Factors to Consider When Buying a Computer Monitor

When you think about buying a monitor, you want it to be perfect and a one-time investment. In lieu of the latest technology, easy to customize, user-friendly – there’s a lot that rides on our decision to buy a new monitor. Generally speaking, most of us are always ready to churn out a good amount when we go out to buy a monitor. We look for monitors these days with fancy terms like low blue light etc., that vendors claim are easier on eyes but the reality is far from it. One should know that when you turn down the blue light, you reduce the characteristics of other colors also which results in unnatural graphics and viewing experience. So, don’t get carried away with fancier terms – Blue light, DCR, etc. are just namesake specs to attract buyers but usually, they don’t carry much weight and shouldn’t weigh much in your monitor buying decision.
One can easily get a user-friendly screen if they know enough about the technology behind it. A screen matters a lot in gadgets. You can save a lot by being educated about some facts about the monitor. There is number of thing which one needs to consider in their mind while starting their monitor purchase hunt. Keeping your mind set on quality over price can save you a lot on unnecessary hassles later and can be a gaining experience in a long run.
Your monitor is not a toy. It is a cutting edge gadget that will go on to help you with your work for years to come. If your requirements are simple like you want a monitor for generic work or surfing the net, then a 27-inch flat screen monitor with 4K resolution will easily suffice you. You can go for a cheaper variant at 24-inch monitor size or a costlier alternative with IPS display. But if your requirements are little more demanding and you are willing to put a thought or two in your buying decision than you have come to the right point.

So here’s an in-depth analysis of some of the core features of a monitor that can help you to buy the best one at an affordable price point.

Factors That Should Weigh In Your Monitor Buying Decision

IPS Monitor and Color:
IPS or In-Panel Switching is a screen technology for liquid crystal display. Monitor panels usually come in four variants viz., LCD, TN, VA, and OLED. These panels are in lieu with current technology and makes the whole monitor buying decision a tad bit tougher. The type of monitor you want, totally depends on you but considering the quality of all kinds of monitor and how it is measured is also very important.

What difference dose a monitor brings on to table with the aid of aforementioned screen panels? Well LCDs or Liquid Crystal Display panels were mainly designed to solve the core limitations of the twisted nematic field effect of  TN panels. The limitations of older screen panels like TN and VA mainly included strong viewing angle dependence and low-quality color display.

IPS monitors bring you the functionality of color accuracy with consistency. Color accuracy is their main strength and it contributes  a lot towards enhancing viewing experience and bringing in better display quality.

Pixel size, Pitch and Resolution:
Pixel size and resolution is something that confuses many new buyers. In-depth clarity about the same is required if you don’t want to duped with some sub-standard monitor. The density of display attributes towards its quality. If the density is good, you’ll get some good zooming quality.
You can zoom-in and  zoom-out but the pixel will remain the same. The resolution on other hand won’t be affected either if the display is clear. Pixel count and pixel quality both depend on each other they have to be equal. The density of display can be checked to find the best quality of monitors. Quality and quantity both will be balanced if the capturing camera is also good. You can review and resize your picture and set it on various points as per your liking.

Color and Screen Consideration:
Color quality factors a lot into a monitor buying decision. Colors are what we see when light is refracted from the display panel. The better and brighter will be the colors when we choose a monitor compatible with a color gamut that encompasses a larger triangle of refraction and showcases more vibrant pictures on screen.

These days even the simplest of monitor screens are saddled with digital display qualities that uses a junction rectifier technology for a slimmer monitor that  not only saves energy but provides ideal backlighting as well
Glare screen enabled monitors and slimmer monitor size are factors that are in demand these days. We’ve been waiting years for OLED technology to create a transition between laptops and monitors, and though the idea is still over the horizon somewhere, it is something that can be conceptualized in near future. Who wouldn’t fancy a OLED compute monitor?

Aspect Ratio:
Aspect ratio is the ratio in which your screen shows the pictures in length compared to the breadth.
A typical standard aspect ratio and your best bet in monitor screen is 16:9. It works with lots of content and it’s nice for movies or games. Some fancy monitors wish to stretch things out with ratios like 21:9, however, that are only necessary for pro-level works  or hardcore gaming.
Another common format, 16:10, provides a slightly additional vertical house for viewing multiple open documents or pictures. The 3:2 aspect ratio is turning into a common choice in laptops for higher net viewing, however, that’s rarely used on standalone displays.

Brightness:
Luminance or brightness is the level of the amount of light emitted by an LCD display. Brightness is measured in nits or candelas per square meter (cd/m2). One nit is equal to one cd/m2.
High-end monitors mostly have brightness around 300 to 350 cd/m2. Brightness can be a concern if you're work in a very well-lit area or next to massive windows as many screens are dimly lit which makes it difficult to work on in bright light. On the other hand, excessive amount of brightness can cause severe eye strain. As long as your screen brightness under 250 cd/m2, your monitor is apt to work on.

That said, if you wish to have a monitor with HDR support, you can surely enjoy additional peak of brightness but at an higher price point.

HDR:
High Dynamic Range imaging, or HDR, is a recent addition to laptop monitors and might be the next best thing happening to the industry. Though, most premium range laptop monitors still lack the brightness required to take full advantage of HDR support to generate a greater dynamic range of luminosity and even the simplest ones don’t look nearly as good as they should.

Refresh Rate:
Calculated in hertz (Hz), a monitor’s refresh rate is the range with which it updates an image on your screen. Most monitors support up to 60Hz of refresh rate, some current age desktops are also available with higher refresh rates. Monitors with higher refresh rates brings in higher frame rates in games which creates an enormous distinction in fast-paced games by reducing the input lag.
120-144Hz Of refresh rate in a monitor may be an ideal option, however you may opt for quicker screens variants with up to 240Hz refresh rate support. But, do ensure that your monitor have got a high-powered graphics card to back it up as well.

Response Time:
Response time indicates how quickly a monitor shows image transitions. A quick reaction time is ideal for fast action videos, high end game play, and similar activities. Response times are measured in milliseconds. Generally monitors with the simplest of screen panels can easily switch to different pixels at quite low response time, and thus an higher response time is not a necessity per say.

Viewing Angle:
Viewing angle isn’t as necessary for a monitor because it is for a TV screen, however, if you prefer to watch your favorite tv shows on your PC with a group of friends, aim for a bigger viewing angle in your monitor, so that the individuals at the corners of a room could see the screen perfectly. Something higher 170 degrees is ideal option to go for.

I/O Connections:
I/O connections are the ports on the monitor that enable you to hook it up to your laptop tower. It is always suggested to choose a monitor that comes enabled with HDMI, dual-link DVI ports, and DisplayPort. However, if you are a hardcore IT professional and work in a setup that requires multiple monitors to be connected together than you surely require a monitor with I/O connections

HDMI vs. Display Port:
HDMI was introduced in 2003 by an association of TV companies including Sony, Philips, Panasonic, and Toshiba. These are massive companies that primarily target strictly image-driven applications. This is the reason why HDMI support is ideally something for appliances like TV sets, projectors and residential computers.
On other hand, DisplayPort are digital display interface developed by a consortium of computer and chip manufacturers. These connectors have around twenty pins and are perfect for quality display.
DisplayPorts comes in 2 sizes: the regular DisplayPort and a smaller variant created by Apple referred to as mini DisplayPort. The latter is the same port as Thunderbolt.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)


 What resolution is 2k,4k,8k,UHD,720p,1080p, 1440p ?

If you want high level of clarity in your pictures you should simply choose an 1080p or Ultra High Definition (UHD)screen, but if you want something that doesn’t breaks your bank, you can settle for 1440p screen resolution as well.
One can opt for other screen resolution variants like 720p, 2k, 4k, 8k as well and they all become ideal resolution option for those who aren’t keen on buying the costlier high resolution devices.


 Monitor size for programming?

Programming is one thing which everyone wants to get right and ideal monitor size plays a very important role in it. If your monitor is of good quality you can put on long hours of your work quite easily. Coding will be smooth and one will be at ease while working. Generally a 24inch or 32inch monitor is ideal for programming sessions.
Below is a comprehensive list of some of the best monitors ideal for coding and programming.

1) Dell Ultra-sharp U2415 24in
It is cheap and available at a price that one can afford. It comes in portrait and vertical, both the angels. Its display size is very thin and it brings you the LED feel.

2) Dell Ultra HD 4k P2415Q 24in
This 24inches variant is compatible and easy to work on for longer hours. It has 4k UHD screen resolution which is also a great for programmers to enjoy.
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3) BenQ PD3200U 32in 4K UHD
Coding and programming on this variant of monitor is super smooth and clean. It comes in portrait and vertical theme and is ideal for long sessions of technical work.

4) LG 34WK650-W 34in
This variant comes with a thin display and provides amazing display and response rate. The ultra-wide aspect ratio of 21:9 makes it a top notch performer in a long run.

5) ASUS VG248QE 24in
It has 1ms of response rate which is ideal for programmers looking to work in a fast paced mode. It is light weight and adjustable on all kinds of table surfaces.

Besides monitor size, investing few bucks in a monitor stand is also a great idea as a monitor stand allows you to adjust your  monitors position without moving the whole monitor itself.

 What to look for in a gaming monitor?

Gaming monitors undoubtedly need to be feature packed. Most of the gaming monitors come with a array of features which makes it difficult for new buyers to choose one which will ideally fit their bill. Below are the list of factors you need to consider while buying an gaming monitor.
Resolution:
High display resolution is the main part of a gaming monitor. Be it 1080p (Full HD), 1440p (QHD/2K) or 2160p (UHD/4K) – the higher the resolution, better the picture clarity
Refresh Rate:
Higher refresh rate means better performance but here  graphics card also play an deciding role. If you don’t have a good quality graphic card, you won’t be able to use a 144Hz to 240Hz monitor.
Panel Technology:
There are two types of the panel which monitor companies are using these days viz., TN (twisted nematic) and IPS (in-plane switching). IPS carries more visual quality. It means you can enjoy better and visual effect on your monitor. In TN panel support system is faster so  it will give you a better better response rate.
Response Time:
TN panel comes with 1ms of response time, on the other hand, IPS panel comes with the 4ms of response time. TN panel monitor are ideal gaming monitor while an IPS panel monitor is a perfect gaming monitor for Xbox one.

 What type of LED monitor provides the most accurate color for video editing workstations?

A LED monitor with 4K capabilities can easily help you gain precise color grading, accurate transitions, and pro level editing capabilities – all wrapped in high definition resolution. But choosing a ideal video editing monitor is not as easy as it sounds you see. Here are things to consider before buying one:

Monitor Size:  Getting drawn to fancy monitor features like color gradation and clarity is unavoidable but one should consider its functionality in a long run as well. Making sure that your monitor fits well in your work station and is portable for frequent traveling endeavors will save you a lot of hassle later on.
Refresh Rate: Video editors need higher refresh rate monitors than general users. While a 30Hz of refresh rate is fine for regular use, videographers would need it to be around 60Hz for maximum functionality.
Monitor Variants: the 4K resolution monitors come in two variants and choosing either of one depends upon your camera capabilities. If your camera captures a 4K video in DCI 4K (4096×2160) then you will require a DCI 4K monitor. But if  your camera records in UHD 4K (3840×2160), then you can work better with a  UHD 4K monitor.

  Graphic Designer Monitors - what to look for:

IPS panels: Monitors for graphic designing require different set of features than that for gaming and video editing. The core difference mainly lies in different type of LCD panels.

In monitors for designing oriented work, in-plane switching (IPS) panel technology brings in ideal color accuracy at a wider viewing angle which is perfect for graphics design. IPS panel was mainly developed to rectify the limitations of TN panel display. Screen manufacturers have now developed several iterations of IPS technology as well which makes the whole designing work an enjoyable process.
The new generation IPS monitors also comes saddled with plane to line switching (PLS), which has considerably lowered the production costs involved and offered a much brighter display option.

Gray-Scale: Before a graphic designer sends their project to the printer, they require making sure that what comes out can look an equivalent of what’s on the screen. This implies that they have the colors to be displayed at accurate spaces on the monitor and there is no grey scale or shadow involved.

Color Accuracy: A full range of colors is generally known as a color gamut. Color is a core part of designing and color spaces brings in the accuracy required for content to be delivered on different media. A color gamut is greater than the range of colors a human eye can detect. Having a full-fledged gamut of colors ensures that images are accurately displayed and are seen in their true colors. In short, the more colors a monitor shows, the higher is the accuracy of a image.

Display monitors with Adobe RGB color space are built especially for high-end graphic designers working in media houses.
LED backlighting also weighs in into color accuracy of a image. LED-backlit monitors easily offer a wider color gamut and higher color accuracy. HD displays allow Graphics Designers to work in precise detail. Further, larger screen size is also better for design work, which is why designers generally use 27-inch or larger monitors.

 What is DCR monitor???
DCR is the Dynamic Contrast Ratio. The contrast ratio is basically the difference  between the darkest of blacks and the brightest of whites a given display system can generate.
Generally, monitors have a contrast ratio of about 1000:1. However with DCR enabled monitors the contrast ratio can go much higher from 4000:1 to 10,000:1, and even 20000:1. Monitors with LED Backlighting usually come with higher DCR value which makes them an ideal choice for buyers looking for Ultra HD display.


Conclusion

Buying a monitor is a decision that solely depends upon your personal taste, requirements, and budget. Opting for a cheap alternative and suffering, later on, won’t be a wise decision. There are several factors that weigh in your choice and you need to consider all of them. Certain features like IPS display and LED backlighting can benefit you a lot in the long run, while certain other features like monitor size and resolution are something you can compromise on.
Bigger numbers doesn’t necessarily means better quality. If a monitor looks acceptable for the purpose you will use it for, has all the ports and connections you want, is of ideal size and price, then by all means, seal the deal. But don’t make your decision around fancy terms that you don’t understand or know the vendor’s version only. Monitor manufacturers know very well how the whole PC experience enhances with different kinds of monitor specs. But one should be aware of which feature or spec they need and how much they will be using it. Knowing the difference between UHD, 5K, 4K, Quad HD and Full HD or other variables will help you choose a monitor that suits your need. Be well aware that monitor requirements vary with user need. A monitor required for general use doesn’t have to be costly or feature laden. On the other hand, if you are looking to buy a monitor to enhance your gaming experience or for professional use then you should be ready to fish out big bucks.

Determining your monitor’s main purpose will help you make a wise decision and save you from being fooled by the vendor.