The Best Monitors According to the CNET Staff Who Use Them
Almost all of the CNET team has gotten new monitors in the last year or two. Here's a list of our favorites.
- 6 years working professionally in the 3D printing space / 4 years testing consumer electronics for large websites.
Why You Can Trust CNET
Whether you're working with a desktop PC, a Mac or some kind of laptop, having a good-quality monitor will make it infinitely easier. As someone who works with two monitors, I have no problem having my second screen occupied with work I need to reference -- like the spreadsheet with the testimonials on -- while I use my main monitor to edit the article you're reading right now. I don't have to switch between windows: I can easily look over at my second display, see the monitors I need to write about and continue my work on my main display without slowing down.
Having a good monitor, or even two, makes working from home much easier, as being hunched over a laptop can cause severe back pain and stress you might not notice immediately. Spending your day looking at a big screen is much better than a little one.
Read more: The Best Office Chairs According to the CNET Staff Who Use Them
The CNET team is full of diverse experts; people who spend their lives reviewing products and testing them, so we know how to pick a good product. We collected testimonials from the editorial staff and engineers about their favorite monitors and why you should buy one too.
I love this monitor from Asus. Since I am a video editor by trade, who also edits a lot of photos in his spare time, having a monitor with excellent color rendition is super important, and this ProArt monitor does that really well.
It has a bit more resolution than a standard 1080p monitor which is fantastic as well, it adjusts easily into landscape and portrait mode, and it can move up and down for different desk setups.
But probably the biggest selling point is the price. It's more expensive than a standard monitor, but for what it delivers on picture and color quality, it's probably the most affordable monitor for professional photo and video folks. The ProArt is much more affordable than something from Apple.
-- Owen Poole, Video producer
Designed with videographers and photographers in mind, the color on this monitor is to die for.
Great on a budget
LG 24-inch IPS LED FHD FreeSync Monitor
This Full HD monitor is intensely basic for the price, but it's so easy to use and has gotten me through some of the busiest pandemic news cycles. With two HDMI ports, one audio jack and a D-sub connector, I've been able to seamlessly connect its 24-inch glory to my work Mac (for editing and digital production), as well as my former Windows laptop and current personal desktop (for video games) with minimal interruptions to my productivity. It's 6.8 pounds, which might be heavy for a monitor -- I wouldn't know -- but I've also taken to carting it into other areas of my house without issue. And it has... screen tilt!
-- Dawnthea Price Lisco, Copy editor
It may not be much to write home about but it gets the job done every single time.
Budget-friendly curves
Sceptre Curved 27-inch 75Hz LED Monitor
When we set up our home office, my wife and I used these Sceptre curved displays for a long time. The curve is gentle enough not to strain your eyes, while also making you feel like you have a wrap-around experience. I eventually changed out my monitors for something more gaming focused, but my wife loves her Sceptre.
The color tone can be a little uneven and it took us a while to get them dialed in, but now that they are, they're worth the small cost. We ended up getting two for the full experience.
-- James Bricknell, Senior editor
Pretend you are a super hacker with curved displays, but do it on a budget you can afford.
Unbelievably thin
HP 27-inch FHD Monitor with AMD FreeSync Technology
While I wanted to have good gaming monitors, I couldn't afford some of the bigger curved displays you see here. My gaming on a PC consists of 1080p resolution games anyway so 4K just wasn't needed.
I picked up two of these ultra-thin HP monitors as they have FreeSync for gaming, but are also low profile enough to leave room on my desk for the keyboards I test. Plus, the bezel-less display is fire.
-- James Bricknell, Senior editor
If you want an incredibly thin, bezel-free experience then this is the monitor for you. I liked it so much I bought it twice.
Traveling dual screen
Lepow USB-C Portable Monitor
For most of the pandemic, I couldn't work in the same spot in my house every day. Setting up a big monitor or even a regular desk to put one on was out of the question. Lepow's 15.6-inch portable monitor gave me just enough extra room to work, whether my "office" was in my dining room, living room or bedroom.
The display setup takes seconds with a single USB-C cable for both the picture and power though it does have an HDMI input if necessary. All the cables come in the box, too, along with a screen protector. It has a folio case that doubles as a stand (newer versions have a built-in kickstand for better positioning and use less desk space). It even has a headphone jack and basic built-in speakers so it can connect to a game console. When you're done for the day, it folds up and easily stores in a drawer or backpack. Easy.
-- Josh Goldman, Senior editor
If you need more than one screen while you are on the move then a small, portable monitor might be your best bet.
When money is no object
LG UltraGear Nano IPS curved gaming monitor
A few years ago I upgraded to the LG Ultragear ultrawide, and everything about it makes me extremely happy. Its 3440x1440 resolution is the sweet spot for a 34-inch gaming setup since it doesn't tax a GPU as hard as a 4k monitor. It's 144hz, with Gsync and VESA adaptive sync (freesync) support. I play Final Fantasy 14 and Destiny 2 on a custom-built gaming rig, and the frame rates are amazing.
Since I'm not even maxing out the specifications on this monitor -- a GPU upgrade in a year or two will let me max out the 144hz part of the monitor -- I'm going to be keeping this for a good long while.
-- Wesley Radcliffe, Engineering manager
When you really want the best gaming experience possible save up some cash and splurge on this beauty.
Next-level gaming
Samsung CRG9 49-inch curved gaming monitor
CNET's Eric Franklin got me into ultrawide monitors, and for a long time I had an entry-level LG that did the job. When the pandemic hit though, I decided to go bigger and I'm so glad I did. I bought this one Used/Like New from Amazon, and it's been a dream to work with.
I bought the 120hz because I don't game at higher refresh rates anyway, and most of the time I was relying on this for work. I also found a monitor arm for it that cleans up my workspace really well.
- Ian Sherr, Editor at large
Another curved monster, this Samsung is the cutting edge. It's also as wide as a TV so make sure you have room.
For the gamer
Gigabyte G27Q 27-inch Gaming Monitor (Unavailable)
I got this Gigabyte monitor when I bought a new gaming desktop. I wanted a 27-inch screen with 1440p resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, and this was on offer for around $300 about a year ago. Never having heard of the brand, I took a punt on it.
I'm really happy with it. It looks great, day and night, with hardly any reflections. The bezel is super thin. It can be adjusted up and down, as well as tilted. And it has all the ports you'd probably need. The only thing I would change is that the power button is also a menu joystick and it's on the back, which is fiddly on the few occasions I need it.
-- Nick Hide, Managing copy editor
The QHD resolution makes this the perfect gaming monitor. It has a pricetag that won't break the bank as well.