Viewing Angles and Usability
So, how is the Samsung P2370 in terms of performance? In general, I wouldn’t put it at the bottom of the heap nor would I place it at the top of the mountain. The brightness is quite impressive, so if you’re working somewhere with a lot of ambient light, this monitor could be very suitable. Colors are also quite vibrant and the horizontal viewing angles are quite good.
The vertical viewing angle, which claimed to be at 160-degrees, wasn’t quite so good. Looking up from the bottom wasn’t too much of an issue, but looking down from above made for a less than desirable result. Text became impossible to read when I hit about 50-degrees above the horizon. I didn’t get the same discoloration as the debranded HP monitor I reviewed a while ago. Instead, everything got washed out in white.
Benchmarks
To get a better sense of performance, I ran a series of benchmark tests and screens from DisplayMate for Windows Multimedia Edition Version 2.12. You can see more of the test screens in the gallery on the last page of this review.
One area that caught my attention was the pure black test. Even though the SyncMaster P2370 has a dynamic contrast ratio of 50,000:1, it only has a true contrast ratio of 1000:1. The pure black was not pure black. The lighting was very evident along the top and bottom edges of the screen. This result appears to be in line with the “washed out” vertical viewing angle mentioned earlier.
The contrast ratio issue was also evident in some of the test screens meant to differentiate between subtly different levels of grey. I used the automatic settings, so these issues may perhaps be rectified with some proper manual calibration.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
If you’re in the market for something that will absolutely blow your mind (or your eyeballs as the case may be), you need to look somewhere else. If you’re in the market for a monitor that comes with several multimedia extras, you need to consider something else. The Samsung SyncMaster P2370 is neither of these. It doesn’t come with built-in speakers, a USB hub, webcam, crazy (true) contrast ratio, or anything like that.
However, that’s not to say that you should ignore this monitor altogether. The remarkably slim profile and stellar looks make it a great option for fashion-conscious computer users. The Starlight Touch controls look great and you may appreciate the totally minimalist approach of the overall aesthetic.
This is far from being any kind of powerhouse, but it was never meant to be one. The transparent plastic bezel looks great and you’ll really be impressed by the brightness. The 16:9 aspect ratio and 1080p resolution make this a good option for movie buffs too. Oh, and it’s eco-friendly too.
Pros
- Touch of Color design with clear plastic trim
- Remarkably thin 30mm profile
- Very bright and vibrant
- Good overall performance
Cons
- Vertical viewing angle less than impressive
- Only DVI as a connection option
- No additional features like webcam, mic, or speakers
- Uneven lighting and contrast concerns
Overall Rating: 7.5 / 10.0
Help us improve our reviews! Leave a comment below!