Pros
- 21.5-inch Full HD display
- IPS technology with 178º viewing angles
- Compatible with AMD FreeSync
- HDMI + VGA connectivity
Cons
- Does not incorporate speakers
- Not compatible with VESA mounts
The entry range of Acer monitors is, from the outset, an excellent
starting point where you can find that ideal low-cost model that's perfect
for performing your day-to-day tasks, whether they be office work,
multimedia entertainment or even casual gaming. Ultimately, if you're not
especially picky about the specs you need on a monitor then this Acer SB220Q bi 21.5-inch Full HD
monitor will be a pretty good fit for most of us mortals.
Specifically, this particular monitor has managed to climb onto the top
of the best-selling monitors and stay there for quite some time now,
garnering
thousands of positive reviews. But, is it good enough for you? That's what we're here to find out in
this Acer SB220Q bi review.
Index
- Technical specifications
- Who's it for?
- Design
- Ports and Connectivity
- Work performance
- Gaming performance
- conclusion
Acer SB220Q Specs
| Make model | Acer SB220Q Bi |
| Dimensions |
19.6 x 15.1 x 8.3 inches |
| Weight | 5.46 pounds |
| Panel | IPS | 21.5 inch |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) |
| Response time | 4 ms (GtG) |
| Refresh rate | 75 Hz |
| Color coverage | 16.7 M (6-bit + FRC) |
| Aspect ratio | 16: 9 |
| Speakers | No |
| VESA support | No |
| Connectivity |
HDMI 1.4 VGA |
Who's it for?
This monitor is perfect for you if you are looking for a model with a
modern appearance and, above all, slim design, whose 21.5-inch Full HD screen without frames allow you to focus on your daily tasks while immersing yourself in
your favorite multimedia contents and games.
It's a great monitor for professionals on a budget or students who
don't need superb image quality but rather a decent quality for tasks
such as editing spreadsheets, writing up documents, prepping presentations as
well as doing some design work.
That said,
we would not recommend this monitor neither for hardcore gamers who
would be far better served with the
AOC C24G1 reviewed recently at a
similar price point
nor would we recommend this monitor for visual professionals who need a
top-notch display with incredible image quality. For that set of users, we
would be inclined to recommend something along the lines of the LG 34WN80C-B, far more expensive but also a far better experience overall.
Acer SB220Q Bi 21.5 Review
Design
At first glance, the Acer sb220q bi 21.5 inches Full HD monitor boasts a
premium-looking yet robust matte black chassis, whose slim profile ( 0.24-inches ) allows it to fit into just about any standard desk without taking
up the same space that a conventional model would occupy due to the more
"charged" back-side of the device.
From an adjustment point of view, its circular central base only allows
it to be adjusted in inclination at angles of -5 ° (backward) and +15 ° (forward). Its dimensions are 19.6 x 15.1 inches and, unlike other models, this monitor does not support wall
mounting with VESA brackets.
This is a bit of a disappointment, more so when you consider the fact
that most monitors these days allow, at the very least, for the
possibility of wall-mounting via VESA brackets.
Also, from a professional
standpoint, sometimes having a monitor that
offers a vertical view can be very practical, such as the HP VH240a we reviewed a few weeks back at a
similar price point.
Ports and Connectivity
Being a low-cost monitor, we cannot expect anything other than the
connectivity solutions strictly necessary to connect your desktop, laptop,
and video game console. And Acer hasn't surprised us from this point of
view.
Specifically, the SB220Q model incorporates on its back a
high-definition video port, HDMI 1.4, and another of the conventional VGA type.
As it does not incorporate speakers nor an audio connector, it will be
necessary to use the sound outputs of the devices you connect. That's
right, you read that correctly,
this monitor does not feature an audio jack. Don't say we
didn't tell you so.
Work performance
Now let's talk about the display in and of itself. Did Acer re-invent the
wheel here? No. In all honesty, the display is pretty standard and just
about what you'd expect within its price range. We'll get to that in a
second.
That said, if there's one Acer SB220Q spec we do appreciate is the
fact that it features a new blue-light filter function which
reduces blue light emissions and therefore reduces your eye fatigue when
spending long hours in front of the screen.
Aside from this peculiar feature that's not as common as you might expect
in 2021, the rest of the Acer SB220Q specs are pretty on the nose. That's your standard
21.5-inch diagonal, Full HD resolution (1080p),
16:9 aspect ratio, and a nice
IPS panel that allows for 178º viewing angles - this is also not as common as you might expect -.
As far as brightness is concerned, we've got 250cd/m2 and a rather decent
calorimetry courtesy of a color depth provided by its 6 bits + FRC, all this
to say it's capable of displaying almost 17 million colors.
What Are Customers Saying?
What are customers saying about the Acer SB220Q Bi monitor? Well, it seems that overall, customers are quite satisfied with their purchase. Many highlight the monitor's affordability and value for money. They mention that despite its budget-friendly price, the Acer SB220Q Bi offers impressive image quality, vibrant colors, and crisp sharpness. The 21.5-inch screen size and 1080p resolution make it suitable for tasks like browsing the internet, working on documents, and light casual gaming.
Customers appreciate the wide range of adjustment options available on the monitor, including color adjustments, brightness, contrast, and gamma settings. They also mention the presence of features like FreeSync for AMD GPUs and Overdrive options in the Game Menu. The slim bezel design is another positive aspect that customers like, especially for those planning to set up multiple monitors.
While there are several positive points, a few customers do mention some minor drawbacks. These include the slightly thicker bezels - compared to state-of-the-art monitors -, the top-down viewing angle being darker, and the whites being on the slightly warmer side. Some customers also mention that the monitor lacks VESA mount compatibility and has limited tilt options.
Overall, customers find the Acer SB220Q Bi to be a great choice for those on a budget who need a monitor for everyday tasks like document work, web browsing, and light gaming. It may not meet the needs of professional content creators or competitive gamers, but for its price range, it offers excellent value and image quality.
Although this monitor was not designed with hardcore gamers in mind, it
is worth mentioning certain built-in features to optimize your gaming
sessions, including the Aim Point function designed to improve your aim in FPS titles.
In addition, the Black Boost mode allows you to enjoy better visibility in those highly hostile dark
environments, while the OverDrive function will improve the fluency/smoothness of your games, by activating the
Extreme mode.
Its biggest attractions, without a doubt, are its fast 75 Hz refresh rate and 4 ms response time (GtG) that, combined with AMD FreeSync technology, give you gaming sessions free of blurry, tearing, and stuttering
images. Then again, if you're really on the market for a gaming monitor
we would urge you to consider a
1080p 144 Hz gaming monitor like the aforementioned AOC C24G1.
It's also worth pointing out the 3 pre-configured image modes, designed specifically to enjoy action, racing and sports titles, in all
their splendor. However, as we said, while this monitor will definitely
satisfy the casual gamer it's in no way a device we'd recommend for
"serious gamers".
Conclusion: Is the Acer SB220Q Bi worth buying?
If your priority is to save money when buying a new monitor, and you are
not very demanding in terms of performance, then this low-cost model from
Acer is definitely worth getting.
All in all, it offers you that clear picture quality that you require
during your day-to-day tasks, accompanied by numerous functions to favor
casual gaming sessions as well as a set of very limited connectivity
options to connect it to your console or laptop.
Couple that with a stunning and modern design as well as an unbeatable price
point and a function to reduce blue light emissions and it's pretty clear
why this monitor has managed to become one of the most popular monitors
worldwide.