Lenovo L220X 22″ Widescreen LCD Monitor

It’s no exaggeration to say monitors have been in a rut with the most recent releases. For most high end consumer monitors, high expectations, lackluster performance and quality control issues have plagued them to the point that some enthusiasts are returning them in droves. Go to any tech message board on the web with a monitor forum, and you’ll inevitably find tons of complaints. There are options out there, but there’s a good chance that you will have to compromise somewhere.

If you look at any 24” available today, you’ll find they all have at least one thing in common, the resolution. They all display at a resolution of 1920×1200. However, if you look at just about every 22” monitor, you’ll only find a resolution of 1680×1050. A two inch difference results in a loss of 540,000 pixels. The fact that these panels are almost always TN panels, you’ve got a whole category of monitors that, in a few ways, are heading backwards. That’s not to say they’re going against the tide.

Lenovo’s L220X takes these precedents and disposes of them completely. It is the first 22” monitor that has a resolution, using a S-PVA panel. So what’s the benefit of having a smaller monitor at a higher resolution? For a start, the size can make a huge difference where you can put it. I personally have a desk that prevents me from using 24” screens, but any 22” display will fit without a problem. The increased pixel pitch and smaller size allow you to sit closer while gaming and the image will look better as a result.

It is silly that no one besides Lenovo has the sense to release a product to cater to the people who demand a product like this. If laptops are being sold with 17” screens that have comparable resolutions, why can’t 22” desktop monitors be more plentiful? Companies like Dell, NEC or ViewSonic, who all have further recognition in the consumer space, should do the same.

Even though the resolution makes the monitor intriguing, there are other factors that make or break a display. We’ll put it through our testing procedures to see if the monitor fails to disappoint or not. Will the new panel be a positive sign of things to come, or will Lenovo’s effort fall flat as another disappointment?