Best Monitors For Productivity, Enthusiasts and Gamers

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Best Monitors For Productivity, Enthusiasts and Gamers

By June 3, 2021

Not only are PCs increasingly more than powerful, simply they're besides becoming more popular -- one of the many effects of the pandemic. In our latest update to TechSpot'southward Best Monitors guide, we've included several new 4K displays at various toll points.

There are top-level options for professionals, enthusiast products that are groovy for both work and play, monitors designed purely for gaming, and some noteworthy budget options that come up with features in one case constitute just on expensive flagships.

• All-time Overall
• All-time for Enthusiasts
• All-time Gaming Monitor
• Affordable 4K
• Best Value / Budget

Best for Productivity and Work

Dell UltraSharp U3219Q 32"

Slap-up | Differentiating Features
Factory calibrated colors and accurateness are fantastic. Congenital-in KVM. Pro features for a non-pro price.

Good | Most Have It
Tiny bezels, USB type-C, multiple HDR profiles.

Average | Competitors May Be Better
No speakers.

For an all-round great monitor, it'due south mostly accepted that a combination of a 32-inch size and 4K resolution hits the sweetness spot. While that leaves plenty of options, few offering the same mix of pro features, color accurateness, build quality, and cost every bit the Dell Ultrasharp U3219Q.

Dell's experience in producing loftier-end displays is obvious in the Ultrasharp U3219Q. The 3840 x 2160 IPS panel has been color calibrated at the factory to produce 99% sRGB color accuracy out of the box, as well as 95% DCI-P3 and 99% Rec. 709 color. The screen boasts 1.07 billion colors and a 1300:ane contrast ratio, while the 400 nits of effulgence assistance it to HDR 400 certification. You even get iv HDR profiles for different uses: Desktop, Moving-picture show, Game, and Reference -- all of which make it ideal for professionals, content creators, photo editing, and multitasking.

Ports consist of a single DisplayPort 1.4, iv USB 3.0 slots, a single HDMI two.0, and a USB Type-C that offers Power Delivery, DisplayPort ane.iv connectivity, and USB 2.0 data connectivity. The USB-C slot also features upward to 90 watts of charging ability, which is smashing for juicing compatible high-terminate laptops.

Other highlights include a built-in KVM that lets y'all connect and switch between two PCs while using one keyboard and mouse. It also comes with tiny bezels (6mm), has a low response fourth dimension, and the minimalistic chassis is solid.

If you're after amazing image quality in a large, 4K monitor that's swell for work and entertainment, the Dell Ultrasharp U3219Q is a perfect fit. As of writing, information technology's been reduced from its regular price of $1,049 to under $800 and comes with a iii-yr warranty and Premium Panel Guarantee.

Coin-is-no-object alternatives

Professionals who work with visual media demand a monitor that offers unparalleled visuals and precise color accurateness. These are reserved for a scattering of pro-level, very expensive monitors, simply yous go what you pay for.

In a category of its own with price tags starting at around $5,000, nosotros take identified three key contenders. Dell's new UltraSharp UP3221Q is the first 31.5-inch display to feature Mini LED-based total-area local dimming (FALD) backlighting with ii,048 zones, assuasive high brightness and excellent contrast. The i,000 cd/m2 summit HDR brightness means it's VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certified, and it supports 99.8% of the DCI-P3 color space, 83% of the BT2020 colour gamut likewise as 93% of the Adobe RGB colour space.

At that place are enough of other pro-level features here: an integrated Calman Powered colorimeter, a film-by-picture style that can evidence outputs from two split up sources simultaneously, each with their own color space setup; and connectivity that includes DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI two.0, two Thunderbolt 3, and two USB iii.1 ports.

Dell'south UP3221Q will cost $4,999 when it arrives on November 5. That's withal cheaper than last year's winner, though - the still great Eizo ColorEdge CG319X, which is priced around $5,700.

The alternative, and likely the preferred choice for Apple users, is the Pro Display XDR. It comes with a higher resolution 6K resolution (6016 x 3384) instead of 4K, and the peak brightness hits 1,600 nits, but the 576 dimming zones are a step down from the PremierColor'south 2,048. Color accurateness is amazing equally expected. Be prepared to add $one,000 if you want Apple's stand, $199 for a VESA mountain adapter, and another $one,000 for the optional "nano-texture glass."

Best Enthusiast Monitor

Samsung Odyssey G9 49" Curved

Great | Differentiating Features
49-inches at 240Hz, great HDR

Good | Near Have It
AMD Freesync Premium Pro and Nvidia Grand-Sync support

Average | Competitors May Exist Better
Some might find it overwhelmingly big and pricey. Extra ports would accept been squeamish. Might exist as well curvy

The Odyssey G9 is super-ultrawide 49-inch (5120 ten 1440) monitor with a 32:9 aspect ratio: the equivalent of 2 27-inch 1440p displays next to each other without the annoying bezel in the middle. This makes it a brilliant choice for productivity tasks where having 2 full screens side-by-side can be a godsend.

Our pick from last year in this section, the UltraSharp U4919DW, remains an amazing monitor, but information technology's been edged out by the Samsung Odyssey G9. The Odyssey differentiates itself from the Ultrasharp in a few areas. Samsung's product has a much more aggressive, 1000R curve that is meant to immerse you in whatsoever'due south on the screen, though it's likely to exist a divisive feature. It also covers 99.7% of the sRGB color gamut, 97% of the DCI-P3 space, and has great HDR performance. But the most notable improvement over its rival are the Odyssey's gaming-focused specs.

With an amazing 240Hz, 10-bit VA panel with a 1ms response time, the Odyssey is simply as proficient at running Doom Eternal as it is displaying multiple spreadsheets -- providing you've got a graphics carte powerful plenty to handle all those pixels. Information technology likewise has AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and is G-Sync compatible, giving you buttery-smooth on-screen action.

Ports consist of ii DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, one HDMI two.0, and ii USB 3.0 ports, which should be adequate for about users. With so many features, the Odyssey G9 isn't cheap at just under $1,500. Yous'll also need a very big and sturdy desk for it to sit on. Just few monitors can lucifer this display when it comes to piece of work, entertainment, and gaming.

A standard-size culling that's great for gaming

Acer Nitro XV273K 4K / 144 Hz 27"

For enthusiasts with PCs that cost more than most used cars, a combination of 4K resolution and a loftier refresh rate is a feasible option. Until recently this meant spending $two,000 on an Acer Predator X27 or ROG Swift PG278Q, but in that location are now plenty of cheaper alternatives, including the Viotek GFI27QXA and Acer XB273K. We like the Acer Nitro XV273K as information technology'southward great for both work and play, and it's available for $899.

The 27-inch monitor is FreeSync rather than Grand-Sync, though that inappreciably matters since Nvidia started supporting its rival's adaptive sync tech. It also boasts excellent build quality, accurate DCI-P3 colour gamut, and many of the features found in more expensive alternatives. The just real drawbacks are the lower-end DisplayHDR 400 certification and lack of full array local dimming backlight, meaning you don't get a truthful HDR experience. If you want super-smooth 4K at nether a thousand this is an excellent choice.

Best Gaming Monitor

Samsung Odyssey G7

If you desire the best of the all-time at 1440p, you should be aiming for a 240Hz gaming monitor instead. A good number of products have been released in the last 18 months and they should all offer swell longevity and hereafter proofing. Granted, they're more expensive than medium refresh rate options above, starting at effectually $650 for worthy options.

The Samsung Odyssey G7 in its 27-inch variant for $700 (discounted to $499 as of writing), has the fastest response times nosotros've ever tested on a 1440p monitor, which combined with its 240Hz refresh rate and variable overdrive leads to splendid movement clarity – non just at 240Hz, but across the unabridged refresh range. And then, because information technology's a VA console, it also has groovy black levels and a loftier contrast ratio, making information technology well suited for gaming in a dark surround. Color quality is by and large impressive equally a result, including a decent wide gamut.

The primary downside to the Odyssey G7 is its ambitious 1000R curve, which is a divisive characteristic, yous tend to either love or hate it, and I'g more than in the hate it camp. The curve limits its versatility – the Odyssey G7 is actually only well suited for gaming; content creation and productivity suffers from curve-related baloney, the wide color gamut isn't as wide equally other options, and uniformity can be mixed.

How about IPS high refresh options?

If those downsides sound annoying to you, choosing an IPS console instead might be the mode to go. It volition be more versatile and perform very well. We've been recommending the Asus ROG Strix PG279QM for a while, which is a truly first-class monitor with class-leading IPS performance and outstanding factory calibration. All the same, at $900 we exercise feel it's a bit expensive when a like alternative, the Acer XB273UGX exists at just $650. We haven't tested this Acer monitor yet, but it appears to use the aforementioned panel and operation by all reports is however excellent. So that's one to consider for sure.

Editor's note: Nosotros take a dedicated buying guide for the All-time Gaming Monitors where nosotros detail more options for 1440p and 4K gaming at different price segments, talk over esports, ultrawide gaming and upkeep options.

Over the past twelvemonth, 1440p 240Hz monitors accept come into their own with many options bachelor. We don't just have TN options anymore. Samsung'southward Odyssey G7 gives the states an excellent feel using a VA panel, while there are many new IPS options that also offer corking gaming operation in this new high refresh charge per unit category.

For pure gamers, the Samsung Odyssey G7 is an extremely compelling choice. Samsung'south latest generation VA panels are mighty impressive, with class leading response fourth dimension numbers. This display'south peak functioning at 240Hz is 22% faster than whatever IPS alternative we've tested, and cheers to variable overdrive, information technology maintains excellent results at any refresh charge per unit you throw at it. Overshoot is kept to a minimum and despite beingness a VA panel, night level smearing is a non-result. Throw in backlight strobing, and Samsung comfortably leads the pack in move clarity while gaming.

The Odyssey G7 is besides an outstanding choice for gamers that play in the dark. The VA panel delivers a contrast ratio at least double that of IPS competitors, which helps deliver richer blacks and amend shadows. This is complemented by depression input lag and a decent build quality – just brand sure you update to the latest firmware when you get information technology to resolve whatsoever flickering concerns.

The chief drawback to the Odyssey G7 is its versatility. While not a bad monitor for paradigm quality, this brandish has a smaller gamut than its competitors, with an average DCI-P3 coverage of 89% and no working sRGB emulation way. The aggressively curved 1000R panel isn't for everyone, hurts viewing angles and can distort the epitome, which makes this display a poor option for content creation. But for gamers, the Odyssey G7 is a groovy choice and it's available in two sizes: 27" for $700 and 32" for $800, which is pretty off-white for what it offers.

Amend for Creators

If you need a meliorate residuum between gaming and epitome quality, you should consider an IPS monitor instead. The Asus ROG Swift PG279QM is a 27-inch 1440p flat IPS monitor that used a new AU Optronics panel that tops out at 240Hz. The characteristic set Asus offers is 2nd to none and in my opinion this is an excellent alternative.

The PG279QM isn't as fast as the Odyssey G7 in terms of response times, but it's amongst the fastest IPS monitors we've tested with excellent move clarity. Unfortunately, in that location is no backlight strobing support, however it balances this with outstanding colour quality, probably the best mixture of features and performance I take ever seen.

This is an extremely wide gamut monitor, with 96% DCI-P3 coverage, 100% Adobe RGB coverage and over 80% Rec. 2020 in total, the widest you can get from an LCD gaming monitor today. But it also features an elite implementation of an sRGB mode, reducing oversaturation when viewing standard content completely, and helping to deliver well in a higher place boilerplate factory calibration, unmatched by its rivals. Information technology also uses a flat console with excellent viewing angles, making it well suited to creative and productivity work without baloney.

The PG279QM is hard to find, it's oft out of stock although it is a relatively new product, and it is expensive: $850, which is $150 more than the same size Odyssey G7. Information technology's a nifty monitor but it's i of those cases you accept to pay for the best.

Some other alternative that is more readily available is the Alienware AW2721D which uses an LG Nano IPS panel. Information technology performs very well, certainly conforming of a high end product, but it is a step down from the Asus in about regards, whether nosotros're talking response, colour accurateness or wide gamut support; though information technology does have a better contrast ratio. The AW2721D isn't much cheaper in the U.s.a., usually going for $825, but in other regions like Australia, you can discover it for ~$600, which is a more compelling offering.

All-time Affordable 4K Monitor

LG 27UK650-Due west UHD 27"

Great | Differentiating Features
Cost, groovy viewing angles.

Practiced | Most Take Information technology
Enough of gaming features, FreeSync.

Average | Competitors May Be Better
Only 60Hz refresh, no VESA HDR certification.

Every twelvemonth sees lower-finish 4K monitors get even cheaper. At this point, consumers are spoilt for choice when information technology comes to choosing characteristic-packed UHD screens priced anywhere between $300 - $400, but we like LG'south 27UK650-W.

This monitor is an first-class all-rounder for those wanting a budget 4K monitor for a multifariousness of use cases: gaming, content consumption, cosmos, etc. The 27-inch IPS panel boasts 99 pct coverage of the sRGB color spectrum along with "HDR x" support, though a peak brightness of 450 nits (350 nits typical) means its high dynamic range isn't as good every bit other true HDR monitors (it isn't VESA HDR certified) but that's not important to a lot of buyers.

While not advertised as an out-and-out gaming monitor, the LG 27UK650-Westward has several credentials in this area to make information technology a viable option. Information technology comes with FreeSync, supports Nvidia's G-Sync, and has a 5ms GtG time. You lot as well get additional features such as a black stabilizer, an upscaling function, Dynamic Action Sync for reducing input lag further, and presets for gaming genres such as FPS and RTS titles.

Those willing to spend an actress $200, the similar LG 27UK850 adds a USB Type-C port and VESA 400 certification. Wide viewing angles and a solid build round off the LG's 27UK650-W best elements, only the ~$300 - 350 price (depending on your selection of standard or adjustable stand) for such a great 4K all-rounder is its highlight.

Only as Good

The budget 4K monitor market has get a crowded one every bit mentioned earlier, with plenty of good options available to consumers. Some other model nosotros similar is the ViewSonic VX3211-4K, which shares many like specs and features as LG'southward 27UK650-W, but comes in a 32-inch size.

Dell's Ultrasharp U2718Q is certainly admired past reviewers and buyers likewise, while those who prioritize gaming should bank check out the Asus MG28UQ.

All-time Value Monitor

Acer XFA240 24"

Neat | Differentiating Features
Brilliant all-rounder for under $200.

Skillful | Almost Accept It
144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, FreeSync, Yard-Sync uniform.

Average | Competitors May Be Amend
24 inches isn't big enough for everyone.

For nearly $200, there are plenty of options available under that toll, but our favorite is the Acer XFA240. Acer'due south display offers an exceptional all-round package for $198. Measuring 24 inches and featuring a 1920 x 1080 resolution, the monitor boasts a 144Hz refresh charge per unit, a 1ms response time, FreeSync, and Chiliad-Sync compatibility. The TN panel also features a 350-nit acme brightness, a one,000:one dissimilarity ratio, and eight-fleck colour depth (6-fleck + 2-scrap FRC).

One might imagine Acer saved coin by giving the XFA240 a sub-par build, but you'd be incorrect. The construction is sturdy with ergonomic adjustments and you go two 2W built-in speakers, belying its budget nature -- you even get screws for the 100mm VESA mount.

Color accuracy isn't a weak point, either, as it's bang-up direct out of the box and then is the contrast, while ports are made upward of a DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4 with MHL, and Dual-Link DVI-D. 20-four inches might not be enough for some, but the Acer XFA240's spec sheet and features are astonishing for a sub-$200 monitor. If you're on a budget and want a brandish for work and play, this is a swell selection.

Merely as Good

AOC C24G1 24" Curved

Concluding year'south winner in this category remains a top option for those on a budget. Boasting a 1500R curve and a 1920 x 1080 resolution, information technology uses a VA rather than TN panel, bringing better colour reproduction, contrast (3300:one), and viewing angles. Gamers not looking to spend a fortune volition also appreciate the 4ms response time (1ms MPRT) and the inclusion of FreeSync. It'southward also G-Sync compatible. Connectivity comes via DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI ane.4 ports, one VGA port, and a headphone jack. No USB ports or speakers, sadly.

Going to 27 Inches

Samsung 27" SF354

While there are plenty of 24-inch budget monitors available, choices are limited if you want to up the size to 27 inches. But if you but must take those extra three inches, the Samsung 27" SF354 should top your list.

The larger real estate does mean a few compromises in other areas: the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz, information technology's simply got 1 HDMI and one VGA port, and it'south non going to win awards for color accuracy. Only it does offer basic FreeSync and offers various modes. It also features a 1920 10 1080 PLS display console, which is Samsung's version of IPS.

At ~$170 or less, it'southward cracking value for a monitor this size that's good for general work, role, and home use. If you lot want a cheap 27-inch screen that's more gaming-focused, check out the Asus VG275Q, that gets you a 75Hz refresh rate, built-in speakers, dual HDMI ports, and FreeSync for $30 more.

Source: https://www.techspot.com/bestof/monitors/

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