Due to the pandemic that made work from home and online classes the “new normal," you might be thinking to have a mini office set-up at home. If so, you should also think about investing in a good monitor. The right monitor can phenomenally increase your productivity.
However, purchasing a monitor can be a challenging task because there are many components to consider like, the resolution, panel, port, and many others. Our buying guide will help you go through the technicalities to assist you in easily finding the right one. We’ll also show you the best monitors you can buy online on Amazon and Flipkart.
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Various brands like BENQ, Samsung, HP, LG, and many more offer monitors with different sizes, screen resolution, display, panel, and ports. These different features tell you the kind of performance you can expect from a monitor. Still not sure what those mean? Don’t worry - we’ll help you in selecting by explaining every feature that you're required to know.
The screen size is the first thing that comes to our mind when we think of buying a PC monitor. It is measured in inches, diagonally, from the bottom left to the top right corner. It ranges from 15 to the ultra-wide 49 inches’ screen.
The most popular range is 21 to 24 inches because it is neither too big nor too small and is sufficient if you are purchasing it for regular office and college work. It is priced reasonably and is good for using normal applications like Ms Office and more.
However, a larger screen is better if you are a multi-tasker or a professional graphic designer because you can use several apps at the same time. The bottom line is that the bigger screen can do the work faster in less time, but one thing to keep in mind is, an oversized screen can create a chaotic atmosphere on the monitor.
Screen resolution refers to the number of pixels a screen can show, both horizontally and vertically. So if to say that a screen has a resolution of 1920 x 1080, that means it has 1920 pixels horizontally and 1080 pixels vertically. Higher resolution means more pixels, horizontally and vertically, leading to a sharper, better, and detailed image quality.
If you work with images, photos, or videos, and image quality is important for your work, you’ll want as high a resolution as your budget allows, because a higher number of pixels are important for a clearer and sharper image. However, if you mainly work with text, lower resolutions will be better, saving you some extra rupees.
The monitor port allows the monitor to connect with the computer and display the computer's output like video, picture, and image. There are different types of ports, the high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), digital visual interface (DVI), and video graphic array (VGA).
If you want easy connectivity, then go for an HDMI port, It is capable of transmitting more data into higher resolutions leading to clearer image quality and supports both audio and video signals. If you go for a DVI port, although it works the same as HDMI, one downside is that it is capable of transmitting video signals only, not the audio ones.
Lastly, the most ancient one is the VGA or video graphics array connection that is still in use on older devices. If you have this connector on your monitor and PC, maybe it’s time for an upgrade on your hardware. We recommend you to go for HDMI connectivity if image quality and audio is your priority, if not, then DVI also works well.
Response time is a measurement for how fast your monitor responds after a mouse click or how fast it changes the screen. The fastest response time ranges from 1ms to 5ms. Whereas, the refresh rate is the measurement of the number of times your monitor refreshes the display in one second, measured in Hertz.
A 60 Hz refresh rate means the display updates 60 times per second. A higher refresh rate results in a smoother picture. If you are into heavy tasking especially gaming, try to pick a monitor with as much higher refresh rate and response time as you can.
Game applications today require a faster refresh rate up to 240 Hz, especially on action-packed gameplay. Also, response time should be quick since it determines the shifting and transition of colors. But if you have to deal more with the text, you can choose a monitor with lesser response time and refresh rate.
To make an image, your monitor shines light through a liquid crystal display (LCD) of pixels also known as panels. Panel type is an essential feature to be taken care of because it influences different aspects of screen performance like response time, refresh rate, color reproduction, and many other things.
Broadly, the types of panels are TN (Twisted Nematic) panel, VA (Verticle Alignment) panel, and IPS (In-plane switching) panel.
TN panels are the fastest and can handle many fast 3D moving objects around the screen. It can support the highest refresh rate at 240 Hz. Although quite affordable, it is not recommended for professionals because it doesn’t display color and brightness as well as the other LCDs and only works well when you are looking at them straight-on.
IPS panels are the most expensive ones that are used by professionals because they can display great color accuracy and brightness from every angle. For a rich and bright screen, we recommend IPS panels to creatives and most other home workers as well.
Except for response and refresh rate, IPS panels are the refined version of TN panels. But that will be fine unless you are into some heavy tasking like gaming or graphic designing.
VA panels are at mid-range-level when it comes to performance. In terms of display, they are not as good as IPS panels, yet they can be a decent option if you are doing office work or streaming videos online.
VA panels have the lengthiest response time with reasonable speed and color quality. Therefore, they are generally the cheapest options available. If your work is almost exclusively text-based, then a VA monitor is a good budget-friendly option.
Liquid crystal display (LCD) and light-emitting diode (LED) are the two most popular displays available today. In this section, let's get to know the difference between the two and their suitability.
LCDs have two layers of polarized glass through which the liquid crystals both block and pass light. It uses fluorescent lights that are always behind the screen to create the picture on the screen and have a life span of at least 30,000 working hours.
If affordability is your priority, you can consider them but they are heavier and thicker. Most of the time, the color contrast and resolutions at full HD might be limited.
LEDs are almost similar to LCDs but the only difference is it uses light-emitting diodes, not fluorescent lights, that can be placed either behind the screen or around its edges and have a life span of 50,000 working hours.
They are efficient in saving energy and are brighter. Relatively pricier than LCDs, their fast response rate, better color, and contrast quality are the best selling points.
Apart from the above-stated features, you can also check out some additional features according to your requirement like a picture in picture (PIP) mode, cable management system, low blue light technology, flicker-free technology, brightness intelligence technology, inbuilt speaker, and many more.
PIP enables multitasking as it separates the screen into two parts. One program is visible on the main screen while you can open another program in the inset windows. Low blue technology, flicker-free technology, and brightness intelligence technology save eyes from unnecessary strain. Finally, if you choose to pick inbuilt speakers, you don't need to attach speakers separately,
It comes with an IPS panel system with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels that gives you better image quality and display. It has brightness intelligence technology that detects existing light levels and the color temperature in the room your viewing and adjusts automatically to give a strain-free viewing.
Also, you do not need to worry about the extra cables because it has a cable management system that hides them inside the monitor stand. Lastly, there are other helpful features such as low blue light and flicker-free, making it suitable for professionals like graphic designers or people more than 7 hours of screen time every day.
If you are looking for a slim and sleek monitor, then you will be surprised to know that this monitor has a 10 mm panel – the same thickness with a ballpoint pen! It’s also suitable for those who prefer multitasking, as it comes with an advanced feature like PIP mode that enables it to open two applications at the same time.
If you call over a group of friends for a movie night, then its screen will not disappoint you because it has an extra-wide 178-degree viewing angle making it perfect for viewing from any position. Many reviewers mentioned that this gives great value for your money.
With its design inspired by the curve of the human eye, this Samsung monitor’s1800 radius curvature, offers a wider view which lessens peripheral distractions for an immersive viewing experience. The panel has a super slim design as it measures less than 0.5 inches.
The mesmerizing sense on a curved screen’s depth perception gives an added enhancement while watching a movie or playing an action-packed game. Additionally, it features an eye saver mode that reduces blue light emissions and flickering that eliminates eye fatigue. Equipped with AMD FreeSync, you will experience flawless gameplay and optimized colors for every scene.
Everyone knows that most gaming peripherals have a hefty price tag but worry not as this monitor won’t break the bank! Its high resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a big screen size of 27 inches gives a phenomenal gaming experience at a reasonable price. Plus, gamers have complimented the 144 Hz refresh rate in this monitor.
Its free sync technology enables the monitor to dynamically refresh the screen in sync with the current game’s frame rate, as a result, eliminates all screen tearing and stuttering that makes your gameplay experience smooth. Reviewers have given positive comments about the quality of this product and recommend brightness at 55 and contrast at 42 for better colors
If you are looking for a monitor with an impressive design that comes with a super-slim build, consider this one. It looks classy as it comes with a super slim design, a square-shaped stand, thin bezels, and an area of a display made from plastic and metal that surrounds the screen.
With attractive looks, it carries all essential features like full HD screen, IPS panel, AMD Freesync technology, and many more. Its display quality is magnificent, and the image and video look the same from all the angles. The unique thing about this monitor is that the lower metal body not only gives it a stylish look but also works as a heat sink
Its compact size makes it highly suitable for those who have limited space. But despite its economical price and compact size, it does not compromise with the quality. It has a TN panel that has a good response time, making it quite suitable for general use.
We recommend this monitor to those who want to perform basic functions like browsing, texting, and more. The screen resolution is low, so this may not be suitable for those who are looking for a good screen resolution.
If you fancy the most eye-friendly monitor in the market, consider this one. It carries flicker-free technology that regulates the brightness of the screen so that it doesn't harm the eyes. According to many kinds of research, prolonged exposure to the flickering of light is a sudden movement between brightness and dullness, can cause eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue.
Moreover, it comes with blue light technology that reduces the emission of the harmful low-blue lights on a display to prevent eye fatigue. If you spend a lot of time in front of the screen, whether for entertainment purposes or work, you can add this to your list of product choices.
If you are thinking of buying a monitor for your children or any beginner, this product is highly suitable. Its modest price and long warranty period for three years make it worthy for starters.
With such an affordable price, it offers all basic features like full HD, TN panel with two VGA, and HDMI ports.
If you want to save some desk space then, this product can be for you, as it can be attached to the wall. It comes with a highly durable wall mountable stand as well.
This monitor is equipped with an anti-glare technology that prevents the reflection of the sun or bright light on the screen, those who have a sunlight-enriched room can go for this product. "Much more than I expected," is what some users of this product have said.
If your work is fully computer-aided and you spend a lot of time on it, do check out pen drives, headphones, and desktop lamps to have a better, comfortable, and enriching experience.
The major challenge to pick an electronic gadget is to understand the technicalities involved. The monitor has no different story. We have designed a simplified buying guide to make you understand all essential technicalities, with the top 9 recommendations. Now you can enjoy a confident purchase!
Author: Nikhil Deora
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The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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