9 Best PC Monitors to Buy [Asus, Acer, Dell]
Get one of the top monitors for your PC
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Key notes
- If you think it's time for an upgrade, the best PC monitors from our selection will light a new image on everything.
- Full HD or 4 K? In the list below you will find one for any budget and purpose.
Monitors, otherwise VDUs (Visual Display Units), can get outdated pretty quickly. So if your desktop is getting a little older, the VDU that came with it probably already is. However, what monitor should you go for right now?
Companies list various specifications for their VDUs. Resolution and refresh rate (otherwise the frame rate) are two of the more significant specs. A monitor with a higher resolution displays more pixels and has a sharper, more detailed picture quality.
However, most higher-res monitors usually have lower refresh rates, which is an important gaming spec. A monitor with a higher refresh rate will have a better frame rate (FPS) for smoother gameplay.
Another thing to note is whether a monitor has adaptive sync, which matches the GPU’s and VDU’s frame rates to eliminate screen tearing. A monitor might have Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync for Nvidia and AMD graphics cards.
Although they have the same effect, you must have an Nvidia graphics card for G-Sync and an AMD video card for FreeSync. A VDU’s G-Sync will not work if you have a desktop with an AMD graphics card.
The diagonal width of a VDU is another notable specification. Of course, the bigger the monitor the better; but you’ll need extra desk space to fit a more expansive VDU.
Some VDUs also have curved designs, which the companies that design them tell us gives the monitors a greater sense of immersion and a larger field of view.
Aside from that, panel type (IPS or TN), response time, and aspect ratio are other VDU specifications worth noting.
These are some of the best PC monitors that generally have high specs.
What are the best PC monitors that are really worth the money?
ASUS ROG Strix XG279Q
- HDR gaming monitor
- 2560 x 1440 resolution
- Fast IPS
- 170 Hz refresh rate
- G-SYNC Compatible
- At 170 Hz, the monitor has flickering
ASUS is making gaming monitors for a while now and ASUS ROG Strix XG279Q is a proud member of that exclusive genre. And if you decide not to use it for gaming, it’s still an extreme performance HDR, 2560 x 1440 resolution monitor ready for any possible task.
It’s a G-SYNC compatible display with up to 170 Hz refresh rate and fast IPS technology. If you bring this 27-inch monitor on your desk it won’t disappoint.
Acer SB220Q bi
- 21.5 Inches Full HD (1920 x 1080) monitor
- Ultra-thin bezels
- Radeon FreeSync technology
- 4 ms response time
- Very low price
- Doesn't have Display Port
Acer’s SB220Q bi is a very affordable all purpose monitor that can really make the difference on your desk at home or at the office. It has a very thin frame that can make this display very eligible for multi display setups.
It comes with AMD’s FreeSync tehnology that will obliterate any stuttering and tearing while the 4 ms response time will also encourage you to try some gaming titles after work.
Dell Alienware 25 AW2518H
- 240 Hz refresh rate
- 1 ms response time
- NVIDIA G-SYNC compatible
- Specific gaming OSD design
- Expensive
The Dell Alienware 25 is one of the hottest VDUs for gaming in 2019. Although the monitor has a relatively standard 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, it has a fantastic response performance.
The 25-inch Alienware 25 boasts a 240 Hz refresh rate and a lightning one ms response time to ensure blur-free gameplay in games. Furthermore, the VDU has separate G-Sync and FreeSync models; so you can get one for a desktop with Nvidia or AMD GPU.
There are also alternative 25 and ultra-wide 34.14-inch Alienware 25 models.
As it’s the Alienware, Dell has given the VDU’s design an extraterrestrial theme. The Alienware 25 AW2518H model includes custom AlienFX lighting effects. That’s a customizable RGB lighting system that illuminates the back of the monitor.
BenQ PD3200U
- 4K 3,840 x 2,160 resolution
- 100% sRGB color palette
- 60 Hz refresh rate
- 4 ms response time
- Slight flickering problem
The BenQ PD3200U is a terrific design monitor that’s ideal for graphics design, animating, and image editing. The standout specification of the BenQ PD3200U is its 4K 3,840 x 2,160 resolution that few other VDUs can match.
This is an IPS monitor with a 100% sRGB color palette for stunning color precision. As such, the BenQ has fantastic picture quality; but with a 60 Hz refresh rate and four ms response time, its response performance is not so strong.
Another great thing about the PD3200U is its unique designer display modes. The monitor includes a CAD/CAM Mode that enhances contrast for lines and shapes, which is great for wireframe models. The VDU’s innovative Animation Mode lightens image areas with dark shadows.
Samsung U28E590D
- One billion color palette
- 4K UHD 2160p resolution
- HDMI 2.0 and Display Port connectivities
- AMD FreeSync and 1ms (GTG) response time
- Poor viewing angles
The Samsung U28E590D is a great value 28-inch 4K VDU. This is an Ultra HD monitor that has a one billion color palette for more detailed picture quality. Samsung has also enhanced the VDU for gaming with the inclusion of AMD FreeSync to eliminate screen tearing in games.
Furthermore, the U28E590D has a terrific 1 ms response time. As a 4K monitor, it doesn’t have the best frame rate, but its 60 Hz refresh rate is still ok for 4K gaming.
Aside from its great picture quality, the U28E590D also includes Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture viewing modes. With Picture-by-Picture, you can watch output from two input sources simultaneously.
Acer Predator XB271HU Abmiprz
The Acer Predator XB271HU is one of the best G-Sync monitors more specifically designed for gaming. With a TN panel and 2560×1440 resolution, the VDU has stunning visuals. The monitor’s native refresh rate is 144 Hz, perfect for gaming.
This is a great monitor for watching movies as it has an expansive ultra-wide 27-inch display with a 21:9 aspect ratio that eliminates black bars from films.
Acer XR382CQK
The Acer XR382CQK is the best of six Acer XR VDU models. This is a gigantic curved ultra-wide VDU that expands 37.5 inches. The XR382CQK has amazing picture quality with an IPS panel display that boasts a 3,840 × 1,600 resolution, which is just short of the 4K mark.
Its FreeSync eliminates screen tearing in games, and the VDU also has a 21:9 aspect ratio so you can watch 21:9 movies without black bars. This monitor also incorporates HDR display technology for deeper levels of contrast.
The Acer XR382CQK includes plenty of handy features and customization settings. You can select various pre-calibrated presets, such as Racing, Sports, Movies, Graphics, etc.
ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q
The 27-inch ROG Swift PG279Q is one of the best gaming VDUs for 2020 because it’s a monitor with great visuals and an ultrafast refresh rate for seamless gameplay. This IPS monitor boasts a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution and 100% sRGB color gamut for stunning colors.
With a 165 Hz refresh rate, the Swift PG279Q provides the smoothest graphics. This VDU also supports Nvidia G-Sync to minimize game lag and tearing.
The ROG Swift PG279Q incorporates GamePlus and GameVisual settings to configure the display. With its GameVisual settings, you can select from six alternative display modes via the OSD menu.
BenQ EX3203R
Another great monitor that we want to show you comes from BenQ, and EX3203R uses QHD 2560X1440 resolution which should be enough for most of your multimedia needs. This is a 31.5-inch device and thanks to the 1800R curvature, you won’t miss any of the action on the screen.
The device also uses Display HDR 400 technology providing you with enhanced brightness and contrast bringing the smallest details to life. There’s also Brightness Intelligence Plus technology that will soften the bright areas slightly while keeping the dark areas sharp and clear.
The monitor supports a 144Hz refresh rate, so you won’t miss any of the high-intensive action. It’s worth mentioning that BenQ EX3203R uses Eye Strain reduction technology that will detect ambient brightness and color temperature and adjust your color settings accordingly in order to reduce the eye strain.
Those are a few of the best monitors for 2020 that are already out for grabs. All of them are excellent monitors so make sure you let us know in a comment below what was your choice.
