15" LCD Comparison Part III: Better and Cheaper

Philips 150S3F

The 150S3F is one of the first entry-level LCDs made by Philips. In the past, this manufacturer tried to offer the most complete range of functions possible, but this also made the screens expensive. Now, like almost all of their competitors (only Eizo is bucking the trend), they are offering low-priced monitors that meet the expectations of companies that want to switch to flat screens, but not at ruinous prices. The cost savings are partly due to the reduced ergonomics of the monitor. In comparison to the 150P3A, the high-end version of Philips 15", the 150S3F only has a simple base without loudspeakers. The height cannot be adjusted, it cannot be pivoted, and it has no dual sockets, so it only works in analog mode.

Philips has taken care of the monitor's aesthetics and has given it a slimline screen that takes up very little room. As usual, the default settings are perfectly adequate and do not need adjustment.

The screen itself is very similar to that of the LG L1510S. In fact, it is similar to such an extent that all the remarks made about the latter also apply to the former. There is only a very slight trailing effect, both in games and on the Internet, the colors are bright and true, and the default settings are fine.

The 150S3F is only slightly less expensive than the LG screen, being one of the many monitors on sale at less than $500 US (or 600 Euros). There is really nothing to distinguish it from its rivals. It is very good and has no real defect except, perhaps, its very limited ergonomics. All that remains to be discussed is the design, which might make you prefer LG, ADI and similar models. In the United States, however, it has the edge, because, unlike the S600s and L1510S, it is available already, while its competitors are still coming down the pike.