Best 4K: Dell Ultrasharp U2720QMBest 4K for gamers: LG UltraGear 27GN950-B MonitorBest ultrawide monitor: Samsung Odyssey G9 MonitorBest Mac-compatible: Dell S2722QCBest cheap monitor: AOC C24G1A Curved Frameless Monitor
Features to consider when shopping for the best monitors for home office
Size: Naturally, the first spec you should consider when buying a monitor for your home office is its size. Most external monitors measure between 24 and 27 inches diagonally, which is roughly double the size of a 13-inch laptop display. This is a big enough canvas to make creating digital art or multitasking a lot easier. There are monitors above and below those sizes too depending on your needs. Resolution: A monitor’s resolution will dictate how crisp text, images, videos, and games look, and its importance varies based on what you’re doing. A 1080P HD monitor is perfectly fine for gaming, but won’t cut it for high resolution photo and video editing. Conversely, a 4K monitor is better for creative professionals, but won’t be as important for gamers unless you plan on playing high-end titles at their maximum settings. Ports: Most external monitors have both HDMI and DisplayPorts, which will allow you to connect a computer to it without the need for an adapter. Some monitors suited for home office use also have USB ports, which allows them to act like a hub for smaller accessories like a webcam or external hard drive. Refresh Rate: This spec dictates how quickly the screen can be updated with new information. This is the most important feature to consider if you primarily plan on using the monitor for gaming. Every millisecond counts when playing games and can make the difference between winning and losing, so seeing your character move as quickly as possible will make a big difference.
Best 4K: Dell Ultrasharp U2720QM
Specs
Size: 27-inchesResolution: 4KPorts: Two HDMI, two DisplayPorts, one USB-C, two USB-A, one headphone jackRefresh rate: 60Hz
Pros
SizeResolutionPort selection
Cons
Lower refresh ratePrice
If you’ve got to crunch the numbers, you shouldn’t have to squint to see them, and the Dell Ultrasharp U2720QM monitor for home office offers 27 inches of crisp display space at a competitive price of about $600. The IPS (that’s In-Plane Switching) LED panel delivers a clearer picture from any angle, features 163 pixels per inch and a 1,300:1 contrast ratio (the more above 1,000 the left number goes the better) and offers 95 percent of the P3 gamut, which is the color space many of us have gotten used to watching video. The best Dell monitor for home office supports HDR, or high dynamic range, which means more visible detail, especially in the darker areas of the screen. So, even if the folks from accounting aren’t good about lighting their Zoom calls, you can see more of their faces. And, with USB-C, DisplayPort, and HDMI inputs, the U2720QM is ready to connect to pretty much any standard computer (and it can be used to charge and/or daisy chain USB-C devices). Need something more specialized? Well, if you’re a video editor you should check out the best monitors for color grading, while aspiring e-sports professionals can look through the best gaming monitors or read more below.
Best 4K for gamers: LG UltraGear 27GN950-B Monitor
Specs
Size: 27-inchesResolution: 4KPorts: Two HDMI, Two USB-A, one USB-B, a headphone jack, one DisplayPortRefresh rate: 144Hz
Pros
High refresh ratePort selectionResolution
Cons
Price
If a monitor is the window to a game’s soul, you don’t want to shortchange all the passion put into these immersive worlds, do you? With the right hardware support, the LG 27GN950-B’s “Nano IPS” panel can achieve a 144Hz refresh rate (overclocked to 160Hz) and 1ms response time, which is ridiculous for a 4K monitor. It is both G-SYNC and FreeSync—offering flexibility if you do decide to purchase a top-shelf graphics card—but is a solid performer with low input lag right out of the box, offering multiple calibration presets and customizable parameters. It’s a very bright monitor, which is great to fight the glare of a workday with suboptimal lighting (though, conversely, it might not have the best contrast for dark-room gaming, where a VA panel is preferred). It’s not too terribly much more than an office-oriented 4K monitor, has all the standard ports (USB-C, HDMI, and DisplayPort), and is capable of delivering a clear, tearing-free experience whether shooting off emails or tearing through another campaign. Not all monitors have to be a major investment, however, as the best cheap gaming monitors can attest.
Best ultrawide: Samsung Odyssey G9 Monitor
Specs
Size: 49 inchesResolution: 5120 x 1440 Ports: One HDMI port, two DisplayPorts, Three USB-A portsRefresh rate: 240Hz
Pros
Refresh rateSizeHDR support
Cons
May be too bigPrice
The best Samsung monitor for truly voracious content consumers and creators, the Odyssey G9 offers an astounding 32:9 aspect ratio, driven by a company known for its pin-sharp panel innovations. Using QLED technology, this DQHD monitor features 5,120 by 1,440 resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and HDR10. It’s got a curvature of 1000R, which matches the human eye and keeps the entire image at the same distance to minimize eye strain, with great peak brightness and reflection handling perfect for those well-lit office appointments. There’s no doubt this represents the pinnacle of side-by-side document comparison and a Picture-in-Picture feature lets multiple devices be displayed simultaneously, but it’s also a monitor optimized for G-SYNC/FreeSync and the motion handling of gaming. (making it one of our favorite ultrawide gaming monitors)
Best Mac-compatible: Dell S2722QC
Specs
Size: 27-InchesResolution: 4KPorts: One USB-C, two HDMI, one headphone jack, one USB-aRefresh rate: 60Hz
Pros
USB-C port for video and data transferFull rotationBuilt-in speakers
Cons
Price
No, it won’t match the Apple Studio Monitor’s industrial design, but Dell’s S2722QC has a lot going for it. The 27-inch 4K display’s marquee feature for Mac owners is its USB-C port, which will allow you to hook it up to any Mac released after 2016 without an adapter. The USB-C port carries both audio and video (this monitor has built-in speakers, which is a big plus) in addition to power and data. This means the monitor will actually charge a MacBook when it’s connected that way. You can also hook up an accessory to the display’s USB-A port, which is handy. There are two HDMI ports on the S2722QC, which Mac owners can use to hook up game consoles, media streamers, or other video accessories. This monitor is large enough for gaming, so the extra ports will come in handy. One could argue that the best monitor for the Mac is Apple’s own Studio Display, which features one Thunderbolt 3 port and four USB-C ports. As much as we love that monitor, it costs $1,500, which is out of many people’s budgets. Dell’s display has several of the same features will only set you back $300, which is a lot more reasonable.
Best budget: AOC C24G1A Curved Frameless Monitor
Specs
Size: 24-inchesResolution: 1080PPorts: Refresh rate: 165Hz
Pros
High refresh rateFreesync supportHeight adjustable
Cons
May not be big enoughNot high resolution enough for creative work
An FHD display with up to a 165Hz refresh rate, the AOC C24G1A monitor features a 1,500R curved VA (Vertical Alignment) panel and 3,000:1 contrast ratio, meaning it’s going to offer inky blacks and vivid colors. You won’t get the same color gamut as an IPS monitor, but you will get some added depth to the physical experience. The monitor’s frame is unobtrusive and the sturdy stand has height, swivel, and tilt adjustments, offering a well-rounded, responsive experience. You’re restricted to using HDMI or DisplayPort as your connection, but the monitor still offers a lot of upscale, cinematic features for a low price and will improve the general work environment. If your work involves travel or devices in multiple locations, another cheap option is the 15.6-inch Lepow HD USB-C display—the best portable monitor for mobile presentations. It’s not a replacement, more an extension of your desktop—think an iPad, minus everything but the screen. For just under $200, you get a 1080p IPS Eye Care panel with Mini-HDMI and USB-C ports (and a built-in cover), so you can connect a laptop, smartphone, or gaming device while on the go.
A final word on shopping for the best monitors for home office
Finding the best monitors for home office can take some time, but it’s worth it. Folks always talk about the benefits of investing in real estate. Well, the same goes for screen real estate. When it comes to a work-from-home setup, you may not always start with the optimal space, but if you approach selecting the best monitor for home office like the most cost-effective renovation, you’ll find one simple upgrade can substantially improve your workstation.
