BenQ FP93E S

We're not completely convinced by the merits of a widescreen at smaller sizes: a 19in display with a 1,440 x 900 resolution doesn't really give enough room for two documents side by side, and many will prefer the extra height offered by a standard 1,280 x 1,024 resolution. BenQ's FP93E S is the cheapest of the standard ratio 19in models this month, yet it offers the most for your money.

For a start, only the Belinea has a more adjustable stand: the BenQ offers 60mm of height adjustment, swivels on its base and tilts. Meanwhile, its 15mm bezel lets you tile two monitors for an extended desktop without a huge space in the middle. Then there are the integrated 1W speakers, which, while not good enough to replace external speakers, will handle Windows sounds or podcasts. There's a handy headphone output on the side, too.

For our tests, we used the normal colour temperature, but raised the brightness slightly to give more punch. The FP93E S sailed through our initial contrast tests, distinguishing between minor variations of grey, and it produced natural colours in our image tests. We saw no banding in the gradient ramps, and the backlight was uniform. If we have one complaint it's that neither the white or black levels are stunning, but in everyday use that won't be an issue.

The OSD is easy to navigate, and the buttons are positioned on the front. Styling won't win any awards, but few 19in TFTs would these days, and the BenQ makes up for it with excellent image quality and a fully adjustable stand. At £127, it beats its rivals this month.

Author: David Bayon