Our number one choice in this category, Samsung’s excellent CHG90, is a curvaceous beauty. It’s 49-inch, 5K curved widescreen panel supports HDR 10 and a 120Hz refresh rate, and it’s one of the best curved monitors ever built, yet remains fairly affordable given what’s on offer. Continue reading for the rest of our best 5K and 8K computer monitor choices, or head over to our best computer monitors roundup for a broader selection of some fantastic options. Of course, with all this picture quality, serious gamers need performance to match, and the CRG9 seeks to deliver. Its speedy 120Hz refresh rate and 4ms response time are unmatched among 5K displays. On top of this is support for AMD’s FreeSync 2 variable refresh rate technology, which minimizes screen tearing and ensures smooth gaming even at an ultra-high resolution (assuming you have an AMD graphics card). Other features reduce screen flickering and blue light emissions so your play sessions can carry on with greater comfort. The glossy 27-inch monitor’s defining feature is its true 5K native resolution of 5120x2880 pixels — or 218 PPI. It can also operate at a 2560x1440 resolution, enhanced with Retina mode, resulting in a crisp and clear display that many users may actually prefer. The IPS panel offers very wide viewing angles, 500 nits of brightness, and vivid colors in the DCI-P3 standard. If you’re looking for a stylish Apple design to match, you may be disappointed by the 27MD5KB-B’s fairly basic black plastic exterior with relatively large bezels. It does, however, fit a built-in camera and microphone into the top bezel, along with down-firing speakers at the bottom. There are no buttons on the monitor at all—brightness, volume, and other settings are controlled from your device — and besides the primary Thunderbolt port, there are only three other USB-C ports for additional accessories. The VA panel exhibits vibrant colors and a strong 3000:1 contrast ratio. It also offers fast pixel response times and minimal input lag, which — combined with adaptive-sync support — make for a smoother gaming experience. Games and movies can benefit from HDR on the 499P9H, though DisplayHDR 400 (only requiring 400 nits of max brightness) isn’t the best HDR experience you can get. Other convenient features built into the monitor include two 5-watt speakers, a USB-C docking station for your laptop, and a KVM switch to control two different PCs with a single keyboard and mouse. There’s also a pop-up webcam at the top, with infrared support for extra security through Windows Hello facial recognition. Complementing the groundbreaking resolution is an excellent picture quality to match. The UP3218K boasts 178-degree viewing angles, 400 nits of brightness, and a contrast ratio of 1300:1. With nearly full coverage of the various industry color spaces and a deep palette of 1.07 billion colors, it’s a graphics professional’s dream in terms of image accuracy and realism. PC gamers won’t be overly impressed by the monitor’s so-so 60Hz refresh rate and 6ms response time, but even the best graphics cards can’t handle 8K just yet. Hardware and content, in general, will be limiting factors as most of it plays catchup to 8K, but it’s still a powerful way to experience the world of 4K. If you have the hardware and professional needs to warrant it, the Dell UP3218K is in a class of its own. It comes at a premium cost, but there’s no doubt that your eyes will be feasting on premium technology.
