Eyes are the mirror of a person’s soul. The computer instead has a monitor, either a large 40-inch or a 22-inch touch screen monitor. You can see the “contents” of your computer with its assistance – not hardware, of course, but programs, files, and everything else that you and I use every day. As a result, selecting a display should be approached with caution, seriousness, and rigor.
Table of Contents
Does size matter?
One of the most basic and tough concerns confronting monitor consumers is which diagonal to choose. There is already an unusually wide range of display diagonals on the market, making it difficult for new users to grasp.
Of course, before the popularity of 4K, everything was a little simpler: the maximum Full HD resolution imposed its limitations: a 21-inch monitor would provide a clear picture. Fork out for 27 or 30 inches – as a bonus, you get pixelation or the need to sit away from the screen to avoid seeing it.
Most displays now have a 4K resolution, and 8K will be widespread shortly. As a result, the obstacles are conditional. You may also use as large a diagonal as you desire (and as much money as you have). There are no disadvantages, but you will have greater work space.
If you believe that staring at such a display is inconvenient, consider, for example, Beetronics’ models with curved screens. Then you won’t have to tilt your head repeatedly to view the right or left corner: makers choose a radius of curvature of the screen that allows everything to be seen at once, without extra effort.
Aside from the size, it is also important to consider the screen format. 5:4 and 4:3 are only used for work and education; they are inconvenient for watching movies or playing games because black bars remain on the top and bottom. Furthermore, because of their other qualities, such displays are not sharpened for multimedia. Choose models with 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio displays for enjoyment.
In addition, manufacturers occasionally encounter non-standard devices, such as those with 21:9 format displays. They have been sharpened for use in multi-window mode when two or even three windows must be placed near each other. It is simpler, more convenient, and less expensive than combining multiple monitors.
Is the resolution that important?
A little above we already mentioned the resolution, now let’s dwell on it in a little more detail.
In a modern monitor, the picture can be displayed in the format:
- HD (1366×768 or 1280×720 depending on the screen format),
- Full HD (1920×1080),
- WQHD (2560×1440),
- UltraHD (4K or 3840×2160).
Monitors with a resolution of 8K are only just gaining popularity, so the mass use of this technology will have to wait for a little, but rest assured, very soon it will be no less popular than 4K.
It is obvious that the greater the resolution, the more detailed the image. However, chasing the 4K format on a screen with a diagonal of 18-23″ is not worth it: the objects will be too tiny, and working will be inconvenient. In this instance, watching movies simply does not compensate for the unpleasant emotions, especially because there aren’t many films available and the transmission is now available in UHD format. On a large screen, 4K and WQHD look organic and do not create problems.
Pixel size is a minor detail to consider. The lower this number, the more comprehensive the image on the screen. This feature compliments the screen resolution. Choose the smaller pixeled display amongst two monitors of the same size and resolution.
Matrix and backlight
Let’s move on to another very important set of technical parameters. The quality of the image on the screen depends on the type of matrix and the backlight that complements it.
Everything is simple with illumination: LED technology gives a high-quality glow. Visually comparing monitors and being biased towards them is worthwhile only if you are choosing from budget employees. In devices of the middle price category and the elite, problems are no longer observed.
However, we note that it is still worth inspecting the monitor when buying or receiving a delivery – at least for broken pixels. It is better to deal with this problem right away than to suffer with proving to the manufacturer that it is a defect and not your fault.
With matrices, everything is a little more complicated. They can be divided into three main types:
- TN+film,
- IPS,
- OLED matrices are gradually appearing.
Everything else is their subspecies, so in terms of their properties, they are similar to the main types.
What is the difference between matrices?
TN is the simplest matrix used in budget monitors. These representatives of the office and educational front are not capable of natural color rendering and a wide contrast range, their viewing angles are far from better. The main advantages are low cost and short response time. It allows you to capture the dynamics in a movie or a game. However, due to other characteristics, it will not be possible to enjoy it.
IPS differ from them in a slightly smaller margin of contrast, but a slightly more pleasant color rendering in general.
Both of these types of monitors are suitable for entertainment and work with graphics, except for TN. Professionals are advised to pay attention to models with IPS or AMOLED matrices that are sharpened purely under the graphics. They work with the widest possible color coverage, and manufacturers often include the necessary accessories in the package – from a “hood” to protect against glare and ending with calibrators.
If you are going to work only with documents, you should not spend money on such models, the basic capabilities of the TN+film matrix will be enough for you.
However, if you still want to get something a little better in terms of picture quality, without investing too much money, there is an option here. Look for monitors with AMOLED screens – this is far from a budget variant of the matrix, which is at the cutting edge of technology and at the same time very pleasant in terms of their characteristics and visual effect.
