Samsung SyncMaster 245B

Samsung's latest 24in behemoth, the 245B, may not quite have the polish of its Labs-winning 22in model, but it's just as impressive. The matte finish is more understated than that of its sibling, but it shares the same high-quality controls and blue power button.

The 1,920 x 1,200 TN panel is nowhere near as vivid as that of the 226BW, but then this isn't intended as a gaming monitor; accuracy is the order of the day, and with its neutral greys and natural tones it excelled throughout our tests. There wasn't the slightest hint of colour tinting in our grey tests, and the gradient ramps were free of banding. Better still, it required practically no tweaking out of the box, so we didn't have to make use of the OSD; rest assured, though, it's the usual easily navigable Samsung design.

The 245B has a 400cd/m2 backlight and a contrast ratio of 1,000:1, resulting in bright whites and deep blacks, so you can stay away from the erratic 3,000:1 dynamic contrast settings. With a 5ms response time, the Samsung had no problems in fast-moving games and videos, and in movies it really showed off its sharpness. The only weakness was the lack of speakers, but most integrated jobs aren't up to the task anyway.

It's hugely adjustable, able to swivel right round on its thick base and lift through 10cm; it can also be locked in place using the key at the back, which is useful. As 24in monitors go, it isn't exactly overflowing with ports and connections - you're limited to DVI and VGA, so it isn't ideal for hooking up to your brand-new HD player.

But one look at the price and we can forgive that: final pricing may go slightly up and down once it's introduced, but this is a stunning deal. The previously A-Listed BenQ FP241W (web ID: 104797) has the advantage of HDMI, component and composite ports, and is a bargain in itself at £376, so to knock about £70 off that puts it nearer than ever to 22in price territory. The fact that the quality is up to scratch, too, makes this a certain addition to the A List.

Author: David Bayon