Monitor Buying Guide

Choosing the Right Monitor: Double-Checking All Factors

You may have settled on a specific monitor after reviewing its core specifications, and feel confident enough to proceed with a bulk order for your entire organization or a dedicated department within it. However, considering the significant financial investment involved, it’s crucial to evaluate all the relevant aspects before finalizing the purchase. Taking the time for this thorough review will prove beneficial in the long run.

Resolution and Image Quality

When acquiring standard-sized monitors (ranging from 15" to 27") for a business where most users work daily with typical CMS and CRM applications or cloud platforms that do not mandate advanced graphics, monitors with standard resolution capabilities suffice. A resolution of x 768 is the minimum requirement, with x and x providing more desirable image quality. These specifications assume that users won't engage with video editing, graphic design for publishing, infographics, digital animation for video game creation, 3D modeling, or medical imaging. In such cases, larger monitors (30" and above) will become necessary, along with higher resolutions—ideally x , x , or even x . Moreover, pay attention to the dot pitch; ideally, monitors should have a dot pitch measurement below 0.28 millimeters, with 0.2 mm or lower being optimal. Lastly, ensure that the connected devices are capable of supporting your chosen resolutions.

Video Format

Over the past few years, 4K Ultra HD has gained immense popularity, and for good reasons. Offering 8 million pixels—as opposed to the 2 million in standard or Full HD—results in incredibly sharp images with colors that closely resemble real life. When combined with HDR technology for enhanced contrast, the viewing experience becomes extraordinary. It is also reasonable to select either 4K or HDR independently, but monitors that offer one feature generally include the other. If your business often presents visuals in high-definition formats like 4K, HDR, QHD, or similar, remember that you'll need a sufficiently large monitor to appreciate these formats fully; a minimum of 40" in width is recommended, with sizes of 55" and above being ideal for digital signage. While smaller monitors can handle 4K video playback, they may not convey the full impact effectively.

Performance Specifications

Monitor manufacturers have various methods of expressing monitor performance beyond resolution, brightness, aspect ratio, and size, so understanding key metrics is essential. Some manufacturers may only indicate the dot pitch, which is useful (a lower dot pitch implies better image quality), but may not reflect day-to-day performance accurately. If possible, look for response times and refresh rates in the specifications. The lower benchmark for response time is about 10 milliseconds, and a monitor with a response time of 5ms is considered good, while 2ms or 1ms is outstanding. Refresh rate is another measure of performance, where higher values are preferable. For standard usage, 60 hertz is acceptable, but high-performance graphics in gaming, animation, and 3D processing may need refresh rates of 144Hz or even 240Hz.

Need Additional Assistance?

This guide serves as a foundational overview, yet many additional factors could influence your specific needs. If you require support in selecting the right displays for your organization, our team is ready to assist you. Are you prepared to choose the perfect monitor for your workspace, or are you conducting research for your organization’s monitor refresh initiative? We are here to help. Reach out to an Account Manager at 1.800.800. for all your monitor-related inquiries.