BenQ GW2450HM Monitor review

BenQ GW2450HM Monitor Review

Manufacturer: BenQ
UK Price (as reviewed): £142.46 (inc VAT)
US Price (as reviewed): $202.45 (ex Tax)

When it comes to image quality, there's little argument that IPS technology is about as good as it gets right now. Unfortunately if you want the best, you've got to be prepared to pay a premium, and for IPS monitors it can mean another £100 on the price of a regular TN display. There's also a middle ground: Advanced Multi-Domain Vertical Alignment (AMVA) panels have rapidly improved in a short space of time, to the point that the differences between them and their IPS competitors are so slight that you could save a significant chunk of change when buying your next monitor.


BenQ is one of the main proponents of AMVA technology, mostly because it's part of the same group as AU Optronics (one of the largest LCD panel manufacturers in the world and heavy investors in AMVA research), so it should come as no surprise that the latest generation of 8-bit colour AMVA panels can be found in BenQ monitors. The latest one to pass through our labs is the GW2450HM, a 24in, 1,920x1,080 budget display that promises to produce excellent images without breaking the bank.

It's a fairly plain-looking display that's built from plenty of glossy black plastic, and it doesn't have much in the way of features. There's only tilt adjustment, with no height or swivel, and there are no useful extras like USB ports. You do get DVI, VGA and HDMI video inputs, along with 3.5mm audio jacks for audio in and headphone outputs. BenQ includes VGA, audio and power cables in the box, which is fairly standard for a budget display.


Available online for around £140, the GW2450HM is significantly cheaper than most IPS displays and even cheaper than some TN models, making it look like phenomenal value. However, it's only worth picking one up if image quality and response times – frequently a failing of AMVA panels – is up to scratch.


Setting up the GW2450HM is as easy as slotting one end of the plastic arm into the back of the monitor and the other into the base. You don't need any screws and it breaks down just as easily for transport. There are also four VESA mountings on the monitor itself, in case you want to wall-mount it or fit several in a multi-monitor array. The stand itself isn't the sturdiest, wobbling pretty wildly with only slight knocks, but it is at least fairly stable and unlikely to topple over.

Specifications

• Screen size 24in diagonal
  
• Maximum Resolution 1,920 x 1,080
  
• Response time 4ms (grey to grey)
  
• Brightness 250cd/m²
  
• Contrast ratio 5,000:1
  
• Adjustability Tilt
  
• Connections D-sub, DVI-D, HDMI, Headphone jack
  
• Speakers 2 x 2w