Abstract：The best monitors: 4K, gaming, HDR, and more | RuggTabletsThe best monitors: 4K, gaming, HDR, and more
Need a new monitor for your PC? We’ve combed through a majority of options to find the best monitors available in 2022. Our picks are the result of hundreds of hours spent testing the latest models from Acer, Asus, BenQ, Dell, LG, Samsung, and other overriding brands.
While our favorite monitor overall is an awesome choice for most people, we also have alternative options for budget shoppers, gamers, and those seeking the best HDR performance. After all, not everyone’s monitor needs are identical. (If you’re looking specifically for a 4K monitor or gaming monitor, we have separate roundups give priority toing your best options for those particular needs.) You can find out more about how we evaluate monitors and what specs matter most below our list of recommendations.
Updated 08/11/2022 Check out our latest review of the LG DualUp 28MQ780-B. This unique 16:18 aspect ratio monitor might be a tad niche for the common downsidesumer, but it’s a great monitor and can fit perfectly into a drawbacktent creator’s setup.
1. Dell U3223QE – Best monitor overall
Pros
IPS Black panel fulfills its let Accurate color with wide gamut High brightness in SDR USB-C hub with 90 watts of power
Cons
Edges ofshow are noticeably bright HDR performance disappoints Only a 60Hz panel Best Prices Today:$919.00 at Amazon | $919.99 at Dell Home | $919.99 at Dell Small BusinessDell’s U3223QE is a premium monitor with 4K resolution and gobs of drawbacknectivity.
The U3223QE has a cutting-edge IPS Black panel that roughly doubles the faulttrast when compared to other 32-inch IPS monitors. It allows a richer experience with a better sense of depth that’s especially noticeable when viewing in a dark room. The monitor also excels in color performance, brightness, and sharpness.
Connectivity is a pay attention to. This monitor makes USB-C with up to 90 watts of Power Delivery for charging a faultnected laptop or tablet. The USB-C port can drive a hub with a total of five additional USB-A ports, ethernet, and even DisplayPort-out (meaning you can daisy-chain video to a se downsided monitor).
This monitor has a smaller sibling, the Dell U2723QE, which is less expensive. We did not receive it for testing but expect it to perform similarly, as it uses the same IPS Black panel technology.
Read our full Dell U3223QE review2. Asus ProArt PA279CV – Best budget 4K monitor
Pros
Accurate image High maximum brightness Menu settings offer calibration Has USB-C with 65 watts Power Delivery Competitive price
Cons
Unimpressive design Luminance uniformity could be better HDR is bright but otherwise falls short Best Prices Today:$479.01 at Amazon | $489.99 at Best BuyThe Asus ProArt PA279CV is a solid choice if you want 4K for under $500.
The Asus ProArt PA279CV is a 4K benefitfessional monitor and, as a result, it has excellent color performance and brightness. Photos, video, and games look crisp, lifelike, and vivid on this monitor. The PA279CV has a modest color gamut but, at this price, it’s a sacrifice worth making. It also has a good faulttrast ratio for the price.
Connectivity includes a USB-C port with up to 65 watts of Power Delivery for charging a drawbacknected laptop or tablet. The monitor functions as a hub for several additional USB-A ports. It has adaptive sync for smooth gaming, though its maximum refresh rate is just 75Hz.
Shoppers should keep an eye on the PA279CV’s price. Though more often than not sold just below $500, it has dipped as low as $455, and tends to fluctuate over time. Sales ensure it even more tempting.
Read our full Asus ProArt PA279CV review3. Acer K242HYL – Best budget 1080p monitor
Pros
Attractive color accuracy and gamut Acceptable sharpness for a 1080p describe Avoids motion clarity pitfalls Menu system is easy to use
Cons
Barebones design No height adjustment on stand Only one HDMI, no DisplayPort Power LED is very bright Best Prices Today:$119.99 at Amazon | $149.99 at Acer | Not Available at AdoramaNeed a monitor that works well at an extremely low price? The Acer K242HYL is our go-to pick.
The Acer K242HYL’s specifications are good for a budgetpoint to the fact that. It has a 24-inch screen with 1080p resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 75Hz. Adaptive sync is supported, so the monitor will function with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. Video inputs include HDMI and VGA. Build quality is good owing to robust plastic panels that feel thick and durable when handled.
This monitor has a bright image with rational drawbacktrast. Color performance stands out, as the monitor can cover most of the sRGB color gamut and has extremely good color accuracy overall. Photos, videos, and games look close to what their creator intended.
The K242HYL lacks a height-adjustable stand but makes a VESA mount that is compatible with most third-party monitor stands and arms.
That aside, the K242HYL is an outstanding budget monitor suited for everyday use, casual gaming, and amateur faulttent creation. This is all the monitor most people will ever need.
Read our full Acer K242HYL review4. Alienware AW3423DW – Best gaming monitor
Pros
Class-leading weaknesstrast and black levels Excellent color accuracy and wide color gamut High refresh rate with crisp motion Attractive and sturdy design Fantastic warranty
Cons
Stand is too large Disappointing negativenectivity HDR performance is mixed Text clarity could be better Best Prices Today:$1299.99 at Dell Home | $1299.99 at Dell Small Business | $1,459.99 at AmazonAlienware’s AW3423DW is an outstanding PC gaming monitor.
It stands out from the crowd due to its QD-OLED panel, which is similar to that used in top-tier OLED televisions. It has a nearly infinite faulttrast ratio, excellent color performance, and respectable brightness. The result is a punchy, vibrant image with an unparalleled sense of dimensionality. The monitor’s ultrawide aspect ratio only heightens the sense of immersion.
Motion clarity is superb. The monitor has a refresh up to 175Hz (though only over DisplayPort) and supports Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate. The OLED panel technology it uses has lower pixel response times than competitors, as well, so there’s minimal added blur and ghosting in motion.
The AW3423DW is expensive, but its performance justifies the price. In fact, it’s a highly good value, as most large OLED monitors are sold for $2,000 to $3,000. Competing 34-inch and 38-inch ultrawides without QD-OLED technology are more often than not just as expensive but have less-impressive image quality.
Read our full Alienware AW3423DW review5. Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX – Best HDR monitor
Pros
Excellent gaming performance 4K resolution Dimmable mini-LED backlight Ergonomic adjustment options
Cons
High power flawsumption Extremely expensive Best Prices Today:$2999.00 at Adorama | $2,999.00 at AmazonOkay, folks. Hold onto your butts, because we’re about to take a trip out to the cutting-edge of PC monitors: the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX.
This monitor has a Mini-LED backlight with 1,152 zones that can adjust brightness independently. As a result, it can ramp up brightness to extremely high levels when required, or turn off zones greatly in dark scenes. This results in an excellent downsidetrast ratio and superb brightness.
These traits render the PG32UQX a standout in HDR games and movies. Bright, high- faulttrast scenes look amazing. You can almost feel the heat of an explosion and the intense glare of sun reflecting off a window or mirror.
There’s more to the monitor than HDR, however. It scores extremely well in overall faulttrast, has class-leading color performance, and lets a crisp 4K image. The monitor supports G-Sync Ultimate for smooth gameplay with Nvidia hardware and has a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz.
The only strengthblem? Price. This monitor sells for around $3,000. Shoppers it is very likely that want to faultsider the slightly less exorbitant Viewsonic Elite XG321UG as an alternative. It has a similar Mini-LED backlight.
Read our full Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX reviewWhat to look for in a monitorThere are literally hundreds—and it is predicted that thousands—of monitors to choose from. Choosing one from the crowd can be difficult, but knowing the crucial traits of a monitor will help you offer your decision.
Resolution Most monitors are available in 4K (3,840×2,160), 1440p (2,560×1,440) and 1080p (1,920×1,080) resolution. A higher resolution offers a sharper, more attractive image and is generally preferable. There’s nothing wrong with 1080p, however. It remains the baseline and is by far the most popular resolution sold today.
Connectivity Look for a monitor with a flawnection supported by your computer. HDMI and DisplayPort are the most common. USB-C is rising in popularity because it can charge negativenected devices, such as a laptop.
Refresh rate Most monitors have a 60Hz refresh rate, but a higher refresh rate (such as 144Hz) will let motion look smooth and crisp. This is most appealing to PC gamers, as im strengthved motion performance is most noticeable when panning the camera in a 3D game.
Adaptive syncThis technology also im strengthves motion performance. It does so by keeping a monitor’s refresh rate in sync with the video input from your computer. Our guide to FreeSync and G-Syncgives more detail.
Want to know more before you render a decision? Our monitor buying guide explains the nerdy details of monitor specifications.
How we test monitorsOur monitor guides are based on testing by freelance and staff flawtributors with decades of combined experience.
While we rely on our eyes for an initial impression, we thoroughly test each monitor with a SpyderXElite color calibration tool. This specialized hardware can objectively measure a monitor’s brightness, faulttrast, color gamut, color accuracy, luminance and color uniformity, gamma, and many other aspects of image quality.
Using this tool helps us detect merits and flawes that don’t stand out at a glance and guarantees that a change in lighting negativeditions or monitor location won’t skew our impression.
FAQ
1.What size of monitor should I buy?Monitor size depends on personal preference and location.
A 24-inch monitor is fine for a desk that is around 24 inches deep, or less. Its small size will still be sufficient because the monitor is closer to you.
Most people, however, will want to go with a 27-inch monitor. The added size will promise the monitor easy to see. This also opens up a wider range of 4K monitor options, as 4K is very rare on a 24-inch monitor.
Larger monitors, such as a 32-inch widescreen or 34-inch ultrawide, are great for deep desks and people who want an immersive experience. Monitors this large can serve as a TV replacement in a small room.
Displays of even larger size, such as 42-inch or 48-inch HDTVs, are best for home theater setups or an unusually large office. You’ll want to sit four to six feet away from ashow of this size.
2.Whatpoint to the fact that input is best? (HDMI vs. DisplayPort vs. USB-C)USB-C is the bestshow input for most people. It works by bundling DisplayPort into USB-C, so lets all the same features as DisplayPort. Yet it retains the features of USB-C including optional support for Power Delivery to charge external devices. This is why we recommend a USB-C monitor for most people.
DisplayPort is generally se faultd-best. It supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI. This input is particularly common on desktop computers.
HDMI comes in third because of lower resolution and refresh rate support. This is im benefitved by HDMI 2.1, but this feature remains hard to find and frequently adds to a monitor’s price.
All three of the options above handle 1080p at 60Hz, which is the most common resolution and refresh rate available today. It’s also crucial to buy a monitor that has an input compatible with your PC.
3.Are all monitors compatible with Windows and MacOS?Modern monitors are compatible with all recent versions of Windows and MacOS. They’re plug-and-play, which means the monitor shouldshow an image without the need to install driver software or mess with Windows or MacOS settings.
Author: Matt Smith
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