If you’re in need of a new monitor and want to get the most for your money, I’d steer you toward either a 27-inch QHD or a 32-inch UHD display. These monitors deliver a satisfactorily sharp picture for their size without breaking the bank. You’ll find great options for both home and work — and you can also find some models suitable for gaming.
My current monitor is a 27-inch QHD (quad HD or 2,560×1,440-pixel resolution) monitor that I bought for $250. I nearly went with a 32-inch UHD (ultra HD or 3,840×2,160-pixel) display that would’ve offered more room and more pixels for only a bit more money. Between these two different sizes, you can easily find a screen to perfectly fit your desk space, your work needs and, most importantly, your budget. The world’s creatives, hobbyists and professional gamers who worry about color gamut and refresh rates might find they need a higher-end screen than you’ll find on our list, but these displays are big enough for most needs, and with sufficient pixel density to produce a sharp, quality image.
Be sure to check out CNET’s monitor buying guide and how we test monitors for more info, and keep updated on the best deals that I’m currently seeing among 27-inch QHD and 32-inch UHD displays. I’ll continue to keep this story updated as pricing fluctuates and I uncover better deals, so check back often.
Best 27-inch monitor deals
These 27-inch models feature QHD resolution and give you more screen real estate than a 24-inch, FHD (full HD or 1,920×1,080 pixel) display, and better resolution, too. And they give you all that for not too much more money. You might also come across 27-inch 4K displays in your search. Those displays offer a certain quality worth consideration, but in my experience, a QHD or 2K resolution is more than sufficient when stretched across a 27-inch panel.
Even without the slight $15 discount, this Sceptre WQHD monitor would be one of the most affordable 27-inch QHD monitors available. It features a sleek, nearly bezelless design, which makes it a great choice if you’ve got a multimonitor setup, and it’s equipped with both DisplayPort and HDMI ports. It has a 27-inch IPS display with a 75Hz refresh rate, which is a bit faster than the usual 60Hz rate for slightly smoother motion. It’s also rated for 300 nits of brightness, which is a little higher than the usual 250-nit rating found at this price.
This HP model is a 27-inch display with a QHD resolution for a sharper picture than an FHD display provides. At its sale price of only $200, it’s one of the most affordable 27-inch QHD monitors you’ll find. It lacks speakers, a webcam and DisplayPort connectivity but is rated for a sufficient 300 nits of brightness and offers an HDMI port and legacy VGA connection.
With its discount, this 27-inch LG gaming monitor is selling for no more than your run-of-the-mill 27-inch QHD display — and in some cases it’s less. It supplies a speedy 144Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay and supports both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync to prevent frames from dropping, as well as an impressive 1ms response time.
This 27-inch Pixio monitor is a great value even at its full list price, and right now at Amazon you can pick it up for even less. It’s $40 off at Amazon and features a QHD resolution along with AMD FreeSync and a speedy 144Hz refresh rate if you want to use it for gaming in addition to work. It’s rated for an ample 350 nits of brightness.
This HP monitor is geared toward gamers. It’s a 27-inch IPS panel with a QHD resolution and a blazing 240Hz refresh rate for fluid action. It’s rated for a sufficient 400 nits of brightness and also supports G-Sync and FreeSync to prevent frame rates from dropping in the middle of play, as well as an impressive 1ms response time. The stand allows you to adjust the height and tilt, and it has integrated speakers for times when you don’t want to wear headphones.
Best 32-inch monitor deals
The next step up in size, resolution and price from a 27-inch QHD display is a 32-inch UHD display. Ultra HD is also commonly referred to as 4K.
With its $50 discount at Best Buy, this Samsung 32-inch 4K display is a reasonable $300 and supplies a panel rated for 300 nits of brightness, which ought to suffice for most offices or dens. It features both HDMI and DisplayPort inputs but lacks speakers and a built-in webcam. It automatically optimizes brightness and color temperatures depending on your environment to help reduce eye strain.
This is one of the more affordable 32-inch 4K monitors with its current $300 price at B&H. It has HDMI and DisplayPort connections, a 300-nit brightness rating and built-in speakers. It also supports HDR10 and AMD FreeSync and comes wrapped in a compact if basic package with thin bezels.
With a 350-nit brightness rating, this 32-inch 4K display from LG should be a bit brighter than the Samsung model above. It also features FreeSync and built-in speakers and is $50 off at LG right now.