LG Electronics Flatron L1800P

This is a very competent product with a feature set and appearance that compares favourably with more expensive monitors.

LG Electronics' latest 18.1in. LCD monitor, the Flatron L1800P, challenges the standards set by top-end products, including NEC's MultiSync LCD1880SX and EIZO's FlexScan L685.

While it might fall short of these flagship models in some regards, the Flatron L1800P is a capable product in its own right.

The company has joined the few manufacturers that equip their LCDs with height adjustable stands, which has the added benefit of allowing the screen to be rotated into portrait mode without catching the desk.

As well as featuring a thin bezel design (approximately 2cm on each side), the L1800P has an integrated USB hub with one upstream and two downstream ports. It's worth noting, however, that this is built into the stand and would be discarded if you chose to mount the panel on a 100mm Video Electronics Standards Association arm.

Cables can be tidied away under a removable rear cover and the power supply is integrated, saving on desk clutter.

The panel itself is a typical IPS LCD with a native resolution of 1,280 x 1,024 pixels. Both digital and analogue signal connections are supported via the DVI-I and VGA ports at the rear, allowing dual analogue signals and single digital/analogue signals, but not dual digital.

A source button on the front lets you switch between connections. For analogue sources, the automatic calibration routine proves highly accurate, requiring no manual adjustments to clock or phase for best results. Screen uniformity is very good with no dark areas, even towards the extreme edges of the display.

At 250cd/m2, the Flatron L1800P is very bright and has a respectable contrast ratio of 300:1.

As a result, greyscale and colour reproduction is clear, without bleaching or over saturation. We did spot very minor streaking on our high-contrast test patterns, but nothing that will interfere with general use.

As is usual from an IPS-type LCD, viewing angles offered are impressive, if not quite up to the standard set by some other products, with 160 degrees in both horizontal and vertical axes. The 50ms response time is a little sluggish, however, and won't appeal to those hoping to play games on this display.

Resolutions below the Flatron L1800P's native SXGA are effectively rescaled, but there's no 1:1 pixel ratio option and you can't choose between sharpening settings.

An ICM colour profile is provided, although there's no sRGB colour mode, and you can manually adjust colour temperature, brightness and contrast.

Thanks to the lack of advanced adjustment options, the menu system is very basic, with five panes and a relatively intuitive navigation system.

The L1800P might not be leading edge, but it offers a level of performance that will satisfy most users and its slim bezel design and integrated USB hub add value to an already attractive unit.

Price: (ex VAT) £876.99

Contact: LG Electronics
www.lge.com