With the current spread of coronavirus (aka Covid-19), many companies are already making arrangements to accommodate remote working, to help reduce the spread of coronavirus while also helping to limit the impact on productivity.
Here we feature the best in business monitors – but also check out our feature on everything else you need to set up your home office – including the best office chairs.
Getting your hands on the best business monitors could be one of the most important purchases you can make today.
Anyone who spends their day working at their PC, staring at a monitor for hours on end, knows that having one of the best monitors with the highest quality is extremely important – and an excellent business monitor will satisfy this need.
Offering bright, clear and accurate colors is one requirement for the best business monitors. If you work in the creative industry where color and image accuracy is paramount, such as photo editing or video editing, then you’ll certainly need a monitor that supports a variety of industry standards.
But, of course, the best business monitors are also capable of high resolutions for more workspace and better productivity. To further boost your productivity, some of the best business monitors also offer an ultra-wide 21:9 (or even higher) aspect ratio, which gives you even more space to work on.
We’ve listed below some of the best business monitors we could find, across a number of needs and budget requirements – check out the selection below.
Best business monitors at a glance
- Dell UltraSharp UP3218K
- Asus Designo Curve MX38VC
- BenQ PD3200U
- Philips Brilliance 499P9H
- Asus MB169B Plus
- BenQ GW2270H
- Acer V276HL
- LG 25UM58-P
- AOC U2879VF
- MSI Prestige PS341WU
1. Dell UltraSharp UP3218K
Huge size and resolution makes this the ultimate business monitor
Screen size: 32-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 7,680 x 4,320 | Brightness: 400 cd/m2 | Response time: 6ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1300:1 | Colour support: 100% AdobeRGB, 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709, 98% DCI-P3 | Weight: 23.14 pounds
Huge 8K resolution
Amazing image quality
Very, very expensive
8K may not be useful for many people
The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K is the best business monitor we’ve ever tried, however it won’t be for everyone. The huge 32-inch screen and 8K resolution makes it perfect for photographers and video editors, and the amount of screen real estate that high resolution offers makes it an excellent productivity tool. The screen is professionally calibrated so it looks amazing out of the box, but be warned: this is a very expensive monitor. Depending on your business, this will either be a brilliant buy, or an expensive folly.
2. Asus Designo Curve MX38VC
Whole wide world
Screen size: 37.5-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 1,600 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 5ms G2G (grey-to-grey) | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Color support: 1.07 million colors | Weight: 9.9kg
A lot of pixels
Qi wireless charging
No HDR
Ultrawide monitors have been around for a while: they’ve constantly made it on folks’ the best monitors list for a few years now, in fact. These wide monitors are lifesavers when it comes to productivity, and they’re only increasing in popularity. The Asus Designo Curve MX38VC, however, takes it to the next level. Not only does this monitor have a massive 3,840 x 1,600 resolution, but with USB-C compatibility and a Qi wireless charger built into the base, it’s going to be a workplace companion you won’t want to live without. It’s a tad pricey, and doesn’t feature HDR, but that’s a worthy sacrifice, especially for professionals.
3. BenQ PD3200U
A large 4K screen for your desk
Screen size: 32-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Response time: 4ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Colour support: 100% sRGB/Rec. 709 | Weight: 12.5kg
4K resolution
Large screen
Need a big desk
If you’re a design professional looking for a monitor that provides you accurate colors, a range of features, professional calibration and a decent price, then the BenQ PD3200U is definitely worth considering. At 32-inches this is a large screen, but it means the UHD resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 doesn’t make things too difficult to see or use. It has a no-nonsense design, plenty of features, such as a dark room mode and a mode that makes using CAD programmes easier to view, and the price is also very tempting. If you have a desk big enough to hold it, the BenQ PD3200U could be the best business monitor for you.
4. Philips Brilliance 499P9H
An insanely-wide productivity monitor
Screen size: 49-inch | Aspect ratio: 32:9 | Resolution: 5120 x 1440 | Brightness: 450 cd/m2 | Response time: 5ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 | Colour support: SRGB, NTSC, Adobe RGB | Weight: 15.30
Interesting alternative to dual monitors
Great feature set
Very big
Very expensive
If you’re looking for an excellent productivity monitor that offers you huge amounts of space to work on, without having to resort to multiple monitors, then you’ll want an ultra-wide monitor. The Philips Brilliance 499P9H takes ultra-wide to an extreme, offering a huge 32:9 aspect ratio over 49-inches of screen. It gives you a huge desktop to work on, which makes it an excellent choice for people who work with multiple apps open at once. It’s a huge monitor that won’t fit on everyone’s desk, but it can actually save you space, as it means you don’t have to have multiple monitors all hooked up to your PC at once.
5. Asus MB169B Plus
Portable and versatile
Screen size: 15.6-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Brightness: 200 cd/m2 | Response time: n/a | Viewing angle: 160/160 | Contrast ratio: 700:1 | Colour support: n/a | Weight: 2.1 pounds
Light
Nifty protective sleeve
Needs a USB 3.0 port
Poor brightness
When you think about a monitor, you don’t just consider the screen, but also the cables and stand. In terms of the latter, the MB169B Plus is different – it is a portable USB-powered monitor which means that you can power it using a single USB 3.0 cable. It stands out thanks to a smart case that is an adjustable stand and a protective sleeve at the same time. With a full HD resolution and a 15.6-inch screen size, it will prove to be an invaluable accessory for those looking for extra real estate to work when away from their desks, or a presentation monitor for a small team. Bear in mind that you should be able to add a few to your PC should you wish.
6. BenQ GW2270H
A good all-rounder with a modern look
Screen size: 21.5-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Brightness: 250 cd/m2 | Response time: 5ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 20mM:1 (DFC) | Colour support: SRGB 91% | Weight: 7.5 pounds
Two HDMI ports
Affordable
No speakers
No USB hub
BenQ offers the most affordable full HD monitor with an HDMI connector and it doesn’t look that bad. The company embraced the Bauhaus “less is more” philosophy to deliver “a celebration of minimalist” lifestyle. Those are their words, not ours. It has some standout features though; one that reduces flicker (PWM technology) and a low blue light mode which may help with headaches and sleeping disorders. The stand design gives it a more expensive feel and its three ports (including two HDMI ones) are worthy of a mention, as is the two-year warranty and the VESA wall mounting option.
7. Acer V276HL
Good value and immense
Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 1: 6:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 6ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 100M:1 (DFC) | Colour support: N/A | Weight: 13 pounds
Tempting price
Screen size
No speakers
Some design niggles
To tackle spreadsheets without having to squint, a large screen is recommended and this Acer monitor will give you acres of space (nearly twice that of the ViewSonic monitor) for not a lot of money. It has a low response time, a VESA bracket, three ports including a DVI one and a three-year warranty. As expected it comes with a number of Acer features like the glare-reducing ComfyView and the Adaptive Contrast Management which modifies contrast in real-time. The stand and the bezel could do with some improvement but overall, it is a keenly priced monitor that will provide businesses with plenty of display area without an enormous outlay.
8. LG 25UM58-P
A whole host of pixels for a low asking price
Screen size: 25-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,080 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 5ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1M:1 (DFC) | Colour support: SRGB 99% | Weight: 11.9 pounds
Colour accuracy
Picture-in-Picture
No speakers
Only HDMI 2.0 ports
Widescreen monitors have become mainstream, thanks to a gradual decrease in their prices, allowing businesses to fully embrace the concept of having a monitor that is far wider than it is high. The common perception is that gamers are the only ones to benefit from this. In truth even creative professionals and spreadsheet crunchers will appreciate the form factor. With a 21:9 aspect ratio, this affordable LG monitor can display 2560 x 1080 pixels on its 25-inch display. It offers splendid colour reproduction – thanks to the AH-IPS panel – and some cool features like Picture-in-Picture. Uniquely at this price, it offers two HDMI 2.0 ports but no other legacy ports.
9. AOC U2879VF
4K or nothing…
Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,860 x 2,160 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 1ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 80M:1 (DFC) | Colour support: SRGB 99% | Weight: 13.2 pounds
Four inputs
Picture-in-Picture
No VESA mount
No height adjustment
This 4K monitor from AOC can display more than 8 million pixels at 60Hz, and is proof that ultra-high resolution displays are coming down in price while gaining some very useful features. This one for example comes with AMD’s Freesync technology which reduces tearing. It also has a 1ms response time, 60Hz refresh rate and can even do Picture-in-Picture thanks to its four ports (including a DisplayPort and an HDMI 2.0 one). Sadly, it doesn’t come with any VESA mount but at least its design and factory certified calibration make up for this.
10. MSI Prestige PS341WU
When 4K just doesn’t cut it…
USB-C: Yes | Screen size: 34 inches | Resolution: 5,120 x 2,160 | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | HDMI inputs: HDMI 2.0 x 2 | Display ports: DisplayPort v1.4 x 1
Glorious 5K2K resolution
Superb Nano IPS panel
Great feature set
Patchy build quality
Mediocre HDR performance
If you’re looking for a monitor that’s a cut above the 4K norm, then you’ve got the MSI Prestige PS341WU. Showing up any impeccable 4K monitor is by no means an easy feat, but this monitor does so with the huge 5K2K native resolution (and 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratio) of its luscious 34-inch IPS screen. It doesn’t come cheap, but it does have a great feature set to make up for that, including a Nano IPS panel with DCI-P3 color gamut, HDR support and comprehensive connectivity. All that packed in a beautiful white aesthetic, and you’ve got yourself one of the best business monitors of 2020.
Read the full review: MSI Prestige PS341WU