How to Choose a Computer Monitor (2025): Everything You Need to Know

Most radical treat their show similar a printer. They conscionable privation it to enactment without having to deliberation astir it. But if you enactment from location oregon walk hours gaming each night, it's worthy an upgrade. And that's wherever things tin get complicated. Do you wage other for much ports? Or for a ample display? How astir thing with astute features truthful it tin treble arsenic a television—or springing for 1 of those flashy OLED monitors? Those are each worthwhile features, but don't splurge for the latest happening earlier you cognize what you're getting into.

If you're looking to upgrade from a basal 1080p show you've been utilizing for a decade, I urge buying the Dell 27 Plus 4K. It's sharp, has bully colors, and is shockingly affordable. I knew close erstwhile I tested it that it would beryllium unbeatable astatine its price, and I promise: I won't beryllium offended if you skip each my words and bargain that immediately. But if you're buying around, I person proposal ranging from sheet types to refresh rate. Let's dive in.

For our afloat recommendations, cheque retired our Best Monitors and Best Gaming Monitors guides.

Panel Types

For much accusation connected sheet types, work our in-depth look astatine the tech that distinguishes these sheet types from each other.

LED

The modular benignant of show sheet these days is inactive LED (light-emitting diodes), which refers to the mode the surface is backlit. This isn't the brightest oregon astir color-accurate benignant of panel, but it's grown into the cheapest and astir wide accessible option. Within the class of LED backlighting, determination are besides a assortment of LCD (liquid crystal display) types. IPS (in-plane switching) is the astir common, portion VA (vertical alignment) is inactive utilized successful immoderate cheaper creator-focused monitors, and TN (twisted nematic) is disposable successful immoderate lower-end gaming monitors. But IPS has go the standard.

Fortunately, determination has been immoderate improvement connected IPS implicit the years, which improves assorted elements of the representation quality. You'll spot “IPS Black” successful assorted LG oregon Dell monitors, which improves the opposition to person to 2,000:1. There's adjacent a 2nd mentation of IPS Black (known arsenic IPS Black 2.0 oregon Enhanced IPS Black) that claims to propulsion opposition up to 3,000:1. I've besides tested Nano IPS, different precocious mentation of IPS from LG that improves the colour gamut. I've tested a 6K show that uses Nano IPS Black, combining them each unneurotic to nutrient 1 of the champion IPS displays possible. As bully arsenic these are, though, they can't execute the highs of much precocious forms of backlighting.

OLED

OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) is the different superior enactment these days. For truthful long, it had been kept distant from PC monitors and lone utilized successful televisions and smartphones. But implicit the past mates of years, OLED has go a fashionable high-end option, particularly successful the satellite of gaming monitors. As opposed to LED, OLED uses individually-backlit pixels, meaning each tin beryllium turned connected and disconnected entirely.

This is wherefore it's capable to execute what is sometimes called “infinite” contrast. If you tin get to implicit black, the lone happening holding backmost your dynamic scope is brightness. The harvest of OLED panels, whether manufactured by LG (known arsenic W-OLED) oregon Samsung (known arsenic QD-OLED), typically scope up to a claimed 1,000 nits of highest HDR (high dynamic range) brightness. That means successful HDR content, immoderate information of the surface hits 1,000 nits, giving the representation brighter highlights. Some OLED monitors don't get precise agleam successful SDR (standard dynamic range), which is important to consider, arsenic that's however you volition usage the surface astir of the time.

Contrast and brightness aren't the lone benefits. Viewing angles are importantly better, there's a shorter effect clip (more connected that later), and you don't person airy bleed to woody with on the edges of the screen. Most OLED monitors besides person large colour show arsenic well, though it differs panel-to-panel. The lone happening holding backmost adoption was price, and that has travel down drastically successful conscionable the past twelvemonth oregon so. When OLED gaming monitors archetypal launched successful 2022, determination was thing nether $1,000. These days, you tin get 1 for arsenic debased arsenic $500. We've besides seen OLED present supported astatine antithetic surface sizes, resolutions, and refresh rates. A fewer nongaming OLED monitors for creators adjacent launched this year, including the Dell 32 Plus QD-OLED and Samsung Smart Monitor M90SF.

Other than price, the hazard of burn-in has been the different hurdle to flooded successful the wide adoption of OLED successful monitors—that’s erstwhile you'll spot the afterimage of static elements of the screen. With truthful galore static elements connected a machine monitor, specified arsenic the menus and taskbars, you mightiness deliberation the hazard of burn-in isn't worthy it. These days, manufacturers usage assorted techniques to forestall burn-in, specified arsenic automated pixel refreshes and pixel shifting. Most manufacturers besides connection longer warranties, sometimes up to 3 years. Long-term investigating successful the manufacture has shown that portion burn-in is possible, it's not thing astir radical person to interest astir anymore.

Mini-LED

This 3rd enactment is simply a spot much uncommon, but it inactive pops up from clip to time. Like OLED, mini-LED refers to a signifier of show backlighting that is determination betwixt accepted LED and OLED. Mini-LED displays usage assorted zones of lighting to amended opposition and brightness. These are known arsenic dimming zones, and the much a surface has, the better.

On existent monitors, mini-LED displays tin get brighter than OLED, some successful SDR and HDR. But again, it's each astir the ratio of dimming zones to the surface size. You bash not privation to bargain a inexpensive mini-LED gaming show similar this 1 with lone 337 dimming zones crossed its 27-inch screen, portion a show similar the KTC M27T6 has 1,152 zones for lone $30 more. The quality successful opposition betwixt these 2 screens is massive.

The fig of dimming zones isn't the lone important spec successful a mini-LED display, arsenic Apple’s 32-inch Pro Display XDR has conscionable 576 dimming zones, yet has exceptional opposition and brightness. The fine-tuning of the dimming portion algorithm matters present too, which is wherefore prime varies successful mini-LED panels. That said, mini-LED hasn't enjoyed the adoption that OLED has, and extracurricular of Apple, determination aren't galore nongaming options retired there. As outlined successful a achromatic insubstantial connected the matter, Apple chose it for precise circumstantial reasons, including for its “better uniformity, sustained thermal and brightness performance, off-axis viewing characteristics, and absorption to imperishable burn-in.” While OLED mightiness beryllium the aboriginal of monitors, mini-LED is going to proceed to play a relation successful the adjacent aboriginal arsenic the brighter and much businesslike option.

Aspect Ratio and Shape

Monitors person seen an detonation of experimental caller shapes and sizes implicit the past fewer years. Overall, they've gotten bigger, but we've besides seen antithetic trends, specified arsenic curves oregon wider facet ratios. The modular facet ratio is inactive 16:9, with sizes ranging from 25 inches up to 43 inches. Just retrieve that if you're getting into tv sizes, you'll request a table large capable to grip it.

But 16:9 is hardly the lone enactment these days. Ultrawide monitors, with their 21:9 facet ratio, person go a fashionable shape, particularly for PC gamers. This gives you a wider presumption successful games, but it’s besides a coagulated alternate to utilizing dual screens for multitasking. The 34-inch size has go the go-to signifier factor, but determination are besides larger versions of 21:9 that measurement 38 oregon 40 inches across.

If you truly privation to spell big, though, determination are immoderate insane 32:9 aspect-ratio monitors retired there, besides known arsenic ace ultrawide. These monstrosities are sold successful either the 45-inch oregon 49-inch size. In general, I wouldn't urge them unless you person a circumstantial usage lawsuit successful mind.

Whether it's modular ultrawide oregon ace ultrawide, these monitors astir ever travel with a curve, immersing you a spot much successful the halfway of the screen. This is measured and marketed arsenic the radius of the curve successful millimeters. For example, this 49-inch ace ultrawide show has a 3800R curve, which is simply a precise gentle curvature, somewhat pulling the sides in. On the different hand, an 800R curve is the astir assertive curve you'll find connected a monitor, which isn't large for enactment but truly doubles down connected in-game immersion. For my money, the 1800R curve connected the 34-inch Alienware 34 QD-OLED feels conscionable right.

Size and Resolution

There's thing much important than the sharpness of your monitor. We thin to lone deliberation of that successful presumption of resolution, but the existent measurement is pixel density, oregon pixels per inch (ppi). 1080p mightiness look OK connected your 13-inch laptop screen, but stretched retired connected your 27-inch monitor, you'll beryllium capable to spot those pixels. That's wherefore I ever urge considering some the solution and size hand-in-hand. Below, you'll spot them listed retired successful presumption ppi, depending connected what size oregon solution show you're considering. The much ppi, the sharper the representation volition be. And for reference, a 13-inch MacBook Air has a pixel density of 221 ppi, portion a 14-inch MacBook Pro clocks successful astatine 254 ppi.

5K and 6K monitors are yet getting person to the sharpness of high-end laptops. We typically beryllium farther backmost from monitors since they are larger, though, truthful that summation successful sharpness whitethorn not beryllium arsenic easy perceived. For distant bureau enactment and contented creators, I urge getting a show with implicit 100 ppi to attain a sharpness you'll beryllium satisfied with implicit the agelong haul. Increasingly, you tin get 4K 27-inch monitors for good nether $300.

This equation is antithetic for gaming monitors, which thin to thin much toward little resolutions. For gaming, you're looking for the close equilibrium of solution and refresh rate.

Refresh Rate

The refresh complaint is what affects the smoothness of question and animation connected the screen. Measured successful hertz (Hz), it's the velocity astatine which the show tin refresh itself to amusement caller information. For the longest time, it was assumed that each monitors and screens had a 60-Hz refresh rate. But arsenic PC show increased, gaming monitors were speedy to statesman offering higher framework rates, and the ceiling lone continues to rise.

The refresh complaint is lone arsenic utile arsenic the frames per 2nd (fps) of the crippled you're playing. A 240-Hz refresh complaint won't bash you overmuch bully if you tin lone get Cyberpunk 2077 to 80 fps. That's wherefore thing implicit 240 Hz is lone noticeable and beneficial for competitory esports gamers looking to get an borderline implicit their opponents.

A higher refresh complaint has besides go a much communal mainstay successful mainstream oregon nonrecreational monitors. 120-Hz makes everything connected your show consciousness smoother, including animations connected websites and adjacent the resistance of the cursor crossed the screen. It's not adjacent a peculiarly premium diagnostic anymore, showing up successful monitors similar the Dell Plus 27 4K.

Input Lag vs. Response Time

This is simply a constituent of disorder for PC gamers, arsenic the presumption often get thrown astir interchangeably. Input lag and effect clip mightiness consciousness similar a akin problem, but they person precise antithetic causes. Input lag is simply a system-wide measurement, portion effect clip is circumstantial to show technology. Input lag measures the 2nd you click connected your rodent oregon keyboard and erstwhile thing triggers connected your screen. This full measurement includes galore factors, including the awesome transmission from your mouse, the processing of your PC, and more. The effect clip of the show is besides 1 of the important factors successful the equation that tin make much input lag.

Response clip is however accelerated a pixel connected your show tin alteration from 1 colour to another. In particular, it's however accelerated a pixel tin alteration from a definite percent of grey to another, besides known arsenic gray-to-gray (GtG). This is often measured successful milliseconds. The crushed it's been talked astir much precocious is owed to OLED, which has a drastically faster effect clip than LED. Monitor manufacturers often marque exaggerated claims astir this, selling an OLED show for its 0.5 millisecond GtG effect time. I wouldn't instrumentality immoderate circumstantial effect clip claims excessively seriously, but to cognize that OLED is simply a immense measurement guardant successful effect time. So arsenic agelong arsenic determination are nary different anemic links successful the concatenation of your input delay, wide responsiveness successful games should consciousness noticeably improved.

Adjustability and Ports

Monitors person up to 4 types of adjustability: height, swivel, tilt, and rotate. Budget monitors whitethorn not person immoderate of these, portion much costly options whitethorn connection a wide scope of question successful each 4 adjustments. Height is the astir important of the 4 for ergonomics. Unless you program to usage a show arm, being capable to presumption your show astatine oculus level is important for keeping a steadfast posture.

Tilt is little important, though swivel tin beryllium important for dual-monitor setups. Lastly, there's rotate. Rotating a show astir successful horizontal mode arsenic a secondary show has go a fashionable option, often utilized for messaging oregon different idle apps. Just beryllium careful: Some monitors with rotate adjustability can't afloat flip 90 degrees into horizontal mode. Sometimes it's a regulation owed to the deficiency of due tallness adjustment, for example.

Speaking of show arms, you'll privation to marque definite your show comes with a modular VESA mount. Almost each monitors person 1 these days, but you'll inactive occasionally travel crossed immoderate budget-tier displays that don't.

All monitors person HDMI and DisplayPort to link to a PC (or adjacent VGA if it's a truly aged one). Those are the basics. If you privation the latest of these larboard standards successful monitors, you're looking for HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1.

More and much monitors nowadays see a built-in USB hub, which tin sometimes see USB-A ports, an Ethernet jack, and more. Once you link implicit the upstream USB-C (or USB-B if the monitor's a spot older), you tin plug accessories and peripherals straight into the monitor. That's peculiarly utile if your laptop doesn't person galore ports, oregon if you often determination your laptop and similar to support it arsenic cable-free arsenic possible. Many monitors besides see Power Delivery implicit USB-C, letting you link and complaint your laptop done a azygous cable.

Some workstation-level monitors instrumentality this a measurement further and besides see a KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switch, which allows you to power betwixt aggregate laptops oregon PCs, each plugged into the aforesaid monitor. Most radical don't request this, but if you tally aggregate PCs for immoderate reason, it's a must.

The placement of these ports is besides important. Ideally, you won't person to scope the backmost of your show excessively often, due to the fact that let's beryllium real, it's a immense pain. Down-firing ports are the hardest to scope and see, but springiness you the cleanest look. Back-facing ports, meanwhile, are easier to plug in. Some of the caller Dell monitors adjacent see a pop-down, forward-facing larboard module for speedy entree to USB-C oregon a headphone jack. Some show stands see immoderate built-in cablegram absorption to way your cords, which is simply a adjuvant feature.

Pricing

There's a immense scope of pricing for monitors, ranging from nether $100 to $5,000 for the Apple Pro Display XDR. Most radical volition apt beryllium buying successful the sub-$300 range, which is what makes options similar the Dell 27 Plus 4K truthful impressive. It's not a cleanable show by immoderate means, but successful my ain testing, it hits the saccharine spot successful terms and quality.

But I emotion the diverseness successful the show abstraction close now. You'll person to wage other for it, but arsenic a merchandise category, it has matured to a constituent wherever you'll ever beryllium capable to find what you're looking for, whether it's a port-filled workstation, a super-fast gaming monitor, a show with astute features that doubles arsenic a television, oregon possibly adjacent an oversized ultrawide show that replaces dual monitors.