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The 5 Best Monitors - Fall 2024

Updated Sep 20, 2024 at 03:16 pm
Best Monitors

When looking for a new monitor, deciding exactly where to start searching can be difficult. There are many different types of monitors available with various sizes, resolutions, panel types, and refresh rates, so buying a new monitor isn't a straightforward process, and there's no perfect solution for everyone. While most people would be happy with a basic monitor that's good enough for everyday use, there are plenty of options that offer extra perks for different uses.

The best PC monitors are usually focused on gaming but also provide high-end picture quality, so they're versatile, and you can use them for anything from gaming to simply browsing the web. You can also consider well-rounded budget monitors if you don't want to spend a lot, but those tend to have worse picture quality and fewer features than higher-end models. On top of that, some monitors are designed for specific uses, like those for gaming, office work, or content creation, so it's important to think about how you'll use it. If you aren't sure what to look for in a monitor, or if the marketing terms confuse you, check out our monitor guides.

We've bought and tested over 330 monitors, and below, you'll find our picks for the best displays available. If you have a more specific usage in mind, check out our recommendations for the best photo editing monitors, the best 4k HDR monitors, and the best gaming monitors. You can also see all our monitor recommendations. If you want more than just a monitor, look into the best home printers.


  1. Best Monitor

    The best computer monitor we've tested is the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80. It's a premium 32-inch, 4k monitor that has a QD-OLED panel. Although it's designed with gaming in mind, it offers fantastic picture quality and is great for a variety of uses. It delivers deep and inky blacks in dark rooms, it makes highlights pop, and colors look vivid. This makes it incredible for watching your favorite HDR content, and it provides realistic images in games. It's also one of the best options for gaming because of its 240Hz refresh rate and near-instantaneous response time. It even has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of gaming consoles and modern graphics cards.

    It has a few features for versatility, like its built-in Tizen OS smart platform that makes it easy to stream your favorite content. It also has two USB-A ports, but if you want something with a KVM switch and a USB-C port that are ideal for multitasking, the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED is also a great choice. It can be harder to find than the Samsung, but it's worth getting when you can find it. It's also important to remember that OLEDs like the Samsung and MSI risk burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time, like with office work, but varying your content reduces the risk of burn-in.

    See our review

  2. Best Office Monitor

    If you need a monitor dedicated for office work and are concerned about the burn-in associated with OLEDs like the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80, check out the Dell U2723QE. It has features that are different from those of the Samsung monitor, as it has a large USB hub and a KVM switch. The main advantage of getting the Dell is that you can use it to work long hours with the same content on the screen and not worry about damaging the panel over time. It also gets brighter than the Samsung, so it fights glare well in bright rooms.

    Besides that, it has a high 4k resolution that helps produce sharp text, and the 27-inch screen is big enough to open two windows side-by-side. It also has wide viewing angles and fantastic ergonomics, so it's easy to share your screen with someone else or adjust it to an ideal position. Lastly, it's easy to connect different devices to the monitor thanks to the large USB hub that includes five USB-A ports and three USB-C ports. However, if you don't need these extra features, you can also check out the lower-end Dell S2722QC, which tends to cost less.

    See our recommendations for the best office monitors.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Monitor

    If you don't need a premium monitor for one specific usage and prefer a great all-around monitor at a lower cost, check out the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx. It has a 27-inch, 4k screen like the Dell U2723QE, but it has a smaller USB hub and lacks a KVM switch, so it isn't so focused on productivity, but it still has a USB-C port with 90W of power delivery. Instead, it's a jack-of-all-trades monitor because it's great for different usages and not necessarily the best model for any usage. It's great for gaming as it has a 160Hz refresh rate and a fast response time for sharp motion, and like the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80, it also has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, ideal for both console or PC gaming.

    On top of that, it even has Mini LED backlighting with a decent local dimming feature that helps it display deep blacks against bright highlights. This makes it a great choice for watching content in dark rooms, and it also makes highlights pop in HDR. Even if you want to use it in a well-lit room, it gets bright enough to fight glare and has good reflection handling, so it performs well in any type of environment.

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Monitor

    If you're looking for a multi-use monitor like the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx but are on a budget, take a look at the AOC Q27G3XMN. It has a lower resolution than the Acer, so text and images don't look as sharp and detailed. Another trade-off for getting something cheaper is that the AOC has fewer features than the Acer, as it doesn't have a USB hub to connect your devices, and it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth as well, but that's normal for an entry-level monitor.

    The biggest advantage of the AOC, especially against other low-cost monitors, is that it uses Mini LED backlighting, similar to the Acer. This means it displays deep blacks in dark rooms, and highlights get bright, which is great for watching content in HDR. It even gets bright enough to fight glare in a well-lit room. Lastly, it has gaming features like a 180Hz refresh rate, and motion looks sharp, but there's smearing behind fast-moving objects. One thing to know is that it sometimes goes out of stock, so if you can't find it available, check out the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx. It performs similarly, but it has worse motion handling than the AOC.

    See our recommendations for the best budget and cheap monitors.

    See our review

  5. Best Cheap Monitor

    If you don't want to spend a lot of money on a high-end monitor, you can still get some versatile options for a cheap price. A great example of this is the Dell G2724D, which you can buy for cheap directly through Dell's website. However, it has considerably worse image quality than the AOC Q27G3XMN, as it lacks Mini LED backlighting and doesn't get bright enough for highlights to pop in HDR, and blacks look gray in a dark room. However, this is what you have to expect, especially given how much less it costs.

    The Dell is still a great monitor with a 27-inch, 1440p screen like the AOC. It has similar gaming features to the AOC as it has a fast response time, and there's less smearing with fast-moving objects. Besides that, it gets bright enough to easily overcome glare in a bright room and also comes with a very ergonomic stand, so it's easy to adjust.

    See our recommendations for the best monitors under $200.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Dell Alienware AW3225QF:

    The Dell Alienware AW3225QF is a competing monitor to the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80 that also has a QD-OLED panel with a 4k, 32-inch display. It's a good choice if you can find it for less, but it also has a curved screen that some may not like.

    See our review
  • LG 32GS95UE-B:

    The LG 32GS95UE-B is a 32-inch gaming monitor with a 4k resolution and 240Hz refresh rate like the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80. However, it's different because it has a Dual-Mode feature that changes it to a 1080p, 480Hz monitor. This is useful if you want a high refresh rate for gaming, but this monitor also costs more than the Samsung.

    See our review
  • Dell Alienware AW2725DF:

    The Dell Alienware AW2725DF is a QD-OLED monitor like the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80, and it's incredible for gaming. The Dell has a higher 360Hz refresh rate and tends to cost less, but it has a lower resolution than the Samsung and fewer features, so it isn't the best all-around monitor.

    See our review
  • ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV: The ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV is similar to the Dell U2723QE, as it also has a 27-inch, 4k screen. You can often find it for less, but it has fewer features, as it lacks a KVM switch. See our review
  • Dell U4025QW: The Dell U4025QW is a much larger alternative to the Dell U2723QE, as it has a 40-inch ultrawide screen. It's a good choice if you need such a big display for multitasking, and it also has a larger USB hub than the U2723QE, but this monitor costs significantly more. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Sep 20, 2024: We replaced the Dell Alienware AW3225QF with the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80 for consistency with other recommendations and renamed it 'Best Monitor.' Because of that, we renamed the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx to the 'Best Mid-Range Monitor.' In the Notable Mentions, we also replaced the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 and the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx with the AW3225QF and the Dell Alienware AW2725DF to better match the scope of the recommendation.

  2. Aug 15, 2024: Replaced the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx with the AOC Q27G3XMN as 'Best Budget,' as the AOC has a faster response time. Removed the Dell Alienware AW2725DF and the AOC Q27G3XMN, and added the LG 32GS95UE-B and the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx as Notable Mentions.

  3. Jul 09, 2024: Replaced the AOC Q27G3XMN with the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx as 'Best Budget,' as the AOC is harder to find at the moment. Added the AOC Q27G3XMN as a Notable Mention.

  4. Jun 19, 2024: Replaced the Gigabyte M27U, Dell Alienware AW3423DWF, and LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B with the Dell Alienware AW2725DF and the Dell U4025QW in the Notable Mentions for consistency with other recommendations and to reflect the current monitor market.

  5. May 22, 2024: Replaced the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 2.0) with the AOC Q27G3XMN as 'Best Budget,' as the AOC has better image quality. Replaced the ASUS VG246H with the Dell G2724D as 'Best Cheap,' as it has a higher resolution. Removed the 'Best Budget Gaming' category, as the AOC Q27G3XMN is also the best budget gaming monitor.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best computer monitors 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 of the best PC 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.