Why You Can Trust CNET Mag Innovision GML2427 review: Mag Innovision GML2427
Mag Innovision GML2427
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Editors' note: MAG mistakenly sent CNET a preproduction unit of the MAG GML2427. This review was changed to reflect the differences between the preproduction unit and the release model.
Mag Innovision GML2427
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
The Mag GML2427 is a 24-inch monitor with a dim screen, muted colors, and both VGA and HDMI ports, although it's packaged only with the VGA cable. That said, its MSRP is only $250; a low price for a monitor that includes HDMI. In the end, the monitor's low price doesn't make up for its disappointing performance. For a better overall monitor in this price range, check out the Gateway FHD2402.
Design and features
The 24-inch Mag GML2427 has a glossy, black chassis. Despite its 0.8-inch panel depth, it has a somewhat boxy look. The panel width measures 22 inches, and the surface of the screen is a slightly frosted and smooth matte; its bezel measures 0.75 inch long on all sides. The distance from the bottom of the bezel to the desktop is 2 inches. The panel tilts back about 25 degrees, but unfortunately, there's no pivot, swivel, or screen height adjustment.
On its back sits a 7-inch-by-7-inch panel that protrudes about 0.5 inch from the display and houses the connection options: VGA and HDMI, but no DVI port. Accessing these connections was easy, since they face directly back, and not down as on most monitors. The panel has four screw holes for mounting the display (VESA style) on the wall. The circular footstand measures about 8.75 inches in diameter. When knocked from the side, wobbling proved prevalent; however, thanks to the screen's low and fixed height, it never felt in danger of toppling.
The onscreen display follows a simple design that takes some getting used to. The OSD array consists of a Menu button, an Up and Down button, and an Auto button, with each button located on the bottom right-hand side of the bezel. With no "back" button, it's necessary to navigate to "Exit" to leave a menu screen, a process that proved more and more tedious each time it was needed. Its picture options consist of brightness and contrast, and you can set the color tone to Cool, Native, Warm, or SRGB. We found the Warm setting by far the best of the bunch, as Cool--the default setting--had a much too bluish tint.
Also included are settings letting you change the red, green, and blue attributes individually. There are four presets, including Night, Scenery, Theater, Game, in addition to a Dynamic Contrast setting that works independently of the current preset. Each preset changes the color temperature and brightness of the display to be appropriate to the task.
The Mag GML2427's 16:9 aspect ratio has a 1,920x1,080-pixel native resolution. The 16:9 aspect ratio trend currently sweeping the monitor market has given many smaller displays higher resolutions than they were capable of at 16:10 aspect ratio. A 22-inch monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio now has a potential high-definition, native resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels (1080p) as opposed to 1,680x1,050 pixels.
Manufacturer's specifications:
Resolution: 1,920x1,080
Pixel-response rate: 5ms, 2ms (GTG)
Contrast ratio: 1,000:1
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Connectivity: HDMI, VGA
HDCP compliant? Yes
Included video cables? VGA
Backlight type: LED
Panel type: TN
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Performance
We tested the Mag GML2427 with its HDMI connection in the Warm color temperature preset, via a HDMI to DVI cable; however, the display only includes a single VGA cable. The display posted a composite score of 85 on CNET Labs' DisplayMate-based performance tests. While this number may seem fairly high, it doesn't tell the whole story of the GML2427's overall performance. The default color temperature on the display is Cool. At this setting, the screen delivered a very blue tint that muted the colors and gave the screen a drab look. The most glaring imperfection we noticed was that the black level was, at best, a dark gray and closer to medium or dark gray. In other words, the black level was high, which likely adversely affected the display's color accuracy. The Mag GML2427 achieved a brightness score of 221 candelas per square meter (cd/m2)--lower than the XL2370's 344 cd/m2 rating and lower than Mag Innovision's claimed maximum brightness rating of 300 cd/m2.
We looked at "Kill Bill, Vol. 1" on DVD and a number of 1080p movie files from Microsoft's WMV HD Showcase. Movies on the GML2427 had an overall cloudy look to them and their color was muted, especially compared with watching the content on the XL2370.
Looking at Unreal Tournament 3 and World of Warcraft on the Mag, its colors didn't have the kind of pop we like to see in games running at a 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution, but the display showed no signs of ghosting or input lag. Thanks to the display's low brightness, the colors looked somewhat muted when we played games with the monitor's Game preset engaged. Compared with the Xl237's colors, the GML2427 just weren't as vibrant or full.
The optimal viewing angle for a monitor is usually directly in front, about a quarter of the screen's distance down from the top. At this angle, you're viewing the colors and gamma correction as they were intended. Most monitors are made to be viewed only at that angle. Depending on its panel type, picture quality at nonoptimal angles varies. The Mag GML2427 was made with an TN panel and when it is viewed from the sides or bottom, we perceived the screen to darken about 4 inches off from center and we noticed that from the left, right, and top, the display darkened and colors shifted quicker than the SyncMaster XL2370. Of course, when viewing from the optimal angle, we had no problems.
 Juice box | |
| Mag GML2427 | Average watts per hour |
| On (default luminance) | 21.9 |
| On (max luminance) | 25.86 |
| On (min luminance) | 7.45 |
| Sleep | 0.72 |
| Calibrated (200 cd/m2) | 25.86 |
| Annual power consumption cost | $7.03 |
| Score | Good |
In the power consumption tests, the Mag GML2427 drew 21.9 watts in its Default/On mode--less than the XL2370's consumption of 30.09 watts. Based on our formula, the GML2427 would cost $7.03 per year to operate--compared with the XL2370's $9.96 per year cost.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test LCD monitors.
Service and support
Mag Innovision backs the GML2427 with a three-year parts-and-labor warranty that only covers the backlight for one year. It also offers support through a toll-free number and via e-mail. Documentation and support software for the GML2427 were easily accessible on Mag's Web site, but its toll-free support number (888-283-1311) was not listed.