Eizo FlexScan EV2780
Treat yourself: upgrade to a new monitor. Sasha Muller puts six screens that share the same dimensions and IPS display technology – but very different talents – to the test
Eizo FlexScan EV2780 SCORE ✪✪✪✪✪ PRICE £753 (£904 inc VAT) from bechtle.co.uk
If you’re looking for a monitor to accompany a USB Type-C or Thunderbolt 3-equipped laptop, Eizo’s FlexScan EV2780 is your friend. It’s a class act throughout. The onscreen display and responsive touch-buttons make it easy to adjust settings, while the picture-by-picture mode is handy for taking advantage of the USB Type-C, DisplayPort and HDMI inputs.
The adjustable stand is equally easy to use: it takes two hands to adjust, but rises up and down by 155mm, spins into portrait mode, and angles back and forth enough to ensure comfortable viewing in most scenarios.
Hook up the Eizo with the supplied 2m USB-C cable, and it marries single-cable simplicity with glorious image quality. The backlight goes brighter than anyone could possibly need (362cd/m2), contrast is excellent, and colour accuracy in the factory-calibrated sRGB mode is very fine indeed. Best of all, that accuracy continues across the whole panel, with no tinted corners, dim edges or wild colour-temperature fluctuations.
You pay a premium for the EV2780’s combination of refined image quality and USB Type-C support. Still, given Eizo’s usual five-year warranty, those who can afford the EV2780 won’t be disappointed.
KEY SPECS 27in 2,560 x 1,440 IPS display USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI 3.5mm audio in/out internal PSU 5yr C&R warranty
KEY RESULTS 362cd/m² max 987:1 contrast 99.2% sRGB accuracy, 1.59 average, 5.8 max
Iiyama ProLite XUB2792QSU-B1 SCORE ✪✪✪✪✪ PRICE £298 (£358 inc VAT) from morecomputers.com
As the cheapest monitor here to offer a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, Iiyama offers much to admire. The edge-toedge panel and tiny bezels are a boon for multi-monitor setups, and look elegant too. Plus the ProLite trumps cheaper competitors for build quality, with an adjustable stand that feels solid and free from wobble, rises up and down by 130mm, and spins around into portrait mode.
DisplayPort, HDMI and VGA provide plenty of connectivity options, and a sensible combination of basic, stripped-down menus and clickable buttons make it easy to adjust settings. Gamers with an AMD graphics card will appreciate the FreeSync support, too.
The WQHD panel is sharp and clear, but refinement isn’t a strong point. None of the various picture modes provide a colour-accurate image, and manually tweaking the RGB values with our colorimeter didn’t rectify matters. Backlighting is also wayward, with brightness dipping by as much as 14% in the corners of the panel. Maximum brightness and contrast are good, though.
Colour accuracy aside, the Iiyama is a highly adjustable, feature-rich WQHD monitor. If photo editing isn’t a priority, it’s a fine choice.
KEY SPECS 27in 2,560 x 1,440 IPS display DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA 3.5mm audio in/out internal PSU 3yr C&R warranty
KEY RESULTS 345cd/m² max 953:1 contrast 85.4% sRGB accuracy, 3.33 average, 9.33 max
Philips 276E7QDAB SCORE ✪✪✪✪✪ PRICE £175 (£210 inc VAT) from laptopsdirect.co.uk
If svelte good looks and image quality are more important to you than adjustable stands or high resolutions, then you’ll love the Philips 276E7QDAB.
Not only is this display photogenic, it’s thin, too. The matte-grey metal stand only provides forward and backwards tilt, and there’s a little side-to-side wobble, but it certainly looks the part.
Image quality is surprisingly strong for the money. Brightness tops out at an ample 252cd/m2 and colour accuracy is a plus point. The backlighting is good, too, with colours and brightness remaining consistent across the entirety of the panel. It takes a little time to get used to the onscreen display controls, though. Navigating the menu with the tiny four-way joystick on the rear of the monitor feels awkward at first, but we would still pick this approach over the unresponsive touch controls of rival monitors.
Overall, Philips has done a great job with the 276E7QDAB. The Full HD resolution is reason to consider spending a little more on one of the rivals here, but for big-screen thrills on a budget it’s a great buy.
KEY SPECS 27in 1,920 x 1,080 IPS display HDMI, VGA 3.5mm audio in/out external PSU audio in/out 2yr RTB warranty
KEY RESULTS 252cd/m² max 875:1 contrast 90.3% sRGB accuracy, 2.22 average, 4.4 max
“Colour accuracy aside, the Iiyama is a highly adjustable, feature-rich WQHD monitor”