What should be considered when selecting a monitor?

Written by Daniel Burns

When it comes time to buy a new monitor to go along with your new computer, in addition as a second display, or even replacing an outdated one for your current setup, the decision you have to make may seem like daunting task. Not to worry, let's break down the three main types of displays and their varying technologies to find the best use case for your next monitor. We will be going over specifically flatscreen monitors , after all it is 2019 and no one is buying a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube - Tube Type Large Monitor) brand new anymore.

    Let’s start with size, one of the most important aspects to when selecting a monitor. Get it? Aspects? Anyway, if your current monitor has a small screen size of lets say 17”- 22” inches, measured diagonally, and you think its on the small size then by all means upgrade to your hearts content. Of course there are limitations to size when it comes to how much room you have on your desk, what it’s being used for, how far away do you sit from the screen, and then of course budget. Monitors, when compared to TVs have a different guide or general rule to how close you should sit in front of them. You can do a quick Google search about monitor distance relevant to your size that you want to select. You will even find calculator to input custom distances and sizes aside from the basic charts. For example if you have a 24 to 29” inch monitor the general rule is to sit an arms length away from the screen or about 4 feet for a healthy dosage of screen time. You will hear results will vary depending on use case allot during this paper because it really does. 

    Once you get your monitor size down now you will need to establish a budget and main use case. Generally if you want to save money the smaller the size of screen, then the cheaper they get. Then the bigger, the more expensive it gets, not including additional features and creature comforts. If you do everyday light email browsing, web surfing, and word processing then a cheaper and smaller screen with a resolution of 1080p at about $80 to $200 is fit for you. If you do that plus some light gaming then a bigger screen with a resolution of 1080p or 1440p that costs $200 to $300 is your ticket. But let's say you do some intensive gaming and edit photos and videos on the side, then expect to have a budget of $400 to $1,000 with a 4K resolution. Then at the very top of the market and you want it all, you’re an extreme gamer, or edit large videos and photos, then you already know you will be spending $1000+ on a single monitor with at least a 4K (2160p) or even 5K or 6K resolution these days. So adjust your budget to screen size and use case for the most part and screen technology will follow suit.

    Now let's get technical and get into the different types of monitors you may come across. Mainly three types of flatscreen technologies. First you might find cheaper and often smaller TN Panels which stand for twisted nematic. This is a type of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) LED display that sacrifices color accuracy and viewing angles for perforce and budget. A TN panel has some of the fastest response times and high refresh rates for a display. For gaming, video editing, and just plain pleasure, having really fast response times and refresh rates is top priority. But a TN Panel also has some of the worst viewing angles on the market, meaning that when you view the screen at any other angel then straight on, colors, brightness, and clarity is greatly reduced. Next we have the middle child of display technology, the one that usually rides the line between price and performance. The VA panel or vertically aligned usually has the longest and slowest response times but really high refresh rates. You might not find a VA panel as often as a the other two because it's generally the most expensive. Best suited for viewing slo motion, high resolution playback during sporting events or slo mo shots on the shoot thanks to its high refresh rates. Colors and viewing angles on a VA panel are usually better than a TN panel thanks to its high contrast and image depth but when compared to the mack daddy of monitors, the IPS panel, it squashes them both. The IPS display, also called In-Plane Switching, is what you will generally find these days. Your TV is probably IPS, your phone’s screens are definitely IPS and most laptops are now IPS too. IPS panels give you the best color accuracy, contrast, brightness, and viewing angles out of any monitor. You can practically look at an IPS monitor at any angle, let's say 180 degrees to the side and not notice any degradation to quality and brightness. But they are currently the most expensive on the market for very good reason. Their refresh rates on the other hand are pretty lacking when compared to the others. But every year they are getting better and better and we are getting to the point where most IPS panels are good enough to be in a cheaper device or monitor.
​
    So let’s wrap this up. It all really comes down to your use case. For the average user and every day Joe Shmo in 2019 a 1080p, full HD IPS monitor, with a screen size of 21 to 24” that costs around $160 would be great for the masses. If you’re a gamer or video editor then a high refresh rate, 4K, IPS monitor for $600 with a size of 27 to 32” is your best bet. You will always want to look at longevity and being “future proof” as a factor for spending more as well. Then if you have no budget, well, go crazy and treat yourself. Once again it comes down to use case and budget, then the rest usually falls into place.

​Follow Daniel Burns on Twitter, @DBurnsOfficial

---

---