small 4k lcd panel pricelist
If you want sharp image quality, 4Kresolution is where you want to be in 2022. Sure, there are 8K screens and even more modest 6K ones(opens in new tab)making the rounds these days. And lower resolutions deliver higher frame rates on even the best graphics cards. However, 3840 x 2160 sits at the upper echelon of premium viewing experiences for what our eyes can perceive. So for most people, whether you"re gaming, watching a movie, surfing the web, watching your coworkers call you on the best webcams or getting work done, 4K is an ideal fit. And with one of the best budget 4K monitors, you can get there without breaking the bank.
4K was a luxury that wasn"t achievable for a reasonably priced PC monitor for years. But as these high-resolution screens have become more commonplace and the bleeding edge has turned to high refresh rates and full-array local dimming, a relatively large assortment of budget 4K monitors will allow you to take the plunge without shelling out several hundred dollars.
What size do you need?For a budget monitor, 32 inches is a nice sweet spot, providing ample screen space while still fitting atop a desk. If you don"t need to share the screen, consider 28-inch and 27-inch screens. They"re common in this price range and generally less expensive.Decide the monitor’s main purpose. For gaming, higher refresh rates and Adaptive-Sync (AMD FreeSyncor Nvidia G-Sync) are priorities, alongside a beefy graphics card. You should have a minimum of a GTX 1070 Ti or RX Vega 64 for medium settings at 4K or, for high or better settings, an RTX-series or Radeon VII. For general productivity or entertainment, look for high contrast for high image quality. Creatives should strive for accuracy. For more, see How to Buy a PC Monitor, plus our Best Gaming Monitorslist.Errors under 3Delta E(dE) are generally invisible to the naked eye. A monitor with a 5dE color error, for example, probably has colors that look visibly off. Accuracy is a bigger priority for creative work.Do you need HDR? A 4K monitor with the right HDRimplementation makes 4K/HDR content look much better than it would on a regular, SDR monitor. While many 4K monitors support HDR, few budget ones deliver it with noticeable impact. If you want a monitor that makes the HDR upgrade worth it, consider increasing your budget or opting for a lower resolution to save money. Read How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor for more.Consider ports and other features.Do you need HDMI 2.1 and/or the latest DisplayPort (1.4)? How important are USB Type-A ports to you? Do you want USB-C for charging or a single-cable setup? Speakers and the stand’s ability to tilt, swivel or rise are also considerations.
The Samsung UR59C is the best budget 4K monitor, offering a 32-inch VA panel with accuracy and curves. Image quality is superb, with bold, accurate colors and clear text after calibration. When we tested in sRGBmode, we recorded a color error of 4.3dE with visible errors, but our calibration (see our recommended settings on page 1 of the review) got it down to 0.9dE. So your web and games should look as intended. The UR59C also offers fantastic contrast, as expected from a VApanel, hitting an impressive 2,590.5:1 after calibration.
You’ll have to pay a hefty price for a monitor that can push 8.3 million pixels at a 144 Hz refresh rate. The best budget 4K gaming monitor, the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q, is a slower 60 Hz but fights screen tears with FreeSync. Yes, input lag is significantly larger than what you’ll find on a 144 Hz monitor, as is response time. But this is an excellent option if you’re working with a budget graphics card and want your games to look detailed and realistic. SDR games looked extra colorful on the VG289Q, and dynamic contrast brought subtle visual benefits, like added dimension. However, there are screens on this page with better contrast.
If the best budget 4K monitor for you is in the 32-inch range, check out the LG 32UN500-W Contrast is a top consideration for image quality, and the 32UN500-W’s VA panel didn’t disappoint in our benchmarks, hitting 2,353.9:1 out of the box. In addition, the 32UN500-W’s native color gamut is DCI-P3, and it covers that color space accurately without any visible errors.
Again, as a budget 4K monitor, the 32UN500-W isn’t winning any HDR prizes. Color lacks the expected pop, and overall the image doesn’t provide a noticeable boost over SDR.
The Dell S2721QS earns the title of best 27-inch budget 4K monitor with a bright screen, reliably accurate image, and useful add-ons. Those bonus add-ons include the ability to connect multiple PCs and view them simultaneously via picture-in-picture or picture-by-picture and an optional app that makes it easy to calibrate the screen or arrange up to 6 windows in various preset layouts. The latter is a productivity boon.
The HP U28 is one such screen and the best budget 4K monitor for creatives. Of course, none of the monitors on this page are color slouches, but the U28 stands out with its ability to accurately cover both the sRGB and P3 color spaces with just a switch in the OSD and no calibration. You also get an adjustable stand that allows height and swivel adjustments and the ability to flip into portrait mode, offering plenty of flexibility for creative work.
You also have DisplayPort and HDMI options, and even a headphone jack. But there are no speakers, and like many budget 4K screens, HDR is a bust. You’re better off watching your HDR movies in the monitor’s SDR modes, but color will still look great. On top of that, the stand is reliable, even in portrait mode, but is a little low, despite height adjustment.
Whether you"re shopping for one of the screens that made our list of best budget 4K monitors above or something else, you may find savings by checking out our best monitor deals page, along with our lists of Dell coupon codes, Lenovo coupon codes, LG coupon codes, HP coupon codes, Monoprice coupon codes and Newegg promo codes.Round up of today"s best deals
Six units can be assembled into a small pitch seamless12-foot (164" diagonal) video LED screen with a perfect 16:9 aspect ratio at 1920 x 1080 resolution.
Analog Way Aquilon RS2 is the latest modular and scalable 4K/8K multi-screen presentation system and videowall processor, delivering uncompromising presentation experiences to high-end staging and premium system integration.Inputs: 16 inputs 4K@60
Easily handled by fewer people and supporting free 360° installation, novel projection ideas become reality in 4K. Hermetically sealed optics and filterless cooling ensure reliability, while solid-state lasers provide maintenance-free operation.
LG has the #1 UltraWide*, Gaming** and UHD monitors*** in the country, making it easy to find the right monitor for all that you do. LG 4K monitors, LED monitors and 5K monitors have the features and style to help you get the job done.
If you are looking for a brilliant 4K monitor or a breathtaking 5K monitor, shop LG UltraFine™ Monitors. Our UltraFine™ collection includes stunning IPS monitors for incredible clarity.
Whether you"re looking for a computer monitor for your home office, or need a new UHD monitor to elevate your play, we"ve got you covered. Check out all the latest monitors from LG – including our 4K,IPS and LCD monitors as well as our UltraGear™,UltraWide and UltraFine™collections to find the right PC monitor for your space and your life.
The number of 4Kmonitors for PCs is gradually increasing. It may seem a little like speculation, but they solve various problems with displays and are smart and progressive choicesoffering the best display environment. EIZO"s 4K display, the FlexScan EV3237, in particular is a major contender when looking at display choices from a long-term perspective.
Full HDliquid crystaldisplays were once considered high-end, but in recent years, the prices have come down considerably, and today 23" full HD models have penetrated the domestic market to the point of becoming main stream. Around the time of the transition to terrestrial digital broadcasting, the shift to full HD displays accelerated. Although there was a perception of stagnation following that, the next wave has finally rolled in. Of course, this was brought about by the rise of 4K displays.
"4K" refers to horizontal resolutions of around 4,000 pixels. The "K" stands for "kilo" (thousand). As things stand, the majority of 4K displays come with 3840 x 2160 pixel (4K UHDTV) resolution, which is exactly four times the pixel count of full HD displays (1920 x 1080 pixels). There are also 4096 x 2160 pixel (DCI 4K) displays for the film industry that are referred to as 4K displays.
4K UHD is 4K as defined by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union). It has twice the horizontaland verticalresolution of full HD and has been adopted by the television industry.
DCI 4K is 4K as defined by DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives). The horizontal resolution is higher than 4K UHD. This resolution is twice the horizontaland verticalresolution of projectors (2048 x 1080 pixels) and has been adopted by the film industry.
Against a backdrop of ever higher digital camera photograph resolutions, higher resolution content of home video cameras supporting 4K, increasingly high definition displays on smartphones and tablets, and other such developments, full HD displays on PCs are becoming less and less attractive. At the same time, interest is increasing in large screens and multi-screen environments that allow larger work spaces to increase the efficiency of multi-tasking, which is essential for PCs.
In the midst of these circumstances, EIZO introduced its much-awaited new FlexScan EV3237 display. Thisnew flagship model witha large 31.5" wide screen (visiblediagonal size:79.9cm) is the first of its universal displays to support 3840 x 2160 pixel 4Kresolution. It"s a high-end display for a new age that meets the two needs of high-definition and a large work space with top-level specs.
That said, there are probably many out there who wonder whether it"s still too early to buy a 4K display. In thisarticle, we"ll take a look at how the FlexScan EV3237 4K display can solve problems and complaints frequently experienced in display environments of late in Q&A format. We think you"ll see that the FlexScan EV3237 should be one of the purchase candidates on your list right now.
AThe detail on displays is expressed in terms of pixel density or definition, and the numerical representation of that degree is expressed in ppi. Ppi stands for "pixels per inch." Reducing the distance between pixels (pixel pitch) without changing the screen size of the LCD panel increases the ppi, and the higher this number, the higher the definition of the display.
The 31.5" FlexScan EV3237 is viewed from a much greater distance than smartphones, tablets and laptops, so even with a pixel density of around 140ppi, the display appears smooth and high-definition. It"s hard to tell from photographs, but watching a high-definition video at 4K resolution on a 31.5" wide screen (roughly 80 centimetersdiagonallyfrom corner to corner) is an amazing experience that cannot be enjoyed with a full HD display.
The FlexScan EV3237 can be used for either purpose. First, in the former case, the 31.5" wide LCD panel with 4K resolution offers a large work space (however, magnification via scaling also has to be taken into account; more details are provided later).
Three image signals displayed side by side using the PbyP function. The left half is 1920 x 2160 pixels, and the top and bottom of the right half are both 1920 x 1080 pixels. Taking advantage of the large 31.5" screen and high definition 4K display, a multi-display setup can be achieved with no frames between screens.
On the other hand, if a small sub-screen is enough, using thepicture-in-picture (PinP)function, you can do parallel work while taking advantage of the large display area. There are two sizes of sub-screens to choose from, and they can be placed in any corner.
The PinP function is also available, allowing a small sub-screen to be overlaid on the main large screen. One way it might be used is to play a streaming video of a general meeting of shareholders in a sub-screen while day trading in the main screen.
Sub-screen displayed in the upper right corner using the PinP function. The sub-screen is smaller than the minimum size offered by PbyP, allowing more of the main screen to be used, so it is suited to uses like working while playing a video.
QFull HD(1920 x 1080)and WUXGA(1920 x 1200)leave something to be desired when editing high pixel photographs and videos. Should I go with WQHD or ultra-wide (CinemaScope)? Or should I choose 4K already?
AThe spread of 4K may be faster than expected. From a broadcasting standpoint, there are major movements underway in the United States, South Korea and other countries. In Japan, there is an accelerated road map being worked on for 4K/8K broadcasts. In the PC world, the environment has been prepared for HiDPI, and products have been hitting the shelves all at once. Additionally, game manufacturers have begun talking about 4K support with new games (even though the required specs are shockingly high). In the coming months, there will be increasing demand for 4K displays, and manufacturers will likely accelerate their production.
Going one notch down and choosing WQHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) or casting aside versatility and going with ultra-wide (e.g.21:9 aspect ratio/2560 x 1080 pixels) would not be ill-advised as an "in-between" until 4K becomes main stream. These do not have the pixel density of 4K displays, so magnification with scaling is not required, and it"s easy to secure a large work space. At this point in time, they also have an advantage in terms of cost.
However,if youalreadyhave aPC environment for 4K display at this point in time,andwant a high-definition display that you will use for many years to come, there is no reason to hold off on the FlexScan EV3237. Conversely, displays under 4K may quickly become obsolete, so if you are thinking of medium- tolong-term use, a 4K display may work for you longer and, as a result, pay for itself over time.
EIZO"s 27" FlexScan EV2736W wide LCD. The resolution is WQHD (2560 x 1440 pixels/109ppi). Before the FlexScan EV3237, this was the flagship model of the FlexScan EV series, but if you are just now starting to look at different products, you should include 4K displays in your consideration.
QI bought a laptop with a super high pixel density display, but it"s not practical unless I use scaling to magnify the display 150-200%. Won"t a 4K display ultimately be the same?
AAs mentioned earlier, today as HiDPI has reached a practical level, more and more laptops are being equipped with high-definition LCDs. These products offer high-definition display as the selling point with the assumption that scaling will be used for magnification, so high resolution does not mean a large work space as it did when display density was assumed to be fixed.
At the same time, the pixel pitch on the FlexScan EV3237 is also narrow owing to the high-definition display. For example, if you wanted to keep the same pixel pitch (approx. 0.27mm) as a currently main stream 23" full HD display with a 4K resolution display, you would need to double the screen size with a 46" display. This is crammed into a 31.5" display, so the pixel pitch is naturally narrower.
That said, the large 31.5" screen means that it"s not so extremely fine as it would be on a 23.8" or 28" 4K display. The pixel pitch is about 0.18mm, so if you pick the right installation location and adjust the viewing distance, it"s usable without scaling. However, when using a large 31.5" screen up close, it places more stress on the eyes and neck, so it"s advisable to use the scaling feature.
Display area at "Smaller- 100%." This is normal magnification, and the 3840 x 2160 pixel 4K resolution can be used to the fullest. The pixel density is about 140ppi, and the pixel pitch is approximately 0.18mm. This setting is not unusable, but the screen is easier to see at "Medium - 125%" or "Larger- 150%."
Display area at "Larger- 150%." Scaling is used for 150% magnification, so the work space is smaller, but the textand icons are that much more visible. This setting is optimal if you want the Windows desktop UI at around the standard 96dpi. This setting offers a balance between definition and work space.
AIt"s necessary to be mindful of various things to mitigate the burden placed on the eyes, neck and shoulders by working on a PC. The minimum requirement of displays is that the LCD panel surface is non-glare to minimizereflectionand that the brightness, height and angle can be adjusted.
The Auto EcoView feature offers both energy savings and relief for tired eyes. It is easily configured using the OSD menu from the button on the front of the LCD (left). Starting with this new model, users can customize the maximum and minimum values for automatic brightness adjustment (right).
It comes with a long, five-year warranty. Five years from now when the warranty period is up, a 4K display will still be usable and will not be obsolete.
It"s not that difficult to connect PCs to a 4K display. If your PC has an HDMI port that supports HDMI 1.4 or later, 4K display is possible at a refresh rate of 30Hz.
However, if you want a refresh rate of 60Hz (4K@60Hz), there are some limitations. A major precondition is that the interface is DisplayPort 1.2 or later. 4K@60Hz display requires a very large transmission bandwidth of 16Gbps. Neither DVI (including DualLink) nor HDMI 1.4 is capable of this kind of bandwidth.
The HDMI 2.0 Level B standard is capable of transmitting 4K 60Hz signals over the HDMI 1.4 transmission bandwidth, but the color depth is YUV 4:2:0, and colors blur, so it is not suited to displays. So you"ll have to wait for HDMI 2.0 LEVEL A to transmit 4K 60Hz signals over HDMI. For that reason, DisplayPort 1.2 is currently the only means of achieving 4K 60Hz display.
As for other limitations on 4K 60Hz display besides the interface, they vary depending on the display, but there are basically no problems when it comes to the FlexScan EV3237.This is becauseSST (Single Stream Transport) is the method of 4K 60Hz transmission used by the FlexScan EV3237viaDisplayPort, andit is capable of 4K display without any special settings. However, there are some graphics cardsthat supportDisplayPort 1.2butdo not support SST, so it would be a good idea to check at the time of purchase just in case.
Some products from other companies use DisplayPort"s MST (Multi-Stream Transport) as the method of transmission and this creates some limitations. With the MST method, the 4K signal is split in two (two 1920 x 2160 pixel screens), so the graphics driver"sextensionfunction (such as AMD"s EyeFinity) has to be used to combine them into a single screen.
However, whether so much emphasis needs to be placed right now on 4K 60Hz display is open to question. It requires quite a large amount of power to playback 4K videos at 60Hz, and there still are not many 4K 60Hz video sources out there. For game use, performance on the PC side is unlikely to keep up. Still, daily operations like cursor movement and scrolling are smoother at 60Hz than at 30Hz. There are no particular problems with 30Hz display, but thinking about the future, a product compatible with 4K 60Hz display will provide greater peace of mind.
After connecting, the next step is configuring the scaling setting. In the case of Windows 8.1, it goes "Appearance and Personalization" -> "Display -Maketext and other itemslarger or smaller." There are presets to start with: "Smaller- 100%" (96dpi), "Medium - 125%" (120dpi) and "Larger- 150%" (144dpi), but there are also custom sizes: "ExtraLarge - 200%" and "ExtraExtraLarge - 250%." The pixel density on the FlexScan EV3237 is around 140ppi, so we recommend using "Medium" or "Larger."
As explained above, EIZO"s FlexScan EV3237 has a pixel pitch that strikes a good balance between 4K high definition display and a large work space on a 31.5" wide screen, so it meets both needs. It has the perfect screen size for enjoying the high 4K resolution on a PC.
Recently there have been some 4K displays coming out that use TN panels with a narrow viewing angle to provide a lower price, but the FlexScan EV3237 uses an IPS panel with a wide viewing angle to minimize contrast and color changes at different angles. Of course, it"s chock full of EIZO"s proprietary technology for better picture and relief of eye fatigue, so the basic performance as an LCD is high even without the 4K display and large screen.
The FlexScan EV3237 is a high-end model, which is good news forthoseusersthat prioritize quality and usability. It"s a high-quality device that comes with all the elements currently required of a 4K display.
In addition to the large screen and high definition, it also has high-quality display, featuring an IPS panel with a wide viewing angle and offering smooth gradation with 10-bit gamma correction. The spectrum is equivalent to sRGB.
Choosing one of the best 4K monitors is almost a must for anyone working in visual design, especially for those working in photography and video that want the additional detail that Ultra HD (UHD) offers.
UHD, or 4K, refers to a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. That gives you four times as many pixels as full HD (FHD), which means more desktop workspace and increased pixel density for a cleaner, sharper image with more detail (as long as your monitor"s at least 27 inches, the extra detail will start to get lost on smaller screens).
Fortunately, the best 4K monitors are so much more affordable than they were that it"s no longer really a big decision whether to go 4K or not. There"s now a huge number of options on the market, starting at low prices and going way, way up. This can make it hard to know which is the best 4K monitor for your needs, but that"s the question we aim to resolve with the guide below.
We"ve picked out the best 4K monitors based on our own reviews, recommendations from working creatives and a full comparison of their specs. We"ve weighed up the pros and cons of each screen and evaluated them for build and ergonomics, image quality, useful features, colour support and accuracy, brightness and connectivity.
But we"ve also considered value for money to provide options for different needs. The best 4K monitors for features and image quality are hugely expensive and will be overkill for most people that aren"t professional photo or video editors or designs.
If you"re a professional who needs the very best, turn to the Eizo ColorEdge CG319X at number 4 or the Asus ProArt PA32UC-K at number 6. They"re not at the top of the list because they"re simply unaffordable for many people. Factoring in value, we"ve placed cheaper 4K monitors like the Dell S3221QS and Samsung U28E590D higher since they meet most people"s needs and a more realistic price.
If you"re looking for the best 4K monitor for specific tasks, you might also want to see our guides to the best monitor for photo editing and the best monitors for video editing. And while many of these screens can support daisy chaining for a dual monitor setup, you might also want to consider one of the best ultrawide monitors if you want more space to work with.
Pro features for under a grand put this at the top of our list of the best 4K monitors. Following in a long tradition of fine displays from Dell, the UltraSharp U3219Q offers full sRGB covering, 95 per cent DCI-P3 and exceptional colour uniformity, making it ideal for all types of creatives, including those working in photo and video.
Dell takes second place on our pick of the best 4K monitors too, but this time with a much more affordable display. So OK, perhaps it"s not exactly cheap, but it"s a lot more affordable than most good 4K monitors. It looks stunning too. Dell monitors aren"t known exactly known for their sleek looks, but the curved S3221QS is a lot more elegant than its name, standing out from all those black and grey business monitors with its white back and base.
Professional 4K monitors can be massively expensive (just see the stunning Eizo ColorEdge CG319X and the Asus ProArt PA32UC-K below), but there are now some fantastic UHD screens that strike a great balance between specs and price. Our favourite, certainly for photography, is the BenQ SW321C PhotoVue. When we reviewed it, we found it to be the perfect (reasonably) affordable 32in 4K monitor for photo editing for performance and usability.
The Eizo ColourEdge CG319X is the connoisseur’s choice in high-quality displays. Eizo displays are a very familiar sight in professional video and photography studios – and this 31-inch 4K monitor, with a 10-bit display and 24-bit colour look-up table, is a stunner. The CG319X also boasts one feature that sets it apart from competing high-end 4K screens: 4096 x 2160 resolution rather than 3840 x 2160. This reflects the slightly taller 4K standard used in digital video production.
For a more compact 4K monitor, this 28-inch Samsung 4K display follows very closely on the heels of the Dell 4K S3221QS at number 2 on our list of the best 4K monitors above in terms of value. It lacks pro features but there"s still 100 per cent support for the sRGB colour space, a high 300cd/square metre brightness level and support for 60Hz 4K.
The MateView is firmly pitched at working creatives. Its IPS panel is capable of displaying 100 per cent of the sRGB colour gamut, and 98 per cent of the DCI-P3 video colour space. It also has a maximum brightness level of 500 nits, and a 1200:1 contrast ratio. The sleek, slim-bezel design is a nice addition too, and we found the touch-sensitive smart bar to be an ergonomic way to control the monitor. It"s available at a tempting price (although there are some stock issues in the US), and we reckon it"s a solid choice of monitor for creatives.
Compared with some of the pricey high-end colour-accurate Eizo and Asus screens above, the Philips Brilliance 328P (another really catchy name, right?) is an excellent alternative, as it’s great value for money while still offering solid visuals. It’s a 31.5-inch IPS panel with measured 99 per cent sRGB and 73 per cent AdobeRGB coverage, a thin-bezel design and a few extras such as a pop-up webcam that works when the built-in USB hub is connected.
Photographers and videographers who need high resolution may also want to consider this more compact LG option, which offers a 98% DCI-P3 colour gamut, great colour accuracy and typical brightness of 540 nits. The stand is height-and-tilt adjustable so you can find the right position for you, and the Thunderbolt 3 port supports 4K Daisy Chain so you can set this up with another monitor.
Viewsonic has a few colour accurate displays on the market, and the VP2785-4K is the most high-end model in its catalogue. It"s a 27-inch 4K IPS screen, sporting 100 per cent sRGB and quoted 99 per cent AdobeRGB coverage. It’s a bit fiddly to put together, requiring a screwdriver to attach the panel to the stand, but the overall design is extremely svelte, with a thin and light build, near edge-to-edge screen, and only a small bezel at the bottom that accommodates touch-sensitive controls.
With a 14-bit LUT, 700:1 contrast ratio and 375-nit brightness, the picture quality of the VP2785-4K won’t disappoint, although it doesn’t quite deliver the same eye-popping colours of the most high-end 4K displays money can buy.What is a 4K monitor?4K, also known as ultra-high definition or UHD, is a measure of a screen"s resolution. 4K monitors have a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, which compares to a resolution of 1290 x 1080 for full high definition (FHD). This means that it"s almost four times FHD resolution. What that means in practice is that images look sharper and tighter, which is great for viewing HD video and higher quality video game graphics.Do I need a 4K monitor?There are a couple of main reasons that you might benefit from a 4K monitor. Firstly, for your own enjoyment. Even if you"ll be using your screen purely for entertainment purposes rather than for work, 4K offers a notably sharper picture, which can enhance the enjoyment of watching films, series and playing games. That said, when it comes to PC gaming, 4K UHD resolution is very demanding and many will find that the improvement in image quality isn"t worth the drop in performance.
The other reason you might want one of the best 4K monitors is for work. If you work in any visual creative area, a 4K screen can improve your experience by allowing you to see your work in more definition. If you work in video, you"ll almost certainly need at least a 4K monitor since 4K video has almost become the norm. If you"re producing 4K video for a client, then you really need to be able to view it in 4K while you work.Is a 4K monitor worth it?Today, for most professionals it"s almost certainly worth investing one of the best 4K monitors. They"re still more expensive than 1080p displays, but they have come down in price a lot as they become standard, and they"re now so much more affordable than they were that it"s no longer such a big decision.
While 4K doesn"t make a lot of sense for a small monitor, from 27-inches and up, it makes a huge difference from FHD that will be immediately apparent to anyone. Gary Heiting, an optometrist and senior editor of the website AllAboutVision, even says that the increased screen resolution can reduce the risk of eye strain, so working in 4K over long sessions can be more comfortable even if you don"t need to produce 4K video.Is my computer compatible with a 4K monitor?You might hope that buying one of the best 4K monitors will automatically improve your viewing experience, but it"s important to know that not every laptop or PC can support 4K. Most recent PCs or Macs should have no problem displaying 4K resolution, but it"s a good idea to check your screen"s recommended display resolution before you buy a new screen. We have a guide to screen resolution that may help.
To check your device, Right-click your desktop and select “Screen Resolution”. Under display settings, you"ll find a range of screen recommendations. If 3840×2160 is listed, you can be confident that your computer will indeed support a 4K monitor. If not, then you"ll need to upgrade your computer as well as your monitor if you want to enjoy 4K video rendering.
There"s also the issue of ports. You’ll need to make sure your PC has either an HDMI 2.0 port or DisplayPort 1.4 port that can support 4K since earlier versions of these ports do not. Your CPU And GPU also have an impact on your device"s ability to run 4K, because 4K is more demanding.
If your device uses Intel integrated graphics, you"ll want to have at least a 4th generation (Haswell) processor core processor. If you have Ivy Bridge or earlier, you"ll need to have a recent graphics card installed (if you"re unsure, you can check your processor at ark.intel.com to find out what the motherboard or integrated CPU graphics is capable of.How do I choose the best 4K monitor?You can now go 4K without spending a fortune, but the best 4K monitors can still be very expensive if you want pro-level calibration and the best colour accuracy. If you"re going to be using your screen for any kind of colour work, then you want precise colour accuracy. Most entry-level 4K monitors actually do a fairly decent job, but the best 4K monitors for designers will have full coverage of the AdobeRGB or DCI-P3 colour space.
After colour, size is obviously another major factor in choosing the best 4K monitor for you. The most popular choice is 27-inches but 32-inch screens are becoming more common and get the most out of the 4K resolution.
You"ll also want to check what ports a monitor has before you buy it. The two cheapest options in our list of the best 4K monitors don"t have a USB-C connection, something that many creatives will want for hooking up devices quickly and easily. Most monitors have DisplayPort and HDMI ports, but this can"t be taken as given either – the LG Ultrafine 24MD4KL is well kitted out with USB-C and the faster Thunderbolt 3 ports, but skips the older ports.
The cheapest monitors are still TN (twisted nematic), which are strictly for gaming or office use. VA (vertical alignment) monitors are also relatively cheap, while offering good brightness and a high contrast ratio. However, content creators will probably want an IPS (in-plane switching) LCD display that delivers better color accuracy, image quality and viewing angles.
If maximum brightness is important, a quantum dot LCD display is the way to go — those are typically found in larger displays. OLED monitors are now available and offer the best blacks and color reproduction, but they lack the brightness of LED or quantum dot displays. Plus, they cost a lot. The latest type of OLED monitor, called QD-OLED from Samsung, just came out in 2022. The most notable advantage is that it can get a lot brighter, with monitors shown at CES 2022 hitting up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness.
MiniLEDs are now widely used in high-end displays. They’re similar to quantum dot tech, but as the name suggests, it uses smaller LED diodes that are just 0.2mm in diameter. As such, manufacturers can pack in up to three times more LEDs with more local dimming zones, delivering deeper blacks and better contrast.
Nearly every monitor used to be 16:9, but it’s now possible to find 16:10 and other more exotic display shapes. On the gaming and entertainment side, we’re also seeing curved and ultrawide monitors with aspect ratios like 21:9. If you do decide to buy an ultrawide display, however, keep in mind that a 30-inch 21:9 model is the same height as a 24-inch monitor, so you might end up with a smaller display than you expected. As a rule of thumb, add 25 percent to the size of a 21:9 monitor to get the vertical height you’d expect from a model with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
A 4K monitor is nearly a must for content creators, and some folks are even going for 5K or all the way up to 8K. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll need a pretty powerful computer to drive all those pixels. And 4K resolution should be paired with a screen size of 27 inches and up, or you won’t notice much difference between 1440p. At the same time, I wouldn’t get a model larger than 27 inches unless it’s 4K, as you’ll start to see pixelation if you’re working up close to the display.
Refresh rate is a key feature, particularly on gaming monitors. A bare minimum nowadays is 60Hz, and 80Hz refresh rates and up are much easier on the eyes. However, most 4K displays top out at 60Hz with some rare exceptions and the HDMI 2.0 spec only supports 4K at 60Hz, so you’d need at least DisplayPort 1.4 (4K at 120Hz) or HDMI 2.1. The latter is now available on a number of monitors, particularly gaming displays. However, it’s only supported on the latest NVIDIA RTX 3000- and 4000-series, AMD RX 6000-series GPUs.
Serious content creators should consider a more costly 10-bit monitor that can display billions of colors. If budget is an issue, you can go for an 8-bit panel that can fake billions of colors via dithering (often spec’d as “8-bit + FRC”). For entertainment or business purposes, a regular 8-bit monitor that can display millions of colors will be fine.
Both the Xbox Series X and Sony’s PS5 can handle 4K 120Hz HDR gaming, so if you’re into resolution over pure speed, you’ll want a monitor that can keep up. 4K resolution, HDR and at least 120Hz is the minimum starting point, but fortunately there are 27-inch displays with those specs starting at well under $1,000.
The monitor with the best balance of size, refresh rate and color accuracy is Samsung’s $160 27-inch 1080p T35F. It’s good for business or light gaming and content work, thanks to the IPS panel and 75Hz refresh rate. Plus, it’s fairly attractive and modern looking. There are some things you don’t get at that price, of course – it can only tilt and has an HDMI 1.4 connection.
If you’re fine with a smaller display and are more into gaming, another solid option is LG’s 24-inch 24GL600F. It offers a high 144Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync support, a 1ms response time and low input lag. You also get HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, but like the T35F, there’s no height adjustment.
The $330 28-inch HP U28 4K HDR monitor is a great all around choice, especially for content creators. The 60Hz IPS panel and factory calibration delivers excellent color accuracy and it’s a nice size for creative or business work. It comes with DisplayPort, HDMI and three USB 3.0 ports, along with a USB-C port with 65W of charging for a laptop or tablet. And it’s easy to set just right, thanks to height, swivel and pivot adjustment.
The 32-inch LG 32UN650-W is a great 4K monitor for entertainment, creative chores and gaming. The 31.5-inch, 60Hz IPS panel covers an excellent 95 percent of the DCI-P3 gamut with 10-bit color, but also supports AMD FreeSync for gaming. It also supports HDR, albeit with just 350 nits of maximum brightness. It has HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 ports, tilt and height adjustments and even built-in speakers.
Gigabyte’s M28U 28-inch 144Hz 4K gaming monitor sure does a lot. It has an IPS panel with a 2ms (MPRT) response time, 94 percent DCI-P3 coverage, DisplayHDR 400 certification, 2 HDMI 2.1 ports and FreeSync Premium Pro support. It comes in a little bit more expensive than $500, but we"ve often seen it on sale for $480.
In this price range you can have resolution, color accuracy or brightness, but not all three. The one with the best balance is ViewSonic’s $1,000 ColorPro VP2786 27-inch 4K HDR Monitor. The true 10-bit IPS panel covers 98 percent of the DCI-P3 color palette with an excellent Delta <2 accuracy figure, and is certified for soft-proofing by the demanding Fogra print industry. At the same time, it offers HDR10 support, albeit with a limited 350 nits of output. It even includes a “ColorPro” wheel control compatible with Adobe or Capture One apps.
The best 4K gaming monitor under $1,000 is Dell’s G3223Q 4K 32-inch HDR 144Hz monitor because of the speed, brightness and compatibility. It has an IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms GtG response time, 95 percent DCI-P3 coverage and DisplayHDR 600 certification. Plus, it comes with a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports and is both FreeSync and G-Sync compatible.
Dell’s P3223QE 4K USB-C Hub monitor is productivity-oriented, thanks to the wired Ethernet connectivity and USB-C ports that offer up to 90W of power delivery for laptops. It’s a 4K IPS panel with a 178-degree viewing angle and 350 nits of brightness and support for a billion colors (8-bit + FRC). It offers height, pivot, swivel and tilt adjustment, a VESA mounting interface and DisplayPort/HDMI inputs.
The best third-party option is LG’s $700 UltraFine 4 display, also sold on Apple’s Store. With a 24-inch 4K panel, you not only get very high resolution but also 500 nits of brightness (albeit, without HDR capability). It’s color-accurate out of the box, making it great for video- and photo-editing work on a Mac or MacBook. Finally, it supports Thunderbolt 3 with daisy chaining and power delivery, all of which is very useful for Mac users who may want multiple displays.
Ultrawide 21:9 monitors are a great option for some types of content creation, games (particularly driving and flight sims) and productivity work. The best model this year is LG’s 34GP950G-B, a 34-inch 3,440 x 1,440 curved monitor. The curved IPS panel supports HDR10 with 400 nits of brightness and maximum (via overclocking) 180Hz refresh rate. It’s also G-Sync and FreeSync compatible (the latter over DisplayPort only).
ASUS still holds the prize for best luxury monitor, but it discontinued the previous mini-LED $4,000 ProArt PA32UCX monitor and replaced it with the $5,000 PA32UCG-K display. It uses the same mini-LED tech, but ups the ante with 1,600 nits of brightness via 1,152 backlight zones, an HDMI 2.1 port, 4K 120Hz resolution, 10-bit, 98 percent DCI-P3 coverage and an impressive 85 percent Rec.2020 coverage. Oh, and it’s one of the few monitors out there that supports Dolby Vision, along with HDR10 and HLG.
You’re probably doing it wrong if you’re using a $5K monitor for gaming. However, it does support AMD FreeSync (good for gaming creation) and has a 5-millisecond response time, very respectable for a display essentially designed for professional colorists. And to that end, color accuracy is calibrated to Delta E < 1 and it’s a true 10-bit panel delivering billions of colors. To verify that, it even comes with an X-rite i1 Display Pro color calibrator, normally sold separately for around $500.