Title: Best Trusted Reviews of Consumer and General Products
1Compiling a list of the best monitors is a
difficult task. Since the exact purpose for which
the monitor is to be used the most is not
available as a parameter, the area of focus needs
to be monitors that are performers on their
overall specs provided and can serve a wide array
of purposes. While the deciding factor often
boils down to price vs. performance, there are a
number of specs that people need to look at to
find an ideal monitor. While most people dont
really focus on the computer monitor as being
high on a list of priority, however, monitors
differ from each other very similar to other
hardware elements and it is one of the most
important parts of the computer that people stare
at all day.
Buying Guide a. Size and Resolution The first
step to buying a computer is to know the size of
the monitor you want to go for. Whether it is a
big 27 monitor or an 18.5 smaller one, this is
defined by the size of your desk and the size of
the space you have to work with. Upon deciding a
size, the next thing to think of is the
resolution offered by the monitor, which is the
number of pixels that the device displays and
correspondingly, the sharpness of the image
provided. 1080p monitors are one of the most
common in the market at the moment and work
amazing with computer monitors of up to 23.
However, at bigger screen sizes, this is not an
adequate resolution due to the lower pixel
2- density. It is a better idea to go for a higher
resolution at 2560x1440pixels. This ensures both
sharper pictures and more area on the screen for
different icons or web pages. - While most monitors offer a 169 aspect ratios
which are the most common, there are a number of
other aspect ratios in the market. For example,
if you are opting for a 19201200 pixel density,
this offers the same sharpness as a monitor at
1080p, however it offers you more pixels on the
vertical side to make for a taller screen which
can be great for writing or web browsing
purposes. - Panel Type
- The next thing to think of is the panel type
offered by the monitor. You can find a wide array
of panels on the market with each being perfect
for different things. Some of the most common
types of panels available on the market are
listed below as well as their uses. - Twisted nematic (TN) Panels are some of the most
common and cheap types of LCD panels available to
users at the current day and age. Unless
specified otherwise, this is the type of panel it
has. They have a faster rate of response and are
better for gamers who want to game in 3D. These
offer amazing in terms of refresh rates. They
are ideal for gamers and offer amazing 3D gaming.
However, they do not provide true depth of colors
and are the least accurate in terms of colors
and they do get distorted when viewed at wrong
angles. - The second type is the MVA or PVA models which
aim to combine the advantages of TN and IPS
panels and offers better viewing angles, better
contrasts and blacks as compared to TN and IPS
panels and have better response times, though
the time between two dark colors is still pretty
high and can lead to ghosting effect. - Color reproduction is better than TN but still
lower than an IPS panel. - In-Plane Switching (IPS) Panels are slightly more
expensive options and have better accuracy for
colors with much better angles of viewing than
the angles offered by VA or TN. These are perfect
for photographers and graphic designers. They
are definitely better to look at than TN models,
however, they are not good at producing higher
refresh rates and have slower response times than
the traditional TN panels. These are problematic
only if you are a competitive gamer or are gaming
in 3D which requires a 120Hz refresh rate. - PLS (Plane to Line Switching) are often very much
like the IPS panels with the same advantages and
disadvantages with some of the best minor excess
advantages. PLS panels are said to have improved
viewing angles as well as am increase in viewing
angles and better brightness with improved image
qualities. They are also more expensive. - Refresh Rate
3- Anti-Glare Coating
- If you have any issues with computer glare or are
going to work on your monitor for long periods of
time, this can be a handy spec for you. A number
of models on the market come with an anti-glare
coating which can help to prevent glares caused
by the lights that are behind you. If you are
going to place the model in a room that is very
well-lit or sit directly in front of the windows,
however they can also cause the pictures to look
fuzzy or dull. While glossy screens can look
amazing and provide better picture quality, they
are very prone to glares. A good compromise
between glares and sharp pictures can be found
with the help of semi-glossy screens. - Stand and Swivel types
- Different monitors have different stands. While
some are pretty solid in their build and make,
others can be quite flimsy. Some stands can
swivel sideways while some offer a vertical tilt
only while others can even turn the monitor a
whole 90 degrees to offer portrait mode. Ensure
that you get a monitor that offers a hardy and
well-built stand that is more likely to last for
longer than a flimsy one. This can help cut down
expenses on tweaking the monitor at a later
time. - Connector Types
- If you want to make your assembly hassle free, it
is necessary to ensure that the monitor you opt
for has the type of port or connector that you
need. For example, if you are plugging in a video
card which has a DVI output, it is simpler to
get a monitor that offers a DVI port, unless you
want to splurge on the extra adapter for the
purpose. - Ensure that the cards dont place any
restrictions on the different types of port that
you may need in the future. Certain cards can
offer restrictions on the types of connectors
that can be used with them. For example, some
monitors can only power dual monitors through a
DisplayPort. Doing your due research can help in
ensuring that you have all the ports you may
need. - Other features
- These are the fundamental specs people must look
for while they are buying a monitor, however,
there are other features that may be necessary
for individuals for their optimal functionality.
For example, people may require a monitor that
is fitted with in-built speakers or additional
USB ports. It is a good idea to do some research
and look at the different pros and cons of the
products (included in this list) while opting for
it based on the average customer reviews to
ensure you dont face issues of lags, ghosting
effects or other display issues. - If you are a professional and need the machine
for more heavy-duty functionality, you may want
to check out some other more advanced specs in
the market, such as the pixel pitch, contrast
ratios and other features that may be necessary
for your line of work. Remember that a lot of the
additional specs that a monitor comes with are
the reasons for the hiked-up prices that are
often encountered in higher end monitors.
Best 10 Computer Monitors
1. Acer XR382CQK
4- Key Specifications
- Screen Size- 37.5-inch
- Resolution- 38401600 pixels
- Aspect Ratio- 219 (UltraWide)
- Contrast Ratio- 10001 (Static)
- Colors- 1.07 billion
- Brightness- 300 cd/m2
- Panel Type- IPS
- Response Time- 5ms
- Refresh Rate- 60Hz
- Ports- DisplayPort 1.2, DisplayPort 1.2-Out,
mini-DisplayPort, USB-C, HDMI 2.0, HDMI (MHL
2.1), 4x USB 3.0, Headphones Jack - Speakers- 2x7W
- This is one of the coolest monitors offering an
immersive and engaging experience for gamers. The
screen is incredible with the giant 37.5-inch
dimensions which are curved at the ideal 2300R
which enables a comfortable viewing experience
with full peripheral vision coverage. With a host
of connectivity features including the AMD
FreeSync technology, the model boasts of an
ergonomic design with an impressive quality of
construction. The Acer XR382CQK offers all the
benefits of a curved gaming TV which offers an
immersive gaming experience without the blurring
and responsiveness issues.
5The image quality is seriously amazing with the
LG AH-IPS panel which supports an impressive
10-bit color with a total 100 sRGB color space
coverage. The colors are uniform and consistent
with amazing details even in greyscale modes.
With the wide viewing angles for 172 and 178
for horizontal and vertical viewing, there is no
weird color mixing or shift in contrasts. The
monitor does not bleed any backlight or produce
any IPS glow. The performance is amazing with
the AMD FreeSync congruous graphics card which
ensures the syncing of the games refresh rate
with the display refresh rate to eliminate any
type of stuttering or screen tearing. The 5ms
response time reduces most types of trailing and
ghosting, making the Asus XR382CQK a great
monitor for casual gaming, watching videos or
most moderately demanding applications. The
monitor has come up with a wide array of features
such as different types of picture preset options
for different types of applications categorized
according to the nature of the application. The
monitor offers the Dark Boost feature which can
improve the visibility for darker videos, movies
or games. The OSD enables the customization for
the 12 LEDs with ambient lighting along the
bottom of cabinets with four effects and five
colors. The joystick enables OSD menu navigation
and offers a blue light feature to boost
comfortable viewing experience for hours. The
design is pretty smooth and slick with the V
shaped stand, 130mm height adjustments, 40 tilt,
60 swivel and the holes for 100 x 100 VESA
mount and features a 3H anti-glare treatment to
prevent sunlight reflection. Keep in mind the
size of the monitor which I 35.3 wide and 18
all to ensure that it fits into your
space. Overall, the Acer XR382CQK is an amazing
model with a seriously impressive set of specs.
Though more on the expensive side, the model is
definitely a good investment and can serve all of
your heavy-duty performance needs.
Pros Cons
The monitor is loaded with cool features like different game modes and lighting styles. The monitor is enabled with AMD FreeSync. The performance is top notch. The monitor is quite expensive. Some of the ports available are hard to access.
2. Dell UltraSharp U3415W
6- Key Specifications
- Screen Size- 34-inch
- Resolution- 3440 x 1440 pixels
- Aspect Ratio- 219
- Contrast Ratio- 10001 (typical) with Dynamic
Contrast Ratio 2 Million1 (Max) - Colors- 1.074 billion
- Brightness- 300 cd/m2
- Panel Type- IPS
- Response Time- 8ms
- Refresh Rate- 60Hz
- Ports- HDMI/MHL/DisplayPort/Mini DisplayPort
- Speakers- 2x9W
- The 34 curved Dell UltraSharp U3415W has an
amazing 34401440 (WQHD) offering an amazing 219
aspect ratio to enable comfortable viewing with
a true depth of color. The sensible design fits
in seamlessly at home or office with the
two-tone black and grey color and a small logo on
the bottom of the display without any weird
stickers to bulk up the screen. It is not too
bulky but does require some depth for desks to
avoid sore eyes. The monitor is amazingly easy
to set up with a pre-assembled stand which is
sturdy and well-balanced. The stand offers
swivel and tilt movements and a 115mm height
adjustment. - The amazing pixel density of Dell UltraSharp
U3415W offers ease of reading for texts and
menus, which is an advantage over 4k monitors
which require magnifying. The menus enable the
user to adjust brightness, color,
7energy usage, switch inputs and audio levels with
the help of touch sensitive capacitive buttons.
The picture in picture mode can enable two
visual inputs to be displayed simultaneously. The
speakers are loud and clear to enable
comfortable streaming for music, videos and
gaming. Watching movies and playing games on the
monitor is a dream and though the 8ms does tend
to lag, it is good enough for casual gaming with
games that are more moderately paced. Similarly,
the refresh rate of 60Hz is generally okay for
most games. The picture quality of the Dells AH
IPS panel is amazing and produces incredible
image quality and amazing colors. The display
reaches near 300cd/m2 and the display provides a
very rich, inky black.
Pros Cons
The monitor provides amazing color accuracy with the help of the amazing screen resolution and 1.074 billion color display. The grey scale images produced are incredibly sharp. The audio is crisp and clear. The monitor is definitely more on the expensive side. The lack of side-mounted USB ports can be problematic.
3. AOC E1659FWUX USB Monitor
Key Specifications
8- Screen Size- 15.6-inch
- Resolution- 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Aspect Ratio- 169
- Contrast Ratio- 5001
- Colors- 262 K colors
- Brightness- 300 cd/m2
- Panel Type- TN
- Response Time- 11ms
- Refresh Rate- 60Hz
- Ports- USB 3.0, 2x USB
- The AOC E1659FWUX USB Monitor is sleek and
gorgeous and comes in a glossy black exterior.
The screen has an inch-thick bezel as well as
grips on the horizontal and vertical bottom sides
which do pick up finger prints. The back has the
logo with a stainless-steel kickstand which folds
in without protruding out with a USB - 3.0 port in the groove. The monitor does not have
any buttons and turns on while plugged into the
computer. The settings are manageable through
the easy to use software. The monitor weighs 2.4
pounds. - The AOC e1659fwux is pretty easy to install and
the drivers are pretty easy to install. The Auto
Pivot feature has to be installed via a separate
driver with no lag after installation. The
pictures are bright and vivid, though the screen
has a blue tinge overall. The pixel density is
not extremely clear for tiny texts but the
viewing angles are amazing at over 45 degrees.
The display is quite bright and comfortable for
daily use. - The AOC also offers a cool and Smart UI which
enables users to set their preferences and
regulate the different settings of resolution,
contrast, mirroring and brightness options and
appears as an icon in the taskbar and is
relatively easy to find. The auto-pivot mode
allows users to view the monitor in both
landscape and Portrait modes with the flexi
stand making transitions quite smooth and the
auto pivot functionality ensuring that you dont
have to manually change the settings every time.
Overall, this is a pretty good choice if you are
looking for a second, bigger screen for your PC
on the go needs.
Pros Cons
The display is bright with good picture clarity and wide viewing angles. The setup is pretty straightforward with the plug-and-play setup. The model is pretty affordable and the case is pretty lightweight and does not bulk up the weight of the monitor. There are some performance issues with Mac. The model is pretty prone to finger prints which may look dirty.
4. Asus ROG Swift PG258Q
9- Key Specifications
- Screen size 24.5 inches
- Resolution 1920 X 1080
- Aspect Ratio 169
- Contrast Ratio 10001
- Brightness- 400 cd/m2
- Panel Type- IPS
- Response time- 1 ms
- Refresh Rate 240 Hz
- Ports DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4 and 2 x USB 3.0
ports
This is a radiant gaming monitor optimized to the
hilt for gaming performance. In addition to being
full HD, it has a 240 Hz refresh rate coupled
with 1 ms response time, making it a total game
ready experience. It also has inbuilt NVidia
GSYNC technology, which complements the refresh
rate to deliver blazing gaming speeds. The 1 ms
response time makes this monitor the fastest in
its class, beating out the competitors by
miles. The Asus ROG Swift PG258Q comes with
light projection effects, which includes two
Republic of Gamers covers, and 3 blank covers
which the user can customize with a marker to
create their own personalized light projection
effects. The GamePlus hotkey that has been
provided, offers in game enhancements like timers
on screen and frame rate counter. It also comes
with a crosshair overlay, which lets the user
pick and choose the preferred kind of crosshair
to suit their gaming needs. The monitor has an
ASUS exclusive GameVisual tech that offers
multiple types of display modes to suit as per
display content.
10It also comes with a 5-way navigation joystick
along with 4 display setting hotkeys in the right
rear end of the monitor, which lets a user
easily access the monitor and the game settings
together. If anyone needs 3D gaming, this
monitor comes with native support of NVidia 3D
Vision. If one links this monitor with an NVidia
GeForce GPU, it is ready to roll with 3D gaming
and 3D Movie experience, with just 3D glasses
from the users end. The connectivity is also
seamless since it supports HDMI and comes with 2
USB 3.0 ports for all the users needs. For
immersive multi display for gaming, one needs to
just plug it with multi monitor for a frameless
immersive experience.
Pros Cons
Excellent game performance. NVidia GSync enabled. It is expensive It has limited I/O Ports.
5. BenQ PD3200U
- Key Specifications
- Screen size 32 inches
- Resolution 3840 x 2160
11- Aspect Ratio 169
- Contrast Ratio 10001
- Brightness- 350 cd/m2
- Panel Type- IPS
- Response time- 4 ms
- Refresh Rate 60 Hz
- Ports DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4 and 4 x USB 3.0
ports - The BenQ PD3200U is an exceptional monitor in
terms of clarity and quality. The ultra-level 2k
QHD display offers stunning level of 10-bit
color precision which gives the user the
privilege of viewing greater details and crystal
clear pictures. Not only that, the 100 percent
sRGB coupled with Rec. 709 work together to
maintain the view quality even at a wide angle
of view. This also contributes to its richness,
depth and color consistency across all display
types and views. - A unique feature that this monitor offers is the
Keyboard Video Mouse(KVM) Switch. This allows a
user to connect two displays simultaneously and
regulate the content from two dissimilar pc
systems integrated in one screen using only one
mouse and keyboard. This feature enhances and
boosts space saving and increases user work
efficiency. The different view modes offered are
the Darkroom mode, CAD/CAM Mode and Animation
Mode. The Darkroom mode is used to adjust the
brightness and contrast of images while a user
wants to work in a darker post processing
environment. The amazing CAD/CAM mode can be used
to display finer details of any kind of
illustrative work. The animators will need the
Animation mode to highlight dark areas and
enlighten them for better visual processing. - Moreover, from a designers point of view, BenQ
PD3200U is perfect as it offers a dual screen
mode, which essentially splits the screen to
show two designs in two separate screens having 2
modes, and it eliminates the need for two
different physical hardware. If one needs a quick
switch between the multiple display modes like
CAD/CAM or Animation mode, the monitor provides a
quick switch option known as Hotkey Puck. It can
also be customized to map other modes and even
the on-screen display settings like brightness or
contrast. When it comes to ease of ergonomics,
this monitor is unbeatable. It has an extensive
range of height, tilt, swivel and pivot
arrangements and an inbuilt auto pivot as well,
which pivots contents of the screen as per
viewing orientation. No wonder this monitor has
received Toms Hardware 2017 Editors Choice
Award.
Pros Cons
Amazing grey scale performance. Unbelievably crisp high def display. Robust features. Too highly priced. Limited options for advanced colors.
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