What are the 10 best 4K monitors? Comparison, opinion and buying guide

Are you looking for a 4K monitor ? Perhaps you are still a little hesitant about a particular model and would like to find out more?

We are aware of the difficulty that choosing the right screen can represent, given the many references on the market. How to choose between curved screens, so-called “gaming” screens, scanning frequency or even LCD and LED technologies. We have also carried out a comparison of the best 4K pc screens at 144Hz for those who want fast panels.

Comparison table of the best 4K monitors

Discover in our comparison table the 4K pc monitors and compare important purchase criteria directly.

The best 4K monitors: our top 10

We’ve picked the 10 best 4K external monitors to help guide you in your choice. Find below our favorites, all products combined. From curved screens to 4K flat screens for gamers, external monitors will hold no secrets for you!

1.ALIENWARE AW5520QF

With the ALIENWARE AW5520QF, you will unpack a perfectly calibrated 140x60cm titan : 98.5% of the DCI-P3 spectrum, 120 Hz in 4K with its latest generation OLED panel endowed with infinite contrast. This colossal Dell monitor has enough advantages to make you forget about the following few flaws. While other screens consume around 40 W, this monster comes in at 74 W!

Despite AMD FreeSync technology and its record response time of 0.5 ms, the display lag is around 30 ms, a little higher than the competition. The maximum brightness, between 90 cd/m² and 115 cd/m², is a bit limited, avoid too bright environments. Finally, a good point for the design, going against the garish lines to which the Alienware range had accustomed us, this giant 4K screen is designed in a sober style .

2. Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q

Asus is now at the top of the list of PC screen manufacturers, especially for 4K screens. The brand proves it once again with the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q .

With this 28-inch screen with an IPS panel , Asus wants to hit hard on image quality. This is felt among other things with the excellent contrast ratio and the brightness of the monitor, going up to 350 cd/m² . One of the strengths of the device is the possibility of configuration with all the technologies that Asus includes: Cinema & Gaming HDR; Shadow Boost; GamePlus; GameVisual; etc

And how we just quoted it, this 4K screen is indeed equipped with HDR10 . Apart from a response time that is a little too high, being 5 ms , Asus provides us with a reference with a very good price/quality ratio .

3. BenQ PD3220U – The Price of Quality

BenQ comes directly to play in the field of Apple’s PRO Display XDR screens . Designed for graphic work above all, this 31.5-inch 4K screen is equipped, among other things, with Thunderbolt ports and offers a contrast of 1300:1, a latency of 5ms and very high compatibility with DCI-P3 color spaces (95% ) and sRGB and Rec.709 (100%). Small bonus, a remote control is provided and allows you to configure shortcuts.

Obviously, the very high price (but all the same justified) will be able to slow down more than one and this is its big flaw : its lack of accessibility for the general public or, for example, newcomers. in the world of graphic work.

We will note all the same its very sober and modern design, with what is more the possibility of turning the screen 90° for a portrait point of view on your work.

4. Asus VP28UQG: an affordable 4K gaming monitor

Feature & Reviews

Asus has unveiled the VP28UQG, a 4K resolution PC gaming monitor . This UHD resolution coupled with an ultra-low response time (1 ms) makes this screen an ideal choice for gaming use.

Asus does not hide it since the latter has directly positioned its model as a screen adapted to eSports.

Designed to be used with a computer but also consoles, the screen has 2 HDMI ports so you don’t have to switch between cables. A DisplayPort input is also provided (for a PC). We regret the absence of USB 3.0 ports yet present on other previous models offered by Asus. In the meantime Asus still integrates its technology called “ASUS GameVisual” allowing you to choose predefined parameters to sublimate the colors of your games.

5. iiyama ProLite XUB2792UHSU-B1

iiyama is not the first manufacturer that comes to mind when talking about PC screens. Still, it’s a reliable brand that offers good products at affordable rates, like this model from the ProLite range .

This 27-inch 4K screen has an IPS panel which helps a lot with image quality. Indeed, it stands out for its quality contrast as well as its brightness which can reach 300 cd/m² . One of the other strong points of the screen is its connectivity, with in particular its hub of two USB 3.0 ports . Very useful for easily connecting peripherals to your PC. All for a more than fair price .

We can only criticize the absence of G-Sync or even FreeSync and the quality of the loudspeakers which does not really stand out.

6.LG 27UL550

The 27-inch LG 27UL550 screen has a very bright panel with a decent level of contrast, it is AMD Freesync compatible and is well suited to the needs of gamers or graphics and video editing professionals. While the speakers are almost unusable, the USB-C connection is very practical for charging your Mac laptop, it’s good for productivity.

The finish remains frankly disappointing for this price, and, although most users are satisfied with it, many are those who report a few manufacturing defects: dead pixels, vertical lines which oblige them to return the product. The three inputs are practical for versatile use, including smart TVs. Finally, it is a mixed opinion for this screen with undeniable qualities. For this size, it still presents an excellent value for money .

7. Samsung U32R590C: An Affordable Curved 4K Display

Feature & Reviews

Introducing the first curved 4K display in our top 10. Bringing unparalleled comfort of use, the curved screen allows you to have a larger screen without requiring a large distance between the user and the monitor. This model, a 32-inch in Ultra HD, returns a response time of only 4 ms. Taking into account its refresh rate at 60 Hertz, we can say that this model is very versatile.

We just regret that the foot is not adjustable in height (it is only possible to tilt it) and that no fixing is provided to hang it on a wall or on another support.

8. BenQ EL2870U: high-end at mid-range price

Feature & Reviews

Clearly designed for gaming, this 28-inch 4K screen features HDR technology for stunning visuals in gaming sessions.

While displaying a clear and precise image, the screen incorporates a function highlighting the direct protection of your eyes. An ambient light sensor is thus concealed in the screen and the brightness is adjusted automatically and gradually.

Connectivity level, there are 2 HDMI input ports and a Display port.

To top it off, BenQ has been able to offer a screen with a very low response time, the latter being only 1 ms.

We therefore obtain a combination worthy of a very high-end screen at the price of a mid-range.

9. HP 27f 4K 27” – Play, Work, Enjoy

The HP 27f 4K Monitor is a surprisingly versatile product. If its latency of 5ms is not the best, it is rather its refresh rate of 60Hz that will allow you to take advantage of it for gaming sessions . The “FreeSync” mode justifies even more a gaming use: it allows to change the refresh rate according to what is displayed on the screen, thus making the movements more fluid when necessary.

Thanks to its 4K Ultra HD resolution and its quality RGB coverage, the screen can also be used for graphic creation ; while it’s certainly not the best at it, it will do much better than a whole lot of cheaper monitors. Its very thin edges will also tend to increase comfort during work sessions on this 27f 4K from HP.

Difficult to find real weak points in this screen, as its functions and characteristics seem justified in view of its pricing.

10. Samsung U28E570DS: record response time

Feature & Reviews

The promise of ultra-low response time is kept with this model from Samsung. Proudly displaying 1 ms of latency, the latter easily makes its way to the top of our selection.

If you’re looking for a responsive display that’s not too expensive, then you’ve probably got a good fit. Offered at an attractive price, it has 2 HDMI inputs, 1 DisplayPort and 1 USB-C port. Note that a headphone output is also present, for better or for worse since it is here in the form of a substitute for real integrated speakers.

Our complete buying guide for 4K screens, how to choose?

Do you want to invest in a new PC screen? Are you tempted by 4K? Before you jump in, take the time to read our buying guide to understand the key points essential to choosing an external display.

What criteria should be taken into account?

Different parameters must be taken into account when choosing your 4K PC screen . While one might think (wrongly) that only the size is to be taken into account, here are the most important criteria to remember when choosing your external monitor.

External screen size

Expressed in inches, the choice of the size of the PC monitor is a question of comfort above all. Remember to measure the desk on which the screen will be placed, when we talk about 4K, we generally see quite large.

The size of the majority of external 4K displays will be between 24 and 32 inches.

Scan frequency

Measured in Hertz, it represents the number of frames per second. To simplify, we remember that in all cases, the higher the frequency, the smoother the rendering will be on the screen.

Response time

Indicated in milliseconds, often abbreviated as “ms”. This criterion is a criterion of choice for the use of video games. We consider a screen displaying 0.5 to 5ms as very fast. It is important to choose a very low response time for a 4K gaming pc screen .

4K monitor FAQ

Rather LED or LCD?

More precise in the display, LED screens are also more economical: they allow energy savings of up to 30% compared to their LCD counterparts. The latter are a little more fragile and heavy but have the advantage of costing less.

IPS or TN panel?

Two main categories of screen slabs regularly emerge: IPS slabs and TN slabs.

The IPS panel: a question of viewing angle

The IPS panel has a higher color gamut than a TN screen. An IPS panel will therefore reproduce the colors as faithfully as possible. It also allows you to always “see” the image in the same way, whatever the viewing angle. In other words, you can play a video game with several people on the same screen: everyone will see the screen in the same way.

The TN panel: queen of fluidity

The TN panel displays slightly duller colors compared to an IPS panel. It will also have to be taken into account that the viewing angle is not the same (with the example of the multiplayer game on a single screen above). On the other hand, a panel of this type will generally have a much higher refresh rate than an IPS panel.