10 of the best computer monitors for working, gaming, and everything in between

The Dell P2720DC is our top pick because it doesn't sacrifice on features while maintaining a relatively low price. It streams content in 1440p, a great middle ground between 1080p and ultra-sharp 4K. 

The design gives it a super thin (and sleek) vibe with a matte black casing, and has ports in the back to plug in all your USB-C devices. Plus, if you’re into the two-screen work experience, it’s very easy to connect your monitor to another one. You can adjust its height, swivel, tilt, and pivoting if the built-in setup doesn’t work best for you. And you can even mount it on the wall, if that’s your preferred way to work. 

The drawbacks are that it doesn’t have the ultimate highest picture quality, or built-in speakers. But if you’re a music buff, your speaker accessories will be compatible with your monitor. And if you're connecting a laptop to this monitor, you'll have speakers built in there anyway.

Razer is known for its gaming accessories like laptops, headsets, keyboards, chairs, and mice, so of course the brand has a stellar gaming monitor.

The Razer Raptor 27 is 27 inches diagonally and weighs 25.4 pounds, so this is the monitor for you if you want a dedicated gaming setup that can take up a lot of space. If you’re particular about how your monitor is oriented, it can tilt up to 90 degrees, and you can raise it by 5.25 inches if you need to. 

You don’t need to know much about computers’ refresh rates and graphic capacity to know that 144Hz will give you the sharpest graphics you’ve seen in a computer monitor. PC Mag gave it top ratings for its color display as well. 

This is a budget monitor without being a cheap monitor. The Samsung SR650 24-inch monitor is less than $200, but doesn't skimp on the important features you want in a monitor. It has a 1920 x 1080 IPS panel with a 75Hz refresh rate. In layman's terms, you'll get crisp, stunning images and a wide viewing angle.

The size of this monitor is great for most desk setups because it gives you plenty of screen without taking up too much space. Your laptop will still comfortably fit on your desk with the monitor.

There are plenty of ports on this Samsung monitor, including two USB 2.0, two USB-C, HDMI, and VGA connections. The monitor itself is also incredibly versatile and adapts to your work preferences. You can adjust the height and swivel, tilt, and pivot the monitor to whatever position suits your needs.

Apple loyalists who edit video, design graphics, or love video games, rejoice: There is a big, beautiful (albeit pricey) monitor for you. At $4,999, the cost is certainly nothing to sneeze at. But it’s a top pick at PCMag for many reasons, including incredibly sharp colors and HDR. 

Most people enjoy Apple computers for their easy-to-understand design, and you can certainly run its operating system on this monitor, but you can also run Windows or Linux on it. The 32-inch monitor gives eye-popping 6K resolution, as well. You can ensure it won’t overheat because there are hella grates to let out any excess energy. 

If you edit video or design graphics, there’s a special type of display that will help you with seeing visuals sharply. It’s called full-array local dimming, where you can adjust the light in different parts of the monitor so you get the best possible contrast and visual quality of what you’re seeing. So while this is still a very expensive monitor, you get great features, especially if you work in any visual spheres. 

The Acer Predator is a highly rated gaming monitor that has 2560 x 1440 resolution and a fast refresh rate of 144Hz. It has a fast response time and features Nvidia's G-Sync technology, making it a really excellent machine for gaming.

As for looks, this Acer monitor has slim bezels and a red and black v-shaped stand — it's a nice look with a bit of flair. The monitor is height-adjustable and tilts, swivels, and pivots for whatever position your gaming needs require. You can even mount the screen to the wall if you want a super legit setup.

The monitor is equipped with decent speakers (PCMag calls them "moderately loud, but tinny sounding") and has HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB 3.0 ports located on the back. Overall, Acer has made an impressive gaming monitor.

At just $100, this 21.5-inch HP monitor is a workhorse for those on a budget. Though this monitor does not have the picture quality of something like the Razer, it can clearly display items like four Adobe Premiere workspaces. Its HD imaging and 16:9 resolution were praised as well by customers. For computer nerds out there, that’s 102 pixels per inch. 

It has an incredibly slim profile, and despite it being made of plastic, the body has an expensive look and feel. The 60Hz response rate may not be high enough for the serious gamer, but should work well for any graphic design, video editing, and streaming needs.

The stand for this monitor is a little wonky, but honestly you could use the base to store pens and sticky notes if you really wanted. While there’s no built-in wall mount and it does not come with HDMI cables, you’re able to purchase those as add ons.

If you keep finding yourself zooming in on elements, reading spreadsheets with thousands of entries, or have to create and edit content, you may want a bigger monitor than the one you already have. And this one is BIG, at 32 inches. Remember when televisions weren’t even that big? 

It has 4K visuals, USB-C connectivity, and a USB hub. According to Wirecutter, in addition to transmitting visuals, audio, and data, that USB hub can charge a 15-inch Macbook to full battery. The UltraSharp U3219Q has extremely slim bezels, giving you edge-to-edge viewing of a full, vibrant display. It has 3840 x 2160 Ultra HD 4K resolution, which provides four times more detail than Full HD — that's seriously impressive.

This is more expensive than others on this list, but you surely get what you pay for. The monitor pivots and tilts into multiple positions, including a vertical rotation. This isn’t the ideal monitor for those with small spaces, but for those who want or need that kind of screen power, it’s a great choice. 

Having a dual-screen setup is great for work, but sometimes it's cumbersome to try to fit two monitors. You may not be into that aesthetic on your desk. And let’s face it, twice the monitors means twice the cost. So in its place, here is one big wide monitor: The Acer XR342CK Pbmiiqphuzx. The title sounds like an alien sneezing, but its features make up for the strange name. 

It’s 34 inches wide, has a sturdy adjustable stand, and multiple ports for your USB and USB-C needs. There’s a cool curve to the top of the monitor, which gives it a distinct look from a standard computer monitor and helps you crane your neck less. This allows you to see every inch of your screen without eye strain, which is something a dual monitor setup can't promise.

But the curved nature could cause some problems for a visual designer or architect as the curvature might warp your perspective slightly. Regardless, it’s a strong choice for people who need an ultra wide display.

The LG 27UK650-W has an incredibly slim casing that is almost invisible, and its stand has a sleek curve. It’s got the kind of profile that would fit in in any office or stylish home setting. At $550, it sits in the middle of the price range on this list. 

The monitor's HDR display combines Ultra HD 4K resolution with IPS clarity, making it awesome for gaming and working — whether that's creating spreadsheets or designing graphics. It's especially great for content creators, which honestly includes most people at this point. 

Gamers will marvel at all the advanced gaming features that make your graphics look realistic and keep your movements fluid. Regardless of what you use the monitor for, everyone can appreciate the adjustable display that tilts and pivots to let you get the best view.

Not everyone has the luxury of a permanent work station and some people prefer to move around as they work. That's why the Lepow USB-C portable monitor is so great. At 15.6 inches, this monitor looks and feels more like a tablet than a monitor, so it's not going to be suitable for every situation, but on the go and in a pinch it's a sweet companion to have.

This display feels roomy even at its small size, supports 1080p resolution, and only weighs 1.7 pounds. It has a mini-HDMI port and a USB-C port. This means you can connect to any gaming system, and some televisions as well as laptops. And while you can’t adjust the height of the monitor, there is a strap at the back that allows you to adjust the tilt.

The features don't stop there — there's also a built-in speaker and an audio port. While PCMag rated this monitor highly, they did mention the colors felt kind of flat, which is understandable for a monitor of its size and price. But it’s a great bang for your buck.