Acer X222Wbd
The above-discussed P223W occupies the topmost position in Acer’s 22” monitor line-up while the X222Wbd is one step lower. The X2 series is not as pretentious as the P series but features a new design as well as exceptional characteristics – so says the manufacturer. Well, the exterior design is largely a matter of personal taste while technical characteristics can be checked out objectively.
Well, it is already clear from the specs that the X222Wbd is just a regular TN-based monitor without Response Time Compensation. It differs from the P223W with somewhat smaller viewing angles and does not have a dynamic contrast mode.
Externally, the X222Wbd is in fact an updated and improved version of Acer’s AL series: gray plastic has been replaced with black and glossy one, and the block of control buttons now fits the overall design more organically. Such minor changes have seriously affected the impression the monitor leaves on you – it has certainly become prettier.
The stand allows to change the tilt of the screen. It can be replaced with a standard VESA mount if necessary.
The monitor is equipped with both analog and digital inputs and an audio input for the integrated speakers which are located in the bottom part of the case. You can’t see the speakers from the front.
The control buttons are on the bottom edge of the case. The Power button is inconveniently placed in the center, getting in the way of your fingers when you are setting the monitor up. It would be better if the Power button were placed to the left, apart of the other buttons, like in other monitors from Acer, but the developer has achieved the symmetry and beauty at the expense of the user’s convenience here.
The Power indicator is built into the appropriate button. It shines green at work and amber in sleep mode. The indicator is not very bright and the button itself is at the bottom, so it cannot distract you at all. I think it’s nearly an ideal solution in terms of both aesthetics and ergonomics.
This is Acer’s standard menu with a standard selection of setup options. As opposed to the P223W, you see the manual brightness and contrast settings right after you enter the menu. The X222Wbd has factory-set modes as well, but you can only access them by pressing the e button on the front panel. Besides, quick access is provided to the auto-adjustment feature and the sound volume of the integrated speakers.
The monitor has 77% brightness and 50% contrast by default. I lowered the brightness to 25% and the contrast to 28% to achieve a 100nit white. You shouldn’t increase the contrast setting above 50% as it leads to a distortion in the reproduction of light halftones. The brightness is regulated by means of backlight modulation at a frequency of 240Hz.
Color gradients are reproduced without flaws. The viewing angles are just what you can expect from a TN matrix: the image gets darker when you are looking at the screen from below. You have to look a little from above for the screen to have uniform brightness. Well, from an ergonomics standpoint, that’s exactly how any screen, irrespective of its viewing angles, should be installed.
