BenQ V2220 LCD monitor review

BenQ has recently released a number of new LCD displays in the form of the V-series, which attempts to get a leg-up on the competition by combining a slim-line design with a range of new technology.

The series offers LED backlighting to improve energy efficiency and performance, and ranges in size from a relatively meagre 18.5in up to 24in, and is most immediately distinguishable from rival productss because of its "world class slimness".

The somewhat misleadingly labelled V2220 on test is actually a 21.5in LED-backlit screen, but this is one occasion when the all too frequently abused 'world's first' moniker actually seems to hold some water.

This really is a beautifully thin design and, at 15mm (the 18.5in model is 14mm thick, and another 'world best'), it's difficult not to be impressed by the slim lines and lightweight build.

A relatively small circular stand screws firmly into a rather thin support that protrudes from the base of the screen, and unfortunately this doesn't do a great job of keeping things stable.

You'll need one hand on the stand when tilting the display to adjust the angle, and it does wobble about a bit when accessing the built-in image adjustment controls.

This will be a relatively minor grievance for most, and should be weighed against the small footprint for those with little desktop space, but it does little to contribute to the overall quality of the build and design.

Contrast ratio
Dynamic contrast ratio, a faux number that seems to get an extra zero or two tacked onto it every few months, is an "astounding" 10,000,000:1, a figure that seems more than slightly ridiculous when the actual contrast ratio is a more realistic 1000:1.

Elsewhere a reasonable enough 5ms response time should be able to handle fast-moving video for games and movies, and more importantly it offers a native resolution of 1,920 x 1080 (or 1080p) and a 16:9 aspect ratio.

The size, resolution and aspect ratio of the screen should allow it to double as a TV in the right environment, but despite this the V2220 only offers D-sub and DVI inputs.

Both the V2220 and the larger 24in model will be available with HDMI inputs from June, dictated by the addition of an 'H' to the model number and an increase in price of around 18 per cent, but we're a little surprised not to see this included as standard.