AOC E2236Vwa review

The AOC E2236Vwa is a brand new monitor that consumes just 19W. It’s not quite as thin and sexy as some other LED-backlit models, but it’s well priced for a Full HD 22in display. It even has a USB pass-through port, which is convenient if your PC is tucked away beneath your desk.

LED-lit monitors tend to draw less power than traditional CCFL-backlit screens, but LEDs can also improve contrast and brightness. However, in the E2236Vwa’s case, image quality isn’t dramatically better than rivals’ screens with CCFL backlights. Contrast was average, with some detail lost in some dark areas, and in our side by side tests the E2236Vwa didn’t stand out.

In addition, a slight yellow cast made flesh tones seem pale. We tried adjusting colour levels to compensate, but couldn’t get an acceptable balance. With proper calibration, the E2236Vwa might yield good colour accuracy, but out of the box it’s not ideal.

To make matters worse, AOC has opted for fiddly touch-sensitive menu buttons and, instead of a control panel with written descriptions, a small bar pops up in the lower-right corner of the screen with icons for each option. If you don’t dig out the manual, you may find yourself changing the wrong setting, since there are many that look similar.

With just three buttons, navigating around the menu system is cumbersome. There are a range of presets for image quality and colour, which override the basic brightness, contrast and gamma settings. Dynamic contrast is also an option, but we found its effect far too harsh and left it turned off.

Unusually for a new model, the E2236Vwa doesn’t support HDCP content protection. You’ll be able to watch HD home movies but not Blu-ray films. The internal speakers were good only for Windows sounds, too.

AOC’s E2236Vwa may be reasonably price, but image quality is nothing special and the lack of HDCP could be inconvenient, too. Add in the frustrating menu controls, plus the fact that BenQ’s great G2222HDL costs around £15 less, and we can’t recommend this monitor.