32 to 9 ratio lcd panel brands
The best ultrawide monitors can be better than smaller screens for several reasons, and for several different uses. A wider screen means space for more panels or windows, which can be a boon for productivity for anyone with complex workflows that cross different programs. This can save the time and frustration involved in flicking back and forth between windows.
They can also provide a more immersive experience t when it comes to media and gaming consumption. And on top of that, these days almost anyone can benefit from a wider screen to be able to take part in Zoom calls or to chat in collaborative workspaces while viewiwing work, notes or spreadsheets in another window. One ultrawide monitor might help save you from having to you multiple displays.
Below, you"ll find our pick out the best ultrawide monitors available now We"ve picked out options that suit different uses and budgets, including creative work, gaming and general productivity. We"ve weighed up the pros and cons of each based on our reviewers" experiences or extensive research on the stated specs. We"ve taken into consideration resolution, brightness, response time and colour accuracy. We"ve also considered value for money, making sure that we cover options for different budgets (learn more about how we test and review).
The definition of ultrawide is itself quite wide, running all the way from 34in up to a massive 49in. Just be sure to check measurements before you buy to make sure you have another space on your desk (you can check out our guides to the best desks and best L-shaped desks if you need to upgrade). You"ll find more advice on what to look out for when choosing the best ultrawide monitor for you at the bottom of the guide.
If you"re not sure that an ultrawide monitor is the best option for your setup, take a look at our guides to the best 4K monitors and the best curved monitors – and read up on Corsair"s new bendable monitor, which is both curved and flat. And if you do a lot of Zoom calls, you might want to see our guide to the best monitors with webcam. Meanwhile, if you need a screen for working on the move, see our pick of the best portable monitors. We also have a guide to the best monitors for Mac mini.
The LG UltraGear 38GN950 is a 38in ultrawide monitor with a QHD+ (3840 x 1600) resolution Nano IPS panel that offers vibrant colours. We found the HDR image quality to be very impressive, and it boasts a quick response time and a very decent 144Hz refresh rate, which, together with G-Sync support, make it a great ultrawide monitor for gaming. The 3840 x 1600 resolution isn"t quite 4K (3840 x 2160), but it’s not far away, and we find that actually has the benefit of allowing better gaming performance with lower-end cards.
There"s ultrawide, and then there are monitors like the Samsung G9 (and the Dell U4919DW and Philips 499P9H further down on our list) with whopping 49in screens. A standard monitor has an aspect ratio of 16:9, and most of the monitors in our pick of the best ultrawides are 21:9. But this trio of stunning screens are all 32:9, effectively giving you the space of two 16:9 monitors side by side, but with less of a footprint on your desk.
The BenQ EX3410R monitor is designed for gaming with a fast refresh rate, Adaptive-Sync and blur reduction features. The curved design offers an immersive field of view and colours are beautiful and saturated. When we reviewed this screen we were particularly impressed with the built-in speakers and we found the monitor can serve for a lot more than gaming, offering a great value screen for multi-tasking, media consumption and video game designers. Unfortunately, it doesn"t have the colour accuracy that many creatives will be looking for if working in photography or visual design.
Samsung may have started the trend for 32:9 monitors, but this curved ultrawide gaming monitor from AOC is a very solid contender. The superb display panel offers vibrant, accurate colours and rich detail for gaming and desktop applications alike. It doesn"t support HDR as well as some more expensive ultrawide monitors, but the AOC Agon AG493UCX has everything else you"d want for a fantastic ultrawide gaming experience.
Like the Samsung, Philips and AOC 49in screens higher up in our list, this screen will seem enormous for anyone who uses a single standard monitor, but again we think this is a much tidier option for those who use two monitors side by side. The huge desktop area can accommodate two full-screen applications side by side, which we find is a real boon for speeding up productivity, since there"s no need to switch between windows or tool panes.
Like many of the best ultrawide monitors, the Dell U4919DW allows you to connect two different inputs to the screen, so you could also use all that space to view the screens of two different devices, which can be handy if you work across say a computer and a tablet. There"s a KVM switch, too, so you can use one keyboard and mouse across the two devices.
There"s no HDR on this one, and it"s been designed more with general office multitasking functionalist in mind rather than creative working, so the refresh rate is a rather paltry 60hz. That said, the U4919DW offers excellent image quality with an enormous IPS panel, superior to many ultrawide monitors that use VA panel technology. It offers 99 per cent sRGB coverage, 350-nit brightness and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. The decent 5ms (fast mode) response time, means we wouldn"t completely rule this out for gaming, though it certainly isn"t a monitor we"d choose specifically as a gaming display, – it doesn’t support adaptive-sync like some displays. Also, some might prefer the screen to have a bigger curve to help keep all that display in vision.Is an ultrawide monitor better than separate monitors?The answer to this depends on what you want to use the monitors for, your style of working and also the physical setup of your workspace. Multi-monitor setups are popular and have the advantage that you can place the two (or more) screens where you want them, whether that"s side by side, at an angle to each other, or even on separate desks or on each part of an L-shaped desk.
However, the best ultrawide monitors have the advantage of being a neater solution with fewer cables, and they can be used for watching media and or for gaming on one large immersive screen, without any division. Also, most people also find that dragging windows around one large screen feels smoother and more intuitive than working across one or more smaller screens.How wide is an ultrawide monitor?Ultrawide monitors start at around 34in, and this is the most common screen size for an ultrawide monitor, but there are plenty of ultrawide monitors that have even larger screen sizes, going up to a whopping 49 inches. While 34in is plenty big enough for most uses, a larger screen allows you to effectively replace a dual monitor setup retaining your screen real estate while tidying up your workspace in the process – you"ll just need a large enough desk to accommodate it.How close should I sit to an ultrawide monitor?If you sit too close to a large screen, it"ll be uncomfortable to use, as you"ll be turning your head to view certain parts of the screen. Often the edges will be slightly outside your peripheral vision when sitting at a normal working distance so that"s something you need to bear in mind. To solve the effect of this, most ultrawide monitors are just slightly curved at the edges.What resolution should I look for in an ultrawide monitor?In terms of resolution, look for at least WQHD (Wide Quad High Definition) – which gives you a pixel count of 2560x1440 – and a wide aspect ratio of 21:9. Usually the bigger the screen, the higher the resolution.
There are some ultrawide monitors that offer 2560×1080 resolutions. While this still gives you more workspace compared to a regular 1080p widescreen monitor, we feel it"s still a little too low to get the full benefit of the ultrawide aspect ratio. They are quite a bit more affordable than ultrawide monitors with higher resolutions, so if you"re on a budget, these could be a good choice. However, in our guide to the best ultrawide monitors above, we"ve restricted our choices to at least WQHD since we find this offers the best ultrawide experience.Can I divide the screen on an ultrawide monitor?Yes, most of the best ultrawide monitors offer features that allow you to divide the screen so you can connect two sources (like two computers, or a computer and tablet) to the same display. This feature is called picture-in-picture, or PBP, and can usually be turned on in the display settings.
A monitor that has PBP mode activated will display the screen from two inputs at the same time, side-by-side. you will be able to select the input you want to see and swap them left to right. A KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) switch will allow you to use one keyboard and mouse to control both devices, saving clutter on your desk. There is also software such as DisplayFusion that can help you set up and manage the inputs on an ultrawide screen.What else should I look for to choose the best ultrawide monitor?Ultrawide monitors also vary based on panel technology and features. Ultrawide screens generally look just fine with vertical alignment (VA) panels, but the sharper, brighter and considerably more expensive in-plane switching (IPS) panel technology will offer better image quality. While 21:9 is the most common ultrawide aspect ratio, there are even wider monitors with 32:9 aspect ratios. These offer even more workspace, but they are also more expensive, and they take up more room.
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Sharp NEC Display Solutions incorporates both Sharp and NEC brands of display products. Including desktop, 4K and 8K UHD large format, video wall, dvLED, collaboration and interactive products, Sharp/NEC offers the widest portfolio of displays available. Understanding that every market and environment has unique requirements, Sharp/NEC prides itself on being your partner, delivering customized solutions to match your needs.
Our comprehensive feature sets, best in class warranties and upstanding product reliability along with our industry expertise, is paramount to our commitment to bring you the ultimate immersive visual experience. Because we value our relationships with our customers, we constantly strive to provide the level of service and support that is expected of an industry leader.
Should you still find the LG 34GP950G-B too expensive and want something in the mid-range price category, then the Gigabyte M34WQ is a good alternative. It has the same 34-inch, 3440x1440 screen as the LG and even outperforms it in a few areas, but in other areas, like the motion handling, brightness, and HDR color gamut, the LG is still better. However, for its price, the Gigabyte offers good value and has a few office-oriented features, including a built-in KVM switch. It allows you to control two devices with the same keyboard and mouse, which is great for productivity if you need to connect a desktop and a laptop at the same time. It also has a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, but as it"s limited to 15W of power delivery, it won"t charge your laptop while you"re using it, but it can keep the battery alive.
In terms of picture quality, it"s much like the LG because it has great reflection handling and high peak brightness, so it performs well in bright rooms. However, that isn"t the case in a dark room due to its low contrast, meaning blacks look gray. If you tend to use your monitor in a dark room, consider the Dell S3422DWG, which has a better contrast ratio. However, it doesn"t have as many office-oriented features, so the Gigabyte is still the better monitor in terms of versatility.
The best 34-inch monitor we"ve tested is the Dell Alienware AW3423DW. It"s an excellent overall monitor that"s unique, thanks to its QD-OLED panel. It means it displays perfect blacks like an OLED display combined with the wide color gamut of a QLED display, resulting in remarkable picture quality. It means it looks great in dark rooms and displays vivid colors very well. Sadly, it isn"t as good in bright rooms because the black levels raise when there"s ambient light, so you need to use this monitor in a dark room for the best results. If that doesn"t bother you, you"ll be happy with this monitor"s dark room performance.
If you"re looking for the best 34-inch gaming monitor, you"ll be happy to know it provides excellent gaming performance. It has a fast 175Hz refresh rate with native G-SYNC variable refresh rate (VRR) support to reduce screen tearing, which is ideal if you have an NVIDIA graphics card. Motion also looks extremely smooth, thanks to its near-instantaneous response time. If you want to use it for office use, the text clarity is decent, but some color fringing issues can get distracting if it bothers you; however, there are workarounds to this.
Not only does LG have the #1 UltraWide*, UHD** and gaming monitors*** in the country, but with a wide range of options, we make it easy to find the right LG monitor for all that you do. Just a few of the options available include:
• Curved UltraWide Monitors: Whether you want one large panoramic view or need a 4-screen split so you can see more of your work at once, our curved UltraWide monitors make it all possible. Their 21:9 aspect ratio and IPS technology ensure you"ll get true color accuracy at any angle – making them among the best computer monitors for designers, photographers, gamers and other professionals who need more room for big ideas.
• UltraFine™ Monitors: Our UltraFine collection includes brilliant 4K monitors, as well as breathtaking 5K monitors in a variety of sizes. But no matter which solution fits best, you"ll still get a stunning IPS display that delivers vibrant colors, incredible clarity and fine detail.
• UltraGear™ Gaming Monitors: Get widescreen monitors built for gaming. With the latest hardware specs, game-focused features, like NVIDIA G-SYNC™ compatibility, and AMD Radeon™ FreeSync™ 2 technology, a vibrant IPS display, 1ms GTG response times and pro-level customizations, you cannot just get in the game – you can dominate it.
Whether you"re looking for curved monitors for work, a 4K or 5K solution for your home office, or need a new gaming monitor to elevate your play, we"ve got you covered. Check out all the latest monitors from LG – including our 4K, IPS and gaming monitors, as well as our LED monitors, and our UltraWide, UltraFine collections – and find the right monitor for your space and your life.
Advanced LED video wall with MicroLED models in 0.6, 0.7 and 0.9mm pixel pitches, and 1.2mm pixel pitch standard LED; with powerful processing, proprietary alignment technology and off-board electronics.
Planar® CarbonLight™ VX Series is comprised of carbon fiber-framed indoor LED video wall and floor displays with exceptional on-camera visual properties and deployment versatility, available in 1.9 and 2.6mm pixel pitch (wall) and 2.6mm (floor).
From cinema content to motion-based digital art, Planar® Luxe MicroLED Displays offer a way to enrich distinctive spaces. HDR support and superior dynamic range create vibrant, high-resolution canvases for creative expression and entertainment. Leading-edge MicroLED technology, design adaptability and the slimmest profiles ensure they seamlessly integrate with architectural elements and complement interior décor.
From cinema content to motion-based digital art, Planar® Luxe Displays offer a way to enrich distinctive spaces. These professional-grade displays provide vibrant, high-resolution canvases for creative expression and entertainment. Leading-edge technology, design adaptability and the slimmest profiles ensure they seamlessly integrate with architectural elements and complement interior decor.
LED video wall solution with advanced video wall processing, off-board electronics, front serviceable cabinets and outstanding image quality available in 0.9mm pixel pitch
Advanced LED video wall with MicroLED models in 0.6, 0.7 and 0.9mm pixel pitches, and 1.2mm pixel pitch standard LED; with powerful processing, proprietary alignment technology and off-board electronics.
From cinema content to motion-based digital art, Planar® Luxe MicroLED Displays offer a way to enrich distinctive spaces. HDR support and superior dynamic range create vibrant, high-resolution canvases for creative expression and entertainment. Leading-edge MicroLED technology, design adaptability and the slimmest profiles ensure they seamlessly integrate with architectural elements and complement interior décor.
Advanced LED video wall with MicroLED models in 0.6, 0.7 and 0.9mm pixel pitches, and 1.2mm pixel pitch standard LED; with powerful processing, proprietary alignment technology and off-board electronics.
LED video wall solution with advanced video wall processing, off-board electronics, front serviceable cabinets and outstanding image quality available in 0.9mm pixel pitch
Planar® CarbonLight™ VX Series is comprised of carbon fiber-framed indoor LED video wall and floor displays with exceptional on-camera visual properties and deployment versatility, available in 1.9 and 2.6mm pixel pitch (wall) and 2.6mm (floor).
a line of extreme and ultra-narrow bezel LCD displays that provides a video wall solution for demanding requirements of 24x7 mission-critical applications and high ambient light environments
Since 1983, Planar display solutions have benefitted countless organizations in every application. Planar displays are usually front and center, dutifully delivering the visual experiences and critical information customers need, with proven technology that is built to withstand the rigors of constant use.
As we count down to Black Friday, the flood of early Black Friday monitor deals are starting to trickle out, meaning that now is a great time to buy if you"re in the market for a new monitor and you don"t want to wait. Everything from the best gaming monitors to the best 4K monitors with high refresh rates are going to see some great discounts in the coming weeks, so definitely dig into the best PC displays out there and get a sense of what you want so you can find the best deal for your needs at a great price.
Finding the best monitor is getting harder and harder these days thanks to all the plethora of options out there. Whether you"re looking for a cheap display or an extra panel for work, whether you"re looking for a gaming monitor or an ultrasharp display with great color coverage for creative content work.
Fortunately, we here at Techradar do a lot of work with all kinds of displays over the years so we know how the best monitors are an essential component of any PC, especially the best computer setups for work and playing the best PC games, whatever the case may be.
So whether you"re looking for the best 5K and 8K monitors for creative work or the best cheap gaming monitor deals for some casual esports, we"ve tried and reviewed just about all of them. To help you find out which monitor is best for you, we"ve written up a guide for how to pick the best monitor to help you find what you"re looking for, no matter what your need or budget might be.
So from the best 144Hz 4K monitors to the best monitors for video editing, we"ve broken down our top picks of the year so far and compiled them in this handy guide to make your buying decision easier than ever. We"ve even included our price comparison tool to help you find the best monitor deals no matter what kind of monitor you"re in the market for.
Now that the best PCs can handle 4K easier than ever before, the best 4K monitors are all over the place. That’s why BenQ released the PD3200U, a massive 32-inch Ultra HD display, as part of its Designer Monitor range. 3D designers particularly love this display, thanks to the factory-calibrated color accuracy and CAD/CAM mode. Marketed to creatives and professionals, BenQ has designed, seemingly by mistake, a panel that gamers will enjoy as well, making it one of the best monitors all-around – so long as they can find the space for it on their desks.
Multiplatform gamers looking for a high-performance 32-inch gaming monitor for 4K @ 144Hz gaming will find a lot to appreciate here with the M32UC from Gigabyte.
The HDR400 support is alright, but nothing special, but with a respectable amount of ports and other useful features, along with snappy pixel response time and great color gamut coverage, this is a great looking monitor with satifying performance that recommend it on its own.
Pro-level displays are no longer the premium priced, inaccessible purchase they started out to be. At least as far as the BenQ SW321C PhotoVue is concerned. This 32-inch 4K photo monitor is up a step or two in terms of both performance and usability, featuring an incredibly wide color gamut of 99% of the Adobe RGB color space and 95% of DCI-P3.
Ultrawide monitors have been around for a while: they’ve constantly made it on folks’ the best monitors list for a few years now, in fact. These wide monitors are lifesavers when it comes to productivity, and they’re only increasing in popularity. The Asus Designo Curve MX38VC, however, takes it to the next level.
We don’t usually run into technology that’s so far ahead of the curve that we’re left dumbfounded, which is why the Dell UltraSharp UP3218K has impressed us even more. Finding one of the best monitors that can reach the raw gorgeousness this one can should be next to impossible. It’s not just the resolution, either.
Dell went so far as to ensure that the build quality and color reproduction are the best in the business as well. The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K is aimed at professionals, obviously, so if that sounds like it’s made for you, it’s probably the best monitor you’ll ever find.
If you’re looking for a first-rate 1440p monitor with HDR for multimedia and gaming, then the BenQ EX3203R might be the display for you. One of the best monitors this 2022, this one’s noteworthy as it offers a ton of high-end features in a product that is very reasonably priced. Sure, 32 inches might sound like a bit much for a monitor, but the 1800R curvature on this BenQ panel means that it’s easy to use, both for productivity, as well as for immersion in your games and media.
If you’re searching for a gaming monitor with a super-wide 1440p resolution, incredibly fast response time of 1ms, a viewing angle of 178 degrees and a quick refresh rate, then the MSI Optix MPG341CQR is something you should consider. If not for those, then perhaps for the fact that MSI has decided to go with a VA panel, as opposed to IPS, giving it more contrast and punchier colors. A few bonuses are included, as well: snazzy “Mystic Light” RGD LEDs, USB-C connectivity, an integrated camera and a competitive price.
We review monitors based on a number of factors including price, design, and performance. We consider the size of each display, as well as the number and type of ports on each monitor to determine who each display would benefit most. Each monitor is used in a variety of scenarios, so we use it for work, media consumption and gaming to test what it’s best suited to.
Performance is also evaluated by how well the actual screen tech works and its refresh rate. Frames per second are especially important in gaming monitors because you’ll want a high refresh rate during competitive games so you don’t miss a minute of the action.Which monitor brand is most reliable?There are a lot of PC monitor brands out there making everything from cheap, portable office monitors to high-end gaming PC monitors with ultrawide aspect and 1000R curve rating, 1ms pixel response, and blazing fast refresh rates.
Among the best brands in this regard are Dell, Alienware, BenQ, Acer, LG, Samsung, HP, Lenovo, and Asus, but they are by no means the only ones.Which monitor quality is best?Well, this really depends on a couple of factors, but first and foremost is your use case.
If you"re just a typical PC gamer looking for the best image quality, getting a 4K monitor with 144Hz refresh is going to make your games look fantastic. If you"re an esports competitor (or want to be someday), then the only thing that matters is pixel response and refresh rate. Even a 1080p resolution is acceptable so long as it has at least 1ms pixel response or lower. The refresh on 1080p monitors can go as high as 360Hz or even higher with the very latest monitors coming onto the market.
For most people though, a 1440p monitor is often more than enough, since the jump from 1440p to 4K isn"t nearly as impressive as the jump from 1080p to 1440p.How do I choose a computer monitor?To answer this, first, you need to ask what you need it to do.
Are you competing in esports? Then you need to go for the lowest pixel response rate you can afford (at least 1ms but even lower if possible), even if it means sacrificing image quality. All that matters is winning, after all, victory doesn"t have to be pretty.
Are you a visual content creator, a photographer, or a graphic designer? Then you will definitely need a monitor that has the widest possible color coverage, usually given in percentage of various gamuts. sRGB is the gamut that covers the web, while DCI-P3 is the industry standard for films, and the Adobe gamut covers illustrators and photographers for the most part. Regardless of your use case, you need to get as close to 100% of your particular gamut as possible.
If you"re on a high-end gaming desktop with the best graphics card on the market, then a 4K monitor or even an 8K display might be more of what you"re looking for. 4K monitors are only just now starting to get higher refresh rates like 120Hz and 144Hz, so these are definitely the 4K panels that you need to keep an eye out for.What is best screen size for 4K?Depending on how far away from the screen you are, there will be a point where it just doesn"t benefit you to upgrade to a new monitor with a higher resolution.
Typically, 32 inches is considered the best monitor size since this is the size where a person sitting about 3 feet away from a screen will be able to see the difference between 4K and 1440p. The difference isn"t going to be huge, but it will be there.
As we count down to Black Friday, the flood of early Black Friday monitor deals are starting to trickle out, meaning that now is a great time to buy if you"re in the market for a new monitor and you don"t want to wait. Everything from the best gaming monitors to the best 4K monitors with high refresh rates are going to see some great discounts in the coming weeks, so definitely dig into the best PC displays out there and get a sense of what you want so you can find the best deal for your needs at a great price.
Finding the best monitor is getting harder and harder these days thanks to all the plethora of options out there. Whether you"re looking for a cheap display or an extra panel for work, whether you"re looking for a gaming monitor or an ultrasharp display with great color coverage for creative content work.
Fortunately, we here at Techradar do a lot of work with all kinds of displays over the years so we know how the best monitors are an essential component of any PC, especially the best computer setups for work and playing the best PC games, whatever the case may be.
So whether you"re looking for the best 5K and 8K monitors for creative work or the best cheap gaming monitor deals for some casual esports, we"ve tried and reviewed just about all of them. To help you find out which monitor is best for you, we"ve written up a guide for how to pick the best monitor to help you find what you"re looking for, no matter what your need or budget might be.
So from the best 144Hz 4K monitors to the best monitors for video editing, we"ve broken down our top picks of the year so far and compiled them in this handy guide to make your buying decision easier than ever. We"ve even included our price comparison tool to help you find the best monitor deals no matter what kind of monitor you"re in the market for.
Now that the best PCs can handle 4K easier than ever before, the best 4K monitors are all over the place. That’s why BenQ released the PD3200U, a massive 32-inch Ultra HD display, as part of its Designer Monitor range. 3D designers particularly love this display, thanks to the factory-calibrated color accuracy and CAD/CAM mode. Marketed to creatives and professionals, BenQ has designed, seemingly by mistake, a panel that gamers will enjoy as well, making it one of the best monitors all-around – so long as they can find the space for it on their desks.
Multiplatform gamers looking for a high-performance 32-inch gaming monitor for 4K @ 144Hz gaming will find a lot to appreciate here with the M32UC from Gigabyte.
The HDR400 support is alright, but nothing special, but with a respectable amount of ports and other useful features, along with snappy pixel response time and great color gamut coverage, this is a great looking monitor with satifying performance that recommend it on its own.
Pro-level displays are no longer the premium priced, inaccessible purchase they started out to be. At least as far as the BenQ SW321C PhotoVue is concerned. This 32-inch 4K photo monitor is up a step or two in terms of both performance and usability, featuring an incredibly wide color gamut of 99% of the Adobe RGB color space and 95% of DCI-P3.
Ultrawide monitors have been around for a while: they’ve constantly made it on folks’ the best monitors list for a few years now, in fact. These wide monitors are lifesavers when it comes to productivity, and they’re only increasing in popularity. The Asus Designo Curve MX38VC, however, takes it to the next level.
We don’t usually run into technology that’s so far ahead of the curve that we’re left dumbfounded, which is why the Dell UltraSharp UP3218K has impressed us even more. Finding one of the best monitors that can reach the raw gorgeousness this one can should be next to impossible. It’s not just the resolution, either.
Dell went so far as to ensure that the build quality and color reproduction are the best in the business as well. The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K is aimed at professionals, obviously, so if that sounds like it’s made for you, it’s probably the best monitor you’ll ever find.
If you’re looking for a first-rate 1440p monitor with HDR for multimedia and gaming, then the BenQ EX3203R might be the display for you. One of the best monitors this 2022, this one’s noteworthy as it offers a ton of high-end features in a product that is very reasonably priced. Sure, 32 inches might sound like a bit much for a monitor, but the 1800R curvature on this BenQ panel means that it’s easy to use, both for productivity, as well as for immersion in your games and media.
If you’re searching for a gaming monitor with a super-wide 1440p resolution, incredibly fast response time of 1ms, a viewing angle of 178 degrees and a quick refresh rate, then the MSI Optix MPG341CQR is something you should consider. If not for those, then perhaps for the fact that MSI has decided to go with a VA panel, as opposed to IPS, giving it more contrast and punchier colors. A few bonuses are included, as well: snazzy “Mystic Light” RGD LEDs, USB-C connectivity, an integrated camera and a competitive price.
We review monitors based on a number of factors including price, design, and performance. We consider the size of each display, as well as the number and type of ports on each monitor to determine who each display would benefit most. Each monitor is used in a variety of scenarios, so we use it for work, media consumption and gaming to test what it’s best suited to.
Performance is also evaluated by how well the actual screen tech works and its refresh rate. Frames per second are especially important in gaming monitors because you’ll want a high refresh rate during competitive games so you don’t miss a minute of the action.Which monitor brand is most reliable?There are a lot of PC monitor brands out there making everything from cheap, portable office monitors to high-end gaming PC monitors with ultrawide aspect and 1000R curve rating, 1ms pixel response, and blazing fast refresh rates.
Among the best brands in this regard are Dell, Alienware, BenQ, Acer, LG, Samsung, HP, Lenovo, and Asus, but they are by no means the only ones.Which monitor quality is best?Well, this really depends on a couple of factors, but first and foremost is your use case.
If you"re just a typical PC gamer looking for the best image quality, getting a 4K monitor with 144Hz refresh is going to make your games look fantastic. If you"re an esports competitor (or want to be someday), then the only thing that matters is pixel response and refresh rate. Even a 1080p resolution is acceptable so long as it has at least 1ms pixel response or lower. The refresh on 1080p monitors can go as high as 360Hz or even higher with the very latest monitors coming onto the market.
For most people though, a 1440p monitor is often more than enough, since the jump from 1440p to 4K isn"t nearly as impressive as the jump from 1080p to 1440p.How do I choose a computer monitor?To answer this, first, you need to ask what you need it to do.
Are you competing in esports? Then you need to go for the lowest pixel response rate you can afford (at least 1ms but even lower if possible), even if it means sacrificing image quality. All that matters is winning, after all, victory doesn"t have to be pretty.
Are you a visual content creator, a photographer, or a graphic designer? Then you will definitely need a monitor that has the widest possible color coverage, usually given in percentage of various gamuts. sRGB is the gamut that covers the web, while DCI-P3 is the industry standard for films, and the Adobe gamut covers illustrators and photographers for the most part. Regardless of your use case, you need to get as close to 100% of your particular gamut as possible.
If you"re on a high-end gaming desktop with the best graphics card on the market, then a 4K monitor or even an 8K display might be more of what you"re looking for. 4K monitors are only just now starting to get higher refresh rates like 120Hz and 144Hz, so these are definitely the 4K panels that you need to keep an eye out for.What is best screen size for 4K?Depending on how far away from the screen you are, there will be a point where it just doesn"t benefit you to upgrade to a new monitor with a higher resolution.
Typically, 32 inches is considered the best monitor size since this is the size where a person sitting about 3 feet away from a screen will be able to see the difference between 4K and 1440p. The difference isn"t going to be huge, but it will be there.
"21:9" ("twenty-one by nine") is a consumer electronics (CE) marketing term to describe the ultrawide aspect ratio of 64:27 (2.370:1 or 21.3:9), designed to show films recorded in CinemaScope and equivalent modern anamorphic formats. The main benefit of this screen aspect ratio is a constant display height when displaying other content with a lesser aspect ratio.
The 64:27 aspect ratio of "21:9" is an extension of the existing video aspect ratios 4:3 (SDTV) and 16:9 (HDTV), as it is the third power of 4:3, where 16:9 of traditional HDTV is 4:3 squared. This allows electronic scalers and optical anamorphic lenses to use an easily implementable 4:3 (1.33:1) scaling factor.
The term "21:9" was chosen as a marketing term, first used by Philips in January 2009.3:1), the fraction could also be expressed in the reduced form as 7:3, relating to the 4:3 of standard-definition TVs.
It is also used in computer monitors, where the term "21:9" can represent aspect ratios of 43:18 and 12:5 in addition to 64:27. The wider screen provides advantages in multitasking as well as a more immersive gaming experience,even wider screens with aspect ratios such as 32:9 (allowing for two 16:9 views side-by-side) are available. 21:9 phones also exist.
With content of different aspect ratios, adjustments have to be made when showing such content on a display with a fixed aspect ratio. To avoid loss of content (due to cropping) or distortions (due to stretching), horizontal or vertical bars of a uniform color, usually black to make them less noticeable, are added to adjust the image. With the black bars being unnoticed, this has the effect of a changing image size when switching content aspect ratios.
A 21:9 display allows to present all content up to "Scope aspect ratios at equal height, with changing vertical bars to the left and right of the image. Note how the large center circle, representing the main image area, remains at a constant size on the 21:9 display, while it changes on the other two depending on the aspect ratio of the content.
The "21:9" digital format"s aspect ratio of approx. 2.370:1 is positioned between the classical CinemaScope aspect ratio (1678:715, approx. 2.35:1) and the aspect ratio of modern anamorphic cinematic content (1024:429, approx. 2.39:1), matching both with only a slight deviation.
As of May 2013, video timings in this 64:27 aspect ratio are supported by the technical specification that defines video timings for the HDMI interface, CTA 861-F:
There was an effort, led by Panamorph, to add support for anamorphic video in a 21:9 aspect ratio to the Full HD, 3-D and Ultra HD Blu-ray specifications.
Video streaming and download services use a proprietary technical infrastructure, and are not confined to the same strict rules about frame aspect ratios as standardized distribution services (such as broadcast and optical discs). They therefore often encode content as just the active frame, without any aspect ratio adjustment bars (letterbox or pillarbox bars). Movies with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio are a natural match for 21:9 output video timings, as long as the streaming clients support such video modes, and even content with other wide aspect ratios such as 2.00:1 and 2.20:1 are inherently maximizing the use of the output frame on such systems.
All Blu-ray Disc content with 1920 horizontal resolution has 1080 vertical resolution, though in the case of widescreen formats wider than 16:9, the image appears on 16:9 displays with letterboxing. Philips" "Cinema 21:9" TV eliminates the black bars by scaling the 1920 horizontal resolution to its full width of 2560 and the 800+ pixels of CinemaScope images (actual pixel counts vary)cropped. The result is an image which fills the screen, but does not provide higher quality due to the use of scaling.pillarboxing, and should the viewer choose to not display CinemaScope content at full width, it appears windowboxed.
Jupiter Systems in California was the first to launch a full line of 21:9 large interactive displays for the enterprise market, both touch and non-touch models, ranging from a screen size of 105" down to a 34" desktop. It caught the global market"s attention as the only manufacturer dedicated to 21:9 exclusively. The large displays are 5K in resolution so a natural extension of the traditional 4K 16:9 display real estate.
The 58-inch TV with a panel resolution of 2560×1080 has been sold in 2012 and 2013, and has since been discontinued. A planned 50-inch model never made it to market.
LG has a number of monitors with panel resolutions of 2560x1080 (64:27), 3440x1440 (43:18), 3840x1600 (12:5) and 5120x2160 (64:27), the latter being advertised by LG as "5K2K" with a 21:9 aspect ratio.
Wide screen projectors with a 16:9 aspect ratio can be converted to 21:9 by attaching a 4/3 horizontal stretch or vertical squeeze anamorphic lens. This will optically scale standard projection images with e.g. 1920×1080 (FullHD) or 3840×2160 (UHD) to a 21:9 aspect ratio. These lenses are manufactured by optical companies like Isco and Zeiss, and provided to the home theater market by companies such as Panamorph.
Note: Technically 21:9 smartphones do not exist because smartphone screens are vertical. However, rotating a smartphone 90 degrees to landscape mode results in a horizontal ratio. 21:9 means that for 21 pixels in the horizontal axis, there are 9 in the vertical axis. 9:21, which is the correct term for smartphones, is the opposite (21 vertical, 9 horizontal).
On February 25, 2019, Sony launched their latest flagship device, the Xperia 1, with the world"s first 21:9 ultra-wide 4K HDR-enabled OLED (6.5") display in a smartphone. They have trademarked the name CinemaWide for use in their latest ultra-wide Xperia devices.LG New Chocolate, released in 2009. It has a 4" TFT display with a resolution of 345×800 pixels. The Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone/tablet folding hybrid, with its 4.6" Super AMOLED cover display, and the Xperia 10 and 10 Plus are among the first modern devices with ultra-wide displays. Motorola introduced two 21:9 smartphones in 2019, the One Vision in MayFHD+ IPS LCD screen.
Note that both Motorola and Sony chose to use a screen resolution of 2520×1080, rather than the CE resolution of 2560×1080, as defined in CTA-861. This leads to the device to have a "true" 21:9 (7:3) Aspect Ratio, rather than the normal CE aspect ratio of 64:27. The Xperia 1 also has an odd aspect ratio of 320:137, and would have been able to meet 64:27 with a more even resolution of 3840×1620. Sony does not adhere to consumer standards, as with their home theater projectors that feature a 4096×2160 4K resolution, rather than the CE resolution of 3840×2160.DCI), where movie theater projectors feature this resolution with either letterboxed 4096×1716 or pillarboxed 3996×2160 content for "Scope" (2.39:1) and "Flat" (1.85:1) aspect ratios, respectively. The full panel aspect ratio of 256:135 is unfit for normal consumer content with a 16:9 container aspect ratio.
While there are many different manufacturers of LCD monitors, the panels themselves are actually only manufactured by a relatively small selection of companies. The three main manufacturers tend to be Samsung, AU Optronics and LG.Display (previously LG.Philips), but there are also a range of other companies like Innolux and CPT which are used widely in the market. Below is a database of all the current panel modules manufactured in each size. These show the module number along with important information including panel technology and a detailed spec. This should provide a detailed list of panels used, and can give you some insight into what is used in any given LCD display.
Note:These are taken from manufacturer product documentation and panel resource websites. Specs are up to date to the best of our knowledge, and new panels will be added as and when they are produced. Where gaps are present, the detail is unknown or not listed in documentation. The colour depth specs are taken from the manufacturer, and so where they specify FRC and 8-bit etc, this is their listing. Absence of such in the table below does not necessarily mean they aren’t using FRC etc, just that this is how the manufacturer lists the spec on their site.
SizeManufTechModuleResolutionResponse Time (ms)Contrast RatioBrightness (cd/m2)Viewing Angles (H/V)Colour DepthColour GamutAdobe RGB coveragesRGB coverageBacklightRefresh
ManufTechModuleResolutionResponse Time (ms)Contrast RatioBrightness (cd/m2)Viewing Angles (H/V)Colour DepthNTSC Colour GamutAdobe RGB coveragesRGB coverageBacklightRefresh
SizeManufTechModuleResolutionResponse Time (ms)Contrast RatioBrightness (cd/m2)Viewing Angles (H/V)Colour DepthNTSC Colour GamutAdobe RGB coveragesRGB coverageBacklightRefresh
SizeManufTechModuleResolutionResponse Time (ms)Contrast RatioBrightness (cd/m2)Viewing Angles (H/V)Colour DepthNTSC Colour GamutAdobe RGB coveragesRGB coverageBacklightRefresh
ManufTechModuleResolutionResponse Time (ms)Contrast RatioBrightness (cd/m2)Viewing Angles (H/V)Colour DepthAdobe RGB coveragesRGB coverageBacklightNotes
Working from home has become the new normal for many people, so finding the best computer monitor is more important than ever. After all, you want to see the best visual quality from your coworkers" best webcams, right? And while many PC components are still enduring depressing shortages, performing a screen upgrade is one of the most accessible and most impactful changes you can make to your gaming rig at the moment.
Amazon"s Prime Early Access sale, also known as Prime Day October, is going from October 11th to 12th. However, you can also find great monitor sales at competitors such as Newegg, Best Buy, Dell and Lenovo all week long. We"re maintaining an up-to-date list of the best monitor deals for Prime Day October on separate page.
What to Look for in a Best Gaming MonitorWhat’s your monitor’s purpose?If it’s gaming, you’ll generally want something with a high refresh rate (ideally 100Hz or more), low response time and AMD FreeSyncor Nvidia G-Sync for fighting screen tears at low framerates. For general use, look for high contrast, and for creative work prioritize color accuracy.What resolution do you want? More pixels means a sharper image. No one should be buying anything under 1080p/FHD (1920 x 1080) these days. But if your budget can handle it, 4K is as sharp as it gets at a reasonable price. Many gamers find 1440p/QHD (2560 x 1440) a good compromise between price and high-refresh-rate performance.Contrast and color.We consider contrast the most important factor in image quality, with 1,000:1 being solid. Color errors are particularly important avoid for content creators, and anything with a Delta E (dE) greater than 3 may show visible errors.Panel tech:When it comes to image quality, TN< IPS< VA. VA monitors typically still have better contrast than even the best IPS panels, although IPS panels are also known to be very colorful.What size do you want?These days, 24-inches is on the small side and 27 inches is mainstream, while 32-inches is a good large size for those on a budget. Anything bigger than 43 inches probably won’t fit on a regular desktop. For portable monitors, stay in the 17-inch range or under. Anything bigger isn"t really all that portable.sRGB or DCI-P3? In most cases, you’ll either be getting a monitor made for the sRGBcolor space or the more colorful DCI-P3 one. Technically, Windows, the web and non-HDR games and video all use sRGB, but if you want an extra colorful screen, an accurate DCI-P3 monitor is more appropriate.
Before we get into our primary list of picks, here is an amazing deal on one of our favorite tested monitors below. Sure, it"s more of a TV than a monitor, but it"s hard to pass up a big OLED screen for $600 (after an admittedly annoying $200 mail-in rebate).
This excellent 48-inch 4K OLED monitor/TV with 120Hz Refresh Rate, 1ms (GTG) Response Time, HDMI 2.1, and support for FreeSync Premium has had an amazing $900 cut from its original price.
Just know that to get the last $200 off, you"ll have to deal with an old-school rebate (where you have to mail in the original UPC). Other features include 10-bit color / 98% DCI-P3 / 130% sRGB, and a KVM feature with USB Type-C to control multiple devices. Check out our Aorus FO48U review(opens in new tab) to see why we gave it our Editor"s choice award.
Earning a 5-star rating from Tom"s Hardware, the Samsung Odyssey G7 32-inch is the best computer monitor. For gamers, it boasts the strongest curve currently available, 1000R, for incredible immersion, along with speedy gaming numbers. The 240Hz monitor has a 1ms (GTG) response time and put up a 5ms response time score in our testing, beating some 165Hz screens by 2ms. In addition, benchmarking showed input lag at 20ms, a full 6 to 10ms faster than some 165Hz screens we’ve tested, including the Dell S3220DGF also on this page.
This is also a strong work monitor. Its 32-inch panel offers plenty of height for productivity, like working on long spreadsheets in a way that’s easier than on a 32-inch ultrawide. And at a 2 to 3-foot viewing distance, we don"t have any distortion issues with that dramatic curve. Just be sure to bring your own audio because, despite the price, there are no speakers here.
The Dell S3222DGM is the best gaming monitor for many gamers. This follow-up to the highly-rated S3220DGF(opens in new tab) boasts a 32-inch VA(opens in new tab) panel, QHD resolution and 165 Hz refresh rate with Adaptive-Sync(opens in new tab) support. Other perks in its favor are 85 percent coverage of DCI-P3 and a display curve with an 1800mm radius.
However, Dell really knocks it out of the park with the S3222DGM"s contrast ratio(opens in new tab). VA panels are known for their excellent contrast, but the S3222DGM is rated at an impressive 3,000:1, easily blowing away IPS competitors. But our sample managed to better that figure by a third, coming in at 4,000:1 in instrumented tests.
This 32-inch monitor offers plenty of vertical screen real estate without the need for scrolling and 1440p resolution(opens in new tab), the current sweet spot between image quality and gaming performance. And while the S3222DGM is targeted primarily at gamers, we found that it is also great for general productivity and anything in between.
While the S3222DGM lacks HDR(opens in new tab) support, its excellent contrast doesn"t detract from that missing "bullet point" and its overall performance is hard to beat at this price point. Throw in Dell"s usual solid build quality, and this represents a great monitor for enthusiasts looking to build out a mid to high-budget gaming PC.
With a 1ms (GTG) response time and 144Hz refresh rate, the LG 27GN950-B is the best computer monitor for 4K gaming. If you’ve got the graphics card, ideally one of the best graphics cards, you need to handle 144 frames per second (fps) at 4K; this monitor will ensure that power doesn’t go to waste. In our testing, the monitor showed a 7ms response time, keeping up with pricier 4K, 144Hz screens, like the Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ, and even beating some when it came to input lag. Plus, FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync Compatibility will fight screen tears for those times when framerates drop below 48 fps.
Although VA panels are known for their high contrast, this IPS monitor can hold its own, hitting 1,034.7 before calibration and 8,475.3:1 with HDR, based on our benchmarks. Those who want the most accurate color may find the sRGB mode too saturated, but the 27GN950-B proved accurate when it came to the more colorful DCI-P3 space.
eSports players and hopefuls rely on the fastest peripherals available to attenuate the delay between deciding on in-game action and when that action happens on screen. 360 Hz is the fastest refresh rate PC monitors have today, and the MSI Oculux NXG253R is the fastest of them all. Yes, the NXG253R is the fastest display we’ve ever tested, making it the best computer monitor for eSports you can buy.
The NXG253R outperformed other 360 Hz monitors by 1-3ms (depending on the rival screen) in our absolute input lag test. It also matched all its 360 Hz rivals in our response time test with a 3ms score. The monitor also fights screen tears down to a 1 Hz refresh rate with G-Sync and includes the Nvidia Reflex latency analyzer to help fine-tune your eSports performance further.
If you want an affordable screen with many pixels, the Samsung UR59C is the best budget 4K monitor for you. The VA panel delivers contrast (2590.5:1 after calibration), making everything from photos to videos to games look better. This is clearly not a high-end gaming monitor with a 60 Hz refresh rate, 4ms (GTG) response, and noFreeSync or G-Sync. But casual gamers can make do, thanks to the combination of high pixel density and high contrast, keeping games looking realistic.
Curves are generally more effective on ultrawide screens, but the UR59C’s 1500R curvature was effective and beneficial for this 32-incher, such as when multitasking with multiple windows. And if you don’t mind calibrating, you can get rid of the UR59C pesky color errors, which, unfortunately, were visible out of the box. Our calibration settings reduced the error from 4.3dE to 0.9dE.
Making HDR pop over SDR is all about contrast, and for the ultimate contrast, there’s nothing better than OLED. The Aorus FO48U’s massive OLED panel not only delivers immeasurably high contrast, but we recorded 107.7% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space and near-flawless grayscale tracking. As a result, you get a rich image that’s also accurate out of the box. However, it’s not as bright as a premium LCD (399 nits with HDR, according to our testing).
Aorus’ OLED monitor is fit for high-speed HDR gaming on both PCs and consoles, thanks to DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression (DSC) and HDMI 2.1, respectively. The monitor held its own against 120Hz and 144Hz rivals in our speed tests, only falling 4ms behind its OLED gaming rival, the Alienware AW5520QF. Unfortunately, you don’t get Dolby Vision or support for the 50p and 24p TV formats, but the monitor has two 15W speakers and one 20w speaker for outstanding audio quality.
Asus has gone all out with the ProArt PA32UCG, combining 1152 dimming zones in its full-array Mini-LED backlight. A quantum dot film covers a considerable color gamut, almost 78% of Rec.2020. And it is the brightest monitor we’ve ever tested at over 1700 nits peak. To that, it adds precise out-of-box accuracy for every color mode in use today. Though it includes many calibration options and a bundled colorimeter, it’s ready for work or play, with no tweaking necessary.
A lot of us are finding ourselves working in tight spaces these days. If you’re looking to add another screen to your space, the Lenovo ThinkVision M14 is the best portable monitor. Its most standout feature is a critical one: a reliable, strong kickstand that’s easy to use, thanks to two flip-out feet. While many portable monitors are stuck with flimsy sleeves that double as stands, you can intuitively prop up the ThinkVision M14 at a -5 to 90-degree tilt or even in portrait mode. Unfortunately, its travel case isn’t as tough.
According to our benchmarks, with 244 nits max brightness and 98% coverage of the sRGB color space, the ThinkVision M14 is perfect for surfing the web or watching a movie in SDR. USB-C connectivity, meanwhile, means it won’t run out of battery when plugged into a laptop. It can also deliver as much as 65W of power to a device if plugged into a wall adapter. But those whose PC or device, such as a Raspberry Pi, doesn’t have a USB-C port with DisplayPort 1.2 Alt Mode and USB PD 2.0 or better will be out of luck.
With a 240Hz refresh rate, 3ms (GTG) response time, and even FreeSync, the Asus ROG XG17AHPE stands high above the competition and easily snags the best portable gaming monitor crown.
However, the XG17AHPE is as expensive as it is unique. In fact, you can buy a much larger desktop-sized monitor with the same amount of speed for cheaper than this, over $400 17.3-incher. And the origami-style cover Asus includes isn’t sufficient for protecting this expensive piece of hardware or providing a reliable stand.
The HP Omen X 65 Emperium is the best computer monitor to replace your living room TV. First, it’s massive. It also comes with a remote and powerful audio that’ll fill your space, thanks to four 4-inch woofers, two 1-inch tweeters and a pair of passive radiators. The inclusion of Nvidia Shield means access to the apps you’d want on a smart TV, including Netflix and YouTube, plus access to hundreds of free games.
This is also a top-of-the-line gaming monitor. It fell just 1ms behind smaller 144Hz rivals in our response time test and even beat a 144Hz alternative during input lag testing.
If you want something a little smaller and cheaper, theAlienware AW5520QF is excellent and offers even higher contrast with its OLED panel but is much dimmer than the Omen X 65 Emperium.Round up of today"s best deals
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