Acer X203H Review
Acer's X203 monitor boasts a super-low price, but in order to hit that target, Acer couldn't afford to include many features. This is a 20-inch screen with a 1600x900 resolution. Users and expert reviewers love the rock-bottom price, but say that the color accuracy and overall graphics quality could be better. The X203H lacks an HDMI port but does have a fast 5ms response time.
The Acer's X203H has a super-low price, which also means it doesn't include a lot of extra features or frills. No doubt there are frugal consumers who are looking for just such a combination, but others may be disappointed. Some consumers posting Acer X203H reviews at Best Buy are thrilled with the value-to-price ratio, but some are less than impressed with the monitor's video quality. An Acer X203H review on Amazon praises its affordability but says its graphics could be better. A consumer posting an Acer X203H review on Newegg observes that the color is a bit "off" and another notes that the monitor stand is a bit wobbly, which makes one wonder how sturdy the Acer X203H's construction is.
The Acer X203H is a comparatively small 20-inch screen, and like the HP 2009m, its 1600x900 resolution is not quite high-def. The Acer X203H lacks speakers and an HDMI port but it does feature DVI and VGA connections. As with most monitors, this one has a black-to-white-to-black response time of 5ms, which is more than adequate for fast-moving video. The Acer X203H boasts a dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1, but that doesn't say much about its true contrast ability.
On paper, the Acer X203H is pretty similar to HP's popular 2009m. The Acer is cheaper, which is great, but based on LCD monitors reviews we've seen, the HP has better image quality. If you're willing to sacrifice some video quality to save a few extra dollars, the Acer X203H is still a decent buy. But if you care more about image quality than an absolutely rock-bottom price, there are several other monitors that are affordable and give you better viewing.
Other Recommended Monitors
Asus VH236H
The 23-inch VH236H from Asus is a large display for this price range. Both users and expert reviewers are impressed with this monitor's image quality (particularly for movies and games) as well as its included HDMI port. The Asus VH236H is a true high-definition display, supporting a 16:9 aspect ratio, resolution of 1920x1080, and rapid 2ms gray-to-gray response time. Its range of features makes it a stand out in the cheap monitors category. Read more »
HP 2009m
HP's 20-inch 2009m serves up excellent video at an affordable price, with a 5ms response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio, and a 1600x900 resolution. We found several expert reviews and hundreds of user comments about this popular model, and the overwhelming consensus is that the HP 2009m is a solid value. Read more »
Lenovo L215p
Lenovo's L215p barely qualifies for the Cheapism price range, but we're glad it does. The L215p earns rave reviews from experts and users alike for its solid performance and image quality. The L215p is the only monitor among our top picks that includes built-in USB 2.0 ports (it has three, plus one that directs data from the other ports to the PC). This 21.5-inch display has a 1920x1080 resolution for high-definition video, an HDMI port, and a speedy 5ms response time. Read more »
Samsung SyncMaster 2233SW
Samsung is well-known for its high-quality monitors and TVs, but most of its monitors fall outside the Cheapism niche. This model, however, makes the cut while still supporting some key features. Reviewers like this monitor for games and photo editing, and praise its overall image quality. The 21.5-inch display has a 1920x1080 resolution, 5ms response time, and 1000:1 contrast ratio but does not include an HDMI port. Read more »
