AOC e2243Fw review

Viewing angle: The optimal viewing angle for a monitor is usually directly in front, about a quarter of the way down from the top of the screen. At this angle, you're viewing the colors and gamma as the manufacturer intended. Most monitors are not made to be viewed at any other angle. Depending on the panel type, picture quality at nonoptimal angles varies. Most monitors use TN panels, which get overly bright or overly dark in parts of the screen when viewed from nonoptimal angles, making for inaccurate color representation. The AOC e2243Fw uses a TN panel, and when it is viewed from the sides or bottom, we perceived the screen to darken about 6 inches off from center; this is typical for a TN.

Recommended settings and use: When viewing movies within the Movie preset, we saw a slight green tint mostly noticeable in character faces. In an attempt to bring the picture closer to an acceptable level of color balance, like the PX2370, we settled on the following setting for movies: Contrast: 50; Red: 86; Green: 49; Blue: 50.

During general use, we preferred the standard, default settings. For games, we preferred the Game brightness preset with the default color settings and the Auto Detect color boost selected.

As with most TN-based monitors, the AOC e2243Fw shouldn't be used if pinpoint accurate color reproduction is required; however, the monitor is great for watching movies, casually viewing photos, and for general use, although not the best for playing games. If you do have stringent color needs, we suggest you narrow your search to IPS- or PVA-based panels only. The more expensive Dell UltraSharp U2711 is a good place to start.

Power consumption: The AOC e2243Fw achieved good power consumption, with a Default/On power draw of 23.79 watts, compared with the Samsung PX2370's 25.01 watts in the same test. The consumption delta was closer in our Sleep/Standby test, with the e2243Fw drawing only slightly more power than the PX2370, with 0.29 watt and 0.27 watt, respectively. With both monitors' center point calibrated to 200 candelas per square meter (cd/M2), the e2243Fw drew 19.03 watts, whereas the PX2370 drew a slightly higher number of watts. Based on our formula, the AOC e2243Fw would cost $7.30 per year to run, compared with the Samsung PX2370's $7.65 per year.

Juice box
AOC e2243Fw	Average watts per hour
On (default luminance)	23.79
On (max luminance)	25.04
On (min luminance)	14.09
Sleep	0.29
Calibrated (200 cd/m2)	19.03
Annual power consumption cost	$7.30
Score	Good

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Service and support
AOC backs the e2243Fw with a three-year parts and labor warranty that covers the backlight for only one year. That backlight coverage is two years less than other vendors, which usually offer coverage for three years. E-mail and toll-free tech support are also offered.