Monitor Buy Guide: Unravel 5 Rumors About How to Choose a Right Monitor
2019/07/11 ｜By G editor
Should you select the one with 4K, 144Hz or USB type C? Various specifications may make you dizzy! Buying a high-price monitor is not much of a challenge, but an expensive monitor without good value is the problem! Before you buy, there are 5 keys you should know.
If you are not aiming for a super multi-function monitor, then choosing the monitor with the specification depending on your needs should be the top thing. After all, one man’s meat could be another man’s poison. Instead of choosing the most high-end monitor, the one that meets your core needs and 100% caters to your application is enough.
Monitor Buy Guide
5 Spec Myths to Be Considered before Purchase
1. About Size:
Don't Blindly Pursue Big Screen
Just like choosing a TV, the size of the monitor should be decided according to the space of living room and viewing distance. To select the best desktop screen, taking user’s environment and other factors into consideration is a must.
Table Depth Determines the Viewing Distance
Doctors suggest that the preferred viewing distance is between 45 – 60 cm or more. The monitor should be positioned at the height of users’ eye level, and looking downwards from 10 – 20 degrees is the best spot. Placing the monitor too close can cause eye pressure. If the screen is too large which causes eyes moving dramatically when viewing, then the screen size is not suitable for you.
However, the widescreen above 36 inches or curved screen is an exception. Racing game players like the sense to be right at the scene, and the line of sight is surrounded by the screen to reflect the reality of the scene. However, some strategic maps, blood, etc. may be displayed in the corner of the screen which makes people difficult to grasp the information at a glance.
Based on the depth of the desk, please refer to the table below to choose appropriate screen size:
Don't let a monitor stand causing a disaster on the desk
Size affects volume and volume affects the design of stand. Most of stand, in order to stabilize the monitor at a point of balance, the larger the screen the wider and heavier of the stand. Most of “thick monitors” occupy half of the desk and there is no space when adjusting its viewing angles.
Limited angle
Occupy too much spcace
Stand cannot be fold
----Editor's Suggestion----
The editor suggests that choosing the screen size based on its using environment and device to which it is connected is the only way to make viewing more comfortable for a long time. For example, when looking for laptop’s second monitor, 13 - 15 inches is the best match to use with laptop’s screen to keep the viewing horizontally to reduce the eye burden. By choosing a height-compatible monitor can also avoid shoulder and neck pain caused by changing the field of view between dual screens.
IF!
If you like our editor, you may need to go out to work with dual screens, but you don’t like to carry big and small bags on the go. Then, the 11 - 13 inch is with the highest portability. If you travel far away and would like to play PS4, Xbox sometimes, the 15.6-inch monitor like 1503E is easy to be put into a bag and set up!
2 .About Resolution:
4K is the best? The Myth of high-resolution monitor
The resolution is closely related to the size. For example, if you put 4K on the 40-inch and 32-inch screens, the 32-inch screen must look more detailed. If you often need to view pictures, play 3A masterpieces, binge-watching…etc., the more delicate the images can be, the better the viewing experience is.
With the higher resolution, the text and icon on the computer could be smaller due to the proportion of the “words” on the screen is relatively lesser. When adjusting the text size bigger, the text becomes muddy. In terms of 13 inches, in most documents, FHD or HD can compromise between the delicate images and proper font and graphics ratio.
Office Working or Entertaining Needs Different Resolution
Online gamers or game console players need to take the performance of the game and the computer into consideration. 4K and 5K monitors do not commonly have a refreshing rate of 144hz. Games’ FPS is affected by the performance of CPU and graphic card. If the game’s FPS is not that high, using monitor with high fresh rate will not make users feel the performance. The screen with very high-resolution encounters insufficient graphics card which might end up with overall low performance. In summary, it is necessary to balance image quality and fluency. Resolution is not the higher, the better!
---- Editor's Suggestion----
The editor sincerely recommends that clerical workers do not really need to use high-resolution monitors that hurt your eyes. HD or FHD is the most comfortable res. to use. If you would like to take game consoles outdoors, then the portable monitor should not exceed 15 inches. Select the monitor with 1080P image quality, 60Hz refresh rate, the average performance of speed, price, and resolution can commonly meet the needs of players when playing PS4, Xbox.
3. About Panel:
Which panel is the best?
Frankly speaking, the largest gap lies in the “Response Time” and “the level of the color shift.” If you are not a professional expert player and do not have the mangekyou sharingan, it is actually very hard to feel the difference in the response time. For watching videos or view still images (e.g., when designing graphics, editing videos, and examining camera’s image), choosing a panel with the features of wide viewing angles and not much color shift from an oblique angle makes the overall image quality better.
There are three most common panel: TN、VA、IPS. Then, what is the different?
The editor reminds that color gamut specifications such as sRGB, Adobe RGA, NTSC might be important, but your color preference is the key. If the monitor has a built-in OSD menu for adjusting RGB, color temperature and other settings, you can set the images closer to your preference. When using dual monitors for cross-checking, the color of the second monitor can be adjusted closer to the main screen.
“Anti-Glare” vs. “Matte” Panel: The Decisive Points for Viewing Quality
The cost of the glossy panel is lower than the matte panel, but the brightness and contrast are relatively higher. This is why many laptops adopt a glossy screen. Consumers think it looks more beautiful, but actually, it is easier to reflect light and have fingerprints when touching. The matte (anti-glare) panel relatively takes a low-profile route. The matte panel uses crystal silicon surface treatment, though the surface is not as smooth as the glossy panel, it can significantly reduce unwanted reflections, which is relatively suitable for outdoors or for multi-person viewing.
---- Editor's Suggestion ----
The editor suggests that choosing the matte panel with wide viewing angle technology (for ex.: IPS), which compensates the vividness of the matte panel when viewing from an oblique angle. There are not only with the features of wider viewing angles, higher saturation and higher contrast, but also anti-reflection so that the eyes will be more comfortable when working long hours! It is the top choice for gaming or working.
4. About Interfaces:
Wow! USB Type C is great, I want it too! What's the difference of the video input interface?
A monitor with multiple interfaces is good, which can frequently switch the screen to the different devices’ signals. However, it still depends on which interfaces you often have to connect with.
HDMI is used in computer products, DVD players, game consoles, cameras and other communication and consumer electronics products or audio and video appliances. HDMI on the monitor can be connected to a wide range of devices. In addition to the standard size port, DisplayPort also has another mini size connector called Mini DisplayPort that is the interface adopted by Surface Pro and the old MacBook Pro models.
In the past, the USB Type-C port only transmits power and touch signals. Now with USB Type C Alt mode technology, the new Apple® Macbook Air, some ultra-slim laptops, Andriod phones, etc. are introduced to this interface, which can transfer data, audio and video at high speed in both directions. It supports up to 20V 5A power transmission (Max. 100W).
----Editor's Suggestion ----
The editor recommends choosing the monitor with dual interfaces. First of all, there must be an HDMI, which is common on devices. Then, DP or USB type C can be considered. You can refer to the commonly used devices in the table above to decide. The editor personally thinks the USB Type-C is very convenient for connecting to new MacBook and smartphone! The reason is it can transmit power and video at the same time (It is quite important!).
5. Eye protection:
Is low blue light eye protection effective?
Using electronic products such as 3C at short distances, the blue light emitted by LEDs can stimulate the eyes to generate free radicals, which can damage retinal cells after a long time, and may cause problems such as macular degeneration. If the screen is equipped with a low blue light mode, it can really reduce eye fatigue, sourness, etc., and an extra line of defense.
Remember though, there’s no absolute “good” or “bad” monitor. To choose the right monitor for you, it all depends on how you would like to use it. Speaking of monitors, if you ask us what kind of monitor is the best for working, gaming and watching movies, then the monitor with IPS matte panel, HDMI and USB Type-C interfaces and space-saving, adjustable stand – we do recommend.
