To get a clear picture on the screen in 2023, users will need monitors that support 4K resolution. 6K and 8K formats are now widely available on the market, but we decided to make a rating for 4K. With smaller formats, you can achieve higher frame rates with any graphics card. Despite these facts, 3840x2160 is now at the top of the flagship offerings of many companies. For most movie and computer game lovers, 4K resolution will be the best option. It is also convenient to hold online conferences, work, and browse the Internet. In this article, we'll take a look at the best budget 4K monitors.
Recently, the 4K format was a great luxury for many users. Nowadays, such screens are widespread because of their high refresh rate. Due to the wide variety of 4K monitors, competition has begun. Different manufacturers offer affordable options to customers. The following are the best products in the budget 4K monitor category that we tested.
Contents:
- Tips for choosing a 4K monitor
- The best budget 4K monitors
- Where can I buy the best budget 4K monitors in 2023?
Tips for choosing a 4K monitor
If you're looking to buy the best 4K monitor, consider these expert tips:
- Availability of interfaces and additional options. You need to decide whether you will connect it to a PC via DisplayPort or HDMI. Decide right away if you need additional interfaces such as USB-C, USB Type-A, and others. Many monitors have built-in speakers.
- To improve the quality of content, you should choose a 4K monitor that offers optimal HDR implementation. This will allow the content to look as good as possible on the screen. Users should keep in mind that not all budget options have HDR support.
- Indicators of dE. Most often, users do not see 3 Delta E with the naked eye. This includes color distortion and 5dE. This problem can interfere with creative work.
- The user should immediately decide for what purpose they will use the monitor. If gaming is a priority, you should pay attention to the presence of the Adaptive-Sync option and a high refresh rate. At the same time, you should consider buying a powerful video card. The minimum suitable options for 4K monitors are Vega 64 or 1070 Ti. For a higher quality image, it is recommended to use Radeon VII or RTX series graphics cards. If you want to create content or play games, pay attention to models with high contrast.
- The 32-inch diagonal size is currently the optimal solution. This allows you to provide enough space on your desktop screen. If the product does not fit on your desk, you can consider 27 and 28-inch options, which are widespread among budget models.
The best budget 4K monitors
Samsung UR59C
In the category of budget 4K monitors, this option was the best in our tests. It's worth buying because of the stunning picture. The only minor drawbacks are the requirement to calibrate and the lack of USB interfaces.
Its diagonal is 32 inches and it uses a VA matrix with bends. The UR59C has an excellent image, and after calibration, you can achieve clear and accurate colors. During sRGB tests, we noticed 4.3 dE. With the help of calibration, we were able to reduce it to 0.9 dE. The screen demonstrates high-quality contrast, after calibrating the matrix, a value of 2590.5:1 was achieved.
The UR59C is not suitable for serious gaming, but ordinary gamers will get everything they need for entertainment. The response time reaches 4 ms, the frequency is 60 Hz. It does not have G-Sync and FreeSync. Input lag and response can be significantly improved by using 75Hz. Thanks to the increased pixel density and contrast, games looked fine on the 32-inch display.
If you prefer non-intensive games or set the settings to low, you can achieve FPS 60 with a mid-range graphics card. On a large screen, there is often a bend, but the UR59C uses a 16:9 format. The curvature is 1500R, which allows you to work with a large number of windows at the same time.
Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q
This is the best solution for computer games. Advantages Asus VG289Q are its high-quality assembly and accurate color. The disadvantages include average contrast and average HDR quality.
Nowadays, monitors that have a frequency of 144 Hz and 8.3 million pixels are expensive. The VG289Q has a 60Hz frequency, but FreeSync support has been added to solve the screen tearing problem. There is a longer input lag compared to 144Hz screens in terms of response time. At the same time, the monitor in combination with a budget graphics card gives a realistic and detailed look to the images. In our SDR tests, games were displayed vividly, and all the visual advantages were noticeable thanks to the dynamic contrast.
HDR is not of the best quality, despite the presence of full backlighting. We were satisfied with the level of color enhancement. At the same time, highlights and shadows looked clear.
LG 32UN500W
It's the best budget option in the 32-inch category. We recommend it to users because of its good contrast and decent build quality. The disadvantages include the lack of HDR, height adjustment, and portrait mode.
This model is worth considering if you want to buy a 32-inch monitor. The main criterion in our tests is contrast. The VA matrix used did not disappoint, with a default contrast ratio of 2353.9:1. With the DCI-P3 color gamut, there are no visible errors in the displayed space.
The 32UN500-W features FreeSync technology and two 5W speakers. Games and movies are delivered in rich colors. The deep black color is particularly noteworthy. That's why we've added the 32UN500-W to our rating. This is a budget monitor, so there is no HDR support. Compared to SDR, we didn't get a significant increase in quality.
Dell S2721QS
This model is the best 24-inch 4K monitor available. The S2721QS has the advantages of having useful productivity options, as well as a bright and clear picture. The disadvantages include an inconvenient on-screen menu.
The model has become the best among 27-inch budget screens. Users can work with a sharp picture, a bright screen and useful options. Thanks to the available functionality, users can activate the option to work with multiple PCs or choose to view in picture-by-picture and picture-in-picture formats. There is a special program for screen calibration.
In our picture quality tests, we achieved a value of 393 nits, the contrast of the IPS matrix is 1101:1. Color is displayed accurately, for sRGB we determined 2.6 dE. HDR is not one of the advantages of this screen. In practice, we saw unsaturated color and errors in shades of gray. For games, this is not the best option because there is no Adaptive-Sync.
HP U28
A great 4K monitor for creative people. We chose it because of the large number of additional interfaces and accurate sRGB. A significant drawback is the dim HDR.
The U28 is perfect for content creation professionals. Therefore, the price of the product is premium. We saw professional-level color accuracy.
The main advantage of the U28 is the coverage of P3 and sRGB color spaces with on-screen menu calibration. Users are offered an adjustable stand that allows them to choose the right angle and height. Portrait mode can also be selected to enhance the creative workflow.
The U28 is cheaper than other professional monitors, but it is the most expensive model in our rating. It has a USB-C connector that allows you to charge various devices. This monitor is perfect for work and hobbies.
Samsung 27 inch S80UA
This is the best 4K monitor with USB-C support. You can buy it because of the colorful pictures. The disadvantages include lackluster HDR and an expensive price.
Samsung offers a 27-inch screen, which has a higher cost compared to its counterparts. At the same time, users don't have to worry about picture quality. The S80UA has a bright screen, which in our DCI-P3 tests covers 95% of the screen. There is also an sRGB mode, where we see only 2.8 dE.
We added the S80UA to the rating due to the presence of a USB hub and a large number of interfaces. If necessary, 3 USB-A connectors can be used with a PC, and the monitor can be connected via USB-C, which reaches up to 100 watts. This will allow you to charge your laptop.
The S80UA also has a headphone jack, HDMI, and DisplayPort. There are no speakers, as in most budget 4K models. The use of HDR technology was a complete failure, so we recommend turning on SDR mode to watch movies where the picture quality will be at a high level. The stand allows you to work with portrait mode.
Where to buy the best budget 4K monitors in 2023
You should buy monitors only from a reliable supplier that offers a warranty. Now in the Artline catalog, customers can find any of the 4K monitors listed in this article at a market price. All products are original, and users can be sure of the quality of the selected products.