Dell U2311H: E-IPS, Full Adjustments, and DisplayPort
by Chris Heinonen on September 27, 2011 12:20 AM ESTBrightness and Contrast
When pushed to its maximum brightness level with maximum contrast, the Dell U2311H can manage to put out over 300 cd/m2 of light from a pure white screen. This is far brighter than most of us would like (other than perhaps Brian), and it does result in very washed out highlights, mostly related to the contrast level. This isn’t a level you would work at often, but if you needed to because of direct sunlight, the Dell could manage that. When keeping the contrast a maximum but reducing the brightness down to 0, the light output drops down to just over 100 cd/m2 whichis much easier on the eyes.
At these same brightness and contrast levels, the light output of an all black screen is 0.303 nits with max brightness, and 0.098 with minimum brightness. I should note that these measurements were taken with an Xrite i1DisplayPro meter instead of the i1Display2, as it does much better reading lower levels of light output. Unfortunately ColorEyesPro does not support this meter at this point and so I couldn’t use it for the whole calibration.
Looking at the On/Off contrast ratio that this creates, we see that both of these produce right around 1,000:1, so you can choose your preferred light output and you will likely get a contrast ratio right around the same level.
Brightness Uniformity
With 200 nits of light output in the middle of the screen for a white image, the light output drops as low as 161 nits on the left edge of the screen, while staying close to 200 nits on the right side of the display. I’m not sure if it is the layout of the backlights or something else causing this, but the light output is clearly less on the left side of the panel.
With a black screen, we see the same results. Light output is again higher on the right side of the display and lower at the left, with the upper-right corner being the brightest in both cases.
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DaFox - Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - link
This reads like E-IPS is this new thing and as if this monitor was the first to ship with it. Unfortunately it's over a year or two old at this point and is pretty common in the lower end IPS monitors.Paulman - Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - link
I was thinking that this seemed a little late for a U2311H review. Didn't Dell just release a whole new line of IPS displays? It seemed to me like they were planning on phasing out the U2311H generation.See U2412M and U2312M:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.a...
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.a...
In fact, here in Canada, the U2412M is back on sale again for $349 CDN (and that's 24" at 1920 x 1200 [16:10])
Paulman - Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - link
Correction: the 23" model's name is U2312HM (and it's 16:9, unlike its 24" brother)Ralos - Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - link
Indeed, the U2312H has been available for a few weeks now, and, just like the U2311H before it, is often in special. About once every two months there is a 90-110$ special on it and you can have it at 219$. I bought one for myself, and made 3 friends buy one too (always with the 90-110$ special). I now have the 30" version and love them all.Can't ever go back to TN panels now.
TacticalToast - Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - link
You're right about the specials. Got the U2311H for ~$219 a year ago and haven't looked back. Picked it over the U2410 because of the multitude of complaints over the pink-green tinting on the diagonal. Nary a problem with my monitor.nirolf - Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - link
I think you are right, U2311H seems EOL, it's out of stock around here. I hope the U2412M will be reviewed soon.alfredska - Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - link
Agreedsean.crees - Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - link
I agree, I would much have preferred a review of the new U2412M with IPS and LED backlight in a more traditional 16x10 aspect ratio.baker269 - Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - link
At this price point 16x9 is the standard.akse - Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - link
Just ordered U2412M here in Finland for 289 euros. Waiting it to arrive .)