Maximize your productivity, gaming, or entertainment experience with the appropriate monitor. This guide covers the steps to find the best display, including top-rated productivity and gaming monitors based on extensive reviews.

Computer monitors come in a variety of sizes, ranging from the smallest 12-inch portable displays to the large 65-inch panels that blur the line between monitors and TVs. Most desktop displays can be categorized into two groups: business monitors and entertainment monitors. These monitors span the range between the smallest and largest sizes.

Business or productivity monitors include high-resolution and high-quality displays for graphic artists, photographers, and videographers, as well as general-purpose monitors for everyday work and home-office monitors with videoconferencing capabilities and/or a port selection to serve as a laptop docking station. Entertainment panels encompass a wide range of gaming monitors and some monitors for content creation and consumption.

In this article, we have listed our top picks among the home and office monitors that we have tested, along with the buying essentials you need to know when purchasing a monitor. Additionally, a detailed specification breakdown of our top choices can be found at the end of the article.

The Dell U2723QE, with a price tag above $600, is a feature-rich monitor. Despite its higher cost, it offers a complete range of ergonomic adjustments and a variety of ports typically found in a “USB hub” or “docking-station” monitor. It is capable of charging a laptop through its USB-C display connection and even provides Ethernet connectivity for offices with weak Wi-Fi. Additionally, it features a 27-inch 4K (UHD) screen with high pixel density and wide color gamut, and is one of the first two monitors to incorporate IPS Black technology, which delivers significantly better contrast compared to standard IPS displays. The only common business feature missing is a webcam, which is not a standard feature on most desktop displays.

The U2723QE is not a cost-effective option for outfitting a large office, but it can be suitable for high-level managers or workers who deal with creative content and have frequent meetings. Although it’s not a professional graphics monitor, it’s capable of handling photo and video work as needed and can easily be connected and disconnected with a frequently transported laptop.

The HP E27m G4 is designed for virtual meetings, with a high-resolution webcam, strong speakers, and dual microphones that enhance teleconferencing. It also offers the ability to charge a laptop through its USB-C connection, Ethernet connectivity, multiple video ports, and four USB-A ports for keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals. Essentially, it has all the connections you would expect from a laptop docking station, before you even consider the screen.

The E27m G4 monitor features a 27-inch QHD screen with a wide coverage of the sRGB color space and good contrast, making it suitable for a range of tasks. It also has a range of ergonomic features that make it comfortable to use. The only issue with the monitor is the placement of the buttons for accessing the onscreen display (OSD), which are small and not conveniently located.

The Philips 329P1H is a great productivity monitor, especially for those who edit photos. It has a 32-inch screen with 4K UHD IPS technology for excellent brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. It also has many ports for connecting devices and can serve as a docking station. You can connect to a laptop using a single USB-C port, which provides power and charging, as well as data and video transfer. There are also four USB-A ports, one DisplayPort, two HDMI ports, and an Ethernet jack for more connectivity options. The stand has adjustable features and there are holes in the back for wall-mounting.

The Philips 329P1H is a good monitor for home-office or small to medium sized office use. It’s good for jobs like web design and other creative work. It also works well for video conferencing, especially if you have trouble being heard or seeing others. It is affordably priced and comes with a 4-year warranty.

The HP 24mh is a budget monitor that costs under $200 and has a 24-inch screen. IThe monitor boasts more features than most in its price range, including a DisplayPort connector along with HDMI and VGA ports. You can adjust its height and pivot it, a feature not offered by many budget monitors. It has a strong picture quality with impressive sRGB coverage and a high contrast ratio, despite not having a 4K UHD screen like pricier monitors. The added bonus of built-in speakers is a nice touch for a budget monitor.

The HP 24mh is a budget-friendly monitor suitable for small spaces like homes, home offices, and dorm rooms. It offers good value for its price with decent sRGB color coverage and built-in speakers, making it a good choice for photo viewing and basic editing. However, for those who can afford it, there are better options available with more features.

The Dell UP2720Q is a 27-inch 4K monitor that’s ideal for professional users who need color accuracy. It has a built-in colorimeter, which is unique in its price range, and allows you to measure the monitor’s color accuracy and calibrate it as needed. The colorimeter works with CalMAN display-calibration software, making it easy to keep the monitor’s color accuracy accurate over time.

The Dell UP2720Q is a 27-inch monitor that has 4K resolution and a built-in colorimeter. It’s great for professionals and has features like ergonomic adjustments and multiple ports, including Thunderbolt 3. The colorimeter allows for measuring and maintaining accurate color on the monitor.

The UP2720Q targets professional photographers and photo enthusiasts looking to improve their skills. It is particularly attractive to those who possess CalMAN software and those who lack a calibration tool or prefer the convenience of the built-in colorimeter and software. However, the built-in colorimeter comes at a premium price, so if it’s not necessary, there are cost-effective professional monitors with comparable color accuracy available.

The ViewSonic Elite XG270QG is a top-performing monitor that offers a superior gaming experience and is also suitable for movie watching. Despite its premium price, the monitor boasts a 27-inch 1440p screen with a maximum 165Hz refresh rate, fast response times, and low input lag, producing bright and vibrant images with stunning color accuracy in the DCI-P3 color space and a high contrast ratio. As a result, it received the Editors’ Choice award for gaming monitors and also serves as a versatile entertainment monitor, adding a touch of color and beauty to games and being ready for movie nights.

The ViewSonic Elite XG270QG enhances the visual appeal of gaming through its exceptional color quality, quick pixel response, and minimal input lag. The monitor covers the entire DCI-P3 color space, optimized for digital video, and features a bright, high-contrast panel, making it a suitable choice for movie viewing. Although there may be other options for those seeking the lowest refresh rates, the XG270QG excels in both gaming and video display.

The Dell 27 S2721HGF is a gaming monitor that is both affordable and good for playing games on. It has a medium-sized screen (27 inches), a curved design that many gamers like, and it can work with different types of graphics card technology (AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync). It has good image quality, with minimal distortions or interruptions during gameplay.

The Dell is a budget gaming monitor that provides basic features for playing games. It has average image contrast and a simple design, but it has good color quality and smooth motion during gameplay. It is a good and inexpensive option for gamers.

The Alienware 34 QD-OLED is a high-quality gaming monitor that has an OLED screen. It is a decent price, and has a 34-inch screen that can be overclocked to a refresh rate of 175Hz. The monitor has good color quality and is good for both gamers and content creators. The design is lightweight and adjustable to the user’s preference.

The AW3423DW is a gaming monitor with an OLED screen that is affordable and also good for content creation. If you are a graphic artist and play games, it is a great choice.

The Odyssey Ark is a top-of-the-line gaming monitor that is not for everyone due to its high price. It has a large 55-inch 4K curved screen that can be tilted from horizontal to vertical mode and has great color coverage. The sound system is impressive and it can be controlled by a remote or through a cloud gaming service. The refresh rate is fast and it eliminates any ghosting or screen tearing during gaming.

The Samsung Odyssey Ark is a high-end gaming monitor with a big 55-inch 4K screen. It’s perfect for gamers who have the money and space for it. The monitor has a curved design and can be rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position. It has good color coverage, a great sound system, and eliminates ghosting or screen tearing. It’s not easy to move but it will create a great entertainment experience for movies and gaming.

The Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ is a high-end ultrawide monitor that delivers top-notch color accuracy, beautiful HDR, and fast performance. It’s great for gaming and content creation, with a large 35-inch screen, high resolution, and a 200Hz refresh rate. It’s heavy and doesn’t pivot, but its vivid images and low input lag make it a good choice for demanding users.

The Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ is a high-end ultrawide monitor for serious gamers and content creators. It offers excellent color accuracy and HDR, a large 35-inch screen, a fast 200Hz refresh rate, and low input lag. Although it’s expensive and heavy, it provides a fantastic multimedia experience for those who can afford it.