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What are the features that make for the best monitor for reading documents? The most important aspect to consider when reading about how to buy a monitor and shopping for a new reading monitor is whether or not it makes reading easier overall. This involves many different features and functionalities.
The best computer monitor for reading gives you a crisp image quality so any text you read, whether in color or black and white, appears sharp and detailed. Good image quality relies on high screen resolution, wide viewing angles, vibrant colors, and deeper blacks.
Not only does it rely on monitor quality, but as well as a solid, high-end monitor stand, so you can adjust it however you need.
Next, you’ll want your reading monitor to offer some kind of protection for your eyes. The best monitor for eyes will have features like an eye saver mode, a blue light filter, or eye care technology to help lessen eye strain. This allows you to read for longer without worrying about hurting your eyes.
Finally, your monitor for reading purposes should always still offer the same basic trappings that you can expect from traditional computer monitors. Plenty of connectivity options, adjustability, and built-in speakers are all features you might want to consider. These features also complement other professions and hobbies that may require a decent display that shows fine details, like the best video editing monitor.
Keep reading to learn more about the best monitors for reading documents and the features you should consider. This way, you’ll be able to purchase the right fit for your needs and office space.
Moreover, while having the perfect monitor for reading documents is important, you may also want to consider getting a warranty on it so it can be replaced it if breaks, but first decide if a monitor warranty is worth it to you. Just like you’ll find in our Pixio FreeSync certified productivity warranty review, you can find a warranty that fits any monitor.
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This well-rounded Full HD monitor delivers stunning visuals. The display boasts anti-flicker technology, so it doesn’t cause eye strain and fatigue when reading for long periods.
The Sceptre E248W-19203R is a full HD monitor. It has a monitor resolution of 1080p, which is suitable for most office tasks. This monitor has two HDMI ports and a VESA mounting interface simplifies attaching this monitor to the wall. It also has built-in speakers for music playback. However, the speakers have poor sound quality, so they are only suitable for video calls and background music, or you can invest in speakers for computer monitor models like this one.
Content creators will be delighted to learn that this computer monitor covers 95% of the sRGB color space. This device features anti-flicker technology, so it won’t cause eye strain even with extended use. This model has decent gaming abilities, featuring a 75Hz refresh rate and fast response time. This monitor comes with a detachable stand, so you can replace it as needed. If you’d like to use your monitor for gaming as well, consider a model with a high refresh rate and decent resolution, like monitors with 1080p 144hz specs. Consider reading our guide to the best brightness and contrast settings for monitors if you’d like to learn further about settings that should reduce eye strain.
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This nice-looking monitor features low blue light mode that reduces eye strain, so users can read for long time periods. This display has a wide variety of ports, making connecting consoles and PCs easy.
The HP 24mh is a 24-inch monitor that provides excellent visuals. It has a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080, so It’s ideal for working with document processing programs. With 178-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles, this monitor supports sitting side-by-side with other devices. It has a MicroEdge screen that provides an immersive viewing experience. Two built-in 2-watt speakers facilitate conference calling and music playback. However, adjusting the speaker volume is not straightforward on this model.
This monitor has a low blue light mode to reduce eye strain during lengthy sessions. It also boasts a wide variety of ports, including VGA, HDMI, and DisplayPort. Equipped with a VESA interface, this monitor supports wall-mounting. This display features fast refresh rates of up to 75Hz, so it renders games and movies quite smoothly. This device has a heavy-duty stand with this table base that doesn’t wobble.
Award: BEST FOR PRESENTATIONS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This color-accurate monitor produces vivid graphics, making it a good choice for reading presentations and previewing graphical content. It also has advanced gaming features.
The Acer Nitro XV272U Pbmiiprzx 27-Inch monitor is a widescreen QHD monitor, which offers excellent split-screen features. It has a frameless design that works well in side-by-side monitor setups. The screen has an impressive DCI-P3 color gamut, so it performs admirably in design and content creation workflows like the best monitors for graphic design. It has accurate, natural colors, with a super low Delta E of just 2, and supports a whopping 1.07 billion colors. Although the monitor has HDR, the screen is a bit dim.
This monitor boasts impressive gaming features that include NVIDIA’s anti-tearing G-SYNC tech. It also has an amazing refresh rate of 144 Hz for smoothly displaying high-frame-rate content. A DisplayPort input, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and four USB 3.0 ports connect computers, consoles, and computer peripherals. The monitor has two built-in 2W speakers, which suit text-to-speech applications. Its 2560 x 1440 high resolution offers outstanding text clarity. If you have a device that uses a Thunderbolt cable, make sure to invest in an adapter or look at the best Thunderbolt monitors.
Award: BEST FOR MULTI-WINDOW PROJECTS
WHY WE LIKE IT: Although it’s designed primarily for gamers, this monitor’s 1800R curvature and eye-care tech enable comfortable reading. The monitor has high dynamic range tech, which offers adequate brightness for fighting glare in very brightly lit environments.
The ASUS VG32VQ monitor features a curved design that reduces strain when working with text documents. This 32-inch monitor has a QHD resolution and is especially suited for split-screen multitasking. Although it’s primarily marketed towards gaming enthusiasts, this ASUS monitor boasts a number of features that appeal to people working with text. It comes with ASUS proprietary Eye Care technology to reduce eye strain. The stand is quite ergonomic, allowing for height adjustment, tilting, and even pivoting.
Gaming enthusiasts will appreciate this monitor’s cutting-edge features like ASUS extreme low motion blur sync (ELMB Sync), a 144Hz refresh rate, and FreeSync Premium. This ASUS VG32VG monitor supports HDR and offers a number of HDR modes to enhance both gaming and internet browsing. The monitor has a very high peak brightness, so it favors people who work in very brightly lit offices. It has a number of inputs, including two HDMI 2.0 ports and a DisplayPort 1.2 connector.
Award: BEST FOR HIGH-CONTRAST READING
WHY WE LIKE IT: The stand of this monitor is sturdy and allows for tilting and some swiveling, so users can read documents in a variety of orientations. Additionally, the monitor has powerful features for gamers.
The Dell S2421HGF 24-inch monitor is a Full-HD model with a wide 24-inch screen. This monitor has razor-thin bezels, providing immersive views for reading enthusiasts. It offers excellent picture quality and decent text clarity. In addition to the standard tilting and height-adjustment capabilities, the stand on this monitor swivels, allowing users to change the screen orientation when reading or previewing documents. The stand is quite stable, so it won’t wobble. A VESA interface enables hassle-free wall-mounting.
This Dell S2421HG 24-inch monitor features a TN panel with an infinite contrast ratio, so it suits people who prefer browsing and reading at high-contrast settings. Gaming enthusiasts will be pleased with the AMD FreeSync tech on this display, which eliminates screen tearing. The monitor supports incredible refresh rates of up to 144Hz, delivering very fluid gameplay and video playback. With a snappy response time of just 1 ms, this monitor provides an edge in games.
Award: BEST FOR NIGHT-TIME READING
WHY WE LIKE IT: The monitor has a gorgeous curved screen that provides an immersive experience and reduces neck strain. It boasts advanced eye care features, which reduce fatigue for people who read for long hours.
The Samsung LC27F398FW9XZA monitor blends the benefits of a curved screen with considerable screen real estate to help users enjoy reading and movies. This monitor has a wide color gamut and features astounding color accuracy, so it’s ideal for content processing workflows. The monitor has a V-shaped stand with a small footprint, enabling users to maximize space for computer peripherals. It has a 3.5mm output for connecting audio devices.
With a contrast ratio of 3,000:1, this Samsung LC27F398FW9XZA monitor is ideal for users who want to enhance legibility with high contrast settings. The monitor has flicker-free tech, so it won’t affect people who are sensitive to flickering. An Eye Saver mode filters out blue light for comfortable reading. Featuring a thin design and a matte black finish, this display adds a touch of sophistication to any desk. Boasting a very bright screen that reaches 200 nits, this Samsung monitor is a good choice for moderately lit offices.
A monitor for reading documents is a computer display made specifically for both reading and working on text documents, PDF files, and spreadsheets. These monitors work in essentially the same manner as a standard computer display in that they connect directly to your computer via a display cable and input port.
When it comes to monitors for reading documents and traditional monitors, you won’t be able to find much difference on the surface between the two. However, as you start to consider specific features and functionalities, there are definitely differences to consider.
For starters, the best reading monitors will feature some kind of eye care technology, which helps prevent eyes strain and keeps your eyes healthy when using your monitor for long periods of time. This eye care technology usually comes in the form of a blue light filter or flicker-free technology.
In some rare cases, a reading monitor uses e-ink technology instead of standard LCD display technology. An e-ink display mimics the appearance and feel of regular paper. Instead of using emissive technology like LCD screens, an e-ink display uses reflective technology to create the image.
Monitors for reading documents work in much the same way as traditional monitors. You plug the monitor into your computer or laptop using one of the connectivity ports. Once properly connected, your monitor will display text, images, and software from your computer.
Reading monitors most commonly use LCD technology, which stands for liquid crystal display. These monitors use two panels of glass with a liquid crystal material in between them, which reacts to the backlighting to reproduce the data coming from your computer.
The best monitors for reading documents utilize an IPS panel because of their ability to produce wide viewing angles, better color accuracy, and high maximum brightness. Of course, you will not need bright colors like when you are looking for the best monitor for nintendo switch but you also need something that is full of color and brightness.
If you’re constantly working with or reading documents on your computer, whether for work or personal reasons, then a monitor for reading documents is invaluable. Since these monitors reproduce the text in sharp detail, they make it easier for you to do your work easily.
Plus, since virtually all monitors for reading emit blue light, their inclusion of eye care technology is absolutely essential for anyone who works with documents regularly.
The lifespan of your monitor for reading documents ultimately depends on the display type you purchase. In general, you have three choices when it comes to your monitor’s display type: e-ink, LCD, and LED.
One of the easiest ways to expand your reading monitor’s overall lifespan is to use it less often. Of course, this isn’t always possible, so we also recommend keeping it in a dust-free and clean environment.
Before purchasing a monitor for reading documents, it’s essential that you take the necessary time to figure out exactly what you need first. The information in this section of the guide can help you through that process.
The following questions can help you differentiate between the features you want, the features you need, and the features that are completely unnecessary for your reading monitor. Answer the questions so you can start to narrow down your choices.
Before anything else, you’ll want to determine what kind of display technology to purchase. In general, monitors for reading documents will offer one of these display technologies:
You’ll also need to consider what panel type you want for your reading monitor. There are three main panel types to consider: VA, TN, and IPS. In general, an IPS panel is the best choice in every instance.
If you purchase an IPS LED monitor, you’ll get a wide viewing angle, high maximum brightness, accurate colors, and a long lifespan. These are all aspects that you want in your reading monitor.
The other panel types are good in their own right, but they aren’t nearly as useful as an IPS panel.
If you’re planning on using your monitor for reading documents for hours at a time, you should consider an option that includes features and technology dedicated solely to protecting your eye health.
Some manufacturers offer branded eye-care functionality, but for the most part, this includes things like flicker-free technology, a blue light filter, and fast refresh rates to prevent screen tear and skipping.
You should also purchase a computer display that allows you to adjust the brightness levels on the fly so you can adjust throughout the day as necessary.
Screen size is an important feature to factor into your research with any kind of computer monitor. Many times, your monitor’s display size is a subjective matter. However, when it comes to reading documents on your monitor, screen size is a little more important.
One of the most common screen sizes for computer monitors is 24 inches. This screen size is fine for reading and working on documents. We recommend purchasing a monitor with a larger size than this, though. For the most part, the best size for reading monitors is between 27 inches and 32 inches.
With a larger screen, you’ll be able to read more in a single window and enlarge the font size for easier reading.
The best monitor for reading documents needs to offer a high display quality. This way, the text and graphics on your documents will appear crisp, clear, and detailed.
These are the most important features to consider when analyzing display quality:
Any other features on your monitor for reading documents really come down to your own personal preferences. Let’s take a look at some of the additional features you should consider during your research: