BenQ G2222HDL review

£140
Price when reviewed

BenQ has impressed us in the past with the quality of its budget monitors – it’s held the Value TFT A List spot for the past year – and the G2222HDL looks to continue that run of success. It’s a 22in TFT with a 1,920 x 1,080 TN panel, and it sensibly sticks to the basics to keep the price low.

BenQ G2222HDL review

So the rear panel has just DVI and D-SUB inputs, with no extras such as HDMI, DisplayPort or integrated speakers. The stand is pretty bare, too, tilting five degrees forward and 20 degrees back, but with no swivel or pivot capability and no height adjustment. The design is plain black with just a touch of gloss, so it does look and feel like the budget monitor it is.

BenQ G2222HDL

What we really care about is image quality, and the BenQ performs its core functions very well. The 250cd/m sq backlight is even and doesn’t bleed through at all on a black screen, so the G2222HDL boasts a nice deep black level. Contrast is good, even if the claimed 5,000,000:1 dynamic ratio is as poorly implemented as most we see – leave it switched off. Gradients were totally smooth in our DisplayMate tests and colour-on-colour performance was clean, while our gaming tests showed no blurring in fast motion.

If we have complaints, they’re minor. On a black-to-white gradient there was just a thin sliver of black at the bottom, suggesting the BenQ’s dynamic range leans toward the high end – you may find highlights look washed out. Our grey tinting test revealed a greenish tinge that makes some colours look a little dirty, and colours lack the punch and vibrancy that only a dearer TFT can provide.

You have to take into account that price, though. A look around online retailers shows £119 exc VAT will only buy you a 22in panel with a lower resolution or no DVI port. The BenQ’s Full HD panel gives it an edge, and the picture quality is good enough to match dearer monitors. If all you need is a DVI port and a screen, the BenQ G2222HDL is a bargain of a 22in TFT.

Details

Image quality 4

Main specifications

Screen size 22.0in
Aspect ratio 16:9
Resolution 1920 x 1080
Screen brightness 250cd/m2
Pixel response time 5ms
Contrast ratio 1,000:1
Dynamic contrast ratio 5,000,000:1
Pixel pitch 0.248mm
Horizontal viewing angle 170 degrees
Vertical viewing angle 160 degrees
Speaker type None
Speaker power ouput N/A
TV tuner no
TV tuner type N/A

Connections

DVI inputs 1
VGA inputs 1
HDMI inputs 0
DisplayPort inputs 0
Scart inputs 0
HDCP support yes
Upstream USB ports 0
USB ports (downstream) 0
3.5mm audio input jacks 0
Headphone output no
Other audio connectors None

Accessories supplied

Other cables supplied VGA
Internal power supply yes

Power consumption

Peak power consumption 20W
Idle power consumption 17W

Image adjustments

Brightness control? yes
Contrast control? yes
Colour temperature settings Reddish, Normal, Bluish, User

Ergonomics

Forward tilt angle 5 degrees
Backward tilt angle 20 degrees
Swivel angle 0 degrees
Height adjustment 0mm
Pivot (portrait) mode? no

Dimensions

Dimensions 505 x 393 x 175mm (WDH)
Weight 5.000kg

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