Whether you’re working or gaming, it’s always better to do it on a clear and crisp computer monitor, and it’s a bonus if it’s in 4K UHD resolution. Here are 10 of the best PC monitors that will leave you staring in amazement.
Scroll across at the bottom of the table / mobile and tablet users just swipe...BenQ GL Series | Dell U2412M | Asus VE247H | Asus VS228DE | BenQ XL Series | Dell U2414H | Acer K242HLBD | Acer S0 Slim Series | Samsung SD300H Series | Samsung SD300NY Series | ||
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Our Rating | Our Rating | ||||||||||
OS | Windows & MAC | Windows & MAC | Windows & MAC | Windows & MAC | Windows & MAC | Windows & MAC | Windows & MAC | Windows & MAC | Windows & MAC | Windows & MAC | OS |
PS3/4 & Xbox Compatible | OS | ||||||||||
Screen | LED | LCD TFT | LED | LED | LED | IPS LCD | LED | LED | LED | LED | Screen |
Available Sizes | 21.5" / 24" / 27" | 24" | 24" | 21.5" | 24" / 27" | 24" | 24" | 21.5" / 24" | 21.5" / 24" | 18.5" / 21.5" | Available Sizes |
Available Options | • With HDMI & No DVI • DVI, HDMI & Speakers • With DVI & Speakers • HDMI & Speakers • HDMI & Height Adjust | N/A | N/A | N/A | • HDMI & No Speakers • 2 HDMI & Speakers • 2 HDMI, S-Switch & DP • 2 HDMI, S-Switch, DP & Game Mode | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Available Options |
Ports | Depends on model above | • 5 x USB 2.0 • DVI w/ HDCP • VGA • DisplayPort (DP) • Dell Soundbar Port | • HDMI 1.4 • VGA • DVI-D • 3.5mm Jack • AV Input | VGA | Depends on model above | • 2 x HDMI • Mini DisplayPort • DisplayPort (v1.2a) • DisplayPort Out (MST) • Audio Line Out • 5 x USB 3.0 | • VGA • DVI | • VGA • DVI (w/HDCP) • HDMI | • HDMI • VGA | VGA | Ports |
Built-In Speakers | Depends on model above | Depends on model above | Built-In Speakers | ||||||||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | 50/60Hz | N/A | 100 / 120 / 144Hz | 60Hz | 60Hz | 60Hz | 60Hz | 60Hz | Refresh Rate |
Response Time | 2ms | 8ms | 2ms | 5ms | 2ms | 8ms | 5ms | 5ms | 2ms | 5ms | Response Time |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:10 | 4:3 / 16:9 | 4:3 / 16:9 | 4:3 / 16:9 / 16:10 | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | Aspect Ratio |
Monitor Adjustments | GL2450HT Model Only - Height / Tilt / Pivot / Stroke / Swivel | Height / Tilt / Pivot / Swivel | Tilt | Tilit | Height / Tilt / Pivot / Stroke / Swivel | Height / Tilt / Pivot / Swivel | Tilt | N/A | N/A | N/A | Monitor Adjustments |
Wall Mountable | Wall Mountable | ||||||||||
Cable Management | Cable Management | ||||||||||
Included Accessories | • VGA Cable • Power Cable | • DVI / USB / VGA Cables • Power Cable & Adapter | • DVI / VGA / Audio Cables • Power Cable | • VGA Cable • Power Cable | • VGA / DVI Cables • Power Cable | • USB 3.0 / DP Cable (Mini-DP to DP) • Cable Cover • Power Cable | N/A | N/A | • VGA Cable • Power Cable | • VGA Cable • Power Cable | Included Accessories |
Warranty | 1 year | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 1 year | 3 years | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | Warranty |
Price | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | Price |
BenQ GL Series | Dell U2412M | Asus VE247H | Asus VS228DE | BenQ XL Series | Dell U2414H | Acer K242HLBD | Acer S0 Slim Series | Samsung SD300H Series | Samsung SD300NY Series |
Top Features | Best PC Monitors
- Our Rating – This is based on our own research in product testing and user feedback. Clicking on each product takes you to the product page where you can read customer reviews on the product you’re interested in.
- Best Value / Top Rated / Top Specs / Best Choice – Products that we consider to excel in a certain area such as value for money, reputation or technology have been given one of our aforementioned labels of recognition.
- PS3/4 Compatible – PC monitors with at least one HDMI port will be able to connect to a PS3/4 or an Xbox.
- Available Options – Certain PC monitors have a range of models within the same series that have different connection options.
- Refresh Rate – This is the number of times in a second that a display hardware updates its buffer. A higher refresh rate does not necessarily mean that you’ll get a smoother picture. If you want to read more about how refresh rates work, I recommend you to check out this article by PC Mag.
- Response Time – This is the amount of time a pixel in a display takes to change, and it’s measured in milliseconds. The lower the number, the faster the transitions which results in fewer visible image artifacts. However, the differences between a monitor with 2ms, 5ms or 8ms is hardly noticeable to the human eye and shouldn’t be a major factor when making your purchase.
- Built-In Cable Management – Certain PC monitors have a cable management feature usually on the stand to keep your cables tidy.
- Price – If you want to know the price of any of the models, just click on the Buy Now button or Check Price and you’ll be redirected to the product page. The reason we don’t put prices is because they constantly change and there are so many sellers offering different prices.
Best Buyers Guide For PC Monitors
In today’s technological era, shopping for electronics can be a challenging task. There are so many options that it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the different jargon and technical terms used to describe the differences.
Coupled with the rate of change in technological advancements, it is almost always necessary to find the best that is available, or risk owning obsolete equipment within a very short time. This is no different for computer monitors.
Trying to find the best pc monitor is like searching for the best horse at an exhibition, unless you know what you are looking for, it can be difficult to tell the difference between all of the options.
This guide is intended to help consumers find the best computer monitor by explaining some of the technical terms and characteristics that are important to consider when deciding to purchase a new computer monitor.
Types of Screens
There are many different types of screens and each has its own characteristics that determines aspects such as its life span, image quality, energy consumption, and true colour representation.
The type of screen is usually chosen for its intended use, and each has different advantages depending on the user’s requirements.
CRT – (Cathode Ray Tubes)
CRT monitors are an older technology and are most commonly found in tv screens. These types of heavy, bulky monitors are mostly being phased out and replaced by more efficient and compact types such as LCD monitors.
That being said, CRT monitors do recreate truer colours for graphic imaging and typically have a faster refresh rate which is better for gaming.
LCD – (Liquid Crystal Display)
LCD monitors are some of the most common monitors on the market. They are more energy efficient than CRT monitors, and produce high-quality images, which are easier on the eyes to view for extended periods.
The price has come down considerably for these types of monitors in the past few years, which makes them a good choice for a balance between budget and quality.
LED – (Light Emitting Diodes)
LED monitors are a flat panel computer screen that uses back lighting technology to produce cleaner and clearer images.
They are the considered the most environmentally friendly monitors for their lower levels of energy consumption, and they are still able to produce more lifelike images due to their improved contrast ratios and saturation levels.
UHD – Ultra High Definition
More commonly known as a 4k computer monitor, UHD monitors utilize the same technology as an LED monitor, but it is augmented to create the highest resolution available on the market.
These types of monitors produce stunning quality images in detail never seen before. The main drawback with these monitors is the high price.
Screen Sizes
The size of a monitor’s screen is usually determined by the length measured diagonally from corner to corner. It is possible to find sizes in a huge range from as small as 13″ up to a huge 82″, and everything in between.
When considering which size is the best option, it is smart to consider what the monitor will be used for. Typically, if the monitor will be used for work, a smaller sized monitor will suffice.
For gaming, larger sized monitors are usually preferred to give a more immersive game play experience. For those who want a truly cinematic experience, the largest sized monitors provide the best for a home theatre set up.
Built-In Speakers
It’s not absolutely necessary to have built-in speakers on a PC monitor, but it’s definitely useful if you don’t have any external speakers. Granted, you can just rely on your regular built-in speakers on your laptop, but the sound quality is often lacking.
Bear in mind that even if the monitor does have integrated speakers, it doesn’t mean the quality will be great. You’ll find that to ensure crisp and clear audio with good depths, you’d have to buy a seperate pair of quality PC speakers anyway.
Resolution
Resolution is the amount of pixels that can be displayed on a monitor. The higher the amount of pixels, the better the quality and detail of the image.
For example, a monitor with a 1920 x 1080 resolution would be 1920 pixels in width and 1080 pixels in height. A 4k PC monitor has a resolution of 3240 x 2160, which is the highest amount available on the market. The only drawback is that a 4k computer monitor is still very expensive.
That being said, most content is still made for a resolution of 1920 x 1080 or less, so it’s not entirely necessary at this point to get a 4k PC monitor as you can still get a great picture with a lower resolution, unless of course, you want the sharpest and clearest details for playing the latest games that support Ultra HD resolution.
Aspect Ratio
Aspect Ratio is an often misunderstood component of a computer monitor. The aspect ratio is the term used to describe the relationship between the height and the width of an image in the form of a ratio.
Depending on what you plan to use your monitor for, it’s important to make sure that it has the capability to switch between different aspect ratios.
The most common aspect ration for most modern games and movies is 16:9, which is also known as widescreen. However, if you plan on watching older movies, than it is more common to use for them to use an aspect ration of 4:3.
Connectivity
Another important component to consider for the best computer monitor is the types of connections available. Before spending money on a new monitor, it’s wise to make sure that it is compatible with all of the external devices that you may want to use.
The most common types of input/output connections for a monitor are VGA, DVI and HDMI (usually, at least one of those cables are included with the monitor).
HDMI is the most modern type of connection and most devices are transitioning to use this type. It has the ability to transfer visual and audio data all in one cable.
Some older laptops and desktop computers may not have this type of connection, so in that case, you’d likely have to use a VGA or DVI.
Other Ports
In addition to the main connectivity ports, it’s also vital to check what other ports the monitor has available. Although not absolutely necessary, it can be a nice addition to have a couple of USB ports built into the monitor in order to connect external devices such as a keyboard or mouse.
Another useful component is a 3.5 mm audio jack, which makes it easy to connect speakers for improved sound quality, or headphones.
Final Word | Best PC Monitors
This may seem like a lot of information, but it is all useful and important to consider when searching for the best PC monitor. A general rule of thumb is that more is better.
Higher resolution, faster refresh rates, larger sizes, more ports and connectivity options, and better aspect ratios all make up the best PC monitor. Consider what you need, and find what will support it the most at the best possible price.