Whether you’ve been working from home on a little laptop or you’re looking to upgrade your gaming setup, a good monitor can make all the difference. But with so many different kinds of monitors on the market, it can be tough to find the right one at the right price. To make things easier, here is our list of the best computer monitors you can buy this year, from budget models to 4K utlrawides, and everything in between.
What to look for in a computer monitor
When buying a new computer monitor, some important things to look at are the screen size, resolution, refresh rate, and ports. We recommend getting a monitor that’s at least 27-inch large, with a resolution of 1080p or higher, a refresh rate of 60-120 Hz, and a USB-C port with power delivery for laptops.
- Size: 27-inches or larger
When it comes to monitor screen size, bigger is almost always better. Once you get a larger monitor, you’ll wonder how you ever worked on a smaller one. Unless you are on a budget, we recommend getting a 27-inch screen, but a 32-inch model will feel luxurious.
- Resolution: 1080p or higher
A monitor’s resolution tells you how many pixels it has (horizontally x vertically). High-resolution screens can display more detail and give you sharper images. These days, we recommend getting a “full-HD” monitor with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 or higher.
However, upgrading to a 1440p (2560 x 1440) or a 4K (3840 x 2160) monitor will be a noticeable improvement.
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz and up for normal use, 120 Hz and up for gaming
A monitor’s refresh rate tells you how many times the screen refreshes per second. These days, you want a monitor with a refresh rate of at least 60 Hz (which means the screen refreshes 60 times per second). However, gamers should look for higher refresh rates of at least 120-240Hz.
- Ports: USB-C with Power Delivery for Laptops, HDMI 2.1 for gamers
When looking at ports on a monitor, it all depends on what you want to use it for. If you just want to hook up a computer, you might only need an HDMI port. If you have a laptop, you should look for a USB-C port that allows you to display your device and charge it at the same time.
Gamers should look for monitors that support HDMI 2.1, especially if you are using the latest Xbox or PlayStation gaming consoles.
- Panel Type: IPS for most users, OLED for gamers and high-end users
There are three types of LCD panels used in computer monitors these days: TN, IPS, and VA. IPS monitors are the most common, and they are good for most users. TN panels have a fast response time, which is good for gaming. VA panels have good contrast, which is good for watching movies and playing games in a dark room.
Read More: IPS vs VA vs TN: Which panel should you get?
There are also OLED panels, which are totally different from LCD panels, and they offer much better picture quality, response time, and more. However, they are still very expensive for most users.
Asus VA24DCP: Best Cheap Computer Monitor
- Size: 27-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920
- Refresh Rate: 75 Hz
- Panel Type: IPS
If you’re on a tight budget, the Asus VA24DCP is one of the cheapest monitors you can find. The picture quality is decent enough for watching internet videos. If you’re using it for work, the blue light filter and flicker-free technology will help reduce eyestrain.
Unlike other cheap monitors, this model has a USB-C port connecting with power delivery. This allows you to use your laptop and keep it charged at 65W with a single cable. So, if you have a MacBook or any other laptop that plugs in with a USB-C connection, this monitor will help declutter your desktop.
You can even use this monitor for light gaming. In fact, this cheap monitor supports FreeSync VRR (variable refresh rate) to make your games look good at 75 Hz. However, at this price, there are some major drawbacks, including the unusable internal speakers and the fixed plastic stand.
If you want a similar computer with a more ergonomic stand, the Asus VG246H lets you tilt, swivel, raise, lower, and even rotate your screen for a little more money.
Asus ProArt PA278CV: Best Budget Monitor
- Size: 27-inch
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Refresh Rate: 75 Hz
- Panel Type: IPS
If you want to keep your budget for a new monitor under $300, the Asus ProArt PA278CV is one of your best options. This 1440p monitor was designed for creative professionals, and it delivers excellent color accuracy out of the box for editing photos and videos with the sRGB mode.
For work, this monitor has an all-in-one USB-C port that lets you connect your laptop, transmit data, and keep it charged with 65W of power. The stand also has excellent ergonomics, and the screen gets bright enough to reduce reflections. However, the text clarity is not as good as more expensive monitors.
This Asus ProArt monitor does not support HDR, and it has poor contrast, so it’s not the best computer monitor for watching movies in the dark. With its low input lag, fast response time, and VRR support, you can use this monitor for gaming, but it isn’t totally compatible with the latest consoles.
Read More: What is HDR?
Dell U2723QE: Best 4K Office Monitor
- Size: 27-inch
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Panel Type: IPS
If you spend all day working at your screen, the Dell U2723QE is one of the best monitors to help you get the job done. This 4K monitor has excellent text clarity, and its IPS Black panel makes blacks 35% deeper and colors more accurate. Overall, it has a sturdy design and a fully ergonomic stand that won’t take up too much space on your desk.
One of the best features of this monitor is the KVM switch, which allows you to hook up multiple computers and control them all from the same monitor, keyboard, and mouse. That means you can press a single button to switch between your Windows laptop and Mac home computer or your iPad, and you can keep using the same mouse and keyboard on those devices without missing a beat.
There are a dozen different ports on this monitor, including one USB-C that supports Dell’s
“DisplayPort Alt Mode.” This allows you to connect your laptop while keeping it charged at 90W using a single cable. If you want to connect multiple monitors together, this model makes it easy to daisy chain them using USB-C or DisplayPort cables.
Read More: How to set up dual monitors in Windows 10
Gigabyte M32U: Best Budget Gaming Monitor
- Size: 32-inch
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Refresh Rate: 144 Hz
- Panel Type: IPS
While it might seem expensive for a “budget” monitor, the M32U is the ultimate multi-tasking machine. With the push of a button, this 32-inch 4K monitor can turn your home office into a gaming room, an editing studio, and anything in between.
For the home office, use the KVM Switch to control all your computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices from the same mouse and keyboard. It also features excellent text clarity and a “reader mode,” which makes it easy to work from home all day without hurting your eyes.
For gamers, this monitor has a low input lag, fast response time, VRR support, and a high refresh rate of 144Hz, making it one of the fastest 32-inch 4K monitors you can find. It also features two HDMI 2.1 ports, so you can play 4K games on the latest gaming consoles up to 120 frames per second.
For creative professionals, the M32U has great color accuracy out of the box when using the sRGB mode. However, the contrast isn’t great on this monitor, so it’s not the best computer monitor for watching movies in the dark. Also, the stand takes up a lot of desk space, but it’s also sturdy and easy to adjust.
You can also find a smaller version of this monitor, but the M27U has a worse stand, and the USB-C power delivery port only supports 15W charging. However, the M27U does have a brighter screen and a higher refresh rate of 160 Hz.
If you want something even cheaper, there’s a 1440p version that has many of the same features, except it doesn’t work with the PS5 or Xbox at 120 fps, and it also has worse picture quality.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8: Best 4K Gaming Monitor
- Size: 32-inch
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Refresh Rate: 240 Hz
- Panel Type: VA
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 is the world’s first 4K monitor with a 240 Hz refresh rate, making it the perfect choice for serious gamers. This monitor also has a low input lag, fast response time, and a curved screen for a more immersive gaming experience.
With its VA panel, mini LED backlighting, and over 1,000 local dimming zones, you’ll get excellent contrast and richer colors, which will make movies and games look great. With its two HDMI 2.1 ports, you can play 4K games on the PS5 and Xbox Series X at 120 frames per second.
For work, the Odyssey Neo G8 has an Eye Saver Mode and a matte finish that reduces reflections and helps with text clarity. With the Auto Source Switch+ feature, this monitor will recognize when your connected devices turn on, and it will switch to them without the need to manually change inputs.
If you’re looking for something bigger, the Samsung Odyssey G9 is the biggest and best gaming monitor money can buy. This 49-inch ultra-wide monitor is as large as two 27-inch monitors side-by-side. It also has a new QD-OLED display for the best picture quality available and a 240 Hz refresh rate for the fastest gaming possible.
Apple Studio Display: Best Monitor for Mac Computers
- Size: 27-inch
- Resolution: 5120 x 2880
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Panel Type: IPS
The Studio Display is Apple’s first consumer-grade monitor in years. Like all devices made by Apple, this monitor has a sleek design and a solid aluminum frame. It also works seamlessly with your other Apple devices, making it perfect for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and HomeKit users.
As one of the few 5K monitors on the market, the Apple Studio Display has outstanding color accuracy out of the box. There are only four USB-C ports on the back of this monitor, but one of them is a Thunderbolt port with 96W of power delivery, so you can connect your MacBook with a single cable and keep it charged while you work.
However, this monitor also has a lot of downsides. The base model stand only tilts up and down, which makes it hard to get a good viewing angle. You can pay an extra $400 for a height adjustment or get the VESA mount version and use your own stand. Also, customers have complained that the 12 MP webcam isn’t great, and it is similar to what you would find in an iPad.
The Apple Studio Display has poor contrast, no HDR support, and a low 60 Hz refresh rate, so it’s not the best computer monitor for watching movies, editing HDR content, or playing video games. If you’re looking for a more versatile monitor for your Mac, you should consider the LG UltraFine 5K.
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