Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.

The 5 Best Monitors For Dual Setup - Winter 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Monitors For Dual Setup

Using two monitors in your setup has a few benefits, as you can easily multitask with different windows open. However, connecting two or more displays isn't so straightforward, as you have to think about how many video ports your computer has. You can connect both monitors at once if your computer has two video ports, and most modern computers won't have any problems outputting two signals at once. That said, if your PC only has one output and you don't have a dock or video splitter, then one of the monitors you get needs to support daisy chaining for you to connect a second display.

While you can buy any two monitors to use at once, some brands and retailers sell two-in-one monitor bundles. However, those are usually cheaper and smaller displays that aren't special, so if your budget allows for it, getting two units of the same model is the best way to go. While you can get any size you prefer, 27-inch and smaller displays are popular in multi-monitor setups, as bigger displays can take up too much space.

We've bought and tested over 300 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best monitors to buy for a dual setup. See our recommendations for the best work monitors and the best vertical monitors. However, if you think a dual monitor setup isn't right for you, it may be worth looking for the best ultrawide monitors instead.


  1. Best Monitor For Dual Setup

    The Dell U2723QE is the best monitor for dual setup we've tested. Its 27-inch screen offers enough space for multitasking, especially if you place two windows side-by-side, and its 4k resolution helps deliver sharp text. It has remarkable ergonomics, meaning it's easy to adjust to your ideal viewing position next to a secondary display. It's also an impressive office monitor with many connectivity options, including a DisplayPort output, so you can daisy chain a second monitor, which is useful if your computer only has one video output.

    If you need to connect two computers to your dual monitor setup, this display is also a great choice, as it has a KVM switch and a large USB hub. You can connect your mouse and keyboard directly to the monitor and control both computers with them. Its 90W of power delivery on one of the USB-C ports is also enough to keep your laptop's battery going while you work. In terms of picture quality, it displays a wide range of colors with excellent accuracy, and even though it has disappointing reflection handling, it gets bright enough to fight glare, which is great if you want to use it in a well-lit room.

    See our review

  2. Best Upper Mid-Range Monitor For Dual Setup

    While you can often find the Dell U2723QE on sale, if it's out of your price range or you don't need so many features, check out the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV. It's a high-end 4k monitor like the Dell, but it's a step down in terms of features as it has a smaller USB hub and doesn't have a KVM switch, which isn't ideal if you need to work with two different computers connected. It's also advertised to support daisy chaining, but it's important to note that we couldn't get it to work with our unit, so if you get this monitor and it doesn't work, you'll need to connect each display to your computer separately.

    Besides these differences with the Dell, it's still an impressive office monitor with better reflection handling, and it also gets bright, so you won't have many issues using it in a well-lit room. It's also excellent for content creation as it has different picture modes for various color spaces, and the accuracy in the sRGB mode is outstanding. Lastly, as expected for a monitor you'd want to use in a dual setup, it has wide viewing angles and outstanding ergonomics, making it very easy to adjust.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Monitor For Dual Setup

    If you're on a limited budget, a mid-range model like the Dell S2722QC is a good alternative. It's a lower-end model than the Dell U2723QE, has a 4k, 27-inch screen, and has fewer features than the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV. The main trade-off between the ASUS and this monitor is that it has a smaller USB hub with only two USB-A ports and a USB-C port, and it doesn't support daisy chaining at all, so your PC needs two video ports to connect to each monitor separately. Unlike the U2723QE, it doesn't have a KVM switch, so you can't easily switch between two devices and use the same keyboard and mouse.

    Besides that, it's still an excellent productivity monitor because it produces remarkable text clarity thanks to its high resolution. Although it doesn't have a dedicated sRGB mode like the ASUS or the U2723QE, its image accuracy is still decent enough for everyday use. On top of that, it offers excellent ergonomics, and it gets bright enough if you want to use it in a well-lit office space.

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Monitor For Dual Setup

    If you're looking for a model at a budget-friendly price, consider the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV. It has a lower 1440p resolution than the Dell S2722QC, meaning text isn't as sharp, but that's the sacrifice you need to make for something cheaper. Despite that, it still has decent text clarity, and the 27-inch screen offers enough space even if you want to put two windows side-by-side. On the plus side, it even supports daisy chaining with a DisplayPort output, which is great if your laptop only has one video output and you need to connect your two monitors to each other. If you don't need that, you can also check out the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV, a slightly cheaper model that doesn't support daisy chaining.

    The PA278CV has outstanding ergonomics; you can even rotate it into portrait mode, making it easy to adjust next to another display. It has fantastic image accuracy before calibration, so you don't need to calibrate it if you're a content creator. However, it doesn't support HDR, so if that's important to you, the Dell UltraSharp U2520D is another 1440p option that does, but it costs more.

    See our review

  5. Best Cheap Monitor For Dual Setup

    If you're looking for the best secondary monitor for cheap, check out the ASUS VG246H. Getting a cheap monitor is beneficial if you're on a tight budget and don't need anything special, but there are a few trade-offs. It has a smaller 24-inch screen than the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV and a lower 1080p resolution, meaning images aren't as detailed, but the text clarity is still decent. It doesn't support daisy chaining either, but that's the case with most cheap displays; you'll just need to make sure your PC has two video outputs, or you'll have to get a video splitter.

    Fortunately, its smaller screen makes fitting two monitors next to each other easier if you have a small desk. Besides that, it offers good office performance for its cost as it has remarkable ergonomics, letting you easily adjust the screen how you want. It's also fine in a moderately lit room thanks to its good reflection handling and decent peak brightness.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Dell S2721QS: The Dell S2721QS is a cheaper alternative to the Dell S2722QC as it has the same 27-inch screen and 4k resolution. However, it has no USB ports, so only consider this if you don't need the extra ports. See our review
  • Gigabyte M27Q P: The Gigabyte M27Q P is a good office-friendly monitor with a KVM switch and USB-C port, so it's great for multitasking. However, it has worse ergonomics than the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV, so it's harder to place in an ideal position next to another monitor, and it doesn't support daisy chaining either. See our review
  • Dell U3223QE: The Dell U3223QE is a larger alternative to the Dell U2723QE, which is great if you want as much screen space as possible, but the 32-inch size isn't for everyone, and this monitor costs more. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Mar 12, 2024: Verified that all monitors are still available to purchase and updated text for clarity throughout.

  2. Jan 31, 2024: Added the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV to give another option and for consistency with other recommendations.

  3. Nov 15, 2023: Removed the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV and renamed the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV to 'Best Budget Monitor' because both monitors are similar in price and performance, and the PA278CV supports daisy chaining; added the Dell U3223QE to Notable Mentions.

  4. Sep 21, 2023: Added the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV to give another option; added the Gigabyte M27Q P to Notable Mentions.

  5. Jul 27, 2023: Replaced the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV with the cheaper ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV because it's more of a budget monitor; added the Gigabyte M27Q to Notable Mentions.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors for a dual setup that are currently available. 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.