A new computer monitor can improve productivity and entertainment while extending the life of your current computer. This simple buying guide covers the essentials to make the best choice.
To choose a computer monitor, you must consider your needs. Monitors come in different specifications, such as: B. Resolution, form factor, refresh rate, size and of course price. You need to know what you will use it for and what your budget is.
Budget for a computer monitor
Monitor prices vary almost as much as computer prices, with so many options available that there is always something for everyone. If for some reason you don’t want to spend too much money on a new screen, there are models starting at $120, but they are usually smaller than the recommended size of around 22 inches, like the one below. However, if you want the biggest and fanciest, you may have to spend up to $6,000 or more on the MSRP.
Sansui’s 22-inch screen; $120 Sansui (Amazon)
What benefit?
A screen for gaming, professional or for everything?
A gamer values fast refresh rates and fast response times, while a professional monitor focuses on color accuracy for imaging, video, architectural and office tasks. If you need a monitor primarily for watching videos, choose a monitor with an IPS panel, which is ideal for streaming videos.
Monitor resolutions
High resolution is the key to a sharp, well-defined image. As the resolution increases, so do the costs. Most monitors sold today are high-definition (HD) monitors with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (also called 1080p). We recommend that you choose this minimum resolution. Other resolution options include (but are not limited to):
- 1280×1024
- 1366×768
- 1600×900
- 1920×1080
- 1920×1200
- 2560×1440
- 3440×1440
- 3840×2160
If you want something better than full high definition (FHD), there are monitors that go up to ultra high definition (UHD or 4K). 4K monitors can reach resolutions of 3840 x 2160 and higher. However, keep in mind that higher image quality comes at an additional, higher cost.
Which size should I choose?
A 24 to 30 inch screen is an ideal size for most users.
Just like the resolution, the price of a monitor also increases with its size. Since only you know what you’re displaying on the monitor, where you’re placing it, and what your budget is, there’s no ideal monitor size. For the average home user who checks email, surfs the Internet, etc., a 24-inch monitor is probably fine. However, if you do office work (e.g. detailed spreadsheets), it would make more sense to go for a larger, higher resolution monitor.
Monitor ≠ TV
Unlike choosing a TV, the largest monitor isn’t always the best. If resolution does not increase with size, the clarity of the screen image will decrease. In other words: the pixels are less fine. For example, if you have two monitors with the same resolution, the larger one will not be as sharp as the smaller one. And the smallest monitor, even if very sharp, may be too small for you to use comfortably.
HP estimates that a 24-30 inch screen is fine for the average user, while a 1080p screen (25 inches or larger) is the minimum size required for gaming.
The higher the range, the more ports there are. DisplayPort, HDMI, USB-C are the most important. LG
Additional functions
It’s convenient to have USB ports on your monitor so you don’t have to go far to connect a mouse, keyboard or webcam. Also consider the ability to customize the monitor. Does it adapt to the height of more than one person? This may not apply to you, but if you have a family or even just one other person who uses it, you’ll be surprised at how nice it is to be able to position, raise, or lower the monitor to your liking.
General use
“General purpose” monitors, and you may be using one right now, are desktop monitors that range in size from 21 to 41 inches. They are suitable for reading emails, online shopping, social media, watching short videos, etc.
professionals
Professional monitors are generally aimed at graphic designers and other creative professionals. A monitor for a creative professional can accurately display billions of colors. UHD has become the standard choice for industry professionals, offering a wide resolution from 3840 x 2160 (4K) to 6016 x 3384 (6K).
games
Gaming monitors serve a different purpose than professional monitors. Due to the speed of player-controlled actions, gaming monitors require a fast refresh rate (how quickly the screen can update information). The lowest refresh rate (shown in Hz for Hertz) you’ll need for gaming is 60Hz, but higher-end models can reach 360Hz. If you use your computer primarily for gaming, your best bet is to choose a monitor specifically for gaming.
Ultra wide and curved; the perfect solution?
Ultrawide monitors are becoming more common, curved and of very good quality. Much wider than it is tall and much wider than your usual monitor, their horizontal and curved design is perfect for gaming, movies, the internet and viewing multiple documents side by side when possible.
This is my favorite type of screen. At home I use a 29-inch curved model from the LG UltraWide series. For the same price I paid a few years ago, you can now find 34-inch ultra-wide curved displays with 3440 x 1440 resolution on Amazon and elsewhere.
Although there are cheaper ultra-wide flat screens available, be aware that the left and right edges are further apart for your eyes. The curve reduces this distance and increases eye comfort.
The Samsung LC49RG90SSNXZA 49-inch Ultra Wide QLED 120Hz HDR1000 WQHD Curved Monitor
Business
Shop at the market. Unless purchasing a new monitor is absolutely necessary and urgent, take the time to look at several models and compare prices. If you enjoy shopping on Amazon, visit Camel’s Canadian website (https://ca.camelcamelcamel.com) to find out how the price of a product changes at the megastore and to find out when is the best time of year to the purchase is.
For convenience, without having to enter the entire product name, search the Amazon web address for the number ” /dp/ » as highlighted in this example:
https://www.amazon.ca/SANSUI-Freesync-Ultra-Thin-Adjustable-Compatible/dp/
B0BRV913KF/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=B0BRV913KF&qid=1694193236&sr=8-1&th=1
Paste it into Camel’s search box to see the price history of the coveted product.
Good Hunt!
Samsung 49″ Curved Ultra Widescreen price history CamelCamelCamel