The latest offering from Samsung in the LCD range is an elegant, 15-inch TFT monitor that boasts an ultra-narrow bezel. Read our Australian review.The silver, ultra-narrow bezel of the SyncMaster 152X measures only about 1cm and makes this monitor stand out from other displays of this size. If you're thinking about using multiple displays the slim frame enables you to combine two monitors almost seamlessly.
The adjustment buttons are hidden away on the underside of the sleek frame giving the monitor a pristine finish while keeping the controls within reach. The standard array of controls includes an auto adjustment button that produces a good result with only minor tweaking required.
A dual-hinge stand allows for maximum flexibility in height and tilt. The base hinge allows the base of the screen to almost be flush against your desk; resembling an L-shaped photo stand. With the base hinge in this position (i.e. closed) the other hinge (which attached to the back of the display) can also be closed so that the screen is face up on the desk displaying to the roof. We can't think of a job that would require the display in this position but it certainly adds to its portability. Both hinges can be extended to a more practical configuration with a maximum lift of about 8cm off the desk.
Viewing angles are up to standard, supporting 120 degrees horizontally and 110 degrees vertically. Four screws and an anchor are included to allow the monitor to be wall mounted and the monitor also supports arm mounting.
The cable arrangement is at the back of the base hinge and supports a small 14V DC power cable (with external power adapter) and a 15-pin D-sub connector for a VGA signal. Unfortunately the SyncMaster 152X only supports analog RGB signals and does not have a DVI connection.
Samsung also boast a feature called MagicBright, which to our knowledge is just a pre-defined range of settings for text, Internet or entertainment. We found the entertainment setting here to be the best for all applications (even Web browsers and word processors), the text setting seems a little dark and the Internet setting seemed to fall in between the two (slightly on the dark side).
We found the maximum resolution of 1024 x 768 to be the ideal setting and anything smaller than this produced noticeable blur in text and images. The monitor supports vertical frequencies from 56 to 75Hz, which is ample to prevent flicker. The fast 16ms pixel-response time minimises ghosting and makes the SyncMaster 152X an attractive LCD on which to play games and watch DVDs.
With a contrast ratio of 450:1 colours appear vivid and the image quality is very bright. One problem that affects the SyncMaster 152X is reproducing all the levels of the grayscale. In particular it suffers from white-level saturation; the lightest greys are often indistinguishable from white backgrounds.
Samsung provide a three-year warranty for monitors. Considering the SyncMaster 152X's wow-factor and specifications, it might justify the steep AU$799 price tag for people looking for smart, admirable and reliable LCD monitor.
Samsung SyncMaster 152X
Company:
Samsung
Price: AU$799
Distributor:
Selected resellers
Phone: 02 9763 9700
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You can't think of a reason to fold the 152x together completely? How about mounting it on a wall? Or put it in a 1U rack keyboard drawer?