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| sharechat.co.nz - 27 May (sharechat.co.nz)The Directors of General Capital Limited, the NZX listed Financial Services Group, are pleased to present another record financial result for the year ended 31 March 2024. This year, we have achieved significant milestones and delivered a strong financial Read...Newslink ©2024 to sharechat.co.nz | |
| | | BBCWorld - 26 May (BBCWorld)Whoever wins July`s general election, there will be a significant number of new faces in the House of Commons. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | |
| | | RadioNZ - 25 May (RadioNZ)The Office of the Auditor General has advised the council it needs to better reflect climate change in the way it manages its protection assets. Read...Newslink ©2024 to RadioNZ | |
| | | PC World - 25 May (PC World)If you’re a PC gamer, you know how expensive it can be. In addition to purchasing your favorite triple-A titles, you also need a powerful machine to run them on. When it comes to gaming laptops, it gets even more complicated, as it requires an intricate cooling system to handle the heat-generating components inside. Fortunately for you, there are some inexpensive options out there. In fact, when it comes to a sub-$1,000 gaming laptop, you don’t have to cut as many corners as you may think.
If you’re feeling totally lost, don’t worry–we did the hard work for you. The laptops below have been personally tested and vetted by members of the PCWorld team, so you know you’re getting a good machine. Just note that laptop prices can fluctuate, so our picks below may occasionally go over $1,000. For more recommendations on gaming laptops, see our roundup of the best gaming laptops across all prices, or take a look at our roundup of the best laptop deals.
Why you should trust us: Hey, it’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
Updated May 23, 2024: In addition to updating the list of recent laptop reviews, we’ve also added the Gigabyte G6X as an alternative option underneath the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus. Compared to the Dell, it has a higher refresh rate display as well as a more diverse range of ports.
Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition – Best overall
Pros
All-day battery life
Stunning display
Durable build
Cons
720p webcam is less than impressive
Keys feel too soft
Why we like the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition checks off a lot of boxes in terms of performance, battery life, and more. The massive 90 watt-hour battery lasted 11 hours on a single charge, which is impressive for a gaming laptop. Gaming rigs tend to fizzle out at the five- or six-hour mark. The Asus TUF is also capable of blazing through most modern games on the High or Ultra graphics setting thanks to the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU and the AMD Radeon RX 7600S GPU.
Who should buy the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is a fantastic option for 1080p gamers, especially those who enjoy untethered gaming on the go. You don’t have to go hunting for an outlet thanks to the long battery life and the 16-inch, 165Hz refresh-rate, 1200p display offers stunning visuals. It just goes to show you that budget gaming laptops don’t have to skimp on performance.
Alternative option: The Lenovo LOQ 15 is another great budget gaming laptop to consider. It has a better GPU (RTX 4060) than our current top pick, so it will deliver faster 1080p frame rates if raw performance is your key factor. But compared to the Asus TUF, it offers poor battery life (not unusual in a gaming laptop) and limited connectivity options. If you plan on using your gaming laptop mostly in like a gaming desktop, constantly on your desk and plugged into a wall, the Lenovo LOQ 15 may be a better option; but if you use your laptop out and about, the Asus TUF’s spectacular battery life earns our nod here.
Read our full
Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition review
MSI Thin GF63 (2023) – Most portable
Pros
Good 1080p gaming
Attractive backlighting
Rugged build
Cons
Not the most color-accurate screen
Best Prices Today:
$858 at Amazon
Why we like the MSI Thin GF63
The MSI Thin GF63 weighs just over four pounds, which is lightweight for a gaming laptop. For context, most gaming laptops tip the scales at five or six pounds. In addition to the MSI Thin GF63 being portable, it’s also packing a good amount of power. Between the Intel Core i5-12450H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, you should be able to run most games on the Medium or High graphics preset. The 1080p display is also spacious at 15.6-inches with a refresh rate of 144Hz.
Who should buy the MSI Thin GF63
The MSI Thin GF63 is a good option for college students, as it’s light enough to take with you from class-to-class. It’s also powerful enough for everyday tasks like watching Netflix, writing papers, and so on. It’ll scratch the gaming itch, too.
Read our full
MSI Thin GF63 (2023) review
Acer Nitro V 15 – Best connectivity
Pros
Solid build quality
Loads of connectivity options
Good gaming performance
Cons
Mediocre display
Small amount of RAM
Why we like the Acer Nitro V 15
The Acer Nitro V 15 is a well-rounded gaming laptop with a ton of connectivity options, which may appeal to those who prefer to plug into an external monitor or mouse. Most of the ports live on the left side of the laptop. Those are one Gigabit Ethernet, one HDMI 2.0, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2. You’ll also find an additional USB-A 3.2 and one 3.5mm audio jack, which brings the total of USB-A ports to three. That’s excellent news, especially if you want to connect to “a keyboard, mouse, and still have room left over for a webcam or external hard drive,” according to our review.”
As for the guts, the Acer Nitro V 15 is rocking an Intel Core i5-13420H CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4050 6GB GPU, which is more than enough graphics firepower. In fact, this machine hit an average of 105 frames-per-second during the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark, which is a sizable improvement over laptops with RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti graphics. The only caveats are the limited amount of RAM and the mediocre display.
Who should buy the Acer Nitro V 15
Anyone that needs a good amount of connectivity options in their life. Overall, the Acer Nitro V 15 delivers respectable gaming performance for a fair price. In addition to that, it also comes loaded up with a wide array of ports, which is good news for those who want to have a wired connection or plug into a monitor. The RAM is light at 8GB and the display is just okay, but if you can live with those minor nitpicks, then the Acer Nitro V 15 is a fantastic option.
Read our full
Acer Nitro V 15 review
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus – If you`re willing to spend a little more…
Pros
Metal build
Long battery life
Respectable graphics performance
Cons
Light on ports
Gets loud under heavier workloads
Why we like the Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630
The Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630 is something of a sleeper hit due to its powerful internal components and high refresh-rate display. Inside, you’ll find an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, which delivers solid gaming performance. The reviewer was able to play Cyberpunk 2077 at a respectable 30 frames-per-second at 1080p with the Ray Tracing: Ultra preset turned on. In addition to the good performance, you’re also getting a quality metal build as well as good battery life.
Who should buy the Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630
If you’re able to stretch your budget another $200 or so, we feel as though the Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630 is a good option for college students and remote workers. It can handle anything from multimedia applications and day-to-day productivity as well as some gaming. It’s a little light on the port selection and it can get loud under heavier loads, but those are minor nitpicks in the grand scheme of things.
Alternative option: The $1349 Gigabyte G6X is a great alternative option to the Dell Inspiron Plus 16. It’s similar to the Dell in terms of sheer power, but it has a higher refresh rate display (165Hz) as well as a wider array of connectivity options.
Read our full
Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630 review
Recent laptop reviews
We’ve reviewed several new laptops recently, though many cost more than $1,000.
Gigabyte G6X: The Gigabyte G6X delivers a great GPU and CPU at a good price — and it comes with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, too! Everything else is fine, but it’s not flashy or premium feeling.
Gigabyte Aorus 16X: The Gigabyte Aorus 16X is a solid gaming laptop that offers competitive performance for its price range, although the power adapter is lacking some polish. If you can find it at a price that beats the competition, it’s a fine choice.
Acer Swift X 14 (2024): Acer’s Swift X 14 is a solid choice if you want great performance in a modestly priced 14-inch laptop, but it struggles to stand out from the competition.
Dell XPS 13 (2024): The Dell XPS 13 has been a force to reckon with some years, but this isn’t one of them. It’s performance lags behind its cheaper competitors, and it doesn’t lead them in the battery department either. It may be thin and light, but by a narrow margin that doesn’t make up for its shortcomings.
How we test gaming laptops under $1000
The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each test and the reasons why we run them. For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops.
Windows laptops
PCMark 10: PCMark 10 is how we determine how well the laptop handles lighter tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, and so on.
HandBrake: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It basically measures how long a laptop’s CPU takes to encode a hefty 30GB file.
Cinebench: Cinebench is a brief stress test of the CPU cores. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a short period of time.
3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips.
Gaming tests: We benchmark each gaming laptop using several titles.
Video rundown test: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10’s Movies & TV app until the laptop dies.
What you should look for in a budget gaming laptop
When it comes to picking the right gaming laptop, it really depends on what you want to do with it. Do you plan on playing lightweight indie titles like Stardew Valley (no shade, I love this game) or something more visually demanding like Cyberpunk 2077? Are you going to use the machine for work as well as play? It’s possible to get reliable performance out of a gaming laptop that costs under a grand, but you’ll need to take a hard look at the individual components.
You don’t need a powerful GPU for something like Fortnite. You can run even most of the newest games very well at 1080p resolution with even entry level graphics cards if you don’t mind dialing down the in-game visual settings from Ultra to more-reasonable High to Medium settings. You’ll almost certainly need to do so to hit 60 frames per second in modern games on a gaming laptop under $1,000, but the good news is they should still look good, especially on a laptop display.
GPU: The thing about the GPU is that it can’t be swapped out and upgraded later, so you need to be real choosy about which one you pick, as this component will determine how well your machine runs games. Luckily, you don’t need the best of the best to get reliable gaming performance. The GTX 1650 is an entry-level GPU that’s affordable and good enough for 1080p gaming with low-to-mid graphics settings. That said, expect lower frame rates on newer titles. If you’re looking for a bit more power, the more modern RTX 4050 and 4050 Ti are preferred options, and commonly found in gaming laptops under $1,000. These perform well at Medium to High settings at 1080p. You may occasionally find a deal on an RTX 3060- or 4060-powered laptop under $1,000, but they’re relatively rare, and your best option for 1080p gaming with few compromises.
CPU: Like the GPU, the processor can’t be upgraded either, so you’ll want to be selective. For Intel, we’d recommend an 13th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 or newer. For AMD, you’ll want to spring for a Ryzen 5000 or 7000. A processor with at least four cores is good, but six cores or more is better.
RAM: You’ll want at least 8GB of RAM. If you can afford 16GB of RAM, it’s highly recommended. Memory is normally upgradable, so you can always swap it out and add more later on.
Storage: Storage impacts how many games and applications you can install on your laptop. Like RAM, storage is often upgradable and can be swapped out later. However, you should aim for at least 512GB of SSD storage plus a hard drive, as AAA titles tend to eat up a lot of space. SSDs load games faster, as data is stored on chips rather than spinning disks.
Display: 1080p is what you can expect at this price range, either with a 60Hz or 144Hz (preferred) refresh rate. Budget gaming laptops don’t always have the best displays, as that’s where manufacturers tend to cut corners to keep the cost low. If you’ve got a dim display, you can always pick up an external monitor to plug into it.
Battery life: Generally speaking, gaming laptops are known for having poor battery life. That’s because they use a ton of power. They also tend to be heavier than other laptops because they need more space for heatsinks and other cooling components. Depending on the use, most will last anywhere from four to six hours on a single charge. That said, there are a few exceptions.
For a deeper dive into the nitty-gritty details, check out our guide on the specifications you want in a sub-$1,000 gaming laptop.
FAQ
1.
Are Chromebooks good gaming laptops?
This will depend on the type of gaming you want to do. But frankly, no they don’t make good gaming laptops in a general sense. Chromebooks can handle web games and Android games just fine. But a Chromebook won’t cut it if you’re looking to play the latest high-powered AAA games. This comes down to two factors, they don’t run Windows and they likely don’t have sufficient graphics power.With that said, Google is trying to bring cloud gaming to Chromebooks and it will likely be available in the future. Cloud gaming services use a remote PC or console to play games streamed through the cloud onto the Chromebook. Until that service is up and running though, Chromebooks will not be able to compete in the gaming arena.
2.
Can you game with integrated graphics?
Nowadays, the latest processors with integrated graphics can run a faire amount of modern PC games at reasonable settings. Intel’s newer Iris Xe line of processors with integrated graphics, for example, have been shown to run some of the latest games at 1080p and 30fps. You should know though that not all integrated graphics are capable of the same things.
Intel and AMD’s integrated graphics have made huge leaps in recent years with regard to gaming performance. If you’re on a budget or looking for an ultra thin laptop with integrated graphics you can still enjoy some light gaming as well. Check out our article about Intel’s Core 12th-gen Iris Xe and AMD’s brand new Ryzen 6000 RDNA 2 for more detailed info.
3.
What size laptop is best?
This will come down to personal preference and intended use. If you plan to travel a lot with your laptop, then a small ultraportable size in the neighborhood of 13 to 14 inches is best. However, if want to use it as a gaming machine, then something in the 15- to 17-inch range would be ideal. Also, don’t forget to check the weight of the laptop before you buy it. Ultra thin laptops can weigh a featherlight 2 pounds while beefy gaming computers top the scales at three or four times that.
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| | | PC World - 25 May (PC World)At its Build 2024 conference, Microsoft unveiled a new AI trick for Windows PCs—one that can help users locate or remember details from their digital past. It could be looking for a PDF file worked on a couple of weeks ago. Or perhaps finding the name of a restaurant recommended by a friend earlier this year. Called Microsoft Recall, this feature could save you many lost minutes trying to hunt down whatever’s eluding your memory.
Yet even before its launch, Microsoft Recall is already giving security experts indigestion. Underneath the futuristic shine, Recall comes with a potential massive hit to user privacy—and by extension, security.
Here are the reasons for the unease, echoed by many security experts this week—and what you should do when you finally encounter Microsoft Recall in the wild.
1) It watches and records everything you do on your PC
Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft
When active, Microsoft Recall monitors your every move while you’re on your computer, capturing screenshots every five seconds as your screen changes. Local AI helps Windows determine when you’ve done something different enough to warrant a screengrab.
Local AI also assists in parsing the images to extract text, so that details can be offered as search results whenever you decide you want to look up, say, the green jacket you saw online a few weeks ago.
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By default, Microsoft Recall will commandeer anywhere between 25GB to 150GB on your storage drive—up to about three months worth of data. Nothing is sacred, either. Passwords, tax details, and other sensitive details (really, anything you do) are fair game. To protect some of your privacy, you must manually exclude websites, private browsing sessions (if you don’t use Edge), and applications from Recall’s reach.
Even then, according to Microsoft’s own help files, you can still end up with possible a paper trail of your activity in excluded apps, websites, and private browsing windows. In a couple of scenarios, screenshots are still taken and saved as temporary files, then deleted. Deleted files (and any remaining Recall snapshots) can theoretically be recovered from a storage drive by anyone who can access your Windows account — include hackers and other people in your household. More on that later.
2) It’s on by default
Microsoft says it informs users about Recall during setup of compatible PCs, and lets them change the settings or turn off the feature entirely at that time, too.
But practically speaking, most people blaze through initial setup screens. Many even skip right over those interstitial screens without really reading them. The result will eventually be thousands (if not millions) of people unaware Microsoft Recall is capturing all their activity.
3) Security measures only go so far
BitLocker and Device Encryption in Windows will encrypt your data, but if you’re logged in, whatever you access is decrypted for use.
BitLocker and Device Encryption in Windows will encrypt your data, but if you’re logged in, whatever you access is decrypted for use. PCWorld
BitLocker and Device Encryption in Windows will encrypt your data, but if you’re logged in, whatever you access is decrypted for use. PCWorld
PCWorld
To mitigate the huge privacy risk posed by a collection of screenshots chronicling every bit of user activity, Microsoft offers two protections. The first is keeping everything local to your PC. No data is shared with cloud servers or Microsoft directly. In fact, you don’t even need an internet connection for this feature to work. Other users on the same computer also can’t access your Recall screenshots.
Second, Microsoft encrypts all Recall images using either Device Encryption or BitLocker (Windows Home vs Windows Pro, respectively).
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Neither defense is bulletproof, however. Local processing doesn’t mean local access only—in general, your PC’s contents can be viewed remotely. And if you’re logged into your Windows account when an attacker infiltrates your PC, your files won’t be protected by encryption. They’ll be automatically decrypted when accessed. Make sure your antivirus defenses are up if you plan to use Recall so you have help keeping hackers away from all those snapshots!
4) Searching your activity history cuts both ways
Microsoft Recall can help you remember everything you did last week…and it can equally tell someone else everything you did last week. One is useful, and the other is potentially dangerous—particularly in abusive relationships, where one person may not have the ability to keep their account access solely to themselves. (Or may not know it’s been compromised.) We’ve seen similar outcomes with other tracking technology.
How to make Microsoft Recall safer
Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft
First—not everyone will get Microsoft Recall, which is still in a preview phase. Only those with Copilot+ PCs (which currently extend to just upcoming Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus computers) will get this feature, though it’s expected to be available on new Intel and AMD laptops with more powerful NPUs later this year.
If you are in that camp, the easiest move is to turn off Microsoft Recall all together. Head to Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots, then untoggle Save snapshots.
If you choose to leave it on, take a moment to configure which apps and websites are fair game, and which are blocked. Chrome and Firefox users should also turn on automatic blocking of private browser windows. (Only Edge’s InPrivate windows are excluded by default.)
You can also choose to reduce how much storage is allocated for Recall screenshots (though that will limit how far back the feature will be able to search).
Microsoft Recall isn’t inherently a terrible feature—but it could be used against you when it goes public, if you’re not careful. Security researchers have already expressed a keen interest in trying to crack this tool, and malicious actors are no doubt smacking their lips at the prospect as well.
Further reading: Windows includes built-in ransomware protections. Here’s how to turn it on
Antivirus, Security Software and Services, Windows Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | BBCWorld - 25 May (BBCWorld)Rishi Sunak visited Belfast following his announcement of a general election earlier this week. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | |
| | | BBCWorld - 25 May (BBCWorld)Follow continuing coverage of the 2024 General Election Campaign. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | |
| | | BBCWorld - 24 May (BBCWorld)Thursday`s headlines include Rishi Sunak admitting no asylum seekers will be sent to Rwanda before the election. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | |
| | | BBCWorld - 24 May (BBCWorld)The Reform Party leader says Rishi Sunak `bottled it` over calling a surprise general election for July. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | |
| | | PC World - 24 May (PC World)Need a new monitor for your PC? We’ve combed through scores of options to find the best monitors on the market right now. Our picks are the result of hundreds of hours spent testing the latest models from Acer, Asus, BenQ, Dell, LG, Samsung, and other major brands.
While we feel that our favorite monitor overall is an awesome choice for most people, we also have alternative options for budget shoppers, gamers, and those seeking the best HDR performance. After all, not everyone needs the same features from a monitor. (If you’re looking specifically for a 4K monitor or gaming monitor, go check out our separate roundups highlighting your best options for those particular needs, as well.) You can find out more about how we evaluate monitors and what specs matter most below our list of recommendations.
Scroll below our recommendations to learn more about our monitor review process, or see our article on how we test monitors at PCWorld for even more details.
Updated May 23, 2024: See our recent review of the Pixio PX248 Wave, which offers gamers a lot for its $150 price tag: a nice design, decent built-in speakers, adaptive sync, and good motion clarity with up to a 200Hz refresh rate. For budget shoppers, it offers good value.
Dell Ultrasharp U2724DE – Best monitor overall
Pros
Attractive and functional design
Class-leading Thunderbolt and USB connectivity
IPS Black improves contrast
120Hz refresh rate
Cons
Most competitors offer 4K resolution
No HDR support
Adaptive sync has some caveats
Dell’s Ultrasharp U2724DE is arguably the most versatile monitor ever sold. It’s great for home office productivity, good for gaming, and can handle more serious content creation workflows, like photo and video editing.
The U2724DE has an IPS Black panel that roughly doubles the monitor’s contrast ratio (compared to other IPS monitors). It can’t beat a more expensive OLED or Mini-LED panel, but it’s still alluring. It also lacks the burn-in worries of OLED which, although unlikely to occur in mixed use, might become an issue if you spend all day working in Excel and plan to keep your monitor for as long as possible.
Dell pairs the IPS Black panel with an enhanced 120Hz refresh rate. Upping the refresh rate greatly improves motion clarity and makes the U2724DE a viable display for gamers. That’s a big deal. It means you can buy one monitor for both work and play.
The U2724DE goes all-in on connectivity. Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, DisplayPort-in and -out, and HDMI are present. It even has a 2.5G Ethernet port. These features are ideal if you plan to connect a laptop over USB-C, as the U2724DE will greatly expand the laptop’s connectivity.
Resolution is the only notable downside. The U2724DE is a 1440p monitor, while many competitors in its price bracket offer 4K. This is the trade-off made to hit monitor’s 120Hz refresh rate. Those who prefer 4K should consider the Dell Ultrasharp U2723QE, which also has an IPS Black panel and extensive connectivity. Shoppers on the budget, meanwhile, can consider the U2724D. It’s nearly identical to the U2724DE but reduces the available ports to hit a lower price.
Read our full
Dell U2724DE review
Acer K242HYL – Best budget 1080p monitor
Pros
Attractive color accuracy and gamut
Acceptable sharpness for a 1080p display
Avoids motion clarity pitfalls
Menu system is easy to use
Cons
Barebones design
No height adjustment on stand
Only one HDMI, no DisplayPort
Power LED is very bright
Best Prices Today:
$149.99 at Acer
Need a monitor that works well at an extremely low price? The Acer K242HYL is our go-to pick.
The Acer K242HYL’s specifications are good for a budget display. It has a 24-inch screen with 1080p resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 75Hz. Adaptive sync is supported, so the monitor will function with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. Video inputs include HDMI and VGA. Build quality is good thanks to robust plastic panels that feel thick and durable when handled.
This monitor has a bright image with reasonable contrast. Color performance stands out, as the monitor can cover most of the sRGB color gamut and has extremely good color accuracy overall. Photos, videos, and games look close to what their creator intended.
The K242HYL lacks a height-adjustable stand but offers a VESA mount that is compatible with most third-party monitor stands and arms.
That aside, the K242HYL is an outstanding budget monitor suited for everyday use, casual gaming, and amateur content creation. This is all the monitor most people will ever need.
Read our full
Acer K242HYL review
Monoprice CrystalPro 44522 – Best budget 4K monitor
Pros
Sharp, clear image
Strong color performance
Functional ergonomic stand
Includes USB-C despite low price
Cons
Generic design
Limited image quality adjustments
Not a great choice for viewing games and movies
The Monoprice CrystalPro (Model #44522) stands out as the best budget 4K monitor choice, offering a sharp and vibrant 4K display at an affordable price point of $300 (which is often reduced below $220 during sales).
Image quality is a highlight. The Monoprice CrystalPro delivers a crisp 27-inch IPS panel, a decent color gamut, and good color accuracy. The monitor’s contrast is mediocre but competitive with other budget 4K monitors.
Connectivity is surprisingly good. The monitor includes USB-C connectivity with support for up to 65 watts of USB Power Delivery, which makes it possible to charge a connected tablet or laptop. That feature is usually reserved for more expensive monitors. Monoprice also includes a decent ergonomic stand that can adjust for height, tilt, and swivel. Many similarly priced competitors only adjust for tilt.The monitor has a couple downsides. Its design is generic and its limited image quality adjustments can make image quality more difficult to customize. These problems are usually shared by competitors, however, which leaves Monoprice in a good spot.
Shoppers should note our recommendation applies to the 27-inch CrystalPro monitor with model number 44522. Monoprice also has an older, 28-inch model that’s easy to confuse with this newer display. Our recommendation only applies to model 44522.
Read our full
Monoprice CrystalPro 44522 review
Dell G2724D – Best budget gaming monitor
Pros
Handsome design with functional stand
Attractive SDR image quality
Good motion clarity at 165Hz
Supports all Adaptive Sync standards
Cons
No USB connectivity or 3.5mm audio-out
Lackluster HDR
Best Prices Today:
$179.99 at Dell Home
Dell’s G2724D hits the sweet spot for gamers on a budget who also care deeply about quality.
The 27-inch IPS LCD panel features 1440p resolution and a refresh rate of 165Hz. The color gamut spans 100 percent of sRGB, 86 percent of DCI-P3, and 82 percent of Adobe RGB, ensuring a bright and vibrant image that’s not only excellent in games but serviceable for most content creation. But its standout feature is the Adaptive Sync support, with official support for VESA Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and Nvidia G-Sync.
Despite its affordable price, the monitor doesn’t skimp on design, with a handsome matte black and gray chassis and sporty rear vents that provide an aggressive yet unobtrusive look. It also comes with a functional monitor stand that offers a range of ergonomic adjustments and a compact base that doesn’t take up unnecessary desktop space.
The monitor doesn’t offer USB connectivity or 3.5mm audio-out. Also, the HDR performance is a bit lackluster, so those who require HDR gaming may want to look at other options.
But it’s hard to beat the G2724D’s performance at $200 or below and, more importantly, it offers everything an average PC gamer is going to need for smooth and responsive gaming. All told, it offers excellent value, and could have a place on your desk for five to 10 years.
If you want to save even more money, check out the Pixio PX248 Wave. It’s a step down from the G2724D, but still surprisingly solid at less than $150 — nice design, decent built-in speakers, up to 200Hz refresh rate, adaptive sync, and good performance.
Read our full
Dell G2724D review
Innocn 27M2V – Best budget HDR monitor
Pros
Excellent color gamut and accuracy
Sharp, vivid picture
Strong HDR performance
Good connectivity
Cons
Design looks nice, but feels inexpensive
Thin user manual
Confusing on-screen menu
Best Prices Today:
$799.99 at Amazon
You likely haven’t heard of Innocn—but if you want a great HDR monitor on a slim budget, the Innocn 27M2V should be on your short list.
The Innocn 27M2V is a 4K Mini-LED monitor with a maximum refresh rate of 160Hz. It hits an impressive maximum measured HDR brightness of 877 nits, which is enough to deliver a gut-punch of detailed luminance in vibrant HDR scenes. The 27M2V outperforms OLED and LED edge-lit monitors.
And it’s no one-trick pony. The 27M2V has accurate and vivid color, immersive contrast, and crystal-clear sharpness. It can’t defeat OLED monitors like the Alienware AW3423DW in SDR content, but it’s closer than you’d think.
The 27M2V provides strong connectivity, too. It includes a USB-C port with 90 watts of Power Delivery for charging external devices. That’s flanked by one DisplayPort and two HDMI 2.0 ports, for a total of four video inputs.
What’s the catch? The monitor’s design, although reasonably attractive, feels inexpensive when handled. The on-screen menus are confusing, a problem worsened by the lack of a quality user manual. And customer support can only be reached by email.
Fortunately, these issues are reduced by excellent pricing. The Innocn 27M2V has a retail MSRP of $799.99 on Amazon, but frequently goes on sale for as little as $679.99. It’s fantastic value at either price.
Read our full
Innocn 27M2V review
Alienware AW3423DWF – Best gaming monitor
Pros
Excellent contrast ratio
Top-notch color gamut and accuracy
Great motion clarity
Respectable HDR performance
Extremely competitive price
Cons
Stand is a bit too large
No USB-C
Maximum HDR brightness is lackluster
Best Prices Today:
$1,094.99 at Amazon
Alienware’s AW3423DWF is an outstanding PC gaming monitor.
This monitor has a QD-OLED panel, which is like that used in top-tier OLED televisions. OLED provides a nearly infinite contrast ratio, excellent color performance, and respectable brightness. The result is a punchy, vibrant image with an unparalleled sense of dimensionality. The monitor’s ultrawide aspect ratio only heightens the sense of immersion.
Motion clarity is superb. The monitor has a refresh up to 165Hz and supports both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and VESA Adaptive Sync. The OLED panel technology it uses has lower pixel response times than competitors, too, so there’s minimal added blur and ghosting in motion. Motion is as crisp as you’ll find below 240Hz.
The Alienware AW3423DWF is an alternative to the AW3423DW, a slightly older and nearly identical monitor. The AW3423DW has a higher fresh rate of 175Hz and supports Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate. It’s also $100 to $200 more expensive. Though we recommend the AW3423DWF for most people, the AW3423DW is better for owners of high-end Nvidia graphics cards.
The AW3423DWF is expensive at $1,099.99, but its performance justifies the price. Competing 34-inch and 38-inch ultrawides without QD-OLED technology are often just as expensive but have less impressive image quality.
Read our full
Alienware AW3423DWF review
Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX – Best HDR monitor
Pros
Excellent gaming performance
4K resolution
Dimmable mini-LED backlight
Ergonomic adjustment options
Cons
High power consumption
Extremely expensive
Best Prices Today:
$1,889.99 at Amazon
Okay, folks. Hold onto your butts, because we’re about to take a trip out to the cutting-edge of PC monitors: the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX.
This monitor has a Mini-LED backlight with 1,152 zones that can adjust brightness independently. As a result, it can ramp up brightness to extremely high levels when required, or turn off zones entirely in dark scenes. This results in an excellent contrast ratio and superb brightness.
These traits make the PG32UQX a standout in HDR games and movies. Bright, high-contrast scenes look amazing. You can almost feel the heat of an explosion and the intense glare of sun reflecting off a window or mirror.
There’s more to the monitor than HDR, however. It scores extremely well in overall contrast, has class-leading color performance, and provides a crisp 4K image. The monitor supports G-Sync Ultimate for smooth gameplay with Nvidia hardware and has a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz.
The only problem? Price. This monitor sells for around $3,000. Shoppers may want to consider the slightly less exorbitant Viewsonic Elite XG321UG as an alternative. It has a similar Mini-LED backlight.
Read our full
Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX review
Philips Creator Series 27E2F7901 – Best home office monitor
Pros
IPS Black panel improves contrast ratio
Excellent color gamut and accuracy
Sharp 4K image
USB-C connectivity with Power Delivery, DisplayPort-Out
Cons
Generic design
Awkward on-screen menu system
Lackluster HDR, 60Hz refresh rate
Best Prices Today:
$399.99 at Amazon
Philips’ Creator Series 27E2F7901 is the ideal monitor for your home office. It features a 27-inch display with IPS Black panel technology, tons of useful connectivity, and top-notch image quality.
Its IPS Black display panel is a rather new technology that significantly enhances the contrast ratio compared to older IPS monitors, which results in a deeper, more immersive image. Its color gamut and accuracy are commendable, too, and its 4K resolution means web pages, photos, and PDFs all look razor-sharp.
Connectivity is another big strength. The 27E2F7901 accepts video over HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C, with the latter also serving as a USB hub for multiple downstream USB ports. The USB-C port is also capable of charging devices that require up to 96 watts of power. It has DisplayPort-Out, as well, an uncommon connection that can connect a second monitor directly to the Philips.
While the monitor’s design is not as attractive as Dell’s Ultrasharp series, it still retains the features most people need. It comes with an ergonomic stand that adjusts for height, tilt, swivel, and pivot. The monitor also has an adapter for use with 100x100mm VESA mounts, making third-party monitor arms and stands an option.
Though excellent, the 27E2F7901 isn’t perfect. The on-screen menu system can be awkward to navigate. Also, while HDR is supported, the monitor’s HDR performance is underwhelming. And its humble 60Hz refresh rate will disappoint gamers.
These downsides are not uncommon as many competitors also have them. Due to the Philip’s pricing however, these can be forgiven—the 27E2F7901 retails for just $499.99. Though not inexpensive, it undercuts similar home office monitors from Dell and LG by roughly $100. Overall it provides exemplary value by delivering top-tier connectivity and image quality for an excellent price.
Read our full
Philips Creator Series 27E2F7901 review
Viewsonic ColorPro VP16 OLED – Best portable monitor
Pros
Versatile, useful stands
Good connectivity, cables included
Numerous image quality customization options
Top-tier image quality even at default settings
Cons
Speakers are included, but weak
Pricey for a portable monitor
No HDR
Best Prices Today:
$392.41 at Amazon
The Viewsonic VP16-OLED is an impressive portable OLED monitor that combines class-leading image quality with a unique and useful stand.
As its name suggests, the VP16-OLED has a 15.6-inch OLED panel with 1080p resolution. It delivers outstanding image quality, scoring top marks in color accuracy, gamut, and contrast. The VP16-OLED’s performance is superior to many full-sized OLED monitors—and completely smashes portable competitors. This makes the VP16-OLED ideal for photographers, videographers, and other content creators.
The monitor has a versatile stand. It can be used as a kickstand, as is true of most portable monitors, or expand to hold the monitor upright. The stand includes two USB-C ports, either of which can be used to provide power and video input to the monitor. It also offers a micro-HDMI port for use with devices that lack USB-C. Viewsonic bundles the monitor with several cable types and a USB-C power brick, so you don’t have to buy additional adapter cables or accessories.
There’s just one problem: It’s expensive. The Viewsonic VP16-OLED retails at $399.99, more than double the price of a basic 1080p portable monitor. That’s tough to justify if you just need a second monitor to display Slack and Twitter, but it’s a worthwhile upgrade if you care about image quality.
Read our full
Viewsonic ColorPro VP16-OLED review
Asus ProArt PA348CGV – Best ultrawide monitor
Pros
Excellent SDR image quality
Sturdy, hefty design
Wide range of customization
120Hz refresh rate
Cons
USB-C hub lacks video-out or ethernet
HDR is merely passable
Best Prices Today:
$1,015.06 at Amazon
Asus’ ProArt PA348CGV is an ultrawide that targets professionals but throws in features to please gamers.
Professionals will love the PA348CGV for its excellent color accuracy, wide color gamut, and healthy range of image quality adjustments. The monitor looks outstanding at default settings and can be tuned to fit a variety of color gamuts or meet specific color temperature and gamma targets.
Monitors like this normally leave gamers in the cold, but the PA348CGV is an exception. It has a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz and supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. Its motion clarity can’t rival the best 144Hz or 165Hz ultrawide gaming monitors, but it’s a huge boost over a 60Hz panel.
The PA348CGV is built like a tank with sturdy plastics and a weighty stand that keeps the ultrawide panel planted. It also has good connectivity with a total of four video inputs, one of which is USB-C. The USB-C port drives a hub with four additional USB-A ports.
And here’s the real surprise: the PA348CGV’s MSRP is just $729. That’s not cheap, but it’s close to the price of alternative professional monitors that completely lack an enhanced refresh rate or adaptive sync. That makes the PA348CGV an easy choice for ultrawide enthusiasts.
Read our full
Asus ProArt PA348CGV review
Alienware AW2524H – Best high-refresh monitor
Pros
The best motion clarity available today
Bright, vivid image quality
Compact ergonomic stand
Cons
Limited video input selection
Mediocre image quality
High pricing for a 24-inch monitor
Do you want motion clarity? Alienware’s AW2524H, the world’s first 500Hz gaming monitor, is for you.
Fast objects look detailed and quick camera pans across an in-game map remain legible. Competitive gamers will also love its lightning-fast input latency with support for Nvidia Reflex Analyzer, which helps players see precisely how fast their PC responds to input. Just be warned: this performance comes at a premium price of $829.99 MSRP, and the benefits can only be fully realized in games that can reach 500 frames per second.
It’s an attractive monitor, too, with Alienware’s sleek, futuristic design and excellent build quality. The compact stand allows for ergonomic adjustment but doesn’t consume excessive desk space.
The AW2524H’s image quality is not competitive with similarly priced monitors, but it’s not bad, either. It offers strong SDR image quality with decent brightness, good contrast ratio, and vivid color. However, the HDR image quality is underwhelming, and the monitor lacks some connectivity options, such as USB-C input.
Alienware’s super-fast 500Hz monitor isn’t for everyone, but competitive gamers shouldn’t think twice. The monitor’s motion clarity is unbeatable.
Read our full
Alienware AW2524H review
Asus ProArt Display OLED PA32DC – Best monitor for professionals
Pros
The best SDR image quality yet
Good HDR performance
Long list of image quality features
Exceptionally sturdy
Numerous inputs, plus USB hub
Cons
HDR brightness could be better
Glare can be an issue in bright rooms
Only 60Hz, no adaptive sync
Best Prices Today:
$3499 at Asus
Do you need a monitor with exceptional color accuracy, contrast, and sharpness? The Asus ProArt Display OLED PA32DC delivers. It’s an impressive monitor that, in several respects, is the best we’ve ever reviewed.
The monitor’s key trait is its high-quality OLED display panel. It has excellent contrast, color accuracy, and a wide color gamut, all of which add up to a realistic and dramatic image. The monitor also has 4K resolution and a conventional RGB subpixel layout, which avoids the color fringing issues that are found in QD-OLED monitors like the Alienware AW3423DW.
Image quality is superb out of the box, but experienced owners can go a step further. The PA32DC has numerous image quality options in its on-screen menu system and includes a built-in calibration utility for ultra-accurate results. Professionals can use these options to achieve the exact results their work requires.
It’s a wonderfully robust monitor with chunky bezels, big menu buttons, and a sturdy chassis that includes a built-in handle. Asus supplies both a VESA stand for desktop use and flip-out legs for quick setup at a mobile studio or job site. The monitor has extensive connectivity including five video inputs.
The only downside? It’s expensive with a retail price of $3,000. Even that, however, is not so bad: Similar OLED and Mini-LED monitors, like the Apple Pro Display XDR and LG UltraFine 32EP950, are often even more expensive.
Read our full
Asus ProArt OLED PA32DC review
Acer Predator CG48 – Best television alternative
Pros
Excellent SDR, strong HDR image
Great motion clarity
Superior contrast and wide color gamut
Multiple PC-friendly connections including USB-C hub
Useful bundled remote
Cons
Only one HDMI 2.1 input
Sharpness is just ok
Stand offers no adjustment, no VESA mount
Best Prices Today:
$1,267.07 at Amazon
Want a massive display, but don’t want to deal with the “smart” features and limited PC connectivity of a television? Acer’s Predator CG48 is an excellent choice.
This 48-inch OLED monitor delivers 4K resolution and a refresh rate up to 138Hz. It offers an outstanding picture straight out of the box with spot-on color accuracy, excellent contrast, and a wide color gamut. It also has excellent viewing angles and, of course, a large display area that’s ideal for a large office or small home entertainment center. The monitor’s maximum brightness could be higher, but it still looks good in HDR content, especially when used in a dark room.
Though similar in size to some OLED televisions, the Acer Predator CG48 is not a TV. It doesn’t have a TV tuner and can’t connect to a coaxial antenna or cable connection. PC connectivity is superb, though, with DisplayPort, USB-C, and HDMI 2.1 available, as well as three additional HDMI 2.0 ports.
A remote is included and can be used to navigate the monitor’s on-screen menu. Acer provides a wide range of image quality adjustments that make it easy to customize the image to your liking. The monitor’s out-of-box performance was excellent, too, and worked well with both PC and game console inputs.
The Acer Predator CG48 carries a MSRP of $1,499.99, which is high. It’s often on sale, so it’s wise to shop around. Buying the monitor at a discount can save you hundreds.
Read our full
Acer Predator CG48 review
Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 – Best big-screen ultrawide
Pros
Incredibly immersive gaming experience
Huge 45-inch ultrawide OLED panel can be adjusted from flat to 800R curve to suit your setup
Exceptional image quality, contrast, color performance, and HDR
Elite motion clarity on a 240Hz panel
Abundant connectivity with USB-C hub and power delivery options
It made four people who walked into my office stop and say “WHOA” like Keanu Reeves
Cons
Poor text clarity and general sharpness for productivity work
Very expensive
No swivel or tilt options, stand can’t be replaced
Bending mechanism feels clunky and mildly terrifying at first
Enabling HDR mutes desktop contrast and vibrancy
Best Prices Today:
$1,499.99 at Amazon$1499.99 at Best Buy
Want a monitor that can (literally) flex on your friend’s puny 34-inch ultrawide? The Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 is for you.
The Xeneon Flex has a flexible OLED panel that can be positioned so that the display is entirely flat or curved up to a radius of 800R (among the most aggressive curves you’ll find on any monitor). A pair of handles on the right and left flank are used to flex the display. They feel a tad awkward but get the job done.
It’s a massive display with a 45-inch ultrawide panel and a 21:9 aspect ratio. It’s much, much larger than a 34-inch ultrawide (roughly 10 inches wider and 5 inches taller), which provides an extremely immersive experience and tons of room for multi-tasking apps. It’s also taller than a 49-inch super-ultrawide like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9, though (of course) not quite as wide.
Image quality is excellent with an extremely high contrast ratio and wide color gamut. The 240Hz refresh rate provides superb motion clarity, too. Even HDR performs reasonably well, as the panel’s brightness is relatively high (for OLED, at least). The monitor’s 3440×1440 resolution doesn’t look sharp spread across the 45-inch panel, but this only feels noticeable on the Windows desktop. Games and streaming content look incredible.
The Corsair Xeneon Flex is built like a tank and has a massive, stable stand with built-in ports including USB-C. Unfortunately, the stand doesn’t adjust for height. It’s also an expensive monitor at a retail MSRP of nearly $2,000. That’s a lot of cash, but the Xeneon Flex’s versatile OLED panel and top-tier image quality justify the price.
Read our full
Corsair Xeneon Flex review
What to look for in a monitor
There are literally hundreds—and perhaps thousands—of monitors to choose from. Choosing one from the crowd can be difficult, but knowing the key traits of a monitor will help you make your decision.
Resolution
Most monitors are available in 4K (3,840×2,160), 1440p (2,560×1,440) and 1080p (1,920×1,080) resolution. A higher resolution provides a sharper, more attractive image and is generally preferable. There’s nothing wrong with 1080p, however. It remains the baseline and is by far the most popular resolution sold today.
Connectivity
Look for a monitor with a connection supported by your computer. HDMI and DisplayPort are the most common. USB-C is rising in popularity because it can charge connected devices, such as a laptop.
Refresh rate
Most monitors have a 60Hz refresh rate, but a higher refresh rate (such as 144Hz) will make motion look smooth and crisp. This is most appealing to PC gamers, as improved motion performance is most noticeable when panning the camera in a 3D game.
Adaptive sync
This technology also improves motion performance. It does so by keeping a monitor’s refresh rate in sync with the video input from your computer. Our guide to FreeSync and G-Sync provides more detail.
HDR
Many 4K monitors support HDR, but often the HDR performance is lackluster. The HDR will function, and may look superior to SDR, but it won’t approach the quality implied by the spec. To ensure a quality HDR experience, look for a minimum of VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification (or VESA DisplayHDR True Black). See our article on everything you need to know about HDR on your PC to learn more.
Want to know more before you make a decision? Our monitor buying guide explains the nerdy details of monitor specifications.
How we test monitors
Our monitor guides are based on testing by freelance and staff contributors with decades of combined experience.
While we rely on our eyes for an initial impression, we thoroughly test each monitor with a Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra color calibration tool. This specialized hardware can objectively measure a monitor’s brightness, contrast, color gamut, color accuracy, luminance and color uniformity, gamma, and many other aspects of image quality.
Using this tool helps us detect strengths and weaknesses that don’t stand out at a glance and guarantees that a change in lighting conditions or monitor location won’t skew our impression.
FAQ
1.
What size of monitor should I buy?
Monitor size depends on personal preference and location.
A 24-inch monitor is fine for a desk that is around 24 inches deep, or less. Its small size will still be sufficient because the monitor is closer to you.
Most people, however, will want to go with a 27-inch monitor. The added size will make the monitor easy to see. This also opens up a wider range of 4K monitor options, as 4K is very rare on a 24-inch monitor.
Larger monitors, such as a 32-inch widescreen or 34-inch ultrawide, are great for deep desks and people who want an immersive experience. Monitors this large can serve as a TV replacement in a small room.
Displays of even larger size, such as 42-inch or 48-inch HDTVs, are best for home theater setups or an unusually large office. You’ll want to sit four to six feet away from a display of this size.
2.
What display input is best? (HDMI vs. DisplayPort vs. USB-C)
USB-C is the best display input for most people. It works by bundling DisplayPort into USB-C, so offers all the same features as DisplayPort. Yet it retains the features of USB-C including optional support for Power Delivery to charge external devices. This is why we recommend a USB-C monitor for most people.
DisplayPort is generally second-best. It supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI. This input is particularly common on desktop computers.
HDMI comes in third due to lower resolution and refresh rate support. This is improved by HDMI 2.1, but this feature remains hard to find and often adds to a monitor’s price.
All three of the options above handle 1080p at 60Hz, which is the most common resolution and refresh rate available today. It’s also important to buy a monitor that has an input compatible with your PC.
3.
Are all monitors compatible with Windows and MacOS?
Modern monitors are compatible with all recent versions of Windows and MacOS. They’re plug-and-play, which means the monitor should display an image without the need to install driver software or mess with Windows or MacOS settings.
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