How to choose a monitor according to your use
The monitor is one of the parts of a computer system that we come into contact with most often. However, when choosing it, the diagonal size and price are often the main considerations.
But two monitors of the same size can offer a completely different image, different connection options, significantly different ergonomics, and different comfort during everyday work.
The most important question is therefore not:
How big a monitor do I want?
What will I use it for and what features are important for this way of working?
1. Start with the method of use
A monitor for office work may not have the same features as a monitor for gaming, photo editing, or video editing.
2. Size alone is not enough
The diagonal must make sense together with the resolution, distance from the screen, and the size of the workspace.
3. Think about ergonomics and connectivity
Not only the image is important, but also the stand, connectivity options, USB-C, laptop power or VESA mount .
Where and what will you use the monitor for?
First, it's a good idea to divide monitors according to actual use.
Office and general housework
For the web, email, documents, spreadsheets, and everyday applications, you don't need extreme performance or professional color reproduction.
More important is:
- a sufficiently fine image,
- nice size,
- good viewing angles,
- ergonomic stand,
- reasonable connectivity,
- or USB-C for easy laptop connection.
For regular office work, monitors around 24 to 27 inches are very versatile.
Home office and hybrid work
Depending on the specific equipment, a monitor with USB-C can transmit images, data and simultaneously power the laptop.
One cable can provide:
- external screen,
- charging,
- USB peripherals,
- possibly a network connection.
Such a monitor can partially replace a separate docking station in some setups .
Graphics, photography and video
Here it is more discussed:
- color accuracy,
- color gamut,
- backlight uniformity,
- distinction,
- calibration option,
- desktop size.
Gaming
In addition to resolution, gaming monitors mainly address:
- refresh rate,
- response,
- Adaptive Sync,
- graphics card performance,
- panel type.
Higher resolution offers a more detailed image, but also places higher demands on the graphics card .
Multitasking and working with multiple applications
If you're simultaneously working with spreadsheets, a browser, communications, and other applications, a work surface may be more important than an extremely high refresh rate.
You can consider:
- larger 27 to 32 inch monitor,
- two separate monitors ,
- ultrawide monitor.
What monitor size should I choose?
The diagonal is given in inches and is measured diagonally across the display area.
But the number alone is not enough. The distance from the monitor, the resolution and the size of the desk are equally important.
Resolution: Full HD, QHD or 4K?
Resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up an image. The higher the resolution for the same screen size, the finer the image can appear.
Full HD – 1920 × 1080
Still a common resolution, especially for smaller and more affordable monitors. It can work very well on a 24-inch monitor for office use, for example.
QHD – 2560 × 1440
A practical compromise between workspace, sharpness, and hardware requirements. Often used with 27-inch monitors.
4K UHD – 3840 × 2160
It offers high finesse and a large work surface. Suitable for photography, video, graphics or larger monitors.
Image finesse is not just about resolution.
For example, a Full HD image on a 24-inch monitor may look perfectly fine, while the same resolution on a significantly larger monitor will have a lower pixel density.
In addition, with 4K monitors, it is necessary to take into account that for smaller diagonals, it may be necessary to use operating system scaling so that text and controls are not too small.
For 4K gaming, it also significantly increases the demands on the graphics card's performance.
IPS, VA, OLED or TN?
The panel type affects, for example:
- contrast,
- color rendering,
- viewing angles,
- response,
- price.
IPS
IPS is a very versatile technology.
Typically offers:
- good color rendering,
- wide viewing angles,
- good usability for office and creative work.
VA
VA panels typically offer higher contrast than regular IPS displays.
They may be interesting for example for:
- movies,
- multimedia,
- working in a darker environment,
- users who appreciate deeper black.
OLED
Individual pixels can light up individually or be completely off.
The result is:
- very high contrast,
- really black,
- quick response,
- very impressive image.
However, when displaying static elements for a long time, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of OLED technology and measures against permanent image imprinting.
TN
TN panels have been popular for a long time, mainly due to their fast response time and lower price.
Today, IPS or VA have replaced them in many categories, but they can still appear, for example, in some specifically focused gaming monitors.
Refresh rate: 60 Hz, 100 Hz, 144 Hz or more?
Refresh rate indicates how many times per second the monitor can refresh the image.
What does monitor response mean?
Response time indicates how quickly a pixel can change its state.
Manufacturers often list it in milliseconds, such as 1 ms or 4 ms. However, the value itself may not always accurately reflect the real-world behavior of the monitor, as the measurement method and overdrive settings may vary.
For normal office work, extremely low response times are not essential. They are more important for fast-paced gaming, where slower pixel transitions can cause motion blur or ghosting.
Adaptive Sync, FreeSync and G-SYNC
With gaming monitors, you may come across technologies that synchronize the monitor's refresh rate with the graphics card's output.
Their aim is to limit, for example:
- image tearing,
- jerking movement,
- some manifestations of disfluency.
When choosing a gaming monitor, it therefore makes sense to check the supported technologies and compatibility with the graphics card used.
Colors: sRGB, DCI-P3 and color accuracy
If you use your monitor mostly for office work, there's no need to study every bit of color space information.
However, color parameters play a more significant role in graphics, photography, or video.
sRGB
A very widespread color space used, for example, for common web content.
Good sRGB coverage is useful for most standard graphics and photography work intended for digital use.
DCI-P3
A wider color space used especially for video and modern multimedia content.
Higher DCI-P3 coverage can be interesting for creative work, but the percentage alone does not guarantee accurate colors.
Color accuracy
A professional monitor should not only have a sufficient color range, but also accurately adjusted colors.
For more demanding work, the following is therefore addressed:
- factory calibration,
- color deviation value,
- possibility of hardware or software calibration.
Monitor brightness
Brightness is usually measured in cd/m², often also referred to as nits.
Higher maximum brightness may be more important for example:
- in a very bright room,
- for HDR content,
- for specific professional use.
Contrast
Contrast expresses the difference between the lightest and darkest point that a monitor can display.
VA panels typically offer higher native contrast than regular IPS panels, while OLED can achieve very high contrast thanks to the ability to completely turn off individual pixels.
What does HDR mean?
HDR allows you to work with a greater difference between dark and light parts of the image and a wider range of colors.
Just because it says "HDR" on the box doesn't mean that all HDR monitors will offer the same results.
HDR quality depends on factors such as maximum brightness, contrast, color range, backlight control method, and panel type.
Display surface: matte or glossy?
The matte finish helps reduce glare and is practical in offices and bright rooms.
A glossy surface can appear more contrasting and distinctive, but at the same time it reflects more ambient light.
Flat or curved monitor?
Curvature is used especially in larger and ultrawide monitors.
It can help keep different parts of a wide screen at a more similar distance from your eyes, but curvature isn't a necessity for typical 24- to 27-inch work monitors.
Connectivity: HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C
The monitor must be able to be properly connected to a computer or laptop.
HDMI
A very widespread interface used in computers, laptops, televisions and game consoles.
Supported resolutions and refresh rates depend on the interface version and specific device.
DisplayPort
A very common connection, especially for desktop computers and professional monitors.
Often used for higher resolutions, higher refresh rates, or multiple monitors.
USB-C
A single cable can transmit video, data, and power, depending on the supported functions.
However, the USB-C connector itself does not automatically mean that the device supports all of these features.
To transfer images via USB-C, the device must support the corresponding video mode, such as DisplayPort Alt Mode. For charging, both the monitor and the laptop must support USB Power Delivery.
How many watts does USB-C Power Delivery need?
If you want to charge your laptop via the monitor at the same time, check the USB-C power output.
For example, a regular office laptop can operate with an adapter of around 45-65W, while a more powerful work laptop may require 90W or more.
A monitor with USB-C may not automatically be able to power every laptop with its full required power.
USB hub, Ethernet and KVM
USB hubs
You can connect, for example, a keyboard, mouse, external drive, or webcam to the monitor.
Ethernet
Some USB-C monitors allow you to connect your laptop to a wired network with a single cable.
KVM
The integrated KVM switch allows you to use one keyboard and mouse with multiple computers.
Monitor ergonomics
You may use your monitor for several hours a day, so the stand is not just a design accessory.
Practical options include:
- height adjustment,
- tilt,
- turning sideways,
- pivot to vertical position.
Basic, cheaper stands sometimes only allow you to tilt the display. For long-term work, a height-adjustable stand is much more practical.
VESA and monitor arms
The VESA mount allows you to mount the monitor, for example:
- on the monitor arm,
- on the holder,
- on the wall.
A monitor arm can free up desk space and offer more flexibility in adjusting the position of your display.
Before purchasing, you need to check the compatible VESA size and the load capacity of the arm.
One large monitor, two monitors, or ultrawide?
There is no universally correct option.
One classic monitor
Advantages:
- simple installation,
- fewer cables,
- lower space requirements.
For most everyday work, a single high-quality 27-inch monitor can be quite sufficient.
Two monitors
Practical when working with multiple applications at the same time. The advantage is flexibility and the ability to use each monitor separately.
The disadvantage is the frame between the screens and the larger number of cables.
Ultrawide
It offers one continuous work surface without a frame in the middle.
It can be practical, for example, for video editing, large spreadsheets, or several applications side by side.
What else to think about?
Built-in speakers
They may be sufficient for video calls and general audio, but they usually won't replace quality external speakers or headphones.
Webcam
Some office monitors have an integrated webcam, microphone, or speakers and can simplify the workspace for video conferencing.
Flicker-Free and Blue Light Reduction
These features can contribute to comfort, but proper monitor position, brightness, and ambient lighting are also important.
Which monitor to use?
Office and regular work
- 24 to 27 inches,
- Full HD or QHD,
- IPS or VA,
- 60–100 Hz,
- height-adjustable stand.
Home office and laptop
- 27 inches,
- QHD,
- IPS,
- USB-C,
- Power Delivery,
- USB hubs,
- height-adjustable stand.
Graphics and photography
- high-quality IPS or OLED panel,
- QHD or 4K,
- good coverage of color spaces,
- color accuracy,
- calibration option.
Gaming
- resolution corresponding to the performance of the graphics card,
- higher refresh rate,
- quick response,
- Adaptive Sync,
- suitable panel type.
Multitasking
- 27 to 32 inch monitor,
- two separate monitors,
- or ultrawide.
First use, then parameters
A monitor is not just a display surface.
When chosen correctly, it can affect the comfort of work, the amount of space for applications, the method of connecting the laptop, and the overall organization of the workplace.
Therefore, it is a good idea to proceed in this order:
- method of use,
- size,
- distinction,
- panel type,
- refresh rate,
- colors and image properties,
- connectivity,
- ergonomics.
The most expensive or largest monitor may not be the best for everyone. It's important to make sure its features match what you'll actually be doing on it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 24-inch or 27-inch monitor better?
It depends on the space, resolution and method of use.
A 24-inch monitor is practical for a smaller desk and regular office work. A 27-inch offers a larger work surface and combines very well with, for example, QHD resolution.
Is Full HD, QHD, or 4K better for a 27-inch monitor?
For universal use, QHD is a very practical combination.
Full HD will have a lower pixel density on a 27-inch monitor, while 4K will offer a significantly finer image but may require system scaling.
The choice also depends on the use and budget.
Is IPS better than VA?
Not in general.
IPS typically offers very good colors and viewing angles, while VA typically provides higher contrast. The more suitable technology depends on what you expect from a monitor.
Does a higher refresh rate make sense outside of gaming?
Yes.
A higher frequency can improve the smoothness of cursor movement, page scrolling, and system animations.
For everyday work, however, there is no need to aim for extremely high values intended for competitive gaming.
Can a laptop be connected to a monitor with a single USB-C cable?
Yes, if both the laptop and the monitor support the necessary features.
USB-C must support image transfer and, if you want to charge your laptop at the same time, also USB Power Delivery with sufficient power.
The mere presence of a USB-C connector does not automatically guarantee this functionality.
Is an ultrawide monitor better or two standard monitors?
It depends on the way you work.
Dual monitors allow for clear separation of applications and offer flexibility, while Ultrawide provides one continuous desktop with no bezel in the middle.
Both solutions can be very practical for multitasking.
Do you need advice on choosing a monitor?
If you are not sure, please let us know what you use your monitor for, what kind of computer or laptop you have, and how much space you have on your desk.
We will help you choose the size, resolution, panel type, connectivity and other parameters according to your usage.
We only handle technical questions via e-mail or contact form.
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