4k monitors clearer than a lcd monitors pricelist

If you want sharp image quality, 4Kresolution is where you want to be in 2023. Sure, there are 8K screens and even more modest 6K ones(opens in new tab) making the rounds these days, but they cost a pretty penny. 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.

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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.

Ultrawide screens typically offer more noticeable curves, but despite its 16:9 aspect ratio, the UR59C"s1500R curve is pronounced and beneficial, allowing us to keep more windows in view.

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.

HDR isn’t as fantastic as you’ll find on a monitor with a full-array local dimming (FALD) backlight or an edge array backlight, but shadows and highlights looked more distinct, and we enjoyed the color boost.

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.

HDR isn’t this monitor’s strong suit. We recorded undersaturated color in this mode, as well as visible grayscaleerrors. And this monitor doesn’t have the speed or Adaptive-Sync (FreeSync or G-Sync) to make it an appropriate gaming screen.

But in terms of image quality, this is a bright screen, hitting 393 nits in our testing, along with solid contrast for an IPS monitor (1,101:1). You can also expect accurate colors. We recorded just a 2.6dE error with sRGB color.

You should probably opt for a professional monitor if you"re doing professional work. Pro monitors are known for offering exceptional accuracy for a premium price. But with monitors continuously improving, we’re at a point where you can find monitors with pro-level accuracy in key areas, like color, just without the pro-level price tag.

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.

However, HP’s U28 comes at a cost premium. While not as pricey as professional monitors, the U28 is the most expensive monitor on this list as of this writing.

The Samsung 27” S80UA is a little more expensive than the other monitors on this page, but you won’t have to worry about image quality. It’s super colorful for a budget screen, covering 95% of DCI-P3, according to our testing, and accurately. You can also opt for sRGB mode, which also offers a low color gamut error of just 2.8dE.

Great for productivity, the S80UA has a great port selection, plus a USB hub. You can add three USB-A ports to your PC by connecting the monitor via USB-C. It can also charge devices via USB-C at up to 100W, so you may be able to ditch your ultraportable laptop’s charger.

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

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4K resolution is going mainstream—even among PC monitors. Delivering a pixel count four times higher than a 1080p display, 4K provides a massive and obvious improvement to image quality. It’s useful not only in games and movies but also when editing documents or browsing web pages. The extra pixels make text look clear and crisp.

Here are the best 4K monitors available today. If you’re looking for additional options, we also have roundups of the best monitors overall and the best gaming monitors.

Updated 12/15/2022: Check out our latest reviews of the Acer Predator CG48 and the LG Ultragear 48GQ900-B. Both are excellent 48-inch 4K OLED displays with very similar features including 138Hz refresh rates and similar price tags. They are both so close in value and outstanding image quality that choosing between them will likely come down to individual sale prices.

The Dell U3223QE, which also tops our list of the best monitors overall, is an excellent 4K monitor for professionals and everyday users who want excellent image quality.

Technology is what sets this monitor apart. It has a new IPS Black panel that offers roughly twice the contrast of computer monitors with older IPS panels. This provides a richer image with a better sense of depth and darker black levels in dark scenes. The U3223QE also has a high maximum brightness and excellent color performance with high color accuracy. Images are vibrant and true to life.

Yet there’s more to the Dell U3223QE than image quality. It’s also a versatile USB-C hub monitor with up to 90 watts of Power Delivery. The built-in hub has multiple USB-A ports, Ethernet, and even DisplayPort out.

This is a 32-inch 4K monitor, which may be too large for some desks. Dell also has a 27-inch model, the U2723QE, which offers 4K resolution and the same IPS Black panel. We haven’t reviewed that model but expect it will deliver similar performance.

The ProArt PA279CV is a 27-inch 4K monitor that targets entry-level professional use. It has excellent color accuracy, high maximum brightness, and a good contrast ratio for an IPS monitor.

This monitor also throws in USB-C connectivity. It’s not a great USB-C hub, as it has only a couple USB-A ports, but it offers 65 watts of Power Delivery for charging a connected laptop or tablet.

Asus throws in adaptive sync support compatible with AMD and Nvidia video cards. This prevents screen tearing and provides smooth motion in 3D games. The monitor has a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz.

The ProArt PA279CV carries an MSRP of about $500, but that price can swing significantly lower when retailers run a sale. We recommend waiting for a discount if possible.

The G3223Q is a 32-inch, 4K monitor with a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro (Nvidia G-Sync also works, unofficially). You can play games at high refresh rates with no screen tearing and smooth frame pacing.

You’ll findtwo HDMI 2.1 ports on the rear. They’re great for connecting a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X game console, since you can play at each console’s maximum resolution and refresh rate. There’s also a DisplayPort input for connecting your PC.

None of this would matter if the G3223Q’s image quality wasn’t excellent—but it is. The monitor has great color performance, high brightness, good contrast, and a razor-sharp image thanks to its 4K resolution.

It’s a good value, too. The G3223Q is towards the low end of pricing for a 32-inch, 4K 144Hz monitor but doesn’t sacrifice features or build quality to achieve it.

This monitor has a Mini-LED backlight with 1,152 independent backlight zones. The backlight greatly improves the monitor’s contrast ratio and achieves eye-searing levels of brightness in small areas of the display. The monitor’s maximum sustained brightness is exceptionally high, as well.

As a result, the PG32UQX delivers excellent detail in bright areas of the screen while maintaining good contrast and black levels in darker scenes. It also has exceptional color, which further contributes to a great HDR experience. Overall HDR performance rivals the best HDTVs and blows away most HDR monitors.

This is also a 4K 144Hz monitor with support for Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate. HDMI 2.1 is missing, but Xbox Series X|S consoles can achieve 4K 120Hz over HDMI 2.0 through a chroma subsampling mode.

The only problem? You can expect to pay up to $3,000 for this monitor. Viewsonic’s XG321UG is a less expensive alternative that performs similarly, though it lacks 4K 120Hz support on Xbox Series X|S.

For gamers who enjoy stunning graphic detail and slower paced games the focus shouldn’t be on refresh rate, but image quality and high resolution. The Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q gives you both. It is a 28-inch 4K display with a refresh rate of 60Hz and adaptive sync making it compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync. It’s also modestly priced at only $400 which is a bargain for a 4K display.

The refresh rate is quite low for something branded as “gaming”, but if you aren’t planning to play quick e-sports or shooter games, then you won’t have to worry about it. It provides you with outstanding image quality and a vivid color range that more than makes up for the middling refresh rate.

The Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q delivers on that in most aspects for gamers. But in the end, it’s all about getting a budget friendly 4K display and in that aspect this monitor delivers exceptional value.

A 32-inch 4K monitor is great for everyday PC tasks like web browsing and document editing, but it can be more than that. Monitors in this category are an ideal substitute for a television in a small mixed-used space like a studio apartment, rented room, or dormitory.

Samsung’s M8 Smart Monitor leans into this by fusing the features of a Smart TV with a traditional 32-inch 4K monitor. The monitor comes with a remote and runs Samsung’s Tizen operating system. You can access streaming content, like Netflix or Hulu, directly from the monitor.

Yet this is still a great PC monitor. A connected PC or other external device can be used by flipping the input source, as you would on a television. Image quality is solid with excellent sharpness, top-tier contrast, high brightness, and attractive color performance.

The monitor also comes in a variety of attractive stand and bezel color options, with a detachable webcam, and has a USB-C port with up to 65 watts of Power Delivery. It supports Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi 5, too.

The secret is in the OLED panel. OLED looks fantastic, of course, with excellent contrast, a wide color gamut, and superb color accuracy. What sets the PA32DC apart from less expensive OLED monitors, though, is its use of a conventional RGB subpixel layout. This delivers the best clarity on modern PCs and prevents the color fringing issues that can appear on competitors that use QD-OLED display panels.

Asus provides a long list of image quality presets and options. The monitor has built-in modes for sRGB, DCI-P3, Rec. 709, and AdobeRGB, among others. It also includes multiple, accurate color temperature and gamma modes. A built-in colorimeter can be used to precisely calibrate color accuracy.

The monitor is built for use in a variety of professional settings. It’s a rugged, beefy display with thick bezels and a built-in carrying handle to help with transportation. A standard VESA desk stand is available for use in an office or at home, and the monitor has built-in legs for easy setup at a mobile studio or jobsite.

Priced at $3,000, the PA32DC may seem expensive, but it undercuts competitors like the LG UltraFine 32EP950, Apple Pro Display XDR, and Asus’ older ProArt OLED displays. This is a top-notch professional monitor suited to a wide range of content creation, and those who need excellent color performance will find that it’s well worth the price.

4K monitors are more expensive than other monitors, so they pack numerous features and a quality display panel. A typical 4K monitor will have features that are optional on a 1080p monitor. Still, there are a few details you should know before buying a 4K monitor.

USB-C is an excellent choice for connecting a 4K monitor to a modern laptop with USB-C or Thunderbolt. USB-C can bundle Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alternate Mode, which means the monitor can charge a connected device while it outputs video to the monitor. Some monitors, like the Dell U3223QE, are USB-C hubsthat expand connectivity for the connected device.

Most 4K monitors have a 60Hz refresh rate. Those that go beyond 60Hz may only support an enhanced refresh rate over a specific port, so be sure to check the specifications. A monitor will need to support HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4 to handle 4K at up to 144Hz.

Many 4K monitors support HDR, but most offer lackluster HDR performance. HDR will function, and may look better than SDR, but won’t approach the quality of a good HDTV. If you want quality HDR, look for a minimum of VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification (or VESA DisplayHDR True Black).

We test 4K monitors with a DataColor SpyderXElite color calibration tool. It provides objective measurements for contrast, brightness, black levels, color gamut, color accuracy, and gamma, among other metrics. These objective results can be compared with other monitors to see how each performs against the competition.

These objective image results are supplemented with our subjective evaluation of a monitor. We evaluate out-of-box image quality, sampling all types of content from gaming to movies. We look at the feature set. We closely consider details like a monitor’s on-screen menu, ergonomic stand (or lack thereof), and overall build quality.

HDMI 2.1 is only important if you want to connect a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X game console at 4K resolution and play titles with 120Hz support. These consoles only support HDMI output, so an HDMI connection is your only option.

Most desktop PCs and laptops also have a DisplayPort output. This is preferable to HDMI 2.1 because it supports higher resolutions and refresh rates, so HDMI 2.1 is not necessary to connect a PC.

Support for 4K video output went mainstream around 2015. If you have a computer newer than 2015, odds are high that it supports 4K. Most PCs sold prior to 2015 will not support 4K.

Want to be sure? Our guide to checking what graphics card you have will help identify your PC’s graphics hardware. You can then reference its official specifications to find its maximum supported resolution.

Gamers be warned: 4K resolution is demanding in 3D games, so you may struggle to see smooth gameplay unless you have the latest graphics hardware. You’ll need at least an Nvidia RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 to play the latest titles at 4K and 60 frames per second.

Early adopters of 4K monitors often struggled to read small text. That’s because many older applications were programmed such that interface elements have a defined, concrete size in pixels. The higher a display’s resolution, the smaller the interface appears.

Thankfully, this problem is mostly solved. Windows and MacOS have excellent text scaling options and most software developers have updated their applications to properly support 4K displays. It’s still a problem with very old apps that were never updated but, in general, it’s rare to see tiny, unreadable text on a 4K monitor.

When it comes to the best monitors, you either go 4K or go home, especially if you"re using the monitor for creative work requiring finer detail than you"d get with a 2K monitor or a 1080p display. And now that we"re heading into the new year, there"s a whole host of even higher refresh displays. We expect to see a good bit of shake up on this list, but unless you"re willing to spend a premium on many of newest 4K monitors, many of the monitors on this list will be even cheaper next year, so it"ll be a great time to upgrade to 4K if you haven"t already.

The best 4K monitors deliver sharp, incredibly detailed visuals that lower-resolution monitors simply aren"t capable of offering. And because they"re now more affordable than ever and come with faster refresh rates, it"s unsurprising that they"re now becoming the new display standard.

If you"re on a hunt for the best monitor, it"s a good idea to future-proof your computer setup with an excellent 4K monitor. 1080p and 1440p monitors are hardly obsolete, but since most content and games are now in 4K, the best way to experience them is with one that"s capable of displaying them in that resolution. You"ll also soon realize that many 4K displays cost about the same as their 1440p counterparts. So, you"re really better off going with the higher resolution.

4K monitors also have the added benefit of having more screen real estate to work with – something that most content creators and multitaskers will find very useful. And, because they come in different varieties, it"s easy to find the most ideal display for you, whether you need a high-refresh rate monitor for gaming, one with wide coverage of the various color gamuts (DCI-P3, Adobe, etc) for content creation, or something for general productivity or to expand the display for your laptop.

We"ve tested many of them, which means we can help you choose an ideal 4K display for your needs. So, we"ve pulled together the best 4K monitors for all the different use cases. If you need something that"s higher than 4K, one of the best 5K and 8K monitors might be a better choice. Otherwise, one of our top picks below should satisfying your viewing needs.

Dell’s 4K monitor is stunning inside and out. We love its woven arctic white design that lends to its unique elegant look, allowing it to stand out against the sea of black and gray monitors out there. Its display is impeccable as well.

On top of that 4K resolution is a contrast ratio of 3,000:1, support for 1.07 billion colors, up to 4ms response time, and a 178/178 viewing angle that altogether produce stunning, crisp and vibrant visuals that are just as excellent for media consumption as they are for productivity.

With the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q, you’re getting a lot of value for your money – especially considering the small price of entry. One of the most affordable 4K gaming monitors right now, this 28-inch display can swivel, pivot and tilt practically whichever way you need (within reason, naturally) to serve your purpose. In fact, this is among the ergonomic monitors we"ve ever tested.

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 UHD display designed specifically for photo editing is not just the perfect combination of 4K resolution and 32-inch panel size. It’s also up a step or two in terms of both performance, usability and features.

It boasts an incredibly wide color gamut of 99% of the Adobe RGB color space and 95% of DCI-P3. That’s exactly what you need if you’re in the cinematography or photography sphere. And, that’s on top of all the other features like Delta E ≤ 2 color accuracy in Adobe RGB and sRGB as well as HDR10 and HLG support.

The Gigabyte M32UC curved gaming monitor is the full package and is ideal especially for multiplatform gamers. Not only does it provide 4k gaming at 144 Hz but it provides respectable HDR400 along with just enough curvature for an immersive experience. There’s also a good amount of ports and great color gamut coverage, though we had to tinker with the settings to get the colors to pop.

It also comes with most of the features one could need including a USB-C port – though it doesn’t deliver enough power to charge a laptop – that HDMI 2.1 port that’s critical for 4K gaming at 120Hz with next-gen consoles, and KVM for those who want to connect multiple sources.

4K fans will find a lot to love in the LG Ultrafine 24MD4KL-B. That"s especially if they’re photographers or videographers who need all that prime real estate and high resolution.

It boasts a 98% DCI-P3 color gamut, 540 nits of typical brightness, and a height-and-tilt adjustable stand that makes it easy to find a comfortable workflow that will let you focus on your creative process. When testing, we were also impressed by its color accuracy. That’s besides its Thunderbolt 3 port that supports 4K Daisy Chain so you can have a setup with multiple monitors.

If you’re on the market for one of the best 4K monitors without all the fancy bells and whistles, you’ll want the BenQ PD2700U. Still, it remains to be an impressive 27-inch 4K display.

We found its IPS panel to be color accurate and of high quality. It boasts 100% Rec.709 and sRGB color spaces, which makes it great for photographers and graphic designers. It comes with different modes – Darkroom, CAD/CAM and Animation Mode – for different workloads. It has DualView and KVM Switch for the ultimate multitasking. And, it features BenQ’s AQCOLOR technology, which means every unit is individually pre-calibrated out of the box.

The Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 may be expensive. And, its HDR performance might be a little underwhelming, especially considering the price. But, this monitor is still a stellar option for most people. To start, you don’t have to choose between fast refresh rates and crisp, detailed images with it as it provides 4K resolution at 144 Hz. That alone makes this monitor great for any gamer not too hung up on HDR.

The LG 32UN880 UltraFine Display Ergo has done something cool. Instead of going for the same homogeneous mount and stand that all monitors have, it has opted for a C-Clamp, One-Click Mount that allows it to extend, retract, go high, go low, tilt and pivot like no other. Plus, as it clamps down on the edge of the desk, it reduces the monitor’s footprint somewhat. That’s versatility turned up to 11. In fact, we can safely say that this is the most ergonomic monitor we’ve tested.

If you’re hoping for a monitor that comes with a decent amount of features, that crisp 4K resolution, and a reasonable price tag that won’t have you looking up instant ramen recipes, then consider the Monoprice 28in CrystalPro 4K.

Its under $400 / £400 price is not even the best reason to get it. While Monoprice doesn’t provide concrete numbers, we found the monitor to have good contrast as well as vibrant and relatively accurate colors. We did notice that the backlighting wasn’t uniform which could be an issue for creatives if this is the only monitor they’re using. That said, it wasn’t too noticeable.

Who says monitors have to be boring? The Samsung M8 takes the philosophy of more is better and packs it into an iMac-like package that make most monitors look like they were produced in a mortuary.

Of course, there are some caveats as the M8 does feel a bit flimsy. And, when tested, we found its uneven backlighting and slightly underwhelming color gamut coverage to preclude it from gaming or creative work.

But, if you need a solid productivity monitor, it offers a whole lot of functionality including USB-C connectivity with 65 watts of power delivery, a clip-on adjustable magnetic webcam with a security cap, and smart TV functionality that will let you stream Netflix, Disney+ or whatever other streaming service you like when you’re procrastinating from work. Of course, there are some built-in speakers as well though we recommend investing in some external ones instead.

Knowing what to look for in the best 4K monitor is important when choosing the right one for you. You need to know what panel size is ideal for your setup – bear in mind that the best monitor size for 4K is 32-inch – and the panel type (VA, IPS or TN) that"s ideal for your needs, as well as the type of connectivity you require.

Of course, if you plan on using yours for creative workflows, you should consider one with excellent color accuracy, the right color spaces for your work, higher brightness levels and a higher contrast ratio. If you plan on using it for gaming, you"ll want to take a closer look at the refresh rate – some 4K monitors now offer 120Hz and 144Hz refresh rates, response time, and G-Sync or FreeSync support.

Finally, take a look at the price. Many 4K displays are still pretty expensive, but there are also several excellent options out there that are affordable for most people. If you can afford to splurge, however, the kitted-out models are more than worth their steep price.Is a 4K monitor worth it?The best 4K monitors are going to give you incredible visuals that pair well with your gaming PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and the most recent movies and shows filmed with UHD. If you watch a lot of media or play a lot of the newest games, you should definitely consider getting the best 4K monitor so you can play and watch everything as it’s meant to be seen in high-definition.

If you’re not a frequent gamer and are just looking to get a new monitor, it might still be a good idea to upgrade to a 4K monitor. It seems high-definition is where the standard resolution is headed, so it might be best to be ahead of the curve with a 4K display. Even if you only watch the occasional YouTube video when working, a 4K monitor will definitely make a difference.Is 4K good for office work?One of the biggest advantages of 4K resolution is having more screen real estate, which means you"ll have a lot more space to work with. That makes it great for multitasking – the more space you have, the more tabs, windows and applications you can open and make immediately accessible.

4K monitors are not necessary for office work. However, you might find it extremely advantageous to use one, especially if you tend to juggle different tasks at the same time.What is the best monitor size for 4K?

Many say that 4K is great on 24-, 27-, and 32-inch panels while others love it on 43-inch ones. Of course, it all depends on how far you are from your display and how big your desk is.

Just bear in mind that on a 24-inch panel, that 4K resolution will make everything smaller, which in turn makes text harder to read. Display scaling helps improve your experience, but not all apps can be scaled to the ideal size.

Meanwhile, having a massive 43-inch screen is overkill for most people, especially if you"re using your computer mostly for productivity tasks. It also requires a lot of desk space.

This is why most people think that a 32-inch panel is the sweet spot for 4K resolution. It"s the ideal size for enjoying that incredibly sharp and detailed Ultra HD goodness.

Why you can trust TechRadarOur expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

We test a 4K monitor like we test any other monitor. We start by setting it up and using it as our main monitor for a few days. We utilize it for our day-to-day workloads, streaming movies and shows, and, especially if it"s a gaming monitor, playing our favorite AAA games. This is how we gauge its real-world performance.

We do more than that, however. We also test very specific features like color reproduction, refresh rates and response times. We make sure that the visuals are smooth, clean, and artifact-free. And, we check just how good its marquee features – HDR, adaptive sync technology, RGB lighting – are.

High-resolution screens are becoming more common on the market, and the best 4K displays have been steadily dropping in price. The boosted resolution is no longer a luxury and is regularly available at reasonable prices. 4K still sits on the upper echelon of the premium viewing experience, but it"s safe to say that you can buy a good-quality 4K display without burning a huge hole in your pocket. Let"s take a look at some of the best budget 4K monitors you can buy in 2023.

If you want a high-quality, affordable 4K monitor, the Samsung UR55 Series 28-inch is a no-brainer. At about $300 it"s one of the most affordable 4K monitors right now, but that doesn"t mean corners have been cut. It comes in various sizes, with the 28-inch option here being a sweet spot for screen space and price. The Samsung UR55 is a very simple-looking monitor with a sleek design and slim bezels. Unlike Samsung"s Odyssey monitors, it doesn"t have any flashy lights or other striking design elements, so it works in the office and at home.

The Samsung UR55 also has good picture quality. This monitor covers up to 100% of the sRGB color space and up to 88% of the DCI-P3 space, which are all pretty decent for a budget monitor. While the Samsung UR55 doesn"t have the brightest panel out there, 400 nits of HDR brightness is still good enough for indoors. This monitor also supports up to 60Hz refresh rate and 4ms response time with AMD FreeSync technology. The Samsung UR55 isn"t necessarily a gaming monitor, but it should be good enough for casual PC gaming and console players.

This monitor also has a decent selection of ports. We"re looking at two DisplayPort 1.2 and two HDMI 2.0 ports. Additionally, you get a 3.5mm headphone jack, but keep in mind that it doesn"t have built-in speakers. Overall, for what you"re paying, it"s hard to really find anything to complain about.

The Samsung UR55 series 28-inch UHD monitor is one of the budget 4K options out there that costs about $300. It has a sleek design, a slim bezel, and an excellent picture.

While the name isn"t memorable, this excellent 4K monitor from LG certainly is. The LG 32UN500-W is a stripped-down version of the LG 32UL950-W and 32UN650-W, which are both more expensive monitors in LG"s UltraFine lineup. So a budget version is most welcome.

As for the specs, the LG 32UN500-W features a 31.5-inch VA panel with a W-LED backlight. We"re looking at a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160 for a 16:9 aspect ratio. It"s not really a gaming panel, as evidenced by the 60Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time, but it does have AMD FreeSync support. The LG 32UN500-W has a peak brightness of 350 nits and a 3,000:1 contrast ratio. It also supports HDR10.

One of the best things that would be easy to ignore is that it"s very easy to put together. There"s no need for any tools, and the standard VESA 100 x 100mm mount easily snaps right into place. The metallic stand gives the monitor a great overall look and feel, and the panel is covered by slim bezels all around, adding to the overall appeal.

As far as the ports are concerned, the LG 32UN500-W sports one DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 ports, alongside a 3.5mm audio out and power supply port. It"s also great for content consumption and console gaming as it packs built-in speakers, something that"s still rarer than you might think. It"s the complete package.

The LG 32UN500-W is an awesome affordable 4K monitor (usually starting around $300 but often on sale) that acts as an excellent entry into the world of 4K for most people. Its 32-inch size suits those who need extra screen space, and the modern design should fit most setups.

4K gaming is still growing, but we"re already at a point where you can get a budget monitor like the ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q that can rival the overall best 4K gaming monitors. It features a 28-inch IPS/W-LED panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a maximum resolution of 3840x2160. The fact that it only supports up to 60Hz refresh rate may sound like a letdown, especially for a gaming monitor, but we"re talking a budget display here and unless you have an RTX 4090, you"re not going to be much over 60Hz regularly at 4K yet anyway. We"re also looking at a 5ms response time, which is again not the quickest, but still not a dealbreaker.

The overall image quality, however, is great. The TUF Gaming VG289Q has a peak brightness of 350 nits, and it has a 1000:1 contrast ratio. This panel also supports HDR for a better viewing experience with compatible content. While the HDR quality may not be as good as it is on higher-end monitors, it"s certainly better than not having it.

Just like a lot of other ASUS TUF Gaming products, this one also has subtle design cues to represent its gaming DNA. Unlike a lot of other high-end gaming monitors, you won"t find any RGB accents on this monitor. The monitor has a tall and sturdy stand that provides nearly six inches of height adjustment and up to a 62-degree swivel. The bezels around the display are also quite thin, and all-in, this is a pretty great package.

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q is a budget 4K monitor that can deliver a quality high-res picture for less money, usually starting somewhere around $250. If you want to test out UHD gaming without breaking the bank, this is the way to go.

The ProArt lineup from ASUS has a host of great products for creative professionals — even taking the top spot in our collection of the overall best monitors — but a lot of them are expensive. However, the ProArt Display PA279CV monitor is actually quite affordable. True to its creative aspirations, the design is stunning. It has a textured back panel and a contrasting, adjustable stand that looks great. It also has little to no bezels on three sides of the display, except for the bottom panel.

It features an IPS panel that delivers 10-bit color rendering and is capable of handling more than a billion different shades. It also has an anti-glare coating, which is almost essential for accurate creative work. We"re looking at a 60Hz refresh rate for this panel along with a 5ms response time.

The ASUS ProArt PA279CV delivers excellent image quality out of the box. Peak brightness is around 300 nits, and it covers up to 98% of the sRGB color space, 77.9% of the DCI-P3 gamut, and 74.5% of the Adobe RGB space. It"s certainly not the absolute best, but for a budget creative monitor, it"s still excellent. The connectivity options include as many as four USB-A ports, a single USB-C port, two HDMI, and a single DisplayPort for connecting your PC.

The ASUS ProArt Display PA279CV is one of the best 4K budget monitors you can get as a content creator. It offers a good set of features, along with a great panel with high color accuracy.

The Samsung S80UA is yet another great option, especially for those who are looking to buy a 4K monitor with a USB Type-C port. This monitor comes with a USB-C hub that adds more ports to your desktop setup to help you organize and connect your important peripherals.

As far as the specifications go, the Samsung S80UA sports a 27-inch IPS display with a W-LED backlight. It has a 16:9 aspect ratio with a maximum resolution of 3840x2160. We"re only getting a 60Hz refresh rate support with a 5ms response time, though, which seems to be the norm for this price range. The Samsung S80UA has a peak brightness of 300 nits and a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, and the overall image quality is pretty good.

The design of this particular monitor is also pretty simple. The back has a simple black texture with lots of space for all the cables and ports. The USB hub is right on top and is easily accessible. It also has an adjustable stand that allows you to adjust the height and the tilt — you can even put it in portrait mode. In addition to the USB Type-C hub the Samsung S80UA also comes with a single DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 2.0 port. The monitor comes with a USB-C and an HDMI cable in the box, too, which is just a bonus.

Want to combine a new 4K monitor with a USB-C hub? Want to keep it within the budget range of, say, around $360? Samsung"s 27-inch S80UA is a great choice for those who need an easy connection and extra ports.

The Samsung UR59C isn"t very expensive and is one of the few budget-class monitors with a curve and 4K resolution. In terms of specifications, the Samsung UR59C comes with a 32-inch VA panel with a W-LED backlight. It"s a 16:9 aspect ratio panel with a 3840x2160 resolution, support for up to a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 4ms response time. The panel has a curve radius of 1500mm, which is fairly gentle and won"t be as initially jarring if you"re coming from a traditional flat monitor.

The Samsung UR59C has a fairly simple design beyond its width, with no sharp edges or particularly aggressive features. We think it"s one of those monitors that"ll easily fit into even the most sophisticated setups. The picture quality is also crystal clear, thanks to a combination of image processing and an anti-glare layer on top. The panel also has fairly thin bezels surrounding the main display, which widens the amount of screen real estate even further.

Samsung has spent a good amount of time paying attention to little details here. The input panel, for instance, is hidden under the circular snap-on cover at the back. The monitor also lets you route the cables down the hollow upright to keep them out of sight. You get a single DisplayPort 1.4 port, an HDMI 2.0 port, and a headphone jack. Gaming on the Samsung UR59C is also a great experience. The lack of a high-refresh-rate panel could be a turn-off for enthusiast gamers, but we think it"s perfectly serviceable for casual gamers. Ultimately it"s just a great all-around package if you"re looking for a curved, high-resolution monitor.

The Samsung UR59 is the only curved monitor in this collection, and it"s also one of the best curved 4K monitors you"ll find in this $450 price range. This is the way to go if a flat screen is out of the question.

4K monitors are no longer a luxury and are easily available at reasonable prices on the market. If you want the best mix of size, features, and price, we recommend checking out the Samsung UR55 first. It offers excellent color reproduction and HDR support, as well as a 60Hz refresh rate and 4ms response time. It can handle some gaming and will absolutely crush productivity work or video streaming.

The LG 32UN500-W is also a great option to consider if you want something sized at 32 inches that can handle general tasks (and even some light gaming), while dedicated gamers should check out the reasonably-priced ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q. It will change the way you have fun, but note that you will need some impressive gaming hardware to enjoy a smooth experience.

If you don"t mind buying FHD or QHD monitors, then we suggest you check out our collection of the overall best monitors. And if you"re interested in more options for having fun, our collection of the best gaming monitors has the goods.

According to my eyes (and my wallet), if you"re looking for the best value on a new computer monitor, you"ll want to be shopping for a 27-inch QHD display or a 32-inch UHD display. Monitors with these general specs tend to offer the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to the screen size, resolution and price tag. Just about any of these models will offer a satisfactorily sharp picture for its size without breaking the bank.

My current monitor is a 27-inch QHD (quad HD or 2,560x1,440-pixel resolution) monitor that I bought for $250, but I nearly went with a 32-inch UHD (Ultra HD or 3,840x2,160-pixel) display that would have offered more room and more pixels for only a bit more money. Between these two different sizes, you can easily find a screen to perfectly fit your desk space, your work needs and, most importantly, your budget. The world"s creatives, hobbyists and professional gamers who worry about color gamut and refresh rates might find that they need a higher-end screen than you"ll find on our list, but these displays are big enough for most needs, and with sufficient pixel density to produce a sharp, quality image.

These 27-inch models feature QHD resolution and give you more screen real estate than a 24-inch, FHD (full HD or 1,920x1,080 pixels) display, and better resolution, too. And it gives you all of that for not too much more money. You might also come across 27-inch 4K displays in your search. Those displays offer a certain quality worth consideration, but in my experience, a QHD or 2K resolution is more than sufficient when stretched across a 27-inch panel.

This is the model I ended up buying on Amazon after shopping around. I got it for a reasonable $250, and it occasionally can be found discounted to $200. It"s an IPS panel with a QHD resolution, a rated 350 nits of brightness and thin screen bezels. I like the simple stand, although I wish it offered height support. Most monitors at this price, however, don"t offer height adjustment, so I can live without it. It doesn"t have internal speakers, but those are generally terrible and not something I"d ever use when I have a Bluetooth speaker in my home office. It has one DisplayPort and two HDMI ports, giving the flexibility to connect to a variety of PCs and laptops. I"ve got no complaints about its image, which I find to be sufficiently bright and crisp.

I"m unfamiliar with the Koorui name but this monitor gets favorable reviews on Amazon and is priced at $180 with a $30 discount. That"s rare for a 27-inch monitor with a QHD resolution. Most budget monitors are rated for a dull 250 nits of brightness, but this Koorui model is rated for a more adequate 300 nits. It"s labeled as a gaming monitor because it has a 144Hz refresh rate that"s speedier than the typical 60Hz refresh rate and also features AMD FreeSync.

This 27-inch HP features a QHD resolution, a speedy 165Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync technology for fluid action while gaming. Plus, it has low blue light to protect your eyes, without sacrificing color accuracy. The stand provides height, tilt and swivel adjustment. It"s currently $40 off at Amazon, which drops it down to one of the lowest prices we"ve seen.

This 27-inch Pixio monitor is a great value even at its full $260 list price, and right now at Amazon you can pick it up for $20 less by activating the instant coupon on the product page. It features a QHD resolution along with AMD FreeSync and a speedy 144Hz refresh rate if you want to use it for gaming in addition to work. It"s rated for an ample 350 nits of brightness, so it should be a bit brighter than the Koorui model above.

The highlight of this ViewSonic model is its USB 3.2 Type-C port, which means you can connect a MacBook and other laptops with a USB-C port (but not HDMI) to the monitor without an adapter or special conversion cable. It also supplies both HDMI and DisplayPort connections along with AMD FreeSync and is rated for 300 nits of brightness. It"s currently $60 off at Amazon.

This Westinghouse model has a low max brightness of 220 nits, making it a better fit for a basement den or otherwise low-light room than for a sun-drenched office. If you looking for a basic monitor and don"t need the brightest panel, it"s one of the most affordable 32-inch, 4K monitors. It features AMD FreeSync, two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort and a headphone jack. It"s only $252 after you factor in the initial $115 discount plus the instant coupon that takes off an extra 5% at checkout.

This is one of the more affordable 32-inch 4K monitors and it. has HDMI and DisplayPort connections, a 300-nit brightness rating and built-in speakers. It also supports HDR10 and AMD FreeSync and comes wrapped in a compact if basic package with thin bezels.

This LG is similar to the above two monitors -- 32-inch 4K display with FreeSync and built-in speakers -- but is the brightest of the trio with a rating of 350 nits. It"s $50 off at LG right now.

At 32 inches, a curved display starts to become an option and not just for gamers. A curved display lets you sit closer without needing to crane your head as much to see the whole screen. This curved Dell display features a gentle 1,800R curvature along with AMD FreeSync and integrated speakers. It also boasts a wealth of adjustability with tilt, swivel and height adjustment. It has a bounty of connectivity with two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort connection, two USB-A ports, a USB-B port and headphone jack. And it"s currently $30 off at Amazon.

Love shopping online but don"t have time to compare prices or search for promo codes? Our CNET Shopping extension does that for you, so you always get the best price.

One of the best 4K monitors is probably going to be a must for anyone working in visual design these days. Ultra high-definition (UHD) provides increased pixel density for a cleaner, sharper image with more detail, making it especially sought after for those working in photography and video.

UHD, or 4K as it"s most commonly known, means a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. That"s four times as many pixels as full HD (FHD), providing more desktop workspace and a more detailed image, provided your using at least a 27in monitor (the extra detail isn"t really notable on small screens). The good news is that the best 4K monitors have become a lot more affordable. In fact, 4K is almost the norm these days, so deciding whether to go for 4K or not is no longer much of quandary.

The range of 4K monitors now available is huge, with plenty of budget options around as well as high-end screens aimed at professionals. The vast range of displays available can make it hard to know which is the best 4K monitor for your needs, so that"s what we aim to help resolve in the guide below.

We"ve made our own pick of the best 4K monitors based on our own reviews, on 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, ergonomics, image quality, useful features, brightness colour coverage and accuracy and connectivity options. We"ve also considered value for money to provide options for different budgets.

If you"re a professional photographer or video editor who needs the very best, jump down to the Eizo ColorEdge CG319X at number 4 or the Asus ProArt PA32UC-K at number 6 in our list. The reason they"re not at the top of the list because of their price and that they"re overkill for many people. When we factoring in value, cheaper 4K monitors like the Dell S3221QS and Samsung U28E590D have made it higher since they meet most people"s needs at a much more accessible price.

If you"re looking for the best 4K monitor for a specific task, also check our guides to the best monitor for photo editing and the best monitors for video editing. And if you work with multiple monitors daisy-chained and fancy an alternative, see our pick of the best ultrawide monitors.

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.

Asus"s flagship ProArt PA32UC-K boasts a premium appearance, 10-bit colour, a range of inputs (including Thunderbolt 3), 1,000-nit brightness and great colour accuracy, using a 14-bit look-up table (LUT). Hardware support for colour calibrators is also included out of the box and accuracy can hit 100 per cent of sRGB, 99.5 per cent of Adobe RGB, 95 per cent DCI-P3 and 85 per cent Rec.20. So basically, it"s a solid screen for those who need accurate colours for photo or video editing.

Most displays are 16:9 or 16:10 format, so the 3:2 Huawei Mateview immediately got our attention when we tested it out. This slightly squarer format is good for viewing certain types of content – viewing images and documents in portrait format is easier, and a picture taken on a standard camera can be displayed full bleed. Of course, the flip side is that widescreen video will have big black bars on the top and bottom – so it’s probably not the best choice for movie-watching

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.

The BenQ EW3280U is a great all-round display with impressive colour accuracy and coverage is enough and an attractive price. It may be part of BenQ"s entertainment line, but we tested the monitor for different tasks over several days and found it to be good at handling productivity and creative workloads, as well as gaming. The screen size and resolution make it a great option for designers and creators who aren"t ready to commit to splashing out something like the Eizo and Asus options above.

The Samsung M8 is a somewhat novel proposition. It feels almost like its aiming to be an Apple all-in-one, but without quite having the all-in-one bit. I say quite because the monitor can perform some tasks without a PC attached, including browsing, emails, gaming and Smart TV streaming.

Why would you want such features? Well, the Smart TV functionality could save your from buying a TV (it comes with a remote and all major streaming apps already come preinstalled and work like you"d expect on a Samsung TV). You can do quick tasks like send an email or use Microsoft 365 without booting up your PC, saving a bit of time, and you can play games via the Xbox Game Pass if you don"t have gaming-capable PC. There"s also voice assistant functionality, not Google Home Assistant or Siri, unfortunately, but we found that Alexa and Samsung"s own Bixby work well.

As for screen quality, its peak brightness is only 400 nits but we found that the dynamic HDR10+ works well to recover detail in dark and light areas. The contrast ratio as stated is 3,000:1, though the highest we measured was 2,530:1. But based on our test results, the screen offers 100% sRGB, 89% AdobeRGB, and 94% DCI-P3 colour gamuts – pretty good for creative work, although pro video editors and digital artists will be better served with one of the pro-level monitors above. After calibration, we got an impressive Delta-E average of 0.89 for colour accuracym and uniformity was also good.

This 4K display also benefits from an attractive, thin, light design (although the ports and OSD button could be better located and the mount doesn"t offer full articulation). The biggest disappointment is the sound quality – it seems they decided you"ll be using speakers or headphones, so why bother? That aside, there"s plenty here to make this a very interesting 4K monitor.

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.

Investing in a colour-accurate display will get you an excellent screen for black levels and brightness that will serve you well whether you"re working on images or video. You"ll want to invest in the best monitor calibrator too unless the monitor you choose comes with one of its own.

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