A high-resolution 4K TV screen is almost a requirement when people are shopping for a new TV. 4K monitors are not a necessity unless you’re editing videos or photos professionally or you want to watch 4K content. We love the Dell 4KQC monitor. It’s high-quality, accurate, and can charge your laptop via USB-C. We love the sturdy stand and outstanding warranty from Dell. You don’t necessarily need 4K. There are many great monitors for less.
This is who this is
- Photo and video editors
A 4K monitor is a great choice for anyone who works with images in their native resolution. - Busy screen users
You can fit more information onto your 4K monitor at once with a 4K monitor - Heavy text readers
A 4K monitor will allow you to see clearer text and more detailed images on your screen. - 4K-content enjoyers
Our picks will please those who are addicted to 4K movies and TV shows at work.
Refresh rate: 60 Hz with FreeSync
The Dell S2722QC monitor is great and offers high-end features at a reasonable price. This monitor has excellent contrast and colour accuracy. It also features USB-C connectivity that allows you to charge your laptop while attached to it. Dell’s Premium Panel Exchange policy covers the S2722QC. If you find a defect, such as a bright pixel, in the box, they will send a replacement within one business day.
Refresh rate: 60 Hz
The HP Z27k is a 4K monitor with great contrast and accurate colours. The Z27k G3’s USB hub includes an Ethernet port to allow for a wired Internet connection. It also provides 100 W of power via its USB-C port, which is enough to fully charge a 15-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro. HP also offers a three-year warranty, which includes a zero bright-subpixel guarantee that is similar to Dells. We like the monitor’s adjustable stand and minimalist design. However, there are some issues with the screen. The plastic cable management loop at the back can also detach under stress. You can usually reattach it but not always.
Everything we recommend
Why you should put your faith in us
Since 2015, Dave Gershgorn, senior staff writer, has covered technology in publications like Quartz, Medium and now Wirecutter. He is an expert on all computer displays for Wirecutter and is certified by the Imaging Sciences Foundation.
Andrew Cunningham is the author of previous editions of this guide. Since 2012, Andrew Cunningham has been reviewing and testing PCs and other gadgets at Wirecutter, Ars Technica and AnandTech.
Chris Heinonen’s expert advice is invaluable to our monitor guides. He was a great help in determining the best hardware and software for our testing and he also designed the evaluation process during his time at Wirecutter.
This should be done by those who
A 4K monitor is not necessary if your computer is used only for browsing and video calling, or if your screen is only used for a few hours per day. A 4K monitor is worth it if your goal is to edit professional videos or photos at 4K resolution.
The term “4K” refers to horizontal resolution. It is the largest 4K resolution. This is 3840×2160 pixels. This is four times as many pixels as a 1080p screen and 2.25x more pixels than a 2560×1440-pixel monitor. The higher pixel density results in sharper text, more detailed images, and videos. You can also view more information on a 4K display depending on the scaling settings of your operating system.
A 4K monitor is a great investment if you are doing professional photo or video editing.
You need a faster and more powerful computer to push all those pixels. Most laptops and desktops made after 2015 should be capable of running basic web browsers and other apps. To run a 4K screen at 60 frames per second (or 60Hz), your computer must support DisplayPort 2.0 or later. Setting a resolution of 30 Hz or 24Hz will make your computer look slower and more stuttery. Most phones, laptops, and other monitors refresh at 60Hz. You will need a powerful graphics card if you play high-end games. You need a fast internet connection to stream 4K videos. Netflix recommends a minimum of 15 Mbps for streaming 4K video. If you have other users on your network, you should have at least that speed.
We have guides for lower-resolution budget monitors as well as 27-inch monitors. These monitors are great for multitasking, browsing the web and gaming. A decent budget monitor will cost you between $100-150, while a 2560×1440 27-inch monitor will cost between $250-$400.
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The Best Budget Monitoring
- We tested and researched cheap monitors, and found affordable options that were good enough for most people for less than $200.
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The Best 27 Inch Monitor
- If you have enough desk space, 27-inch monitors are a perfect size. We have recommendations for nearly every situation.
How we selected and tested
These are the key features to look for when buying a 4K monitor.
- Size: A 27-inch screen is big enough to benefit from some 4K’s extra resolution but small enough to fit on a desk. We did not look at any 4K monitors larger than 32 inches as they take up too much desk space.
- Display technology: The 4K monitor’s screen should be IP and not TTN or VA. IPS panels offer better colour reproduction and viewing angles.
- Price: A 27-inch 4K monitor with great features should be less than $600. A decent budget model should be less than $400. A 32-inch model will cost you between $700 to $900.
- Ports: DisplayPort and HDMI connections are required for any 4K monitor. The best models include a USB-C port, which can simultaneously send a display signal to a laptop and charge it. A USB 3.0 hub is a must for monitors that are great. This allows you to connect peripherals like keyboards, mice, webcams and more, as modern laptops have fewer ports.
- Contrast ratio: Good contrast makes it easier to see dark areas on a screen when you are watching a movie or playing games. Instead of depending on the manufacturer’s listing, we measure every monitor’s contrast ratio. IPS panels have a contrast ratio of 1000 to 1. A good contrast ratio is more important than an accurate colour. You can sometimes fix colour errors by calibrating your monitor. However, a low contrast ratio is much harder to correct.
- Colour accuracy and colour range: A monitor’s ability to accurately display colour information on any type of image, whether it is video, photo or graphics, ensures that images appear exactly as you intended. Monitors that are calibrated by their manufacturers have higher colour accuracy than those that don’t. Your monitor should cover the colour gamut to get the best quality image. The more coverage the monitor has, the greater the accuracy of its representations of different colours. It is also beneficial to have coverage of the DCI/P3 colour gamut. We recommend calibrating the monitor yourself or hiring a professional if you are doing professional image work. Although factory-calibrated monitors are generally accurate, professional calibration can often improve them.
- Stands and VESA mount support: Your body could be hurt if your monitor isn’t able to be properly aligned for the correct position. A monitor that can attach to monitor arms via a VESA mounting is the best option. Monitor arms that are good quality can run $100-200 more than average. We recommend 4K monitors that tilt from front to back, pivot into portrait mode, slide up or down, and can swivel sideways, rotate sideways, and swivel sideways.
- Warranty: 4K monitors can be more expensive than budget monitors so it is essential to have a solid warranty. We make sure each monitor comes with a good dead pixel policy that covers your purchase against both bright- and dark-pixel defects.
- Refresh rate: The 60-Hz refresh rate is superior to DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 2.0. This keeps things running smoothly and avoids laggy animations. DisplayPort and HDMI versions older than 1.2 had a 30 Hz refresh rate for 4K monitors or required multiple cables to reach 60 Hz. Although 4K monitors can be purchased with refresh rates as high as 144 Hz, they are more expensive than 60Hz monitors. Most laptops’ integrated graphics processors do not support them and most people don’t require them.
- Design: The monitor’s bezel (or the border surrounding the screen) doesn’t have any effect on its functionality. If you have multiple monitors, a thin border will look more modern and allow for less space between them.
- Controls that are easy to use: The on-screen display of your 4K monitor should make it simple for you to change settings like text size and brightness. You should also find it easy to use its buttons, whether capacitive or physically.
- Variable refresh rates are not necessary if you don’t play PC games. A monitor with adaptive sync (or variable refresh rate) matches the refresh rate to the framerate of the game being played. This eliminates screen tearing, and stuttering and reduces input latency, without affecting the game’s performance. FreeSync is supported by a few monitors that we examined. It works with both Nvidia and AMD graphics cards.
We look at the websites of every 4K monitor manufacturer, including Acer and BenQ, BenQ and Dell, HP and LG. We also eliminate models that do not meet our criteria, aren’t available from established retailers or are too costly relative to other models.
To assess each monitor’s colour accuracy, we use custom tests in Calman’s software calibration suite and high-end hardware. Our ColorChecker test runs through over 100 colours. Video: Rozette Rago
We test each monitor by using it for typical desktop tasks for several hours. Noting how sturdy and durable the stand is, and how easy it is to adjust the monitor’s settings via the on-screen controls, we also note the quality and usability of the display. There are two common problems that LCD monitors can have: low light flicker (also known as PWM flicker) or image retention.
The accuracy of each monitor’s colours and contrast is then tested. A screen with too bright or oversaturated colours might not look right to the naked eye. However, photos, videos and web pages will not look as intended. Each monitor is tested using an X-Rite and an X-Rite OEM Display colourimeter. Wirecutter’s Chris Heinonen also created custom tests in Calman’s software calibration suite. Calman numbers are used to determine how much the display colour is off-colour. The DeltaE 2000 numbers show the difference between what it should be and what it actually is. A DeltaE value below 1.0 is ideal. A DeltaE value below 2.0 is sufficient for print-production work. You wouldn’t even notice any difference if you had an exact reference. Ratings higher than 3.0 would indicate that you could probably detect a difference with your naked eyes.
It is important to know the colour gamut (the range of colours a device can accurately display). Colour accuracy does not mean much if only a small portion of the intended colours are displayed. We use the Calman tests to find out how much of the sRGB gamut each monitor can reproduce. A score of 100% is the ideal score. We don’t report numbers higher than that as it can give the impression that there is full gamut coverage in some cases. For example, if a monitor displays multiple colours outside of the gamut but not all of them inside it.
Many 4K monitors support the DCI-P3 colour gamut. This is used primarily in film production, but also by many of Apple’s latest phones and computers as well as a few high-end Windows laptops. However, it is rare to find 100% DCI-P3 coverage.
We adjust the monitor’s brightness at 140 cd/m2 (candelas/square meter). This is a good setting for everyday use. We also increase its contrast to as high as possible without losing any white details. We evaluate the different colour presets built into monitors, and note the ones that produce the most accurate colours.
The Dell S2722QC 4K Monitor is the best!
Our pick
Dell S2722QC
The best 4K Monitor
The S2722QC features a 4K colour display, USB-C and a hub. The S2722QC also comes with a 1-year Dell warranty, which is usually reserved for higher-end displays.
$370* Dell
$354 from Amazon
*The price at the time of publication was $400
The Dell S2722QC is a stunning 27-inch 4K monitor. It’s bright and high-resolution, with USB-C connectivity. Also, it charges very cheaply. The S2722QC is often on sale for under $400. It includes most of the features of Dell’s higher-end 4K monitors, plus a great warranty that will ensure you don’t get a defective panel.
You’ll find all the ports you need on a daily basis in this monitor, including two HDMI 2.0 ports and a USB-C port with 65W of power delivery. There is also a headphone Jack and two USB A ports that support USB 3.0 Gen 1. This is the most important item. It allows you to charge and display a compatible laptop using one USB-C cable. The 65 W power output of the monitor is enough for most laptops, even non-Pro MacBooks.
The Dell S2722QC’s colour accuracy is excellent for productivity tasks and viewing 4K content. However, if you are doing colour-critical work, you can either calibrate the display or choose our upgrade pick, the HZ27k G3. This is far more accurate. The S2722QC was calibrated to score a DeltaE 2000 score of 2.0 on most metrics. This is sufficient for media professionals and casual users. This is the limit of the model (and other similar monitors), but Dell doesn’t offer granular controls beyond the basic RGB sliders on its Custom Color setting to adjust gamma or colour.
The 60 Hz refresh rate of the display means that it updates the screen’s image 60 times per second. This refresh rate is standard on most computer monitors. However, the S2722QC can be adjusted by your computer to reduce jagged motion and video stutter.
We like Dell’s monitor stands. They are universally used across many models. The stand for the S2722QC fits in that category. It is strong support that can raise and lower the monitor, tilt it up and down, rotate it 90 degrees to portrait orientation, and tilt it up and sideways. The rest of this monitor has a similar sturdy build quality, but a simple and sleek look.
Flaws, but not dealbreakers
The S2722QC is less expensive than the 4K monitors by Dell. However, it has fewer USB ports and a lower warranty. This monitor’s warranty from Dell lasts only one year, compared to the three-year warranty on more expensive models. The S2722QC warranty includes Dell’s Premium Panel Exchange policy. If you find one bright pixel on the monitor, Dell will replace it. The warranty on this cheaper monitor does not cover two years, but it still covers the time when you are most likely to discover a defect. This is when the display turns on for the first time.
The S2722QC does not have adequate colour management controls to calibrate and fine-tune the display. This is a common defect on many Dell displays. Although we were able to improve the colour of the monitor using the provided RGB controls, it would be more useful to have the ability to adjust the gamma and RGB settings with greater granularity.
The monitor has speakers as well, but they don’t have the same resolution as the screen. These speakers are fine for watching videos and taking part in presentations but not for listening to music or watching movies.
Upgrade: HP Z27k G3
- Upgrade
- HP Z27k
A more accurate screen
The HP Z27k G3 is sleek and minimalist in design with near-perfect color accuracy. It can charge a 16″ MacBook Pro, and has an Ethernet port.
$544 at HP
$544 at Walmart
The HPZ27k G3 offers great contrast and colour accuracy. It also has an adjustable stand and a three-year warranty. The monitor also features a wealth of ports, including a Gigabit Ethernet connection. Its minimalistic, angular design makes it less sturdy than other monitors. The plastic cable management loop at the back can also detach easily if you apply too much pressure. However, we are concerned that the plastic retention clips might break down over time.
The Z27k G3’s USB-C port can supply up to 100W of power, enough to power a 15-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro. It also has one HDMI 2.0 port and a DisplayPort 1.4 input/output. It offers four USB ports, compared to the two available on our top choice from Dell. Its high-quality colour accuracy and powerful charging make the Z27k G3 a great monitor for graphic designers, photo editors, and other visual professionals who use higher-powered laptops.
The HP Z27k G3 monitor is thinner, lighter and more angular than the Dell monitor. Photo: Andrew Cunningham
We measured a contrast ratio between 1180 and 1 using the Z27k’s sRGB preset. This was in addition to exceptional color accuracy. All tests revealed DeltaE values below 1.0. Remember, anything less than 2.0 is great and anything less than 3.0 is sufficient.
The Z27k G3’s built-in stand can tilt, pivot, pivot, raise or lower the monitor’s elevation, as well as tilt, pivot, pivot and pivot. Its relative wobbliness and the fragile plastic loop that allows for cable management are the only negatives. The three-year warranty on the monitor includes a zero bright-subpixel guarantee. This guarantees that your display will be replaced if it has even one bright-subpixel defect.
Other 4K monitors that are worth considering
If you’re a creative professional
The Dell S2721Q is an excellent professional-level display that comes with Dell’s best warranty. The Dell P2722QC is our top choice, but it’s possible to save around $400. This display is slightly less accurate and has a shorter warranty. There are two additional USB-C ports on the P2721Q. The P2723QE Dell has updated the P2721Q since the last edition of this guide. For our next update, we’ll be testing that version.
The Asus ProArt is comparable in price and features to the HP Z27k G3. Both offer excellent color accuracy, USB C ports and USB hubs. They also both cost approximately $500. This Asus model does not support DisplayPort 1.4, but it supports DisplayPort 1.2. Although the PA279CV’s contrast ratio of 1048:1 isn’t quite as high as the HP monitor’s, you can still get the PA279CV at a significantly lower price.
If all of our other picks have sold out
The LG27BL85U-W 4K monitor is in the same class as the HP Z27kG3. It costs around $500 and has a flexible stand. This can tilt, swivel and pivot the monitor’s height. There’s also a USB-C and USB 3.0 port. It has good colour accuracy and a 1198:1 contrast ratio, which is comparable to the Dell and HP monitors. It charges at 65W, rather than the 90 W you’d expect from a more expensive monitor. The USB hub only has two USB Type-A ports, while the HP Z27k G3 monitor and Asus ProArt PA279CV monitor have four. It doesn’t feel or look as well-made as other monitors. It’s also less attractive when placed on a desk. It can be purchased for as low as $430. That’s the price that makes it worth looking at over other options.
The LG27UP850-W was also tested. It is comparable to our top pick in colour accuracy, contrast, USB hub functionality and USB-C port. This monitor supports 96% DCI-P3 colours and charges at a higher rate than the USB-C port. We believe that the Dell S2722QC is a better choice for most people, despite it costing nearly $200 more than our top pick. The HP Z27k G3, our upgrade pick, is more accurate in colour and therefore more suitable for people who are serious about colour accuracy.
You may want to consider a larger option
Although the 32-inch Lenovo ThinkVision p32p-20 monitor has a lower-quality colour and a poorer contrast, it still includes a KVM switch. KVM stands to “keyboard video and mouse” and allows you to switch between two computers by pushing a button. The monitor and any USB accessories attached will move quickly between the computers. A KVM switch is a great way to save time if you have both a desktop and laptop that you want to use together, or if you frequently need to switch between Windows PCs and Macs at your desk. The P32p-20 also has a USB-C port that can provide 90 W power. This is enough power to fully charge a 15 or 16-inch MacBook Pro.
The competition
The Dell S2721QS 4K LCD is a budget display that costs $50-75 less than our top pick but does not include a USB C port or USB hub.
Dell’s UltraSharpU2720Q was the main pick in the older version of this guide. It has a 90 W USB-C charging speed and a thinner border around the screen, compared to the. It’s worth looking into if you can find it at a similar price to the S2722QC. It’s not in stock at the moment, or it’s significantly more expensive than S2722QC. Therefore, it’s not worth spending extra.
The Asus TUF Gaming monitor was an affordable pick in a previous edition of this guide. It’s still a great monitor, with good contrast and color accuracy.
The ViewSonic VG2756-4K’s biggest flaw is its mediocre 949 to 1 contrast ratio. This is acceptable for a budget monitor, but difficult to swallow when you consider that it usually costs $500. It also performed poorly in our colour accuracy tests. It also has the usual features that we want in a 4K monitor: a USB-C port, an Ethernet port, a USB hub, a flexible stand and a 3-year warranty. Its image quality is not as good as the HZ27k G3.
The Acer smiiprx budget option is in the $300-$350 range. It does not have a USB hub and had issues with image retention during our testing.
Lenovo’s ThinkVision P27u-10 came in second place in an older version. The overall design is similar to the Dell S2722QC, and the HP Z27kG3 overall. However, the USB-C port only provides 45 W power and not the 65 W or 100 W of both the HP and Dell monitors. Its colours were very accurate, but the contrast was poor. We also noticed minor issues with image retention when we tested it in 2019. It doesn’t pivot.
The LG27BK67U/B and LG27BL55U/B 4K monitors have good color and cost less than $400. The 67U/B has a USB hub, USB-C and the 55U/B does not. However, they are both 4K monitors that offer excellent color and are generally less expensive. Both monitors showed noticeable afterimages due to image retention.
We relegated the ViewSonic VVP2768-4K to the scrap heap because they lack USB-C connectivity. This is an essential feature in monitors that cost $400 and up.
In 2019, we rescinded the EA271U–BK. It comes with handy features such as picture-in-picture or picture-by-picture. The stand and port layout are excellent. It is more expensive than the other 27-inch choices, so we did not test it later.
We tested monitors from LG’s consumer line, including the 27UD68-P and 27UL850-W, 27UP850-W, 27UL850-W and 27UD69P–W (now discontinued).
We also didn’t test the 27-inch LG UltraFine 5K Display, an even-higher-resolution screen for Macs with Thunderbolt 3. It is very expensive and depending on your PC, it may not work with Windows.
Monitors with 4K resolution of 32 inches
Dell’s UltraSharpU3219Q is our upgrade pick from an older version. It’s still a great display. The monitor has a 90 W USB–C charging limit and a KVM switch. This makes it easier to use multiple computers simultaneously. It’s often out of stock, back ordered, or more expensive than what it was on many retailers sites.
HP Z32 monitor is a great one, with a decent 1250:1 contrast ratio. It also has good colour accuracy. The Z32 has a wide range of ports and a 65 W USB-C charging rate. However, it does not include an Ethernet port. Many retailers sell the Z32 out of stock or back-ordered.
Although they are often cheaper than 32-inch monitors, the Acer HTML326HK or the BenQ HTML3200U were disappointing when we tested them in 2017 & 2019. We were also disappointed with their poor colour accuracy and contrast. These monitors lack the latest features we expect from a high-end monitor.
Some 32-inch monitors were not compatible with our requirements so we discarded them. The ViewSonic ColourPro VP3268-4K didn’t have a USB-C port, but it was less expensive than those with one. The BenQ had one and had a stand that could tilt the monitor up or down.
Monitors in 4K resolution of 24-inch
While most companies have stopped making new 24-inch 4K displays, we did test the LG24UD58-B against a Dell P2415Q in 2019. The screen of the LG was by a large margin less accurate than that of the Dell. The model had two DisplayPort connections and one HDMI port, and the stand tilted it up and down.
The 24-inch LG SuperFine 4K Display is not recommended by Apple for Macs with Thunderbolt 3 ports. We haven’t tested it. It is also more expensive than the other choices.
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