Dell Ultrasharp 2408WFP

Hot on the heels of last month's superb Samsung SyncMaster 245T comes another superior S-PVA monitor, this time from Dell. The Ultrasharp 2408WFP uses the same panel type, with TrueColor Technology allowing it to display 110% of the NTSC colour gamut and 178-degree viewing angles on both axes. But best of all, it manages to do so at a price far below that of the expensive Samsung.

It's a progression from last year's 2407WFP-HC, a monitor we were hugely impressed with, so it was no surprise to find this new model performed just as well in our DisplayMate tests. Smooth gradients and neutral greys were as expected, and we could easily distinguish even the lightest grey tones from the white background in our contrast tests.

The 400cd/m² brightness rating means whites are brilliantly white, while the 1,300:1 basic contrast ratio is higher than the 1,000:1 of the vast majority of even large-format TFTs. The side effect of S-PVA technology is usually a slower response time, but we saw no evidence of blurring or ghosting with the Dell's 6ms panel. Games and videos were smooth and the slight over-saturation in colour really brought scenes to life; it'll need a bit of reining in for accurate photo editing, though.

Thankfully, making the necessary tweaks won't be a chore as Dell's on-screen menus are a joy to use, relying on clear image and text labels, a clear layout and a wealth of options. Source images can be displayed pixel-for-pixel or stretched to fit; it supports picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture modes, and the depth of colour and picture control is tremendous.

The design is essentially the same as the 2407WFP, with a 10cm height-adjustable stand and four USB ports shared between the rear and the side for easy access. A card reader for all the major formats also sits on the left edge. The video inputs now include HDMI, and a pair of DVI ports adds flexibility. Dell has also included DisplayPort, something we're increasingly seeing on new TFTs, though the first compatible output devices have yet to appear.

There are cheaper 24in TFTs on the market - Samsung's SyncMaster 245B is the best of the bargain bunch - but the Dell is the first high-end 24in display that finds that perfect blend of quality and price. It's as good as the Samsung 245T, yet it's £200 cheaper, and for that reason alone it's now our large-format monitor of choice.

Author: David Bayon