The 5 Best 4k Monitors - Spring 2023 Reviews

The best 4k monitor we've tested is the Samsung LS32BG852NNXGO, known as the Neo G8. It's an excellent overall 32-inch monitor that's remarkable for different uses as it offers features for gaming, watching movies, or simply browsing the web. It delivers excellent picture quality thanks to its Mini LED backlighting that provides a decent full-array local dimming feature, which means it displays deep blacks next to bright highlights. Also, there's minimal blooming in dark scenes, making it great to use in dark rooms. Even if you want to use it in a bright room, it gets bright enough to fight glare.

Although it has narrow viewing angles that don't make it ideal for sharing the screen with others, its curved screen helps bring the edges within your field of vision so that the image doesn't look washed out at the sides when you're sitting right in front. If you want to use it for gaming, it has an incredibly fast 240Hz refresh rate that makes it future-proof for high-frame-rate gaming, but you can also consider the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75, which costs less and has a lower 165Hz refresh rate if that's what you prefer.

If you don't need the best of the best but still want a high-end monitor, consider an upper mid-range model like the LG 32GQ950-B. Like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85, it's mainly designed for gaming, but it's also versatile for other uses if you want something for work and play. It's a bit different from the Samsung, as it has worse picture quality because it doesn't have the same Mini LED backlighting. It also uses a different panel type, meaning the LG isn't as good for dark rooms, but it's still good enough to use in most well-lit rooms if that's what you prefer. It also has a lower 160Hz refresh rate than the Samsung monitor, but that doesn't make a difference if you don't have a premium gaming PC anyway.

Besides its gaming features, it's also great for general productivity or work use, as its 32-inch screen is big enough for multitasking and has fantastic text clarity. It also has wide viewing angles that make the image look the same from the sides, which is important if you often need to share your screen with someone else.

If you still find that the LG 32GQ950-B is too expensive, but you prefer a 4k monitor that's versatile for different uses, check out the Gigabyte M32U. The main trade-off between the two monitors is that the Gigabyte doesn't get as bright, meaning highlights don't pop as much in HDR, but that doesn't make a difference in HDR anyway. The Gigabyte still offers many of the same great features, like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, which lets you take full advantage of the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. It also has an impressive array of additional features, making it a great choice if you need a monitor for productivity and multitasking.

It has a built-in KVM switch that lets you control two devices with the same keyboard and mouse, which is great if you work with a laptop and desktop computer at the same time. It also has a USB-C port with support for DisplayPort Alt Mode that lets you easily connect to a laptop. However, because it's limited to only 15W of power delivery, it isn't enough to charge your laptop. If you find the 32-inch screen too big, there's a smaller variant known as the Gigabyte M28U, with slightly worse ergonomics and a dimmer screen, so the M32U is better overall.

If you aren't a gamer and want to save money by getting a 4k monitor with many features, a lower mid-range option like the Dell U2723QE is a great choice. As it's targeted only for productivity, you don't get the same gaming features as the Gigabyte M32U, like a high refresh rate or HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. However, the Dell is packed with tons of features that make it ideal for productivity, especially if you need to connect a desktop PC and a laptop. It has five USB-A ports and three USB-C ports, including one USB-C port that acts as the KVM switch and another that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode with 90W of power delivery, which is enough to charge most work laptops.

It has incredible ergonomics, so you can easily place it in an ideal viewing position. It's also an excellent monitor for content creators, with a remarkable SDR color gamut and excellent accuracy before calibration. Although it has a smaller 27-inch screen than the Gigabyte, it's still big enough to open two windows next to each other. You can also get the larger 32-inch Dell U3223QE, but it costs more, and colors are undersaturated in HDR.

If you don't need all the extra features and the massive USB hub of the Dell U2723QE, and you're looking for the best budget 4k monitor, consider the Dell S2722QC. As it's a lower-end model in Dell's productivity lineup, it has fewer USB ports and features because it doesn't have a KVM switch, but it still supports DisplayPort Alt Mode on its only USB-C input if you want to connect your laptop. The USB-C port supports 65W of power delivery, which is less than the 90W on the U2723QE, but is still enough to keep your laptop's battery alive while you're working. You can often find the S2722QC at a budget-friendly price, but if it isn't on sale, you can also find the Dell S2721QS at a low cost. It's a similar 4k monitor but doesn't have a USB hub.

Despite being a cheaper monitor than the U2723QE, the S2722QC has better reflection handling. Combined with its great peak brightness, you won't have any issues using this in a well-lit room. While it doesn't have a dedicated sRGB mode like the U2723QE, the color accuracy is still decent enough for everyday use.