Monitors come in a huge range of sizes, resolutions and panel types making them a tricky purchase to get right. We’ve reviewed and ranked the best ones and you can read our full monitor buying guide after the chart for advice on which to buy.
Before we get into the buying advice and your options, here’s a top tip: display technology does not move on at the same pace as a lot of consumer tech and, as you’ll discover in our round-up, you’ll often find better value with slightly older monitors.
If you are a gamer then check out our best gaming monitor chart.
1. Philips 243B1
- USB docking station
- Versatile design
- Good quality display
Cons
- Limited brightness
- Weedy speakers
As well-rounded monitors go, it doesn’t get much better than the excellent Philips B1.
It starts with a stylish design with a very versatile stand meaning you can adjust the monitor into a wide range of positions easily. Build quality is very good, too.
Add in a high-quality 24in IPS display and you’ve got a nicely balanced monitor for your home office. The highlight here is the USB-C connectivity and built-in docking station meaning you can quickly connect or disconnect a laptop with minimal hassle.
The only downsides are slightly limited brightness and weedy speakers.
Read our full Philips 243B1 review
2. BenQ BL2780T
- Affordable
- Decent performance
- Portrait mode
Cons
- Basic speakers
- Inconsistent backlight
If you’re looking for an affordable but still decent monitor for business or home office then the 27-inch, 4K BenQ BL2780T is a great option.
These types of monitors tend to be extremely dull but BenQ provides a good pinch of style in the mix here. There’s a good level of adjustment here, including portrait mode, and the power supply is neatly built-in avoiding an annoying brick.
If you don’t need a resolution higher than Full HD then the BL2780T offers excellent performance with various bits of eye comfort technology, good brightness and even 99% sRGB gamut.
Read our full BenQ BL2780T review
3. Samsung Space Monitor
- Clever design
- Excellent performance
- Handy joystick
Cons
- No USB hub
- Limited adjustment
- No speakers
There are pros and cons to the 27in Space Monitor.
If your desk is short of space this is one of the only monitors on the market that really solves the problem. However, it does so without offering a large amount of adjustment – there’s only tilt here and no USB hub either which doesn’t make sense.
If you’re using wireless peripherals and the adjustment is ok for your desk, then the Space Monitor is excellent and is available at a decent amount below the RRP.
The panel itself is top-notch with the 4K VA technology providing a crisp and vivid image that will be suited to a wide range of tasks. Namely creative work but you could also use it for gaming.
Read our full Samsung Space Monitor review
4. Lenovo ThinkVision M14
- Thin and light
- Clever design
- Solid performance
Cons
- Awkard buttons
- Temperamental power passthrough
Those looking for a portable monitor should seriously consider the ThinkVision M14.
Lenovo has made sure this 14-inch display does exactly what it’s supposed to and is a versatile second screen for wherever you are – at home or on-the-go. It offers a compact and lightweight design that’s surprisingly stylish with a high-quality Full HD IPS screen including a handy low blue light mode.
The buttons are fiddly but this is a minor point as you won’t need them very often anyway. You really just need to make sure USB-C connectivity is suitable for you.
Read our full Lenovo ThinkVision M14 review
5. AOC U2790PQU
- Stylish design
- Crips and colourful
- Exellent adjustment
Cons
- Limited contrast & uniformity
- Weedy speakers
- No USB-C
If you’re looking for an affordable 27in 4K monitor that’s also stylish then the AOC U2790PQU is a solid option.
It’s well-made and looks good and offers solid colour accuracy to go with its crisp resolution. The majority of tasks will look great on it but it’s not perfect.
For those needing it for higher-end, demanding tasks, the contrast and uniformity being a little off might cause you to look elsewhere. The Q2790PQE is a cheaper option if QHD resolution is enough.
Read our full AOC U2790PQU review
6. BenQ DesignVue PD2705Q
- CalMAN Verified & Pantone Validated
- KVM inbuilt
- M-book mode
- Limited HDR
- Mostly for sRGB workflow
- 65W USB-C charging
The PD2705Q isn’t a great choice for gamers or movies watchers but as the DesignView name suggests, this monitor is one that BenQ has created with creators in mind.
It’s CalMAN Verified and Pantone Validated as well as an M-Book mode for those connecting a MacBook for colour matching the two displays. There’s 100% sRGB and 88% of P3 colour.
Furthermore, is a built-in KVM so you can connect your mouse and keyboard to the monitor and a stand offering various adjustments.
Read our full BenQ DesignVue PD2705Q review
7. Dell Ultrasharp U2421E
- Good colour gamut & brightness
- USB-C hub
- Versatile stand movement
Cons
- Cheaper alternatives
- Not suitable for AdobeRBG work
Working from home is the norm now, even if it’s just for a few days a week having a monitor that’s made for laptops will be a real boon for some.
The Dell Ultrasharp U2421E is exactly that and although you could spend less and daisy-chaining two doesn’t make sense vs an ultrawide rival. If this size is good then there’s a lot to like with its high-quality design and features.
A built-in USB-C hub means you can simply plug your laptop in with a single cable avoiding the need for a separate docking station. There’s good stand adjustment along with solid brightness and colour, although it’s not suitable for AdobeRGB design work.
Read our full Dell Ultrasharp U2421E review
8. Dell UltraSharp U3419W
- Huge realestate
- Accurate colours
- USB-C
- Low input lag
Cons
- Expensive
Ultrawide displays can replace two smaller monitors and give you an uninterrupted desktop.
Dell’s curved 34in offering is very expensive, but offers top-notch quality, accurate colours, a Quad HD resolution and a USB-C port for connecting the latest laptops.
If you don’t need USB-C, the U3417W has the same screen, but is cheaper.
Read our full Dell UltraSharp U3419W review
9. Huawei MateView
- Colourful HDR panel
- USB-C hub
- Stylish design
Cons
- Expensive
- Limited adjustment
- Wireless projection compatbility
The Huawei MateView is an unusual monitor and the result is that it will be great for some people, and not others.
It’s certainly one of the most stylish around and offers great build quality, too. There’s also a useful integrated USB hub with USB-C included.
The screen performance is decent with plenty of brightness and excellent colour reproduction. Meanwhile, the 3:2 aspect ratio will be more suited to those doing work like word processing.
Limited adjustment of the screen is odd and the controls are a little clunky too, but you probably want to decide on the MateView based on whether you can and will make use of the built-in OneHop wireless projection. Otherwise, the regular model will do just fine.
Read our full Huawei MateView review
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