Wednesday, September 02, 2020
While 1080p and 1440p monitors are still popular options for a lot of gamers, the best 4K monitors are catching on in the professional and casual ranks thanks to a way better picture, dropping prices, and better hardware inside our PCs. For most people who need a quality multipurpose 4K monitor, HP's Z27 is a great pick, while the ASUS PB287Q is a more affordable option. Those who need a 4K monitor for specialized design tasks can check out what BenQ and Dell have to offer, while Acer and LG bring quality options with a focus on 4K gaming. These are our picks for the best 4K PC monitors available today.
Best Overall: HP Z27
HP's Z27 is an excellent general-purpose pick for most people, thanks to a beautiful slim build with an adjustable stand, wide viewing angles up to about 178 degrees from the IPS panel, and USB-C connectivity alongside the usual DisplayPort and HDMI. It also has three built-in USB-A 3.0 ports for connecting desktop accessories.
It has superb color and contrast for a vivid 4K picture, and it has a 60 Hz refresh rate and an eight-millisecond response time for smooth visuals no matter what you're working on. For some added peace of mind, the Z27 comes with HP's Zero Bright Dots warranty, which will replace your monitor if there's one full-pixel defect. If you need a 4K display for general purposes, this one should be considered first.
Pros
- Thin bezel
- Sleek design
- USB-C connectivity
- Adjustable stand
- Strong warranty
Cons
- No FreeSync or G-Sync
- Relatively costly
Best Overall
HP Z27
Best monitor for more people
With USB-C connectivity, slim bezel, and a beautiful 4K picture, HP's Z27 is no doubt the best pick for most people.
Runner-Up: BenQ EW3280U
BenQ's EW3280U is a fantastic multipurpose monitor that can handle a bunch of roles. Its HDR abilities give it extra color and contrast, whether you're watching movies or gaming. It has a 60Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time, both respectable specs for a 4K display. Dual 2W speakers add relatively impressive sound as well if you'd rather not connect speakers or a headset.
The 32-inch IPS panel has a 16:9 aspect ratio and wide viewing angles for times when you need to collaborate. It's all held up with a sturdy stand that allows for tilt adjustments. Ports include two HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort, and USB-C. Overall, this monitor might not push the upper limits of 4K gaming with its specs, but it does fill a bunch of roles at a relatively attractive price.
Pros
- Great HDR
- Excellent speakers
- Striking colors
- Premium build
Cons
- No height adjustment
- Crowded cable management
Runner-Up
BenQ EW3280U
Premium multipurpose monitor
The BenQ EW3280U is an excellent display for everything from web browsing to music, video, and gaming.
Best Budget: Samsung LU28E590DS
Samsung has long been the maker of fine displays, and even its budget options are something to behold. The 28-inch LU28E590DS brings a 4K UHD resolution with more than a billion colors and a 1,000:1 contrast ratio. Its TN panel offers a 1ms response time and a 60Hz refresh rate, meaning you could enjoy some gaming on this monitor. It even supports AMD FreeSync for those with one of our best graphics card picks.
The minimalist design means the stand won't take up much space on your desk, plus it has a slim chassis. It only adjusts for tilt, unfortunately, but you can mount it to a wall with VESA mounts. Ports include DisplayPort, two HDMI, and 3.5mm audio.
Pros
- Attractive price
- 60Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time
- Slim, attractive build
- AMD FreeSync support
Cons
- TN panel's color not as good as IPS
- Stand not too ergonomic
Best Budget
Samsung LU28E590DS
Affordable 4K
The Samsung LU28E590DS might not measure up to all the other monitors here, but it does cost considerably less.
Great Value: ASUS PB287Q
A lot of budget monitors cheap out on the stand, but the ASUS PB287Q maintains the ability to adjust tilt, pivot, swivel, and height so you can set things up how you'd like. The base is also relatively compact to take up less space on your desk, and the monitor itself isn't as chunky as some other budget picks.
The 28-inch 4K display has a one-millisecond response time and a 60 Hz refresh rate for an overall smooth picture, and 10-bit color delivers satisfying visuals. The PB287Q includes HDMI and DisplayPort connections, and you get a three-year warranty for a bit of extra buying comfort. If you don't want to spend more than $350 on a big 4K display, this should be your first pick.
Pros
- A lot of display for price
- Adjustable stand
- Three-year warranty
- One-millisecond response time
- HDMI and DisplayPort
Cons
- Thicker bezel
- No FreeSync or G-Sync
Great Value
ASUS PB287Q
Save money on this 28-inch display
The ASUS PB287Q brings a quality picture and ergonomic stand for less than you'll pay elsewhere.
Best Pro Features: BenQ PD2720U
Any design and development professionals out there looking for a boss 27-inch monitor should take notice of BenQ's PD2720U. It's expensive, but it brings HDR10 support, 60Hz refresh rate, 5ms response time, and beautiful color. It hits 100% sRGB, 100% AdobeRGB, and 96% DCI-P3 color reproduction, making it ideal for specialized work.
There are plenty of preset picture modes right out of the box, and it's all easily controllable thanks to an intuitive UI. The sturdy stand adjusts for pivot, swivel, tilt, and height, meaning you should be able to get a perfect view. Ports include HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-A, and Thunderbolt 3 for easy connectivity.
If you need precise color, HDR10 support, and an overall beautiful 4K picture for professional work, this monitor should be on your shortlist.
Pros
- Beautiful 27-inch picture
- Designed for professional work
- Fully adjustable stand
- Plenty of ports
- Outstanding color and HDR10
Cons
- No G-Sync or FreeSync
- Quite expensive
Best Pro Features
BenQ PD2720U
Outstanding pro monitor
BenQ's 27-inch PD2720U offers precise color calibration in sRGB and DCI-P3 gamuts, and a 4K HDR10 picture.
Affordable Pro Features: ViewSonic VP2768-4K
If spending more than $1,000 on a professional 4K display doesn't suit you, ViewSonic's VP2768-4K comes in at a much more modest price. Why? It doesn't have HDR support, and it's calibrated more for sRGB, EBU, Rec. 709, and SMPTE-C rather than AdobeRGB and DCI-P3. Still, color is amazing if you don't need coverage of the latter two gamuts.
Right out of the box, there are multiple accurate color profiles to choose from, and the OSD is easy to navigate. The stand is fully adjustable so you can get a comfortable view, and it has a ton of ports for easy connectivity. If you're a professional or photographer who mainly deals in the sRGB or Rec. 709 color gamuts and needs a gorgeous 27-inch 4K monitor, this is a great option.
Pros
- Solid warranty
- Fully adjustable stand
- Excellent color out of the box
- Intuitive OSD
- Attractive price
Cons
- No HDR
- AdobeRGB and DCI-P3 support lacking
Affordable Pro Features
ViewSonic VP2768-4K
Quality professional alternative
ViewSonic's VP2768-4K is a more affordable choice for professionals who don't need HDR or DCI-P3 gamut coverage.
Best Huge Picture: Dell UltraSharp U4320Q
Dell's UltraSharp line of monitors is the go-to for many people who want quality hardware and plenty of features. And if you're a serious multitasker who wants everything on one display, the 42.5-inch U4320Q might just be what you're looking for. Its 4K picture with a 60Hz refresh rate has room for up to four different full-size windows, each from a different PC. It has the ports to handle all those inputs, and it's all built onto an adjustable stand.
This isn't a monitor you should buy for gaming or specialized work, as it doesn't have as accurate color reproduction as other options in this roundup. However, If you have multi-monitor setups and would rather have it all on one screen, this should be what you're looking for.
Pros
- Beautiful 4K picture with 60Hz refresh rate
- Enormous 42.5-inch picture
- Plenty of ports
- Precise sRGB color
- Adjustable stand
Cons
- Not cut out for specialized work
- Overkill for non-multitaskers
Best Huge Picture
Dell UltraSharp U4320Q
For heavy multitaskers
Dell's UltraSharp U4320Q is an excellent option if you need to keep tabs on up to 4 PCs at once, all on the same 4K screen.
Best Gaming: Acer Predator XB273K
When you're buying a 4K gaming monitor, generally, there are some concessions to be made in terms of refresh rate and response time. However, that's not the case with the Acer Predator XB273K. This 27-inch display has a 4K resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and an IPS panel with excellent color reproduction. Not only does it work with NVIDIA's G-Sync, but it should also have no problems working with AMD's FreeSync.
It comes with a removable hood to keep out annoying glare, and the stand allows for height and tilt adjustments. It's also compatible with VESA mounts if you'd like to get it up off your desk. Dual 4W speakers pump out rather impressive audio, and ports include two HDMI, two DisplayPort, USB-A 3.0 up, and four USB-A 3.0 down. At the end of the day, this is an expensive monitor, but it's truly tough to beat when it comes to raw performance and picture.
Pros
- G-Sync and FreeSync compatibility
- 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time
- Beautiful color
- Aggressive design
- Excellent audio
Cons
- Very expensive
- Need powerful hardware to take advantage
Best Gaming
Acer Predator XB273K
For those with powerful hardware
If you have the GPU to handle 4K gaming, Acer's Predator XB273K is an awesome display with stellar features.
Bottom line
HP's Z27 is our top pick for best 4K monitors thanks to a feature set that will satisfy most people who just need a great monitor for everyday computing. It comes with an outstanding warranty to protect against a faulty picture, helping with the relatively high price. It has an IPS panel for wide viewing angles, USB-C connectivity offers modern solutions — backed up by DisplayPort and HDMI — and there are three USB-A 3.0 for desktop accessories. The 60Hz refresh rate and 8ms response time makes for a smooth picture, and the color is stellar. Just a few words of warning — once you upgrade to 4K, you'll never want to go back.
If you're in search of more great monitors, be sure to have a look at our collection of the best PC gaming monitors as well as the overall best computer monitors on the market today.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Cale Hunt is a staff writer at Windows Central. He focuses mainly on PC, laptop, and accessory coverage, as well as the emerging world of VR. He is an avid PC gamer and multi-platform user and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing about tech.
Rich Edmonds is a staff reviewer at Windows Central, which means he tests out more software and hardware than he cares to remember. Joining Mobile Nations in 2010, you can usually find him inside a PC case tinkering around when not at a screen fighting with Grammarly to use British words. Hit him up on Twitter: @RichEdmonds.
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