best 4k monitor

Best 4K Monitors Review: The Top 3 of the Best 4K Monitors

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How do we rate the best 4K monitors

4K is a resolution technology which has exploded and is quickly becoming part of the mainstream with each passing day.  Only until recently, the technology that reigned was high definition (HD or 720p) followed by full definition (1080p).

These are now being overshadowed by 4K (2160p) which is also known as ultra-high-definition (UHD). Indeed, 4K is the future, and no one wants to be left out!

But before we go on to the best 4K monitors, what is 4K anyway and all the rest of the technologies that preceded it?

These technologies are all about the screen resolution, clarity, and quality of screen images. We all want our screen pictures to be as vivid as possible. It makes for a pleasurable viewing experience.

Here are the increasing strength of resolution we have seen over the years

  • High Definition, HD (1280 x 720)
  • Full definition (1920 x 1080) and
  • Ultra full definition (4K or 4096 x 2160) –  this is the latest resolution technology. It was only in 2011 that 4k went into movie cinemas and then in-home theatre projectors the following year in 2012. Finally, just last year in 2018, it showed up in Blu-Ray technology and modern consoles. With this, the march of 4k seems unstoppable.

Because 4k is still relatively new, many users still don’t know much about it to make decisions about it. This goes too for when they are choosing 4k monitors to buy. However, in this article, I give you three of the best 4k monitors in the market. But before we dive in, let’s quickly talk about what to consider before choosing the best 4k monitor for you.

Things to watch out for before choosing your best 4k monitor

Many 4K monitors come at a relatively high price. You don’t want to shell out so much of your money for something that isn’t of quality or doesn’t fit with your needs. So before  you pull out your wallet, consider the following factors

  • Monitor size – people sometimes think that the bigger the monitor, the better the resolution. But this is not true as you can even have a 26-inch monitor that surpasses a 36-inch in resolution. How large should be your monitor? If you get this part right, you may save money by not buying a big monitor that is too big for your needs 
  • Portability –if you have a desktop, this will generally not raise an issue if it stays in a fixed place. However, keep in mind that some monitors can be heavy and would add significantly to the weight of your desktop. If you need to move your desktop around, you will need to consider this factor
  • Resolution – depending on your needs, you need to know what color schemes you want from your monitor. If you are a gaming enthusiastic, this can be a very important factor which you cannot afford to overlook. Being only a recent technology, 4k monitors may not all have the same technology, so you need to be selective about which to go for
  • Price – given the intense competition in this emerging market, you stand to get a good price that can accommodate your budget and needs. Indeed, a premium price will generally get you superior performance, but you don’t have to pay more than you need to for your needs and budget
  • Input/output – if your laptop will use ultra high definition (UHD), it better come equipped with an HDMI port. It should also feature USB ports and speaker or headphone audio output.
  • Contrast ratio – what is the difference between the darkest and brightest spot on your screen? This is known as the contrast ratio. High contrast ratios make it easy for one to distinguish things more easily on the screen and are generally recommended.
  • Response time – how long does it take for pixels to change their color? That’s called the response time, and today’s latest technology strives for pixel changes that are fast enough to keep in step with moving frames and provide quality graphics or video. 1 to 4 milliseconds is what the standards today can tolerate and nothing more which would be too slow
  • G-Sync or FreeSync – this is one of the core essentials for any 4k monitor that merits a place among the best 4k monitors. It is especially suited for gamers. During fast-paced games,  if the monitor refresh rate can’t keep up with the output of the graphics card, the result is screen tearing which can be very unpleasant. FreeSync or G-sync (also called adaptive technology) have virtually eliminated this problem, paving the way for better display.

So what are the 3 best 4K monitors that you can find in the market? The three best 4K monitors that you can find in the market are listed below,

LG 27UD88-W 27 inch UHD 4K IPS Monitor

Different 4K monitors tend to cater to different needs. However, this 27-inch LG model serves a universal purpose, meeting the needs of almost anyone with a need for a 4K monitor. It richly deserves a place among the best 4k monitors.

Its price is reasonable given the range of benefits it will give you. This monitor is guaranteed to transform your user experience and leave you more than thrilled and satisfied. In a move that keeps it well above its competition, it features a Type-C USB port. This port, also known as USB 3.1, gives you an incredible range of functions, including streaming 4k videos, instantly accessing all your smartphone and tablet files, data transfer and charging your devices all at once.

You will also find all the features and benefits of the LG 27UD68-P monitor, such as stunning, high-resolution graphics and great gaming support. It also includes the FreeSync and Black Stabilizer technologies designed to enhance the gaming experience and get the most out of the 4k capabilities. It also offers a Split Screen 2.0 to ease your multitasking needs so that you can do more than one thing.

These features make this brand among the best 4k monitors for you to consider.

ASUS MQ28UQ 28-inch 4K FreeSync Gaming Monitor

4k monitors have a heavy demand among video gamers. If you are a gaming enthusiast with your inevitable need for heavy-hitting graphics, this is one model you don’t want to miss.

4k monitors are particularly suited for gaming because computer-generated graphics go better with high resolution even more than videos and pictures. Also, more and more, gamers don’t want to settle for anything but the clearest, most crisp graphics to maximize their gaming experience.

This monitor and gamers are like a match made in heaven because it ideally suits those needs. It comes with appealing features like flicker-free screen and ways to control eye strain such as blue filter light. This is a perfect feature for gamers who typically spend hours on end behind the monitor.

The monitor also has a 1millisecond response time, designed to compensate for slow reaction times of gamers. To reduce the incidence of screen tears and inconsistent frame rates, it comes with the Adaptive FreeSync technology that works together with your GPU.

ASUS MQ28UQ is certainly not the best gaming monitor, especially for the most diehard gamers, but at its price, it gives the best in terms of 4k experience and no other monitor can beat that combination. Its why I also add it here as one of the best 4k monitors in the market.

Features at snapshot

  • A great refresh rate of 1 millisecond
  • Blue light minimization and a flicker-free screen
  • Adaptive FreeSync technology designed to optimize the performance of graphics

Samsung U28E590D 28-inch UHD 4K Monitor

I would be making a big mistake not to include this marvel in my list of best 4k monitors. This monitor takes you to a whole new level of UHD technology with breathtaking resolution all at a price you will envy. This monitor breaks the threshold of resolution by hitting 8 million pixels to give you extreme clarity and image sharpness. Not only that, it beats the standard offerings of most monitors of 16.7 million colors to give you one billion colors.

These feats need to seen to be believed to be seen.

Its Picture-to-Picture technology is truly awesome, enabling you to multitask using two windows. You can view videos in one while browsing or working on spreadsheets on another.

It also comes with dual HDML ports, which makes it easy to connect two HDML enabled devices. You can example connect a PC and a game console. This gives your monitor the dual role of a PC monitor and gaming TV.

Features at a snapshot

  • 28-inch monitor
  • Dual HDMI ports
  • Picture-in-Picture split-screen to aid multitasking

Conclusion

4k TVs are becoming prevalent nowadays but don’t forget that so too are 4k monitors which are moving more and more into the mainstream.  This has been aided by their steep fall in prices, making them affordable to more people.  There are many other 4k monitors on offer, but I have listed here 3 among the best 4k monitors that should get you started in looking.