In 2020, having the best 4K monitor in your PC setup is starting to become the standard. Thanks to gaming, streaming and other visual media getting better and better, only the best monitors with the highest resolution can give you access to their UHD and 4K quality.
It’s more than just high resolutions that the best 4K monitors can offer, however. With these, you’re also getting more screen real estate for multitasking and creative tasks like 3D design and video editing. In fact, they offer much more space that they actually help improve your workflow and save you some time.
And, since the best 4K monitors on the market are also getting cheaper – they cost even less than a 4K TV, the price of entry is even more accessible to those on a budget. To help you find the best 4K monitors for your needs, we’ve assembled our picks for this list. Let us help you cut through all the chatter, save you some time searching for that perfect display, and get you to that perfect screen to enjoy gaming, movies or other visual media in 4K.
The best 4K monitors at a glance
- LG 27UD88-W
- Philips Brilliance 328P
- LG Ultrafine 24MD4KL
- BenQ PD2700U
- Monoprice 27″ 4K UHD
- Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ
- ViewSonic XG2700-4K
- AOC U2879VF
- Acer Predator X27
- LG 43UD79-B
1. LG 27UD88-W
A beautiful screen, a beautiful price
Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m² | Response time: 5ms | Contrast ratio: 5M:1 | Color support: 99% sRGB
Affordable
Beautiful picture
No swivel on Y axis
When you’re looking for the best 4K monitor, you want to find something that’s affordable, but also has fantastic picture quality. It’s a balance that’s pretty rare, but the LG 27UD88-W hits it out of the park. Not only does this panel cover 99% of the sRGB color space, but it does so with an insane contrast ratio and a response time to display the best PC games as they should be seen. The best part? It does all this while maintaining a reasonable price tag. If you have the horsepower to drive the LG 27UD88-W, you should pick it up.
Read the full review: LG 27UD88-W
2. Philips Brilliance 328P
Just brilliant
Screen size: 31.5-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 300 cd/m² | Response time: 4ms | Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 | Color support: 1.07 billion
Big, beautiful screen
Affordable
Middling HDR performance
As both 4K panels and HDR technology become more ubiquitous, we’re starting to see more affordable monitors take on the market, and the Philips Brilliance 328P does just that. This 4K monitor combines a 4K VA panel with decent HDR performance at a price point that won’t force you to break open the piggy bank. Its brightness doesn’t quite reach its lofty HDR 600 rating, but at this price, it’s hard to complain. The Philips Brilliance 328P really is one of the best 4K monitors out there.
Read the full review: Philips Brilliance 328P
3. LG Ultrafine 24MD4KL
More than fine
Screen size: 24 inches | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Brightness: 540 cd/m² | Response time: 14ms | Contrast ratio: 1,200:1 | Color support: 1.07 billion
Incredible color accuracy
Bright and vivid
USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 compatibility
Expensive
Thick bezels
4K fans will find a lot to love in the LG Ultrafine 24MD4KL, especially if they’re photographers or videographers who need all that prime real estate and high resolution. From its 4K resolution and color accuracy, to its plethora of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports and buttonless design, this 4K display is the perfect match for your Mac or ultrabook. And, despite those bizarrely thick bezels and high price tag, this display might be hard to resist.
Read the full review: LG Ultrafine 24MD4KL
4. BenQ PD2700U
No frills, many pixels
Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m² | Response time: 5ms | Contrast ratio: 1,300:1 | Color support: 1.07 billion
Color accurate display
Plenty of desktop real estate
No USB Type-C
If you’re on the market for one of the best 4K monitors for everyday computing and productivity, without all the fancy bells and whistles, you’ll want the BenQ PD2700U. This monitor doesn’t feature fancy Quantum Dot tech, or Adaptive Sync, it doesn’t even have USB-C input! But, when you get the BenQ PD2700U, you are getting a lot of pixels, which is all you really need. It’s not the cheapest 4K monitor on this list, but it’s color accurate, has plenty of desktop real estate, and will comfortably fit in any office environment.
Read the full review: BenQ PD2700U
5. Monoprice 27″ 4K UHD
One of the most affordable 4K monitors
Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Response time: 5 ms | Contrast ratio: 10,000,000:1 | Color support: 1.07 billion
Affordable large panel
Great connectivity
Requires some color calibration
You may not have heard of Monoprice, but this brand is behind some of the most affordable monitors out there right now. Its Ultra-Slim Aluminum monitor, for example, is hailed for its sleek, ultra-thin bezel design and ultra-wide viewing angles at 178°. This monitor isn’t particularly feature-rich – there are no built-in speakers, for example – but its IPS panel allows for extremely sharp image, FreeSync tech reduces screen tearing and Monoprice’s Pixel Perfect Guarantee gives it vibrant color performance. Plus, with two DisplayPorts and two HDMI ports, there’s plenty of connectivity on offer.
6. Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ
The Cadillac of gaming monitors
Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 1,000 cd/m2 (peak) | Response time: 4 ms | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1, 5,000:1 (HDR) | Color support: 99% Adobe RGB
Otherworldly picture quality
G-sync
Ludicrous price
While 4K monitors are becoming more and more common, even without particularly powerful hardware, we still run into the kind of monitor that changes everything. The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ is one of these. Asus has managed to craft a 4K gaming monitor with HDR and the kind of color support you see in professional displays – and render that all at 144Hz with G-Sync no less. There are only a few monitors out there that packs as many features as this Asus screen, and that’s why it’s one of the best 4K monitors. But, keep in mind, you’re going to have to pay for something this advanced – and we mean pay.
Read the full review: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ
7. ViewSonic XG2700-4K
A true 4K gaming tool
Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 5 ms | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Color support: 1.07 billion
Accurate color performance
Quick response time
Amazing picture quality
Limited screen brightness
If you’re looking for a 4K monitor for gaming, ViewSonic’s XG2700-4K is the perfect fit. It is not without quirks: the screen brightness could be higher, the red on black trim is an acquired taste, and it has no built-in speakers. On the other hand, you get amazing picture quality, quick response time, accurate color performance, multiple ports, and a versatile stand for multiple viewing angle options. Its most notable feature is AMD FreeSync to prevent tearing and ensure that your games are running smoothly. Of course, the picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture modes are also helpful because who doesn’t multitask nowadays.
8. AOC U2879VF
The most affordable 4K monitor for gaming
Screen size: 28-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 1 ms | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Color support: 1.07 billion
4K gaming at 144fps
Fastest 1ms response time
Narrow viewing angles
IPS displays may offer better viewing angles and color representation, but a good TN panel makes for a much better gaming monitor, thanks to much faster response times, higher refresh rates and affordability. This is why the AOC U2879VF has a 1ms response time and a refresh rate of 144Hz for a low price. If you can forgive the restricted viewing angles, the occasional flickering at 144Hz, the absence of a USB port, and the ho hum color performance, this AMD FreeSync enabled monitor is for you.
Read the full review: AOC U2879 VF
9. Acer Predator X27
4K, HDR and 144Hz? Oh my!
Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 1,000 cd/m2 (peak) | Response time: 4 ms | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Color support: 16.7 million
Great HDR
High refresh rate
Very expensive
If you have an absolute beast of a gaming computer – think two Nvidia RTX 2080 Tis in SLI – and you need a monitor that can keep up, you might want to take a look at the Acer Predator X27. Not only is it a 27-inch 4K monitor with HDR, but it also has a refresh rate of a whopping 144 Hz. If you have the horsepower, you can play games in 4K competitively without losing an edge to the person playing in 1080p. But, as you may expect from a spec sheet like this, it’s very expensive – but if you need the tech, it’s definitely there.
Read the full review: Acer Predator X27
10. LG 43UD79-B
A hefty display with even heftier features
Screen size: 42.51-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Response time: 5 ms | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Color support: 1.07 billion
Massive 42-inch panel
Multiple screen splitting options
Tough to fit on small desks
Very expensive
You’ll need a bigger desk with 43UD79-B’s hefty, 42-inch screen. Unfortunately this bigger than life screen might also be darker around the edges and a sluggish refresh rage. However, this 4K monitor’s other features will more than make up for its flaws. The screen split software, for one, allows for a range of screen configurations. This, coupled with its four HDMI inputs, a DisplayPort 1.2a port, and a USC-C port, will let you effortlessly run multiple devices at once. Along with its true IPS screen, color-rich display, and FreeSync compatibility, you might just be getting a bargain.
- Looking for a more great gaming monitor? Check out our top picks
- Or set up your living room with one of the best 4K TVs on the market