Monitor Details

  • Resolution
    • This is the number of pixels per side of the screen, the greater the resolution the more detailed the image. Alongside this, there are a series of industry standard resolutions that are ideal to stick to except in specific standards.
    • 4k
    • 1080p (HD)
    • 720p
  • Refresh Rate
    • This is the rate at which the image on the screen updates.
    • 60 Hz
    • 120 Hz
    • 240 Hz
    • 360 Hz
    • 500 Hz
  • Pixel Response Time
    • This is the time it takes for an individual pixel to go from unlit, to lit, and back. This is rarely an issue except in high performance screen with a high refresh rate that exceeds the individual pixels ability to switch color, leading to an effect called ghosting where a slight after image blurs the screen. 
    • 8 ms - 1 ms
  • Panel Type
    • Panels are the style of LCD that is used to make the monitor, most often different panel types vary in how well they represent color and vibrancy vs how quickly they function.
    • TN
    • VA
    • IPS
  • Color Reproduction
    • This is a measure of how well a monitor can display color, this is measured in a variety of ways from vibrancy to black light depth
  • Features
    • Curvature
      • Many modern monitors are now curved, an odd innovation, but works surprisingly nicely, this is largely a subjective advantage. 
    • Anti-glare
      • Anti-glare can be incredibly useful for many people especially depending on your setup. If your workspace is more backlit, the light shining directly onto your screen can be incredibly frustrating. However, many people find that anti-glare coatings can negatively impact the color grading of your monitor. Minor difference but it is worth being aware that most televisions do not come with an anti-glare coating for this reason. 
  • Mounting
    • Monitor mounting points can vary widely, from static, to freely adjustable, tabletop, to wall mounted. While there is some variation in quality largely the most important aspect here is what fits in your space.
  • Connection
    • Most monitors these days are wired, and new ones often use the most modern connectors. Avoid getting older monitors with older connectors if you can, this can cause you compatibility issues in the future and the modern connections are direct improvements.
    • DVI
    • HDMI
    • DSP
  • Extended Reading