Televisions with built-in DVD decks seem to be right back in fashion at the moment and LG isn't a company to miss a trend.The idea hasn't really managed to get a firm grip on the mass market yet, though, so this 26in analogue set will be looking to strike a blow for one-box, do-it-all movie machines.

The 26LX5RV isn't going to be first on anyone's list of significant aesthetic breakthroughs,but the designers have done an efficient job of creating a set that will blend smoothly into any room.It's more angular than many and a subtle piece of shading on a transparent strip between screen and stand creates a 'floating' effect that lifts it above the ordinary. It's also pulled off that Sony-favoured trick where its standby LED appears to be suspended in clear plastic, although some light spillage underneath rather scuppers the illusion.A pleasant enough spectacle overall, though.

The chief feature is, of course, the built-in DVD drive. LG has pulled off a coup here by managing to smuggle one into what is still a remarkably svelte stand.An almost impossibly slight (and rather fragile) tray to emerge smoothly from its base, leaving you to wonder where the mechanisms, lasers, and electronics you thought were required to load and read discs can be hiding.The whole unit is also remarkably compact and light, particularly so when compared to DMTech's recent efforts,which now seem extremely bulky and heavy.

Just as neat is the housing of a handful of AV connections around the back of the foot, with composite video, optical digital and stereo audio outputs neatly and unobtrusively squirrelled away. The only other socket of major note is a DVI input,but this is aimed at PC users rather than high-def hunters and the set does not merit an HD Ready badge.Oddly, for something with such obvious bedroom/kitchen credentials, composite video input has been axed,while component occupies that socket's usual berth among the secondary inputs. Disc playback covers all of the expected bases and our sample was also able to handle DVD-Audio, although it's not listed on the spec sheet.