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.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
68 Comments
View All Comments
XonicEQ - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
Cheapest I can find is on amazon for $234. Where do I find it for $200?cheinonen - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
Direct from HP.com was the price I used, and the date of that price should be mentioned in the specs. It might have changed by then, but it was from HP on the date I listed.EddieBoy - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
As stated above, Best Buy currently has this monitor for sale for $169.99. Plus free shipping.Leyawiin - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
HP's switch to crappy stands that don't adjust and lack of VESA holes on their lower end monitors is pretty disappointing. My last monitor was an HP w2207h - glossy screen, height adjustable, sturdy. Went shopping this summer for a new monitor and discovered how cheaply they're been making them now.micksh - Monday, August 13, 2012 - link
I don't see it mentioned in the article. It it's 6 bit it isn't good for photo work.mikato - Thursday, August 16, 2012 - link
It says panel type e-IPS so yes. It probably should have been mentioned in the article text though also. How good for photo work is subjective.OBLAMA2009 - Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - link
25" is big enough if its only 1900x 1080. they should have released this at a higher resolution, no one needs thisAdamK47 - Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - link
Chris, did you make sure you were testing with correct backlight brightness this time? ;)MobiusStrip - Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - link
Try making it look tackier next time, HP.Glossy plastic schlock. Embarrassing.
Sub Zero - Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - link
In the old days you had CRT that were 21" (20" viewable) at 2048x1536. To get anything close to that on the PC side for the longest time, I had to go 30" at 2560x1600, which I run at 2048x1536 most of the time.Why can't we have 2560x1600 on a 27" or 24" LCD? 2560x1440 isn't as productive. a 4:3 at 2048x1536 would be nice at 24" even.
But one thing that does concern me as much is the lack of detailed OSD functionality. I would like to be able to set resolution scaling and aspect ratio IN the monitor hardware. I have a 30" LCD and when I try to set it to 1280x720 to create a YouTube training video, for example, it stretches all the way out, regardless of the Nvidia or ATI control panel settings. It does not do that for 1920x1080, but it does for most of the lower resolutions.
Yes, I could get a Dell that has that built in, but I don't like Dell LCD's. I've tried one 30" and 24" of theirs, and both were returned. Both tinted to the blue side, both generated a LOT of heat and they didn't look as good - even after calibration - as a Samsung or Viewsonic in terms of color, contrast, accuracy and vibrancy.
If I could just force a 1:1 aspect ratio and DO NOT SCALE in the hardware, regardless of what LCD I purchase, it would give me a lot more flexibility.
I like that they include DVI connectors in most monitors - I would not want it to be dropped in favor or Display Port. Why not have DVI, HDMI and Display Port? Does it really cost that much more?