Articles about Monitor

PC gamers are really lucky nowadays. Not only are there many fun games, but lots of great hardware too. Monitors in particular have dropped in price while introducing higher refresh rates. Today, for instance, AOC launches a new monitor that is quite impressive. Called "CQ27G1," the 27-inch curved display features 2560x1440 resolution, AMD FreeSync, and an impressive 144Hz refresh rate. Best of all, it is competitively priced too.

What really intrigues me, however, is what AOC calls "Re-Spawned Warranty." Going back to a purchase date of January 1, 2019, the company will cover its gaming monitors for at least three years, including for a single dead pixel. Yes, you read that correctly -- if even one pixel goes bad, it will fix it. Many other companies require there to be many dead pixels before taking any action. Hell, for the first year, AOC will even cover accidental damage once. Believe it or not, if you do end up needing a replacement, AOC will send you a new monitor before you return the broken one.

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Having a touch screen can be great on a laptop -- especially on convertible models that transform into a tablet. On a desktop, however, not so much. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of applications where a touch screen monitor makes sense -- particularly in business and education. But home consumers won't necessarily see value in one.

Today, Philips launches a new 24-inch 1080p touch screen monitor that is surprisingly affordable. Called "242B9T," it has plenty of ports, including VGA, DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort. The touch aspect requires a USB connection, which doubles as connectivity for the integrated 2-port USB hub. It is built to be rugged, with IP54 water and dust resistance, plus there are built-in speakers too. Best of all, the stand is adjustable, making it quite versatile.

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If you are a PC gamer, you should really check out this new monitor from Acer. Called "Predator XN253Q X," this 24.5-inch display features some impressive specifications, such as NVIDIA G-SYNC, 400 nit brightness, 1ms response rate (0.4ms in "overdrive mode"), and an impressive 240Hz refresh.

While Predator XN253Q X has both HDMI and DisplayPort, you will need to use the latter to achieve 240Hz. The former maxes out at 60Hz. The monitor is a bit thick for my tastes, and that might be because of the integrated 4-port USB hub and stereo speakers. Thickness aside, it is a very attractive screen -- its design looks aggressive and futuristic.

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AOC has long made great monitors, and it is sad that the company has essentially lost its brand to popular politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Look, nothing against the representative from New York, but I am sure AOC the monitor maker is distraught over the whole situation. I mean, the company has been around more than 50 years! And now, if you say "AOC," most folks will immediately think you are referring to the politician. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez even scored the @AOC twitter handle!

Well, I will always think of AOC as a monitor-maker first, and today, it announces two new models. One is 24.5-inch (AG251FZ2), while the other is 27-inch (AG271FZ2). Although the resolution is "only"1080p, they both have other impressive specs, such as 240Hz refresh, 0.5ms response, 400 cd/m² brightness, and AMD FreeSync. Connectivity is bountiful, with both monitors offering DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI, and VGA. You even get a built-in USB hub and integrated speakers.

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When is a monitor not just a monitor? When it doubles as a Thunderbolt 3 docking station. The latest 27-inch 4K display from BenQ is called "PD2720U," and yes, it essentially has an integrated TB3 dock. In fact, with a single cable, this monitor can charge your laptop, display video, and provide USB ports (USB 3.1 gen 2) for things like mice, keyboards, and more.

Taking things even further, the PD2720U has a second Thunderbolt 3 port for connecting a TB3 device. In other words, you can daisy chain an external GPU, TB3 SSD, or even another display to the computer -- still having just one wire connected to it.

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If you are a gamer, you know a monitor with a high refresh rate is very desirable. These days, however, it is also important to have anti-tear technology, such as NVIDIA's G-SYNC or AMD's FreeSync. Believe it or not, gamers do not necessarily want a display with a high resolution. Sure, 4K looks great for video and images, but for gaming, it can lead to lower frames. This is why many hardcore game players still use FHD (1080p).

Today, Samsung announces a new monitor called "CRG5" that ticks all the right boxes for gamers. It is a 27-inch 1080p display with NVIDIA G-SYNC and an impressive 240Hz refresh rate. In other words, this monitor should be silky smooth. There is one more cool aspect, however -- it is curved. While I am not a huge fans of televisions with a curve, I do see value in a curved monitor as you sit closer to it.

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Back in January, we reported on two new "Brilliance" monitors from Philips. What made these displays stand out were their integrated Windows Hello-compatible cameras. This would allow the user to log into Windows 10 using their face -- no need to enter a password or touch a fingerprint reader. One was a pricey 49-inch super-wide monitor (499P9H), while the other was a 32-inch 4K display (329P9H). The latter has an integrated USB-C docking station and KVM switch, which is insanely cool.

At the time, we shared that the 329P9H would hit stores in February. Well, it was apparently very late, as it is just now coming to market! Yes, today, Philips announces that the Brilliance 32-inch 4K monitor (32P9H) is finally officially available for purchase. And yes, it looks like it was worth the wait.

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Philips monitors often provide an excellent value -- great "bang for your buck," as they say. The company's displays typically provide superb visual quality, while also offering good features, and attractive designs.

Today, the company launches a trio new monitors as part of its "E9 series." All three displays are curved with slim bezels, which is great, but two of them (the 27-inch 278E9QJAB and the 32-inch 328E9QJAB) are only 1080p. That resolution is passable for a 22-inch or 24-inch monitor, for example, but 27-inch and higher? Not ideal. Look, for gaming or watching movies, 1080p might be OK with those screen sizes, but text may be too blurry for general computer use. Thankfully, the 32-inch 328E9FJAB offers a much better 2560 x 1440 resolution -- that is the model you want to focus on, y'all.

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Back in January, Philips announced a beautiful pair of curved monitors. The premium displays featured Windows Hello cameras and USB-C -- very cool. Unfortunately, they both carried sky-high prices, starting at $799. What if you want a quality monitor at a more affordable price?

Today, Philips launches yet another pair of monitors, this time for far less money. The 32-inch 326E8FJSB features a QHD 2560 x 1440 display, while the 27-inch 276E8VJSB can do 4K. The monitors have similar designs, with a beautiful curved base, but the smaller one has thinner bezels.

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Nowadays, when you say "AOC," many people will probably think of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez -- the groundbreaking congresswoman from the great state of New York. With that said, others -- like me -- know AOC as the monitor-maker known for quality products at affordable prices. I swear by its displays -- if you are on a budget, you should definitely give its offerings a look.

AOC doesn't just focus on budget-friendly monitors these days. Actually, with its AGON gaming brand, it is targeting gamers and enthusiasts too. Today, AOC unveils a pair of new monitors as part of its AGON 3 Series. Both displays are 27-inch and feature 2560 x 1440 resolution, but there are some significant differences. Appearances aside, the AG273QCX (seen above) uses AMD's FreeSync and offers a 144Hz refresh rate, while the AG273QCG (seen below) features NVIDIA G-SYNC and has 165Hz.

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If you can afford it, 4K monitors are great. If you are on a budget, however, 1080p is still totally passable. They work perfectly with all operating sytems -- Windows, macOS, and Linux-based -- without any scaling issues. In other words, it is generally a headache-free experience.

Today, AOC launches a new affordable "V2 Series" line of 1080p monitors, and they look incredible. How affordable are they? Pricing starts at a mere $99.99! There are three sizes from which to choose -- 22-inch, 24-inch, and 27-inch. The bezels are insanely slim -- great for those that want to use two side-by-side. Despite being inexpensive, these monitors are not no-frills. Believe it or not, they have AMD FreeSync technology and a respectable 75Hz refresh.

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Back in April, we reported on a very exciting new monitor from Philips -- model number 436M6VBPAB. What makes the display so special? Well, the 43-inch 4K monitor uses quantum dot technology and is HDR1000-certified. It even has an impressive 1,000 nits max brightness and 10-bit color.

At the time, Philips said the monitor would be available in the "summer." Unfortunately, that availability was quite vague, leaving many consumers wondering when they could buy the breathtaking monitor. Thankfully, we now know when it can be bought -- right now!

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Curved televisions are gimmicky and an overall bad idea. I bought a curved 4K TV a couple years ago, and while I do like it overall, it has a big negative -- it shows a lot of glare when the sun comes through the windows. Ultimately, the curved aspect doesn't seem to provide much (if any) value over a flat set when sitting on my couch.

Where curved displays are wonderful, however, is for computer monitors. When you are sitting closer to a display, such as at a desk, it provides a more immersive experience -- it is great. Today, Samsung unveils what it claims is the world's first curved Thunderbolt 3 QLED display. The 34-inch "CJ791," as it is called, features a 3440x1440 resolution, wide 21:9 aspect ratio, and four milliseconds response time.

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While 4K is a popular resolution at the moment, it isn't always big with PC gamers. Why? Well, UHD can be very taxing on a graphics card, leading to lower frame rate. Not to mention, 4K monitors are still fairly pricey by comparison. Depending on your hardware, you might have a more enjoyable experience using a lower resolution, such as the trusty 1080p. For example, some people would rather get 60fps with 1920x1080 than 30fps with 3840x2160 -- I know I would.

Today, AOC unveils a trio of new 1080p gaming monitors that are aimed at PC gamers on a budget. All three feature AMD FreeSync technology, while two of them also have 144Hz refresh for extra-smooth motion. The very small bezels and red color makes them look very attractive too.

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While some people spend their days working at the same location, for many others, their office can be anywhere. It is not uncommon to see people laboring away on a laptop while in their cars, coffee shops, or in a field sitting under a tree.

Unfortunately, this often means working with only one display -- having multiple monitors can be a huge boon for productivity. With that said, there are portable monitors on the market that offer a multi-screen experience when on the go. Today, AOC unveils a beautiful new lightweight (1.81 pounds) 16-inch (technically 15.6) variant that connects via USB-C for both power and video.

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