Iiyama ProLite E2208HDS review

Iiyama is clearly striving for higher resolutions.

We were recently impressed by its E1908WSV, a 19in widescreen with a resolution previously seen only on 20in displays or larger. The new E2208HDS is a 22in screen with a full HD resolution of 1,920×1,080 just like ViewSonic’s VX2260WM, reviewed above. The benefits are exactly the same.

The ProLite may be a little cheaper than the VX2260WM, but its matt-grey plastic casing looks cheap compared to the VX2260WM’s glossy black finish. There’s also a distinct lack of features, with a tilt-only stand, a flimsy hook for keeping cables tidy round the back and tinny, underpowered speakers.

The absence of an HDMI input is unlikely to bother many people, especially when few graphics cards have this output. It’s nice to see an integrated power supply and clearly labelled buttons on the front panel, rather than tucked out of sight.

The onscreen menus aren’t pretty, but they’re far easier to navigate than those of the VX2260WM. Adjustments are few, with colour options being limited to three colour temperatures. The VX2260WM’s sRGB mode is missing, too.

Overall image quality is almost identical to that of the VX2260WM. Colours err on the side of undersaturation and brightness isn’t stunning. Backlighting is even, though, and the E2208HDS copes better at lower resolutions. The OptiColor feature lets you switch quickly between a range of colour presets, which is handy if you like to ramp up colour saturation while playing games or watching movies. Furthermore, the Eco mode almost halves power consumption to 22W, even if it is at the expense of brightness.

The E2208HDS is better value than the VX2260WM, although neither monitor has great image quality. If you want a display with a 1080p HD resolution on a budget, it’s a decent choice.