The 8 Best Computer Monitors - Fall 2020
Reviews

The best monitor we've tested so far is the LG 27UK650-W. This 27 inch monitor has a simple yet stylish design that fits into any setting. With a 4k resolution, it delivers detailed images, and the text looks incredibly sharp. The refresh rate is limited to 60Hz, but it supports FreeSync if you want to use it for gaming. Its IPS panel provides great viewing angles, so you can easily share content or your work with others.

It has great out-of-the-box color accuracy. Its SDR color gamut is excellent, covering the sRGB color space almost entirely, and its coverage of Adobe RGB is good, which is good for professional photo editing. Its input lag is very low, and it has a fast response time, resulting in a responsive desktop experience and minimal motion blur in fast-moving scenes. It doesn't have much in terms of extra features, although the flicker-free backlight is a nice addition if you tend to stare at the screen for an extended period.

Unfortunately, while it supports HDR, it can't display a wide color gamut. Like most monitors with an IPS panel, it has a rather low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray when viewed in the dark. However, if you're in a bright room, it gets bright enough to fight glare, and it has a matte finish that handles reflection decently well. Overall, this is a versatile model that most people should be happy with, making it the best monitor we've seen so far.

The best monitor for gaming that we've tested so far is the ASUS VG279QM. This is a 27 inch IPS monitor, with a 1080p resolution and a whopping 280Hz refresh rate. The build quality is impressive, and it has outstanding ergonomics, including rotation to portrait mode and a wide swivel range. It gets bright enough to overcome glare, but its reflection handling is only decent, so it's best to avoid direct sunlight. It isn't as well-suited for dark rooms, as its low contrast ratio makes blacks look gray, which is expected of most IPS panels.

In addition to its 280Hz refresh rate, this monitor has a superb response time that results in very little motion blur. The response time doesn't change much when playing at 60Hz, making it a good choice for console gamers. Also, there's an optional black frame insertion feature to further improve motion clarity. It supports FreeSync natively and it's compatible with NVIDIA's G-SYNC. HDR is supported, but unfortunately, this monitor can't display a wide color gamut, even though it's HDR peak brightness is decent.

In terms of extra features, this monitor doesn't offer much. You get a USB 3.0 port for charging, and you can add a virtual crosshair, timer, or frame rate counter on the screen. The backlight is flicker-free to help reduce eye strain, which is great for those long gaming sessions. Overall, the 1080p resolution might be a bit low for some, especially if you plan on using the monitor for productivity tasks; however, if gaming is the priority, then you should check this one out.

The best ultrawide office monitor we've tested so far is the Dell U3818DW. This 38 inch high-resolution monitor is great for multitasking, as there's enough room to have multiple windows opened side-by-side. It's slightly curved, which helps with visibility on the sides of the screen, and it also has an IPS panel that provides wide viewing angles, so the image remains accurate no matter how close you sit.

This monitor is best used in an averagely-lit room. It handles reflections very well, but it can't get bright enough to overcome glare. Its color accuracy is excellent out of the box, and it has outstanding gradient performance, but sadly, there's no HDR support. Response time is fast, and input lag is low, but if you're looking to game on this monitor, it has a 60Hz panel and doesn't support any variable refresh rate technology. Another great feature for multitaskers is its picture-by-picture mode, which lets you display two sources simultaneously.

Unfortunately, dark room performance isn't the best due to its low contrast ratio, although this is expected of most IPS panels. However, it has four USB 3.0 ports, a USB-C input, built-in speakers, and a flicker-free backlight. Overall, if you're looking for an ultrawide office monitor that can help you be more productive, this one is a very good option.

The best budget monitor we've tested so far is the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV. It's a professional-looking monitor with a large 27 inch screen and a 1440p resolution. Its simple design fits easily into any office setting and its superb ergonomics allow you to adjust the monitor however you like. It has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles and it overcomes glare with ease even in the brightest settings. However, it isn't as ideal for dark room viewing, as it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look a bit grayish.

This monitor comes with a dedicated sRGB mode that's factory-calibrated. It has an excellent SDR color gamut with near-full coverage of the sRGB color space, but its Adobe RGB coverage is only decent and may not be good enough for professional photo editors. Unfortunately, it doesn't support HDR and can't display a wide color gamut. Response time is great, it has an optional Black Frame Insertion feature, and its native 75Hz refresh rate makes motion look slightly more fluid, such as when scrolling quickly through a document or when gaming. It supports Adaptive Sync to reduce screen tearing, and it's compatible with FreeSync and G-SYNC sources.

There aren't a whole lot of extra features on this monitor. There's a QuickFit Virtual Scale, which is a feature that puts an overlay on the screen, so you can align or preview documents in their actual sizes before printing. There's a pair of integrated speakers that you can use to play audio from external sources, and there are four USB 3.0 ports, with two of them conveniently placed on the side of the screen for easy access. Overall, it's a well-rounded and versatile monitor that most people should be happy with.