- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Best Monitor
- Best 1440p
- Best Budget
- All Reviews
- Discussions
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You don't need to spend a fortune on the latest 4k TV to get an enjoyable movie experience; most monitors deliver a decent multimedia experience. New 4k monitors have some of the same features as high-end TVs, including support for HDR and even local dimming for better dark room performance. However, our recommendations aren't limited to only 4k resolutions, as the difference between 1440p and 4k on monitors this size can be difficult to notice at a distance.
We've reviewed more than 85 monitors, and below you'll find our recommendations for the best monitors to watch movies that are available for purchase in 2020. See also our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best 1440p monitors, and the best monitors overall.
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Best 4k Multimedia Monitor: LG 27UK650-W
Size 27"Resolution 3840x2160Refresh Rate 60 HzLCD TypeIPSVariable Refresh RateFreeSyncThe LG 27UK650-W is the best multimedia monitor that we've tested so far, and the best monitor for movies. This 27 inch, 4k screen delivers an immersive multimedia experience with its HDR support, and although the performance is somewhat hindered by its mediocre peak brightness and the lack of local dimming features, the gradient performance is outstanding, which minimizes banding. It also has wide viewing angles, great for watching the latest trending videos with your friends.
Response time on this monitor is great for gaming and fast action scenes; however, you're limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. Given that 4k gaming at a high refresh rate is still uncommon due to hardware constraints, we don't expect it to be an issue. Inputs include two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort, which allows for multiple devices to be connected, such as a gaming console or media streamer.
As expected, the IPS panel isn't ideal for darker rooms, as it can't produce true blacks and has mediocre black uniformity. Overall, though, it's a very good monitor that's feature-packed for its price.
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Larger Alternative: LG 32UD99-W
Size 32"Resolution 3840x2160Refresh Rate 60 HzLCD TypeIPSVariable Refresh RateFreeSyncIf you like the LG 27UK650-W but screen size and real estate are more important to you, check out the LG 32UD99-W instead. This larger model offers almost identical performance, with great motion handling, wide viewing angles, and excellent gradients. Other than the difference in screen size, this monitor has slightly better contrast ratio, a wider color gamut, and better black uniformity than the other LG. Finally, connectivity is also improved with the addition of a USB-C port, which allows you to connect a laptop and use it as a second screen or to charge other devices.
If you're looking for the absolute best multimedia monitor, go for the LG 27UK650-W due to its price and features; that said, if you're looking for something larger, LG 32UD99-W is an excellent choice, though it has a significant increase in price.
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Best 1440p Multimedia Monitor: ASUS TUF VG27AQ
Size 27"Resolution 2560x1440Refresh Rate 144 HzLCD TypeIPSVariable Refresh RateFreeSyncThe best 1440p multimedia monitor we've tested so far is the ASUS TUF VG27AQ. It lacks the LG 27UK650-W's 4k resolution, so the latest content won't display at its native resolution, but it's still an impressive monitor for consuming multimedia. It has decent reflection handling, so a few more lights in the room won't be an issue, and thanks to its wide viewing angles, both you and a friend can enjoy an accurate image when you watch a movie together. The input lag is extremely low and the response time is very fast, so the monitor feels very responsive and displays very crisp motion with almost no blur.
Unfortunately, it can't display deep blacks in a dark room like most IPS monitors and doesn't have a wide color gamut. Although it supports HDR content, it can't display the full richness of colors in some HDR content.
Overall, however, this is an impressive monitor that will deliver great multimedia performance.
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Dark Room Alternative: Samsung C27HG70
Size 27"Resolution 2560x1440Refresh Rate 144 HzLCD TypeVAVariable Refresh RateFreeSyncIf you often consume multimedia in a dark room and you find that the ASUS TUF VG27AQ can't deliver the deep blacks you want, then check out the Samsung CHG70. It has a great contrast ratio, thanks to its VA panel, and displays deep blacks in a dark room. The monitor also looks great in a bright room thanks to its high peak brightness and very good reflection handling. Unfortunately, you have to sit straight in front to enjoy an accurate image.
If you want the best 1440p monitor for multimedia, get the ASUS, but if deep blacks in dark room are important, then the Samsung is a better choice.
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Wider Alternative: Samsung C49RG9
Size 49"Resolution 5120x1440Refresh Rate 120 HzLCD TypeVAVariable Refresh RateFreeSyncIf you like the ASUS TUF VG27AQ but want deep blacks in a dark room and a large ultrawide screen, get the Samsung C49RG9. It's a curved 49 inch ultrawide display with an impressive 32:9 aspect ratio, equivalent to two 1440p, 16:9 displays placed side-by-side. Thanks to its design, it delivers an amazingly immersive movie-watching experience that looks great in a dark room. The monitor also looks great in a bright room thanks to is remarkable peak brightness.
If size and dark room viewing are important, the ultrawide Samsung is a great choice; otherwise, the best 1440p monitor for multimedia consumption for most people is the ASUS.
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Best Budget Multimedia Monitor: Dell U2518D
Size 25"Resolution 2560x1440Refresh Rate 60 HzLCD TypeIPSVariable Refresh RateNoFor those concerned about cost, the Dell U2518D is the best monitor for movies in the budget category that we've reviewed so far. It's a 25 inch, 1440p IPS monitor with wide viewing angles and a great design. The overall picture quality is good but is best suited for a bright room. Response time is also excellent with very little motion blur. Unfortunately, while it does support HDR, the performance is hindered due to the mediocre peak brightness and the lack of wide color gamut.
Overall, it's a very versatile monitor that should please most people, regardless of your use, landing it among our best multimedia monitors.
Notable Mentions
- Dell U2718Q: Very good monitor for multimedia, but the LG 27UK650 is a bit better for almost the same price. See our review
- ASUS ROG PG279Q: Good monitor, but the LG 27UK650 is better and cheaper. See our review
- Acer Predator X27: Great monitor, but extremely expensive. See our review
- LG 27UD68P-B: Decent media monitor, but it's worth it to upgrade to the CHG70. See our review
- Dell AW3418DW: Decent ultrawide media monitor, but very expensive. See our review
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors currently available for multimedia. They are adapted to be valid for most people, in each price range. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the metrics that fare worse are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
Recent Updates
01/08/2020: Added the ASUS TUF VG27AQ and changed the article structure.
11/06/2019: Minor text and structure changes; removed one recommendation as the price is too close to the main pick.
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