How to Choose a Computer Monitor

A monitor can help with ergonomics, too. External monitors typically offer more robust adjustment options than laptops have, enabling you to easily tweak their vertical and horizontal orientation. No more having to scrunch your neck at an awkward angle just to be able to see the screen.

But unless your idea of a fun weekend is comparing hardware specifications, walking into an electronics store (or browsing its online equivalent) to shop for a new monitor may be intimidating.

You’ll face a sea of similar-looking rectangles all labeled with jargony specs such as refresh rate and contrast ratio. Even terms you may be familiar with if you’ve recently shopped for a new TV, like 4K and HDR, could be confusing in the context of a computer monitor: Is HDR helpful if you’re in Microsoft Excel or Gmail all day?

What follows is a brief primer on how to shop for a monitor in 2022, plus Consumer Reports’ test results on some good options. Ultimately, we feel that for around $200, most people working from home will be able to find a reliable monitor that gives them what they need.

Prices change frequently, so it pays to shop around.