The 6 Best 4k TVs For PC Monitors - Black Friday 2021 Reviews

If you want a smaller-sized TV, the best TV for computer monitor use is the Sony KD-43X80J. It's an entry-level TV with an ADS panel that's great for use as a PC monitor thanks to its wide viewing angles, which ensure the edges of the screen look accurate when sitting up close. It comes in a 43 inch size well-suited to smaller spaces, and we expect it to perform like the 55 inch model we tested.

Its 4k resolution delivers a crisp image, and as a result of its ADS panel, it uses an RGB sub-pixel layout, which doesn't affect text clarity the way some other panel types might. Unlike many TVs, it also has a flicker-free backlight, which can help reduce eye strain during long sessions. It has a remarkably low input lag for a responsive desktop experience, and gamers should be pleased with its great response time, but it lacks variable refresh rate (VRR) support to reduce screen tearing.

It supports most resolutions, but unfortunately, it's limited to 60Hz, and it can't display chrome 4:4:4 properly in 1440p. However, it displays proper 4:4:4 in all its other supported resolutions. It has a mediocre contrast ratio, resulting in blacks that look more like gray in the dark. Despite these issues, it's one of the best TV monitors we've tested that should make most people happy.

The Samsung QN65Q80AAFXZA is the best TV to use as a PC monitor if you want a larger screen. This higher-end model from Samsung's 2021 lineup uses an ADS panel, giving it nice wide viewing angles, ideal for a PC setup. It's also packed with gaming features, and its 65 inch screen is large enough to open multiple windows side-by-side. We tested the 55 inch model, but we expect the 65 inch to perform the same.

Navigating the PC's user interface on this TV should feel responsive thanks to its remarkably low input lag. It has a 120Hz panel and a great response time that results in smooth-looking motion. It can display all resolutions up to 4k @ 120Hz, but it can only display proper chroma 4:4:4 in 1080p or 4k, not 1440p. For gaming, it supports FreeSync VRR to reduce screen tearing, and it has an HDMI 2.1 port for gaming on the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Unfortunately, it has a fairly low contrast ratio, so blacks appear more like gray in the dark, but that's typical of an IPS-like panel. On the upside, it gets very bright, more than enough to overcome glare in a sunny room, and it delivers a satisfying HDR experience thanks to its wide color gamut and high HDR brightness. All in all, if you're looking for a TV in a bigger size, this is the best TV monitor we've tested that should please most people.

The best TV for monitor use with an OLED panel is the LG C1 OLED. It's a high-end model that we also tested as a PC monitor. Its OLED panel has self-lit pixels, allowing it to achieve a near-infinite contrast ratio and pitch-perfect blacks. It feels well-built, comes in many sizes, and is full of extra features like VRR support, ALLM, and HDMI 2.1 ports.

It has a 120Hz panel and supports most common resolutions, including proper chroma 4:4:4, which is important for text clarity. It has very low input lag, making for a responsive desktop experience and a near-instantaneous response time with exceptional motion clarity. Gamers should also be pleased that it supports both FreeSync and G-SYNC to reduce screen tearing. It can also deliver a satisfying HDR experience thanks to its wide color gamut, exceptional contrast ratio, and fair HDR brightness.

Unfortunately, OLED TVs come with a risk for permanent burn-in when static elements like a desktop interface, for instance, are displayed for long periods. However, we don't expect it to be an issue if you watch varied content. It also doesn't have the same high brightness that you'd get with an LED TV, but it's still brighter than most monitors, so it should be more than enough to combat glare in moderately lit rooms. All in all, if you want an OLED, this is the best TV to use as a monitor.

If you're on a budget, then the best TV for PC monitor use that we've tested is the Hisense U6G. It's a versatile TV that's great to use as a PC monitor. It's available in larger sizes, from 50 to 75 inches, so it's a good choice if you need to place it in a meeting room, and it's also fairly well-built.

It performs well in both dark and bright environments. It has a VA panel with a high native contrast ratio and decent black uniformity, which is great for use in a dark room. Even in a room with a few lights around, it gets bright enough to fight glare and has excellent reflection handling, so visibility shouldn't be an issue. Motion looks smooth thanks to the quick response time, and it has low input lag for a responsive desktop experience. It also doesn't have any trouble displaying chroma 4:4:4 with any of its supported signals.

Unfortunately, as it's a budget-friendly TV, you might run into some build quality issues like with uniformity and dirty screen effect, and we've read reports online of some units with dead pixels. However, these issues can also vary between units. It has narrow viewing angles, so the image looks washed out at the edges if you sit too close. If this doesn't bother you, it's the best TV monitor that we've tested in the budget category.