The Best Computer Monitors for 2021
The monitor you're using right now might have come bundled with your desktop PC, or maybe you bought it back when 1,024 by 768 was considered "high resolution." Since you spend a huge part of every day looking at your screen, it pays to be picky when buying a new one—this is technology you buy that you'll stay with for years to come. And nowadays, you get a lot for your monitor money. Even many low-end panels utterly blow away high-end models from a decade ago.
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The Basics: Pricing, Panel Types, and More
Regardless of the type of monitor you're in the market for, some general factors are worth considering. Here's a rundown of the key areas to keep in mind.
What Are the Price Ranges for Different Monitor Types?
Monitor prices depend on the target audience, the screen size, and the features of the display. For $100 or less, you can pick up a no-frills 22-inch or 23-inch model, but don't expect niceties such as a wide variety of ports and a height-adjustable stand at this price. But these panels do use LED backlighting, require little power, and are often bright. Performance is adequate for most entertainment or basic business and productivity purposes, but not well suited to tasks where color and grayscale accuracy are key.
At the other end of the spectrum are your high-end models that are geared toward graphic design professionals and photographers. Most of these are 27-inch to 38-inch panels that support 4K resolution (3,840 by 2,160 pixels), capable of displaying four times the resolution of a typical full HD (1,920-by-1,080-pixel, or "1080p") monitor. Moreover, they offer such features as a highly adjustable stand, a range of ports including HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB (often including USB-C), and a wealth of advanced image settings, including in some cases calibration hardware and software.
The Best Monitor Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our partner, TechBargains
Dell UltraSharp U4320Q 43-Inch 4K IPS Monitor — $929.99 (List Price $1,159.99)
LG 32UD60-B 31.5-Inch 4K FreeSync VA Monitor — $349.99 (List Price $499.99)
Alienware AW2521HF 24.5-Inch 1080p 240Hz IPS Monitor — $359.99 (List Price $509.99)
LG UltraGear 27GL850-B 27-Inch 1440p 144Hz IPS Monitor — $396.99 (List Price $499.99)
Gigabyte G27QC A 27-Inch 1440p 165Hz Curved Monitor — $259.99 (List Price $329.99)
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Expect to pay $1,000 and up for a fully loaded, high-performance 4K or Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) monitor like this. Top-of-the-line professional monitors, some packing up to 6K resolution (around 6,000 horizontal pixels), generally cost between $2,000 and $6,000. Bottom line: Be prepared to pay for extras, but don't overspend on features you will never use.
What Size Monitor Do I Need?
Desktop computer monitors generally fall between 19 and 38 inches, although for those with extra-large desks, ultrawide displays in sizes up to 49 inches are also available. (The smallest monitors, apart from some specialty displays such as ones intended for use with a Raspberry Pi, are USB-connected portable displays meant primarily for mobile use.) The size of the panel is measured diagonally.
While it's always nice to have as big a viewing area as possible, it may not be practical, given your desktop-space constraints. Plus, the bigger the screen, the more you can expect to pay. A 24-inch monitor is a good choice if you wish to view multi-page documents or watch movies but have limited desk space and a tight budget. But there's nothing like watching a movie or playing a game on a large screen, so if you have room on your desktop, a 27-inch or larger display delivers a big-screen experience for a reasonable price. If space is not an issue, consider a massive, curved-screen model to bring a true movie-theater experience to your desktop.
Dell Ultrawide Monitor
If you're looking to replace a dual-monitor setup with a single display, check out one of the ultra-wide, big-screen models. They are available in panel sizes ranging from 29 to 49 inches with curved and non-curved panels, have a 21:9 or 32:9 aspect ratio, and come in a variety of resolutions, including Wide Quad High-Definition (WQHD, or 2,560 by 1,440 pixels) and UHD. Some of these are productivity-focused, while others are decidedly gaming panels. (More on the latter later.)
Do I Need a Low Pixel Response Rate?
Measured in milliseconds (ms), pixel response rate is the time it takes for a pixel to change from black to white (black-to-white response time) or to transition from one shade of gray to another (gray-to-gray response time). The faster the pixel response rate, the better the monitor is at displaying video without also displaying artifacts, such as ghosting or blurring of moving images. Monitors with a fast 1ms (gray-to-gray) pixel response are very good for gaming, but even monitors with a slower 6ms (gray-to-gray) pixel response can display games without much blurring or ghosting.
Most users won't notice input lag, which is the time it takes for the display to react to a command, but hard-core gamers consider this a key factor when choosing a monitor and typically seek out the fastest models available. The fastest monitor we've seen has a lag time of less than a millisecond, but for everyday use, you can get by with up to around 25ms before lag becomes a problem.
Which Monitor Resolution Is Best for What I Do?
The native resolution is the maximum number of pixels a monitor can display, both horizontally and vertically. For example, a monitor with a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel native resolution can display 1,920 pixels across the width of the screen, and 1,080 pixels from top to bottom. The higher the resolution, the more information can be displayed on the screen.
These days, many monitors in the 22-to-27-inch range have a native resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels and are referred to as full HD or 1080p monitors. You'll also see plenty of displays from 24 to 32 inches that offer a WQHD (2,560-by-1,440-pixel) native resolution. Stepping up to a UHD or 4K (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) monitor usually means a 27-inch or larger screen, although we have seen a few 24-inch UHD models. UHD monitors are ideal for viewing highly detailed images or looking at multiple pages in a tiled or side-by-side format.
Which Major Features Should I Look for in a Monitor?
If you have to share a monitor with a co-worker or family members, consider a model with an ergonomic stand that lets you position the screen for your most comfortable viewing angle. A fully adjustable stand offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments, and you can rotate the panel for portrait-mode viewing (aka pivot adjustment). If you tend to attach and detach USB devices often, look for a monitor with built-in USB ports. Ideally, at least two of these ports will be mounted on the side of the cabinet, making it easy to plug in thumb drives and other USB peripherals.
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Most monitors come with built-in speakers that are adequate for everyday use but lack the volume and bass response that music aficionados and gamers crave. If audio output is important, look for speakers with a minimum rating of 2 watts per speaker. As a general rule, the higher the power rating, the more volume you can expect, so if you want a monitor with a little extra audio pop, check the specs. Some monitors lack speakers altogether, but you can add external speakers that may give you better sound than typical monitor speakers.
Finally, glossy-surfaced screens can provide very bright, crisp colors, but they may also be too reflective for some users. If possible, compare a glossy screen to a matte screen before you buy to decide which works best for you.
What Are the Different Kinds of Monitor Panels?
The key panel types used in desktop displays are twisted nematic (TN), in-plane switching (IPS), vertical alignment (VA), patterned vertical alignment (PVA), Super PVA (S-PVA), and multi-domain vertical alignment (MVA).
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