Eizo FlexScan EV2333W review

Eizo's EcoView monitors don't just lower power consumption; they also come in at more attractive prices than their full-blooded brethren. Anyone used to £400-plus asking prices will be pleasantly surprised to see Eizo's latest 23in model has a superior PVA panel yet costs just £299 exc VAT.

It also has one of the most flexible stands we've had the pleasure of toying with. The aptly named FlexStand does all the usual tilting and swivelling, but it's also height-adjustable through more than 20cm, swinging all the way down to desk level if necessary. Combine that with a 30-degree backward tilt and it's comfortable to use in a wide variety of stances.

It's Eizo's EcoView functions that give this TFT its name, and they're successful in lowering power draw. With the maximum saving (with brightness set to minimum) the EV2333W drew just 13W, and at the 30% level deemed optimal in our test environment that only rose to 19W. Even at full brightness the power draw was 36W, which is hardly outlandish for a 23in TFT.

A sensor beneath the screen optimises that brightness and also detects your movement, enabling a power-save mode if you leave your desk for 40 seconds. The EcoView Index pops up on screen to show you how green any changes are, and when you're editing a document or browsing the web these savings work well, reducing eye-strain as well as your electricity bill.

You'll definitely want to switch them off for any serious image work though. As you'd expect from an Eizo monitor with a PVA panel, colours are excellent and gradients are smooth, but only at high brightness settings do you get anything like the punch and contrast we expect for colour-critical work or entertainment. Switching EcoView on and off depending on the task at hand is a slightly clunky way to benefit from both the image quality and the power savings.

The EV2333W comes with a choice of DisplayPort, DVI and D-SUB inputs, and there's a rather pathetic 0.35W speaker in the front that isn't good for much. But it's the picture that matters, and this Eizo does an impressive job of melding quality, flexibility and environmental features. For professionals on a budget it's a great choice.

Author: David Bayon