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LCD monitors are becoming increasingly cheap, and the latest examples from China show how low prices can go. Lenovo is selling Legion models there with IPS panels, 1080p resolution and a 280 Hz refresh rate for the equivalent of about $100. Even cheaper is the 24-inch Hisense N3G Pro, which costs about $67 and offers a 180 Hz refresh rate. Although these are basic designs, they still use IPS technology previously found mainly in more expensive monitors. This trend is primarily driven by the shift of nearly all LCD panel production to China.
Cheap IPS monitors are no longer a novelty
Until a few years ago, IPS-panel monitors were mainly associated with professional models designed for working with graphics. Their prices often exceeded $1,000 back then. Today the situation is completely different, because IPS technology has also made its way into very inexpensive consumer monitors. Good examples are the new Lenovo Legion 24-1r and Legion 27-1r models. The first has a 24-inch screen, a 1080p resolution, and a 280 Hz refresh rate. The second offers a 27-inch screen with the same resolution and refresh rate. Both also come with adjustable stands. However, their prices in China are the most surprising. The Legion 24-1r costs 669 yuan, roughly $99. The larger Legion 27-1r is priced at 789 yuan, which is about $117. Those are very low prices for IPS monitors offering a 280 Hz refresh rate. Hisense went even further with its 24-inch N3G Pro model. The monitor uses an IPS panel with a 1080p resolution and a 180 Hz refresh rate. Its price is just 449 yuan, about $67. Despite the low price the manufacturer claims 99% sRGB coverage and 90% DCI-P3. Of course this doesn't mean a cheap monitor will match professional models in every respect, but it shows how much the accessibility of LCD technology has changed.
Monitors this cheap are now available outside China as well
New Lenovo and Hisense models are currently available in China, but haven't reached most overseas markets yet. However, similarly inexpensive monitors can already be found in Europe and the United States. For example, a 24-inch MSI monitor with 1080p resolution, an IPS panel and a 144 Hz refresh rate can be found for about $80. A 24-inch curved Sceptre monitor is also available at a similar price. For about $95 you can find a 27-inch 1080p monitor offering a 100 Hz refresh rate. That means very low prices are no longer exclusive to the Chinese market. Basic IPS monitors can be found in similar price ranges in other regions as well. The main reason is the shift in the global LCD panel market. Over the past 5 to 10 years, production has been almost entirely moved to China. The massive scale of production allows manufacturers there to produce LCD panels at very low costs. According to a report cited by FlatpanelsHD, huge government subsidies supporting the Chinese industry also play a role. At the same time, manufacturers from South Korea, Japan and Taiwan have largely pulled out of LCD production. Companies like LG Display and Samsung Display have instead focused on OLED technology. This situation also helps explain why larger, cheaper LCD TVs are appearing on the market.
The LCD monitor market has undergone a huge change, and today a basic IPS display can be bought for less than $100. Lenovo is offering 24-inch and 27-inch models with 280 Hz refresh rates in China for about $99 and $117. Hisense went even further, pricing a 24-inch IPS 180 Hz monitor at around $67. The falling prices are mainly due to the massive scale of LCD panel production in China and the withdrawal of many Asian manufacturers from this segment in favor of OLED.
source: flatpanelshd
