Best Monitor 2025: Big screen pairings for PCs and laptops

The monitor is one of the most under-appreciated devices in a PC setup, and yet it can also be one of the most important. This is why we’ve created this best monitor guide to help you find the greatest option.

If you’ve bought or built the most powerful PC imaginable, it will go to waste if you don’t have a top-notch monitor to go with it. Not only does the screen quality of a monitor impact your experience, but the likes of the refresh rate and response time can also make a big difference, especially for gamers.

With so many different factors to consider when buying a monitor, we’ve made this Best Monitor best list to make the buying process easier. We’ve included options for office workers, gamers, professional gamers and even those who just want a cheap and cheerful monitor for the home.

Every monitor in this list has been tested by one of our experts, using professional equipment to evaluate metrics such as peak brightness, contrast, colour coverage and more. This way, we can use both data and our real-world experience to evaluate the quality of each monitor and make sure you’re getting good value for money.

If you’re looking for something more specialised, we recommend that you check out our Best Gaming Monitor roundup as well as our Best Curved Monitor roundup. Don’t be discouraged if there isn’t anything on this list that piques your interest right now as we update our top picks every time another fantastic monitor comes through our doors, so make sure you bookmark this page and come back soon for even more recommendations.

Best monitor at a glance

• Best QD-OLED:
  Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor – check price
• Best smart monitor:
  Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 (2024) – check price
• Best gaming monitor:
  AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD – check price
• Best monitor for work:
  Dell Pro 32 Plus 4K USB-C Hub Monitor  – check price
• Best TV-size gaming monitor:
  AOC Agon AG405UXC – check price
• Best value ultra-wide monitor:
  Lenovo Legion R45w-30 – check price
• Best for professional artists:
  Xencelabs Pen Display 24 – check price
• Best ultrawide :
  Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 – check price
• Best Mini LED monitor:
  Acer Predator X32 FP – check price
• Best budget gaming monitor:
  AOC Gaming 25G3ZM/BK – check price
• Best monitor for Mac:
  Apple Studio Display – check price
• Best business monitor:
  BenQ MA320U – check price
• Best for productivity and gaming:
  BenQ PD3226G – check price

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How we test

Learn more about how we test monitors

We use every monitor we test for at least a week. During that time, we’ll check it for ease of use and put it through its paces by using it for both everyday tasks and more specialist, colour-sensitive work.

We also check its colours and image quality with a colorimeter to test its coverage and the display’s quality.

Best QD-OLED

Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor

Pros

• Stylish looks
• Sublime image quality
• Clever and immersive audio

Cons

• Expensive
• Port selection is a tad light
• Stand doesn't offer that much adjustment

Best smart monitor

Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 (2024)

Pros

• Outstanding gaming performance
• Unique anti burn-in technology
• Sleek, premium design
• Terrific video performance

Cons

• Only really bright in small peaks
• No Dolby Vision support

Best gaming monitor

AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD

Pros

• Stunning OLED display
• Excellent motion fidelity
• Compact stand
• Good value

Cons

• Speakers distort at maximum volume
• HDMI ports are v2.0 not 2.1

Best monitor for work

Dell Pro 32 Plus 4K USB-C Hub Monitor 

Pros

• Fantastic port selection
• Modern looks
• Solid image quality

Cons

• Basic OSD
• Not as bright or colour-accurate as key rivals

Best TV-size gaming monitor

AOC Agon AG405UXC

Pros

• Superb value for money
• USB-B and USB-C connectivity for full KVM support
• Impressive colour accuracy

Cons

• Colour gamuts could be wider
• Some smearing and ghosting apparent in testing

Best value ultra-wide monitor

Lenovo Legion R45w-30

Pros

• Excellent value
• Compact for an ultrawide
• Good speakers
• One-button KVM switch

Cons

• Big stand

Best for professional artists

Xencelabs Pen Display 24

Pros

• Sharp, glare-free screen
• Professional-level colour accuracy
• Quiet, fan-less design
• Cheaper than the competition

Cons

• The contrast could be higher

Best ultrawide

Philips Evnia 34M2C8600

Pros

• Stylish white and silver chassis
• Marvellous image quality
• Comprehensive OSD

Cons

• Expensive
• Lack of HDMI 2.1 port at this price is a shame

Best Mini LED monitor

Acer Predator X32 FP

Pros

• Very colourful and very bright
• Four HDMI 2.1 inputs with VRR support
• Four USB ports, 90W PD charging and full KVM support
• Great HDR performance with VESA DisplayHDR 1000 Certificate

Cons

• 576 local dimming zones can’t wholly eradicate blooming
• A little on the expensive side
• Big, chunky and a bit cheap-feeling
• Speakers need more volume and bass

Best budget gaming monitor

AOC Gaming 25G3ZM/BK

Pros

• 240Hz refresh rate
• Exceptional value
• Impressive colour accuracy
• Strong colour gamut coverage

Cons

• Some visible ghosting
• No USB connectivity
• Could be brighter
• HDMI and DP connectors not latest spec

Best monitor for Mac

Apple Studio Display

Pros

• Excellent 5K image
• Complete setup with integrated speakers
• Mics and webcam
• Sleek design

Cons

• Expensive
• Lacks proper HDR support
• Not great for Windows owners

Best business monitor

BenQ MA320U

Pros

• Sturdy construction
• Detailed, colour-accurate images
• Solid port selection

Cons

• Black level and contrast not as strong as the competition

Best for productivity and gaming

BenQ PD3226G

Pros

• Smart, business-class looks
• Detailed and responsive output
• Sublime port selection

Cons

• Expensive for its panel type
• Middling brightness and contrast

Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor

Best QD-OLED

Trusted Score

Pros

• Stylish looks

• Sublime image quality

• Clever and immersive audio

Cons

• Expensive

• Port selection is a tad light

• Stand doesn't offer that much adjustment

Dell makes some of the best office laptops in the world so it only makes sense that the company also puts out some of our favourite work monitors, and the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED is no exception. Even though the competition has never been tougher, if all you want is a monitor that focuses on the most important aspect of all – the picture quality – then you’ll get on fine here.

As its full name implies, the Dell 32 Plus packs a large 32-inch display which boasts a stunning 4K resolution and next-level contrast thanks to its QD-OLED panel. With greater control of how lighting is projected across the entire display, it’s an immediate visual upgrade if you’re moving on up from a standard LCD monitor.

There’s also a 100Hz refresh rate which makes scrolling through documents and spreadsheets feel buttery smooth. It also pairs well with a spot of gaming (after you’re done with work of course) so if you do like to round out the day with a few matches in Overwatch 2 or Call of Duty Warzone, then the 32 Plus can do the trick.

Depending on how you like to work, the 32 Plus provides plenty of options when it comes to adjusting how the monitor sits on your desk. You can swivel and tilt the display to suit your preferred angle, or even move it into portrait mode which can be a better option for anyone who has to type out long-form documents and needs the added space to check back on what they’ve written.

If it’s been a busy morning and you haven’t had a chance to charge up your phone then you’ll appreciate the fact that there’s a 90W USB-C port built into the monitor. This means that you can top up your smartphone at speed and enjoy a full battery in next to no time. The only thing to bear in mind is that there are no built-in speakers here so you’ll have to rely on your laptop, but it’s still a great monitor nonetheless.

Reviewer:
Reece Bithrey


Full review:
Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor

Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 (2024)

Best smart monitor

Trusted Score

Pros

• Outstanding gaming performance

• Unique anti burn-in technology

• Sleek, premium design

• Terrific video performance

Cons

• Only really bright in small peaks

• No Dolby Vision support

The Odyssey OLED G8 (2024) is a home run for Samsung, combining the brand’s Quantum Dot OLED technology with the same powerful processor found in its flagship 8K TVs.

A bit more subtle than the ultra-wide Odyssey G9, the Odyssey OLED G8 measures 32-inches across and has a more standard 16:9 ratio. There’s also no curvature to the screen, unlike its eye-catching bigger sibling. However, the OLED G8 is packed with premium features that ensure this monitor continues to stand out from the crowd.

The OLED G8 has an elegant design, with minimal bezels and a premium metallic finish. There is a circle of LED lights around the stand attachment point which we found added to the ambience when gaming, but you can switch these off if you prefer a more classy look.

There’s a fair amount of connectivity options, including a 1.4 DisplayPort, two HDMI ports, two USB-A ports and one USB-B port, and the 5W stereo speakers offer plenty of detail and clarity when gaming.

The Quantum Dot OLED panel offers incredible colour accuracy and a high amount of detail. The OLED panel creates an intensity in dark game environments that is uncommon with LCD monitors, while the same picture processing engine found in Samsung’s flagship 8K TV reproduces shadowy details without a hint of noise or shading coarseness.

The monitor also features the same Tizen operating system found on the brand’s latest TVs, offering a slick experience with a wide range of streaming apps and Bixby and Alexa voice support. There are a few absent apps, including BBC iPlayer, All4 and the Freeview Play app for accessing catch-up services in the UK.

However, the Odyssey OLED G8 is a fantastic monitor with an incredible display and powerful processor, making it a gaming monitor and home entertainment system in one.

Reviewer:
John Archer


Full review:
Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 (2024)

AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD

Best gaming monitor

Trusted Score

Pros

• Stunning OLED display

• Excellent motion fidelity

• Compact stand

• Good value

Cons

• Speakers distort at maximum volume

• HDMI ports are v2.0 not 2.1

The holy trinity for a gaming monitor is a gorgeous picture, blazing-fast performance and a stylish design, and the AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD delivers on all three fronts at a reasonable price.

This 27-inch OLED monitor is capable of deep inky blacks as well as vibrant colours, resulting in an incredible picture. This is paired with a 240Hz refresh rate, which ensures buttery smooth motion for both casual gamers and eSports professionals alike. We were really impressed with the performance, especially thanks to the quick response time and support for Nvidia G-Sync.

During testing, we couldn’t find many faults. It’s a shame this monitor lacks HDMI 2.1 support, but that shouldn’t be too great an issue for most. The speaker quality can become distorted at maximum volumes too, but that’s nothing that a gaming headset or soundbar can’t solve.

As a result, there’s no question that the AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD delivers an excellent all-round package that will please the vast majority of gamers. The only real reason to look elsewhere is if you’re looking for something cheaper, prefer an ultra-wide monitor or you’re desperate to make the jump up to 4K. If you fall into one of those categories, you’ll find a great alternative by scrolling down further.

Reviewer:
Alun Taylor


Full review:
AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD

Dell Pro 32 Plus 4K USB-C Hub Monitor 

Best monitor for work

Trusted Score

Pros

• Fantastic port selection

• Modern looks

• Solid image quality

Cons

• Basic OSD

• Not as bright or colour-accurate as key rivals

When it comes to building a home office, it can be all too tempting to opt for a fairly cheap monitor that simply gets the job done and lets you add as much money as possible to the budget for a new laptop or desktop PC.

However, we’d argue that such an idea is a fallacy as it doesn’t factor in the countless number of hours you’re going to spend looking at said monitor. Take our advice, spend just a little bit more and get an excellent experience with the Dell Pro 32 Plus 4K USB-C Hub Monitor.

Even though it is a monitor that’s designed with productivity in mind, it still holds a sleep aesthetic that you don’t usually find amongst its competitors. The silver base is eye-catching and the slim bezels make older work-first monitors feel absolutely ancient by comparison. For maintaining a clean aesthetic across your desk, Dell’s monitor offers a great starting point.

Of course, whilst the design is certainly nice, it’s the visual quality that’s far more important and in this area, the Dell Pro does an outstanding job. Having a 32-inch panel gives you plenty of room to have multiple windows open side by side, so if you are the type of person who needs multiple apps open as they work, then you certainly won’t feel boxed in here.

The 4K resolution ensures that whatever it is you’re looking at, it appears crisp and without any fuzziness that can prove to be a real problem if you’re working for hours on end. The IPS technology also paves the way for a bright image overall and some really impressive colour accuracy. We noted 100% sRGB colour accuracy in our tests, alongside 88% and 82% in DCI-P3 and Adobe RBG respectively.

When it comes to ports, you’re absolutely spoiled for choice, but it’s the 90W USB-C port that we found to be particularly helpful as it can be used to top up your phone quickly before you head out for a meeting. There’s also plenty of freedom with adjusting the monitor itself, as it can be swiveled and tilted to get the angle that works best for your setup.

Reviewer:
Reece Bithrey


Full review:
Dell Pro 32 Plus 4K USB-C Hub Monitor 

AOC Agon AG405UXC

Best TV-size gaming monitor

Trusted Score

Pros

• Superb value for money

• USB-B and USB-C connectivity for full KVM support

• Impressive colour accuracy

Cons

• Colour gamuts could be wider

• Some smearing and ghosting apparent in testing

The AOC Agon AG405UXC is another excellent gaming monitor, but this time sporting a massive 40-inch panel that’s large enough to displace your television.

For less than £600, you’re able to pick up this gaming monitor which offers a crisp 1440p IPS panel equipped with a 144Hz refresh rate, 3ms GtG response time and VRR technology.

The quality of this AOC display is outstanding, scoring strong results in our benchmarking. It came in at 99.2% sRGB, 84.9% DCI-P3 and 75.5% Adobe RGB. Top scores for a monitor focused on gaming performance over creative work, especially at this reasonable price.

It’s not short on added features either, with HDR support that will get the brightness up to 486 nits (361 nits in SDR). Then, the onboard KVM functionality is wonderfully useful. The monitor offers four USB-A, one USB-B and one USB-C port which, with KVM support, means you can use it as a useful dock for all your wired keyboards, mice and the like.

Reviewer:
Alun Taylor


Full review:
AOC Agon AG405UXC

Lenovo Legion R45w-30

Best value ultra-wide monitor

Trusted Score

Pros

• Excellent value

• Compact for an ultrawide

• Good speakers

• One-button KVM switch

Cons

• Big stand

Ultra-wide monitors are incredibly useful for both office workers and gamers, providing extra screen space to make multitasking easier. The main problem with them is they can command a hefty fee, but not so with the Lenovo Legion R45w-30.

This monitor has a massive 49-inch display, with a 1500R curvature and 5120×1440 resolution maximising immersion for the best experience. We were really impressed with the picture quality, as it aced our benchmark tests and looked supremely bright with HDR activated.

Gamers will rejoice with the high 165Hz refresh rate too. You will find better gaming specs with the likes of the Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED (2023), but you’ll also need to fork out a lot more money for the privilege. This makes the Lenovo a great option for those who fancy an ultra-wide monitor without having to deplete the bank account.

Reviewer:
Alun Taylor


Full review:
Lenovo Legion R45w-30

Xencelabs Pen Display 24

Best for professional artists

Trusted Score

Pros

• Sharp, glare-free screen

• Professional-level colour accuracy

• Quiet, fan-less design

• Cheaper than the competition

Cons

• The contrast could be higher

The Xencelabs Pen Display 24 is a sharp 4K pen display that offers pro-level colour accuracy for digital artists. It’s also significantly better value than its closest competitor, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24.

As with any monitor, the Xencelabs Pen Display 24 needs to be hooked up to a computer or laptop and a power source to work. Once set up, the 24-inch screen offers a 4K resolution with 1.07 billion colours available, covering 99% of the RGB and 93% of the DCI-P3 colour spaces. We found the glare-free display to be useable in a variety of lighting conditions, while Pantone and SkinTone validation ensure high colour accuracy.

The Xencelabs Pen Display 24 comes with several handy accessories, including two pens and the Quick Keys remote for assigning shortcuts. The latter features an OLED display with eight customisable buttons and a dial to cycle through them for a total of 40 presets per application. The remote also works both wired and wirelessly, with a 53-hour battery life in the latter instance.

The display itself features a heat-dissipating rear to keep things cool without requiring a noisy fan. The tilt stand allows the monitor to be adjusted between 16 and 72 degrees, while the VESA mount-ready design means the monitor can be mounted in a few different ways.

If you’re a creative in need of a fantastic value pen display, the Xencelabs Pen Display 24 is our top recommendation.

Reviewer:
Hannah Davies


Full review:
Xencelabs Pen Display 24

Philips Evnia 34M2C8600

Best ultrawide

Trusted Score

Pros

• Stylish white and silver chassis

• Marvellous image quality

• Comprehensive OSD

Cons

• Expensive

• Lack of HDMI 2.1 port at this price is a shame

If you’re looking for a fantastic ultrawide monitor, our top pick is the Philips Evnia 34M2C860. While expensive, this monitor packs a marvellous QD-OLED panel, solid port selection and comprehensive OSD.

The Evnia 34M2C8600 is a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor with a 3440 x 1440 resolution and a smooth 175Hz refresh rate. The QD-OLED panel is the headline feature here, combining the high peak brightness of QLED with the deep, inky blacks of OLED. The display has a near-instant 0.03ms response time, along with support for AMD FreeSync and Adaptive Sync for Nvidia to eliminate any screen tearing.

We found the image quality to be excellent with deep blacks, vibrant colours and virtually infinite contrast, making both games and movies look brilliant. Colour accuracy came out near-perfect in our colorimeter tests, while the 237-nit peak brightness in SDR fell just short of Philips’ 250-nit claims.

The monitor offers one of the most comprehensive OSDs we’ve tested, with ten presets available to adjust the way the screen looks for everything from movies to FPS and racing games. You can also use the OSD to switch between inputs, enable the KVM switch, access OLED care to prevent burn-on and enable Ambiglow to enjoy ambient lighting on the wall behind your monitor.

The monitor itself is modern and stylish with the white and silver colourway functioning as a statement piece on your desk. The stand is built entirely from metal for maximum sturdiness and there’s even a headphone stand built into the back. We found the monitor to be easy to build and Philip bundles a bracket in for VESA mounting.

If you’re looking for a gorgeous ultrawide monitor, this is a great choice.

Reviewer:
Reece Bithrey


Full review:
Philips Evnia 34M2C8600

Acer Predator X32 FP

Best Mini LED monitor

Trusted Score

Pros

• Very colourful and very bright

• Four HDMI 2.1 inputs with VRR support

• Four USB ports, 90W PD charging and full KVM support

• Great HDR performance with VESA DisplayHDR 1000 Certificate

Cons

• 576 local dimming zones can’t wholly eradicate blooming

• A little on the expensive side

• Big, chunky and a bit cheap-feeling

• Speakers need more volume and bass

Mini LED is all the rage across productivity and gaming laptops right now. Monitors are in on the hype too, like with the Acer Predator X32/FP. This gaming-focused Mini LED from Acer gets plenty right, doing its best to justify its high price tag.

Expectedly with a Mini LED panel, the Acer Predator X32/FP excels in colour and brightness. The selection of colour is luxurious and abundant, hitting 99.8% for sRGB and Adobe RGB as well as 94.7% for DCI-P3. Peak brightness gets up to a lofty 455 nits in SDR, and a wondrous 1043 nits in HDR mode – that’s positively glorious stuff. These impressive specs are joined by little motion blur, cementing this luxury Mini LED panel as a great all-rounder.

With a resolution hitting 3840×2160 alongside a 160Hz refresh rate and built-in USB hub, this monitor can excel for gamers, creatives or productivity users. Specifically for gamers, this monitor also dons AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, for dodging screen tearing at those higher rates. There’s VRR (variable refresh rate) as well as a whopping four HDMI 2.1 ports.

Reviewer:
Alun Taylor


Full review:
Acer Predator X32 FP

AOC Gaming 25G3ZM/BK

Best budget gaming monitor

Trusted Score

Pros

• 240Hz refresh rate

• Exceptional value

• Impressive colour accuracy

• Strong colour gamut coverage

Cons

• Some visible ghosting

• No USB connectivity

• Could be brighter

• HDMI and DP connectors not latest spec

Getting into PC gaming can be expensive but the AOC Gaming 25G3ZM/BK is here to help. With this AOC monitor, you’re getting a whole lot for under £200. The big sell is a 240Hz refresh rate, making it ready to go for competitive gaming.

It isn’t all about that though, the high refresh rate wouldn’t be enough to sell this monitor itself. Thankfully, that’s not the case. For this low price, you get surprisingly strong colour accuracy and gamut coverage to rival monitors twice this price. The raw stats see a great contrast ratio at this price of 4000:1 and coverage of 99.7% sRGB, 80.8% Adobe RGB and 91.2% DCI-P3. These numbers are remarkable for a device under the £200 mark.

Outside of benchmarks, the proof was in the pudding too. This 1080p panel offers up strong viewing angles, pleasing colour and an overall delightful gaming experience, even if brightness is a little lacking. Again, for the price, the design isn’t half bad either. This doesn’t look like a sub-£200 device, even if it is largely made out of plastic. There are slim bezels and a sturdy base that add up to a sleek combination.

Reviewer:
Alun Taylor


Full review:
AOC Gaming 25G3ZM/BK

Apple Studio Display

Best monitor for Mac

Trusted Score

Pros

• Excellent 5K image

• Complete setup with integrated speakers

• Mics and webcam

• Sleek design

Cons

• Expensive

• Lacks proper HDR support

• Not great for Windows owners

If you’re hunting for a monitor to use with your Mac or MacBook, then the Apple Studio Display is a logical, and indeed powerful, choice.

We found it to be one of the best-looking monitors we’ve ever reviewed, thanks to an professional aesthetic that sits well alongside Apple’s equally pro-grade laptops and desktops. It features an aluminium construction, complete with the typical Apple-like precision we’ve come to expect. There aren’t any controls on the monitor though, which means you have to control the Studio Display using the connected device.

The Studio Display is a feature-packed panel, complete with some fantastic sounding speakers, a built-in webcam and even the internals of an iPad with an A13 Bionic chipset and 64GB of storage. We did find that connectivity to Windows laptops to be difficult, which presents the idea that the Studio Display is only designed for Mac users. If you want a Windows-based equivalent, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

As for the display itself, the Studio Display offers up sharp images thanks to a 5K resolution. We found it’s an adequate LCD panel for Mac users that offers similar tech to pro-grade offerings from a few years ago. With 600 nits of brightness, this is a vibrant panel with great colour accuracy too. But it lacks the punch of a Mini LED display, as well as the powers of Apple’s ProMotion tech that offers up a 120Hz refresh rate to ensure smoother scrolling.

At $1599/£1499, this is an expensive choice, but if you’ve got your heart set on having a capable panel to pair with your Mac, then the Apple Pro Display should serve you well.

Reviewer:
Max Parker


Full review:
Apple Studio Display

BenQ MA320U

Best business monitor

Trusted Score

Pros

• Sturdy construction

• Detailed, colour-accurate images

• Solid port selection

Cons

• Black level and contrast not as strong as the competition

If you need a monitor that’s packed with ports, will comfortably support heavy workloads and looks great on your desk, then the BenQ MA320U is a great value choice.

It’s undeniably taken a lot of design cues from Apple’s Studio Display, sporting the same two-tone silver and black chassis and keeps all its ports neatly tucked at the back of the monitor. This certainly isn’t an issue, especially as the MA320U is much cheaper at just £599.99/$599.99. 

Speaking of its ports, you’ll find a USB-C that supports up to 90W of power and 4K video output, a pair of HDMIs, a two-port USB-A hub, a second USB-C (this time only offering 15W of power) and a headphone jack to round it off. Considering we weren’t particularly blown away by its speakers ability, the headphone jack is a welcome addition. 

Although it doesn’t sport a QD-OLED or similar panel, its 32-inch 4K IPS screen still provides not only brilliant detail but also 100% coverage of the sRGB colour space which is perfect for productivity workloads. You can also easily adjust the stand to ensure the panel is exactly how you’d like it while working, even into portrait orientation too. 

The built-in OSD of MA320U is fairly basic, however there are plenty more advanced settings that can be found within BenQ’s Display Pilot software. Available for both macOS and Windows, you can access features such as HDR support, different colour modes and brightness settings too. 

If you’re a MacBook user and want a decent second screen, that isn’t quite as pricey as the Studio Display, then the BenQ MA320U is a brilliant and more affordable alternative.

Reviewer:
Reece Bithrey


Full review:
BenQ MA320U

BenQ PD3226G

Best for productivity and gaming

Trusted Score

Pros

• Smart, business-class looks

• Detailed and responsive output

• Sublime port selection

Cons

• Expensive for its panel type

• Middling brightness and contrast

For any creatives out there, whether you produce video content or edit pictures in Photoshop, it’s worth picking up a gaming monitor that’s just as good as helping you out with your day to day work, as it is with nabbing you the win for your team during your downtime. To that end, the BenQ PD3226G is easily one of the best monitors you can buy.

At first glance, you might not even recognise the BenQ PD3226G as having any gaming credentials given that it adheres to a very subdued, almost business-like aesthetic that wouldn’t make it look out of place in an office. Once you switch on the PD3226G however, it’s clear that the monitor is designed for much more than just Google Docs and a bit of scrolling through spreadsheets.

The 32-inch 4K IPS panel really wows the eyes, and with a 144Hz refresh rate, it’s brilliantly suited for fast paced titles that can use the extra speed. If you’re coming up from a standard 60Hz monitor and you play a game like Forza Horizon 5 or even Doom: The Dark Ages, you’ll see just how much of a difference that higher refresh rate can make with amping up the action.

The reason why we also recommend this monitor to those who work in creative industries is that the colour accuracy is off the charts. When we conducted our series of tests, we picked up on near perfect 99% sRGB and 96% DCI-P3 coverage, so you’ll always know exactly what a project is going to look like once it’s sent out, whilst you’re in the editing stages.

You also have the ability to hook up plenty of accessories thanks to an abundance of ports on the device. There’s a handful of Thunderbolt 4 slots, not to mention a HDMI port, a standard DisplayPort, USB-C for downstream charging and more. There’s even a wireless puck that lets you control any OSD features in a pinch, which is helpful as there are quite a few colour modes to choose from as well.

Reviewer:
Reece Bithrey


Full review:
BenQ PD3226G

Test Data

 
Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor
Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 (2024)
AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD
Dell Pro 32 Plus 4K USB-C Hub Monitor Review 
AOC Agon AG405UXC
Lenovo Legion R45w-30
Xencelabs Pen Display 24
Philips Evnia 34M2C8600
Acer Predator X32 FP
AOC Gaming 25G3ZM/BK
Apple Studio Display
BenQ MA320U
BenQ PD3226G

Brightness (SDR)
240.2 nits
190 nits
380 nits
325.9 nits
361 nits
415 nits
–
237 nits
455 nits
318 nits
596.78 nits
495.5 nits
223.7 nits

Brightness (HDR)
–
319 nits
810 nits
–
484 nits
–
–
1000 nits
–
–
–
–
–

Black level
-2.96 nits
0 nits
0 nits
0.15 nits
0.19 nits
0.13 nits
–
0.03 nits
0.37 nits
0.08 nits
0.5540 nits
0.29 nits
0.24 nits

Contrast ratio
5820:1
–
Infinity
1180:1
1362:1
3020:1
–
8090:1
1150:1
3726:1
1077:1
1210:1
550:1

White Visual Colour Temperature
6200 K
6550 K
6542 K
6600 K
6223 K
6171 K
–
6100 K
5901 K
6386 K
6536 K
6700 K
6600 K

sRGB
100 %
100 %
99.2 %
100 %
99.2 %
96.1 %
–
100 %
99.8 %
99.7 %
99.7 %
100 %
99 %

Adobe RGB
92 %
99 %
88.2 %
82 %
75.5 %
72.9 %
–
93 %
99.8 %
80.8 %
82.2 %
87 %
96 %

DCI-P3
98 %
98.2 %
88.8 %
88 %
84.9 %
77.1 %
–
98 %
94.7 %
91.2 %
95.1 %
95 %
87 %

Energy consumption
–
–
–
–
45 Watts
34 Watts
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Input lag (ms)
–
0.03 ms
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Delta Colour accuracy (Delta E)
–
–
1.07
–
0.83
1.8
–
–
1.37
1.5
–
–
–

Full Specs

 
Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor
Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 (2024) Review
AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD Review
Dell Pro 32 Plus 4K USB-C Hub Monitor Review 
AOC Agon AG405UXC Review
Lenovo Legion R45w-30 Review
Xencelabs Pen Display 24 Review
Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 Review
Acer Predator X32 FP Review
AOC Gaming 25G3ZM/BK Review
Apple Studio Display Review
BenQ MA320U
BenQ PD3226G Review

UK RRP
£732.50
£1099
£849
£549.60
£570
£799
£1850
£1149.95
£1399
£179
£1499
£599.99
£1099.99

USA RRP
$799.99
$1499
–
$599.99
–
–
$1899
$1299.99
–
–
$1599
$599.99
$1299.99

Manufacturer
Dell
Samsung
AOC
Dell
AOC
Lenovo
–
Philips
Acer
AOC
Apple
BenQ
BenQ

Quiet Mark Accredited
–
–
–
–
No
–
–
–
–
No
–
–
–

Screen Size
32 inches
32 inches
26.5 inches
32 inches
40 inches
44.5 inches
24 inches
34 inches
32 inches
24.5 inches
27 inches
32 inches
32 inches

Front Camera
–
–
–
–
–
–
N/A
–
–
No
12MP
–
–

Size (Dimensions)
718.78 x 70.35 x 457.65 MM
x x INCHES
604 x 233 x 527 MM
713.40 x 215 x 413.15 MM
944.1 x 312.4 x 477.7 MM
1090 x 341 x 363.5 MM
618.5 x 34.7 x 388 MM
813 x 295 x 553 MM
727 x 93.3 x 638 MM
503 x 259 x 557 MM
62.3 x 3.1 x 47.9 CM
712.5 x 220.2 x 493.8 MM
714.3 x 242 x 486.3 INCHES

Weight
10 KG
–
6.4 KG
9.52 KG
11.88 KG
12.1 KG
6.9 KG
8.7 KG
11.5 KG
4.24 KG
7.7 KG
6.05 KG
9.7 KG

ASIN
–
–
B0C2C9693V
–
B0C4P88C2S
–
–
–
UM.JX0EE.P02
B0BGCG4NJM
B09V4CTRL5
–
–

Release Date
2025
2024
2023
2025
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2021
2022
2024
2025

First Reviewed Date
22/05/2025
04/06/2024
09/01/2024
05/08/2025
20/07/2023
14/12/2023
–
08/05/2024
14/04/2023
28/04/2023
–
24/04/2025
21/07/2025

Model Number
–
–
AG276QZD
–
AG405UXC
Lenovo Legion R45w-30
LPH2412U-A
–
–
‎25G3ZM/BK
–
–
–

Resolution
3840 x 2160
3840 x 2160
2560 x 1440
3840 x 2160
3440 x 1440
5120 x 1440
3840 x 2160
3440 x 1440
3840 x 2160
1920 x 1080
5120 x 2880
3840 x 2159
3840 x 2160

HDR
Yes
Yes
Yes
–
Yes
Yes
–
Yes
Yes
–
–
Yes
Yes

Types of HDR
Dolby Vision, DisplayHDR True Black 400
–
HDR10
–
Vesa DisplayHDR 400
DisplayHDR 400
–
DisplayHDR True Black 400
DisplayHDR 1000
–
–
HDR10, DisplayHDR600
DisplayHDR40

Refresh Rate
120 Hz
240 Hz
238 Hz
100 Hz
143 Hz
165 Hz
60 Hz
175 Hz
160 Hz
240 Hz
48 Hz
60 Hz
144 Hz

Ports
2x USB-C (1x 90W, 1x 15W), 1x HDMI 2.1
1 DP (1.4), two HDMI (2.1), two USB Cs, one USB B
DisplayPort 1.4 x 2, HDMI 2.0 x 2, 3.5mm audio x 1, USB-A x 2, USB-B x 1
Security lock slot (based on Kensington Security Slot) Power connector HDMI DisplayPort 1.4 USB-C 5Gbps upstream (DP 1.4 Alt. mode, power delivery up to 90W) USB Type-A 5Gbps downstream (2) RJ45 Ethernet port, 1GbE Stand lock Soundbar slots (2) USB-C 5Gbps downstream (Data only) USB Type-A 5Gbps downstream
HDMI 2.0 x 2, DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 x 4, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 x 1, USB-B 3.2 Gen 1 x 1, 3.5mm audio x 1
USB-A x 3, USB-B x 1, USB-C x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, 3.5mm audio x 1
USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0, power adapter
HDMI 2.0 x 2, DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, USB-C x 1 (DP Alt mode, Video, Data and Power Delivery), USB 3.2 Gen 1 / 5 Gbps, USB-B upstream x 1, USB-A downstream x 4 (with 1 for fast charge B.C 1.2)
DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 4
DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2
Thunderbolt 3, USB-C
HDMI (v2. 0) x2. USB C (PowerDelivery 90W, DisplayPort Alt Mode, Data) x1. USB Type-A downstream (USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5 Gbps, power charging 7.5W) x2. USB Type-C downstream (USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5 Gbps, power charging 15W) x1.
HDMI (v2.1) 1 DisplayPort (v1.4) 1 Thunderbolt 4 (PowerDelivery 90W, DisplayPort Alt Mode, Data) 1 Thunderbolt 4 out ( PowerDelivery 15W ) 1 Daisy Chain Technology Thunderbolt 3 All-in-One Connection Thunderbolt(3/4/5) USB Type-C Upstream (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbps, Data only) 1 USB Type-A Downstream (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbps, power charging 4.5W) 2 USB Type-A Downstream (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbps, power charging 7.5W) 1 USB Type-C Downstream (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbps, power charging 7.5W) 1

Connectivity
–
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
–
–
–
RJ45 gigabit ethernet
–
–
USB Type-C DP Alt Mode x 1, USB-B x 1, USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 x 4, 3.5mm audio
N/A
–
–
–

Colours
–
Metallic silver
–
–
Black
Black
Carbon Black
–
Black
16.7 Million
–
Silver
–

Display Technology
OLED
OLED
OLED
IPS
IPS
VA
–
OLED
Mini LED, IPS
VA
LCD
LCD
IPS

Screen Technology
–
–
–
IPS
–
–
–
–
IPS
VA
–
IPS
IPS

Syncing Technology
AMD FreeSync
None
Nvidia G-Sync
None
AMD FreeSync / Nvidia G-Sync
AMD FreeSync
None
AMD FreeSync
AMD FreeSync
AMD FreeSync
None
None
None

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Learn more about how we test monitors

We use every monitor we test for at least a week. During that time, we’ll check it for ease of use and put it through its paces by using it for both everyday tasks and more specialist, colour-sensitive work.
We also check its colours and image quality with a colorimeter to test its coverage and the display’s quality.

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