IIYAMA XU2290HS-B1 monitor review: fits those who look two or even three monitors at the same time

Advances in technology and the appearance of new types of backlighting allowed monitor manufacturers to introduce inexpensive and quite thin models based on professional IPS matrices. Japanese company IIYAMA successfully develops the market and produces not the first model of this type. Each time the device becomes thinner and neater, the specifications improve, while the manufacturer’s signature style remains the same. Today I received the XU2290HS-B1 monitor for testing, which in addition to the IPS has a minimum frame around the 21.5-inch display and all the necessary interfaces for comfortable work in the office and at home.

The monitor is delivered in a manufacturer’s standard monochrome box, inside which besides the display itself you will find: a stand, power and audio cables, a DVI-D cable, a brief manual and a warranty card. Quite a standard set – we’ll probably never be able to wait until the manufacturers start putting in an HDMI cable.

The monitor itself is a rectangular construction with a really thin frame. If you want, you can buy two of these monitors and install them next to each other: the distance between the two screens will be minimal. This design technique, available thanks to modern technology, has recently become more and more popular – the manufacturers know that for a busy man one display is always not enough. The body of the monitor is made of high quality plastic. Matte surface does not collect dust and dirt, if necessary it can be easily cleaned with a cloth, leaving no streaks.

Buttons for controlling the monitor functions are placed on the right side of the lower edge and on the front panel there are faintly legible engraved signatures. In addition to the standard Power, volume, and menu buttons, there is an eco-mode activation button that includes smart power consumption with automatic contrast and brightness control.

All interfaces for signal input are concentrated in the depths of the rear panel. In addition to DVI-D there are classic D-sub and modern HDMI, you can choose any or several at once – to HDMI, for example, you can connect a game console, though the diagonal of one such display is too small for a full game.

Installation of the monitor takes minutes, just connect all cables, put them through the hole in the stand, fasten the stand itself with a screw with a convenient handle.

The design allows you to adjust the angle of the display, but without the ability to change the height. In general this is enough for home or office use, but more professional users, fans of IPS panels and “right” color will be dissatisfied.

Switching on the monitor. The first thing we usually check is the OSD menu. In IIYAMA panels for normal users, it is extremely simple and without unnecessary features – everything is just the most necessary. In the menu you can adjust contrast and brightness, set the color profile, turn on or off the dynamic contrast of ACR, adjust the gamma and color temperature.

For those who like fine-tuning the function of switching off the logo display when the monitor power is on, as well as adjusting the OSD menu position. Selection between signal sources is automatic only if one display is connected to the monitor. If you have two or three, you have to choose manually.

As we mentioned above the monitor has a powerful IPS matrix. The typical characteristics of such panels are accurate color reproduction and extremely wide viewing angles. First time I checked when I connected the calibrator, the panel displays 98% of the sRGB color space. After calibration the reading goes up to 99%, which is already quite normal for more expensive panels. The monitor is suitable for professional use and work in graphics and video editors.

Of course it won’t catch up with more expensive models, but beginner photographers and designers will be quite satisfied. As for viewing angles, they are maximum – the image remains equally bright and contrast, and retains color even if you look at the display at a wide angle.

The other characteristics of the panel are quite standard for the available models – the response time of 5 ms, contrast ratio 1000 : 1 with dynamic expansion up to 5 000 000 : 1 , luminance 250 cd/m². This is enough to watch even the fastest Hollywood action movies without artifacts, play three-dimensional games, browse the Internet with comfort, and so on.

The picture can be described as “qualitative”, “juicy”, “vivid. Colors are very faithful and it was a pleasure to look and edit photos. The Overdrive function is very helpful to smooth out jerky movements in action scenes of any “Matrix. Reset”.

The monitor can be recommended to all who need an inexpensive panel with high quality color rendering, who don’t want to put up with bad viewing angles TN, sometimes process photos in Photoshop or edit video. We would also like to mention those who plan to use two or even three monitors at the same time: IIYAMA XU2290HS-B1 fits perfectly as a component of multi-monitor design.