[mindless]

Hello again, a little update on my case – 278E1A is great, unfortunately 2 days in use and got a vertical line from end to end 2-3 pixel wide. I can find 27ul600 reasonably priced here in my country. I know you recommend it as a substitute for 278E1A – would you recommend it as a eye-friendly option? Thanks!

[PCM2]

Both the LG and Philips tick similar viewing comfort boxes. I’d recommend trying another 278E1A if you liked it, though. Your monitor was clearly faulty and the majority don’t exhibit such issues. Equally you could’ve ordered (or still could order) an LG that’s faulty – it happens, I’m afraid, and difficult though it is you shouldn’t let it deter you from trying another unit of the same model.

[mindless]

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately it is out of stock already where I got it plus the promotion I got it on is over as well. So now it is cheaper to get Acer EB275K or AOC U2777PQU or LG 27UL600-W. I can not find reliable test for the first two proving DC dimming – only proven DC-diiming is for the LG. Can get on really good price U2520D – similar to the displays above but after using the163 ppi for awhile the 117 ppi of my u2518d make text choppy as hell. Any advice on these models?

The other option is u2720Q for ~500 euro, the others mentioned above are for ~350 euro. Unfortunately no amazon deliveries here – only local retailers.

[PCM2]

Got it. In that case, stick with the LG 27UL600. Certainly not worth paying another €150 for the U2720Q, unless you really want the more vibrant and saturated output (95% DCI-P3 colour space – lots of extension beyond sRGB). I agree that you’d best stick to that pixel density which you’re now used to and enjoying, too.

[mindless]

Missed to mention yet another option – U28R550 for ~300 euro – read mostly good reviews about it but haven’t found a proof it is dc-dimmed. You say it has “flicker-free WLED backlight” do you know if this is dc-dimming or high Hz pwm? I tested for a day lenovo s28u which uses the same panel and felt is as high Hz pwm of course no proof for it but I did not enjoyed it one bit. It would have been so nice if the manufacturers just openly stated what they have as technology behind the “flicker-free” statement.

BTW I made a little investigation with the local Lenovo office. Called them and asked for the number of TUV certificate they list for their “flicker free” label for the model. They sent me a certificate number which WAS for ergonomics. Just returned the display, see no point in complaining further but this clearly demonstrates what shady practices some companies employ on the matter.

[PCM2]

I’m not sure about the regulation method, the ‘flicker-free’ aspect comes from Samsung’s own marketing. And I haven’t used any model with that 28″ IPS-type panel myself yet, either. Usually when Samsung says a monitor is flicker-free they use DC dimming. They do sometimes apply hybrid dimming, which can employ PWM for low brightness levels, usually below a brightness level of ‘30%’ and DC dimming above that. Sometimes this can help achieve very low minimum luminance levels, although the two don’t always correlate. And there are some notable examples of models (C32HG70 comes to mind) where they’ve claimed a monitor is flicker-free but it clearly isn’t.

[mindless]

Hello, a little info for U28R550 – I wrote to local SAMSUNG office about it and here what they gave me:

TÜV Rheinland certification: Eye Comfort 2.0 – The certification can be viewed on http://www.tuv.com using ID 1419073657.

and unfortunately:

LED Driver is SLC5014R, PWM dimming used.

[PCM2]

For reference, the website you need to search is certipedia.com. This is the specific page for the U28R550.

“PWM dimming is used” in what capacity? The certification confirms that it meets the requirements for ISO 9241 307 and part of this includes that it must be ‘flicker-free’. PWM could still be used at lower brightness per the ‘hybrid dimming’ I described above, just because PWM circuitry is included doesn’t mean it is used at all brightness levels.

[Ivan]

Hi,

I really need help with this, so I hope there will be some recommendations…

Most monitors I try tend to give me eye strain (strange uncomfortable feeling behind the eyes). I’m looking for a basic solution, what 24″ monitor is easiest on the eyes?

I’m looking at the famous c24g1 and similar versions from asus or samsung, but is there anything better?

My experience with IPS panels isn”t the best, so I guess I’ll try va this time.

Contrast stability is one of my favourite graphs on your tests, but I still don’t get it completely. Sometimes even if contrast stability is good on paper, you can clearly see that monitor has to be on the brighter side of settings to look good. And completely different example, my father’s old samsung tabled has some pathetic, old ips screen, but it is “white” even on really low brightness. You don’t have to set it too high, so it’s really comfortable.

I’m totally out of luck with this, tried way to many monitors so any advice would be really helpful.

Thanks a lot

[PCM2]

Hi Ivan and welcome,

As explored in this thread and our article on viewing comfort, there are many factors to consider when it comes to viewing comfort. Panel type is indeed a key consideration and if you’ve tried IPS models and had little luck with them in that regard then I feel trying VA would be the natural choice. Some of what you’ve experienced regarding observing different models at low brightness could be down to differences in gamma setup, colour temperature or backlighting. It’s difficult to say exactly, but contrast alone doesn’t tell you the whole picture.

With this said, I do think VA options are worth exploring. And because of the contrast and distinctions you’ll see because of that you may find the experience quite enjoyable even at relatively low brightness settings. If you really want to experience the best that VA has to offer, in terms of contrast, perhaps look out for the upcoming Philips 242E1GSJ (242E1GAJ). If the specifications are accurate, it will give a nice boost in contrast over the already decent models you’ve mentioned with the curved Samsung SVA panel.

[mindless]

No further information was provided by SAMSUNG on the matter of the PWM used.

Finally I settled for 27UL850 Brightness range is great for my use – low minimum brightness much appreciated. UCB-c DP is great to have as well. Got it on a sale for ~380 EUR VAT included. Decreased color saturation via Intel card to -25. Does not strain my eyes, very happy so far. Thanks for help and advises. Cheers!

[CA5CA5]

So I am in the market for a new display my old one is starting to play up Dell U2709. It lasted me almost 10 years. Been pretty happy with Dell.

Now I want to go Ultrawide, found a few but having a hard time making choice.

Most important thing for me now is Flicker Free and Blue light filter to save my eyes after all these hours spent behind the screen.

Dell is my first choice seeing as it lasted it me for so long and found a good deal on the below 2, scratch on the monitor stand making them a bit cheaper

U3419W @ 527 USD – IPS panel @ 60Hz

or got even bigger, not sure that I need it but it sure is cool
U3818DW @ 733 USD – IPS panel @ 60Hz

it does seem spec wise that the Dell’s are due for an update but would it really matter to me have higher refresh rates probably not with my usage.

or save myself a bunch of money and get the Xiaomi Curved Ultrawide 34 @322 USD – SVA panel @ 144hz (Samsung panel). It seems very capable but not sure about it’s eye protection features.

Mostly using this for productivity, spreadsheets mostly, presentations, side by side, little bit of gaming but nothing serious, GTA online or something, no movies

I know there are more choices out there like the 34 Samsung or LG, Viewsonic but no real deals on those. Same for the 38 sizes

Anyone faced the same dilemma? What did you end up going for?

[PCM2]

Hi CA5CA5,

I’ve merged your thread with this one as it’s a suitable place. As you’ll see from this thread and our dedicated article on the topic, viewing comfort has many facets. For some users panel type is important and some prefer one or the other (VA or IPS, for example). A higher refresh rate can be appreciated even when just browsing around on the desktop and for some it would affect viewing comfort. But the best results would come from that if it’s coupled with a highly responsive panel – which the Xiaomi Curved UltraWide doesn’t have. It’s all very subjective and I’d say for most users a higher refresh rate is ‘nice’ on the desktop, but little more. Certainly not essential.

My own suggestions with respect to affordable UltraWides can be found on this thread. So I don’t specifically recommend any of the models you’ve highlighted. I feel the era of 60Hz UltraWides has largely been and gone and they’re unattractive for most users now due to higher refresh rate offerings taking their place. But they may be perfectly adequate for your uses and the Dell models you’ve selected tick many potential viewing comfort boxes. But so does the Xiaomi, which is significantly cheaper. As with the Dell it includes an easily accessible Low Blue Light (LBL) setting, and it is TUV certified so should be effective. I know Dell’s settings are effective, although sometimes impart a clear green tint. Either way, you should be able to create your own quite easily if that doesn’t suit.

I’m slightly dubious of whether the Xiaomi is truly flicker-free or whether it just uses high frequency PWM modulation. Not sure if somebody has confirmed this yet, but the product page states in the tiniest small print ever (dodgy small print I have to say): “*No visible flicker means that under normal operating conditions no flickering can be seen with the naked eye.” Which is a bit ambiguous, although manufacturers often are with their flicker-free claims. No TUV certification mentioned with this one for its flicker-free status, though, which more mainstream manufacturers would often mention.

Edit: Some further points related to the Xiaomi Mi Curved 34″ can be found in this post which I’ve just created. As I say there, it’s likely that DC-dimming is used, so no PWM.

[CA5CA5]

Very happy I found this site, so much incredibly useful information also thank you for moving my post to the right thread and for your very informative answer, this is great! So I am going to forget about the Xiaomi since it has no TUV certification to know for sure if it’s flicker free, since it’s such a cheap monitor I doubt that would be the real thing. One question remains though since this is a Samsung panel, is this built in to the panel or is this something that is applied later by Xiaomi in this case?

Leaning back towards the Dell displays both 34 and 38, I’ve checked similar LG IPS displays with higher refresh rates also Asus, Viewsonic but prices are significantly higher than what I can get the Dell’s for. I have also found a slightly older AW3418DW it is only a little bit more expensive than the larger Dell U3818DW but that really is a gaming monitor. Does that also have all the eye care features, TUV certified etc.?

Other than other newer displays upping the refresh rates, how would the 60hz of the Dell hurt viewing comfort?

How does IPS glare and backlight bleed factor into viewing comfort?

[PCM2]

The 144Hz VA UltraWides are all based on the same Samsung LSM340YP05 CELL, which is the panel arrangement minus backlight. It’s the Backlight Unit (BLU) which is linked to the use of PWM or not, so it’s certainly possible for models based on the same ‘panel’ to differ in their brightness regulation method.

The Dell Alienware AW3418DW offers the same sort of viewing comfort characteristics (including PWM-free and effective ‘ComfortView’ LBL setting) with the addition of a higher refresh rate. As I’ve said the refresh rate is a consideration and a nice bonus for your uses, but it’s not essential and may not greatly influence viewing comfort. As with all aspects of viewing comfort, it’s very subjective. I’m not sure it’s worth paying more for than the U3818DW if you’re not gaming, you may find the extra real-estate of the 38″ model quite useful!

The viewing comfort article focuses on the only real tangible viewing comfort factors related to panel type. Amongst that is contrast and this again comes down to personal preference. It’s difficult to isolate an aspect like ‘IPS glow’ as a viewing comfort issue really. It’s more of a nuisance than something that would cause discomfort. But if you spend a lot of time looking at darker content in a dimmer room it would certainly be more pleasing to the eyes to have a stronger perceived contrast, including less ‘glow’ and stronger static contrast. Sitting in a dim room with any monitor is ill-advised if viewing comfort is a priority, though, and if you do that you should certainly make use of reduced brightness and LBL settings.

The panel type article specifically talks about refresh rate, by the way, it’s worth spending some time reading or re-reading the article if you missed that.

[CA5CA5]

I find the more I read up on monitors the more confused I get. I’ve absorbed a ton of information and all very useful but the sheer amount of choices is driving me nuts. Eye strain is also something you can’t exactly test out in store, it takes a while before you can tell the difference

My current old monitor Dell U2709W is apparently a S-PVA panel. This monitor has served me well for over 10 years but now I notice a flicker and when I think about it I think it has been giving me increasing eye-strain for at least a year if not almost 2 years. Now at this point it downright bothers me even after 1 hour of PC work, it needs to go, fast.

I was firmly fixed on replacing it with a Dell Ultrawide 34 or 38 both IPS panels but after reading the viewing comfort article multiple times I ended up being more confused. Of course I started reading more articles about about viewing comfort of both VA and IPS panels, and now I am thinking IPS may not be such a good choice after all for my room condition. Choosing a monitor has never seemed this complicated.

Other than spreadsheet work, I also do a lot of reading too so yes I do spend a lot of time staring at the screen, Eye saving, eye comfort features are on the top of my list. The room I work in has daylight but I would not call it brightly lit, on top of that I often work at night where I use a desk lamp to light up my keyboard and a ceiling light that is behind me, so I suppose this is not a brightly lit working condition.

So now I am back on the fence, staring at 34inch Ultrawide VA panels with the best possible eye saving features. Which panels could you recommend there?

[PCM2]

Your choices are covered in this thread. In terms of “eye saving features” most of the VA Ultrawides are largely equivalent to one another. Some have better-implemented Low Blue Light (LBL) settings or they’re easier to activate in some cases and some will have slightly lower minimum luminance levels – it depends how bright you like your monitor. And of course some (like the Xiaomi) may not be truly flicker-free at all brightness levels – backlight regulation methods can differ where different BLUs are used as I mentioned earlier.

For your uses I feel 100Hz will be perfectly adequate so the Philips 346B1C would be the one to try. PWM-free at all brightness levels, fairly good brightness adjustment range with reasonable minimum level and effective LBL settings.

[CA5CA5]

Interesting choice the Philips, does indeed look like a very nice monitor. Some mixed review on the USB 3.2 and 100hz refresh rate not able to be used at the same time.
Otherwise it looks quite good.

I am seeing a lot Philips models here in Shanghai that are very similar. I can’t find many differences other than price, the one you recommended being the highest and perhaps PVA panel, just VA and some HDR additions.

346B1C @ 656 USD – PVA panel, 1500R, 3440 x 1440 @ 100hz ( strangely this one does not seem to be discounted anywhere in my region)
345B1C @ 417 USD – VA panel, 1500R, 3440 x 1440 @ 100hz
345M1CR @ 388 USD – VA panel, 1500R, 3440 x 1440 @ 144hz, HDR10
346P1CRH @ 522 USD – VA panel, 1500R, 3440 x 1140 @ 100hz, HDR400

Are you familiar with the differences of those models or am i just overlooking the eye saving features?

[PCM2]

As far as I’m aware the models with ‘345’ and ‘346’ designations are all based around the same Samsung SVA panels. Nobody else currently makes 34″ curved VA UltraWide panels so it’s pretty easy to narrow things down. The aesthetics, ports, backlight used and featureset is where some of the differences lie. I like to focus on models that are also available in the US as well, because that’s where the vast majority of the users who support our work are based.

[joaosraposo]

Hello!

Congratulations for this forum and all the detailed information about the monitor’s specifications and differences.

I and using LG-M2432D and lg-27MP37VQ-B for a while and I would like to upgrade my monitor to a wider one so I can have more productivity and take better care of my eyes (I’am having some eye-strain with the LG-M2432D)

The monitor it’s mainly for work all day in emails, spreadsheets, browsing and documentation.

After my research I was thinking on a Monitor with the following specifications:
– 34 inches
– Curved
– At least WQHD
– At least 70 hz
– IPS panel
– Flicker free 
– Low blue light
– FreeSync (or similar) 
– Anti glare

I was trying to find one Monitor with a budget near 400 euros, but it seems that I always have to compromise between the curved panel versus the type of panel (IPS or VA).

Here are the monitors that I am considering:

VA Curved
– – Xiaomi-Mi-3440
– – MSI Optix-MAG342CQRV
– – Benq EX3501R
– – PHILIPS 345B1C
– – Gigabyte G34WQC

IPS Flat
– – PHILIPS 345E2AE/00
– – Iiyama G-MASTER GB3461WQSU-B1

I also found some nice deals within by budget but also not ticking all the boxes the LG 34UC99-W(low refresh rate and no information about blue light filtering) and LG 34GN73A-B(not wqhd no information about blue light filtering)

It seems that the VA options I could tick more boxes, but I am not sure if I need that. So I think my main question it’s: “In terms of eye care, does the type of panel influence more than a set of other factors combined like curved + higher frequency + higher resolution?”

If you have any recommendation from my list it would be very helpful for me 🙂

Thank you!

[Author]

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