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As always with BenQ, the M2400HD's menus are big, colourful and fairly logically laid out. However, the navigation buttons work in the exact opposite way one would expect, making adjustments somewhat awkward. Menu buttons provide quick access to volume, inputs and presets, emphasising this screen's multimedia leanings.

Most of the presets are frankly questionable. There is a choice between Standard, sRGB, Photo, Dynamics and Movie. In anything but Standard or sRGB, colours become garish and there is a strong blue cast, which can't be corrected. It's a shame this is the case as Dynamic Contrast can only be activated in those remaining three presets, although the panel does have a healthy 1,000:1 native quoted contrast ratio. In sRGB mode, you get reasonably accurate colours for everyday use and a very gentle brightness, while in Standard with Colour set to User Mode, everything including sharpness is customisable.

After adjusting these settings, the M2400HD produced pleasing image quality. Colours are bright without being oversaturated, and though it couldn't quite cope with the extreme ends of the greyscale simultaneously, this TN still managed to produce a lot of dark detail while sacrificing a little white purity.

Viewing angles are also above average for a TN, and as with ever more monitors these days, backlight bleed is almost non-existent except for the slightest hint at the centre bottom. Nor is there any banding to be seen, and text is always sharp and legible.

Despite already featuring a 16:9 panel ideally suited to most non-PC uses, BenQ still offers a range of aspect ratio adjustments under Display Mode, including Overscan, Full and Aspect, which stretches any input image to its maximum without distortion. No 1:1 pixel mapping here, but I'm guessing most users won't miss it. All these factors combine to make the M2400HD a very capable entertainment display for the price, especially since it displays less dithering and noise during films than many TN displays.

So when all is said and done, is BenQ's 24in monitor worth paying £263 for? If screen size is your prime consideration, then you can get the 28in Hanns-G HG281DJ or Iiyama's 26in E2607WS for around the same price. But neither of these can match the image quality or extra features you get with the M2400HD.

Verdict

If you're looking for an affordable and fully-featured 24in TN display offering decent image quality, BenQ's M2400HD is a good deal. Throw in the webcam, integrated USB hub and unusual white/silver finish, and this monitor is certainly worth considering, especially if black's not your colour.

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