logo_print logo_print_pub
Duels: Battle of the Five Star Products >

LG IPS226V vs Dell U2211H

Alexandre Botella
Translator: Sam McGeever
Updated: December 27, 2010

On the left, we have the LG Flatron IPS226V, one of the first monitors to combine an IPS panel with LED backlighting.  It got a five-star rating during our test |
|
|
|
|
| 		On the right, the Dell U2211H also has an IPS panel, and was the first to successfully implement the technology without the defects usually associated with it—and it got five stars as a result.

MARCHANDS €
 
 
Amazon mark...  189.99 
Compare prices

|
|
|
|
|
|
IPS | IPS
1920 x 1080 pixels | 1920 x 1080 pixels
6 ms | 8 ms
HDMI + DVI + VGA | DisplayPort + DVI + VGA
178° / 178° | 178° / 178°

THE BACKGROUND

The IPS226V is the latest flagship in LG's range of monitors, and offers accurate colours, good response times, a great contrast ratio and wide viewing angles. It put in an almost flawless performance.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 		Slightly older, the Dell U2211H is a great all-rounder that did well in all of our tests. It's perfect for anybody that does a little bit of everything.

Each of these Full HD 22'' monitors with IPS panels scored five stars in our original reviews. That means they're both excellent screens that are more than capable of meeting your everyday needs. But if you're after the very best, does one of them inch ahead? Let's put them head-to-head and see who comes out on top ...

 

HARDWARE: DELL WINS

 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LG has spent more time thinking about looks than usability.  To keep costs down, it's included only the essential on the IPS226V and left everything else out.  The U2211H, meanwhile, has more features, but also a more traditional design.

HDMI and headphone jack: LG's monitor has a HDMI input and a headphone jack, both of which are missing from the U2211H, making it easy to connect a games console or an IPTV system. You can then relay the audio signal to external speakers via the line out.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 		A better footing: while the IPS226V sits on a fixed stand, the U2211H slides up and down, sits on a rotating base and, most importantly, swivels to portrait orientation.

Four-port USB hub: the Dell U2211H has a four-port USB hub, something LG doesn't offer.
 

RESPONSIVENESS: LG WINS

Faster: our measures of ghosting time speak for themselves: 0.7 frames of ghosting on the LG, but 0.95 for Dell.

Input lag: there's nothing between the two rivals in this particular race. Both offer input lag that's invisible to the naked eye, meaning they won't have any negative impact on multiplayer gaming.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

IMAGE QUALITY: A DRAW

Deeper blacks: the IPS226V has a contrast ratio above 1000:1, while the U2211H didn't make it beyond 900:1. That's because the LG monitor manages to allow less light to creep into dark areas of the screen when overall brightness is the same as Dell's.

Calibration required: both monitors are capable of displaying accurate colours, but unlike the IPS226V, the U2211H doesn't need any adjustments before it gets there.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|


ENERGY CONSUMPTION: A DRAW

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|


Identical results: we might have expected the IPS226V to need slightly less energy because it uses LED backlighting, but according to our test results, it doesn't require any less power than the Dell.

VERDICT: LG FOR GAMERS, DELL FOR THE PRICE (AND FOR THE DV OFFICE)

If you tot up the points, neither monitor takes a clear lead, but if you take into account what you want to do with them, it's clear that they're not equally suited for everybody.

Office work: both monitors share the same definition and diagonal size, meaning they're at the same resolution. The Dell has a portrait mode though, which is a real plus if you have to work with long texts.

Video games: the IPS226V is faster than the U2211H, and will be better for gamers.

Multimedia: because it's got an HDMI input, there's no reason not to connect the IPS226V to an IPTV system or a games console. Without this very popular connection, things are a lot more complicated on the U2211H.		 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 		Photo editing: once you've set them up properly, the two monitors are equally suitable for retouching photos, but its higher contrast ratio tips the balance in favour of the LG IPS226V.

For us: we reckon the Dell U2211H is the best for us. We enjoy the USB hub which make it easy to plug in a USB key or a card reader. Portrait mode makes it easy to scroll through long web pages and text documents.

Send to a friend

Our RSS News Feeds : 
Back to top