The Best 4K Monitor
We analyzed 4,089 reviews from 32 websites to find the best 4k monitor. Sources included:
+28 More
Top 4K Monitors
Why Consider This:
The HP Z27 is a pretty solid 4K monitor for the price if you’re a professional or casual user, but gamers or those who require Adobe RGB need to look elsewhere. The HP Z27 looks good, both in make and on-screen.
People Like:
- USB-C connectivity (good for laptops)
- Great color accuracy
- Well priced
People Dislike:
- No HDR
- Doesn’t include built-in speakers
- Slow response time
87
Owner Score
63 Reviews from 5 Sites
65
Media & Critic Score
2 Media Reviews
Why Consider This:
The Dell UP2718Q uses the first zone-dimming backlight in a desktop display, and the first consumer-level panel that can truly do justice to HDR content. Coupled with reasonably accurate color that extends all the way up to Adobe RGB, you’re looking at a high-end mastering screen at a relatively affordable price. $1500 may seem like a lot, but in the professional realm it’s a bargain.
People Like:
- HDR10
- DCI-P3 & Adobe RGB color
- 384-zone backlight
People Dislike:
- Factory calibrated modes could be more accurate
- Occasional halo effects in HDR mode
- Not enough calibration memories
86
Owner Score
778 Reviews from 7 Sites
87
Media & Critic Score
2 Media Reviews
Why Consider This:
If you want a physically larger screen, a monitor you can use with two computers at the same time, or one that can charge a 15-inch MacBook Pro at full speed over its USB-C port, the 32-inch Dell UltraSharp U3219Q is a good choice. Its color accuracy is comparable to that of our top picks, and it has plenty of ports, including a USB-C port that can receive the video signal, provide a data connection between your computer and the monitor’s USB 3.0 ports, and charge your laptop at up to 90 W.
People Like:
- Excellent build quality and design
- Superb ergonomics for adjustments
- Awesome resolution and display size
People Dislike:
- Expensive compared to the competition
- Some clouding and backlight bleed
- No flicker-free option
90
Owner Score
230 Reviews from 13 Sites
79
Media & Critic Score
2 Media Reviews
How Critic.ly Saves You Time
When it comes to reviewing the best 4k monitor, critic.ly is different than other sites. How?
Unbiased & Unsponsored: Critic.ly aggregates and analyzes reviews from real owners and industry critics. We remove spam, sponsored reviews, and other forms of bias to make sure you get the best possible sense of what people actually think about products.
Our reviews of the best 4k monitors were based on 4,089 reviews from 32 websites.
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How to Find the Right 4K Monitor
These days, good 27-inch 4K monitors don’t cost much more than non 4K monitors with similar features. If you’re viewing or editing 4K resolution pictures or videos at native resolution, or even if you just want sharper text and images on your screen, a 4K monitor is worth the investment. However, if you're looking for a budget option, and you don't need to do any photo or video editing, 1440p or 1080p is perfectly acceptable for most use cases.
“4K” is a loose term that indicates the approximate number of pixels present horizontally across the screen; the actual 4K resolution is 3840 pixels by 2160 pixels. That’s four times the pixels in a 1080p display and 2.25 times as many as in a 2560×1440-pixel display. The pixel density in a 4K display allows for sharper, more detailed images and videos, as well as an increase in usable desktop space.
Your computer needs to support DisplayPort 1.2 or later or HDMI 2.0 or later; most things released in or after 2015 should display your desktop and apps at 60 Hz just fine, though your graphics processor and Internet connection will also determine whether games and streaming video can run at 60 Hz.
4K Monitors We Eliminated
We research and analyzed 7 4k monitors. Here's what we concluded about the ones that didn't make the cut.
11-$373
Runner Up
Highly rated (84 owner score, 90 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.
7-$400
Runner Up
Highly rated (85 owner score, 89 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.
11-$325
Runner Up
Highly rated (86 owner score, 86 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.
25-$150
Runner Up
Highly rated (86 owner score, 83 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.
Sources & Methodology
Critic.ly uses a combination of machine learning and human editors to help you find the best products.
We start by aggregating and analyzing reviews from real owners and industry critics. We remove spam, sponsored reviews, and other forms of bias to make sure you get the best possible sense of what people actually think about products.
We convert every review to a weight average score from 0 to 100.
For this article, we analyzed 4,089 reviews from 32 sites to find the best 4k monitor.