer H226HQLbid has an amazing value as you get a beautiful IPS display for a measly $130. But that's not all you get:
Specs
Screen size - 21.5"
Resolution - 1920 x 1080
Refresh rate - 60hz
Response time - 5ms (grey to grey)
Finish - gloss
VESA - no
Connectivity - VGA (1), DVI (1), HDMI (1)
First Impressions
After getting the monitor setup the first thing I noticed was how glossy the screen was. This screen is basically a mirror and reflects every bit of light. The build quality of the stand is fairly decent, a little flimsy but strong enough. There is tilt, no pivot, and no VESA mounts. The unit itself is very sleek and thin and the bezels look non-existent when the display is off.
Why on earth would anyone want to buy a tiny a 21.5" display when I can get a 23" or a 27" monitor, bigger is always better right? The answer to that question depends on personal preference. We prefer pixel density over screen size any day of the week. The more pixels you can cram into a smaller space, the sharper the display will look. Here are some numbers to help you put things into perspective.
Pixel density measured in PPI:
27" 2560 x 1440p - 109
27" 1920 x 1080p - 82
23" 1920 x 1080p - 96
21.5" 1920 x 1080p - 102
While 1080p at 21.5" doesn't have the same amazing pixel density as a 1440p display, it does get very close without forcing the user to upgrade graphics cards to push the higher resolution. Most entry level gaming PC's can easily play the latest games at 1080p, but the same cannot be said at 1440p. The Acer H226HQLbid offers a very good compromise in this situation as you get a very nice pixel density for the price.
Color Comparison
For the purpose of this review, we have an Insignia LCD 24" 1080p 60hz to compare to the IPS display of the Acer H226HQLbid. When I first booted into the windows environment, I immediately noticed how much better the colors of the IPS panel looked side by side to a TN panel. The smaller screen size was slightly disappointing at first, but I after I got used to it I did notice the better pixel density.
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For the purpose of this review, we have an Insignia LCD 24" 1080p 60hz to compare to the IPS display of the Acer H226HQLbid. When I first booted into the windows environment, I immediately noticed how much better the colors of the IPS panel looked side by side to a TN panel. The smaller screen size was slightly disappointing at first, but I after I got used to it I did notice the better pixel density.
Gaming Performance
Throughout the course of several weeks, I've played several games to test the response time and superior colors of the display. The list of games is as follows: Crysis 3, Battlefield 4, Battlefield 3, Battlefield Bad Company 2, Mass Effect 3, Dota 2, Mirror's Edge, Skyrim, ESO, Metro: Last Light, and Half-Life 2. Throughout the testing I never encountered any input lag or ghosting. The 5ms response time is plenty for my tastes. The colors were beautiful and games seemed more vibrant. The only problem I've come across with IPS is that blacks are too dark in dark game environments. It's extremely hard to see and navigate in any game while in a dark environment. This was a significant problem in Metro: Last Light. Turning up the gamma in Nvidia control panel helped solve this issue, but it's still difficult to see compared to a TN panel. After playing with IPS, I switched back to my old TN panel and was disgusted. The colors seemed washed out and games weren't as enjoyable to play. It only took a few minutes of BF4 to know for sure that I didn't want to play on TN anymore. Gaming during the day is a challenge however. The glare due to the extremely glossy panel makes it hard to focus. I would suggest only purchasing this monitor if you have a 100% dark room or prefer playing at night.
Conclusion
While the Acer H226HQLbid does have it's flaws, it is one the best monitor choices you can make under $180, especially if your sold on the idea of IPS. I don't regret the purchase of this monitor, but in the future I'll be purchasing screens with matte finishes as this is the first glossy panel I've owned. Yes, it does look very crisp but the glare really bothers when I try to play with the lights or during the day. If your concerned about the glass finish, Dell and AOC make some good budget IPS display under $180 that might be worth looking into. Overall, I give this monitor an 7.5/10, docking points for the very glossy screen and flimsy stand. Everything else about this monitor is great; perfect pixels, amazing colors, great pixel density, good response time, sleek design. If glossy screens don't bother you, definitely consider picking this monitor up. You can't beat at $130 shipped.
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