Acer AL2216W: a worthwhile compromise?

Subjective Evaluation

Given that most users do not have access to hardware display calibration tools, we like to spend some time using displays before properly calibrating them in order to gain an impression of how most users would react. We will start with our subjective evaluation before getting to the actual quantitative results.

Our initial impression of the AL2216W was pretty good. We definitely like the option of getting a 22" LCD without having to spend a lot of money (relatively speaking). This is definitely a bare-bones model, as there really are no extras to speak of, but given the price we don't have a problem with that. We do have to say that in side-by-side comparisons (and even just in normal use), the difference between the TN panel on the Acer display and the PVA panels used on the 24" Gateway and Dell LCDs was definitely noticeable. Based purely on appearances, we would definitely take one of the 24" LCDs we've looked at over the AL2216W, but at roughly half the price we can forgive a lot.

Brightness and contrast are pretty good, and it's nice to see that Acer has not chosen to use eye searing levels of brightness in order to improve their contrast ratios. Viewing angles on the other hand are one of the well-known faults of TN panels, and the Acer display doesn't break any new ground here. When viewed straight on, the display looks fine, but off-angle viewing - particular from above or below - results in a poor image.

Subjectively, there is no doubt that out of the five displays we've looked at so far, we would rank the Acer AL2216W at the bottom of the list in terms of overall quality. That's not to say it's a bad display; rather, it just doesn't compete in the same league as LCDs that cost over twice as much. That's hardly unexpected, but we also have to say that the TN panel is definitely not helping.

Except where noted, the remaining tests were run after calibrating the displays using Monaco Optix XR, both the professional version of the software as well as the XR (DTP-94) colorimeter. In some of the tests calibration can have a dramatic impact on the result, but certain aspects like viewing angles and response times remain largely unchanged.