Samsung PX2370
Manufacturer: Samsung Part number: PX2370
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- With more features and a better movie performance rating, the Samsung PX2370 improves--in most areas--on one of the best monitors we've reviewed.
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Where to buy
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| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 05/23/2012 |
CNET editors' review
Samsung PX2370 price range: $500.00
- Reviewed by: Eric Franklin
- Reviewed on: 04/26/2010
The good: The Samsung PX2370 performs better than the XL2370; it has additional and useful onscreen display options; it is reasonably priced.
The bad: The Samsung PX2370 lacks ergonomic features, has a dimmer maximum brightness level than the XL2370, and has a less intuitive onscreen display.
The bottom line: With more features and a better movie performance rating, the Samsung PX2370 improves--in most areas--on one of the best monitors we've reviewed.
Thanks to its angular look, the Samsung PX2370 isn't quite as sexy as the XL2370 is. Samsung didn't think out the PX2370's onscreen display placement well; its OSD is inferior to the XL2370's display and makes navigating the menu a less fluid experience. Also, Samsung gave the PX2370 a lower maximum brightness level than it gave its XL2370 display. However, Samsung provided the PX2370 with two key improvements over the XL2370: better movie playback performance and a plethora of useful OSD options.
The PX2370 displays colors more accurately during movie playback than the XL2370 does, and it has an onscreen display with more-useful features--including one feature we've never seen on a monitor. At only $309--which is $9 more than the XL2370--the PX2370, with its abundance of features and improved movie playback performance, edges out its predecessor in value.
Design and features
The 23-inch PX2370 is Samsung's follow-up to the successful SyncMaster XL2370 that it released in 2009. The PX2370 has a more angular look than the XL2370 has, with sharper corners and more-clearly defined edges, as opposed to the XL2370's smoother, rounded corners. The PX2370's panel measures 0.75 inch deep, which is slightly thicker than the XL2370's considerably thin 0.6-inch panel depth. The PX2370's bezel measures 0.9 inch, which is shorter than the XL2370's 1.1-inch bezel and, like the XL2370, it has a plastic transparent overlay that covers its outer edge. The PX2370's full width is 21.9 inches, which about 0.5 inch shorter than the XL2370 is.
The PX2370's screen has a matte finish, and its neck, which shares a similar design with the XL2370, is one of the most aesthetically unique designs we've ever seen. The neck is made of transparent glass; however, the PX2370 doesn't include the bluish crystals found at the bottom of the neck like the XL2370 does, making the PX2370's neck look rather plain. The display's power button is at the bottom center of the bezel; it's a 1.7-inch-wide half circle with a white LED light that illuminates when the display is powered on. The circular foot stand is 9.1 inches in diameter. It wobbles considerably when knocked from the sides, but we feel it's less likely to topple over than the XL2370, in part because it weighs 8.76 pounds, which is about 2 pounds heavier than the XL2370.
The bottom of the display's bezel is 3.8 inches from the desktop, about an inch and a half higher than the XL2370. Like the XL2370, the screen height isn't adjustable and there isn't a screen rotation or pivot option for portrait mode. The capability to tilt the screen back 15 degrees is the only included ergonomic feature.
With the PX2370, Samsung includes the same connection options that it did on the XL2370, including DVI-D, HDMI, and analog and digital audio out. All of the display's connections sit on the back of the display, in the lower midsection of the panel. The ports face backward, instead of down, as on most monitors. Unlike with the XL2370, Samsung didn't recess the PX2370's connections into the monitor, making them easy easier to access.
The XL2370 included an OSD array in the lower right-hand side of the bezel, but Samsung takes a different approach with the PX2370. The buttons on the PX2370 are aligned vertically along the back left of the monitor, so they are invisible from the front. This makes navigating the OSD not as fluid or intuitive as it was on the XL2370. It would be more helpful having the buttons on the front, so it's more clear which button you're pressing.
The OSD button array consists of a Menu button, an Up and Down button, an Enter button, and an Auto button. The Up and Down buttons also double as a brightness and a customizable shortcut button, respectively. Its picture options consist of brightness, contrast, and sharpness. You can also set the color tone to Cool, Normal, Warm or Custom, which lets you change the red, green, and blue attributes individually. There are four presets: Custom, Standard, Game, Cinema, and Dynamic Contrast. Each preset changes the color temperature or brightness of the display to be appropriate to the task you're performing.
Samsung gives the PX2370 several "magic" features it didn't give the XL2370. First up is Magic Lux, the name the company gave to the PX2370's ambient light sensor. Based on the amount of ambient light in the room, the PX2370 will automatically adjust the brightness to an "optimal" level. You can choose from three light sensitivity levels: Low, Middle, and High. Once switched on, the monitor's brightness will immediately lower to compensate for the light (or lack of light) in the room; however, when switching from a brightly lit room to a completely dark room, we only noticed a very subtle change in brightness. The change was so subtle, in fact, that we had to use our color meter to determine that the display's brightness changed at all. This is a useful feature if you're looking to limit strain on your eyes.
Next is Magic Eco, a power saving feature that lets you set the brightness level to 100, 75, or 50 percent.
In a multimonitor setup, Magic Return shifts all windows and your Windows toolbar from the secondary monitor to the primary monitor when power to the secondary monitor is lost or is simply turned off. However, the feature does not shift the focus from the primary to the secondary if the primary is shut down. Using Windows Vista, we found that after shifting the focus, if we maximized a window, that window would cover the toolbar as well, until we dragged the toolbar around a bit. Also when using it, sometimes windows we expected to open on the primary monitor opened instead on the secondary monitor. It's not a huge concern, but we hope this gets some refinement in future iterations.
Though moving the OSD buttons to the back of the chassis allows the front to retain its unspoiled allure, we lose some of the functional elegance the XL2370 had. Though the PX2370's buttons line up perfectly to their respective menu functions, the fact that we can't see buttons, for all intents and purposes, makes navigating through the menu less intuitive than we'd like. Our preference would be for the buttons to appear on the front like Dell's intuitively designed OSD, seen in the U2710.
There's also an option in the OSD to set the refresh rate of the monitor from Slow to Fast to Faster. However, when we adjusted this setting, we didn't notice any performance difference.
The Samsung PX2370 display has a 16:9 aspect ratio and supports a "Full HD" 1,920x1,080-pixel native resolution. This continues the trend of monitor vendors moving toward a 16:9 aspect ratio from a 16:10 ratio because high-definition content--in particular 1080p movies--can fit onto a 1,920x1,080-pixel screen in full-screen mode without stretching the image.
Manufacturer's specifications:
Resolution: 1,920x1,080 pixels
Pixel-response rate: 2ms
Contrast ratio: 1,000:1
Maximum Brightness: 250 cd/m2
Connectivity: HDMI, DVI-D
HDCP compliant? Yes
Included video cables? DVI, DVI to VGA
Backlight: LED
Panel Type: TN
Performance
We tested the Samsung PX2370 by connecting it to a computer via its DVI connection. The PX2370 earned a composite score of 97 on CNET Labs' DisplayMate-based performance tests, besting the XL2370's score of 96. The PX2370 did a better job distinguishing very dark gray from black than the XL2370; however, unlike the XL2370, the PX2370 oversaturates very light gray. Also, the PX2370 allows slightly less light through its screen than the XL2370 did on our Dark Screen test. Overall, the two monitors performed similarly in the tests, with the PX2370 having a slight edge in many tests.
The PX2370 achieves a brightness score of 246 candelas per square meter, which is much lower than the XL2370's 344 cd/m2 score. As a result, the XL2370 also achieved a higher contrast ratio--thanks to its higher peak white measurement--than the PX2370 did; 1,008:1 to 948:1, respectively.
We used the PX2370's Cinema preset to check out "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" on DVD as well as several 1080p movie files from Microsoft's WMV HD Showcase. In both "Kill Bill" and the 1080p movies, we found that the PX2370 colors were more accurate and vibrant than the XL2370's. In a side-by-side comparison, red on the XL2370 looked closer to orange when compared with the deeper red we saw on the PX2370 in the same scene.
While playing World of Warcraft and Unreal Tournament 3, we didn't notice any signs of input lag, streaking, or ghosting during fast movement. We found that the PX2370 and XL2370 looked virtually identical when displaying the games. However, thanks to its Magic Angle feature, the PX2370 has a performance advantage when viewing from off angles.
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 correction 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. The Samsung PX2370 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.
The Magic Angle mode prevents the screen from darkening when viewed from certain angles. Magic Angle has four settings: Lean Back Mode 1, Lean Back Mode 2, Standing Mode, and Side Mode. Switching to each mode will improve screen brightness when viewing the monitor from that angle. For example, after switching to Lean Back Mode 2 and then sitting back in your chair to play a game, the screen doesn't darken nearly as much, and as a result, game details can still be seen, while you do irreparable damage to your spine.
 Juice box |
|
| Samsung PX2370 | Average watts per hour |
| On (default luminance) | 25.01 |
| On (max luminance) | 25.01 |
| On (min luminance) | 11.6 |
| Sleep | 0.27 |
| Calibrated (200 cd/m2) | 19.9 |
| Annual power consumption cost | $7.65 |
| Score | Good |
In our power consumption tests, the Samsung PX2370 has an On/Default power draw of 25.01 watts, which is 5 watts lower than the XL2370's 30.09 watts. With a calibrated brightness of 200 cd/m2, the PX2370 draws about 20 watts, compared with the 21-watt draw of the XL2370. However, standby power draw is where contests are won. The PX2370's standby power was a very low 0.27 watt, compared with the XL2370's 1.42 watts. Based on our formula, the PX2370 would cost $7.65 per year to power; the XL2370 would cost $9.96 per year.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test LCD monitors.
Service and support
Samsung backs the PX2370 with a three-year parts-and-labor warranty that covers the backlight. It also offers support through a 24-7 toll-free number, as well as 24- to 48-hour turnaround time for e-mail and Web chat support. The display's documentation and support software are available on Samsung's Web site.
User reviews
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Great monitor for gaming. Exellent picture quality.
by JayRW on May 16, 2010
Pros: LED backlight reduces power usage
Very low heat output
Colors are very accurate out of the box.
16:9 / 1080P native res is good for HD movies.
Excellent as a gaming monitor, tested only 3ms input lag vs. CRT
MagixLux feature is useful.Cons: Viewing angles a little narrow but this is expected of TN panel based monitors.
Backlight bleed a little worse than average due to extra slim design.
Black levels only "OK"
The monitors OSD menu is kind of a pain to navigate.
Not 120hzSummary: Im really picky with image quality and im impressed with this monitors overall color accuracy, shadow details, lack of black crush, almost perfect white balance, although the gamma was to ...
Summary: Im really picky with image quality and im impressed with this monitors overall color accuracy, shadow details, lack of black crush, almost perfect white balance, although the gamma was to bright out of the box and I was only able to get it right by downloading a program called QuickGamma. No big deal.
The black levels are a little weak if your picky with that sort of thing, they look great most the time but in dark scenes in movies etc you can notice it, this is nothing new with LCDs so im not saying the PX2370 is worse than most in fact ive seen much worse.
Backlight bleed (on my unit at least) is noticeable when viewing a solid black screen on the very bottom of the screen and some on the top area of the screen, this can cause a slight blue tint in the black levels in darker scenes in movies / games in the areas of bleed.
Another site that reviewed this monitor mentions the bleed could be a little worse than average due to the extra slim design but its also worth noting backlight bleed is typical with TN panels and it bothers some people, it's not a deal breaker for me but worth noting.
I play a lot of games and this monitor is very responsive in fact I cant feel any lag in comparison to my CRT monitor, motion blur wise TN panels are the best for lack of ghosting and the PX2370 performs very well, its just a shame Samsung didnt make this a 120hz monitor, but as is its still very good for gaming.
I also really like the PX2370's MagicLux feature, I have it set on Medium sensitivity and it does a great job at auto adjusting the brightness depending on room lighting.6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Nice monitor that is large and has good color.
by taneillawton on April 15, 2010
Pros: Colors looked good right out of the box.
Magic Angle settings really do help with different angles for viewing.
Matte finish is great even with direct sunlight.
Looks good.Cons: Changing the settings take some getting use to.
More tilt adjustment with the stand would be nice.
It is a little wobbly when the table is bumbed.Summary: We compared the Samsung PX2370 with the Samsung P2570HD TV/Montior and the LG E2550 Monitor. We purchased the Samsung P2570HD because we thought we wanted a TV Tuner and ...
Summary: We compared the Samsung PX2370 with the Samsung P2570HD TV/Montior and the LG E2550 Monitor. We purchased the Samsung P2570HD because we thought we wanted a TV Tuner and it was a good price at a wholesale discount store. However, we stopped a the other store on the way home and purchased the Samsung PX2370 to compare. Both of these we very comparable and to us it was a toss up on which to keep. The P2570 was a little bigger but the PX2370 had a little bit better color. We finally decided we didn't want the TV tuner for personal reasons and so the Samsung P2570 was out. Then we picked up the LG E2350 to compare to the Samsung PX2370. The clincher for us was that we had the monitors set up together and were switching a movie back and forth between the two and the LG E2350 did not have as good of a picture at the PX2370. The PX2370 had vivid color and softer face tones.
I will say that the LG E2350 had more tilt in the stand which was nice, but the Magic Angle setting of the Samsung PX2370 were able to make up for the lack of tilt on the stand. However, it is kind of a pain to switch the setting on the PX2370, but not horrible. We also like the fact that the PX2370 has a three year parts and labor warranty whereas the other two only had a one year warranty.
We did purchase the PX2370 on sale and probably would have gone with one of the other two if it would not have been on sale. It was $10 more than the other Samsung monitor and $20 more than the LG. However, it just came out and in three months from now it will probably be a lot less.5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good LED Picture Quality
by infiniteaqua on May 25, 2010
Pros: Although it lacks the higher contrast ratio of its predecessor, it produces vibrant hues, bright whites, and solid inky blacks.
Cons: The black levels are no where near that of my plasma or even my phone, but that is to be expected. The stand is a bit flimsy. Not 3-D.
Summary: Bought 3 of these for eyefinity, and games look AMAZING. From Dirt 2 to Metro 2033 to the Unigine Heaven benchmark, everything looks spectacular and blu-rays pop off the screen.
Summary: Bought 3 of these for eyefinity, and games look AMAZING. From Dirt 2 to Metro 2033 to the Unigine Heaven benchmark, everything looks spectacular and blu-rays pop off the screen.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Samsung = second class
by drthrill on April 25, 2011
Pros: looks good
thin
decent picture qualityCons: very low build quality
clouding
expensive
no vga port
only 1 HDMI port
HDMI does not work with PS3Summary: WOW! Samsung had me good this time. I saw this product has good reviews online and bought 1 from BxxtBxy. To my horror, the first unit I got looks like ...
Summary: WOW! Samsung had me good this time. I saw this product has good reviews online and bought 1 from BxxtBxy. To my horror, the first unit I got looks like it was being thrown around with tear up sticker and scratches all over it. I returned it and received a second unit. It was a little better with fewer scratches. Once I turn it on, I realized a big clouded spot on the right side of the screen only visible if look from an angle. The HDMI does not work with PS3. I have to hook it up to the DVI port. *** is that? My older NEC does not have this problem. At this price it is way too much for a sub par product. I have had a few samsung before, but this will be my last. I am going with Asus or NEC.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I love this monitor but...............
by cfrans on December 9, 2010
Pros: Great display, easy to hook up.
Cons: The monitor blanks out after 30 minutes and to date there is no known fix. The computer has to be put in sleep mode and then woken back up for the PX2370 to function.
Summary: I am connected to a Sony Vaio. I am an advanced user. I've checked every possible setting there is that might cause this. I thought it was a defective ...
Summary: I am connected to a Sony Vaio. I am an advanced user. I've checked every possible setting there is that might cause this. I thought it was a defective monitor so I exchanged it for a new one. Nope, still blanked out after 30 minutes. Samsung said to call Sony support because it's known a compatibility issue. Sony basically gave me the runaround. Depending on who I spoke with, it was and it wasn't a compatibility issue. Sony advanced tech support said it is a known incompatibility issue, we can't help you, return the monitor. According to Sony, the problem is Samsung does not want to pay Microsoft for the software to support this piece of hardware. How unfortunate, great monitor otherwise.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent picture quality & great for gaming/movies.
by njwitch265 on December 12, 2011
Pros: The PX2370 is reasonably priced especially if you get it refurbished.
The colors all look good right out of the box.
It's design looks good.Cons: The menu buttons are a little awkward & take some getting use to.
Although not the worst I've seen, the stand is a little wobbly & could use more tilt.
The headphone jack on the back is mildly irritating to me.
Not bad but the blacks could be darkSummary: I got my PX2370 manufacturer refurbished for almost half the price of a new one and aside from one tiny scuff on the edge it looks and works like new. ...
Summary: I got my PX2370 manufacturer refurbished for almost half the price of a new one and aside from one tiny scuff on the edge it looks and works like new. That being said if you can manage to find a similar deal the PX2370 goes from reasonably priced to cheap.
I've done some playing around with the Magic Angle setting on the PX2370 and it definitely helps make up for the lack of tilt on the stand; however, as I said it is kind of a pain using the menu on the PX2370.
Overall the PX2370 is probably one of the best 23" monitors to buy for anyone looking to game, play movies on their computer, picture editing, etc. at this time. Picture quality is great, design flaws while mildly irritating all manageable, and can readily be found refurbished, therefore cheaper then new, if your willing to take the risk. On that note you can minimize this risk buy buying manufacture refurbished over seller, make sure it is a top reputable seller, and seeing if they have sold more then one always helps since if they have then they must be doing something right. -
I really like this monitor!
by GGlover91 on October 23, 2011
Pros: Great colors, great brightness, nice looks. All the connections I need for my different media.
Cons: Slightly limited viewing angle that varies on different media but I usually just flip on or off the "Lean back mode" and all is good.
Summary: I switch out my Xbox or my Playstation using the HDMI and it works flawlessly. The computer games I play look vibrant and I have noticed no tearing on any ...
Summary: I switch out my Xbox or my Playstation using the HDMI and it works flawlessly. The computer games I play look vibrant and I have noticed no tearing on any media I play on it. I have no issues that others have been complaining about either. My monitor is the prime example of when this device works, it works well.
Mine works great with no blacking out whatsoever. I am running Windows 7 64bit Home Premium. I don't think Microsoft is to blame. I'd put my money on Sony being at fault.
Updated on Oct 23, 2011
Updated on Oct 23, 2011I'm not sure why it placed the above comment in my main review but that was written as a reply to another person's comment about their screen blacking out after a 30 or so minutes... -
nice monitors, decent tvs
by karmasai on July 8, 2011
Pros: energy star efficient
Cons: not that i know of
Summary: we have them in our offices. they streak a bit during videos playback, but it could be the video cards fault...
Summary: we have them in our offices. they streak a bit during videos playback, but it could be the video cards fault...
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nice monitor overall
by ONIxxx_Style on June 17, 2011
Pros: -nice colors
-nice design
-alot of advanced settingsCons: the stand isn't adjustable [height-wise], also it's bringing the screen kinda too much to the front.
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This monitor is awesome...
by Got_One on January 15, 2011
Pros: The display is tremendous and the best match for my MacBook as the primary display.
Cons: Would like a height adjustment.
Summary: There is nothing not to like...
Summary: There is nothing not to like...
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Samsung
- Part number: PX2370
- Description: The PX2370 incorporates a range of innovations to make it one of the most eco-friendly LED monitors on the market, while providing an unrivaled user experience with excellent image quality. The monitor contains a number of features to maximize energy efficiency, including Samsung's Smart Sensor technology with the Ambient Light Sensors (ALS), which automatically adjusts brightness by sensing surrounding intensity of illumination. As a result of this innovative feature, the PX2370 has been awarded with Energy Star and EPEAT Gold certification.
General
- Display Type TFT active matrix
- Diagonal Size 23 in
- Aspect Ratio Widescreen
- Native Resolution 1080p 1920 x 1080
- Brightness 250 cd/m2
- Image Contrast Ratio 1000:1 / 5000000:1 (dynamic)
- Color Support 16.7 million colors
- Response Time 2 ms
- Horizontal Viewing Angle 170
- Vertical Viewing Angle 160
- Backlight Technology LED backlight
- Controls & Adjustments Power on/off
- Features Magic Lux,
sRGB color management,
MagicEco,
MagicReturn,
MagicAngle,
MagicTune,
Power off timer,
MagicWizard,
MagicBright 3 - Color Black
- Dimensions (WxDxH) 21.9 in x 9.2 in x 17.1 in
- Weight 9 lbs
Input
- Type None
Connectivity
- Interfaces SPDIF output,
DVI-I,
Audio line-out,
HDMI,
VGA - Connections - DVI-I,
- Analog RGB,
- DVI,
- HDMI,
- SOG,
- Audio line-out,
- Optical output Mechanical
- Display Position Adjustments Tilt
Miscellaneous
- Microsoft Certifications Certified for Windows Vista
Power
- Form Factor External
- Power Consumption Operational 25 Watt
- Power Consumption Stand by / Sleep 0.3 Watt
Sustainability
- CNET Power Saver Yes
- CNET Labs: Operational power consumption 25.01 Watt
- CNET Labs: Calibrated power consumption 19.9 Watt
- CNET Labs: Max brightness power consumption calibrated 25.01 Watt
- CNET Labs: Min brightness power consumption 11.6 Watt
- CNET Labs: Power consumption Stand by / Sleep 0.27 Watt
- CNET Labs: Estimated Annual Energy Cost 6.23 US Dollars
- EPA Energy Star Compliant Yes
- EPEAT Compliant EPEAT Gold
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Samsung products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Samsung
- Address:
105 Challenger Road, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 - Phone: 1-800-726-7864
- Fax: 1-973-601-6001
