The 6 Best 24-25 Inch Monitors - Spring 2020
Reviews

The best 25 inch monitor we've tested so far is the Dell U2518D. It's a 1440p monitor that performs well for any type of use, and out of the box, the colors are extremely accurate and it shouldn't need any sort of calibration. With an IPS panel, it has good viewing angles, but not as good as some other IPS monitors. You can still share your screen with people next to you or sit close to the screen without losing much image accuracy.

Unfortunately, the contrast ratio is mediocre and the black uniformity is inadequate, so blacks look gray in dark rooms. If you're planning on using this monitor in a bright environment, such as an office, it can get really bright and it handles reflections well to combat glare. The gray uniformity is also excellent, so uniform colors on the screen, such as web pages or documents, won't be distracting.

Gamers will appreciate the excellent response time and great input lag, but the 60Hz refresh rate and lack of variable refresh (VRR) rate technology will disappoint serious gamers. Overall, this is the best 25 inch monitor we've tested.

The best 24 inch gaming monitor that we've tested so far is the Dell S2417DG. It has a 144Hz refresh rate that can go up to 165Hz with the factory overclock setting, and it uses G-SYNC VRR technology to reduce tearing in games. The input lag is exceptionally low in native resolution, but it does increase a bit with VRR enabled. The response time on the TN panel is fantastic, so there's minimal motion blur, and it includes a black frame insertion feature to help reduce motion blur.

Unfortunately, the use of the TN panel comes at the cost of good picture quality. The contrast ratio is poor, black uniformity is bad, and the viewing angles are inadequate if you need to share your screen with others. On the upside, it can get fairly bright and it handles reflections well, so the monitor performs well even in bright rooms.

Overall, it performs well for gaming, making it the best 24 inch gaming monitor we've tested so far.

The Dell P2417H is the best 24 inch monitor in the budget category. It's a fairly basic monitor but still performs admirably. With a 1080p resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate, this IPS monitor delivers decent picture quality and acceptable motion handling. Although not as stylish as the rest of Dell's lineup, the ergonomics are great on this monitor, allowing you to adjust the height, tilt, swivel, and rotation to portrait mode. Like most IPS monitors, it has good viewing angles, but unfortunately, it doesn't look as good in a dark room, where blacks appear gray. This monitor can do some casual gaming, but the slower response time and lack of advanced gaming features may deter more serious gamers.

If cost is a concern, this monitor is a very decent choice.