As an example, if you're using the standard 1280 x 1024 resolution, consider upgrading to HD - 1366 x 768 - for high-definition graphics. Extras Brightness In the earlier part of the decade, 3D monitors were marketed toward gamers, but in recent years they’ve have fallen out of favor among manufacturers. When comparing specs, the bigger the number the better. What is Processor Speed and Why Does It Matter? Exploring today's technology for tomorrow's possibilities, There are many conversations in the tech world about topics like processing speed, memory, and graphics. Even the best monitors fell short of most LCD TVs, with blacks that weren’t as deep, slight haziness, and some light leakage around the edges of the screens. Deciding When It's Time to Upgrade Your Child's Car Seat, Latest Computer Monitor Ratings From Consumer Reports, Computer Monitor Ratings by Consumer Reports. What is the best monitor size for you? If possible, view the screen in bright light before buying. You can easily find good deals on monitors smaller than 24 inches, but spending just a bit more can open up the possibility of roomier displays. Companies like Dell, HP, and Lenovo market their own monitors for their computers and also sell monitors separately. Take a shine, or not. When it comes to your. Resolution and size are important for maximum productivity. Hard-core gamers and multimedia mavens looking for a big screen for watching movies and TV shows will appreciate even larger sizes starting at 27 inches. We test, evaluate, and compare the latest computer monitors for display quality, screen size, and cost. Decide on a Screen Size But if you often share your screen with a crowd, say for viewing slide shows or playing games, you may want to pick a model that experiences less image degradation when viewed at an angle. Finding a wide-screen and 16:9 (aspect ratio) monitor is not much of a challenge. If so, how will they sit side-by-side? Aspect Ratio. It will be used straight on, in a light-controlled environment, with an emphasis on picture quality and color accuracy. 7 Ways to Improve Your Computer Performance. Display 2. Most modern monitor screen sizes range from less than 21 inches to well over 30 and are practically priced for your needs. If you’re buying a monitor bundled with a new computer, you can often upgrade from the standard display to a larger one for a modest amount. The same rule applies to any display choice you make, whether it’s for a desktop, laptop, or an all-in-one. Standard or Wide-Screen Size. The higher the resolution, … Like laptop displays, LCD monitors are showing up with glossy instead of matte-finish screens. Used models are still readily available on sites such as Amazon.com and eBay. Apple: While Apple no longer sells its own monitors (the company sells LG models on its site), the company's previous monitors earned high marks in our testing. The vast majority of computer monitors on the market are 1920x1080, the same resolution as 1080p (also known as Full HD) wide-screen televisions. Some models feature touch screens. The glossy screen can make dark areas of the image appear deeper and less washed out in bright, ambient light. Results are displayed both visually and as text data and can be used to easily discern how much larger or smaller your new screen will be. You can also control an LCD’s brightness with buttons or onscreen controls. Here are some things to consider before you shop: Do You Really Need a New Monitor? This company produces laptops, desktops, and monitors for gamers. But you should also consider these factors when choosing a monitor. For extra flexibility, look for a monitor that lets you adjust the height as well. Aspect Ratio. Most monitors also have controls for color balance (usually called color temperature), adjusting the screen geometry, and similar functions. The good news is that monitors, for both home and business users, have become more affordable over the years. NEC: Produces a small number of monitors in various sizes, including models intended for professional users. The higher the number, the better. Some new monitors feature at least one USB port, which can provide convenient connectivity for peripherals if your computer doesn’t have many USB ports or if accessing those it has is difficult. They’re best for graphics pros looking for a monitor that can show the finest detail. Expressed as a ratio, this is a measure of the difference between the brightest white and the deepest black. Will you need more than one monitor? When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. Alienware: Is owned by Dell. Also look for conveniently placed controls that adjust contrast, brightness, and other settings. Resolution See how big of a monitor you’ll need for the most common computing tasks performed today. A higher contrast ratio can produce images that are more vivid and punchy. But advertised figures are not reliable because the way manufacturers measure contrast ratio is not uniform. Smaller monitors suffice for office work, but if you watch a lot of media or play games, you may prefer a monitor with a larger screen. In fact, these types of monitors have all but replaced the squarish 17-inch models. The simple answer is the largest screen you can afford with the lowest resolution needed for your tasks - then upgraded to the next resolution. 3D A flat-panel’s display response time indicates how quickly the screen can respond to video image transitions. LG: Offers attractive monitors at midrange to high-end prices. The Screen Size Comparison tool takes the dimensions of two screen sizes and compares them against each other. You can compare monitors by brand with this guide. Smaller Than 24 Inches You may also see LCD monitors with memory-card readers, so you can display photos onscreen directly from a camera. The spec is expressed as candelas per square meter, or cd/m2. As mentioned, the right monitor size for you depends on your needs and use. We prefer a dedicated front-positioned contrast/brightness control. Consider easy adjustments. CRT monitors, which Consumer Reports has tested in the past, have largely disappeared from the consumer market outside of niche uses like playing old video games on as close to the original equipment as possible. Lenovo: Its ThinkVision line is made up of several monitors across an array of sizes. Higher resolution is better for working with photos and graphics. Look for a long warranty. Newer technologies such as faster response time (typically 120Hz or 144Hz) can make onscreen movement, such as resizing windows or scrolling through documents, appear much more smooth, and high-density resolutions like 4K make it easier to fit more content on the screen at one time—at the expense of making text and images quite small. HDMI connectors, like the kind you’d find at the back of your TV, have become commonplace on computer monitors in recent years, replacing the earlier DVI standard. That’s no longer the case. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Size. Other brands of monitors include Acer, Alienware, AOC, Asus, BenQ, LG, NEC, Planar, Samsung, and ViewSonic. DisplayPort is another connector beginning to show up on monitors, particularly higher-end monitors. Computer monitor size comparison The good news is that monitors, for both home and business users, have become more affordable over the years. Some monitors include a microphone, one or more USB ports, integrated or separate speakers, and HDMI inputs for viewing the output of a Blu-ray player or camcorder. The monitors are sleek, with an array of features, and are available at different prices. Touch Screen A monitor’s resolution refers to the number of picture elements, or pixels, that make up an image. 24 Inches and Larger The, For maximum graphics, something ultrawide like the, Creative professionals who want the maximum in vibrant display capabilities will need even more graphics potential, especially when considering. Typically, 4K monitors start around $350. Acer: Has become a key brand in this category, offering a line of value-oriented monitors for home and small-office use, as well as business-oriented and gaming monitors. These are not as common as 1080p monitors but can still be found at most online retailers. Response Time Expect to pay $200 to $300 for larger (around 27 inches) 1080p monitors. Their greater width allows for much easier side-by-side page viewing as well as more viewable spreadsheet columns at once, requiring less scrolling. In the past, you may have had to choose between a larger screen with lower resolution and a smaller screen with higher quality to get something within your budget. More screen real estate is always a good thing, and we recommend buying the largest screen you can. Check for ample connections. Such models may also be able to rotate 90 degrees, from landscape to portrait mode, which is especially useful for viewing a larger portion of Web pages or text documents. Display 1. Some anti-reflective surfaces help minimize this problem. When choosing the right computer for your lifestyle, however, the size of the monitor matters. Are you giving yourself enough distance from the monitor for good comfort and eye health? A bright screen is important if you’re working in a brightly lit room. Many monitors come with a three-year warranty on parts and labor, but others have only one-year coverage. Although they still cost more than conventional displays, 4K monitors are increasingly becoming available for computers. It can be found on monitors across a range of sizes, from monitors smaller than 24 inches to monitors 26 inches and larger. It’s worth looking for the longer coverage, especially if you’re purchasing a more expensive model. The letters after the two numbers is simply a designated name for that resolution. It can be found on monitors across a range of sizes, from monitors smaller than 24 inches to monitors 26 inches and larger. Typical monitors measure 60 hertz, which is adequate for everyday tasks. Note: 4K monitors, which measure 3840x2160, maintain the 16:9 aspect ratio of 1920x1080 monitors. How Do I Fix a Laptop that Won’t Turn On? A built-in TV tuner is another feature to look for if you want your monitor to double as a TV. Prices start around $300 once you hit the 24-inch mark. What it is: When using the monitor to professionally create media. But it can also reflect light-colored objects in the room like a mirror. Still, a new monitor may offer bells and whistles not found in your current monitor, such as built-in speakers or integrated USB ports. For gaming, your monitor should be a minimum of 25 inches with a 1920 x 1080 FHD resolution. If you’re looking for a monitor for more typical everyday use, you’ll find lots of choices at great prices. You can also use that name when discussing monitors while shopping, rather than relying on the longer numeric resolution description. In the past, you may have had to choose between a larger screen with lower resolution and a smaller screen with higher quality to get something within your budget. (Even a good score is adequate for many people.). The most common resolution today is 1920x1080, also known as 1080p. While computer monitor technology has improved in recent years many of these improvements may be more appreciated by demanding users than by everyday consumers, such as serious gamers or professional creative types. That won’t matter for typical computer use. Dell: Is among the top market-share brands in this product category, offering a wide range of monitor sizes and features. Planar: Offers monitors that range from 15 to 27 inches. Few monitors measure up to the best LCD TVs for viewing from a wide angle. Most 1080p monitors range from about 21 to 24 inches, with prices around $100 on the lower end of that size range. It can provide the same functionality as HDMI, but because it is royalty-free, it costs less for manufacturers to use it. AOC: Offers a range of wide-screen monitors, some of which offer higher-end specs and are aimed at serious gamers. Display quality, the most important monitor feature, isn’t a major worry thanks to a generally high standard of performance. So the decision comes down to what fits your space and how much you want to spend. The aspect ratio of this resolution, 16:9, is great for video content but not necessarily as well-suited for scrolling up and down through documents. Asus: Produces a range of lower-end to higher-end monitors, some of which are aimed primarily at gamers. (HDMI carries audio and video over the same cable.). If you find yourself using Microsoft Word, Gmail, or Facebook for most of the day, a monitor with a more square resolution of 1920x1200 (which has an aspect ratio of 19:10) may be more useful because you’ll have more screen real estate at the top and bottom to work with. Submit. More expensive models can be found with refresh rates of 120 Hz or 144 Hz (or higher), which is useful for serious gamers who demand smooth motion during gaming sessions. A note to video viewers: Don’t expect TV images to look as good as they do on your flat-panel TV. 10 Cool Minecraft Console Commands for 2020. BenQ: Offers an array of models, some of which are aimed at serious gamers. If you are gaming with an FHD, consider the move to a QHD or, How to Screenshot on HP Laptop or Desktop Computers, 3 Different Ways to Charge a Laptop without a Charger. HP: Is among the top three largest brands in this product category. If you’re planning to buy a touch-screen monitor (which are not as common as their nontouch counterparts), look for three features: smooth movement as you swipe; enough glass on the edge to make it easier to swipe in from the side; and the ability to move the display into different positions for comfort, easier reach, or the ability to play touch-based games and perform touch-based tasks. Connectors ViewSonic: Offers a large variety of monitors for every target customer. Disclosure: Our site may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page. Some consider a certain number of stuck, dead, or hot pixels acceptable; others will replace a monitor during the warranty period if it has even a single faulty pixel. Many were very good, and a few were excellent. Check the viewing angle. Once you know the largest monitor you can accommodate, as well as the smallest that would be appropriate for your workspace, look for the highest resolution in your price range. Prices keep falling on LCD monitors, even for bigger screens. Another consideration is the manufacturer’s defective-pixel policy. No monitor in our ratings had less than good display quality. Samsung: Selection includes a wide variety of consumer- and business-oriented models. 1280 x 1024 Super-eXtended Graphics Array (SXGA), 1920 x 1200 Wide Ultra Extended Graphics Array (WUXGA), 3440 x 1440 Wide Quad High Definition (WQHD), 3840 x 2160 4K or Ultra High Definition (UHD). Contrast Almost all new LCD displays tilt up or down for a quick adjustment. 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