Samsung SyncMaster 245B

So is the 22 inch monitor on its way out? Apparently, so. The arrival of the first TN panel in a 24 inch screen represents two strong upcoming trends.  There is the reduction in prices of Full HD screens (systematically offered for more than 1000 Euros just a few months ago) and their consequent democratization.  We also can expect the 24 inch to replace the mid-range 22''.

It’s not by chance that the 245B is offered for the price of certain 22 inch screens as its components are very similar.  There is a TN 5 ms panel, something very classic for 22"s and never seen before on the 24".  The 245B’s ergonomics are a bit better than the average TN.  The foot is fixed onto a base that can rotate 360° and it is vertically adjustable.  In terms of connectivity, there is a VGA and DVI input with support of the HDCP protection introduced on HD Blu-ray and HD-DVD movies. The design of the screen is more classic and Samsung has abandoned its « Glossy » series to come back to a more sober and professional look.  For this reason, we found it to be a little less attractive.

Colors and reactivity like on a 22 inch

The panel of this 24" TN behaved exactly as expected.  It’s more or less comparable to a 22" (entry level).  Colors are satisfactory, however, we can’t say that fidelity is good.  The average difference measured between the 18 test colors and compared to the ones actually rendered was 4.6.  For comparison, a very good screen is at 2 and a "poor" one at 6. However, this can easily be improved by simply reinforcing the amount of blue, which in pre-settings was too light.  The images on our test screen immediately appeared more natural.

Reactivity was also typical of other TN 5 ms.  It’s satisfactory, but the majority of rival panels do better.  Competing 24 inch screens are slightly more reactive than this 245B, however, if you are a hardcore gamer, this may not be the best choice for you.