A Review of the Samsung SyncMaster T220 22" LCD Monitor

Samsung's SyncMaster monitors are consistently some of the best selling monitors in the US. If you go to a major electronics retailer than it is easy to see why that's the case. Along with Sony and Apple, Samsung's monitors often stand out form the crowd. The Samsung SyncMaster T220 is practically jumping off of the shelves thanks to it's unique design and name brand recognition, but does it out perform the other monitors in it's price range? I have gotten my hands on one and I'm going to let you know how it performs for me.

Style: 5/5

Display: 4/5

Value: 3/5

Overall: 4/5

Product Overview:

Well the first thing that attracts people to this display is the extraordinary design of its bezel. The 22 inch screen is framed by glossy black stripes with a splash of color on the bottom. Words really don't do this monitor justice, nor do photos this is really a stylish monitor. This is product is actually in line with some of Samsungs new "touch of color" design. You can see this design repeated in other monitors as well as some of their televisions. The only downside to it's construction is that the monitor feels less that sturdy on the desk.

Unfortunately the screen and features don't stand out as much as the bezel's design. For the price it is noticeably missing several features. There is no integrated web cam which you often see at this price point. The display is rather mediocre and the connectivity does leave a little bit to be desired. Often with these large displays you'll see an HDMI connection for high definition video that is not the case on the T220. This isn't as surprise when you consider the 1,680x1,050 native resolution. Samsung also offers two different screen textures, a glossy and a matte finish. The one I have is a glossy finish and it looks great against the glossy bezel however it is a glare magnet. So before you buy be sure to keep in mind the viewing conditions of the room it will be placed in.

Product Value:

In the end the Samsung SyncMaster T220 is a fantastic looking monitor. For a monitor it certainly has the potential to turn a head or two, and it is refreshing to see a departure from the boring all black bezels. Coming in with a price range from $250 on a good day to the average of $300 you might be able to find a better performing monitor, though it won't look as pretty. It all comes down to your personal preferences however for most it should be performance over style.