The winner is... BenQ SW271

Great performance and smart extras make the BenQ a worthy winner

Well-engineered and smartly turned out, the BenQ SW271 combines classleading picture quality with top-end specifications and features, along with useful extras that include a hotkey puck and a shading hood. In the UK, however, it’s also the most expensive monitor in the group.

Towards the lower end of the price scale, the LG 27UD88-W delivers performance that’s nearly as good, at least in sRGB mode, and is standout value for money. Both the LG and the Dell UltraSharp U2718Q are a little lacking in gamut for the Adobe RGB colour space. The Eizo is another fabulous monitor; it’s an outright winner for brightness uniformity across the entire screen, and exhibits superb colour accuracy. The NEC is comparatively poor for colour accuracy but improves with calibration, while the ViewSonic is a good option if you want to upsize from a 27-inch to 31.5-inch display. What’s good: Class-leading performance, neat hotkey puck and shading hood. What’s bad: It’s the most expensive monitor in the group, in the UK at least. Our verdict: For accuracy and sheer quality, there’s no beating the BenQ. LG 27UD88-W

What’s good: Slim and stylish design with good build quality and performance.

What’s bad: No Adobe RGB preset mode; no swivel facility in stand.

Our verdict: Delivering quality and style at a knockdown price, it’s unbeatable value.