5 Things to Consider When Buying a New Monitor, According to Users

Whether you’re ready to upgrade your old computer monitor or purchase the first monitor for your office setup, there’s no shortage of options. A wide range of manufacturers offer computer monitors in all shapes, resolutions and sizes, giving you the freedom to get the right monitor for your needs. However, if you are new to the monitor market or haven’t purchased one in a while, having a good understanding of the basics and what you are looking for in your purchase is a good idea to help you avoid common mistakes people make when purchasing a monitor.

With a solid understanding of key monitor considerations, like opting for 1440p or 1080p resolution or upgrading to 4K, you can confidently purchase the right model. This will also help you avoid wasting your money on features that will be less useful or add no real value to your setup. We chose these considerations based on real user feedback on online forums, expert advice, and our own experience with computer monitors.

Whether you want an LCD screen or an OLED panel should be one of the first things to determine when considering purchasing a monitor, as it has a significant impact on your overall purchase. LCD and OLED are two main types of display panels that you will find in the market. OLEDs are generally praised for their excellent picture quality, inky blacks, and near-infinite contrast ratio. They also have good viewing angles and fast response times. However, OLED monitors are more expensive, aren’t the best for displaying text due to their pixel layout, and are prone to burning out. You will also find two types of OLED monitors on the market: W-OLED and QD-OLED, both of which have their own advantages and disadvantages.

LCD monitors, on the other hand, can be significantly cheaper than OLEDs, but their image quality can vary depending on factors such as whether they have a Mini-LED backlight or a quantum dot layer. They also do not suffer from burns. Additionally, whether they use an IPS panel or a VA panel can influence their contrast ratio, viewing angles, and color accuracy. A third type of LCD panel, called a TN panel, is now rare. LCD monitors are often called LED monitors because they use LED backlighting, and Mini-LED monitors are also LCD monitors, but instead of regular LEDs, they use smaller LEDs for better backlight control and higher brightness.

Besides display panel technology, you’ll want to focus on the size and resolution of your monitor. You can choose a screen size based on the space available on your desktop and then choose an appropriate resolution. Consumer Reports recommends a 24-inch screen size for most home office use, but if you play with a lot of windows, sit farther from the screen, and have plenty of desk space, you may want to opt for a larger size. However, keep in mind that if you buy a large screen with a lower resolution, content may appear pixelated and blurry, while if you opt for a small screen with a high resolution, such as 4K, you become dependent on scaling or risk tiny menus and icons. A better metric to consider is pixel density; 90 to 115 PPI is generally considered comfortable. However, if you really want a high-resolution screen or work with photos, you can opt for 130-140 PPI.

Besides size, resolution, and pixel density, you may also want to consider features like aspect ratio and screen curvature. Ultrawide monitors, especially with a curved screen, are great for an immersive experience and can be a good alternative to a dual-monitor setup, but there are also a few reasons to avoid them.

A monitor’s refresh rate is another key feature to consider, as it impacts how smooth everything runs when you’re scrolling or gaming. It is measured in hertz (Hz) and indicates the number of times a panel updates the image on the screen in one second. The standard refresh rate you’ll find on a monitor is 60Hz, and while it’s generally suitable for office work, internet browsing, and media consumption, higher refresh rates like 120Hz and 144Hz can make actions like sliding windows on the screen and scrolling through long documents smoother and smoother. A high refresh rate panel also reduces eye strain during long viewing sessions.

More importantly, if you love gaming and want smoother action, a high refresh rate panel becomes necessary. Fortunately, high refresh rate panels on computer monitors are quite common and not a premium feature. However, while it may seem like getting the highest refresh rate possible would be the best solution, you’ll get diminishing returns after 240Hz, and in terms of value for money, 144Hz or 165Hz refresh rates are generally a sweet spot for monitors. It’s also important to remember that you need a powerful GPU to increase refresh rates, especially as the resolution increases.

Besides refresh rate, it’s crucial to determine whether your monitor supports compatible variable refresh rate (VRR) technology, like Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync, for the GPU your computer uses. VRR is used to match the monitor’s refresh rate with the frame rates pushed by your GPU, and without it, your monitor will suffer from screen tearing or visual distortions when multiple frames are squashed together.

The connectivity options and different I/O ports available on a monitor are very important, as they can simplify or complicate your overall setup. Most modern monitors usually include HDMI and DisplayPort inputs to get a video signal from your computer. It’s crucial to confirm that the port you plan to use can handle the combination of resolution and refresh rate you’re sending to it. Likewise, if you’re planning to use a laptop that only has USB-C or Thunderbolt ports for video output, like the Apple MacBook Air or MacBook Neo, monitors that have a USB-C or Thunderbolt port for input should be your first choice. Otherwise, you will have to use a dock or adapter for the connection, which can sometimes limit the quality of the connection while costing more. Additionally, supporting USB power delivery through a monitor’s USB-C port can be a great quality of life feature for laptop use, as a single cable can handle the video signal as well as charge your laptop.

You can also confirm whether or not your monitor has built-in USB ports or audio jacks to function as a USB hub for your computer if you plan to connect peripherals to your monitor rather than your computer. USB ports can also be used to connect storage devices, depending on the generation of the USB port. These I/O ports are very handy when you have a limited port selection on your computer or want a cleaner configuration.

Unless you still plan to use a monitor arm with your monitor, it’s crucial to consider the ergonomics and flexibility of the supplied mount. It’s something many buyers don’t often think about, but a non-ergonomic stand can have a serious impact on your daily use and potentially affect your comfort and posture. The ergonomics of the support provided by a monitor may vary depending on the model. While some stands are quite flexible, supporting robust height adjustments, tilt and swivel changes, and even swivel, others may limit some of these adjustments or have a fixed stand. You can consult the manufacturer’s documentation to confirm the ergonomics of the monitor stand.

A nice feature of a monitor stand is the cable routing channels or holes, which can help make your desk setup cleaner. Additionally, check how much space the stand is going to take up on your desk to avoid any surprises when installing it, as some stands have wide, angled legs to provide ample support for widescreen and curved monitors. Finally, you should look for a standard VESA mounting pattern on the monitor, which would allow you to use a third-party arm or stand in the future if necessary. Non-standard mounting patterns can make finding a compatible arm difficult.