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The Samsung LS24D590PL is one of the most stylish 24-inch monitors we’ve reviewed. With a super-thin bezel and a distinctive T-shaped stand, it really sticks out from the crowd.
Samsung is known for placing a premium on design and often finds itself dividing opinion, but we think it’s hit a sweet spot with the LS24D590PL. While the whole monitor is made from plastic, the blend of silver on the front of the stand, brushed black on the rear and glossy black on the bezel really does exude class from all angles and is particularly impressive considering the price.
The bezel is just 6mm wide around the top and sides, and this makes a real difference to the viewing experience and really pulls the eyes towards the centre of the screen making for a much better cinematic experience.
Unfortunately, the LS24D590PL wobbles more than we’d like, and moves from side to side even after a slight knock. Furthermore, there’s very little screen tilt adjustment and no height adjustment or swivel. The lack of height adjustment may upset the style conscious, as a good-looking monitor looks rather less sophisticated if it’s placed on top of a pile of books.
The LS24D590PL’s Full-HD PLS panel is bright and able to display colours with a good deal of accuracy. We measured that the LS24D590PL is displaying 90.1 per cent of the sRGB colour gamut. After calibration we were able to increase the coverage slightly to 92.6 per cent. The calibration process was made somewhat easier by the cleverly designed control stick on the rear of the device, which provides better control than the buttons found on many monitors.
The overall viewing experience is helped by high contrast levels; we measured it at 1152:1, which allowed us to see a reasonably high level of detail in our test images. The display gave off just 0.2cd/m2 of light when displaying blacks, which meant they remained as deep and inky as we’d like. Solid, bright colours were vibrant, with the screen only just missing some lighter reds and purples.
The LS24D590PL has a “game mode” feature, too, which is intended to help gamers see a higher level of detail in darker areas on screen. It certainly works; we could see significantly more detail in areas that were barely visible under normal conditions when playing Half Life 2 and Trine 2. However, this is to the detriment of image quality; colours and shapes become very sharp and take on harsher colours. We didn’t like this effect at all, although we can’t deny the fact that it will be a very useful feature for some gamers.
The Samsung LS24D590PL is a great-looking device, and overall image quality is on par with what you’d expect from a monitor of this price. However, if looks aren’t important to you, then consider the similarly priced Iiyama Prolite XB2483HSU, which has a better stand, a built-in USB hub and similar image quality.
