5 of the Best Computer Monitors in 2024

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Updated Aug 2, 2024 4:31 PM
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A whopping 75% of electronic and appliance reviews are untrustworthy. That’s why every reviewer gets a Trust Rating so our True Score System filters out the fake reviews. See how we do it.

When choosing a computer monitor, key features like image quality, response time, and input lag are crucial. A good monitor offers a balance of high brightness, accurate color gamut, and low input lag, ensuring a sharp and responsive display. High refresh rates enhance motion clarity, essential for both productivity and entertainment. Ergonomics and connectivity options are also vital for a versatile setup​​​​.

In our latest guide, we identified four standout monitors from an analysis of 196 models backed by 321,947 reviews. Our unique approach includes certifying products as tested and filtering out fake reviews. Unfortunately, 76% of the experts we analyzed proved unreliable. The winning monitors excelled in rigorous testing, ensuring top performance and quality for users.

How Did We Rank These Computer Monitors?

The very best computer monitors are flexible and can fulfill a variety of use cases, even if they’re not perfect for every one of them. While those on this list may not meet every criteria listed below, they’re still fantastic monitors in their own right and meet the required criteria for the use cases where they really shine.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
Contrast Ratio>1000:1YesThe difference in brightness between the whites (lit sections) and blacks (dim or unlit sections) of a monitor panel.
Brightness> 200 nitsYesHow bright the monitor will get, usually under specific testing conditions, like 10% windows (which means 10% of the screen is a white box.)
Color Gamut % (sRGB Coverage xy)> 90%YesHow much of the sRGB color gamut is covered by the monitor, which helps indicate color accuracy for web content and games.
Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy)> 90%No (Nice to have)How much of the DCI P3 xy color gamut is covered by the monitor, which helps indicate color accuracy for HDR content, which includes certain movies.
Color Gamut (Adobe RGB)> 95%No (Nice to have)How much of the Adobe RGB color gamut is covered by the monitor, which helps indicate color accuracy for photos and photo editing.
Input Lag< 15 msNo (Nice to have)The time it takes for the monitor to register inputs from the user and process them as action.
Response Time< 13 msNo (Nice to have)The time it takes for a pixel to change from one color to another.
Reflections< 6%No (Nice to have)The total amount of light, in percentage, your monitor reflects.

Latest Updates

  • 08/02/2024: Republished the list to include the best computer monitors based on our True Score system.

Top Computer Monitors For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Asus ROG PG27AQDM

    The Asus ROG PG27AQDM is a premium monitor with superior color accuracy, rapid response time, and versatile use, ideal for creative professionals, gamers, and multimedia enthusiasts.

    Asus ROG PG27AQDM Review →

    True Score

    87
    89
    10

    Experts

    90
    6k

    Customers

    SAVE $45
    $799.00
    $754.00
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Dell S3222DGM

    The Dell S3222DGM offers great contrast, color accuracy, and performance for everyday computing, gaming, and streaming at an affordable price.

    Dell S3222DGM Review →

    True Score

    85
    83
    3

    Experts

    93
    5k

    Customers

    SAVE $80
    $329.99
    $249.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    HP OMEN 27QS

    The budget HP OMEN 27QS combines low input lag, high brightness, and vibrant colors, making it ideal for various tasks in bright environments and fast-paced applications.

    HP OMEN 27QS Review →

    True Score

    85
    83
    4

    Experts

    91
    1k

    Customers

    SAVE $50
    $299.99
    $249.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Dell Alienware AW3423DW

    The Dell Alienware AW3423DW offers exceptional color accuracy, top-tier HDR, and an immersive curved design, perfect for gaming, editing, and media consumption.

    Dell Alienware AW3423DW Review →

    True Score

    83
    85
    14

    Experts

    87
    2k

    Customers

    SAVE $300
    $1,099.99
    $799.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240

    The Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 excels in performance, color accuracy, and response time, making it ideal for gaming, streaming, and graphic design despite its high price.

    Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 Review →

    True Score

    83
    83
    10

    Experts

    88
    334

    Customers

    SAVE $300
    $999.99
    $699.99

Our Approach to Analyzing Computer Monitors

We’ve redefined computer monitor buying guides, setting us apart from any other site on the planet. Our unique approach uses a comprehensive dataset from trusted sites, focusing on key testing metrics like brightness, contrast ratio, input lag, and color gamut.

We aggregate and analyze this data, ensuring our recommendations meet the specific needs. Specifically, when it comes to computer monitors, this involves selecting models that deliver excellent color gamut, enough brightness for an office or home, and still feature flicker-free displays and blue light filters.

Which Criteria Matters for Testing Computer Monitors?

By focusing on these criteria, anyone can quickly and easily compare these computer monitors and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a computer monitor that will do exactly what you need it to.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
Contrast Ratio>1000:1YesThe difference in brightness between the whites (lit sections) and blacks (dim or unlit sections) of a monitor panel.
Brightness> 200 nitsYesHow bright the monitor will get, usually under specific testing conditions, like 10% windows (which means 10% of the screen is a white box.)
Color Gamut % (sRGB Coverage xy)> 90%YesHow much of the sRGB color gamut is covered by the monitor, which helps indicate color accuracy for web content and games.
Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy)> 90%No (Nice to have)How much of the DCI P3 xy color gamut is covered by the monitor, which helps indicate color accuracy for HDR content, which includes certain movies.
Color Gamut (Adobe RGB)> 95%No (Nice to have)How much of the Adobe RGB color gamut is covered by the monitor, which helps indicate color accuracy for photos and photo editing.
Input Lag< 15 msNo (Nice to have)The time it takes for the monitor to register inputs from the user and process them as action.
Response Time< 13 msNo (Nice to have)The time it takes for a pixel to change from one color to another.
Reflections< 6%No (Nice to have)The total amount of light, in percentage, your monitor reflects.

Our Trusted Data Sources

We looked at 110+ computer monitor reviewers and found that 28 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for computer monitors.

  1. Samuel Breton – Rtings, MuckRack
  2. Chris Eberle – Tom’s Hardware, LinkedIn
  3. Tony Hoffman – PC Mag, MuckRack

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every computer monitor review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

Computer Monitor Test Data & Results

1. Brightness (Nits) Test Results

Brightness is the biggest determining factor for how vivid images appear and how well a monitor is going to deal with the environment it’s placed in. Brightly lit offices will make it harder to see the screen if the brightness is too low, which degrades the image quality of anything on the screen.

In most situations, we recommend a brightness of at least 200 nits, though higher is always better, as it allows the monitor to be placed in progressively brighter rooms and offices without issue. That said, 200 nits are enough to work in standard lighting conditions so that images stay vivid.

Brightness (in nits; higher is better)

2. Contrast Ratio (as ratio, x:1) Test Results

Contrast ratio is responsible for making images appear “dynamic” and “dramatic.” By having a good contrast ratio, a monitor is able to recreate dramatic differences between light and dark spots in scenes, images, and games accurately.

At a minimum, we recommend a contrast ratio of 1000:1, as this will do a good enough job of allowing for detail in dark scenes and images. If the contrast ratio gets too low, the picture quality suffers, and the monitor performs worse across the board, no matter the lighting condition. By getting a monitor with a sufficiently high contrast ratio, you can ensure the picture quality doesn’t suffer, and dramatic scenes with stark shifts in lighting, whether they be in games or videos, are created as accurately as possible.

Contrast Ratio (higher is better)

3. Color Gamut/Accuracy % (DCI P3 xy) Test Results

Color gamut is responsible for making a monitor produce accurate colors when displaying a variety of content. The DCI P3 xy gamut is considered a “standard” gamut of sorts and is used to help color-grade films. Most HDR content will use this gamut at the very least (though other gamut exist) and it’s a commonly used gamut for films.

When it comes to a computer monitor, having a panel that covers at least 90% of the DCI P3 gamut means it’ll output accurate colors when watching HDR content and movies that use the gamut. If a monitor doesn’t cover enough of the gamut, it causes color inaccuracies and shifts the image quality. If you care about maintaining accuracy in the movies you watch so they look the way they were intended, this gamut needs to be properly covered.

Color Gamut P3 XY (in %; higher is better)

4. Color Gamut % (sRGB Coverage xY) Test Results

Since color gamut comes in a variety of different types, there’s bound to be some confusion as to which is meant for what. sRGB is an extremely common gamut that is used for the vast majority of web content, including how YouTube videos display, and is the primary gamut used for video games.

If you’re looking for accurate colors while web browsing, watching videos, or playing games, you’re going to want coverage of at least 90%. Higher is always better and hitting 100% means that if you correctly calibrate your monitor, you should be seeing content exactly as it was intended. Higher than 100% means that more than just the standard gamut has been covered, which can create more saturated and vivid colors. Coming in under 100% means the colors are less accurate, though this doesn’t become a major issue until you start to fall under 90%.

Color Gamut SRGB (in %; higher is better)

5. Color Gamut % (Adobe RGB Coverage xy) Test Results

As the name might imply, the Adobe RGB gamut is mostly focused on photo printing and was developed by Adobe themselves in order to give users the ability to know how a photo would look if it was printed using standard CMYK printers.

If you’re printing a lot of photos and editing them in most photo programs, this is a commonly used color gamut. By having it be at least 90% covered and properly calibrated, your monitor is able to show you how a photo you’re editing will look when it’s printed out. If the coverage of this gamut isn’t high enough, you’ll suffer the opposite and may end up wasting a lot of ink on photos that look great on your screen but seem to come out completely off when you print them.

Color Gamut Adobe RGB (in %; higher is better)

6. Input Lag (ms) Test Results

Input lag is more of a concern when it comes to gaming, but if you plan on using a monitor for a bit of gaming when you aren’t focused on productivity, editing, or other tasks, lower values help improve responsiveness. High input lag means your actions take longer to register on the monitor, effectively introducing an artificial delay to your reactions.

It’s for this reason that we generally recommend an input lag under 15 ms. This ensures the delay that’s introduced has minimal impact on your reactions to what’s happening on screen. It’s important to note that a high input lag won’t have any real effect on anything that isn’t gaming, so it can be safely ignored if you don’t plan on gaming on your monitor.

Input Lag (in ms; lower is better)

7. Response Time (ms) Test Results

Response time measures how long it takes pixels to change from one color to another, often gray to gray. Low response times mean the monitor is able to keep up with constant shifts in colors and helps prevent motion blur from being introduced to whatever you’re watching.

We generally recommend a response time that is 13 ms or less, as this will keep motion blur to a minimum, but if you don’t watch a lot of very high-intensity videos or play fast-paced games, response time isn’t going to matter much. It’s important to note that monitors will often advertise a 1ms or 2ms or 5ms response time, to name a few, but response time tests measure full color to color shifts, as well as overshoots, which produces different times than what the monitor often claims on the box. This is why response time is a listed spec, but also a testable criterion.

Response Time (in ms; lower is better)

8. Reflections % (Total Reflections) Test Results

When using a monitor in any kind of room outside of one that’s pitch black, the screen is going to reflect light. As the light becomes strong, you’re likely to see more light and more glare reflect off it, but depending on the coating and screen type, this can be mitigated. Good screen coatings will keep ambient light and direct light managed by reducing the impact they have on the screen. Bad reflection handling means even weak light sources will create glare that makes it hard to use the monitor.

That’s why we recommend your monitor reflect no more than 6% of the total light shining on it. This keeps glare in check, prevents image quality from being ruined, and allows you to actually see what you’re working on when using your monitor. Lower is always better, but 6% is enough to work without issue.

Reflections % (lower is better)

9. Viewing Angles Test Results

If you’ve ever crowded around a single monitor or used a multi-monitor setup, you might have noticed that sometimes, the image quality and colors on the monitor look odd or off. The point behind viewing angle testing is to identify how soon this happens, so you know how good a monitor is at being used for similar setups and situations. Monitors with great viewing angles can be looked at from broader angles than monitors with poor angles without worrying about a loss of color quality.

That’s why we generally recommend a viewing angle greater than 35. This gives you a little flexibility with how you position a monitor so it’s comfortable to use, and also means that you’ll be able to use it in a multi-monitor setup or at a standing desk without worry. Higher viewing angles are always better, of course, but generally speaking, the highest available viewing angles come from expensive OLED panels.

Viewing Angles (higher is better)

Computer Monitors: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Ignoring the Resolution and Screen Size: The resolution and screen size should match your intended use. For example, 1080p (Full HD) might suffice for everyday tasks and casual gaming, but 1440p (QHD) or 4K (UHD) is better for professional work like photo editing or for more immersive gaming experiences. For more on the differences in these resolutions, check out our page comparing 1080p vs. 4K for gaming. When deciding between a 24 vs 27 inch monitor, consider your workspace and viewing distance. The wrong resolution for the screen size can result in less sharp images or unnecessarily high power consumption.

  2. Not Considering Panel Type: Different panel types (TN, IPS, VA) have distinct characteristics. TN panels offer fast response times but have poorer color accuracy and viewing angles. IPS panels provide better color reproduction and viewing angles but may have slower response times and are usually more expensive. VA panels offer a middle ground with good contrast and decent color reproduction. You can learn more about contrast ratios or dynamic contrast and how they affect your image quality. Panel type affects color accuracy, viewing comfort, overall experience, and monitor lifespan.

  3. Neglecting Connectivity Options: Ensure the monitor has the necessary ports (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, etc.) for your devices. Also, consider additional features like USB hubs, headphone jacks, or built-in speakers. Not having the right connectivity options can limit the use of the monitor with your computer, gaming console, or other devices, leading to a frustrating setup experience.

  4. Ignoring Ergonomics and Adjustability: Ergonomic features like height adjustment, tilt, swivel, and pivot capabilities are crucial for ensuring a comfortable viewing experience. Monitors without these features can lead to poor posture and eye strain. Also, consider the type of stand or mount compatible with the monitor, especially if you plan to use a VESA mount. Overlooking these aspects can result in discomfort and potential health issues over prolonged use. Understanding how a monitor works can also help you make an informed decision. For instance, knowing the differences in panel technology and how they affect factors like response time and color accuracy can guide you in choosing the right type of monitor for your needs.

The Top Computer Monitor Tests Compared

Product
True Score
Brightness
Contrast Ratio
Color Gamut (DCI P3)
Color Gamut (sRGB)
Input Lag
Response Time (ms)
Reflections %

Asus ROG PG27AQDM

  • Best for Asus

87
  • 311.24 nits

  • 311.24:1

  • 94.85%

  • 99.98%

  • 10.8ms

  • 2.13ms

  • 2%

$754.00
$799
$45

Dell S3222DGM

  • Best for 32-Inch

85
  • 337.14 nits

  • 337.14:1

  • 85%

  • 98.1%

  • 18.25ms

  • 5ms

  • 5.4%

$249.99
$330
$80

HP OMEN 27QS

  • Best for 27-Inch

85
  • 389.5 nits

  • 389.5:1

  • 94.35%

  • 100%

  • 8.5ms

  • 4.2ms

  • 4.8%

$249.99
$300
$50
83
  • 241.39 nits

  • 241.39:1

  • 99.81%

  • 100%

  • 15.8ms

  • 1.96ms

  • 1.4%

$799.99
$1,100
$300
83
  • 317.53 nits

  • 317.53:1

  • 96.12%

  • 106.96%

  • 13.55ms

  • 0.79ms

  • 1.8%

$699.99
$1,000
$300

Computer Monitor Questions (FAQ)

What are the key factors to consider when choosing a computer monitor?

When selecting a computer monitor, consider the resolution, with higher resolutions like 4K providing sharper images. The size should fit your workspace and viewing preferences. A higher refresh rate (e.g., 144Hz) offers smoother motion, ideal for gaming and video editing. Panel type matters too; IPS panels provide better color accuracy and viewing angles, while TN panels are faster but have lower color quality. Finally, ensure the monitor has the necessary ports, such as HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C, to connect to your devices.

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