The 6 Best 1080p Monitors - Spring 2020
Reviews

The ASUS VG279Q is the best 1080p monitor we've tested so far. The resolution of this monitor may seem fairly basic, but don't be fooled: this monitor is one of the best for motion handling, especially for gaming. The excellent response time, low input lag, and 144Hz refresh rate provide a great fast-paced gaming experience with very little blur. There's even FreeSync variable refresh rate support to ensure you see as little image tearing as possible. Those with a recent NVIDIA graphics card can take advantage of this technology as well with a driver update.

Unfortunately, if you're looking for an immersive experience through HDR, you won't find it here. But the IPS panel does provide wide viewing angles and great color accuracy. It doesn't perform well in dark rooms, as the contrast ratio and black uniformity are poor, but that's to be expected with most IPS monitors.

There are also a few additional features we normally don't find on monitors, such as built-in speakers and a virtual crosshair. Needless to say, this monitor is a great choice for fast action games and can also perform well in any office setting as well.

The best ultrawide 1080p monitor that we've tested so far is the LG 34UC79G-B. This monitor's 21:9 aspect ratio provides incredible immersion when gaming, lets you multitask efficiently, and it's also great for watching movies, as most modern movies fill up the whole screen with no presence of black bars. It has an excellent response time that results in very minimal motion blur, and its 144Hz refresh rate helps to deliver a picture with smooth, fluid motion. Although it's entirely made out of plastic, it has a good build quality; however, ergonomics are poor, as the stand allows for tilt and height adjustments only.

This monitor supports FreeSync variable refresh rate and it's compatible with NVIDIA's G-SYNC as well. There are a good number of inputs available, including a USB hub to charge your mobile devices or to plug in other peripherals. Unfortunately, while this monitor's peak brightness and reflection handling make it suitable for use in bright rooms, dark room performance can be rather disappointing, as its low contrast ratio and bad black uniformity can be quite distracting. Its IPS panel provides good viewing angles and the screen has a gentle curve that can help with visibility too.

If you find the traditional 16:9 aspect ratio too limiting, then this monitor is a good option; just keep in mind that the extra pixels and the high refresh rate will require a beefier graphics card to drive it.

If you're looking for an office monitor but don't tend to have a ton of windows open at once, the best 1080p office monitor that we've tested so far is the Dell P2417H. This 24" monitor may be too small for people who do a lot of multitasking, but if your work only includes having one or two windows open at once, it's a very good office monitor. Like most Dell monitors, it has a professional-looking design with a great ergonomic stand that allows you to easily find a comfortable viewing position thanks to its swivel, height, and tilt adjustments.

This monitor uses an IPS panel, giving you good viewing angles, which is great if you need to share your monitor with coworkers. Its gray uniformity is great, and solid-colored screens like websites or documents will appear quite uniform without too much noticeable vignetting. The color accuracy out-of-the-box is also impressive, which is good if your work involves having an accurate representation of colors.

Unfortunately, the monitor can't get that bright, which may be an issue if you work in a very harsh environment as you may notice a lot of glare and reflections. On the upside, there's a light matte coating on the screen that does a good job at reducing the intensity of reflections but causes them to smear across the screen, which could be an issue in very bright environments. Overall, however, this is a good office monitor for most people thanks to its great ergonomic stand and great color accuracy.