Samsung SyncMaster 225BW

TFT manufacturers are currently falling over themselves to launch 22in models. We've seen the sub-£200 Mirai DML-522W100 and the dearer but superior Iiyama ProLite E2200WS-B, so we were keen to see Samsung's latest offering. The SyncMaster 225BW is closer to the Iiyama in price at a little over £250, and in terms of quality they're similar.

The screen resolution is 1,680 x 1,050 - the same as 20in and 21in models - and it's clear that at this size the enlarging of pixels does have its disadvantages. We noticed quite a bit of grain on videos when using the Iiyama last month, and things are no different here - these larger TFTs can't compete with a 20in model for sharpness and clarity. The flipside, naturally, is that you can sit further away, thanks to the extra two diagonal inches.

The OSD is clear and simple enough to navigate, and it has all the adjustments you need to tweak the image to your preference. With a maximum brightness of 280cd/m2 and a 700:1 contrast ratio, blacks are always going to be stronger than whites. While the black level is deep enough that your eyes won't be drawn to the black bars during a 16:9 DVD, we did notice a minor amount of light bleeding through at the bottom.

White screens aren't blindingly bright but they're perfectly adequate. Light scenes were washed out until we scaled back the contrast, and from there on we saw a high amount of detail in our images and videos. Our technical tests showed it can blend colours without any visible banding, and the red level in particular was beautifully vibrant.

Flaws were apparent in other areas, though: dark scenes took on a greeny-blue tinge, despite colour adjustments, and everything plunges to yellow if you move more than 45 degrees off-axis.

Like the Iiyama, the Samsung 225BW is a good-quality TFT, with digital and analogue inputs, and solid build quality. It's the first 22in TFT we've seen with a height-adjustable stand - with an impressive 10cm range - and if you need the two extra Desktop inches it's among the best for image quality. But we'd still go for a cheaper 20in model such as the LG L204WT for optimal value.

Author: David Bayon