- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Best Monitor
- Best Dark Room
- Best Budget
- All Reviews
- Discussions
The 5 Best Multimedia Monitors - Spring 2019
Reviews
- Store-bought monitors; no cherry-picked units
- Retest after major updates
- Easily comparable results
- No ads; unbiased reviews
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. Monitors typically have extremely low input lag, and most have fast response times for clear motion.
We've reviewed 64 monitors, and below you'll find our recommendations for the best multimedia monitors that are available for purchase in 2019. See also our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best 1440p monitors, and the best monitors overall.
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Best Multimedia Monitor: LG 27UK650-W
Usage Ratings - Version 1.07.9MultimediaScore components:- 17% Resolution and Size
- 10% Input Lag
- 8% Reflections
- 8% Vertical Viewing Angle
- 7% Horizontal Viewing Angle
- 6% Gray Uniformity
- 5% Ergonomics
- 5% Black Uniformity
- 4% Motion Blur
- 4% Refresh Rate
- 4% SDR Color Gamut
- 4% SDR Color Volume
- 3% Gradient
- 3% SDR Peak Brightness
- 2% Contrast
- 2% Image Flicker
- 2% HDR Peak Brightness
- 2% HDR Color Gamut
- 2% HDR Color Volume
- 1% Local Dimming
- 1% Pre Calibration
Score distribution:LCD Type: IPSWhat it is: Type of LCD technology used by the monitor.When it matters: Different technologies have different viewing angle properties.Variable Refresh Rate: FreeSyncWhat it is: Feature that allows the monitor to synchronize its refresh rate with the input device's output and reduces stuttering and screen tearing.When it matters: Almost every usage, but is most noticeable in gaming where constant fluctuation in framerate cause distracting artifacts.The LG 27UK650 is the best multimedia monitor that we've tested so far. The 27", 4k screen delivers a more immersive multimedia experience. The 27UK650 supports HDR, although it has limited performance, as it can't get very bright in HDR and lacks a local dimming feature. It also has wide viewing angles, great for watching the latest trending videos with your friends.
Fast action scenes look great thanks to the fast response time, and it has outstanding gradient performance, so movies look their best, with no noticeable banding or other issues. It has a good selection of inputs, so you can easily connect your PC and a console or two, or even a media streaming device if you want to access premium streaming channels that aren't available on PC.
Unfortunately, the 27UK650 doesn't look as good in a dark room, as it can't produce true blacks and has mediocre black uniformity. Overall though, it is a very good monitor that should please most people.
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Larger Alternative: LG 32UD99-W
LCD Type: IPSWhat it is: Type of LCD technology used by the monitor.When it matters: Different technologies have different viewing angle properties.Variable Refresh Rate: FreeSyncWhat it is: Feature that allows the monitor to synchronize its refresh rate with the input device's output and reduces stuttering and screen tearing.When it matters: Almost every usage, but is most noticeable in gaming where constant fluctuation in framerate cause distracting artifacts.If you like the LG 27UK650 but would prefer a larger screen, then take a look at the LG 32UD99. There are very few differences between the two. Both have a great 4k screen, FreeSync support, and 60 Hz refresh rate. They also have nearly identical low input lag and the same great response time. The 32UD99 has a slightly wider color gamut, in SDR and HDR, and has extra USB ports that allow it to be used as a USB hub.
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Best Dark Room Multimedia Monitor: Samsung C27HG70
Usage Ratings - Version 1.07.7MultimediaScore components:- 17% Resolution and Size
- 10% Input Lag
- 8% Reflections
- 8% Vertical Viewing Angle
- 7% Horizontal Viewing Angle
- 6% Gray Uniformity
- 5% Ergonomics
- 5% Black Uniformity
- 4% Motion Blur
- 4% Refresh Rate
- 4% SDR Color Gamut
- 4% SDR Color Volume
- 3% Gradient
- 3% SDR Peak Brightness
- 2% Contrast
- 2% Image Flicker
- 2% HDR Peak Brightness
- 2% HDR Color Gamut
- 2% HDR Color Volume
- 1% Local Dimming
- 1% Pre Calibration
Score distribution:LCD Type: VAWhat it is: Type of LCD technology used by the monitor.When it matters: Different technologies have different viewing angle properties.Variable Refresh Rate: FreeSyncWhat it is: Feature that allows the monitor to synchronize its refresh rate with the input device's output and reduces stuttering and screen tearing.When it matters: Almost every usage, but is most noticeable in gaming where constant fluctuation in framerate cause distracting artifacts.If you like to watch videos or game at night on your computer in a dark room, check out the Samsung CHG70. It has a very good native contrast ratio, so blacks appear black in a dark room. It also has a local dimming feature, although it isn't very effective. It has great peak brightness in SDR, but HDR is only decent.
The 27" curved 4k screen is great for watching movies. Fast action scenes look great and are nearly free of motion blur thanks to the extremely fast response time. It is also flicker-free by default, which is great if flicker bothers you, but it does have the option to introduce flicker to improve motion clarity.
It has an excellent 144 Hz refresh rate and extremely low input lag, which is great for gaming. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the wide viewing angles found on IPS monitors, but the curved screen helps a bit to ensure an accurate image when sitting up close. Overall, it is a very good monitor that should please most people.
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Wider Alternative: Samsung C49HG90
LCD Type: VAWhat it is: Type of LCD technology used by the monitor.When it matters: Different technologies have different viewing angle properties.Variable Refresh Rate: FreeSyncWhat it is: Feature that allows the monitor to synchronize its refresh rate with the input device's output and reduces stuttering and screen tearing.When it matters: Almost every usage, but is most noticeable in gaming where constant fluctuation in framerate cause distracting artifacts.If you like the Samsung CHG70 but would prefer an ultrawide monitor, check out the CHG90. This massive 49" monitor is great for multitasking, and you can easily watch a widescreen movie on one half of the screen, and still work on the other half. The CHG90 also has a Picture-By-Picture mode, allowing you to display two 16:9 sources at once.
Like the CHG70, the CHG90 has good dark room performance, but limited viewing angles. Unfortunately, unlike the CHG70, the CHG90 has PWM flicker in the backlight, which can be distracting to some people. Overall though, it is a good monitor that should please most people, assuming it fits on your desk.
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Best Budget Multimedia Monitor: Dell U2518D
Usage Ratings - Version 1.07.7MultimediaScore components:- 17% Resolution and Size
- 10% Input Lag
- 8% Reflections
- 8% Vertical Viewing Angle
- 7% Horizontal Viewing Angle
- 6% Gray Uniformity
- 5% Ergonomics
- 5% Black Uniformity
- 4% Motion Blur
- 4% Refresh Rate
- 4% SDR Color Gamut
- 4% SDR Color Volume
- 3% Gradient
- 3% SDR Peak Brightness
- 2% Contrast
- 2% Image Flicker
- 2% HDR Peak Brightness
- 2% HDR Color Gamut
- 2% HDR Color Volume
- 1% Local Dimming
- 1% Pre Calibration
Score distribution:LCD Type: IPSWhat it is: Type of LCD technology used by the monitor.When it matters: Different technologies have different viewing angle properties.Variable Refresh Rate: NoWhat it is: Feature that allows the monitor to synchronize its refresh rate with the input device's output and reduces stuttering and screen tearing.When it matters: Almost every usage, but is most noticeable in gaming where constant fluctuation in framerate cause distracting artifacts.If you want a budget monitor for watching videos but don't want to break the bank, the Dell U2518D is the best budget media monitor that we've reviewed so far. It is a 25", 1440p IPS monitor with wide viewing angles and a great design.
It delivers good overall picture quality, but is best suited for a bright room. It has excellent gradient handling, which ensures that areas of similar color are displayed perfectly when watching movies. It has an excellent fast response time with little motion blur and is free of PWM-dimming. It has very good input lag, but some people might find it a bit too high for gaming.
Unfortunately, while it does support HDR, there is little benefit to this as it only has decent HDR peak brightness and lacks the wide color gamut necessary for HDR content to stand out. Overall, though, it is a very versatile monitor that should please most people, regardless of your usage.
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 Swift 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 27UD68: Decent media monitor, but it is worth it to upgrade to the CHG70. See our review
- Dell Alienware 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 things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
