A quality display is no more ‘just a monitor' than a Ferrari is ‘just a sports car'. You pay a significant premium to get a high-end panel like IPS, rather than the TN panels found in most affordable monitors.

Generally good image quality; 2,560 x 1,440 resolution; Decent value; Fully adjustable; Generous connectivity

Contrast shift; Fiddly controls; No HDMI

2,560 x 1,440 resolution; Decent value; Fully adjustable; Generally good image quality; Generous connectivity;

Contrast shift; Fiddly controls; No HDMI;

Samsung's SyncMaster S27A850D is the first of a new breed. It shares the same 2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution as many high-end 27in monitors, but the panel technology is new: Samsung's latest marks the debut of its own Plane-to-Line Switching, or PLS, panel technology.

Samsung's SyncMaster S27A850D is the first of a new breed. It shares the same 2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution as many high-end 27in monitors, but the panel technology is new: Samsung's latest marks the debut of its own Plane-to-Line Switching, or PLS, panel technology.

The Samsung SyncMaster S27A850D is a well-designed, stylish, professional monitor with great options and performance.

The Samsung SyncMaster S27A850D delivers great overall performance; and has a useful assortment of connections; including three USB 3.0 ports.

Compared with other professional monitors; the S27A850D lacks a few OSD configuration details.

For those of us without disposable incomes, spending more than a couple hundred dollars on a monitor requires a little justification. When it comes to expensive monitors, there's usually a professional justification, as professional graphics artists require precise image clarity. The S27A850D is decently priced for a professional monitor of its size, but does it offer enough in performance and features to really make for a good investment? Keep reading to find out.

The Samsung SyncMaster S27A850D is a well-designed, stylish, professional monitor with great options and performance.

The Samsung SyncMaster S27A850D delivers great overall performance, and has a useful assortment of connections, including three USB 3.0 ports; The monitor's stylish but practical design provides many ergonomic options.

Compared with other professional monitors, the S27A850D lacks a few OSD configuration details; Also, HDMI would have been useful.

IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology has remained relatively unchallenged at the ‘high end' of the monitor market and has also penetrated into slightly lower-end consumer models in the form of ‘E-IPS'.

Colours are rich; deep and varied with good consistency; Excellent high-end brightness; good luminance range and quite pleasing white purity; Low haze screen surface handles glare well without profoundly upsetting colour vibrancy or image clarity and is probably the best ‘compromise' we've seen...

Some colours appear too deep and oversaturated; No hardware-based support for 2.2 gamma standard and a high luminance required to prevent many colours becoming ‘lifeless; A light haze and mild diffusion leads to slightly inferior clarity and vibrancy compared to a glossy screen surface – you can't...

Great monitor for graphics artists and gamers! Still out on the video playback though.

LED producing awesome colors & contrast; High Resolution of 2560x1440; Display Port connection; USB 3.0 Hub

Certain HD videos have a filmy grain to them; Haven't tried to correct it yet, but that's all I got for now

The S27A850D's adjustable stand and 2,560x1,440 resolution are all good, but it's the new PLS panel, with its amazing contrast and colours

We have a habit of relentlessly banging the TN-vs-the-rest drum. But we do it because we care. Both about technology and your very fine elves. Sorry, selves. Samsung's all-new S27A850D has us at something of a disadvantage. Many of its on-paper specs are thoroughly familiar.