LG Flatron W2284F in Monitors

Four TFTs in this group pulled clear of the rest in terms of image quality, and it was no surprise that LG's latest was one of them. Its dynamic contrast is the least intrusive and most effective of all the implementations we've seen, which gives the W2284F its tremendous black level without sacrificing on brightness.

It breezed through our technical tests, dropping just a few points for a minor light band at the top edge of the panel, and a washed-out tone to its colours that didn't appeal as much as Samsung's vibrant alternative. We didn't need to make any adjustments past selecting 6,500K colour, which is just as well since the buttons on the right edge are a pain to use.

The LG's design certainly turned heads in the Labs, but not all responses were positive. Where the Samsung's red curves had people cooing over them, the W2284F's half-transparent base drew baffled looks. The overall stylistic opinion fell more on the side of bizarre than desirable.

There's also little to speak of in the way of features. It's one of only two monitors here to lack speakers, and makes use of a clumsy external power brick. Like most here it comes with a fixed stand, while the 3yr RTB warranty isn't quite up there with the on-site cover from the Samsung and BenQ.

If you're interested in image quality above all else, the LG may well be your best choice; it costs £19 less than the Samsung after all. But that quality just isn't far enough ahead of the BenQ to make up for the inferior design and lack of features in the 24in contest.

Author: David Bayon