BBC Focus - 04.2020_

INNOVATIONS

On test: desktop monitors

Fortheforeseeablefuture,manyofuswillbeworkingfromhome.

Here’s our pick of displays that will soothe your weary eyes...

Bestfor...photo raphyand other professionals

�DellU2720Q,£628.80,dell.com

ThisprofessionalgrademonitorfromDellis anunassumingworkhorse.

It’sfittedwitha specialanti-glarecoatingandis remarkablyclearfroma

widerangeofviewingangles.Thesefeatures,pairedwitha soft

brightness,madethescreenexceptionallyeasyontheeyes.At 27 inches

it’satthesmallerendofwhat’snecessaryfor4K,butthedisplayis

remarkablycrisp.Wildlifephotographyespeciallyfeltrichindetail,

pickinguponthediversehuesofgreenandblueina photoofa

kingfisher.It leavesthefactoryfullycalibratedtoo,soyoucanget

straighttowork.Thedesignallowsforheight,swivelandpivot

adjustments,witha slimframeanda minimalfootprint.There’severy

portyoucouldhopeforattheback,including90WUSB-Cthatwill

quickly charge your laptop, and share displays with just one cable.

Bestfor...en ineers desi ners and video editors

�BenQPD3220U, £1,059,benq.eu

Forthoseofyouwhothinkthatyoucanneverhaveenoughscreen,this

BenQmodelis a brilliantoption.4Kresolutioncanfeela little

unnecessaryonsmallerscreens,butonthis32-inchmodel,thefiner

detailandscalemakesimagessing.It’seasytosetup,andlooks

immaculateoutofthebox– somehigh-endmonitorswe’vetestedinthe

pastcanrequirefiddlycalibration.Photosappearrichandvibrant,with

chasmsofcontrastbetweendarkandlight.Photosofcoralreefsand

landscapespracticallyleapoffthescreen.Theergonomicsareeffortless.

Thestand,thoughbulky,letsyouadjusttheheightwitha singlefinger,

andallowsforsimpletiltandswiveladjustments.Theelegantframealso

disguisesthepudgysideprofile.Thereareportsgalore, including a vital

USB-C socket. One for high-end professionals.

Bestfor...thespacestarved

�SamsungSpaceMonitor4K,from£359,samsung.com

Thisscreen(witha 27-inchand32-inchoptions)is a game-changer.The

monitorsitsonanarmwitha clampatitsbasewhichcanfixit tothe

sideofyourdesk,lettingyoureclaimsomepreciousworkspace.Wires

neatlyslotintothestandtooandfollowit downtotheedgeofthetable.

Youcan’tadjustthemonitor’sheight,butyoucanpullthemonitordown

towardsthedeskonitsdouble-hingedarmuntilit’sflushwiththe

surface.It’ssosmart,thatwewishit wasa touchscreensowecoulduse

it asa gianttablet.Thecleverdesignmeansthere’ssomesmall

concessionselsewhere.Thedisplayperformanceisn’taspixel-perfectas

theotherstested,butmorethansufficientforthemajorityofuses.

Unfortunately,there’snoUSB-Cportonoffer.Butif yousuddenlyfind

yourselfmakinganofficeinthelivingroom,it does a great job at tilting

the balance towards home rather than office.