There’s already an influx of display solutions at this time, and choosing the right one for your defined usage may prove to be daunting with the plethora of options open for you. Price, performance, ergonomics, functionalities, ports, and extra features play the utmost factors in choosing, and it’s difficult to gauge what you’d sacrifice if your budget is already set to the bare minimum. We’re taking AOC’s I2381FH for a spin to see if it can deliver on that end, so let’s see how it fares.

There’s already an influx of display solutions available at this time, and choosing the right one for your defined usage may prove to be daunting with the plethora of options open for you. Price, performance, ergonomics, functionalities, ports, and extra features play the utmost factors in choosing, and it’s difficult to gauge what you’d sacrifice if your budget is already set to the bare minimum. We’re taking AOC’s I2381FH for a spin to see if it can deliver on that end, so let’s see how it fares.
Technical Specifications
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Monitor Line
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Style Line
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Monitor Size
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23-inch
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Visible Screen Size
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509.76x286.74
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Screen Format
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16:09
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Brightness
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250cd/m2(type)
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Contrast Ratio
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1000:1
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Dynamic Contrast Ratio
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50M:1
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Viewing Angle
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178/178
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Response Time
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4ms
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Maximum Resolution
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1920x1080 @60Hz
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Ports
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D-Sub
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HDMI
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Power Consumption
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On: 28W
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Standby: 0.5W
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Off: 0.3W
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Features
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Plug and Play
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Kensington Lock
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i-Menu
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e-Saver
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Flicker-Free
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Regulations
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Energy Star 6
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TCO 6
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EPEAT No
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CE
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EAC
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The AOC I2381H is part of the
company’s 81 Series. We’re not sure of AOC’s naming conventions, but it also
appears that the 81 Series also falls on its Style-line of monitors. Whatever
the case, you can really tell AOC is going for a classy style in this one, as
visible from its ultra-slim profile and metallic base.
Unfortunately, what we have right
now is only the monitor itself as well as the included power brick that came
with the box. But just to note, aside from those, AOC is also including a VGA
cable, an HDMI cable, and a driver for the monitor.
DESIGN

AOC’s goal to make the I2381FH
classy, as we’d like to believe, is definitely achieved here. Its slim panel
borders look impressive as they seamlessly connect to the display, while its
frame thickness is also kept to a minimum. The bottom bezels are a bit thicker
to make room for the OSD controls, and of course the company’s logo.

On the other hand, the flipside
is where all the ports are at. The HDMI, VGA, DC power input, and the 3.5mm
audio jack all sit together, while the Kensington Lock is pushed near the
center base of the monitor.

We’re going to give compliments
to AOC with the I2381FH’s slim profile here. Measuring 10mm, it’s one of the
thinnest monitors you can probably get your hands on for its low price tag,
which we will also be discussing later on.

Meanwhile, its metallic base is
one of its emphatic features. It brings
a solid and firm foundation to the entirety of the display, and it adds up a
nice touch of classy overall. However, if there’s one gripe to it, it’s the limitations
on adjustability – you can only tilt it about 20 degrees backwards, and that’s
about it. No pivots, no swivels, just the standard about face.
OSD CONTROLS

The I2381FH’s controls aren’t
exactly hard to grasp and key in, although I still sometimes misfire buttons
whenever I’m configuring the settings. First on the menu is the Luminance section,
which will also be your go-to place for changing the brightness, contrast and
gamma, and enabling DCR. You’ll also get five preset for Eco Mode such as Text,
Internet, Game, Movie, Sports, and Standard, with each preset increasing the
brightness accordingly.

Image Setup is where you fine
tune your colors, while Picture Boost gives you another adjustable layer of
Brightness and Contrast. OSD Setup is probably self-explanatory already,
although it also adds a “Break Reminder” that notifies you in an hourly basis
to take a break. Don’t turn it on if you’re
planning to use it for gaming.

On the other hand, defaulting the
left and right buttons for volume may not be what you’d prefer it to be set on.
You’re probably not going to tweak settings on a regular basis, but you can
easily control volume on Windows, on the menu, or your speaker/headset. A
preset could have worked instead, though. So we’re hoping for AOC to address
this.

PERFORMANCE
23 inches of workspace and gaming
eye candy offers enough for anyone to love. Especially on my already crowded
desk space where a PC and a PlayStation 4 already stand, that size would easily
make the sweet spot. The I2381FH’s ultra-slim profile and sinuous metallic base
also helped.

There’s a whole lot of advantages
of IPS panels over the TN panels of yesteryears, and they’re in action with the
I2381FH. Color reproduction is absolutely fantastic, and we’re loving the
viewing angles on this one as colors don’t shift on any viewable angles.
You can also expect nothing less from its 23-inch panel. Its native Full HD deliver rich and vivid colors, and brightness levels are adequate based on our lighting conditions from dim to well lit. We're pleased to see AOC going for a matte finish on the panel, thereby eliminating glare, as well as fingerprints.
You can also expect nothing less from its 23-inch panel. Its native Full HD deliver rich and vivid colors, and brightness levels are adequate based on our lighting conditions from dim to well lit. We're pleased to see AOC going for a matte finish on the panel, thereby eliminating glare, as well as fingerprints.

Backlight bleeding on the other
hand appears to be evident, which is imminent on IPS panels. Signs of backlight
bleeding appear on the bottom left and bottom right part of the panel, but you
probably wouldn’t notice it unless we point it out or you have keen and
sensitive eyes for such things.
CONCLUSION

AOC’s I2381FH doesn’t exactly
tick all the checkboxes when it comes to our preferences in picking up a
monitor. But let’s get real here for a
moment. Its ergonomics and port options doesn’t exactly cater to our needs,
especially when it comes to our productivity and multitasking needs. It’s a
form over function thing, but nothing too worrying - they can be remedied through
simple chores that aren’t exactly what you’d call hardwork.
On the other hand, its ultra-slim profile is simply one to behold. Monitors of this caliber in AOC's range want to make an emphasis on form factor, and it shines brightly. Color reproduction is also topshelf, making it a viable solution for budding photographers, film buffs, and even avid gamers.
To sum it up, while the AOC I2381FH comes with a couple of shortcomings, its primary
features do what they do best. AH-IPS panels simply have that superiority over
TN panels, and it even gets better with AOC’s cutting edge breakthrough in designing the
I2381FH. Put that with an appealing price tag of Php7,990, and the AOC I2381FH
is definitely a monitor worth considering.
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