The monitor is one of the most important components of your computer setup and a window to the PC’s soul. Without a suitable display, everything you do will just seem poorly done, whether you are editing photos, gaming, or just browsing through your favorite websites.
With so many models, brands, and features, it’s quite challenging to make the right decision. That’s why we decided to come up with this guide and help you get the best monitor for your needs.
Determine the monitor’s primary purpose
For example, would you be using it for general or professional use, or perhaps for gaming? Usually, if it’s for gaming, you should check out monitors with low response times and a fast refresh rate. On the other hand, professionals need to go for color accuracy. In contrast, general use users don’t need a particular type of monitor and can choose a device that has a high-contrast VA panel.
High resolution gives a better picture
As you could probably guess, the higher the resolution, the better the picture. In fact, the monitor’s resolution tells us how many pixels this device has in width by height format. You will often see markings like full HD or 1920×1080, and it’s basically the minimum you require, don’t go below; otherwise, you will lose the quality of your work.
If you want to get super sharp images, choose QHD, and for premium quality, go for 4K. Keep in mind that each of these monitors is designed with a specific purpose. For instance, if you are an average user, you won’t need a monitor with 4K resolution but full HD.
The right size
How to find monitor size? Well, it’s easy; just check out the manufacturer’s page. However, no one seems to be thinking about pixel density. But this feature has a significant impact on monitor quality.
The best pixel density you could choose is 109 PPI, pixel per inch. If you get a large monitor with a lower resolution, it will feature a low pixel density. From a typical desktop perspective, a 32-inch monitor is big enough. That’s why it’s not too demanding to find 4K types of monitors for about $1,000.
Refresh rate
Refresh rate tells you how many times your monitor updates with new information per second, and it’s measured in Hz or hertz. Of course, that bigger numbers mean a less choppy, smooth, and better image.
This feature is particularly important for games because they need monitors with a high refresh rate. The minimum would be 75Hz; however, most gaming monitors offer 120 Hz, coupled with the lowest response time you can locate. For people who aren’t gamers, 60Hz is more than enough.
Response time
In this case, we have the opposite situation, instead of bigger is better, we should go for the shorter is better. But all of this doesn’t matter unless you are a gamer. Response time indicates how long it takes for the monitors to change pixels from black to white or gray to another color.
If you select a monitor with a longer response time, it means that motion will blur when watching fast-paced videos or gaming. When it comes to gaming monitors, the highest response time is 5ms, while the fastest is 0.5ms.
Panel technology
To have high image quality, it’s essential to consider the following. TN monitors are the fastest; however, they are the most affordable because of poor image quality.
Next, IPS monitors have a slightly faster response time, and in terms of colors, are better than VA. On the other hand, VA monitors feature the best contract. That’s why selecting the best panel type for gaming might be a bit tough, but try to prioritize features.
Curved monitor
Curved monitors are designed to amplify users’ experience but provide them a large field of view. Some experts even indicate that this type of monitor has a better effect on your eyes. If you decide to get one of these, make sure it has 1800mm of curved radius and 1.8m of maximum viewing distance. How to check monitor specs? Just go to the manufacturer’s website.