Samsung 226BW

Initially we thought Samsung’s 226BW might rise above the pack in the 22-inch category. This LCD boasts 16.7 million colors, suggesting superior 8-bit technology. But when we did side-by-side testing next to the Hanns.G model, we were mightily surprised by the similarities. Sure enough, further inquiry revealed the 226BW to be a 6-bit panel just like all the others. But Samsung says its special Hi-FRC tech surpasses conventional FRC in color reproduction.

Be that as it may, we observed the same poor vertical off-axis visibility evident in other 6-bit panels (although horizontal off-axis was somewhat better), and the 226BW’s grayscale performance was actually weaker on the light end of the scale than the Hanns.G’s.

The $100 premium Samsung charges over Hanns.G’s model gets you fancier trim and HDCP support. Like the Hanns.G, the picture is serviceable—but nothing special—and the screen is free of any image artifacts in games.