4k monitors have become more accessible and popular in recent years. With a ton of models available, they deliver more details than lower-resolution displays. Plus, they have high enough pixel density for sharp text, making them ideal for work-related purposes. Besides that, they're versatile for different uses, as some also include gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, which lets you take full advantage of current-gen gaming consoles and modern graphics cards.
Having a high resolution doesn't guarantee good performance, so when looking for a 4k display, it's important to consider your needs. For example, it's important to have high brightness if you want to use it in a bright workspace, while a fast response time is beneficial for gaming. Also, consider your budget, as 4k monitors are available at a variety of price points, with higher-end models offering the most features and best picture quality.
We've bought and tested more than 385 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best 4k monitors. Check out our picks for the best 4k gaming monitors, the best multimedia monitors, and the best 4k 144Hz monitors. If you want a higher resolution, then check out the best 5k monitors.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
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Best 4k Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingConsole GamingSDR PictureHDR PictureBrightnessColor AccuracySize27"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeQD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160The ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM is the best 4k monitor we've tested. It's a premium 27-inch, 240Hz QD-OLED monitor with superb picture quality. It displays perfect blacks in dark rooms with no haloing around bright objects, giving it an advantage over 4k displays with LED-backlit LCD panels. Small highlights also stand out, and colors are vivid, making it a fantastic choice for watching or editing content in HDR. Additionally, it's fantastic for gaming, with incredible motion handling and virtually no blur. It even has some productivity features, like a USB-C port with 90W of power delivery and a KVM switch. This makes it easy to change sources, like if you have a work laptop and a gaming PC connected to the monitor.
The main downside of getting this monitor is that OLEDs can suffer from burn-in from constant exposure to the same static elements over time. This can be problematic if you're constantly (and only) using the monitor for work. If you're changing things up, including gaming, you would benefit from an OLED like the ASUS. Despite its flaws, it's far better than any other 4k monitor, so it's worth getting if you want the best of the best for different uses.
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Best Upper Mid-Range 4k Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingConsole GamingSDR PictureHDR PictureBrightnessColor AccuracySize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM is out of your budget but you still want premium features, look into the Dell U2725QE. It's a 27-inch monitor like the ASUS, but the main difference is that it doesn't have an OLED panel, so it's a clear step-down in picture quality. Colors aren't as vivid, and it doesn't display the same deep blacks either. It has a decent native contrast ratio thanks to its IPS Black panel, but its terrible local dimming feature causes haloing and actually makes the contrast ratio worse in HDR.
This is the trade-off you have to make for a lower-cost monitor, but it focuses on work features and not HDR picture quality. This is because it comes with a massive USB hub that includes five USB-A ports and five USB-C ports. It supports Thunderbolt 4 and 140W of power delivery, so you can connect even power-hungry laptops, like MacBooks, and charge them with one cable. It also has a KVM switch, allowing you to easily switch between devices and use the same peripherals on both.
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Best Mid-Range 4k Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingConsole GamingSDR PictureHDR PictureBrightnessColor AccuracySize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate320 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If you want a mid-range 4k monitor, you can save money by choosing the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. It's different from the Dell U2725QE because it doesn't have the same high-end productivity features. It has a smaller USB hub and doesn't support Thunderbolt 4. Regardless, it still has two USB-A ports and a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode and 90W of power delivery, allowing you to quickly connect a laptop. It even has a KVM switch, which helps if you have two sources connected to the monitor.
Its greatest strength comes with its picture quality. It uses Mini LED backlighting and has a much better local dimming feature than the Dell. This helps it deepen blacks and make highlights pop in HDR, making it a decent choice if you need to edit HDR content. However, there's haloing around bright objects, and you can't use local dimming in SDR. On the plus side, the monitor gets bright, so it fights glare well in any environment. It also has a few handy gaming features, including a dual mode that boosts its native 160Hz refresh rate to 320Hz with a lower 1080p resolution.
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Best Lower Mid-Range 4k Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingConsole GamingSDR PictureHDR PictureBrightnessColor AccuracySize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160While the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx is often on sale for a low price, if you can't find it available within your budget, the Dell S2725QC is a cheaper alternative. It has fewer gaming features than the Acer, as it has a lower refresh rate and worse motion handling. That said, the main downside is that it has worse picture quality due to the lack of Mini LED backlighting. Without a local dimming feature, blacks look gray in HDR, and highlights don't pop for an impactful viewing experience. However, since you can only use local dimming in HDR on the Acer, the SDR picture quality is similar between the two.
Regardless, the Dell has what you'd need in a 4k monitor for work. It includes a small USB hub that has two USB-C ports, one of which supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and 65W of power delivery. This is enough to charge most laptops while you're using them, but you'll need a charging cable handy if you have a power-hungry laptop. While it isn't as bright as the Acer, it still fights some glare in well-lit rooms.
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Best Budget 4k Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingConsole GamingSDR PictureHDR PictureBrightnessColor AccuracySize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If you're looking for the best budget 4k monitor, there are some good options, like the Dell S2725QS. It's very similar to the Dell S2725QC, with the biggest trade-off being that it doesn't have a USB hub. This means you can't connect devices directly to the monitor, and you have to make sure your computer has enough ports available. It has similar features to the S2725QC, including a 120Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling through long documents feel smoother compared to lower-refresh-rate displays.
Besides that, it's a useful monitor for work. It includes a wide viewing angle and an extremely ergonomic stand that makes it easy to adjust. It even has a dedicated sRGB mode that's very accurate before any sort of calibration. However, it has limited picture quality in HDR because it doesn't display a wide range of colors and has a low contrast ratio.
Notable Mentions
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ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG:
The ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG is larger than the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM and is worth considering if you want a 32-inch OLED. It performs similarly and is better suited to bright rooms thanks to its lower black levels, but its colors aren't as vivid.
See our review -
Dell Alienware AW2725Q:
The Dell Alienware AW2725Q is a 27-inch QD-OLED that's cheaper than the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM. It's a good choice if you find the ASUS too expensive, but this monitor has fewer features, lacking a KVM switch and DisplayPort Alt Mode.
See our review -
Dell S3225QC:
The Dell S3225QC is a 4k QD-OLED that's in the same price range as the Dell U2725QE. Get the S3225QC if you want the superior picture quality of its OLED panel. However, it has fewer work perks than the U2725QE, and risks burn-in.
See our review -
Dell U3225QE:
The Dell U3225QE is a larger alternative to the Dell U2725QE if you want a 32-inch display. It has most of the same features and performs similarly, but the U3225QE costs more.
See our review -
MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M:
The MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M is a mid-range Mini LED monitor that competes with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. It has many of the same features and is a bit more well-rounded because you can use its local dimming feature in SDR. However, it tends to cost more than the Acer.
See our review
Recent Updates
Mar 27, 2026:
We replaced the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV with the MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M in the Notable Mentions.
Mar 10, 2026:
We replaced the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM with the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG in the Notable Mentions.
Feb 12, 2026:
We replaced the Dell S3225QS with the Dell S3225QC in the Notable Mentions.
Jan 23, 2026:
We removed the BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX as it's harder to find, and we renamed the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM to the 'Best 4k Monitor.' We also replaced the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biiprux, which has better picture quality, and we added the Dell S2725QC. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the LG 27GR93U-B with the PA279CRV.
Oct 01, 2025:
We replaced the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx with the BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX because the Acer is hard to find now. We also added the Dell U2725QE as the 'Best Upper Mid-Range 4k Monitor' to give another option. Lastly, we replaced the Dell S2721QS with the newer Dell S2725QS. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED with the Dell U3225QE and we added the Dell S3225QS.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best 4k monitors that are currently available. They're adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. The rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you'd prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all of our 4k monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.