Eizo Foris Nova: Is this still a monitor?
22.10.2020
Translation: machine translated
The Foris Nova is more of a work of art than a monitor. A work of art that offers hammer picture quality, but due to its design, size and price, it doesn't fit into any niche and is therefore useless.
Exclusive. This best describes the Foris Nova. Only 500 units of the monitor, which Eizo primarily promotes for watching films and series, were produced. It certainly looks cool. Not at all like a monitor. It makes me want to own it. Although at over 1000 francs, it's too expensive for a 22-inch monitor.
- Display: 22-inch OLED with 3840×2160 pixels in 16:9 format
- Contrast ratio: 1000000 :1
- Response time (grey to grey): 1.67 ms
- Brightness: 330 cd/m²
- Viewing angle: 178° / 178°
- Refresh rate: 60 Hz
- Connections: 2x HDMI Type 2.0 and 1x jack 3.5mm
- VESA compatible
- Speakers: 2x 1 watt
- Size and weight: 525.8×358.5×285 millimetres (with stand) and 3.2 kg
The design and the lack of ergonomics
The Nova is thin, damn thin. It is just under 12 millimetres slim - without the stand. For this reason alone, it does not resemble a conventional PC monitor. It is framed in metal, only the wide edges are made of plastic. While other manufacturers are following the trend towards bezel-less displays, Eizo has gone the other way round with the Foris Nova and given it 22 millimetre thick black edges. The company has also taken a different approach with the stand: instead of a monitor stand, Eizo has given the Nova a kickstand similar to that of Microsoft's Surface Pro. All in all, the device looks superbly finished.
Everything about the device screams: I am unique. However, the ergonomics suffer as a result. The monitor cannot be adjusted in height and can only be tilted from 11° to 30°. At least you can swivel it easily on the surface due to its low weight of 3.2 kilograms. But be careful what you do this on. The metal construction could leave deep scars on glass. The Eizo is only suitable for longer periods of work to a limited extent. I find 22 inches too small for a monitor that I work on all day. Added to this is the lack of ergonomics. Eizo rightly markets the device as a multimedia monitor and focusses on consumption rather than work. That's why the Nova can afford to look so unique. It is definitely an eye-catcher.
The cables that you attach to the bottom of the kickstand to connect the monitor to the computer should also be eye-catching. There's nowhere to hide them. Unfortunately, the monitor lacks a USB-C or display port connection. The power cable - which is connected to an external power supply - and the HDMI cables are connected to the bottom of the kickstand. The controls are located on the right-hand side of the kickstand, with the jack connection on the left.
The picture quality
Once the monitor is connected, however, the cables are quickly forgotten. The picture on the Foris Nova is stunning. I can't resist and the first thing I have to do is watch an episode of the South Korean series "Kingdom". Now I know why my colleague and TV expert Luca Fontana likes his job and OLED TVs so much. I could get used to it too. The crisp colours and, above all, the great black levels. My LCD TV and my monitors look really pale compared to the Foris Nova. It's a shame that the two 1 watt speakers can't keep up with the picture. They are really bad and I would only use them in an emergency.
According to Eizo, the Foris Nova covers 80 per cent of the BT.2020 colour space. The usual figure for this newer standard is 70 per cent. In addition to media consumption, the monitor should also be suitable for "colour-critical work such as post-production, 3D computer graphics and animation in the media and entertainment industry". That's why coverage in common colour spaces such as sRGB, Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 is also crucial. Before I carry out these tests with our x-rite i1Display Pro colourimeter, I use the Eizo monitor test to get a subjective picture. I don't notice any pixel errors, the image is homogeneous, the colour distances are differentiated and the gradient is even. I only notice differences to my IPS monitors at maximum brightness. These shine much brighter.
Here are the colour space coverages:
- sRGB: 99.9 per cent
- Adobe RGB: 97.4 per cent
- DCI-P3: 98.2 per cent
These are absolutely brilliant values. Even with the Asus ProArt PA32UCX, which is specially designed for graphic designers, I have not measured such good values. In terms of illumination, however, the Foris Nova delivers values at the lower end of the scale:
For comparison: The Samsung G9 achieved values between 542 and 630 nits in the review. The Foris Nova is a far cry from this. However, OLED monitors don't achieve such high luminance values as LCDs anyway. I never found the display to be too dark during the entire test period. Nevertheless, the Foris Nova is a long way from the 330 nits promised on the label. However, it is relatively evenly illuminated.
Of course, you can also game on the Nova. HDR content looks brilliant on the OLED. Unfortunately, it only offers 60 Hz, which is why it probably fails as a gaming monitor for most people. What's more, it has neither Freesync nor G-Sync.
The operation
Eizo is serious about its focus on multimedia consumption and includes a remote control with the Foris Nova. You'll need it too, as advanced settings are only possible via the controller.
The sources and volume can be adjusted using the controls on the right-hand side of the kickstand. You can also switch the monitor on or off there. The remote control is required for all other settings. You can't even access the menu without it.
In addition to the functions described above, you can make HDR settings and adjust the brightness directly on the remote control. In the menu itself, the usual setting options such as colour and language selection are also available. The menu is short but clear.
Conclusion: A great product that is rightly limited
The Eizo Foris Nova delivers a stunning picture and looks good. However, you have to make compromises when it comes to ergonomics. In addition, the monitor is rather small at 22 inches
Eizo advertises it for media consumption, but who still likes to watch films and series on a 54-centimetre screen? And it's definitely too small for working - at least for me. I need at least 27 inches so that I can work on it for a whole day. It's probably also too small for people who work graphically, Eizo's second potential target group. You can see every detail thanks to the 2160p resolution, but you have to get really close to it. For the third target group, gamers, the size is only a deal-breaker to a limited extent. The low refresh rate of 60 Hz is more of a no-go here.
So who might be interested in this screen? I effectively only see people who fall in love with the design of the device and have the necessary small change as buyers. Which brings me to the last point: Just under 1050 francs is a hell of a lot of money for a 22-inch monitor that doesn't fit into any niche.
A shame for such an awesome piece of technology. If Eizo had only made the monitor in 27 inches, it would have been perfect. At least for my requirements and probably also for those of graphic designers. Even for gamers, 60 Hz would no longer be a deal-breaker if G-Sync or Freesync were also on board. Too bad Eizo, the Foris Nova is a missed opportunity. Hopefully you'll make it even bigger. Then I'll buy it. Just as a statement.
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
