Benq VW2420H

Monitors just get cheaper and cheaper, and good pictures are now well within the budget of the average home user.

With a resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels, a typical 24in screen not only offers a huge amount of screen space but also the ability to reproduce the finest details from films on Blu-ray disc.

However, cheaper monitors usually rely on low-cost screens based on TN (Twisted Nematic) technology which bring with them some noticeable shortcomings. Unless you position yourself at the centre of the screen, the small viewing angles of TN screens can cause distracting changes in brightness and colour.

The Benq V2420 we looked at last year used such technology. Its successor the VW2420H is part of a new range of monitors that bring the advantages of a superior and previously expensive technology called VA (Vertical Alignment) within the budget of the average home user. Not only that, but these are the first monitors to combine VA screens with LED backlighting.

What this means is noticeably superior image quality. In our testing, we found that the VW2420H's high 3,000:1 contrast ratio not only made text stand out clearly, it also made pictures and video come alive. If you're editing photos or video, trading in a budget monitor for the 24in VW2420H will yield a big improvement.

The LED backlighting reduces power consumption and allows for a thin and light construction: the stylish black casing is only 15mm thick, giving the monitor a sleek, elegant and expensive look.

The VGA, DVI and HDMI sockets on the rear mean you can hook up computers and devices such as Blu-ray players or games consoles at the same time.

There are no built-in speakers, but it can send the sound from the HDMI cable through to its headphone socket – although it's a shame the headphone socket is also round the back where it's hard to reach. A cheaper VW2420 model (note the lack of the H) doesn't have the HDMI or headphone sockets.

The VW2420H is a great-looking monitor with excellent image quality, a good set of connections and a competitive price.