Iiyama Pro Lite E2208HDS 22in TFT monitor

Most widescreen PC monitors on sale today come in a 16:10 aspect ratio – 22in models usually providing a screen resolution of 1,680x1,050.

While this is perfectly adequate for the majority of desktop applications, it’s not quite enough if you want to view a full-HD movie in all its 1080p glory.

The E2208HDS is different. Having an aspect ratio of 16:9 it’s the same shape as a widescreen TV – a little wider than the usual PC monitor.

It also supports a screen resolution of 1,920x1,080, which means it’s capable of displaying a 1080p movie without losing any quality through scaling. Previously, this resolution would have required a considerably more expensive 24in monitor.

For a low-cost panel, this is a very neat and tidy display, with an attractive thin bezel and easy-to-use control buttons. The on-screen display is very basic: there are no preset display modes or fancy options, but everything is very easy to set up and adjust. A simple tilting stand is provided, which incorporates a small clip to help keep your cables tidy.

Dual inputs, both VGA and DVI (with HDCP) are provided, but there’s sadly no HDMI connection, which would have been perfect for this display and it could have been connected directly to a Blu-ray player or games console.

In our tests, the E2208HDS produces a very clear, sharp picture with very good contrast. The colours aren’t the most accurate we’ve seen, but with calibration you can achieve a very pleasing image.

If you search online you can find this display for a very reasonable £150 which, for a full HD display, is excellent value for money.