Samsung SyncMaster P2370

Introduction
We don't often include an introduction in our tests, but the P2370 marks an important change: 21.5" and 22" monitors are beginning to make room for 23" screens.

For several years now, Samsung has been pushing its high-end 22" monitors and has benefited from massive sales.  Looking back across its heritage of excellent screens, there was the 226BW, the 2232BW and finally the T220 just last year.  In reality, while the looks have been evolving, as well as the hardware (including video inputs), the display quality has generally remained stable, and, apart from a few 'panel problems', excellent.  All these models were characterised by excellent colours and responsiveness.

This year was supposed to see the success of the P2270, the replacement of the T220.  Except that when we tested it, we began to have some doubts, which were later confirmed.  The 21.5" P2270 is responsive, but not quite up to scratch with colour, and, above all, hardly any less expensive than the P2370, which, it turns out, is a much better screen.  The moral of the story?  We would say that what's happening is a gradual replacement of 21.5" and 22" screens, taken over by 23" Full HD screens at a similar price.

Apart from the size, the SyncMaster P2370 takes all of the elements of the P2270.  What's more, the specs look very similar on paper: the 23" Full HD is clearly destined to oust the 22" model at almost exactly the same price.  The very thin frame is in glossy black plastic, with a rim in transparent plastic.  The stand is fixed and the only input is a single DVI.  There are very few extras, with neither a headphone jack nor any speakers.

Energy Consumption (W)

Samsung has chosen energy efficient lamps for the backlighting.  This means that electricity consumption falls by 30% compared to 'normal' 23" screens, without any negative impact on the monitor's quality.

Colours

When we got to testing the P2370, we started to think back over our tests, and then we looked back through our archives: have we ever awarded a screen five stars for colour with its default settings before?  No: the P2370 is the first!

Default Colours

Ideal Colours

The colours are almost perfect, with no shade dominating and greys at the right brightness.  To put it simply, we rarely get the chance to test such an accurate screen.  Its deltaE score never climbs above 1.8, while we'd usually be happy at 3.0!  The only people who won't be happy are the anti-TN panel camp who find the lack of evenness in colour an the viewing angles that cause the image to appear black when you look at the screen from below.

The contrast matches the excellent colours, with a ratio of 900:1 where the average screen reaches 750:1.  Samsung has really mastered the colours on the P2370.

Gaming

Coloured    Transparent
Average ghosting over ten frames

At first sight, the P2370 is a good-quality 2 ms screen that won't let itself be beaten by the most demanding games.  However, looking a second time, we found traces of some very light reverse ghosting.  The effect is very slight, and almost imperceptible, but it's there, and it could affect some users.   Don't say we haven't warned you.



For anybody who has no intention of playing games, you can turn of the overdrive by turning the response time down from "fast" to "normal" using the OSD.  The screen will be a little bit less responsive, but it will be perfectly acceptable for office use.

The input lag presents no problems, with just one frame behind on average, meaning there will be no troubling delays to disrupt multi-player games.