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The 5 Best Monitors For Programming - Winter 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Monitors For Programming

If you're a programmer looking for a new monitor, there are plenty of great options you can choose from, even if most of them aren't specifically designed with programming in mind. It's important to get something with a big screen so that you can see more of your lines of code at once, but keep in mind that size is a personal preference, so there's no perfect solution for everyone. On top of that, having a high resolution can help programmers as it increases the pixel density and results in sharp text clarity. This helps when you have a lot of lines of coding, as they're easier to read.

Monitors with wide viewing angles and good ergonomics are also beneficial if you constantly need to share your screen with a coworker to show them your work, as the image remains consistent from the sides. If you code in a dark room while using a dark mode, having a high contrast ratio can display deep blacks, but a monitor with a high peak brightness is mainly beneficial if you code in a well-lit room.

We've bought and tested more than 300 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best monitors for programming. Also, check out our recommendations for the best ultrawide monitors, the best monitors for dual setup, and the best work monitors.


  1. Best Monitor For Programming

    The best programming monitor we've tested is the Dell U3223QE. It's an impressive monitor for programmers as it has a large 32-inch screen and 4k resolution, resulting in high pixel density for sharp text clarity. It means that you can easily read your coding text and view more lines simultaneously, and the screen is big enough for multitasking with various windows open. If you find the screen too big, like if you don't have enough space on your desk, consider the smaller Dell U2723QE, which has a 27-inch screen and costs less.

    The U3223QE has extra features to improve your workflow, like a massive USB hub with three USB-C and five USB-A ports. It supports DisplayPort Alt Mode with 90W of power delivery, which is great if you want to connect a laptop and charge it using a single cable. It even has a KVM switch that makes it easy to switch between sources, like two different computers, and use the same keyboard and mouse. Also, it has Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes, so you can view images from two sources simultaneously, which is great for multitasking.

    See our review

  2. Best Ultrawide Monitor For Programming

    Current Deal: The LG 40WP95C-W has dropped in price by $410 at Amazon.com. Get Deal

    If you want an ultrawide screen to open multiple windows next to each other, check out the LG 40WP95C-W. Its 40-inch screen offers even more horizontal screen space than the Dell U3223QE, with a slight curve to bring the edges closer to you. Its 5k2k resolution has high pixel density like the Dell and delivers sharp text, which is ideal for coding. However, there are some downsides to using this over the Dell, as it doesn't get nearly as bright, so it isn't ideal to use in a bright room. If that's something you care about, the LG 38WN95C-W is also a great choice that gets brighter, but it has a slightly smaller screen and lower resolution, so the text is less sharp.

    While the 40WP95C-W doesn't have as many ports as the Dell, it still has two USB-A ports and two USB-C inputs that each support Thunderbolt 4, which is ideal if you work with a macOS device like a MacBook Pro. It also has decent viewing angles that are good enough if you need to share your screen with someone sitting next to you, as they'll see a consistent image from the sides.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Monitor For Programming

    If you don't want an ultrawide monitor like the LG 40WP95C-W and find the Dell U3223QE too expensive, the Dell S2722QC is a good mid-range alternative that often goes on sale. It's a step down from the U3223QE in terms of features because it has a smaller USB hub with a single USB-C port and two USB-A ports. It doesn't have a KVM switch, so it isn't ideal if you want to connect multiple computers to the monitor, but that's what you have to expect for something cheaper. On the plus side, the USB-C port still offers 65W of power delivery, and this monitor supports Picture-by-Picture and Picture-in-Picture. It also has the same 4k resolution, resulting in very sharp text.

    It's a great choice for well-lit rooms because it gets bright enough to fight glare. The reflection handling is also very good, even better than the U3223QE, meaning you won't have issues using it in bright environments. Fortunately, it has wide viewing angles to keep the image consistent from the sides, and with its excellent ergonomics, it's easy to adjust the screen and share it with someone sitting next to you.

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Monitor For Programming

    If you're looking for the best monitor for coding on a budget, check out the Dell S2721QS. It's another step-down model from the Dell S2722QC that's very similar in display specs as it also has a 27-inch screen and 4k resolution, resulting in extremely sharp text. That said, the main trade-off for getting something cheaper is that it has fewer features, as it doesn't have any USB ports, so you can't connect any extra devices to it. If you want something with USB ports, you can also consider the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV, which has a lower 1440p resolution, so you must decide between the high resolution or extra features.

    As for the S2721QS, you can easily share your screen with others thanks to its wide viewing angles and impressive ergonomics. Like the S2722QC, you can also use it in a bright room without issues thanks to its high peak brightness and good reflection handling. However, it has a low contrast, so it isn't ideal to use in a dark room.

    See our review

  5. Best Cheap Monitor For Programming

    If you want a cheap entry-level monitor that won't take up a lot of space, then the ASUS VG246H is a good option. With a smaller 24-inch screen and lower 1080p resolution than the Dell S2721QS, it's better to use it as a secondary display next to your main one, or you can get two of them to place side by side for more screen real estate. Although text isn't as sharp as on the Dell, it's still decent for coding. Also, the picture quality is good thanks to its good reflection handling and decent SDR peak brightness, meaning you won't have problems with it in a room with a few lights around, but visibility is a problem in really bright rooms.

    It's barebones in features, which is what you have to expect for a cheaper monitor. Despite its low cost, it has remarkable ergonomics, making it easy to adjust the screen to your liking, and with wide viewing angles, images look the same when viewing from the sides. It also has a flicker-free backlight that helps reduce eye strain during long programming sessions if you're sensitive to flicker.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV: The ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV is a smaller and cheaper alternative to the Dell U3223QE, as it also has a 4k resolution and is excellent for programming. That said, it has fewer features, as it lacks a KVM switch and has a smaller USB hub. See our review
  • ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV: The ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV is slightly cheaper than the Dell S2721QS and has a few extra features like a USB hub, but it has a lower resolution with worse text clarity. See our review
  • Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx: The Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx is a cheap monitor with a 1080p resolution, and it gets brighter than the ASUS VG246H, but it can sometimes be harder to find. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Mar 04, 2024: Removed the Gigabyte M27Q P as a Notable Mention, as it's harder to find.

  2. Jan 08, 2024: Replaced the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV with the Dell S2721QS for consistency with other articles; in Notable Mentions, added the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV and removed the Gigabyte M34WQ because it's hard to find.

  3. Oct 26, 2023: Replaced the Dell U2723QE with the Dell U3223QE to present a larger 32-inch screen in the recommendation; updated text for clarity throughout.

  4. Aug 30, 2023: Replaced the Dell U3223QE and the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV with the Dell U2723QE and ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV for consistency with other articles; added the Gigabyte M27Q P and Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx to Notable Mentions.

  5. Jul 07, 2023: Replaced the LG 38WN95C-W with the LG 40WP95C-W and renamed to 'Best Ultrawide Monitor' for consistency with other articles; renamed the Dell U3223QE as the 'Best Monitor For Programming' and removed the Dell U2723QE because it's very similar; added the INNOCN 27M2V to Notable Mentions.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors for coding and programming that are currently available. They're 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's 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.