HP 2311xi IPS Monitor
by Chris Heinonen on August 13, 2012 12:15 AM ESTHP 2311xi - Conclusions
Selling for $200 online as I write this review, the direct competitors with the HP 2311xi that I’ve used are the Dell U2412M and the AOC i2353, both value priced IPS displays. The Dell stands apart by being 1920x1200, which is a noticeable 11% increase in vertical resolution. The AOC and HP are both very accurate out of the box, though I used my older i1Display2 with the AOC so the results are not as accurate as later reviews where I used the i1Pro spectrometer. Between those two displays, the interface on the HP is much more user friendly and easy to adjust I found, with a better selection of inputs, though styling isn’t quite as fancy. Lag was slightly better on the HP but not by a large margin, but between the two I lean towards the HP.
Compared to the Dell U2412M the case is a little harder to decide. The greater resolution and the adjustable stand are both big differences here, along with a better contrast ratio. It also has an integrated USB hub, which I find to be useful. However the calibration out of the box wasn’t quite as good, and most people aren’t as likely to calibrate a 23” monitor as they are a larger, more expensive one. The Dell is also $100 more typically, and the U2312HM might be a more direct comparison, but I haven’t had the chance to review that display. The U2312HM is very similar with an IPS panel and LED lighting, but replaces the HDMI input with DisplayPort, adds rotation and a more adjustable stand, and a USB hub as well.
My main reservations about the HP 2311xi are the lack of an adjustable stand or VESA mounting holes, which means you are stuck with the small, barely adjustable stand that it comes with. I’d also like to see a DisplayPort input instead of HDMI, as with no internal speakers I don’t have much need for it in addition to DVI.
For the price, the HP 2311xi comes out as a very good performer, with out of the box numbers that are great. That's good for those that want decent color on their display but don’t want to invest another $200 or more on hardware and software to calibrate it after they buy it. The lag numbers were great for gamers, and the power use was incredibly low as well.
If you are OK with the lack of adjustments in the stand and don’t need a DisplayPort input, the HP 2311xi is a very nice display for $200 and well ahead of what you got for the same price just a year ago. I wish I could be more enthusiastic as I found the image really nice, but the ergonomic issues are a concern for me; those that need more adjustments should look at something like the Dell U2312HM as an alternative.
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Khenglish - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
When I saw that a 23" version of a 27" screen was being released, I was hoping that it would be the same 2560x1440 resolution. Sadly it was not.Why can't anyone make a monitor with a pixel density higher than my 2002 CRT? A 19" 2560x1600 screen would be awesome and I would pay a lot for it. I'd rather not have to turn my head to look from one corner to the other with a 27" or 30" screen.
tecknurd - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
Manufacturing a CRT to display high resolutions like 2560 by 1600 does not require much. The electronics are what is require to handle resolutions. LCD on other hand, silicon cost a lot to make that amount of pixels and the high performance panel driver is then needed, so LCD has two pricey hardware to make a finish product. CRT just need the electronics.Using a 27 inch or 30 inch screen, you just need to sit further from it to see it all at once.
Sabresiberian - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
Really, the problem of price isn't as much of a barrier as we've been lead to think, as the influx of $300 (including shipping for S. Korea) 2560x1440 monitors has shown. Also, there are inexpensive phones and tablets that have far higher pixel densities than the monitors currently available.As far as using a bigger screen and sitting farther back - wut? That's, uh, not very practical and really makes no sense.
;)
Zoomer - Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - link
These korean monitors get lower grade panels. In other words, panels that are rejected for inclusion in top brands like Apple, HP, Dell, etc. That's why they are priced at that point.Phones and tablets use must smaller screens, and therefore, exponentially easier to make without defects.
scarhead - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
They will come before long. There's already a 15" laptop with 2880 x 1800.janderk - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
High res displays have been here for a long time. Problem is price.For the price of that Apple laptop you mentioned, you can buy 15 HP IPS monitors. What is a shame is that all other Apple laptops feature low quality TN displays.
It is quite revolutionary that you can buy a good IPS display for $200. One with 1200 vertical pixels even. I remember paying 1600 Euro for my 23" HP 2335 IPS display some years ago.
janderk - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
Correction to myself: The display is 1080. Not 1200.KZ0 - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
Macbook Pro Retina uses an IPS panel.http://www.anandtech.com/show/5998/macbook-pro-ret...
janderk - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
That's why I said "all other".Tetracycloide - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
I believe that's the one scarhead was referring to and the one janderk was excluding when he said 'all OTHER Apple laptops.'