A monitor is the most crucial accessory for any PC since you wouldn't be able to see what you're doing without one. Whether you're looking for a capable gaming display or a monitor that works wonders with 4K content, there are plenty of the best computer monitors available to choose from.
However, not every monitor is created equal. Some offer far better color accuracy or contrast ratio than others. Depending on the kinds of things you'll be doing on your computer you might also want to consider getting displays with faster refresh rates and response times too. Of course, if you're into gaming, then you should consider the best gaming monitors as well.
Here are the best computer monitors on the market, separating them into different categories for you to choose one easily.
Best overall: Samsung Odyssey G7
The Samsung Odyssey G7 is a gorgeous monitor for work, creative projects, or gaming. It comes rocking a 2560x1440 4K resolution in a 32-inch display that reaches up to 600 nits in HDR brightness and offers amazing color due to its HDR 600 certification. On the gaming side of things, it's got a 240Hz refresh rate, a 1ms response time, and both AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility, making this quite the compelling video game companion.
The sleek design and minimal stand are perfect for the office or a home desk since it doesn't take up a ton of room. There are plenty of ports, including two DisplayPort 1.4 connections, a singular HDMI 2.0 slot, and three USB 3.0 ports. That way you can connect any accessories or devices to your computer setup.
However, since the monitor doesn't have its own built-in speakers, you'll need to plug in your headphones or one of the best computer speakers into the 3.5mm headphone jack to hear anything. But that's typically what most people do with this kind of monitor, anyway.
Best gaming monitor: Asus ROG Swift OLED
As you can see from our own Zachary Boddy's Asus ROG Swift OLED (PG27AQDM) review, we absolutely love this gaming monitor and highly recommend it to anyone that wants the best visual experience while playing their digital adventures. This 26.5-inch display supports HDR10 and gets up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness in HDR mode for vivid and vibrant imagery with excellent color accuracy.
Any gamer will be pleased with its performance which allows it to offer a 240Hz refresh rate and an extremely fast 0.03ms response time. Plus, the monitor is compatible with NVIDIA G-Sync, meaning that it can upscale gameplay and decrease the chances of stutter for anyone who uses an NVIDIA GPU of GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost or higher.
Connect your favorite devices and peripherals to it using the DisplayPort 1.4 connection, the two HDMI 2.0 slots, and two USB-A 3.0 ports. We also love how easily the adjustable stand allows us to move the monitor around to get it in just the right position. It's an excellent choice for any gaming needs.
Best budget: HP 24mh FHD 23.8-inch
For those looking for something that won't weigh so heavily on their bank accounts, the HP 24mh FHD Monitor is an excellent choice. This 23.8-inch IPS display offers an amazing sRGB color range even though it doesn't support HDR. The picture quality is also really good thanks to the high contrast ratio that shows off imagery and scenes to really good advantage.
Being a budget computer monitor, the HP 24mh FHD isn't the fastest thing out there, but it will serve you well when working on everyday office projects, school work, or creative tasks. It offers a 75Hz refresh rate with a 5ms response time that's more than capable of keeping up with most general programs and web browsing.
Unfortunately, it doesn't get very bright, only getting up to about 250 nits, but as long as it's in a room that isn't too overly lit it will be bright enough for anyone to use. Additionally, it doesn't offer any adaptive sync technologies, so you cannot use it to smooth out stuttering in your favorite games. Still, it's a great screen for the price and is more than ready to handle office work, homework, and everyday tasks.
Best budget gaming: Samsung Odyssey G5
As impressed as we are by Samsung's larger and more powerful Odyssey G7, the smaller and simpler G5 is a great choice for anyone wanting to save some money. It doesn't have as good of a color range as more expensive monitors, but the contrast ratio is really good allowing imagery to be displayed very clearly.
When it comes to gaming, the monitor has very little lag and supports both AMD FreeSync VRR as well as NVIDIA G-Sync for those using compatible GPUs. That way your games can play a whole lot smoother with reduced tearing and stuttering. It's also very fast with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, making it a great choice for fast-paced competitive gaming.
Another thing to note is that this display doesn't have the widest viewing angle. However, as long as you're seated directly in front of it this won't be an issue at all. Considering the fast speed and decent contrast ratio of the gaming monitor, it's a very good price for the money.
Best ultrawide: LG UltraGear 38-inch 38GN950
I absolutely love using ultrawide monitors as they allow me to multitask efficiently between various programs and windows. They're also very helpful when playing certain video games as they can provide a wide view of the action.
This LG UltraGear 38GN950 is one of the best ultrawide monitors as it comes in a 38-inch display that supports DisplayHDR400 and DisplayHDR 600 for beautiful, vibrant visuals. While in HDR mode, it can also reach a peak brightness of 600 nits, which makes it get plenty bright. Thanks to the fast speed of the monitor, it's an amazing gaming device. It offers a 160Hz refresh rate with 1ms response time to show the latest imagery as soon as possible.
The only thing to really worry about with this monitor is the cost. Typically, the wider the screen the more money a display costs and the same is true of any ultrawide option. On that same subject, you'll want to make sure you have a safe space to put this ultrawide monitor. I suggest having a desk or workspace that's a little wider than the casing to prevent it from getting knocked off and damaged.
Best for creatives: Asus ProArt OLED PA32DC
Whether you're a creator who likes to work in Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, or other creative programs the Asus ProArt Pro PA328CGV will be right there to show off your work to incredible effect. It comes in five different sizes, but I recommend the 32-inch one most. With a 3440x1440 resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, HDR abilities, and a max brightness of around 600 nits, it's a solid display for not only creatives but general PC owners too.
It comes with plenty of ports, including a single DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0, two USB Type-A 3.1, and a single One USB-C port. Focused as a monitor for creatives, the monitor boasts excellent color accuracy out of the box. Content looks stunning on-screen.
Bottom line
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The best overall PC monitor is a tough choice to make. You have to decide what you want in a monitor before picking a random one off the shelf. Do you need something for gaming, creative work, or just general PC work? Gaming enthusiasts require a low response time and high refresh rate, while creatives will enjoy excellent color accuracy.
There are so many great options out there as our collection here showcases. Still, the top pick we'd recommend you buy goes to the Samsung Odyssey G7. Gorgeous looks with exceptional color output are matched by a 2560x1440 resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and HDR 600 certification. It's definitely pricey, but overall, it's one of the best monitors out there for most people.
If you're looking to play some games, we'd recommend the excellent Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM. This monitor is a monster for gaming, coming with an insanely fast response time of 0.03ms and a 240Hz refresh rate. It also supports G-Sync and FreeSync to allow it to smooth out gameplay when connected to systems with compatible GPUs.
