HP x23 LED Monitor Review

Having a powerful desktop PC is one of the most important things in the business world, and you are only as powerful as your system. But one thing that consumers sometimes forget to power-up is their monitors.

Monitors have come a long way since their monochrome designs, and there are many varieties on the market today, but HP has launched the massive HP x23 LED 58.4 cm (23 inch) Diagonal WLED LCD Monitor, which is sure to lift the eyebrows of any computer user.

Not only is it larger than your average monitor, but the screen also packs a massive punch when it comes to performance and clarity. Being that large is certainly a bonus, as everything will be displayed in crystal clear clarity, while not being overpowering in its size.

And since it’s a widescreen, the views that it was intended for will certainly jump out at you, but the Mercury-free design will ensure that it starts up just a little bit faster than a regular screen. The difference is very hard to notice, but being Mercury-free can only be a good thing for the environment.

At 23 inches, it hard not to be amazed by its size but the white LED backlights just give it that little added oomph when needed. They do help to also reduce power consumption, so it’s not all about displaying the best graphics in the best way possible. And at this size, you can image what high-definition content looks like across the 58.4cm, with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a resolution of 1920 x 1080.

It also features a Dynamic Contrast Ratio of 1,000,000:1, so one will notice that the darker colors are a lot deeper, while lighter colors will be brighter. In a screen this size, motion blur is sometimes a problem, but HP counters that in the x23 by providing it with only a 5ms response time.

In terms of connections, the monitor doesn’t offer a lot, but it does have the necessary ports to work on a desktop PC or serve as a second screen for a laptop. It only provides VGA and DVI-D (with HDCP) ports, so if the monitor was going to be used for gaming, separate converter cables will need to be purchased. It’s rather a pity that it doesn’t have a HDMI port, but then again, it has no speakers or headphone jack built into the frame, so it would almost be pointless. None the less, the option would have been great.

Speaking of the frame, the monitor is really one of the thinnest we have seen in a long time in terms of desktop monitors, and this is thanks to the LEDs inside, which also make it very light-weight. The screen fits neatly into the sturdy base, and it will need to take a rather big knock before it will tumble over. It’s also really easy to set up, as the base simply hooks into the screen and is fastened by a screw.

So in summary, it is really a great screen to play around with, and although it has no HDMI or headphone jack, it is still a great buy. The clarity is of the standard that we have come to expect and it will treat one well. We did see a bit of a ghosting issue in some Xbox360 games, but that could have been the games’ design as well. Go Green with HP.


HP x23 LED Monitor Quick Specs. 

Company/ Model	HP x23 LED
Screen Size	23” inch wide
Contrast Ratio (Dynamic Ratio)	1,000,000:1
Full HD	1920x1080
Response Time	5ms
Multimedia	HP USB Graphics Adapter
USB	No
VGA	Yes
HDMI	NO
DVI	Yes
Speaker	NO
Audio Port	NO