Hot on the heels of the superb Samsung SyncMaster 245T comes another superior S-PVA monitor, this time from Dell. The Ultrasharp 2408WFP with TrueColor Technology displays 110% of the NTSC colour gamut and 178-degree viewing angles on both axes. It’s a progression from last year’s 2407WFP-HC, a monitor we were hugely impressed with, so it was no surprise that this new model performed just as well in our DisplayMate tests. Smooth gradients and neutral greys were as expected, and we could distinguish even the lightest grey tones from the white background in our contrast tests.

The 400cd/m2 brightness rating means whites are brilliantly white, while the 1300:1 basic contrast ratio is higher than the vast majority of even large-format LCDs. The side effect of S-PVA technology is usually a slower response time, but we saw no blurring or ghosting with the Dell’s 6ms panel. Games and videos were smooth and the slight over-saturation really brought scenes to life; but it’ll need reining in for accurate photo editing.

Thankfully, making the necessary tweaks is a joy with Dell’s OSD relying on clear image and text labels, a clear layout and a wealth of options. Source images can be displayed pixel-for-pixel or stretched to fit; it supports picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture modes, and the depth of colour and picture control is tremendous.

The design is essentially the same as the 2407WFP, with a 10cm height-adjustable stand and four USB ports shared between the rear and the side for easy access. A card reader for all the major formats also sits on the left edge. The video inputs now include HDMI, and a pair of DVI ports adds flexibility. Dell has also included DisplayPort, though a wave of compatible output devices is yet to appear.

There are cheaper 24in LCDs on the market – Samsung’s A-Listed SyncMaster 245B is the best of the bargain bunch – but the Dell is the first high-end 24in display that finds that perfect blend of quality, features and price. It’s as good as the $100-cheaper Samsung 245T, but the additional DisplayPort wins it the award.