PHILIPS 246E7QDSW
£164 inc VAT • philips.co.uk
Unlike many budget monitors, the Philips 246E7QDSW has a PLS LED panel, a type of display that provides fantastic viewing angles and accurate colours. The monitor also has MHL, which means an HDMI port can be connected to a mobile phone and used to display its content on screen. The full HD monitor also has a ‘flicker-free’ backlight, which aims to reduce eye strain.
Build quality and design
The 246E7QDSW may have a great-looking stand, but it’s limited in its adjustments, which tilts backwards and forwards 20- and five degrees, respectively. On the plus side, the monitor can be mounted on a universal VESA 100x100mm stand.
During our tests we found the stand to be solidly built, though if we accidentally knocked the monitor it wobbled. Around the back at the bottom righthand side there’s a small joystick-like button, which is used to control the on-screen display. We found this a real treat, as it’s easy to navigate and intuitive. You can use it to quickly access certain settings: moving it to the left brings up Smart Image, allowing you to quickly change image preset; moving it up opens the input selection; shifting it down changes the monitor’s audio output (this option varies between the Philips models); and moving it to the right gives you access the OSD menu.
On the lefthand side of the monitor there’s a Kensington Lock slot. Looking at the bezels, the low-profile design is neat and provides a better viewing experience if you’re planning to put two or more side by side.
Connectivity and on-screen display
There’s a good selection of inputs, including HDMI, DVI, D-Sub (VGA) and an auxiliary 3.5mm output jack. There’s no 3.5mm input jack, nor a DisplayPort connection, but these two aren’t a must with a monitor that’s intended for photo and video editors. There are no speakers either, and therefore to output sound you’ll need to use the auxiliary jack, which is also effectively a headphone output.
As we touched upon earlier, the on-screen display can be accessed using the small joystick-like button. We found the OSD to be responsive and easy to navigate. You can tweak a whole host of settings, such as the monitor’s picture preset, gamma, colour temperature and Pixel Orbiting, which is used to shift the image