[Review] HP VH240a: Honestly It's nothing to write home about

Moving onto the picture quality of the display we can hardly expect it to be comparable to high-end monitors such as the  LG 34WN80C-B but it's definitely nothing to scoff at.

Specifically, the HP VH240a has a stunning 23.8-inch diagonal, a Full HD resolution, and 250 nits of brightness. The screen is clear and crisp with a 60Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time. The display features a 16:9 aspect ratio and 72% color coverage (sRGB). It's also got pretty good viewing angles thanks to its IPS technology which delivers a 178 degree viewing angle.

But what does this mean in terms of picture quality?

Let's break it down:

The brightness and contrast are good. You get a high-quality image, with excellent color reproduction. 

The colors on the screen are bright but not oversaturated. The black levels are solid (for the price range) and the whites have a more neutral tone to them, rather than being super bright or too cool. This certainly helps if you're doing color-sensitive work, as it leaves more room for you to tweak the image to your liking.

The viewing angle is fantastic. You can easily see the screen from a multitude of angles without losing quality or contrast. The 178 degrees horizontal and vertical angles are quite wide, which means that there will be no need to sit right in front of the monitor. This also comes in handy if you're playing games with friends because everybody will be able to see the screen without any issues.

Gaming performance

As for gaming performance, we've got to admit that the VH240a does not make the best of first impressions. It works perfectly okay, but there are some issues with lag and response time (consider the fact that it's got a 60Hz display) which could be a deal-breaker depending on how much you love your high frame rate games.

But it's always good to keep in mind that gaming is not the only thing anyone ever uses a monitor for. It's perfectly capable of delivering an overall pleasant experience during non-gaming activities and could even be considered as a good entry-level gaming monitor for those who don't want to burn a hole in their pocket on one particular piece of hardware.

To put it bluntly; if you're a casual gamer, who just wants to do normal things on the web and watch some movies every now and then, but also occasionally play games that run at under 60 frames per second without missing a beat; then this is definitely the monitor for you.

We should note that its 5ms response time is common enough for the price and emphasizes even further the concept that this is not a monitor designed for gaming. 

What are customers saying about this monitor?

The HP VH240a monitor has generally received positive feedback from customers. One of its key strengths is its value for the price, making it an attractive option for those on a budget. Customers often appreciate its performance as a workstation monitor, finding it suitable for various tasks such as office applications, coding, and watching videos. The visual quality of the monitor is often praised, with customers noting that it provides a clear and crisp display. Some customers specifically mention that the monitor has sharper visuals compared to their previous monitors. The thin bezel design is also well-received, as it gives the monitor a sleek and modern appearance. Additionally, the VESA mount compatibility allows for versatile placement options, which is appreciated by those who want to customize their setup. On the negative side, there are reports of occasional issues with the display. Some customers have experienced problems such as thin red/black vertical lines or hazy colors, particularly with refurbished units. These issues can be a source of frustration and disappointment for affected customers.

In terms of durability, some customers have expressed concerns about certain parts of the monitor. For example, the power cord has been described as flimsy by a few customers, raising questions about its long-term durability. However, it's important to note that these negative experiences appear to be isolated incidents and not representative of the majority of customer experiences. Overall, while there are a few drawbacks and occasional quality issues reported, the majority of customers find the HP VH240a monitor to be a good value for its price range. It serves well as a work station monitor, offering satisfactory visual performance and a range of features that cater to everyday computing needs.

Conclusion: Is the HP VH240a worth buying?