ASUS VZ239H-W Review - Quick Verdict
The ASUS VZ239H-W is a 23″ LED-backlit display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It comes with an IPS panel which makes it an excellent choice for consuming media and doing work. Though this isn’t a gaming monitor, it does a decent job when gaming. Look no further if you’re hunting for an IPS monitor that doesn’t cost more than $150.
- IPS panel in a budget monitor
- Ultra slim profile is a treat for the eyes
- Excellent for media consumption and office work
- Can't swivel or pivot
Author's Rating
Finding good quality IPS monitors when you’re in a budget can be a tough challenge. In this ASUS VZ239H-W review, we talk about this sub $150 gaming monitor that comes with an IPS panel. This is a basic offering from Asus, but it sure competes with some high-end models.
If you’re on a budget, then you need a gaming display that’ll get the basics right. The ASUS VZ239H-W falls in that category. It doesn’t have any bells and whistles but gets the simple things right. For someone who can’t afford a hand or leg to buy their next gaming monitor, this one here could be a good choice. Read the full review below to see if this a good fit for your needs.
Design
The ASUS VZ239H-W is a good looking monitor, and you’ll know that when you see it for the first time. In fact, the monitor looks better than some that costs twice as much as this one. Some may not like the white color as they could feel that this might get dirty quick. You can get the black option if it is in stock.
The first thing you’re going to notice is the slim bezel around the display. We didn’t think that a budget monitor would come with such a modern design element. The bottom bezel is a bit bigger than others as it holds the logo.
Asus calls this an ultra-slim display. It is true to some extent, as the monitor is only 7mm when looked from the sides. The bottom is bulky, but the rest of the display is as slim as it can get. This and the frameless design make this monitor a truly modern display.
The stand is a simple aluminum stand that comes in white to match the display’s aesthetics. It is a sturdy one and holds the monitor well even when given a slight push. You can tilt the screen 5 degrees to the front, and up to 22 degrees backward. Unfortunately, you can’t swivel, pivot, or adjust the height of the monitor which is a step backward.
If you’re someone who likes to move the angle the of the display frequently, you’re going to be disappointed. Luckily, this is an IPS panel, so we think frequent swivels may not be necessary.
Portability and Audio
With dimensions of 20.9 x 8.3 x 15.2 inches, the monitor weighs about 6 pounds. It is easy to move around if that’s your thing. One thing that disappoints us is the lack of VESA compatibility. Even cheaper models can be mounted on the wall, but this one can’t be hanged on your wall. Though not a dealbreaker, it surely can put a sad face on some.
The ASUS VZ239H-W also comes with a couple of integrated speakers. These are 1.5W speakers, so they are not the best ones you’re going to hear. We do recommend going for more serious speakers for a better audio experience.
ASUS VZ239H-W Specs
The ASUS VZ239H-W is a 23″ LED-backlit display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It comes with a native aspect ratio of 16:9 which makes it excellent for media consumption and gaming. Unlike other budget monitors, this one comes with an IPS panel.
Having an IPS panel surely brings a lot of advantages to the table. One of the most noticeable ones is the viewing angle. Thanks to the IPS panel, the ASUS VZ239H-W gets a viewing angle of 178 degrees. You can now watch the display from any angle, and you’ll get the same colors everywhere.
The monitor also comes with an anti-glare coating. Having a reflective display can be very hard. Seeing your reflections and reflections of people behind can get tiring very fast. This one hear comes with an anti-reflective coating, so you’ll not be seeing those glossy reflections even in a room with good lighting.
Talking about bright environments, the ASUS VZ239H-W comes with a maximum brightness of 250 nits. This may not be that much when compared with high-end displays, but at this price point, this is good. Though you won’t need the max brightness at all times, it can come in handy at times.
With a contrast ratio of 1000:1 and an Asus Smart Contrast Ratio (ASCR) of 80M:1, the colors are pretty impressive. Asus says the display can support 16.7 million colors, and we don’t doubt it. With a good contrast ratio, you can enjoy the contents on the screen to the maximum as you’ll see more colors. The ASUS VZ239H-W manages to do just that.
ASUS VZ239H-W Performance
When it comes to real-life performance, the ASUS VZ239H-W did a pretty good job. The monitor covers 75% of the NTSC color space and 97% of the sRGB color space. If you’re someone who works with photos and videos, then this accuracy can make this monitor your pro display.
The gamma settings stay flat at 2.2 which is pretty decent. With the right brightness and contrast ratio, you can get an excellent output from this display. You can also adjust the saturation to personalize the display even more.
One of the most significant problems with monitors these days is backlight bleed. Luckily, the ASUS VZ239H-W model in hand didn’t have any backlight bleed. If you got one with issues, you could replace it with a newer device, thanks to Amazon’s replacement program.
Gaming on the ASUS VZ239H-W
Though the ASUS VZ239H-W is not advertised as a gaming monitor, we feel the need to tell our readers how good this display is for gaming.
With a standard refresh rate of 60Hz, the monitor is okay when it comes to fluidity and smoothness. Though we’d prefer 144Hz monitors for gaming, the ASUS VZ239H-W gaming monitor surely has the advantage of better pricing.
The monitor comes with a response time of 5ms which is not that bad for gaming. The fact that this is an IPS display makes the 5ms response time just fine. While you completely don’t miss ghosting, it is limited to some extent.
The lack of support for G-Sync or FreeSync makes this monitor not so good for gaming as you have fewer resources to fight against tearing and other problems related to fast movements on the screen.
ASUS VZ239H-W Connectivity
The ASUS VZ239H-W gaming monitor is somewhat limited when it comes to connectivity.
There is an HDMI port at the back that is handy for quick connectivity with desktops and gaming consoles. Right next to the HDMI port is a DVI port which is also important especially when you have a graphics card that supports only DVI ports.
You also get a headphone jack, so you can plug in your headphones and enjoy good audio right from the display itself.
The lack of the display port and more HDMI ports is a bit disappointing, to be honest.
More…
If you’re not sure about the settings, eight preset modes can help you get started. The modes are sRGB Mode, Scenery Mode, Theater Mode, Standard Mode, Night View Mode, Game Mode, Reading Mode, and Darkroom Mode. These can do a good job depending on the task you want to do.
A nice addition to the feature set is the inclusion of a flicker-free tech. Flickers are very harmful to your eyes, and prolonged exposure can permanently damage your eyesight. With the flicker-free technology, the monitor removes flickers and makes viewing safe for your eyes.
Another cool feature is the blue light filter. Just like the flickers, blue light can be dangerous to one’s eyes. This filter reduces the blue light coming out of the display depending on the task in hand.
Bottomline
The ASUS VZ239H-W is a budget monitor that comes with an IPS panel. It has a 23″ screen with a full HD resolution which makes it suitable for media consumption and work. It may not be the best budget monitor for gaming, but it does reasonably well. If you’re on the hunt for an IPS monitor that costs less than $150, then look no further.