The 6 Best Multimedia Monitors - Summer 2021 Reviews

The best monitor for movies with a 4k resolution that we've tested is the Dell S2721QS. It has a large 27 inch screen with a high pixel density to deliver a sharp image. The stand allows for height, tilt, and swivel adjustments, making it easier to get a comfortable viewing position or share the screen with someone else. The image remains accurate even if you view the screen from the side because it has great viewing angles like most IPS panels.

It has full sRGB coverage, which is great for viewing content in the standard dynamic range. Color accuracy is okay out of the box and good enough for general media consumption. There's HDR and wide gamut support; however, it has a mediocre contrast ratio with no local dimming to improve the black level, and it doesn't get quite bright enough for true HDR. The response time is pretty good for a 60Hz display, so fast motion looks reasonably clear with only a little bit of ghosting.

It has very low input lag and VRR support to reduce screen tearing if you want to play some games, and there are speakers built-in if you don't have dedicated ones. There's also a Picture-in-Picture mode that lets you display an image from two input sources simultaneously so that you can watch a TV show or movie while working. All in all, it's a simple but versatile monitor that should please most people.

The Gigabyte M27Q is the best multimedia monitor with a 1440p resolution we've tested. It's a 27 inch IPS model with wide viewing angles, which is great for sharing content with others as images remain accurate when viewing off-center. It has decent reflection handling and great peak brightness, so visibility shouldn't be an issue even in bright, sunny rooms. However, it isn't ideal for dark room viewing because it has a mediocre contrast ratio that makes blacks appear gray.

It has full sRGB coverage, the color space used in most content, and accuracy is outstanding out of the box, so you get accurate, life-like colors. It has an impressive HDR color gamut, but unfortunately, it doesn't get quite bright enough to deliver a true HDR experience. It has an exceptional response time that results in clear images in fast-moving scenes and a Black Frame Insertion feature to further improve motion clarity.

Sadly, the stand only allows for height and tilt adjustments; however, it can be VESA-mounted if you need swivel adjustment or pivot to portrait mode. It has a USB-C port that supports Display Port Alt Mode, Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes, and a KVM feature that lets you control devices with one set of keyboard and mouse. The backlight is flicker-free, and there's also a blue light filter to help reduce eye strain. Overall, it's a great and versatile monitor that should please most people.

The best multimedia monitor with an ultrawide screen that we've tested is the ASUS TUF Gaming VG43VQL1B. It's a 34 inch model with a 21:9 aspect ratio, which is great as most modern movies are in the same format, giving you a full-screen experience without any black bars. Like most VA panels, it has an excellent contrast ratio to produce deep blacks, making it a good choice for dark rooms. However, the viewing angles are fairly narrow, so it isn't ideal for sharing content with others.

It can deliver a pretty decent HDR experience. It supports a wide color gamut and gets bright enough to make some highlights pop in HDR. The lack of local dimming is disappointing but typical for a monitor in its price range. Unfortunately, there's a fair amount of dark smearing behind fast-moving objects even though it has a 165Hz refresh rate and an excellent response time, which might be disappointing to some people.

Feature-wise, it has a USB hub with four USB 3.0 so that you can plug your peripherals into the monitor for a cleaner setup. It also has built-in speakers, a blue light filter, and a Picture-in-Picture/Picture-by-Picture mode. The stand allows for height, tilt, and swivel adjustments, but it can't pivot to portrait mode due to its format. All in all, while there are some flaws, this is a great ultrawide monitor for media consumption.

The best monitor for movies in the budget category is the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV. Versatile and well-rounded, this is one of the better 1440p models we've tested, and most people should enjoy its picture quality, especially for its price point. It's well-built and also has built-in speakers, which is a nice addition if you don't want to get a dedicated setup.

Its large screen and high resolution helps deliver detailed and crisp images. Combined with its high peak brightness and very good reflection handling, you shouldn't have any issues placing it in a well-lit environment. The out-of-the-box color accuracy is good, so you likely won't need to get it calibrated unless you really want to. It has excellent gray uniformity and wide viewing angles if you want to sit back and enjoy a movie with a friend. If you also want to use it for gaming, it has an impressive response time, low input lag, and FreeSync support.

Sadly, it doesn't support HDR, although this is somewhat expected for a model of its price. It has a low contrast ratio, so blacks appear closer to gray when viewed in the dark. Luckily, its stand is one of the most ergonomic we've tested, so it's really easy to place in an ideal viewing position. If you're on a budget, this is the best monitor for watching movies that you can buy for a budget-friendly price.