Display Roundup: Black/White Uniformity & Viewing Angles

Acer S231HL Bid

While the S231HL Bid can’t achieve our standard 200 cd/m2 after calibration, the experience it delivers is complicated by slightly poor white luminance uniformity. With the exception of the lower right-hand corner, the values that we measured are lower than the center of the screen, which leads to a vignetting effect.

Separately, Acer's choice to employ TN technology is particularly evident in the bottom row of pictures. From low vertical angles, the screen appears washed out.

Acer S231HL bid
White Luminance cd/m^2
139.5966	154.6733	153.2672
143.1036	165.7612	154.9442
152.6986	169.1083	165.1925
Black Luminance cd/m^2
0.7307	0.7106	0.6318
0.6327	0.5840	0.6193
0.7703	0.8120	0.7390

Dell S2330MX

With the exception of its above-average color production, Dell’s S2330MX exhibits the typical weaknesses of other budget-oriented TN-based displays. Like the S231HL Bid, white uniformity is poor, but the problem isn’t as noticeable thanks to calibration. Even so, its picture still appears washed out from low vertical angles.

Dell S2330MX
White Luminance cd/m^2
187.4039	174.1443	167.1880
169.4942	197.2808	157.6985
178.5247	161.2816	162.2522
Black Luminance cd/m^2
0.3183	0.1676	0.2184
.3017	0.1927	0.2665
0.2349	0.1475	0.1927

LG IPS236V

LG’s IPS236V exhibits the best uniformity of the bunch, and viewing angles are excellent thanks to its IPS panel. However, contrast remains low because we’re unable to achieve deep black production.

LG IPS236V
White Luminance cd/m^2
200.8004	212.3469	192.1041
189.7031	213.3274	180.4633
186.9778	193.9527	192.9520
Black Luminance cd/m^2
1.2908	1.1216	1.6251
1.1479	1.0553	0.9956
1.3664	0.9991	0.9492

Samsung S23A550H

Even though the S23A550H suffers from poor contrast, Samsung achieves pretty good uniformity considering its TN-based panel. When we view the screen from lower vertical angles, there is minimal washout.

Samsung S23A550H
White Luminance cd/m^2
180.0246	188.7714	177.9484
192.4707	201.6051	176.2663
209.0496	189.6473	196.2824
Black Luminance cd/m^2
0.8288	0.6377	0.8420
0.9698	0.7236	0.7831
1.0248	0.6644	0.7024