The JapanNext JN-V236G180F-Retro won’t be taking home any awards for its technical prowess, nor does its name exactly roll off the tongue, but it’s clearly not aiming for that. This 23.6-inch 1080p display is more about the nostalgic aesthetic it brings to your workspace than its raw performance. With big, chunky bezels, faux wood paneling, and dials for the on-screen display (OSD) that will strike a chord with anyone who grew up in the 1980s, this monitor has all the retro flair you could want. It’s the perfect fit for a desk that wants to channel the charm of an old-school TV.
While it’s marketed as a “gaming monitor” with its 180Hz refresh rate, the JN-V236G180F-Retro’s VA panel and 1080p resolution don’t offer anything mind-blowing, especially given the monitor’s smaller size. Nevertheless, it serves its intended purpose with HDMI and DisplayPort support, a headphone jack, and the usual set of underwhelming 5-watt speakers that are often bundled with more affordable models.
The monitor offers the flexibility of mounting it to a VESA arm if the faux chrome legs aren’t to your liking. Although some might expect it to embrace its retro roots more fully with a 4:3 aspect ratio, the 16:9 aspect ratio at least prevents the frustrating letterboxing of modern media.
This retro-inspired display will be available in Japan for approximately 30,000 yen (about $200 USD), making it a reasonably priced novelty item. Although it’s currently uncertain whether it will be released internationally, its playful design is definitely a conversation starter for anyone fond of retro technology with a modern twist.