Why You Can Trust CNET LG Flatron E2260 review: LG Flatron E2260
LG Flatron E2260
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The 22-inch LG Flatron E2260 looks somewhat like a smaller version of Samsung's "X" LED series; in particular, the PX2370. The display scored well in our DisplayMate-based color and uniformity tests; however, in movies and games we found the colors were not as vibrant when compared to the PX2370. So, is the E2260 worth $320? Not when better performing monitors like the PX2370 are available for about the same price. Unfortunately, the E2260 offers little the PX2370 doesn't do better.
LG Flatron E2260
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
Design and features
The 22-inch LG Flatron E2260 has one of the slightest profiles we've seen on a 22-incher. The panel measures less than a 0.5 inch deep; however, it does extend back another 0.5 inches at the bottom of the panel to enclose its connection options. The translucent neck of the display evokes a similar neck seen in the Samsung PX2370; however, the LG incarnation is rectangular, not circular. The panel's chassis is fairly glossy and there's a blue LED light under the front-middle of the panel that reflects off of the top part of the neck and creates a cool-looking visage.
The foot stand is a wide 9.5 inches by 7.75 inches deep. The bezel is a thin 0.6 inch wide and the full panel comes out to 20 inches in width. The 22-inch monitor includes only a 10-degree back tilt as its sole ergonomic option. Connection options include DVI, VGA, HDMI, and a headphone jack, all located on the back-middle of the panel.
The onscreen display (OSD) array is located in the lower right-hand corner on the bottom of the panel. The array consists of five buttons: Menu, Mode, Auto, Input and Exit. While the buttons aren't labeled, pressing either of them brings up the OSD, with each choice aligned above the array buttons. The controls include options for Brightness, Contrast, and Sharpness. The OSD includes four presets: Normal, Movie, Internet, and Demo. The Demo mode allows you to see what your picture would look like compared with the preset you're currently in. There are also color preset options, including Normal, Gaussian Blur, Sepia, and Monochrome. The display also includes color temperature presets and the capability to control the red, green, and blue values, individually.
Navigating the OSD was simple, but not as efficient as others we've seen and we took issue with the lack of an "up" feature when in menus. Still, this was only a minor annoyance.
Design highlights:
Connectivity: HDMI, DVI, VGA
Ergonomic options: 10-degree back tilt
Resolution: 1,920x1,080
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Audio: Built-in headphones
VESA support: No
Feature highlights:
Included video cables? DVI, VGA
Backlight: LED
Panel Type: TN
Screen film: Matte
Number of presets: 3
Overdrive: No
Picture options: Brightness, Contrast, Sharpness
Color controls: Normal, Gaussian Blur, Sepia, Monochrome, Color temperature control, RGB controls
Gamma control: Yes
Additional features: n/a
Performance
DisplayMate Performance
We tested the LG Flatron E2260 through its DVI input, connected to a Windows Vista PC, using the included DVI cable. The display posted a composite score of 91 on CNET Labs' DisplayMate-based performance tests--several points lower than the PX2370's 96, but a very good showing nonetheless. In our color ramp tests, we saw linear and smooth progression from dark to light colors. In color tracking we saw accurate color with no tint problems. This carried over to games and movies, which also, did not display tint problems. In our Dark Screen test we saw minimal backlight bleedthrough.
Text
In text, we saw no color problems with black text on a white background. Fonts were clearly visible down to a 6.8 size.
Movies
We tested the LG Flatron E2260 using the Blu-ray version of "Avatar." The E2260 displayed the movie well, not crushing dark blacks; however, in the cinema preset mode, the blacks were not dark enough to be considered anything near true black.
Colors, were not as vibrant and saturated as on the PX2370, and as a result looked slightly washed out. When we adjusted each red, green, and blue value to about 63, we noticed a slight improvement in color saturation, but not dramatically so.
Games
Because of our intimate familiarity with World of Warcraft (WoW), it remains the best tool for judging color quality and vibrancy in games. On the LG Flatron E2260 we found that color saturation and vibrancy were lacking compared with the PX2370. While colors on the PX2370 popped with life, on the E2260, they seemed bland in comparison.
Viewing angle
The optimal viewing angle for a monitor is usually directly in front, about a quarter of the way down from the top of the screen. At this angle, you're viewing the colors and gamma correction as the manufacturer intended. Most monitors are not made to be viewed at any other angle. Depending on the panel type, picture quality at nonoptimal angles varies. Most monitors use TN panels, which get overly bright or overly dark in parts of the screen when viewed from nonoptimal angles. The LG Flatron E2260 uses a TN panel, and when it is viewed from the sides or bottom, we perceived the screen to darken about 6 inches off from center.
Recommended settings and use
During general use--watching movies and playing games--we found the Normal preset, with the contrast set to 53, to be the E2260's optimal picture setting.
As with most TN-based monitors, the LG Flatron E2260 shouldn't be used if pinpoint accurate color reproduction is required; however, the monitor is good for watching movies, playing games, and for general use. If you do have stringent color needs, we suggest you narrow your search to IPS or PVA-based panels only. The more expensive Dell UltraSharp U2711 is a good place to start.
Power consumption
The LG Flatron E2260 achieved good power consumption, with a Default/On power draw of 24.43 watts, compared with the PX2370's 25.01 watts in the same test. The consumption delta was higher in our Sleep/Standby test, with the E2260 costing 0.45 watts and the PX2370 drawing 0.27 watts. With both monitor's center point calibrated to 200 candelas per square meter (cd/M2), the E2260 drew 20.03 watts, while the PX2370 drew a slightly lower 19.9 watts. Based on our formula, the LG Flatron E2260 would cost $7.60 per year to run, compared with the PX2370's $7.65 per year.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
 Juice box | |
| LG Flatron E2260 | Average watts per hour |
| On (default luminance) | 24.43 |
| On (max luminance) | 24.43 |
| On (min luminance) | 12.59 |
| Sleep | 0.45 |
| Calibrated (200 cd/m2) | 20.03 |
| Annual power consumption cost | $7.60 |
| Score | Good |
Find out more about how we test LCD monitors
Service and support
LG backs the Flatron E2260 with a three-year parts-and-labor warranty, which covers the backlight for only one year. That's two years less than other vendors, such as Dell, which usually offers backlight coverage for three years. The company offers repair service in two working days and pays freight shipping both ways for one year. During the second and third year of the warranty, customers pay to ship it to LG and it pays the return freight to the customer. LG provides Live Web and e-mail chat as support options, as well as toll-free phone support.