Monitor buying guide – Find the perfect monitor for you!

Looking for a monitor but don't know where to start? Don't worry, we'll guide you through it step by step! There are so many different types of screens, with all kinds of specifications, that it's easy to get lost. Whether you're a dedicated gamer, edit photos or videos every day, want to set up your home workspace more smartly or simply want to enjoy films and series in top quality, there's always a monitor that suits your needs. In this buying guide, we take you through the most important questions to ask yourself. That way, all you have to do is decide what matters to you, and we'll help with the rest!

Step 1: What will you use the monitor for?

Not every monitor is the same. What's the best choice for you depends entirely on what you want to do with it. Are you a gamer, a creative, or will you use it for business? Every need calls for its own specifications.

Graphic monitors:

If you work a lot with photos or videos, accurate colour reproduction is a must. Monitors with a wide colour gamut, such as AdobeRGB or DCI-P3, show you what you're really doing. Combine that with high resolution and HDR support, and you have a screen on which you can work down to the smallest detail.

High resolution of at least QHD or 4K
IPS panel or OLED for natural colours
Wide colour gamut such as AdobeRGB or DCI-P3
Calibrated colour reproduction or the option to calibrate
Matte screen or monitor hood against reflections

Business monitors:

Whether you work from home or at the office, your monitor above all needs to be comfortable. A screen at eye level that isn't too bright helps you work comfortably for longer. Choose a screen size that suits your workspace and consider extra options such as USB-C or a thin bezel for using two screens side by side.

Height-adjustable for an ergonomic posture
Blue light filter and flicker-free technology
Full HD or higher depending on your tasks
Extra connections such as USB-C or HDMI
Possibly an ultrawide screen for multitasking

Gaming monitors:

If you love gaming, you want a screen that responds quickly and looks smooth. A high refresh rate and a low response time make sure everything runs smoothly, even during fast action. Do you use an NVIDIA or AMD graphics card? Then check whether the monitor supports G-Sync or FreeSync, so you avoid stuttering while playing.

Refresh rate of 120Hz or higher
Low response time of 1ms
G-Sync or FreeSync support
High contrast and brightness
Curved or ultrawide for a better experience

Step 2: What are the key specifications of a monitor?

You roughly know what you'll use your monitor for, but then you get stuck on all those technical terms. It's important to first decide which size and resolution the monitor needs. If the screen is too small, you'll be squinting; too big, and your desk turns into a home cinema. The resolution also determines how sharp the image is. For simple text work, Full HD is often fine, but if you edit photos or videos, you'll probably want more pixels.

Screen size:

The size of your monitor determines how big the screen is, measured in inches from corner to corner. The bigger the screen, the more room you have to work, game or multitask. But keep in mind: bigger isn't always better.

22 inch – compact and practical

For small desks and simple setups.

Ideal for word processing, email and browsing
Fits easily on a small desk or in a student corner
Handy for a dual setup with two screens without losing much space
Less suitable for graphic work or intensive multitasking

24 inch – the all-rounder

The most popular size for everyday use

Suitable for studying, working from home and office work
Full HD still looks sharp at this size
Easy to combine in a dual-monitor setup
Also fine for casual gaming or editing photos as a hobby

27 inch – more space, more overview

Ideal if you like some extra screen space.

Great for multitasking, gaming and photo editing
Recommended in combination with QHD or 4K resolution
You become more immersed in your game, film or creative project
Take the space on your desk into account

29 inch – a wider view without an extra screen

An 'ultrawide' monitor for more overview.

Ideal for multitasking or a wider gaming view
Suitable for those without room for a larger ultrawide screen
Lets you watch films and series cinema-style
Handy for people who use many windows side by side

32 inch – big and immersive

For those who love a big screen.

Perfect for console gaming, films or creative work from a distance
Combine with 1440p or 4K for sharp images up close
Ideal for Photoshop, video editing or extensive Excel work
Takes up quite a bit of space, so check whether your desk is ready for it

38 inch – ultrawide, maximum overview

For the true screen lover or professional.

As much space as two 24-inch monitors, without a bezel in between
Perfect for professional editing, intensive multitasking and gaming
Films, series and games fill the entire screen
Not suitable for every desk, so check your dimensions carefully in advance

Resolution:

The resolution of your screen determines how sharp everything looks. The more pixels, the more detailed your image. But keep in mind that resolution isn't everything. A Full HD resolution on a small 22-inch screen looks much sharper than on a 32-inch screen. That's due to pixel density, also called PPI (pixels per inch). This indicates how many pixels there are per inch, so the higher the PPI, the sharper your image. Do bear in mind that the higher the resolution, the more demanding it is for your computer. So it's smart to choose a resolution that matches your work, but also your system's capacity.

Full HD – for basic use

This is the standard resolution for monitors.

Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Suitable for word processing, email, browsing and spreadsheets
Fine for Netflix in HD and YouTube in 1080p
Popular among esports players: low resolution = high frame rate
Good entry-level option for beginning gamers or office work

QHD – the happy medium

Just a bit sharper, without needing a powerhouse PC.

Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Ideal for hobby photo and video editing
More detail when gaming without putting too much strain on your graphics card
More workspace for multitasking, without everything getting too small
Great on 27-inch screens or larger, where QHD really comes into its own

UHD / 4K – ultimate sharpness

Razor-sharp images for true detail lovers.

Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Perfect for professional video editing and photo editing
Everything looks super crisp: from games to films to your desktop
Does demand a bit more from your graphics card, especially when gaming
Best combined with a 27-inch screen or larger

5K – future-proof and pixel-perfect

For when you really want to see everything down to the smallest detail.

Resolution: 5120 x 2880
33% more pixels than 4K, so even more sharpness and workspace
Ideal for demanding designers and video editors
Also suitable for multitaskers who have many windows open at once
Not necessary for everyone, mainly of interest to professionals

Step 3: The final choices – panel type and connections

By now, you know which type of monitor you need and have chosen a resolution and size that suit you. Time for the last step: the more technical details. You still need to choose the panel type and which connections your monitor needs. If you make the right choices here too, you're all set for your perfect setup!

Panel type:

The panel is the most important part of your monitor: it determines how colours, contrast and motion are displayed. Which panel type suits you best depends on what you do with it. Do you work with colour-critical content, watch a lot of films, or is speed everything for you in a game? Each panel type has its own strengths and weaknesses. We've listed them for you.

OLED – for ultimate image quality

OLED is the absolute best among screen technologies.

Pixels emit their own light: so true black, vivid colours and perfect contrast
Ideal for graphic work, high-end gaming and watching films
Susceptible to burn-in with long-lasting static images

IPS – for colours and viewing angle

IPS is perfect if you value true-to-life colours.

Widest viewing angle (up to 178°) and excellent colour reproduction
Ideal for photo and video editing, design and films
Less suitable for fast games due to possible ghosting

VA – for contrast and all-round use

VA is the happy medium between speed and image quality.

Deep blacks and high contrast
Wider viewing angle and better colours than TN
Higher response time, less suitable for fast games

TN – for speed and low input lag

TN is a favourite among dedicated (esports) gamers for whom every second counts.

Very fast refresh rate and response time (1 ms or less)
Moderate colour reproduction and limited viewing angle
Less suitable for graphic work or entertainment

Connections:

Of course, a good monitor is nothing without the right connection to your laptop or PC. The connections determine which devices you can link up and how good the image quality is. Most modern monitors have digital connections such as HDMI, DisplayPort and/or USB-C. Each of these connections has its own advantages, depending on how you use it. We explain them below.

HDMI – the best-known all-round connection

Suitable for both picture and sound (handy for screens with speakers)
Supports Full HD, 4K and even 8K (depending on the HDMI version)
HDMI 2.0 or higher needed for 4K at 60 Hz or more
Popular with both PCs and game consoles such as PlayStation and Xbox
Less suitable for extremely high refresh rates (such as 240 Hz at 1440p)

DisplayPort – for high resolutions and refresh rates

Supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI
Ideal for gamers or professionals with a QHD or 4K monitor
DisplayPort 1.4 and 2.0 support 4K up to 240 Hz and even 8K
Image quality is more stable over long cables than with HDMI
Audio not supported on all devices

USB-C – multiple functions in one cable

Supports picture, sound, power and data transfer via one cable
Handy for a clean desk setup (e.g. charging and display at the same time)
Suitable for QHD and 4K resolutions (provided it has DisplayPort Alt Mode)
Note: not every USB-C port supports video!
Often used with MacBooks, ultrabooks and docking stations

In summary: which monitor suits your use?

Choosing a monitor isn't something you do lightly: it all comes down to what you want to do with it. Whether you're looking for a screen for intensive gaming sessions, professional image editing or long hours of office use, the right combination of resolution, size, panel type and connections makes the difference. In the conclusions below, we list once more what to look out for when choosing a gaming, graphic or business monitor. That way, you'll make the right choice with confidence.

Graphic monitor:

Graphic work demands precision. That's why you'd ideally choose a 4K resolution here, possibly even 5K, on a screen of at least 27 inches. The higher the resolution, the more finely you can edit details. IPS panels are a favourite for their colour reproduction and wide viewing angles, while OLED goes a step further in contrast and black levels. A USB-C connection is ideal for connecting and charging your laptop in one go, while DisplayPort provides stable signal transmission with high bandwidth.

Business monitor:

For business use, comfort and overview matter most. A Full HD monitor is perfectly fine for basic work, while QHD gives you extra workspace in spreadsheets or when multitasking. A 24-inch screen is the standard, but 27 inches or even ultrawide makes long working days a lot more pleasant. IPS panels are easy on your eyes thanks to their clear and consistent picture, and suit those who often work with multiple screens. In terms of connections, HDMI is sufficient, but USB-C is handy for those who regularly connect a laptop.

Gaming monitor:

For gamers, it's all about speed and experience. A Full HD monitor is perfect for esports and offers the highest frame rates, while QHD or 4K suit those looking for more detail in open-world or single-player games. A size between 24 and 27 inches is ideal, possibly with a curved or ultrawide screen for extra immersion. TN panels are the fastest, but compromise on colour and viewing angle. IPS or OLED offer a better balance between speed and image quality. Connect your monitor via HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort to make full use of high refresh rates and resolutions.