4 factors to consider when choosing a monitor

Looking at ads, you might think that every monitor is among the best monitors in the world. But what is actually the best monitor? It is very important to do your research before spending thousands of dollars. Here we have listed everything you need to know in the monitor buying process to save you time when evaluating the best monitor options👇

The best monitor choice; office and Internet work, competitive gaming or photo editing. There are many better monitor options for every use case. However, there are many factors to consider when choosing the best monitor. If you’re not an expert on computer monitors, you might be confused by all these different features.

So what refresh rate do you need? What is the difference between IPS and TN panels? Does it make sense to choose a monitor with a higher resolution and does your computer support it? In this guide, we will introduce you to the world of monitors so you can choose the best monitor.

Monitor types

The first stop in our guide to the best monitors starts with understanding the monitor type. Each type of monitor has some advantages and some disadvantages. You will find that most of them have the same resolution regardless of the type. Today Full HD is the standard size (1920 x 1080), followed by Quad HD or 2K resolution (2560 x 1440) and finally 4K resolution (3840 x 2160).

There may be different resolutions, and resolution is not very closely related to size. You may encounter large standard-definition monitors and small 4K displays. Choosing a monitor with a higher resolution is more expensive. But it will also give you better image quality, clarity, and more screen real estate.

The vast majority of displays are flat-paneled, but there are also curved and ultra-wide monitors. Curved monitors have a slightly curved screen, which may vary depending on the model. Curved design can offer more immersion. In addition, they are often used for playing games and watching movies.

Ultra-wide monitors have a much wider aspect ratio, such as 21:9, compared to 16:9 on a regular screen. These models are also preferred for games, as well as curved ones. But they are also good tools for creating multiple tasks and content.

Update frequency

Among the best monitor options, refresh rate is also an important consideration. Each monitor has a value represented in Hz. This value refers to the refresh rate, measured in hertz, which means how many times per second the monitor refreshes the image on the screen. For example, if a monitor has a default refresh rate of 60Hz, that means it updates the image 60 times per second.

Some of the most common refresh rates can be described as 60Hz, 75Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, 240Hz, and even 360Hz. It is easy to fall into the “higher is better” trap and spend extra money. But not everyone needs such a high refresh rate. If you are a gamer and like shooting games or competitive games, you may want to choose a monitor with a screen refresh rate above 120 Hz. In the gaming world, monitors with a refresh rate of 144Hz are generally preferred.

Higher refresh rates often mean better performance in competitive esports gaming. So if you have the budget and a reliable computer, it will be worth the money. Even if you don’t like fast-paced games, the games you play will likely run smoother at 144Hz. Video editors, graphic designers and animators can also benefit from high refresh rate monitors.

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Panel types

In order not to get lost among the lists of the best monitors, you should also pay attention to the types of monitor panels. The most common types of display panels include IPS (In-Plane Switching), VA (Vertical Alignment), TN (Twisted Nematic), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes), and mini LED panels. IPS panels provide excellent color reproduction and overall picture quality. It may be the best choice for photo or video editing professionals. However, the IPS panel is also suitable for ordinary users who need beautiful and vibrant colors.

VA panels have deeper blacks and contrast compared to IPS panels. So while the color rendering is worse, the overall image quality may look better than some. TN panels are generally known for the fastest response times and lowest input lag. These monitors are the most preferred models by esports fans. When you combine a TN panel with a high refresh rate, you get a monitor that is very suitable for helping you win games. However, unfortunately, the color reproduction on TN panels is inferior to IPS and VA. Therefore, they are not suitable for color work or movie viewing.

Mini-LED is not exactly a type of panel. Mini-LED is more of a backlight technology. The monitor can be both IPS and mini-LED at the same time, so it might seem a bit confusing to you. This technology is based on thousands of tiny LEDs that make the screen even brighter and more contrasty. OLED screens, on the other hand, are much brighter, but also very expensive. OLED displays are mostly recommended for professionals.

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Ports and Compatibility

If you are planning to buy a monitor, monitor ports are a very important issue. Among the most common ports on a monitor are DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA, primarily HDMI. But DVI and VGA ports are slowly falling out of fashion. Instead, the technology is moving towards HDMI and DisplayPort. However, you may find some legacy ports on older monitors. But compatibility will be a problem if your motherboard or video card does not support these connectors.

When buying a new display, you should check if your current hardware has the appropriate ports. If not, then you should consider buying another model. But you can also find inexpensive adapters like DVI to HDMI. However, it is always better to use the most suitable technology.

If your computer has a discrete graphics card (GPU), there are other factors to consider as well. Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync technologies are very important today. Both are adaptive sync technologies that match your monitor’s refresh rate to the frame rate generated by your GPU. It’s best to choose a monitor that specifically supports your GPU’s technology. But most monitors are designed with dual compatibility in mind. Therefore, you may not be able to miss much.

As a result, before choosing the best monitor, you need to consider a number of important factors among monitors, such as their size, screen resolution, refresh rate, and panel type. You must balance these features to find the best option for your needs and budget. Remember that the highest spec monitor may not always be the best choice; Your intended use and personal preferences are important. Therefore, we suggest that you do a little research and maybe try different models to find the best monitor for you.

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