What exactly is a 4K monitor? Simply put, the 4K monitor derived its name from possessing a horizontal resolution of 4K or 4000 pixels. In stores, it is what is commonly referred to as an ultra-high-definition or UHD monitor. The 4K innovation is relatively new, but it would certainly come as no surprise when it soon becomes the standard in monitor resolution.
What to Look for in a 4k Monitor
The most common type of people who purchase and benefit the most from 4k monitors are avid gamers and creative professionals. If full HD display was great before, then UHD’s is stunning. But these days, even those who simply want to enjoy watching movies in breathtaking colors and vivid images on their desktops are beginning to scout for their first UHD unit.
Sure, monitor resolution is the main reason one would want to switch to a 4k monitor, but it would not be the only thing. For gamers, color schemes are just as important. Also, compatibility with the console or computer matters and should be taken note of, since not all monitors have the capability to work with all kinds of processors. In this line, it is worth mentioning that not all graphics card support a UHD monitor.
Size of the monitor is another major consideration. Bigger is not necessarily better, so it is a good idea to canvass and compare various models. The space where the monitor will be placed will also affect the choice in size.
For avid gamers, it is important to compare different response times of various monitors. Response time is responsible for the time it takes to display whatever input it receives from external devices. The standard today is 5ms, but there are a number monitors out there that could offer 1ms.
Another important monitor feature that should be checked is the kind of cables it comes in with. The PC’s or gaming console’s port should match the monitor’s cables, obviously.
Panel type is not common knowledge, but it is still worth reading about. The three commonly used panels for monitors are TN (twisted nematic), VA (vertical alignment), and IPS (in-plane switching). Each has its own advantage over the others, with IPS delivering amazing color accuracy, VA having the best contrast, and TN being the cheapest.
Lastly, the price of a 4k monitor should be of primary concern to a consumer. It is important to stick to a specific budget without sacrificing the desired features in a monitor. 4K monitors can have the same resolution, but additional features will make one exhibit a better-looking display and deliver a better performance over the other.
So as to make it easier to decide which 4k monitor to buy, here are the recent top 4K monitors in the market.
Best 4K Monitor Under $400 – Dell P2415Q 24-Inch UHD
Nothing beats the high-quality resolution that Dell P2415Q24 offers in this price category. The ease of connecting game consoles, smart phones, tablets, and computers without sacrificing image quality is all thanks to the combination of HDMI and USB ports. Speakers may be plugged directly to the monitor via audio ports, making it possible to listen to playlists or enjoy a more immersive game play.
The IPS LCD panel of Dell P2415Q comes with a 3840 x 2160 resolution. The backlight is white light emitting diode, and is capable of displaying 178 degrees of horizontal and vertical viewing angle. Surprisingly for its price, this Dell monitor is even capable of displaying resolution higher than most standard HD monitors.
- anti-glare feature
- good for gaming
- monitor offers full adjustability
- gives out faint plastic smell
- does not work with Mac
- firmware is flawed
Best 4K Monitor Under $600 – LG 27UD68-P 27-Inch UHD
LG 27UD68-P’s IPS sharp and vivid display is remarkable, with a response time of only 5ms.
It even comes with Black stabilizers, making dark pictures and videos look clear. This would be perfect for most HD games, as it throws lag issues out the window.
But perhaps the most competitive edge that LG 27UD68-P has is its FreeSync gaming technology. LG has done an excellent job of enabling monitor frame rates to keep up with dedicated graphics card. Gaming enthusiasts will be treated to a seamless gaming experience, with superior graphics to boot.
- extra C-ports
- seamless image quality
- AMD FreeSync
- no internal speakers
- value for money
- slow at waking up from sleep state
Best 4k Monitor Under $700 – LG 4K UHD 27UD88-W 27″
Aside from the incredible value that LG 27UD88-W offers for a reasonable price, it throws in the additional bonus of including Type-C USB port in its hardware.
What this does is make life easier by letting users gain instant access to files stored in smartphones or tablets. It would be no problem streaming 4k videos, perform data transfers, and even allow charging for the portable devices.
As with other LG UHDs, this model has high-resolution graphics, FreeSync and Black Stabilizer technologies, Split Screen 2.0, and optimized games modes—more reasons for avid gamers to go out and purchase this exceptional unit.
- sharp image detail
- AMD FreeSync
- USB-C port
- short warranty
- connection problems with Mac devices
- no Ethernet
Best 4K Monitors Under $800 – Dell UltraSharp U3415W PXF79
In keeping up with the trend, Dell UltraSharp U3415WPXF79 came out with its own monitor in a curved design. The curved screen allows for a bigger viewing area, and enhances viewing comfort by reducing eye strain caused by constantly trying to focus on various parts of a screen.
Watching games and playing videos will undoubtedly be more enjoyable than ever, especially with the capability to connect an extra monitor while using a single mouse and monitor.
As if Dell’s monitor is not large enough, it was made to look even larger by the bezel-free design on the top and sides of the screen. The maximum resolution of the WQHD panel is 3440 x 1440, and has a 21:9 aspect ratio. Users will definitely not regret buying this ultra-wide monitor that performs well and fitted with plenty of features.
- good audio
- vivid colors
- plenty of features
- pricey
- no USB ports on side
- screen has tendency to randomly go black
Best 4K Monitors Under $900 – LG 34UC79G-B
LG has again made it to the top, this time with their version of a curved monitor that targets gamers. Visual and audio lag is essentially non-existent with this 34-inch monitor’s 1ms blur reduction feature. Coupled with this is the screen’s high refresh rate of 144Hz. Although the resolution was kept to 2540 x 1080, LG 34UC79G-B makes it possible to play games smoothly at high frame rates without the need for a powerful graphics card.
FreeSync also comes with this model, along with a Crosshair accuracy feature.
- thin screen bezel
- 144Hz refresh rate
- 1ms motion blur reduction
- no speakers
- occasional backlight bleeding
- short display port cable
Best 4K Budget Monitor – Samsung UE590 UHD-QHD
Despite the affordable price, Samsung UE590 still delivers quality image that is standard with UHDs today. The response time is 1ms, making it suitable for casual gaming.
Despite having a TN panel, color accuracy is still decent, but not appropriate for professional photo or video editing. Still, it is perfect for playing games or watching movies.
The Samsung EU590 even comes with a PIP feature, so it would not be a problem opening two windows at the same time. The PIP window size and position can be adjusted, making it very convenient for the user to multi-task.
- energy efficient
- has PIP
- works with MacBook
- thick bezels
- not too durable
- stand is unstable
Best 4K Monitor for Competitive Gaming – Acer XB280HK
Competitive gaming relies on monitors with a rapid response time. TN panels do a better job in this aspect, compared to IPS ones. The ACER XB280HK features a 1ms response time, making it a favorite among serious gamers. It also features the G-Sync technology, ensuring a tear-free and smooth gameplay.
Four 3.0 USB ports are fitted into the monitor, allowing fast charging of phones even while various game paraphernalia are connected. The bad viewing angle that is typical of TN panels is reduced with Acer XB280HK’s 40-degree tilt capability, hence good visibility can be achieved even when lying on the bed.
- adjustable stand
- USB hub
- 1ms response time
- one video input
- slightly skewed greens
- color shift at wide angles
Best 4K Monitor for Console Gaming – Acer S277HK
The Acer S277HK is capable of handling the new Playstation 4 Pro, Xbox One S, and Xbox Scorpio, thanks to its 60Hz pixel refresh rate.
Immersive gameplay is also made possible due to built-in DTS speakers and 18Gbps bandwidth available for data transfer. Using IPS panel technology, colors are highly accurate and images are made sharp and vivid.
The monitor itself is very sleek and stylish with its bezel-free design, white housing, and brushed-aluminum stand. It also includes a DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0 port, and DVI port making it possible to connect a gaming console and a PC at the same time.
- elegant design
- sharp and vivid images
- good brightness and contrast
- no USB port
- tilt-only stand
- automatically powers off after a while
Best 4K Monitor for MacBook – ViewSonic VP2780 27-Inch
Apple users choose the ViewSonic VP2780 over another 4k monitors mainly for the superb color accuracy that is vital in the graphic design’s business.
ViewSonic boasts support for over 1.07 billion colors, made possible by 14-bit 3D technology. It also offers DisplayPort 1.2a, HDMI 2.0 port, and four 3.0 USB connectors.
Additional features like PIP and multi-picture functionality makes it easier to multi-task. Four videos can be simultaneously displayed at the same time.
- excellent color accuracy
- plenty of ports
- images and texts are amazingly sharp
- no speakers
- lacking advanced colors settings
- pricey
Best Big Screen 4K Monitor – Philips BDM4350UC 43-Inch
Philips has come up with an impressive 43-inch monitor with a 10-bit IPS panel that even includes 7W built-in speakers.
The MultiView feature utilizes the massive screen by letting users split it into four separate full HD displays. There’s also an abundance of connections that include two HDMO 2.0 ports, two display ports, four USB 3.0 ports, and fast charging connection. View from almost any angle will still display bright and clear colors thanks to it’s 178-degree viewing angle.
- cinema-quality viewing
- multi-window feature
- outstanding quality of display
- glossy screen
- screen burn-in after only a short while
- non-adjustable stand
Best 4K Monitor Audio – Dell S2817Qr 28-Inch
Affordable yet powerful, Dell S2817Qr comes packed with powerful 9W integrated speakers that delivers rich audio. Exceptional display clarity is attained with over 8 million pixels and with 2m response time.
Playing games and watching movies and sports channels are smooth and blur-free. This Dell model also allows PIP and picture-by-picture viewing, making it easy to attend to content from two different sources at a time. Connectivity options are plenty including 2 HDMI/MHL connectors, DisplayPort and mini DisplayPort connector, 2 downstream and 1 upstream USB 3.0 ports, and 1 audio line-out port.
- sharp and clear sound
- stunning picture quality
- plenty of connectivity options
- bad viewing angles
- contrast is not too good
- colors seem washed out
The post Best 4K Monitor appeared first on Chaingangmedia.
No comments:
Post a Comment