NEC EX231Wp review

The monitor’s separate colour controls give a good choice of presets, including sRGB, but we found the Native mode had a wider colour gamut than sRGB. The wider range of colours available mean that each object in a picture takes on more life, with finer gradations of colour adding depth and shape. A bright and even LED backlight helps, as well.

There’s one caveat with VA technology – a major one for gamers – and that is high response times. NEC puts the response times down as 25ms and in our gaming tests we noticed severe ghosting, enough to make a first-person shooter almost unplayable.

Our only other gripe with the EX231Wp is its touch-sensitive controls. However these are clearly labelled, and instead of single buttons for up and down or left and right, you get two sliders in the corner of the screen, one vertical and one horizontal. These make is easier to scroll through the menu options.

The EX231Wp may be more expensive than other 24in monitors, and significantly more than BenQ’s VA-equipped EW2430 opposite. However, we think the added utility of its adjustable stand, its energy efficiency and its superior image quality justify the price. Gamers won’t like its high response times and matt screen finish, but it’s perfect for desktop and graphics use and deserves its Best Buy award.