Best computer monitors: displays for every size and resolution

We test a range of computer monitors, including smaller screens that are better for limited spaces and larger monitors that are more suited to home offices and graphic design. We've also tested higher-powered gaming monitors and newer curved designs.

Whether you want to upgrade an older model or think you'll benefit from a second screen, our round-up of the best computer monitors will help you to find what you need. Our selection includes brands such as Acer, Apple, Asus, Lenovo and Samsung, with models starting from less than £100.

The computer monitors we tested

The biggest brands and the most popular 15 computer monitors are listed below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the computer monitor test results. 

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See a selection of the computer monitors we tested listed below in alphabetical order.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the computer monitor test results. 

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.

Acer AOPEN 24CL1Y G0

Available from Argos (£69)

Most recently tested May 2025

Screen size 24 inches

Connections One HDMI port, no DisplayPort, 3.5mm headphone jack, one VGA port, no USB ports 

Need to know IPS monitor (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), no height adjustment, no swivel, tilt function, VESA mountable, built-in speaker, 100Hz refresh rate

AOC U27B3M

Available from Argos (£139)

Most recently tested December 2024

Screen size 27 inches

Connections One HDMI port, one DisplayPort, 3.5mm headphone jack, no VGA ports, no USB ports

Need to know Ultra HD monitor (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), no height adjustment, no swivel, tilt function, VESA mountable, 60Hz refresh rate

Apple Studio Display

Most recently tested February 2023

Screen size 27 inches

Connections No HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, no headphone jack, no VGA ports, no USB-A ports, three USB-C ports, one Thunderbolt port

Need to know 5K retina display (5,120 x 2,880 pixels), no height adjustment, no swivel, tilt function, VESA mountable, 60Hz refresh rate

Asus ProArt PA248CRV

Most recently tested December 2024

Screen size 24 inches

Connections Two HDMI ports, two DisplayPorts, 3.5mm headphone jack, three USB-A ports, one USB-C port, one USB-C power port  

Need to know IPS monitor (1,920 x 1,200 pixels), height adjustment, swivel function, tilt function, VESA mountable, rotate function, 75Hz refresh rate

Asus ProArt PA248QV

Most recently tested December 2024

Screen size 24 inches

Connections One HDMI port, one DisplayPort, 3.5mm headphone jack, one VGA port, four USB-A ports

Need to know IPS monitor (1,920 x 1,200 pixels), height adjustment, swivel function, tilt function, VESA mountable, rotate function, 75Hz refresh rate 

Dell SE2422H FHD LCD 23.8"

Most recently tested December 2022

Screen size 23.8 inches

Connections One HDMI port, no DisplayPort, no headphone jack, one VGA, one USB-A, no USB-C

Need to know Full HD display (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), no height adjustment, no swivel function, tilt function, VESA mountable, 75Hz refresh rate

Iiyama ProLite XB3288UHSU-B5

Most recently tested December 2024

Screen size 31 inches

Connections Two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, 3.5mm headphone jack, no VGA ports, two USB-A ports 

Need to know 4K UHD monitor (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), height adjustment function, swivel function, tilt function, rotate function, VESA mountable, built-in speaker, 60Hz refresh rate

Compare the best laptops we've tested, including nine Great Value laptops costing between £229 and £500. Alternatively, see our guide to the best all-in-one computers

Lenovo D27-45

Most recently tested May 2025

Screen size 27 inches

Connections One HDMI port, no DisplayPort, 3.5mm headphone jack, one VGA port, no USB ports, one power connector

Need to know FHD monitor (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), height adjustment function, swivel function, tilt function, rotate function, VESA mountable, 75Hz refresh rate

Lenovo L27m-30 27"

Most recently tested December 2022

Screen size 27 inches

Connections One HDMI port, one DisplayPort, 3.5mm headphone jack, one VGA port, four USB-A, one USB-C

Need to know Full HD display (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), height adjustment, no swivel function, tilt function, VESA mountable, 75Hz refresh rate

Lenovo L32p-30

Most recently tested December 2024

Screen size 31 inches

Connections One HDMI port, one DisplayPort, 3.5mm headphone jack, no VGA ports, four USB-A, one USB-C, one USB-C power port  

Need to know 4K UHD IPS monitor (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), no height adjustment, no swivel function, tilt function, VESA mountable, 60Hz refresh rate

MSI Modern MD342CQPW

Most recently tested May 2025

Screen size 34 inches

Connections Two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, 3.5mm headphone jack, no VGA ports, two USB-A ports, one USB-B port, USB-C power port

Need to know UWQHD monitor (3,440 x 1,440 pixels), curved monitor, height adjustment function, swivel function, tilt function, VESA mountable, 120Hz refresh rate

MSI Pro MP223 E2

Most recently tested May 2025

Screen size 21 inches

Connections One HDMI port, one DisplayPort, no headphone jack, no VGA ports, no USB ports

Need to know FHD monitor (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), no height adjustment, no swivel, tilt function, VESA mountable, 100Hz refresh rate

MSI Pro MP273U

Most recently tested May 2025

Screen size 27 inches

Connections Two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, 3.5mm headphone jack, no VGA ports, no USB ports

Need to know 4K UHD monitor (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), no height adjustment, no swivel, tilt function, VESA mountable, 60Hz refresh rate

Philips 24E1N5300HE/00

Most recently tested January 2023

Screen size 24 inches

Connections One HDMI port, one DisplayPort, 3.5mm headphone jack, no VGA, one USB-A, one USB-C

Need to know Full HD display (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), height adjustment, no swivel function, tilt function, VESA mountable, USB-C port supports video as well as data transfer and power delivery, 75Hz refresh rate, certain features (such as split-screen functionality) requir Phillips Smart Control app, webcam is Windows Hello-rated (meaning you can use it to log in to your computer securely with facial recognition)

Samsung Odyssey Gaming Monitor LS25BG400EUXXU

Most recently tested January 2023

Screen size 25 inches

Connections One HDMI port, one DisplayPort, 3.5mm headphone jack, no VGA, one USB-A, no USB-C

Need to know Full HD display (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), height adjustment, swivel function, tilt function, VESA mountable, 240 Hz refresh rate

More computer monitors from our tests 

Here’s how the rest of the 21 computer monitors from our tests measured up, listed in alphabetical order.

Which? Don’t Buy computer monitors

Our tests uncover the best and the worst. If a product performs so poorly that we think you should avoid it, we call it a Don't Buy. We've tested one computer monitor that we've named a Don't Buy.

As well as having a substandard screen that will have your eyes straining to make out text, Don't Buy computer monitors are often a pain to use, too, with awkward adjustments and irritating settings menus. 

To find out which model it is, and which computer monitors earned our Best Buy and Great Value recommendations, log in or Join Which?.

How we test computer monitors

Screen and picture quality

• We use software to send specific colours to the monitor. This is used in conjunction with a piece of equipment called a colourimeter, which measures the exact colour displayed by the screen and tells us how accurate the monitor is.
• We evaluate how clear the monitor is in a range of conditions. This includes in a dark room, a brighter room with overhead lighting, and with a range of content including text, pictures and video.
• We look at how clear images with darker elements are when viewed from an angle – this is a challenge for most monitors and sorts the best from the merely average.
• We assess how accurately colours are displayed in office documents, how many colours can be displayed and how crisp text is on screen. This determines how suitable a monitor is for everyday tasks (such as surfing the web) and office or study-based work (such as using Google Docs or Microsoft Word).
• We also check how accurately colours are displayed when editing photos. Using the same tests as the office assessment, we see whether the monitor is likely to meet your needs if your work requires the most accurate colours and even brightness levels.

Ease of use and build quality

• We assess what the monitor will be like to use every day. We note how many button presses it takes to get to basic settings, for example, and look at whether the buttons are easy to access and press.
• All the ergonomic adjustment features of the monitor are rated, including tilt, height adjustment and swivel.
• We examine the quality of the materials the monitor is made from and whether it is heavy and stable enough not to fall over if knocked.

Features

• The various features on each monitor are totted up, including the number of ports available.
• Monitors with more adjustment options, including height, tilt and swivel, receive extra points.
• If a monitor has integrated speakers, we'll let you know if they’re any good, so you can decide if you need to buy some separate desktop speakers or headphones.

We regularly revisit the computer monitors on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and when we find them, we do so.  

Find out more about how Which? is not influenced by product manufacturers or retailers and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent

What computer monitor screen size is best?

The computer monitors we've tested range from 21 to 28 inches, but the best size to buy will depend on your needs and where you're going to use it.

We'd only suggest going for the smallest size if you're really limited in space. Otherwise there's little point in splashing out on a new computer monitor if you’re going to end up having to lean in and squint to see what’s on the screen.

A 24-inch screen is the size you’ll typically find in most modern offices. This is also the size that usually starts offering useful extras, such as extra adjustment options and additional ports.

A 27-inch screen can be great if you have a larger desk. But you’ll want to be sitting a fair distance away from it, so you can still see the whole screen in one glance without having to move your head.

Measure your workspace to establish how much space you realistically have, considering height as well as width (if your workspace is in an alcove, for example). Take into account how much room a stand might take up, too, as some are oddly shaped.

Screen resolution: what you need to know

Resolution means the number of pixels that produce the image on your screen. The more pixels, the sharper and clearer the image. 

As a minimum, opt for a monitor with Full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), otherwise known as 1080p. 

Anything less than this (usually 1,600 x 900 or 'HD' 1,366 x 768 pixels) not only risks a fuzzy or pixelated screen, but may be a sign of generally poor display quality. Manufacturers typically don't prioritise great colours and viewing angles if they've skimped on the resolution.

As screen size increases, resolution becomes even more important. If you want a larger screen (27 inches or more), it makes sense to consider something with a higher resolution than Full HD. 

There are two options:

1. QHD (2,560 x 1,440 pixels), also known as 1440p or 'Quad HD'

QHD screens are a middle ground between Full HD and the 4K resolutions more commonly associated with TVs. Opting for this resolution on larger screens will mean everything looks smoother and more defined.

2. UHD (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), also known as 4K, Ultra HD or 2160p

UHD takes things up another notch, although most people won't really need it. It's often popular with gamers; you'll need some powerful hardware to make the best use of it, as pushing this many pixels around can put a strain on your graphics card.

Monitor ports explained

If you buy a monitor that doesn't have the right ports to connect to your PC or laptop, you'll face the frustration of having to either return it or buy an adaptor (typically costing around £10 to £15).

Fortunately, there are now a few standard ports you'll find on most models. The most common types on cheaper monitors are HDMI, DVI and VGA (sometimes called D-Sub), while a few also use the DisplayPort standard. These ports largely do the same thing, but it's worth noting that for more expensive monitors, only HDMI and DisplayPort will be able to handle the high resolutions of QHD and UHD.

Make sure the computer or laptop that you want to connect to the monitor has at least one compatible port. If you connect using HDMI, bear in mind that some monitors won't come with them supplied, so you'll need to buy one separately if you don't have a spare. A basic HDMI cable shouldn't cost more than £10.

However, some newer laptops may only have USB-C ports. You'll need a USB-C to HDMI or VGA adaptor to connect one of these to most monitors.

Can you use a TV as a computer monitor?

Yes, although bear in mind that TVs often have a delay between your inputs and the result appearing on screen. 

This is usually fine if you’re just typing or even watching videos on the TV. But if you’re doing proper multitasking work and using a mouse, you'll immediately notice the lag between your mouse movements and it appearing on the screen. 

There's no way to solve this completely, although one thing you can do is activate the ‘game mode’ on your TV (if it has one). This minimises the amount of image processing your TV does and should reduce the delay between your inputs and them showing on the screen. 

However, as this solution doesn’t entirely solve the problem, we would only recommend using your TV as a second screen if you’re using it to watch videos, as anything else will be something of a challenge.

Useful computer monitor features to consider

These handy features will add to the overall cost but are worth looking out for as they'll make your monitor easier to use and more comfortable to work with:

• Adjustable stand: This can help you set up your monitor at the perfect height without having to stack it on top of a pile of books.
• Portrait mode: If you work with computer code, you might find a screen in vertical orientation is better for your needs. Some monitors allow you to turn them 90 degrees to get the perfect angle.
• Portability: If you don't have a lot of space, opt for a small, more portable monitor. This means you can work at the dining table, and swiftly and easily put it away and transition the table back ready for dinner time.
• USB hub: Useful if you have lots of desk accessories – such as a mouse, keyboard and USB phone charging cable. A monitor with a built-in USB hub means you can connect them all independently of any connected device (such as a laptop or computer). Doing this also means you can take your laptop to the sofa, or out and about, and only have to unplug it from the monitor, rather than multiple accessories as well. You can also buy standalone USB hubs from around £10.

Buy the best gaming monitor

Essentially, what turns a general monitor into a gaming monitor is the refresh rate, which is the number of times per second that the image on screen updates, measured in Hertz (Hz). 

While standard office monitors update 60 times per second (60Hz), which is fine for working on documents, spreadsheets and the like, a typical gaming monitor will refresh at 144Hz, with others going as high as 240Hz or more.

This is because gamers benefit from a faster refresh rate, as it allows you to see new details that crucial split-second more quickly – such as an opponent sneaking up on you or ducking out from behind cover.

You generally pay more when you pick a monitor with a faster refresh rate, but if the games you play benefit from lightning-quick reactions, it will likely be worth it.