Hannsg HP226DGB review

If you simply don't have the space for a large 24 or 27 inch monitor then you can usually pick up a more compact 21 or 22in display for a very reasonable price. The Hannsg HP226DGB is a 21.5in screen with a resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels. It has DVI and VGA ports for connecting a computer and it has a chunky stand and strong frame.

It doesn't look particularly elegant compared to other monitors, but the HP226DGB is well-built. The buttons feel well-made and it doesn't wobble when adjusted or accidentally knocked unlike other monitors at this price. The stand can be titled but lacks height adjustment.

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The screen is covered with hard glass which protects it from accidental impacts. The glass also has a scratch-resistant, glossy coating. This glossiness helps improve contrast, but it also reflects light very easily which can cause glare. This can be distracting and is particularly noticeable in a well-lit room. Whether this will affect you does depend greatly on the area where your desk is, but we did eventually get used to it.

The range and vividness of colours were relatively good for a screen at this price, although there are clear differences between this and a more expensive monitor such as the 24in Dell Ultrasharp U2412M. The latter costs nearly twice the price but has far superior image quality. Even after tweaking the HP226DGB's settings it couldn't match the vibrancy of the Ultrasharp and this was particularly noticeable when viewing photos.

Movies looked excellent, though, with plenty of brightness and contrast although details were difficult to pick out in especially dark scenes. Fast-paced action scenes and games looked smooth. Text in documents and web pages were particularly clear and sharp, although text did appear to be slightly sharper on the Dell Ultrasharp.

Overall, this is a capable and inexpensive monitor that's far more robust than other similarly priced screens. Cheaper monitors with the same resolution are available, but if you're accident prone or live in a household with kids then the modest price premium for this monitor could be well worth paying.