PC Monitor Guide – 2020

Most monitors differ from each other due to several major variations in the hardware. The size is one variant, but what’s more important now is the monitor’s display panel, resolution, and backlighting. The three major types of monitors/displays in the monitor world are:

• Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
• Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
• Light-Emitting Diodes (LED)

The earliest CRT monitors, commonly used over two decades ago, were boxy and bulky. LCD monitors changed the game, as they were more compact and produced better images. However, they quickly became outdated due to bad viewing angles and other small flaws. LEDs are the latest monitors, which use actual LEDs to illuminate images on a panel or on the diode itself. The LED monitor family also has its own subvariants, such as OLED, QLED, etc. Organic LED displays have pixels that illuminate themselves, and they do not need backlighting. The LED displays are quickly catching up in the market, as they are cheaper and even more compact. However, the most used PC displays are the variants of LCDs/LEDs that have either IPS panels, TN panels, or VA panels. Following are the differences between these three types of panels:

• In-plane Switching (IPS): These have the best viewing angles, the best color accuracy, and comparatively higher response times.
• Twisted Nematic (TN): These are cheaper and have faster response times and higher refresh rates.
• Vertical Alignment (VA): These have better contrast and color than TN and are faster than IPS.

Considering all of these factors, the type of monitor you require will change according to what type of work you use it for, whether that is regular use, design work, and/or gaming.

Best monitors for gaming

The most ideal displays are TN and VA displays, as they are faster compared to other types. TN displays have higher refresh rates that come handy in competitive games, but they have poor color accuracy. Perhaps most importantly, they are budget-friendly. VA displays have better colors and are faster. They are the go-to choice for most gamers. However, despite IPS being excluded from the gaming category due to slower performances, IPS monitors have been getting upgrades to match the standards of gaming needs. Following are the top monitors for gaming you can buy right now:

• ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q – 27”, IPS, 1440p, 144 Hz
• Acer Predator XB273K – 27”, IPS, 4K, 144 Hz
• Pixio PXC273 – 27”, VA, 1080p, 144Hz

Best monitors for designing and entertainment

A designer should have the most accurate color gamut on his display for his work to live up to quality expectations. IPS panels fit the bill just fine and are ideal for office use and entertainment purposes like movie streaming, etc. Even though speed and performance really don’t matter in this category, color and resolution do. Following are the ideal monitors for creative work in 2020:

• Dell UltraSharp UP3216Q – 32”, 4K
• Eizo ColorEdge G2420-BK – 27”, 1440p, Hardware Calibration IPS
• Apple Pro Display XDR- 32”, 6K, Extreme Dynamic Range

Best ultrawide monitors for video editing and multi-tasking

An ultrawide monitor is the way to go if you are a video editor, a multi-tasker, or even a gamer. Ultrawide monitors save you the time and cash you could spend on two displays and could really come in handy for a clean workstation rig. Following are “beast status” monitors you can get right now:

• Samsung Odyssey G9 – 49”, 240 Hz, QLED, Dual-QHD
• Asus Designo Curve MX38VC – 37.5”, 21:9, 4K
• LG 34UC79G – 34”, 21:9, 1080p