If you are planning to buy a monitor there are many factors to consider and multiple designs to compare. But if you want to make a quick and safe choice, you can opt for a 27-inch generic display with an IPS panel and 4k resolution. A simple flat-screen display with a combination of aforesaid features is best for office use or surfing. And if you want a cheaper choice, then you can settle in for a 24-inch monitor with a full HD resolution that would cost only around $150. However, if you wish to make a detailed comparison or if you want a monitor for gaming or graphic designing, then you need to explore certain features in detail. Read on for more guidance on this topic.
Choosing the right size
Comfortable viewing distance
For a monitor, size is an important feature that incorporates all the other features. So to begin with, you need to settle in for a size that is most suited for your type of work. If you want to enjoy gaming from a distance, then you can go for a widescreen monitor with a 32 or 34-inch display. As far as possible, opt for a bigger size if it is within your budget limits. But if you intend to work sitting close to your screen, a display size of more than 27 inches may not be a comfortable choice. According to your screen size and dimensions, your frame aspect ratio might vary. For instance, a 34-inch display generally comes with an aspect ratio of 21:9. Such monitors are best suited for gaming purposes and they can be enjoyed from a distance. If you are planning to buy a monitor for long-term use, you may opt for a 4k resolution. However, if you feel that a 4k display is too expensive, then you can choose a full HD monitor with a 16:9 frame aspect ratio. The appearance of the monitor should also be appealing. Most people prefer screens that have thin bezels. Likewise, you need a display that can be tilted sufficiently in different directions.
24 Inch Monitor:In this article, we have tried to prioritize the good balance between features and the price. By analyzing each of the 24 inch monitors closely and distinctively, each monitor is picked out which each offers different things to the user.
27 Inch Monitor:20 Top Lists & Ultimate Guide (2018 Updated)
Curved display
While comparing the size of different monitors, you should also compare the advantages of having a curved display. This is an important feature that needs to be considered when you are planning to buy a monitor for gaming or professional use. The curve of your monitor affects the dimensions of its display. Widescreen displays offer a better viewing experience if they have a reasonable curve that suits your viewing distance. If you want to use a big monitor from a close range, then it is best to opt for a moderately curved display rather than a flat screen. Different monitor brands offer different degrees of curvature which is measured in terms of their arc radius. Most of the 27-inch monitors generally have a curve of 1800R which is neither too deep nor too shallow. For monitors that are above 30 inches in size, you can settle in for a 2000R to 3000R curve. Note that, higher curvatures are only suitable for wider screens that generally measure around 35 to 37 inches. Nevertheless, you should choose a screen type based on your personal preference. Most of the dealers boast about an immersive viewing experience to market their curved monitors. This is merely an attention-seeking promotional technique that shouldn’t be counted if you are buying a slightly curved display. A widescreen with a gentle curve produces images that are similar to the ones rendered by a flat screen. Therefore, if you are accustomed to using a flat-screen monitor, you can definitely go for it.
Price range
Resolution
Nowadays, you can find hundreds of display models manufactured by different brands. Price is a major factor that differentiates these models into various types. Although there are many factors that influence the price, the major determinant is the resolution of your display. So when you are planning to buy a monitor with an ultra high resolution, you cannot settle in a low-budget deal. However, you can optimize the price range by choosing a medium-sized screen with a full HD resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. It would come under a reasonable price range of $150 to $200. Note that, for a screen size bigger than 24 inches full HD resolution may not offer you a sharp picture quality. And if you are opting for an IPS panel display, the minimum price range would be $250 to $300. However, if you can invest up to $500 you can enjoy a widescreen monitor with a UHD or 4k resolution. A 30 to 34-inch screen with a pixel resolution of 3840×2160 can offer you a great picture quality. Note that, for displays bigger than 32 inches, the price would be higher than $500 even if the resolution remains the same. Based on your specific needs, you can also choose monitors with 5k or 8k Ultra High Definition. For widescreen displays, the pixel aspect ratio would be 21:9. If you are used to working on screens with a 16:9 aspect ratio, then make sure that you test the difference before making any kind of instant buying decision.
Screen technologies
If you intend to buy a monitor for general purpose, you need not worry about the display technologies available in the market. As far as you are satisfied with the working of your display, you can make a reliable buying decision. However, if you want a monitor for a specific purpose like color-critical designing or high-definition gaming, then you should consider the pros and cons attached to different panel technologies available in the market. IPS or “in-plane switching” is one of the most-used screen technologies that offer superior color reproduction features. PLS displays are also similar to IPS but they offer improved viewing angles. If you plan to buy a monitor for gaming purpose, an IPS or PLS display is most recommended. They have high-end image enhancement features that can make your gaming experience more exciting. If you are looking for a cheaper option, you can check out VA panels or TN panels. TN panels are outdated but still, you can find many low-budget monitors with TN displays. They lag behind in terms of color reproduction and they cannot render dynamic viewing angles. Currently, you can buy a TN display with full HD resolution for less than $150. Also, note that VA panels offer better picture quality when compared to TN panels. All these screen technologies are used for making different types of LCD displays for desktops. However, TV monitors are made using IPS or VA panels.
Display specifications
Contrast ratio
The contrast ratio of a monitor is an important feature that influences the overall performance of its display. It can be defined as a ratio of maximum brightness to maximum darkness produced by a monitor. It can also be explained as a ratio of the brightest whites to the darkest blacks. The clarity of an image and its sharpness depend on the contrast ratio. So before you buy a monitor you should personally check and confirm the quality of contrast ratio rendered by its display. Higher contrast ratios offer better picture quality. For instance, a contrast ratio of 10000:1 can produce better images than a monitor with a contrast ratio of 4000:1. Unfortunately, contrast ratios are often misrepresented by monitor dealers to attract more customers. So you need to test the quality of contrasts displayed by a screen before relying on the details provided by the agents. Usually, very high ratios like 10,000,000:1 are not real. Dealers often advertise such exceptional qualities for selling monitors with inferior display technologies like TN panels. It is a general marketing gimmick intended to attract inexperienced buyers. TV monitors generally have a good contrast ratio when compared to desktops.
Display optimization technologies
There are many monitor brands available in the market that boasts about a wide range of display optimization features that are claimed as brand specific. However, most of these display specifications are common in nature and they are expressed using complex terms to attract the attention of buyers. If you intend to buy a monitor with exceptional display features, you should learn about the effects of various features advertised by recognized brands in the market. Most of the brands boast about display optimization features like eye-saving modes and flicker reduction. These features offer more or less the same effects that you can find in a majority of the HD monitors. So you should compare and choose wisely rather than relying on the claims made by the dealers. While considering the general display specifications you should check the extent of viewing angle offered by your screen. The viewing angle can be defined as your display readability when viewed from different sides. Some monitors display contrasting colors when viewed from the sides. But displays that have higher degrees of viewing angle offer consistent images irrespective of the direction from which they are viewed. You can buy a monitor with 178 degrees of viewing angle. This is a decent range of VA offered by most of the high-quality displays.
IPS VS TN VS VA
There are a large number of display technologies available in the market. IPS, TN and VA are the most prominent of them all. In this section, we shall be discussing the stark differences between the three video display technologies. Though they all seem appealing, they do differ in terms of a wide variety of factors. Some of them are discussed below: IPS VS TN
Color specifications
Color gamut
Color specifications of a monitor are based on the number of colors it can process and display. The accuracy level of the colors displayed further enhances the quality of your image. Primarily, you should consider the color gamut range of your display. It can be defined as “the spectrum of colors” a monitor can accurately display. Before you set off to buy a monitor, it is important to understand the meaning of color gamut specifications. Generally, the color gamut is expressed as a percentage of a standard color space or a color system like RGB or NTSC. For instance, sRGB is the common color space used for specifying the color gamut ranges. Monitors with low-quality color displays have a color gamut which is lower than sRGB. For a reasonable color quality, you need a screen that offers 100 percent sRGB. Lately, monitors with larger color spaces like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB are available. For editing and color-critical tasks, you need a monitor with a color gamut of 90 to 100 percent DCI-P3 or Adobe RGB. These modern color spaces hold a vast spectrum of colors. They are usually made available for big-screen monitors with a display size of 32 to 37 inches. If you want to keep the price below $1000 you can opt for an IPS display with a color gamut of 100 percent sRGB. Before you buy a monitor you should cross check its color gamut from reliable online sources that offer unbiased technical reviews.
Color settings
When you buy a monitor for graphics designing or editing works, you need to look for color adjustment settings. Besides a broader spectrum of colors as mentioned above, you need options to control the color temperature of your screen. For some displays, the option comes as a part of it’s on-screen menu that can be accessed with the help of a menu button available on the monitor itself. However, not all the monitors come with an onscreen menu button. There are many new models that have advanced color settings accessible via their software. Yet another elite color adjustment feature relates to color profiles. The option allows you to store and use custom color profiles that can enhance the quality of the colors produced by your screen. Such features are available in high-end monitors that can cost you around $1000 or more. The colors you finally see on a screen are also influenced by the overall image enhancement feature of its display. Likewise, you should also consider buying a monitor which is highly compatible with the capabilities of your graphics card.
Ultimate Buying Guide
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Conclusion
Apart from the aforementioned factors, there are additional features like USB hubs, the availability of memory card slots, and inbuilt speakers that can make a monitor more desirable when compared to others. These are utility features that can help you in saving money while setting up your desktop. If you wish to buy a monitor that has high-end integration features, then you need to look for the option of picture-in-picture. This would allow you to work on 2 systems at a time. Connectivity is also an important aspect that needs to be checked before you make any buying decision. The display inputs should be compatible with your system’s output. Quality monitors come with connectors that are compatible with Windows as well as Mac computers. While shopping for a display unit, you should take time to compare different models and a direct inspection is highly recommended. However, there are many factors like color rendering and image quality that cannot be judged instantly. Nonetheless, if you spend time observing the details you can definitely rate these monitors based on the overall attractiveness of their performance.