Dell E Series E2016HV 20" Black

The Dell E2016HV scores 28.6 out of 100 overall, with display quality in the 3rd percentile and color in the 1st percentile. It's a 20-inch TN panel with a 600:1 contrast ratio and 200 nits brightness, which is rough even for office work. The only real win is the 85th percentile compact size, so it works as a cheap second monitor if you can find it at the USD 75 end of the range.

Let's be honest about the specs. The E2016HV runs a 1600 x 900 resolution at 60Hz with a 5ms response time. That's a solid middle-of-the-road setup for basic office work, but the 600:1 contrast ratio is a weak spot. Most modern panels sit well above 1000:1, so blacks look gray and colors wash out. The 200 nits brightness is also on the dim side, which means you'll struggle in a bright room.

The performance score lands in the 21st percentile, which translates to 'falls behind' in our rankings. The 8-bit color depth sounds decent on paper, but the TN panel and 75% CIE 1931 coverage mean colors shift noticeably when you move your head. For typing documents and checking email, it gets the job done. For anything involving color accuracy or fast motion, you'll feel the limitations immediately.

Stacked against the competition, the E2016HV doesn't just lose, it gets lapped. The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL5A and LG UltraGear 27GS75Q-B.AUS both offer 1440p resolution, IPS panels, and refresh rates above 144Hz. The Samsung Odyssey LS27BG402ENXGO brings 4K to the table. Even the budget-friendly SANSUI 27 inch outclasses this Dell with a larger screen and better color. The only category where the E2016HV competes is compactness, and that's because it's a 20-inch panel in a world of 27-inch giants. If desk space is your only constraint, this works. Otherwise, every competitor here is a better monitor.

Pricing on this monitor is all over the place. US listings range from USD 75 to USD 183 across three vendors, which is a USD 108 spread for the same panel. At USD 75, it's a reasonable throwaway office monitor. At USD 183, you're getting fleeced. The CAD market shows a tighter range of CAD 222 to CAD 264 across two listings, but neither price feels great for what you're getting. If you're buying in the US, hunt for the low end of that range and don't pay a cent more than USD 100. Anything above that and you're better off saving for a modern 1080p IPS panel.

The Dell E2016HV scores a 28.6 out of 100 in our database, which puts it near the bottom of the monitor pile. The display itself lands in the 3rd percentile and color reproduction is dead last at the 1st percentile. This is a 20-inch TN panel running 1600 x 900 at 60Hz, and the numbers tell a pretty clear story: this is a budget office screen from another era, not a modern display.

That said, it does have one bright spot. The compact size scores in the 85th percentile, so if you need a small, no-nonsense second monitor for a cramped desk, it fits the bill. The 5ms response time and 200 nits brightness are fine for spreadsheets and email, but the 600:1 contrast ratio and TN viewing angles mean you won't want to watch movies or edit photos on this thing.

Skip this if you care about image quality at all. The 1st percentile color score means photo editing, video work, or even watching Netflix will look bad. The 600:1 contrast ratio and 200 nits brightness make dark scenes muddy and bright rooms a struggle. If you're on a laptop with only HDMI output, the lack of an HDMI port means buying adapters. And if you're paying anywhere near the USD 183 top end of the price range, you're getting ripped off. Anyone who wants a monitor for gaming, media, or creative work should look elsewhere. This is a spreadsheet screen, and even then, only at the right price.

The Dell E2016HV is a relic. The 3rd percentile display score and 1st percentile color ranking tell you everything you need to know. It works for basic office tasks if you can grab it at the USD 75 end of the price range, but the 600:1 contrast ratio and dim 200 nits panel make it a poor choice for anything beyond spreadsheets. The 85th percentile compact score is the only reason this monitor isn't a complete write-off. If you need a tiny second screen and find it dirt cheap, fine. Otherwise, spend a little more and get something that doesn't feel like it shipped in 2012.