Choosing the right monitor can be challenging because size, shape, and performance differ significantly. There are different types of monitors depending on the desired use, and no one monitor is perfect for everyone. On the other hand, gaming monitors offer a wide range of features that are more versatile than others, allowing gamers and office users to work together comfortably.
To find the right computer monitor for you, let’s cover a few basics first.
- For gaming, you’ll want a screen with a fast refresh rate (ideally 100Hz or higher), a low response time, and AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync to help reduce screen tears at low frame rates. When working creatively, prioritize color accuracy over contrast for general use.
- These days, anything under 1080p/FHD (1920 x 1080) will have a sharper image. 4K blog is the sharpest result and you can find it at a reasonable price. Regarding price and high-refresh-rate performance, 1440p/QHD (2560 x 1440) is a good compromise for gamers.
- A contrast ratio of 1,000:1 is considered solid in image quality, and content creators should avoid color errors at all costs. Anything with a Delta E (dE) greater than 3 is likely to appear incorrect. VA monitors typically have higher contrast than even the best IPS panels, even though IPS panels are also known for their vivid colors.
- Nowadays, 24-inch monitors are considered small, and 27-inch monitors are mainstream, while 32-inch monitors are an excellent large size for those on a budget. If you want to use a portable monitor, keep it under 17 inches.
- In most cases, you’ll either get a monitor for PC made for sRGB color space or a monitor made for DCI-P3. Windows, the web, and non-HDR games and videos use sRGB, but if you want a more colorful screen, DCI-P3 is more appropriate.
07 Best Monitors 2022:
Samsung Odyssey G7 32-Inch:
Best Computer Monitor Overall.
Specifications:
Screen Size / Aspect Ratio: 32 inches / 16:9.
Resolution: 2560 x 1440.
Refresh Rate: 240Hz.
Panel Type: VA.
Adaptive-Sync: Free Sync Premium Pro.
No speakers.
For gamers, the Samsung Odyssey G7 32-inch boasts a 1000R curve for incredible immersion and fast gaming speeds. Earning Samsung Odyssey G7 32-inch is the best computer monitor. We tested a 240Hz screen with a 1ms (GTG) response time, and it scored 5ms in our testing, beating some 165Hz screens by 2ms and further benchmarking revealed an input lag of 20ms, which is 6 to 10ms faster than some 165Hz screens we’ve tested, such as the Dell S3220DGF.
The 32-inch panel gives this monitor plenty of height, so you can work on spreadsheets more quickly than you would on an ultra-wide 32-inch monitor. And at a 2 to 3-foot viewing distance, we don’t experience distortion issues with that dramatic curve. However, please bring your audio, since there are no speakers in this room, despite its price.
Dell S3222DGM:
Best Monitor for Gaming
Specifications:
Screen Size & Aspect Ratio: 32 inches, 16:9.
Resolution: 2560 x 1440 @ 165 Hz.
Panel Type: VA.
Refresh Rate: 165 Hz.
Response Time (GTG): 4ms.
Adaptive-Sync: Free Sync Premium Pro.
No HDR.
In a follow-up to the highly rated Dell S3220DGF, the Dell S3222DGM is the best gaming monitor. It features a 32-inch widescreen Adaptive-Sync panel with QHD resolution and 165 Hz refresh rate Support.
Besides a display curve with an 1800mm radius and 85 percent DCI-P3 coverage, Dell knocks it out with the S3222DGM’s contrast ratio. VA panels are famous for their excellent contrast ratio, but the S3222DGM’s 3,000:1 contrast ratio easily beats IPS displays.
S3222DGM is aimed primarily at gamers because it offers plenty of vertical screen space without scrolling, and 1440p resolution is currently the sweet spot between image quality and gaming performance.
Its excellent contrast makes up for its lack of HDR support, and its overall performance at this price point is hard to beat. Dell’s usual solid build quality makes this a great monitor for gamers looking to build out mid to high-budget gaming systems.
LG 27GN950-B:
Best Computer Monitor for 4K Gaming.
Specifications:
Screen Size / Aspect Ratio: 27 inches / 16:9.
Resolution: 3840 x 2160.
Refresh Rate: 144Hz.
Panel Type: IPS.
Adaptive-Sync: G-Sync Compatible, Free Sync Premium Pro.
Oversaturated sRGB mode.
LG 27GN950-B offers a 1ms (GTG) response time and 144Hz refresh rate for 4K gaming, and if you’ve got a graphics card, ideally the best one, and you need to handle 144 frames per second (fps) at 4K, this monitor will help you save power.
As well as matching price 4K, 144Hz screens, like the ROG Swift PG27UQ, and even beating them on input lag, Free Sync Premium Pro and G-Sync Compatibility prevent screen tears when framerates drop below 48 fps.
Despite the reputation of VA panels for their high contrast, this IPS monitor managed 1,034.7 before calibration and 8,475.3:1 with HDR, according to our benchmarks. The 27GN950-B proved accurate regarding the more colorful DCI-P3 space, but if you want precise color, you may find the sRGB mode too saturated.
MSI Oculux NXG253R:
Best Computer Monitor for eSports.
Specifications:
Screen Size & Aspect Ratio: 24.5 inches / 16:9.
Resolution: 1920 x 1080.
Panel Type: IPS.
Refresh Rate: 360 Hz.
Response Time (GTG): 1ms.
Adaptive-Sync: G-Sync.
No extended color.
No speakers.
A player or hopeful in eSports requires the fastest peripherals available to reduce the delay between deciding on in-game action and seeing it on screen. The MSI Oculux NXG253R is the quickest PC monitor with a 360 Hz refresh rate today, making it the most suitable monitor for eSports.
Based on our final input lag test, the NXG253R outperformed other 360 Hz monitors by 1-3ms, and in response time, it matched all its 360 Hz rivals with a score of 3ms. In addition to fighting screen tears with G-Sync down to 1 Hz refresh rates, the monitor also comes with Nvidia Reflex latency analysis so you can fine-tune your eSports performance.
Although there’s no DCI-P3 color reproduction, sRGB color reproduction is accurate, with just a 2.27 de error before calibration. The contrast is impressive for an IPS panel (1,190.6:1) and massive with HDR content.
Samsung UR59C:
Best Budget 4K Computer Monitor.
Specifications:
Screen Size / Aspect Ratio: 32 inches / 16:9.
Resolution: 3840 x 2160.
Refresh Rate: 60Hz.
Panel Type: VA.
Adaptive-Sync: None.
No USB ports.
Needs calibration.
Samsung UR59C is the best budget 4K monitor if you want a screen with many pixels at an affordable price. The VA panel delivers high contrast (25900.5:1 after calibration), which gives you better images, videos, and games. Due to its 60 Hz refresh rate, 4ms (GTG) response time, and lack of FreeSync or G-Sync, the monitor isn’t a high-end gaming monitor. Casual gamers, however, will get by thanks to its high pixel density and high contrast, which keeps the game looking realistic.
Ultra-wide screens tend to have a better curvature, but the 1500R curvature on the UR59C is effective and beneficial for this 32-inch screen, especially when multitasking with multiple windows. If you are willing to calibrate, you can eliminate the pesky UR59C color errors, which were visible right out of the box.
Aorus FO48U 4K OLED:
Best Computer Monitor for Gaming.
Specifications:
Screen Size & Aspect Ratio: 47.5 inches / 16:9.
Resolution: 3840 x 2160.
Panel Type: OLED.
Refresh Rate: 120Hz.
Response Time (GTG): 1ms.
Adaptive-Sync: Free Sync Premium.
Not as bright as a premium LCD.
No Dolby Vision.
OLED is the best way to give HDR the ultimate contrast over SDR, and that’s why HDR pops over SDR. In addition to its incredible difference, the Aorus FO48U’s massive OLED panel also offers 107.7% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space and near-perfect grayscale tracking, so you’ll get a rich, accurate image right away.
Featuring DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression (DSC) and HDMI 2.1, Aorus’ OLED monitor is ideal for high-speed HDR gaming on both PCs and consoles. As a result of our speed tests, the monitor only trailed by 4ms behind its Alienware AW5520QF OLED gaming rival. You won’t get Dolby Vision or support for 50p and 24p TV, but two 15W speakers and one 20W speaker deliver outstanding audio quality.
Asus ProArt PA32UCG:
Best Computer Monitor for HDR.
Specifications:
Screen Size / Aspect Ratio: 32 inches / 16:9.
Resolution: 3840 x 2160.
Refresh Rate: 120Hz.
Panel Type: IPS.
Adaptive-Sync: Free Sync, G-Sync Compatible.
Only’ 120 Hz refresh.
In its full-array Mini-LED backlight, Asus has combined 1152 dimming zones to create the ProArt PA32UCG. Its quantum dot film provides a color gamut of nearly 78% of Rec.2020. The monitor is the brightest in the world and has precise out-of-box accuracy for every color mode. There are many calibration options and a bundled colorimeter, but no tweaking is needed for work or play.
As opposed to its predecessors in this category, the ProArt PA32UCG’s refresh rate isn’t locked at 60 Hz. It’s compatible with FreeSync, G-Sync, and 120 Hz. It is possible to view 144 Hz over DisplayPort in the PA32UCG’s Rendering Mode, and HDR support is complete. Many monitors offer HDR10, but the ProArt is the first monitor to offer Dolby Vision as well.
Despite its $5,000 price tag, this monitor is the best you can find for making HDR content look its best, as well as media creation and gaming at high refresh rates.