The HP VH240a ($139.99) has a few strengths that set it apart from most budget monitors: notably, an unusually high contrast ratio for an IPS panel, and excellent sRGB color coverage. Its flexible stand gives you ergonomics that are unparalleled in this price range, and it has a pair of built-in 2-watt speakers. The panel it most closely resembles is the Editors’ Choice-award-winning HP 24mh, a newer monitor that shares most of the VH240a’s features while adding a DisplayPort connector. It’s a fine alternative to that winner, though, if you don’t need that input.
Ergonomically Supreme
The VH240a employs a 23.8-inch (measured diagonally) in-plane switching (IPS) screen, with full HD/1080p resolution (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) and a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. The panel has a respectable pixel density of 92 pixels per inch (ppi), which is more than enough for typical home or office use, though photo or video enthusiasts will likely want a screen with a higher pixel density. As is typical of IPS displays, the VH240a has very wide viewing angles, rated at 178 degrees for both vertical and horizontal. I saw a minimum of color distortion or posterization, even when I viewed the screen from the most extreme off-center angles.
Measuring 19.7 by 21.2 by 8.6 inches (HWD) and weighing 10.3 pounds, the VH240a is a bit larger and heavier than most 24-inch monitors. This is thanks to its stand. While most budget monitors’ stands support only tilt adjustment, HP’s are more substantial and versatile, packing a wide range of ergonomic comfort features.
The VH240a’s stand supports height adjustment, a tilt range of up to 5 degrees toward the user and up to 30 degrees away, and the ability to pivot between landscape and portrait modes. In back are four holes spaced 100mm apart that fit a VESA bracket, should you want to wall-mount the display or affix it to a movable arm. The HP 24mh has similarly strong ergonomics.
The VH240a includes the usual minimal set of video inputs—HDMI and VGA—found in most budget monitors, including the Acer SB220Q, the Dell SE2419HR, and the Samsung CF396. There’s also an audio-in jack. The HP 24mh adds a DisplayPort connector, while the LG 24MP88HV-S packs a pair of HDMI ports.
The VH240a’s ports face downward in back. This is often an unwieldy arrangement, requiring the user to turn the monitor upside down or place it face down on the desk to add or remove cables, or else fumble around trying to seat cables by touch. Happily, this display’s pivoting ability lets you stand beside the monitor and rotate it into portrait position, providing easy access to the hidden ports.
Also in back, as mentioned, are a couple of 2-watt speakers, which seem pretty much the same as those of the HP 24mh. Their volume is on the soft side, and their audio quality is mediocre, but they are a welcome extra considering that most budget monitors lack speakers altogether.
The VH240a’s pixel refresh rate is 60Hz, and it lacks adaptive sync technology to eliminate screen tear or stutter. This makes it less appealing to casual gamers than the Acer SB220Q, which has a 75Hz refresh rate and supports AMD FreeSync adaptive sync. If you are looking for a low-priced gaming monitor, the Dell 27 Curved Gaming Monitor (S2721HGF) offers great 1080p gaming performance in an affordable 144Hz display.
Next to the power button are four buttons that control the onscreen display (OSD) menu system. They proved responsive, and the OSD was easy enough to navigate.
HP backs the VH240a with a skimpy one-year warranty. This is all too common among budget monitors; the HP 24mh, the LG 24MP88HV-S, and the Samsung CF396 are also covered for just one year. Acer is more generous with three years of coverage for the SB220Q, and the Philips 272E1CA‘s four-year warranty outdoes them all.
Testing the VH240a: Excellent Contrast and sRGB Coverage
I did our luminance, color, and contrast testing using a Klein K10-A colorimeter, a Murideo SIX-G signal generator, and Portrait Displays’ CalMAN 5 software. HP rates the VH240a’s luminance (brightness per unit area) at 250 nits (candelas per square meter), and it came in close to that at 242 nits. The HP 24mh tested a little dimmer at 221 nits. The Philips 272E1CA was a bit brighter, managing 288 nits, and the Samsung CF396 proved the brightest of our gaggle of budget monitors at 309 nits.
The VH240a’s contrast ratio is rated at 1,000:1, which is standard for an IPS panel. It did considerably better in our testing, turning in a ratio of 1,414:1. The HP 24mh proved similarly impressive with a contrast ratio of 1,446:1. (See how we test monitors.)
Above is a color-accuracy or chromaticity chart of the sRGB color space—the standard color space used on the web and in many other applications—generated when testing the VH240a in its default mode. The display covered an impressive 99.4% of sRGB. The area within the triangle represents all the colors that can be made by mixing the primary colors (red, green, and blue). The circles, representing my measurements, are mostly slightly outside of the triangle and are fairly evenly spaced.
The HP 24mh showed similarly excellent sRGB coverage in our testing, covering 99.5% of the color space. Several budget monitors including the Acer SB220Q and LG 24MP88HV-S scored in the 98% range, but these two HP displays were the only ones to exceed 99% sRGB coverage.
I also did our usual ad hoc testing of the VH240a by viewing video clips and photos from our test suite. Unsurprisingly, colors in both movies and photos seemed true and reasonably bright. When showing videos, the panel did well in retaining detail in both bright and dark areas.
A Tale of Two HP Budget Monitors
Three recent budget monitors have earned PCMag Editors’ Choice award status by providing a bit more than is typical for a low-priced display. The Samsung CF396 is notably bright and features a curved screen and a mini-joystick controller. The LG 24MP88HV-S has two HDMI ports in addition to VGA, dual 5-watt speakers, outward-facing ports, a nearly bezel-free design, and a joystick controller of its own.
Then there is the HP 24mh, which packs 2-watt speakers; a stand with height, tilt, and pivot control; and a DisplayPort connector. The VH240a has all these features except for the DisplayPort input. This makes the HP 24mh more appealing, and that monitor retains its Editors’ Choice win. If you don’t need DisplayPort, though, the HP VH240 is still well worth considering.
