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Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level
All the monitors here deliver plenty of brightness, with the AW2525HM occupying the third spot in the comparison. 419.7 nits is brighter than you’d need for any application unless the sun is shining directly on the screen. I noted that you can easily dial it down to 50 nits for dark room play. With a 0.3647-nit black level, contrast works out to a respectable-for-IPS 1,150.8:1. The Lenovo’s VA panels give them a distinct advantage in this test.
After Calibration to 200 nits
The AW2525HM’s calibration doesn’t change anything visually except for the new white level of 200 nits, which I use to level the field for testing. It moves up one spot in the black level and contrast comparisons, though, so that’s progress. The ANSI score is higher than the static, which is something I rarely see. That speaks to the AW2525HM’s high quality control and component selections. It means the grid polarizer element is fitted precisely, which is a good thing.
Test Takeaway: If you want a lot of contrast for a little money, VA is still the king, but the AW2525HM’s IPS panel is a little above average with over 1,100:1 measured in all tests, including ANSI, which is unusual, in a good way. The picture is satisfying with convincing black levels and more than enough brightness to suit any usage environment.
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