Best monitors in 2025

Monitors are an essential part of any computing setup, be it a professional workspace or a gaming setup. While your processor and graphics card will take priority when assembling a PC, it's a good idea to allocate some portion of your PC-building to a monitor. After all, you won't be able to enjoy your favorite games at ultra-high resolutions and buttery-smooth refresh rates without a high-end monitor. Even if you're not into gaming, you may find that you need a monitor (or two) to expand your workspace and increase your productivity.

In recent years, there has been a staggering number of options in the monitor space, making it difficult to choose the ideal display for your specific needs. Whether your goal is productivity or entertainment, here's a list of the best monitors money can buy.

Our picks for the best monitors in 2024

It's hard to pinpoint a monitor that can meet the needs of every type of user, though the Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor U4025QW is a display unit that surpasses everything else on the market with its bevy of features. The particular model we've selected is a 40-inch version that provides crisp visuals with its 5120x2160 resolution and a huge 21:9 aspect ratio. It can also handle a maximum frame rate of 120Hz, making it great for power users who prefer to game on-the-side.

Although it can't beat a high-end QD-OLED display when it comes to colors, the U4025QW's IPS Black Technology provides twice the contrast ratio (2000:1) of a typical IPS panel without sacrificing the viewing angles these panels are known for. What's more, the display supports HDR and Variable Refresh Rate technologies, on top of possessing two 9W speakers that deliver incredible audio quality.

Besides the amazing specs, connectivity is what you're really here for, as the U4025QW packs a built-in Thunderbolt hub where you plug in all your favorite peripherals. The upstream ports include a USB Type-C socket, an HDMI port, a DisplayPort 1.4 connection, and a Thunderbolt 4 socket, while the downstream connectivity options consist of five USB Type-A ports, and two USB Type-C connections alongside yet another Thunderbolt 4 port that supports daisy-chaining for both video and data. Apart from these, the monitor also has an audio-line out for the speakers and a 2.5GbE RJ45 jack for all your Ethernet needs. Heck, it even has a KVM switch that lets you share the peripherals with the different systems connected to it.

Sadly, price isn't the monitor's strong point, as the Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub costs more than your average PC, let alone a display. But in exchange for almost $2000, you get an amazing 4K display, lots of connectivity options, great contrast ratios, and a built-in KVM switch, so it's hard to complain. All-in-all, it's a versatile monitor packed to the brim with features and is as incredible for gaming as it is for productivity tasks.

4K is currently the industry standard for high-resolution consumer-grade monitors, and there are plenty of decent UHD monitors that you can choose from. But none are as versatile and packed with features as the Samsung Odyssey G70B Gaming Monitor.

Right off the bat, it's a 28-inch 3840x2160 IPS screen with a buttery smooth 144Hz refresh rate that offers sharp and fluid visuals. Pair that with a low response time of 1ms, and you can see why it makes for a great gaming monitor. Samsung's premium monitor supports both G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro technologies to eliminate choppiness and provide a tear-free gaming experience. With a peak brightness of 350 nits, it's not the brightest 4K monitor, but its HDR400 certification ensures you'll get decent colors. Samsung also provides a 32-inch model of the Odyssey G70B that's worth considering if you want a larger 4K screen for your setup.

You're well covered on the ports front as the Samsung Odyssey G70B includes an HDMI 2.1 connection, a DisplayPort 1.4 socket, a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB Type-B upstream connection, and two USB Type-A ports that can be used to plug in your favorite peripherals. Unfortunately, there's a noticeable lack of a USB-C connection, meaning you'll have to invest in a USB Type-C to HDMI/DisplayPort adapter if your laptop only has USB-C ports. The ergonomic stand that ships with the monitor provides swivel, tilt, and height adjustment options.

With a price tag of $700, the Samsung Odyssey G70B isn't for everyone, but it's a fantastic choice if you're looking for a great 4K monitor that's as good for everyday tasks as it is for gaming.

Monitors are a way to increase your productivity, so what better way to do it than to get a monitor that's basically two screens in one? The LG UltraWide 49WQ95C is an absolutely fantastic monitor that does exactly that. It goes beyond the traditional "ultrawide" aspect ratio of 21:9, and instead, it has an extremely huge 32:9 panel, making it perfect for multitasking.

Helping with that is the Dual Quad HD resolution, or 5120x1440, which makes for a very sharp display since you can fit a lot of content in that many pixels. Plus, the monitor has a 144Hz refresh rate. That's something you'd usually see in a gaming monitor, but it's great for day-to-day use just to make everything look that much smoother. Even the sound experience is fantastic, with two 10W speakers built-in, delivering powerful and rich sound.

Color coverage is rated at 98% DCI-P3, so color reproduction should be very good for the vast majority of users here. Plus, with up to 400 nits of brightness, visibility should be great in any indoor environment, even with bright lights. The monitor is certified for DisplayHDR 400, so it can support a baseline HDR experience, though that's not the main focus here.

In terms of ports, the LG UltraWide 49WQ95C has solid connectivity, with two HDMI inputs, DisplayPort, and USB-C, which also supports up to 90W of power delivery to a connected laptop. That makes it very versatile already, but to make it even better, LG also allows you to use two different inputs and split the screen in half, so you see your computer screen next to a console, for example. It all helps this to be one of the best monitors for multitasking you can get.

At $1,500, this is a very expensive monitor, but if you can afford it, you're getting a fantastic experience in return.

If you want the best gaming experience, the Alienware AW3225QF is hands-down the best option on the market. Starting with the basics, this is a 31.6-inch monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio, and the standard 4K resolution you'd expect for the price. However, what makes it perfect for gaming is the fact that it includes a sky-high refresh rate of 240Hz and a low response rate of 0.03ms.

Design-wise, its black and white finish lends it a more premium feel, and the AlienFX Lighting lets you cycle between 17 presets for the LEDs at the back of the monitor. Since it packs a QD-OLED panel, the AW3225QF can deliver 1,000 nits of brightness and provides a top-notch SDR and HDR experience. It also boasts Nvidia G-Sync (Compatible) certification and is compliant with the VESA AdaptiveSync technology, though we would have preferred it if Dell had included support for Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate.

The Alienware AW3225QF packs a solid supply of ports, including a DisplayPort 1.4 socket, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and an array of downstream USB ports, including a USB Type-B connection, a USB Type-C port, and three USB Type-A sockets. Sadly, it has a major downside: the monitor can suffer from calibration drift, meaning the colors, especially the shadows, may become brighter over time, and the only fix is to restart the monitor after every few minutes.

Regardless, the Alienware AW3225QF is a fantastic monitor where it matters, and as long as you have the money for it, it's an easy recommendation.

We'd all love to have the fanciest monitors around, but not everyone can afford a premium experience. While budget monitors may lack the bells and whistles of the more premium displays, they can come in handy if you want a cheap screen for everyday use. The Acer EZ321Q WI is one of our favorite monitors in the sub-$200 price range. Whether you just want a basic screen for your desktop or to expand your workspace, the Acer EZ321Q WI is a great starting point.

It has a relatively basic 31.5-inch IPS panel with a 1920x1080 resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate, which is on par for the price. Connectivity isn't its strong suit as you only get an HDMI connection and a VGA port. While it's nowhere near as bright as a high-end OLED monitor, its 300 nits brightness is decent for most beginner setups.

Design-wise, the Acer EZ321Q WI looks way better than the other monitors in its price range. It has a sleek all-white body, with a wide 178° viewing angle and supports BlueLightShield technology to reduce eye fatigue. It also comes with a unique-looking base that provides decent tilt adjustment.

If all you want is an affordable screen that can get the job done, you can't go wrong with the Acer EZ321Q WI.

Besides resolution, monitors also come in different display panels. For the average user, an IPS monitor is good enough for most tasks. But if you want gorgeous colors on your screen, then it's hard to rival an OLED screen like the LG UltraGear 45GR95QE.

For starters, this is a 45-inch curved screen with a sharp 3440x1440 resolution and a wide 21:9 aspect ratio, making it great for professionals who want the extra screen estate for multitasking. If you're also into gaming, then you'll not be disappointed with the 240Hz refresh rate of the UltraGear 45GR95QE. It even supports Nvidia's G-Sync technology to prevent screen tearing in your games without increasing the latency or impacting performance.

In our review of the monitor, we found it has 100% coverage of the sRGB gamut. Unfortunately, its DCI-P3 color coverage stands at a modest 97%, instead of 98.5% as advertised by LG. Nevertheless, the colors look amazing on the UltraGear 45GR95QE once you enable HDR10 in your games.

Ports-wise, the monitor has two HDMI 2.1 connections, a DisplayPort 1.4 socket, a USB Type-B downstream port, an AUX jack, an optical audio-out port, and two USB Type-A upstream connections. The stand included with the monitor doesn't occupy too much space, and supports tilt, swivel, height adjustments.

As with most products, the monitor has a few minor issues. For instance, it doesn't support USB-C connectivity or include built-in speakers. The matte display is also known to cause a little haziness in the visuals, while the curvature on the screen can be a hit-or-miss for the average user. That said, if you're willing to spend more than a thousand dollars on an ultrawide OLED screen that's perfect for both productivity and gaming, then you won't be disappointed by the LG UltraGear 45GR95QE.

4K resolution makes any game stand out, but there are many instances where you might want to go for a higher refresh rate instead. If you're a fan of esports titles or want an extremely fluid gaming experience, the Alienware AW2524HF is the right choice as it leaves no stone unturned when it comes to improving your responsiveness in fast-paced titles.

Starting with the refresh rate, the IPS panel on this 24.5-inch monitor can natively display visuals at 480Hz, and once overclocked, it can hit up to 500Hz. As such, it shines in competitive tiles where even a millisecond of delay can spell the difference between victory and defeat. It's also possesses the FreeSync Premium and VESA Adaptive Sync certifications, thereby ensuring that you won't have to deal with screen tearing or stuttering during your gaming sessions. Unfortunately, the high refresh rate comes with a trade-off: the Alienware AW2524HF has a 1920x1080 screen resolution and a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio.

Ports-wise, you're looking at two DisplayPort connections, an HDMI socket, a USB Type-B upstream port, and four USB Type-A downstream connections, though the lack of USB Type-C ports is a bit disappointing. The stand included with this premium monitor supports height adjustment, pivot, tilt, and swivel adjustments for an all-around comfortable gaming experience. Unfortunately, the monitor doesn't come with built-in speakers. But in its defense, if you're willing to spend $500+ on a monitor, it'd be better to invest in good-quality headphones or external speakers.

The Alienware AW2524HF isn't exactly the cheapest monitor on the market, especially considering its resolution caps at 1080p. But its ultra-fast 500Hz refresh rate paired with FreeSync Premium compatibility makes it one of the best options for those who are into competitive gaming.

Unlike their high-end counterparts, budget gaming monitors require plenty of sacrifices in the resolution, quality, and functionality departments. However, the Lenovo Legion R25-30f stands out from the crowd as it has everything you'd require from a cheap gaming monitor without costing an arm and a leg.

For starters, this 27.5-inch can hit a max refresh of 280Hz at 0.5ms response time, which is pretty impressive considering the monitor barely costs $200. While the resolution is capped at 1920x1080, Lenovo's budget-friendly offering includes AMD FreeSync Premium certification, so your gaming sessions won't be interrupted by screen tearing or latency issues. Couple that with HDR10 support and solid coverage of the DCI-P3 and sRGB color gamuts, and the Legion R25-30f can also double as a solid productivity monitor.

As you might expect from a cheaper monitor, there's no USB-C connectivity on this model. However, it does have two HDMI 2.0 ports, an audio jack, and a DisplayPort 1.2 input, so you get a decent range of ports. Additionally, you also get two speakers built into the monitor, alongside a stand that supports decent swivel, tilt, lift, and pivot adjustments.

There's no denying that the resolution should have been slightly higher, but the ultra-fast refresh rates and low response time make the Lenovo Legion R25-30f a fantastic option for gamers on a budget.

Once you get used to having multiple monitors at home, it can be hard to work on the go with a single screen, but thankfully, the LG Gram +View provides a solution, and it's a phenomenal portable monitor for getting work done anywhere.

Unlike most other solutions, the Gram +View is a large 16-inch panel, and it has a 16:10 aspect ratio, giving you a large workspace for additional apps and whatever you need while working on the go. It's very sharp, too, with a 2560x1600 resolution, which makes it the perfect companion to a mobile powerhouse. There's even more to it, as LG promises 99% coverage of DCI-P3 gamut, which makes this one of the very best visual experiences you can get on a portable monitor.

Naturally, connectivity is pretty different with a slim portable monitor compared to a traditional desktop model, but that's not a bad thing. The LG Gram +View uses a single-cable connection with USB Type-C, which even handles power delivery, so you don't need any extra cables to power the display. While it should work on any laptop, the LG Gram +View also has special software that requires Windows, which lets you enable features like auto-rotate. On that note, the monitor has a slim cover that doubles as a kickstand, so you can prop it up in either landscape or portrait orientation.

The monitor doesn't have built-in speakers, so if you're looking for something to use with a Nintendo Switch or something, it's not ideal, but if you're using a laptop, you can use the speakers built into it instead. They're probably better than what you'd find in such a slim monitor, anyway. At $350, the Gram +View is a bit pricey, but it's an excellent monitor if you want to get more work done on the go.

Mini-LED monitors have grown in popularity in recent years thanks to their exceptionally high brightness and wide color gamut, making them the perfect choice if you want to replace your dim, old LCD monitor with a vibrant display. The Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q is an incredible mini-LED display that provides superb color contrast and amazing image quality despite its relatively cheaper price tag.

Starting with the specifications, you're looking at a 2560x1440 IPS panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio, though the real star of the show here is the integration of mini-LED technology that allows the monitor to hit a maximum brightness of 1200 nits alongside a 50,000:1 contrast ratio. Color reproduction is also on point as the monitor can cover 99% of Adobe RGB and 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q isn't just meant for professional creators either; its 165Hz refresh rate and support for both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync make it a solid option for gamers.

As for the ports, you get two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort connection, a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB Type-B port, a USB Type-C connection, and two USB Type-A ports. So, it can even act as a secondary USB hub where you can plug in a keyboard and a mouse to share them with all PCs connected to the monitor. It also comes with integrated 3W speakers and a stand that supports height, tilt, and swivel adjustment, though the lack of any rotation adjustment provisions is disappointing.

That said, the Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q remains our top recommendation for gamers and professionals who want better color accuracy and higher brightness, and it's $550 price tag is just icing on top!

Best monitors in 2023: The bottom line

Those are some of the very best monitors you can buy today for all kinds of uses. Our top pick is the Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor because it offers uncompromising image quality. It's 21:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, and IPS Black panel are also pretty impressive, though you should be prepared to shell out a fortune on this amazing monitor.

On the other side of the spectrum, you have the Acer EZ321Q WI. While it lacks the same features as the other premium monitors on this list, the EZ321Q WI is a great option for budget users. But if you're into gaming, the Alienware AW3225QF makes for s solid recommendation with high resolution, smooth refresh rate, G-Sync compatibility, and low response times.

Of course, you'll need a killer PC to go with your high-end monitor. So, if you've got the money to spare, you might want to check our list of the best premium PC parts before building your enthusiast-grade rig.