Buying a monitor: what matters

Start with what the monitor is mainly for: office work and spreadsheets, photo and video editing, or fast games. That decides size and resolution, which together set how sharp text looks. Then choose the panel type and refresh rate. Finally, check the connections, especially USB-C if you want to plug in a laptop with a single cable, and the power use shown on the energy label.

What size and resolution do I need?

Size and resolution belong together. What matters is pixel density, the number of pixels per inch (ppi). The higher it is, the sharper text and lines look. Some common combinations, which we calculated from diagonal and resolution:

At high pixel density the operating system enlarges text and controls so they stay readable. The picture then looks especially crisp, but no more content fits on the screen. If you need many windows side by side, a larger diagonal or an ultrawide monitor gives you more room.

Plan for viewing distance too. For display screen work, the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) gives a viewing distance of at least 50 centimetres. A large monitor needs a deep desk so you can take in the whole picture without constantly turning your head.

IPS, VA or OLED: which panel suits me?

The panel decides contrast, colour and viewing angles.

• IPS offers wide viewing angles and stable colours. It suits office work, photos and screens that several people look at. In dark rooms black looks rather grey, and a light glow can show from the side.
• VA reaches higher contrast and deeper black than IPS, which helps with films and dark games. Viewing angles sit between IPS and older TN panels. Fast motion can leave smearing.
• OLED produces light in each pixel itself. Black pixels stay off, so contrast is very high. With OLED, content that stays on screen for a long time, such as a taskbar, can leave traces (burn-in). Manufacturers set out in their guarantee terms whether, and under which conditions, burn-in is covered. Read those terms before you buy if you work a lot with static content.

For plain office work with bright documents, an IPS panel is enough. If you play in the dark a lot or watch films, VA or OLED pays off.

What refresh rate and response time do I need?

The refresh rate in hertz says how many times per second the monitor shows a new image. For office work and video, 60 hertz is enough. In games, and even when scrolling, higher rates look smoother. To use a high rate, your computer or console must deliver enough frames, and the connection must carry that combination of resolution and frame rate. A version number such as HDMI 2.1 alone does not prove this. Check the data sheet for which resolution runs at which refresh rate on which input.

Manufacturer response time figures such as "1 ms" are measured under their own conditions and are hardly comparable between brands. A more consistent measure is the VESA ClearMR logo. It rates motion blur as the ratio of sharp to blurry pixels, in tiers from ClearMR 3000 to ClearMR 21000. The higher the number, the less moving images blur.

What does adaptive sync do?

Without synchronisation, the monitor sometimes shows parts of two frames at once, which creates a visible tear. Adaptive sync matches the monitor's refresh rate to the frames the graphics card is delivering. The picture stays steady, without tearing and with less stutter.

There are several labels. VESA awards the AdaptiveSync Display logo after tests that include refresh rate, flicker and response time. For FreeSync Premium, AMD requires at least 120 hertz at Full HD and compensation for low frame rates. NVIDIA calls monitors without its own G-SYNC processor that it has validated for a basic experience G-SYNC Compatible. For gaming, at least one of these should appear on the data sheet, matching your graphics card or console.

What do HDR logos really mean?

"HDR" on its own is not a protected promise. The VESA DisplayHDR logo says more. The number in the name is the tested minimum peak brightness in candela per square metre: 400, 500, 600, 1000 or 1400. Note that DisplayHDR 400 does not require zoned backlight control (local dimming); higher native contrast is enough. The HDR effect is therefore often small. From DisplayHDR 1000 upwards, control in many zones across the whole area is required. For OLED there is the DisplayHDR True Black series, which requires very deep black. The current test specification is CTS 1.2 from May 2024.

If HDR matters to you, look for DisplayHDR 1000 or higher on LCD monitors, or a True Black logo on OLED.

Is USB-C with power delivery worth it?

For laptops, a monitor with USB-C is very convenient. Using DisplayPort Alt Mode, one USB-C cable carries the picture, USB data and power. The monitor becomes a docking station: keyboard, mouse and sometimes a network cable connect to the monitor, and you plug just one cable into the laptop.

Two things must match:

1. The laptop port must output video. Not every USB-C port can. Check your laptop's data sheet for DisplayPort over USB-C.
2. The charging power must be enough. USB Power Delivery carries up to 100 watts, and up to 240 watts with revision 3.1. The monitor states its charging power in watts. If it is below what your laptop needs, the laptop may charge more slowly under load.

If you use two computers with one monitor, look for a built-in keyboard and mouse switch (KVM).

What should I look for in ergonomics?

A good stand matters as much as the panel. For screen work, the DGUV recommends placing the monitor as low as possible, with the top line of text at most at eye level. For that you need a height-adjustable stand. Tilt and swivel help you avoid reflections from windows and lamps. If you want to use a monitor arm, check that the monitor has a VESA mount.

What does it cost to run, and what does the energy label say?

Since 1 March 2021, monitors carry the EU energy label under Regulation (EU) 2019/2013. The scale runs from A (very efficient) to G. The label shows the efficiency class and energy use separately for standard images (SDR) and for HDR. The QR code leads to the EU database EPREL, where you find more details, such as standby power use.

HDR can use considerably more power, and very bright or vivid picture modes also increase consumption. The European Commission advises using the default picture mode, lowering brightness and switching on automatic brightness control if there is one. When comparing two similar monitors, compare the SDR figure on the label: it is the one closest to everyday use.

When you buy from a seller in Germany, you get two years of statutory warranty (Gewährleistung). If a defect appears within the first year, it is presumed to have existed at purchase. A manufacturer's guarantee is voluntary and comes on top. Check its terms for how many faulty pixels the manufacturer accepts as a defect.

Common mistakes

• Buying on diagonal alone. A large monitor with low resolution shows coarse text.
• Treating "1 ms" as a comparable figure. These figures are not measured the same way.
• Expecting strong HDR from "HDR" or DisplayHDR 400.
• Not matching USB-C charging power to the laptop.
• Overlooking the stand. Without height adjustment you often sit badly.
• Buying a high refresh rate that the connection or computer cannot deliver.

How Tallybuy compares prices

For each monitor, Tallybuy shows the complete total including delivery to your address in Germany, where the shop states delivery costs. Missing information is shown as unknown, not as zero. You can see the observed price history on every product page. We earn a commission on some shop links. It never changes the order of the offers.

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