So you're in the market for the best 4K monitor out there in 2023, and we can certainly help you in your search: we're going to outline the very best options you've got at the moment in plenty of detail.
If you're a serious gamer then you might be better off checking out our best gaming monitors and best curved gaming monitors guides. Or, if you’re solely an Apple user we’ve also got a guide to the best monitors for MacBook Pro to ensure you get the right screen for your needs.
Want to know what’s best for your 4K monitor? Find out if it should be USB-C, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt or HDMI. Right now though, we're concentrating on the best 4K monitors for any purpose, so let's dive in.
Best 4K monitors 2023: The top 3
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The best premium 4K monitor is the LG 27GP950-B. With HDMI 2.1 you can get variable refresh rate support, so everything runs silky smooth on this 27-inch 144Hz panel.
The best 4K monitor for most people is the Dell U2723QE. With a host of desirable features (such as acting as a USB-C Hub) and a great price point, this 27-incher sits in the sweet spot that'll be ideal for many buyers.
The best affordable 4K monitor is the Acer CB282K. If you want the resolution but don't want to pay big bucks for the pleasure then Acer's 4K option is ideal.
If you're looking for a 27-inch 4K gaming monitor then you can't do much better than the LG 27GP950-B. It comes with a stunning list of top-end specs – such as HDMI 2.1 and a 144Hz refresh rate, so it's ideal for gamers – which adds up to a screen experience that's simply one of the best you can buy.
There really aren't many negatives to talk about at all. The local dimming isn't always flawless, and we do wish there was some rotation built into the base, but again we can live without that. Just minor quibbles really.
Read our full LG 27GP950-B gaming monitor review to find out all the details about this superb 4K monitor.
The Dell Ultrasharp 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitor U2723QE (to give its full and rather extensive name!) is the "do-it-all 4K monitor". It combines an excellent 27-inch panel with the features of a USB-C hub, so is ideal for acting as a laptop screen whilst providing it with power.
Missing, however, are features like the faster Thunderbolt connection standard and speakers. And if you're a serious gamer then you might be better off with a faster refresh rate option, as it's 60Hz here, but that's fine for most users.
Read our Dell Ultrasharp 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitor U2723QE review for a full overview on this 4K monitor.
The Acer CB282K offers great picture quality at an affordable price. It's not as bright as some, though, and there's also no USB-C (instead HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2 for connections). But that'll be just fine for most users who want that extra screen real-estate and resolution.
We also think it hits the sweet spot in terms of size, at 28-inch, meaning it's big enough to display games and videos well, but not so big that it dominates any room. It's a mighty fine option for those who don't want to spend too much.
Read our full Acer CB282K review to learn more about this 4K monitor.
Best 4K monitors 2023: The best of the rest
Isn't it a thing of beauty? Apple's own Studio Display is an undeniable looker, complete with 5K resolution Retina Display that's sensational. Its only downside real here is that it's 60Hz max, there's no faster refresh rate. But as the best monitor for Apple users it's an obvious high-end pick.
The design will look at home in any Mac setup, so it's a perfect match, plus there are four USB-C ports to the rear, one of which is Thunderbolt and capable of 96W charging – so you can easily charge a modern MacBook through it, no extra power cable required.
As we said in our Apple Studio Display review: "far more than just a monitor, this stunning 5K display with a 12MP webcam, 6-speaker surround and a Thunderbolt port ... is a great choice for MacBook Pro users". It costs a fair bit too, of course, so that's something to consider.
This 4K monitor has a different take: called a 'Smart Monitor with Streaming TV' by Samsung, the M8 comes with a camera included and lots of smart features like built-in apps. So not only do you get a great picture, it's a bit like having a smart TV rather than straightforward monitor.
As a result, however, you'll need the space for it because it's large, and there aren't as many ports here as with some of the competition. Not that you need the volume: with USB-C you can power a laptop from the screen, keeping everything neat and tidy.
If you're thinking about buying a 32-inch 4K monitor then be sure to read our full Samsung M8 review.
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 comes from a long line of impressive Samsung monitors under the Odyssey umbrella, and while it's primarily aimed at gamers, this is a screen that works very well for other tasks too. No matter what you hook the Odyssey Neo G7 up to, it'll perform well.
You don't actually have to hook it up to anything though: the monitor comes with its own on-board software and selection of streaming apps, powered by Samsung's own Tizen OS. You can quite easily stream movies, music and more to this screen independently of having a console or computer connected.
In terms of the raw specs, the 144Hz maximum refresh rate, the Mini-LED tech, the support for DisplayHDR 600 technology, and the compatibility with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro are some of the reasons this is an appealing device. As it's Samsung it's well built, and it's priced quite reasonably too.
Elegant and minimalist are the best ways to describe the Huawei MateView
If you’re keen to make sure your office fulfils a modern, minimalist aesthetic then the Huawei MateView 4K monitor will fit right in. This 28.2inch screen is a 3:2 aspect ratio, not ultra-wide like many of the 16:9 panels in this guide. That makes it great for work.
It's also paired with some seriously clever features like wireless projection from your Windows PC or Huawei smartphone, as well as touch controls using the Smart Bar on the underside of the frame. You’ll also get plenty of choices when it comes to wired connectivity, including a USB-C port with 65W charging.
One downside is that you don’t get loads of display settings, but creators will love its depth of colour and accuracy, while those using it for more writing-based tasks will enjoy the 3:2 aspect ratio. The whole thing feels sleek and easy to use.
Get the full details in our Huawei MateView review on the site.
The AOC U27P2CA isn't quite as versatile as some of the other monitors in this list, but it's a great choice for a home office setup where you need it to be rock solid in terms of its computing and colour output. It also comes in at a very reasonable price point, which always helps.
It's a compact 27-inch monitor that offers a lot of flexibility in terms of how you can tilt it and adjust its height – if you don't have much physical space to work with it's ideal. We also like its understated, no-nonsense looks, which are plain enough to fit in just about everywhere.
Besides the resolution that earns it a place in this list of the best 4K monitors, the AOC U27P2CA also offers plenty of connectivity options, decent brightness and contrast, and integrated speakers – so you can watch videos and listen to music without the aid of any other sound output.
Want a 4K monitor for office work? Then the Philips Brilliance 329P1H is a top choice.
As we note in our full Philips Brilliance 329P1H review, this is a great 4K monitor for professionals, delivering a 32-inch Ultra HD IPS panel with integrated webcam, Windows Hello integration, and USB-C connectivity.
The screen itself is very accurate and it comes with highly adjustable stand, too, meaning it can be easily adjusted to all desks and preferences. That integrated webcam is no token afterthought, either, delivering Full HD 1080p video recording.
In terms of ports it delivers a brace of HDMI 2.0 and a Thunderbolt 1.4. Adjustability sits at 180mm of height adjustment, with the display gliding smoothly up and down, plus 90 degrees of pivot, 180 degrees of swivel and tilting from -5 to +25 degrees.
There's no HDR on this panel, though, and you don't get any gamer-focused high refresh rates either, but if you want a 4K monitor for work, general use and streaming video content, the Philips is a great choice.
We wouldn't say the BenQ EW3280U is the best monitor in any one particular area, but what it does do is offer something for creatives, gamers, casual users and professionals for a very reasonable price – it's perfect if you want your 4K display to wear a lot of different hats through the week.
The HDRi that is on board the BenQ EW3280U isn't technically an officially recognised HDR standard – rather it's BenQ's take on the same technology – but it does the job of keeping both light and dark areas of the screen in view. There's minimal ghosting, and the high resolution looks bright, vivid and sharp whether you're looking at a game or a movie.
And a word about the sound too: with speakers either side and on the back, you get audio that's a cut above what you might expect for something at this size and at this price. Coming from BenQ, you are of course also getting the reliability and the solid build quality that the manufacturer is known for.
How to choose the best 4K monitor for you
It's really important to do your research when choosing the best 4K monitor for you. From refresh rates to adaptive-sync capabilities, be sure you know exactly what these features are and whether they'll influence your decision before you make it. A little research goes a long way when investing in new tech.
To this end, below our list of top 4K monitors we've included some advice that should help you narrow down and determine what UHD screens you should be looking for, and ensure you land a panel that you'll be impressed with.
The natural successor to 1080p screens and televisions is of course 4K, which is also marketed as Ultra HD (UHD). There are four times as many pixels, which means four times as much detail.
Movies look good at 1080p, but in 4K the picture really gets to that breathtaking level – and as long as your PC can handle the processing demands, playing games on a 4K display is an amazing experience, too.
When choosing a monitor, you need to take into consideration factors such as colour gamut and response time, the latter being a reflection on how good the panel will be for gaming (the faster the better).
You also – naturally – need to work out which panel size you need: 27-inch displays are the sweet spot for us, although you can get some cracking deals on larger displays, too.
Who makes the best 4K monitors?
There are loads of quality 4K monitor makers in business today producing panels at both the budget and premium ends of the market. Naturally, certain manufacturers tend to lean toward different pricing brackets, but almost all will offer something for most usage cases.
The best 4K monitor makers, from T3's experience of reviewing and ranking 4K monitors are:
Samsung, Dell, Philips, Acer, HP, BenQ, LG
These makers have shown T3 over the years that with stylish panels, excellent build quality and advanced panel tech and features, in almost all circumstances when they introduce a new Ultra HD monitor then it's going to be a good one.
4K monitor or 4K TV: which should you buy?
Now that's a very good question. First off you really need to decide what you're buying a screen for. If it's work or creative/graphic design tasks only then we'd say a 4K monitor is absolutely the way you should go. You've got a wide range of affordable UHD panels to choose from which, while they may not have fancy features, will deliver you the resolution and color accuracy you require.
If you're looking for a panel that can also be used for good amounts of entertainment usage, though, such as streaming 4K, HDR movies off Netflix or Disney Plus, and/or gaming, then while a 4K monitor can be a good choice, you may actually be better off plumping for a 4K TV with gaming/PC functionality.
You only have to take one look, for example, at the best gaming TVs to see that today's best offerings come with loads of gaming-focussed features like 120Hz refresh rates, low response times and HDR, while the best 4K TVs deliver color accuracy and vibrancy that is off the chart.
Basically, the line between 4K monitor and 4K TV has blurred over the past few years, especially as larger monitor options come into play.
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How we test the best 4K monitors
Testing the best 4K monitors is a multiple-stage process. Firstly we determine just how easy the monitor is to set up and then calibrate. If a monitor has loads of fiddly screws, a heavy and awkward stand or an awkward assemble process then we'll find out.
Next, we power the monitor up and explore its screen settings and on-board menu system. Here we're seeing what sorts of picture modes are available, as well as just what customisation options it delivers in terms of image tweaking. We're also judging just how easy it is to access and navigate these menus.
Next we focus on the monitor's image quality across a variety of applications, ranging from web browsing and document work, to photo editing in Photoshop and watching movies and TV shows on streaming services like Netflix, and on to gaming. We're looking out for things like colour accuracy, color space, HDR performance, brightness, refresh rate, response times and more besides.
We then move on to judging the panel's connectivity options, as well as any other features or accessories it may come with. Following that we finally then compare it rival monitors that offer similar performance or retail in a similar price range.
Finally, we then bestow a star score on the 4K monitor (our of 5 star, with 1 star being the worst score and 5 stars being the best) and, if the monitor has scored highly, then consider it for inclusion in our best 4K monitors buying guides.
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