13 best tested computer monitors (2024): Cheap, OLED, 4K
You may not think about your screen too much, but whether you’re working or gaming at home, the array of pixels shining on your face is important. A computer monitor can greatly improve your productivity if you work on laptopand one dual monitor setup can take things further. It can also make your game or movie look a lot better (or a lot worse). The folks on the WIRED Gear team use these large external displays every day in a variety of ways when we wrote our review, and of course, we decided to review them as well.
What to look for in a monitor
Let’s go over a few key points. Some of these factors may be more important for certain uses—for example, gamers often care more about high frame rates than office workers—but all Both are useful if you know how to use them.
- Resolution: The larger the screen, the more it benefits from higher resolution. That will allow you to have application windows that take up less space but are still easy to read. Most monitors today usually have 1080p, 1440p (2K) or 4K resolution.
- Refresh rate: This refers to the number of times the display can refresh the image per second, measured in hertz (or Hz). Higher refresh rates make in-game action look smoother because you see more information. For productivity, 60 Hz is more than enough, but gamers will generally want a monitor can reach 120 or 144 Hz. You’ll need a powerful enough computer that can maintain high frame rates to take advantage of these high refresh rates, and you’ll usually have to enable this feature in your operating system’s display settings.
- Control panel type: Monitors typically have an LCD (liquid crystal display) panel type. Three of the most popular options—twisted nematic (TN), vertical alignment (VA), and in-plane switching (IPS)—are all different types of LCD displays, and all use TFT technology. (thin film transistor). Each is popular for different reasons: IPS for color, VA for contrast, and TN for speed with higher refresh rates and response times. IPS has become especially popular thanks to its increasing refresh rates. OLED (organic light-emitting diode) panels are also popular on computer screens. Across these, each pixel turns on and off, meaning you can get truer blacks and more vibrant colors, though often at the expense of brightness. You should think about what’s most important to you (beautiful colors? slim profile? maximum brightness?) to choose the best panel for your needs.
- Nvidia G-Sync/AMD FreeSync Support: Exclusively for gamers, these two features allow the monitor to adjust its frame rate based on the game they are playing. This reduces Screen tearing without affecting performance. G-Sync is manufactured by Nvidia and FreeSync comes from AMD. While FreeSync monitors can typically work with most modern Nvidia graphics cards, G-Sync doesn’t work with AMD cards, so make sure whatever you have is compatible when purchasing.
- HDR support: This isn’t important for productivity, but if you watch a lot of media or play games it’s nice to have. Just like on TV, HDR significantly expands the range of colors the display can reproduce, resulting in more vivid images. Content must still support HDR, but these days there are so many sources that support it that it’s often worth considering.
- Port Availability: An important but easily overlooked factor is the type of ports the monitor has to connect your devices. Typically, most come with one or two HDMI inputs and one DisplayPort input, which should cover most needs, but you should check to see what your setup requires. Check out ours Guide to the best USB Hubs and Docks if you need to expand your computer’s port options.
- Integrated KVM switch: ONE KVM Switch (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) is a device that helps you easily switch your monitor, keyboard, and mouse between two different computers or input sources (like game consoles). If you have a setup for both a work computer and a personal computer, or a computer and a gaming console, having a KVM switch built into the monitor means you can easily switch every between your two devices without the need for an external KVM switch.
How to set up your monitor
Once you have your monitor, you need a way to set it up on your workstation. Below are a few different accessories and options.
- Grandstand: Most monitors come with a stand, and the flexibility of these stands can be a big help in reducing neck strain and/or back pain. The ideal stand allows you to adjust the height, tilt, and swivel angle of your monitor so you can place it exactly where you need it.
- Mounting bracket: If you use weapon displayThe type of stand the monitor uses is very important. Most screens use it VESA standard. You should check the size and type of mount on the device you have before purchasing.
- Speaker: A lot of monitors have built-in speakers, but I wouldn’t invest much in them. They usually have poor sound and are not very noisy. It’s better to have a dedicated set of speakers. Check out ours The best speaker guide.
These are the best computer monitors of the many we’ve tested so far. There are hundreds of different types of PC monitors available, so we’re constantly testing and updating this guide. You’ll also find monitor buying advice below that explains any terms you might not know. Be sure to check out other home office guides, including Best WFH gear, Best laptopAnd Best USB hubs and outlets.
Updated October 2024: We’ve added three new options to this guide.
Power up with unlimited access to STRINGED. Get the best reporting that’s too important to ignore $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Sign up today.