Asus BE24EQK

Monitor with built-in webcam

We’re used to seeing webcams built into laptops but we don’t often see them on desktop monitors. The Asus BE24EQK is an exception and is tailor-made for those who regularly sit at their desk talking to friends or work colleagues on video calls. If you happen to need a new monitor and a new webcam, this is a cost-effective way of getting both at the same time. The drawback is, in order to keep the price as low as it has, Asus has had to make a few compromises , including disappointing video quality from the webcam and a monitor stand with limited adjustment options.

The screen is a 24in IPS panel with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, a response time of 5 milliseconds and a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz. It’s mounted on a stand that tilts 20 degrees backwards, but lacks any height adjustment, pivot or swivel.

On the rear there’s an HDMI port, a Displayport and a VGA socket. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB port – the latter is used to connect the built-in webcam to your PC. The webcam is a 2-megapixel unit, shooting at 1080p resolution (1920x1080 pixels). It can revolve 315 degrees to be pointed either towards or away from m your monitor, and tilts 10 degrees up and a down to help keep you centered in the e frame. It also has a built-in microphone and a privacy shutter you can slide across to switch the camera off when not in use.

The screen itself is reasonably good quality for the price, with wide viewing angles. In our tests it reproduced a decent range of colours from the SRGB standard (87.4 per cent), which is fine for most purposes and certainly for video calls.

The most disappointing element is the webcam, which is usable but far from outstanding. It struggles to cope with anything other than a well-lit room and even then produces grainy images. The

SPECIFICATIONS

23.8in IPS screen • 1920x1080 pixels • 2-megapixel webcam • 1x HDMI port • 1x Displayport • 1x VGA port • 4x USB 3.0 ports • 355x540x53mm (HXWXD) • 4.6kg • Three-year warranty www.snipca.com/38902 microphone is better, but nothing to write home about, and doesn’t compare well to the best standalone webcams.

The built-in webcam seems like a sensible idea, but it produces grainy images

VERDICT An interesting concept for desktop PC users who make a lot of video calls, but we’d rather pay more for a better quality webcam ★★★ ★★

ALTERNATIVE Philips 241B7QUBHEB £290 An even better screen with a more flexible stand and a superior webcam, but it is more expensive