The Best 4K Monitor Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Whether for gaming, office productivity, or creative work—or just to stream your favorite movies—a 4K monitor is a must-have upgrade for many PC users. But the 4K or ultra-high-definition (UHD) monitors on the market today are far from alike. Some offer speedy refresh rates to suit hard-core gamers. Others offer graphics pros precise color accuracy. And some pack workflow-enhancing features that can make managing your desktop much easier. Our carefully picked recommendations, which are based on years of testing in adherence to rigorous guidelines, will help you sift through the many choices.Below, we’ve ranked the 4K monitors that have made the cut according to our detailed testing. Our top pick overall, the Editors’ Choice-winning Philips Brilliance 279P1, is a great place to start your search. If it’s not for you, you’ll find plenty more options in this story. We stand behind all of them, which are excellent in their own ways. Check them out below, with links to the full reviews, followed by everything you need to know about the benefits (and possible pitfalls) of getting a new 4K display today.
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Philips Brilliance 279P1
Best Overall 4K Monitor for General Use
Why We Picked ItThe business-oriented Philips Brilliance 279P1 monitor, which features a USB hub and an Ethernet jack along with a generous selection of other ports, is an excellent entry in the growing category of docking-station monitors. This 27-inch monitor’s 4K IPS screen provides solid brightness and strong sRGB color color coverage, and it has an ergonomically superior stand. For connectivity, it includes an Ethernet jack, two HDMI ports, and four USB 3.2 downstream ports. It incorporates a pair of built-in speakers, and Philips’ four-year warranty is one of the best in the business.Who It’s ForThe 279P1 is a great value, bundling good performance with a strong feature set at a modest price. It’s a good fit for a small or home office or sole proprietorship. And if your office is tucked into a remote corner of your house, the Ethernet jack provides LAN coverage in places where Wi-Fi has a hard time reaching.
PROS
IPS screen with UHD resolution
High pixel density
Excellent sRGB color coverage
Ergonomically superior stand
USB hub and built-in speakers
Four-year warranty
CONS
Buttons for OSD control are less than ideal
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
27 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
350 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1,000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
NA
Video Inputs
HDMI (2), DisplayPort, USB-C
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
4
VESA DisplayHDR Level
NA
Dimensions (HWD)
21.1 by 24.1 by 8.1 inches
Weight
16.2 lbs
Height-Adjustable Stand?
Tilting Stand?
Swiveling Stand?
Landscape/Portrait Pivot
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
4 years
Learn More
Philips Brilliance 279P1 Review
Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitor (U2723QE)
Best 4K Monitor for Business
Why We Picked ItThe Dell U2723QE has a prodigious feature set, including a full range of ergonomic adjustments and all the ports we expect from a “docking station” monitor. It can charge a laptop over its USB-C connection, and it even provides Ethernet connectivity should you be in an office with spotty Wi-Fi. Its 27-inch 4K (UHD) screen, with a high pixel density and wide color gamut, is one of the first to incorporate LG’s IPS Black technology, which provides far better contrast than standard in-plane switching (IPS) displays. About the only common business feature it is missing is a webcam, but only a select few desktop displays have one.Who It’s ForThe U2723QE sells at a high enough price that you’re not likely to outfit a whole office with them. It would be a good choice for meeting-heavy managers (or other critical workers), especially ones involved in dealing with creative content as one aspect of their job. It’s not a full-on graphic-arts monitor, but its sweet 4K IPS Black screen is fine for photo and video work in a pinch, and it’s an easy attach/detach for a frequently toted laptop.
PROS
IPS Black technology deepens black levels, improves contrast
4K resolution with sharp high-pixel-density image
Extensive ergonomic features
Dual DisplayPort connectors let you daisy-chain monitors
Mini-joystick controller for OSD
CONS
Pricey for a 27-inch monitor
No webcam
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
27 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS Black
Rated Screen Luminance
400 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
2,000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
NA
Video Inputs
HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
6
VESA DisplayHDR Level
DisplayHDR 400
Dimensions (HWD)
15.2 by 24.1 by 7.3 inches
Weight
14.6 lbs
Height-Adjustable Stand?
Tilting Stand?
Swiveling Stand?
Landscape/Portrait Pivot
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitor (U2723QE) Review
Dell UltraSharp 43 4K USB-C Monitor (U4323QE)
Best Big-Screen 4K Productivity Monitor
Why We Picked ItLarge 4K monitors have the advantage of providing massive amounts of both vertical and horizontal screen space. If you’ve got the space in your home office for a TV-sized monitor (and a pocketbook nearly as large), you’ll want to check out the Dell UltraSharp 43 4K USB-C Monitor (U4323QE). It’s the 4K productivity monitor to beat, with an enormous 43-inch display that can be divided into quadrants (each with its own input). Such a giant monitor begs to be used with more than just your PC, so Dell includes plenty of input/output options: a total of five USB-C ports, in addition to HDMI and DisplayPort connectors. All of this will cost you a cool $1,300, but productivity fiends may find that sum worth it.Who It’s ForLarge-screen productivity panels, especially at 4K resolution, are a luxury, to be sure. If you’re in the market, you’ll want to select one that offers more than just a big screen, and thanks to the UltraSharp 43’s unique input options, it fits the (enormous) bill.
PROS
43-inch IPS screen in UHD (4K) resolution
Plenty of ports, including Ethernet, DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB-C
Supports tiled windows from up to four input sources
Excellent sRGB color coverage
Mini-joystick controller
CONS
Stand offers only modest ergonomic adjustments
Most ports are tricky to access
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
42.5 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
350 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1,000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
N/A
Video Inputs
USB-C, HDMI (2), DisplayPort (2)
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
5
VESA DisplayHDR Level
N/A
Dimensions (HWD)
25.8 by 38.1 by 10.1 inches
Weight
40.9 lbs
Height-Adjustable Stand?
Tilting Stand?
Swiveling Stand?
Landscape/Portrait Pivot
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Dell UltraSharp 43 4K USB-C Monitor (U4323QE) Review
MSI Modern MD271UL
Best Budget 4K Monitor
Why We Picked ItComing in at a budget price for a 27-inch 4K IPS display, the MSI Modern MD271UL is enjoyably bright, with above-average contrast and great color coverage (the full sRGB space, and very good Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 coverage as well). Inputs include two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort connector, and a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort over USB Alternate Mode and up to 65 watts of USB power delivery. We wish it offered more ergonomic adjustments (it’s limited to tilt control) and had a better OSD control system, but if you can live with those foibles it’s a great value.Who It’s ForThe MD271UL is a good fit for a small or home office, for someone who at least occasionally works with photos, digital art, or video. Its brightness, good contrast, and stellar color coverage make it a good option for entertainment as well, though you’ll have to use your computer’s audio, headphones, or powered external speakers for watching movies.
PROS
Modestly priced for a 4K monitor
Above-average (and above-advertised) contrast and brightness
High pixel density
CONS
Unusually frustrating OSD controls
Ergonomic features limited to tilt adjustment
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
27 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
300 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
NA
Video Inputs
HDMI (2), DisplayPort, USB-C
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
0
VESA DisplayHDR Level
DisplayHDR 400
Dimensions (HWD)
18.6 by 24.2 by 7.8 inches
Weight
12.7 lbs
Height-Adjustable Stand?
Tilting Stand?
Swiveling Stand?
Landscape/Portrait Pivot
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
MSI Modern MD271UL Review
Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM
Best 4K Gaming Monitor
Why We Picked ItThe Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM is a near-perfect 4K OLED gaming display. It is a 32-incher with a 240Hz maximum refresh rate and a lightning-quick response time. The PG32UCDM is a stunner that offers excellent color accuracy and color coverage, making for an overall extraordinary user experience. Its unique RGB lighting and a built-in KVM differentiate it from some excellent competition. Who It’s ForFor computers that can handle high frame rates at high resolutions, the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM is a match made in heaven. Typically, many competition-ready monitors sacrifice resolution for higher refresh rates, so it’s nice to see more monitors conquer this middle ground. The Asus doesn’t have the stratospheric refresh rate some rivals do, but it’s a top performer in its own right, and it wears an unabashedly gamer vibe.
PROS
Excellent color coverage
Unique RGB lighting
Solid OLED panel care options
High peak HDR brightness
Virtual KVM feature
CONS
More expensive than main Alienware competitor
Unsightly power brick
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
32 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
OLED
Rated Screen Luminance
1000 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1,500,000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Adaptive Sync
AMD FreeSync Premium
Video Inputs
DisplayPort, HDMI
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
3
VESA DisplayHDR Level
HDR10
Dimensions (HWD)
22.8 by 28.2 by 10.7 inches
Weight
13.2 lbs
Height-Adjustable Stand?
Tilting Stand?
Swiveling Stand?
Landscape/Portrait Pivot
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Review
Samsung Odyssey Ark
Best Extra-Large 4K Gaming Monitor
Why We Picked ItA massive (55-inch) and highly curved gaming monitor that maintains 4K resolution in a standard widescreen aspect ratio, the Samsung Odyssey Ark is impressive as all get-out. A gorgeous picture, a fantastic 1000R curve, and a surprisingly immersive sound system make the Ark an easy buy for gamers who have a couple grand to shell out for it. It’s a good choice for flight-sim fans, multi-taskers, or even as a TV replacement.Who It’s ForOnly gamers for whom price is no object can reserve a place on this Ark, as it will cost you at least a couple thou. It’s a conversation piece to anchor a home entertainment setup, or you can open a zillion windows on it and read your Slack messages while you’re trying to solve the latest Wordle while in the midst of a Zoom call—the possibilities are endless.
PROS
Immersive panel curve
Wide color coverage
Fantastic sound quality
Extensive port selection
Packed with cloud gaming options
CONS
Too expensive for most gamers
Color accuracy needs adjustment
Ark Dial remote is a bit clunky
Very heavy
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
55 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
1000 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
100M:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Adaptive Sync
AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
Video Inputs
HDMI
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
2
VESA DisplayHDR Level
HDR10+
Dimensions (HWD)
43 by 46 by 14.9 inches
Weight
91 lbs
Height-Adjustable Stand?
Tilting Stand?
Swiveling Stand?
Landscape/Portrait Pivot
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year
Learn More
Samsung Odyssey Ark Review
ViewSonic Gaming Elite XG321UG
Best Mini LED 4K Gaming Monitor
Why We Picked ItViewSonic’s Gaming Elite XG321UG, a 32-inch 4K mini LED display, delivers on all fronts with an expansive contrast ratio, low input lag, and a solid coverage range of color gamuts right out of the box. Mini LEDs boost peak output, improving both SDR and HDR content with broader contrast ratios and richer colors. Its bleeding-edge tech will bleed your wallet, however, to the tune of $2,500. Who It’s ForThe ViewSonic Gaming Elite XG321UG is a premium monitor with a premium price tag. This is a monitor for enthusiasts who want it all and are willing to pay for it. You do get excellent visual fidelity thanks to its oft-overlooked mini LED tech, and it strikes a great balance between performance and resolution.
PROS
Mini LED implementation is impressive
Excellent HDR performance
Deep contrast ratio
Nvidia Reflex and G-Sync Ultimate support
CONS
Expensive
Settings require some tweaking to optimize
No HDMI 2.1 or USB-C ports
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
32 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
1400 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
120M:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Adaptive Sync
Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate
Video Inputs
HDMI, DisplayPort
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
3
VESA DisplayHDR Level
DisplayHDR 1400
Dimensions (HWD)
19 by 28.6 by 10.4 inches
Weight
23.8 lbs
Height-Adjustable Stand?
Tilting Stand?
Swiveling Stand?
Landscape/Portrait Pivot
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
ViewSonic Gaming Elite XG321UG Review
Sony Inzone M9
Best 4K Monitor for Console Gaming
Why We Picked ItComing from the makers of the PlayStation itself, the Sony Inzone M9 gets a lot right as a console-friendly 27-inch 144Hz 4K gaming monitor. The slick, sexy monitor has tons of forward-thinking automation features sure to pique the interest of gamers, especially those lucky enough to be gaming on a PS5. Its Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) panel technology makes for better depth perception, highlights, and deeper blacks. It also supports DisplayHDR, and packs plenty of custom features exclusive to the PS5. It does trip up on a few of the basics, but it mostly offers a quality gaming experience, and one tailored for those who jump often between their PC and their console on the same panel. Low input lag will captivate the competitive crowd, while solid brightness and color results will please casual viewers looking for a clean picture while binging TV shows.Who It’s ForIf you’re a gamer who flips between a PC and a console constantly, you’ll find a lot to love in the Inzone M9, especially if you have a PC video card amped-up enough to push decent frame rates at 4K.
PROS
Eye-catching design
Exclusive features for PlayStation 5
Very low input lag
HDMI 2.1 and USB-C ports included
CONS
Expensive
Sound quality is unremarkable
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
27 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
600 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1,000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Adaptive Sync
Nvidia G-Sync Compatible
Video Inputs
DisplayPort, HDMI
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
3
VESA DisplayHDR Level
DisplayHDR 600
Dimensions (HWD)
18.2 by 24 by 8.9 inches
Weight
15 lbs
Height-Adjustable Stand?
Tilting Stand?
Swiveling Stand?
Landscape/Portrait Pivot
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year
Learn More
Sony Inzone M9 Review
Asus ProArt Display OLED PA32DC
Best 4K Monitor for Pro Content Creators
Why We Picked ItThe Asus ProArt PA34VC Professional Curved Monitor is one of the finest OLED monitors we have seen, expertly crafted to suit the needs of video editors, designers, and photographers. It includes a breathtaking contrast ratio, supports multiple HDR formats, and is the first OLED monitor we’ve seen with automatic calibration. It comes at a hefty price, but if you’re looking for the best non-Apple content-creation and photo-editing monitor money can buy, not many competitors are in the same league.Who It’s ForWith a stratospheric price tag, the PA32DC OLED is aimed squarely at creative pros: art directors, videographers, photographers, and the like looking for a top-of-the-line Windows-friendly artistic monitor to pair with their workstation. Well-heeled enthusiasts should love it too.
PROS
Superior color gamut coverage
Offers multiple HDR modes
Included colorimeter works well
Extra stand and monitor hood included
Handle for mobility
CONS
Refresh rate tops out at 60Hz
High Delta E in testing
Expensive
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
31.5 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
OLED
Rated Screen Luminance
500 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
100M:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
N/A
Video Inputs
DisplayPort, HDMI
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
4
VESA DisplayHDR Level
DisplayHDR 400
Dimensions (HWD)
18.3 by 28.9 by 2.4 inches
Weight
26.7 lbs
Height-Adjustable Stand?
Tilting Stand?
Swiveling Stand?
Landscape/Portrait Pivot
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Asus ProArt Display OLED PA32DC Review
BenQ PD2706UA
Best Ergonomics on a 4K Monitor
Why We Picked ItThe BenQ PD2706UA takes ergonomic friendliness to a new level. This 27-inch 4K display attaches to its stand via a hinged “ergo-arm” that allows a wide range of fluid motion toward or away from you, or to the side. The PD2706UA is not freestanding; the base includes a clamp that you fasten to a desk or table. There are plenty of capable 27-inch UHD monitors for less money, but the PD2706UA’s mobility puts it in a class by itself. Who It’s ForThe BenQ PD2706UA is primarily for businesspeople who want or need the comfort that the ergonomically exceptional clamp-on stand can provide. It’s a great choice for people rehabbing from an injury, or who just like the ease with which they can adjust and relocate the monitor.
PROS
Exceptional ergonomic versatility thanks to ergo-arm mount
Wide selection of ports
Virtual KVM switch
Good color coverage, especially for sRGB
Decent built-in speakers
CONS
Measured contrast ratio well below BenQ’s rating
On the pricey side for what it offers
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
27 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
350 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1200:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
N/A
Video Inputs
HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
4
VESA DisplayHDR Level
DisplayHDR 400
Dimensions (HWD)
27.7 by 24.2 by 18.2 inches
Weight
20.1 lbs
Height-Adjustable Stand?
Tilting Stand?
Swiveling Stand?
Landscape/Portrait Pivot
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
BenQ PD2706UA Review
Alogic Clarity Pro Touch
Best 4K Touch-Screen Monitor
Why We Picked ItThe Alogic Clarity Pro Touch is a rare 27-inch 4K UHD monitor that features 10-point gesture-based touch support. Our testing showed the panel to be bright, with excellent contrast, full Adobe RGB and sRGB color coverage, and suitable color accuracy. It packs in a webcam, a solid stand with good ergonomics, and a USB-C port that provides up to 65 watts of power delivery. Downsides include poorly responsive control buttons and a wonky, icon-based menu system. It is an excellent (albeit pricey) way to add a touch screen to your desktop setup.Who It’s ForThe Clarity Pro Touch is primarily for designers seeking a display with touch functionality but who prefer a monitor in a traditional form factor rather than an interactive pen display. Although it’s pricey compared with similar non-touch panels, it costs far less than a pen display with a similar screen size.
PROS
27-inch touch screen
4K UHD resolution
Full sRGB and Adobe RGB color coverage
Contrast ratio considerably better than its rating
8-megapixel webcam
CONS
On the pricey side for a display of its capabilities
Poorly responsive control buttons
Awkward, icon-based OSD menu system
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
27 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
400 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
AMD FreeSync
Video Inputs
USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI (2)
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
3
VESA DisplayHDR Level
DisplayHDR 400
Dimensions (HWD)
22.2 by 24.6 by 8.7 inches
Weight
16.8 lbs
Height-Adjustable Stand?
Tilting Stand?
Swiveling Stand?
Landscape/Portrait Pivot
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
2 years
Learn More
Alogic Clarity Pro Touch Review
Buying Guide: The Best 4K Monitors for 2024
Ready to buy a 4K monitor? Let’s define 4K first. The vast majority of 4K monitors have 16:9 aspect ratios with a native resolution of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels (horizontal by vertical). That’s four times as many as a full HD or 1,920-by-1,080-pixel panel—and that’s a lot of pixels. Some other resolutions with approximately 4,000 pixels across—most commonly 4,096 by 2,160—are also considered 4K. All these panels remain premium choices, but they’re becoming increasingly common on desks at work, at home, and in gamers’ frag dens.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
But before we get too deep into details, we should help you answer a key question: Is a 4K monitor right for you in the first place? Depending on what you do most with your monitor, and where you’ll place it, the extra money you’d pay versus a lower-resolution display may not be necessary.Should You Buy a 4K Monitor for PC Gaming?For starters, if you want a really big 4K monitor solely for home-entertainment purposes that don’t center on PC gaming, a 4K TV would likely be a cheaper option. That’s because many 4K TV sets aren’t beholden to the same standards that 4K monitors are, such as the need for boosted refresh rates (for gaming models), elite or specialized color accuracy (for content creators), or low input lag. (See our picks for the best TVs, now uniformly 4K models.)Gaming at 4K is a demanding task that requires you to have relatively powerful hardware inside of your PC. In particular, you’ll need a fast graphics card. If you’re looking to run games with maxed-out graphics settings at 60fps or better you’ll need one of the most expensive graphics cards money can buy. The immensely powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is currently best suited for this task, though at $1,599 it’s also prohibitively expensive. Though you may not sail past 60fps on every game with maxed settings, you can competently run most if not all modern titles at that (or close to that) with several less-expensive GPUs. Nvidia has several upper-end GeForce RTX 40-series cards that are capable of gaming at 4K, and AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 graphics cards are similarly capable. If you drop the graphics settings down, some older graphics cards, like many of those at the upper ends of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series and AMD Radeon RX 6000 series, are also perfectly capable of providing a smooth 4K gaming experience in many games.Gaming at 4K resolution isn’t strictly about your hardware nowadays. A crop of software technologies (image sharpeners, upscalers, and supersamplers) from both AMD and Nvidia have hit the market recently. In a nutshell, these aim to allow PCs with midrange graphics cards or lesser integrated graphics (and gaming-console GPUs) to run at higher resolution while minimizing the performance hit and loss in visual quality. Can You Actually See the Difference With a 4K Monitor?When shopping in the TV aisle, the answer as to whether you should opt for a 4K model today is almost always yes, because it’s hard to find TVs with lower resolutions these days. It’s not quite as simple with computer monitors. Getting serious about the question comes down to algebra and raises issues like pixel pitch, pixels per inch (ppi), and something called angular resolutions. Let’s try to keep it simple, however.A good example of the pixel-pitch problem arises with virtual reality (VR) headsets and an issue known as the screen door effect. In essence, the lower a display’s maximum resolution and the closer you sit to it, the easier it is to see its individual pixels. In the case of VR headsets, this can make the image look as if it’s seen through mesh, and it’s why headset resolution has grown steadily—when something’s that close to your eyes, you can more clearly see the difference.The same considerations apply to monitors, just across a viewing distance measured in feet instead of inches. The tricky bit is that viewing distance isn’t fixed but depends on the size and layout of your desk, your chair position, and so on. Whether you can make out the difference in image quality between a 4K display and, say, a 1440p panel (2,560 by 1,440 pixels) depends on not only the distance but your eyesight and the screen size. The last calculates out to a certain number of pixels per inch, in essence the screen’s pixel density. You can see how it scales here at each common resolution.
(Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Luckily, we don’t have to the math on our own. Workstation vendor Puget Systems has designed a helpful Google Sheet that will automatically help you figure the optimal display size and resolution for you depending on your personal visual acuity. All you have to do is plug in your target screen size and resolution, the distance between your eyes and the screen, and the specifics of your eyesight. You can then try different numbers and see how the output changes, helping you figure out if a certain size or distance makes more or less sense. (If you haven’t been to the eye doctor lately and don’t know your prescription strength, a few more calculations using some of the formulas on this page are all you need.)Of course, less scientifically, you can look at 4K panels of various sizes in a local store to see if you can tell the difference between them and similarly sized 1440p or 1080p monitors. But ideally you’ll want to observe the same screen image, scaled the same amount, to get a meaningful comparison, and that may not always be practical. Still, to summarize: Before you buy a 4K monitor, make sure you’ll actually be able to see the benefit of the increased pixel density given your seating setup. If you have 20/15 vision, sit three feet from the screen, and already own a 27-inch, 1440p display, you probably can’t justify the cost of a 27-inch, 4K monitor. It all depends on how big your screen is, how close or how far away you’ll sit, and your eyesight.What Type of Screen Should You Buy in a 4K Monitor?Before you buy a new 4K monitor, you should know the pros and cons of the display technologies available. Most of the time, it’s easy to find what type of panel a monitor has simply by looking at the manufacturer’s spec sheet. Let’s run through the most common kinds.VERTICAL ALIGNMENT (VA). VA panels are some of the oldest in the game, but they’re still around because despite better, newer display technologies, they “just work.” VA screens offer some of the highest contrast ratios apart from OLED models (more about them in a moment), and better viewing angles and color reproduction than TN panels. However, VA is the slowest of all display technologies, offering the pokiest response times and highest input-lag numbers. That makes them a bad bet for gaming.TWISTED NEMATIC (TN). TN displays, on the other hand, boast extremely fast pixel response times, averaging anywhere between 1 millisecond (ms) and 5ms, and they’re relatively inexpensive to produce, making them ideal for gamers. The tradeoffs with TN? Uneven color reproduction, limited off-center viewing angles, and mediocre contrast ratios. That’s a lot to give up for the sake of speed, which means that you’ll typically see 4K TN panels only in gamer-centric monitors, and we’re seeing fewer and fewer of them each year.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
IN-PLANE SWITCHING (IPS). IPS panels are the most common of today’s 4K displays. They tend to cost slightly more than VA or TN screens, but they offer the best all-around experience for most users: strong color reproduction, moderately quick response times, and the widest viewing angles of any display type except for OLED. The penalty? Prices anywhere from $50 to $300 higher than their non-IPS counterparts at a given screen size.Since 2021, we’ve seen a host of monitors with tweaked panel types dubbed Fast IPS, Rapid IPS, Nano IPS, and IPS Black. The first three variants boost screens’ gaming capabilities and overall color vividness, while the latter produces deep black tones and a contrast ratio that is much improved versus standard IPS panels.ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE (OLED). Familiar from high-end HDTVs, OLED is the newest technology in computer monitors. Offering a theoretically infinite contrast ratio, gorgeous color for film and TV, and unbeatably dark black levels, OLED basically sounds like the ultimate display technology. The TVs we’ve seen look stupendous, and you’d think monitor manufacturers would be pumping out OLED models in droves.Although 4K OLED panels have been all the rage for several years in the TV market (and are increasingly popular laptop displays), it’s only recently, as the price of this technology has begun to come down, that OLED computer monitors have begun to make a splash. In the past year, we’ve seen OLED-based gaming, professional, and even portable monitors.MINI LED. Finally, there’s mini LED. Rather than edge-lighting an LCD-based panel with a ring of LEDs that sits around the display and lights the picture globally, this tech embeds hundreds or thousands of small LEDs behind the panel itself. This allows a lighting technique known as full-array local dimming (FALD), getting you close to OLED’s infinite contrast at a lower cost.What Else to Look for in a 4K Monitor for PC Gaming?Though 4K displays are still far from the norm in the gaming monitor market, the top models are adopting rapid pixel-response times and blisteringly quick refresh rates. As the technologies in the panels (and the GPUs needed to power them properly) advance, which features should a potential 4K gamer look for? Let’s lay them out.INPUT LAG. In broad strokes, input lag is measured as the amount of time it takes for your monitor to display an external action. For example, if I click a button on my mouse, the input lag (measured in milliseconds) expresses how long it takes for something to happen on screen. Some of the best gaming monitors boast input lag below 2ms, though this is often slower with 4K displays because the number of pixels redrawn in each pass is greater at higher resolution.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
REFRESH RATE. Gaming-monitor refresh rates have skyrocketed in recent years, especially at resolutions below 4K. While flat-panel displays seemed stuck at 60Hz for ages, it’s easy to find 144Hz, 165Hz, or even 240Hz or 360Hz models in the esports arena, while a few recent monitors have reached the 500Hz mark.Like so much else, it’s more complicated with 4K. Due to the bandwidth limitations of the HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4b interfaces and cables, early 4K monitors were limited to 60Hz. More recently, however, models have appeared that take advantage of HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.0, and DisplayPort 2.1 to push that ceiling to 120Hz and beyond.
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
RESPONSE TIME. Not to be confused with input lag, response time refers to the amount of time it takes for a pixel to change from black to white or from one shade of gray to another. In practical terms, you should expect a response time of under 20ms in even the slowest 4K monitors, and when shopping for a gaming panel it’s better to aim for 5ms or lower to stay competitive in the long term.ADAPTIVE-SYNC TECH. Nvidia’s G-Sync and AMD’s FreeSync and FreeSync2 are all flavors of what are known as adaptive sync technologies. Without getting too deep into the weeds, they’re designed to prevent stuttering and screen tearing (screen draws with parts of the image misaligned). These maladies can occur on monitors—gaming-focused or otherwise—in fast-moving action scenes.Adaptive sync aligns the refresh rate of the monitor with the frame-rate output of the video card on the fly, drawing a frame only when a full one is delivered rather than at a fixed rate. Though it’s not essential for gamers who mostly play single-player, slow-paced titles, adaptive sync is great for anyone daring to take his or her skills into the online multiplayer arena in serious competition.You need both a compatible monitor and a compatible graphics card to enjoy G-Sync or FreeSync (for the GPU, a late-model Nvidia GeForce or AMD Radeon RX card respectively). Note that Nvidia has designated a subset of monitors as G-Sync Compatible; these work with the adaptive-sync tech of its cards despite not having the specific, exclusive G-Sync-enabling circuitry of earlier G-Sync displays.What to Look for in a 4K Monitor for Pro Graphics Work?With the monitor industry ramping up the move to 4K and consumers adding millions of such screens to their desks, digital content creators can hardly be expected to stick with 1080p. Professionals were among the first users to splurge on monitors with native 4K resolution, and these buyers continue to drive the market forward with 5K, 6K, and even 8K displays beginning to appear.
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(Credit: Molly Flores)
A 4K monitor is a nice addition to any amateur or professional creator’s toolkit, though we should note that in terms of color reproduction or accuracy 4K screens have no inherent advantages over lower-resolution models. Instead, their main benefit is displaying higher detail in photography, 3D visual arts, or cinematography. Having more pixels gives you a greater level of accuracy, whether you’re adding angel wings to an image of a fashion model, making vector art, mastering a movie, or doing anything that requires zooming in and retaining as much visual fidelity as possible.Another benefit is extra workspace. Even if your ultimate output isn’t in 4K, working on a 4K panel can let you see your content at full resolution while leaving screen space for control menus, color palettes, video timelines, and other creation tools. Of course, you could relegate that stuff to a second monitor, but a 4K panel can enable single-display workflows that were impossible or awkward before.Color-gamut coverage is a key spec for many visual professionals. A number of elite 4K monitors cover 100% of the sRGB color gamut used online, as well as scoring nearly that high with the Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 gamuts used for photo and video imaging respectively. What to Look for in a 4K Monitor for the Office?Keeping busy on a 4K monitor isn’t much different from doing general work on a lower-resolution screen, but there’s one key difference: effective screen space. Since a 4K monitor has four times as many pixels as a 1080p panel, this gives you in theory four times the elbow room to show application windows side by side.The reason we say “in theory” is that it’s almost impossible to make out the same text scaled 1:1 at 4K versus 1080p at the same screen size. This is why both Windows PCs and Macs come with a feature known as DPI (dots per inch) scaling. For example, when you switch your display resolution in Windows from 1080p to 4K, the operating system will by default scale your content to 150% of its standard DPI.This increases the size of all rendered elements on screen by that percentage. At 150% scaling, it’s more likely that you’d be able to fit two or three standard app windows side by side and still clearly read their text. With four windows in different screen quadrants? Not so likely.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
To help simplify your workflow even more, some 4K monitors come with built-in features like an automatic window-sizing tool. (It sections off parts of your screen that Windows programs will resize to on their own.) These monitors can also accept video signals from multiple sources and display them side by side (“picture by picture”) or inlaid in a larger window (“picture in picture”). This can be useful if, say, you’re working on a PC but you need to test your changes on a separately connected Mac at the same time.What Connections and Controls Should a 4K Monitor Have?Some specs are not as front-and-center as the display type or the refresh rate, but they’ll affect how you work with your 4K display day to day.The stand’s adjustability might seem trivial, but it can affect your comfort depending on where and how you use your panel. A range of forward and backward screen tilt is pretty standard (usually listed in degrees), but you’ll want to look for the ability to swivel the panel left and right on its stand or rotate it between landscape (horizontal) and portrait (vertical) modes. The last is less common and largely for serious photo editors, and is most likely to be found on 32-inch or smaller monitors.Connectivity is another thing to check, though for most folks it comes down to either HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C if it supports DisplayPort over USB Alternate Mode. Most 4K monitors will have two or more of these inputs. Look for a match with your video source. A few panels support input via Thunderbolt, suitable for Macs and high-end Windows laptops.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
One note: To get a 4K display running above a 60Hz refresh rate (mostly of interest to gamers or game developers), you’ll need a graphics card capable of outputting its signal over a DisplayPort 1.4b, 2.0, or 2.1 cable; or an HDMI 2.1 cable. Finally, there’s the issue of HDR. High dynamic range is a color specification common in current 4K HDTVs, but it’s also made inroads into monitors recently. (See our HDR primer for much more background.) Of course, you’ll need content or media recorded in HDR or games that support the HDR spec in order to enjoy it. That said, if you have a monitor that also plugs into an Xbox One X, for example, that console will display all kinds of HDR content as a plug-and-play experience without issue.So, What Is the Best 4K Monitor to Buy?As you can see, upgrading to a 4K monitor entails a lot more than just a simple step up in resolution. But now you’re ready to shop. We’ve tested a host of 4K monitors and gathered a selection of the very best in all the main usage classes: business monitors, gaming screens, and creative or visual professional panels. We broke out our favorites above and have included a detailed spec breakdown below; let’s dig in.
