How to Choose the Right Monitor: Your Complete 2025 Buying Guide

G'day! After helping thousands of customers find their ideal displays over the years at Landmark Computers, I have seen firsthand how the right monitor can dramatically improve productivity, reduce eye strain, and even spark joy in daily computer use. But I have also watched plenty of people struggle with buyer's remorse after choosing a monitor based solely on size or price.

The monitor market in 2025 offers incredible diversity from budget-friendly 1080p displays perfect for office work to cutting-edge 8K OLED panels that will make your jaw drop. Let us dive into everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

Understanding Your Primary Use Case: What Should I Look for When Buying a Computer Monitor?

Before exploring specifications, it is crucial to identify how you will primarily use your monitor. Understanding what to look for when buying a monitor starts with your use case, as this determines which features matter most and where you should invest your budget.

Professional Work and Productivity

If you are spending 8+ hours daily on spreadsheets, documents, and web browsing, prioritise:

• Eye comfort features like flicker-free technology and blue light filters
• Sharp text rendering with at least 1440p resolution for 27 inch displays
• Ergonomic adjustability including height, tilt, and swivel options
• USB-C connectivity for single-cable laptop docking
• Built-in KVM switches if you are using multiple computers

Creative and Design Work

Photographers, video editors, and graphic designers need monitors that accurately represent their work:

• Colour accuracy with at least 99% sRGB coverage, ideally Adobe RGB or DCI-P3
• Factory calibration with Delta E less than 2 for colour-critical work
• 10-bit colour depth for smooth gradients without banding
• Hardware calibration support for maintaining accuracy over time
• Uniformity compensation to ensure consistent colours across the screen

Gaming and Entertainment

Gamers require responsive displays that can keep up with fast action:

• High refresh rates (144Hz minimum, 240Hz+ for competitive gaming)
• Low response times (1ms or less for minimal ghosting)
• Variable refresh rate technology (G-Sync or FreeSync)
• HDR support for enhanced visual immersion
• Low input lag for responsive gameplay

Mixed Use and Home Office

For versatile setups that handle work and play, look for balanced specifications:

• IPS or VA panels for good colours and viewing angles
• 2560x1440 resolution as the sweet spot for clarity and performance
• 75-144Hz refresh rate for smooth general use and casual gaming
• Multiple inputs for connecting various devices
• Built-in speakers for convenience (though external audio is always better)
• Built-in webcam for video calls without cluttering your desk

Panel Technology Explained

When learning how to choose a monitor, understanding panel technology is fundamental as it determines your monitor's image quality, response time, and viewing experience. In this monitor buying guide 2025, we will explore the latest panel technologies available:

IPS (In-Plane Switching)

Best for: Colour-critical work, general productivity, content creation

IPS panels remain the go-to choice for professionals who need accurate colours and wide viewing angles. Modern IPS displays have largely overcome their traditional weaknesses of slower response times and IPS glow, with Fast IPS panels now achieving 1ms response times suitable for gaming.

VA (Vertical Alignment)

Best for: Media consumption, immersive gaming, budget-conscious buyers wanting good image quality

VA panels offer superior contrast ratios, making them excellent for watching movies or playing atmospheric games. The deep blacks and punchy colours create an immersive viewing experience, though at the cost of slightly slower response times.

TN (Twisted Nematic)

Best for: Competitive gaming, budget builds prioritising refresh rate

While TN panels have largely been superseded for general use, they still serve competitive gamers who prioritise response time and refresh rate above all else. With 360Hz and even 500Hz models available, TN remains relevant for esports.

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode)

Best for: Premium creative work, HDR gaming, home entertainment

OLED monitors have finally become viable for desktop use in 2025, with improved burn-in resistance and competitive pricing. They offer unmatched contrast ratios, perfect blacks, and stunning HDR performance.

Mini-LED

Best for: Professional HDR work, premium gaming, OLED alternative

Mini-LED technology uses thousands of tiny backlighting zones to achieve OLED-like contrast without burn-in risk. These displays offer excellent HDR performance and maintain brightness better than OLED in bright environments.

Resolution and Screen Size: Finding Your Sweet Spot

Another crucial factor in our computer monitor buying guide is matching resolution with screen size. This combination determines pixel density, which directly affects how sharp text and images appear essential knowledge for anyone wondering what to look for when buying a monitor:

24-25 Inch Monitors

• 1920x1080 (Full HD): Still acceptable at this size, offering good pixel density for general use
• 1920x1200 (WUXGA): Popular for office work with 16:10 aspect ratio providing extra vertical space
• 2560x1440 (QHD): Ideal for productivity with crisp text and more screen real estate

27 Inch Monitors

• 1920x1200 (WUXGA): Good for productivity tasks where vertical space matters more than pixel density
• 2560x1440 (QHD): The sweet spot for most users, balancing sharpness and performance
• 2560x1600 (WQXGA): 16:10 variant offering more vertical workspace
• 3840x2160 (4K): Excellent for creative work but may require display scaling

32 Inch and Larger

• 3840x2160 (4K): Minimum recommended for sharp text and images
• 5120x2880 (5K): Premium option for professional creative work
• 6016x3384 (6K): Ultra-premium displays for specialised professional applications

Refresh Rates and Response Times Decoded

These specifications dramatically impact motion clarity and overall responsiveness:

Refresh Rate Guidelines

• 60Hz: Standard for office work and basic computing
• 75-100Hz: Noticeably smoother for general use and light gaming
• 144Hz: The new standard for gaming, also beneficial for productivity
• 165-180Hz: Popular high-refresh options with good value
• 240Hz+: For competitive gaming where every millisecond counts
• 360-500Hz: Extreme options for professional esports

Even for non-gamers, higher refresh rates provide smoother scrolling, more responsive cursor movement, and reduced eye strain during extended use.

Understanding Response Time

Response time measures how quickly pixels change colour, affecting motion clarity:

• 5ms or higher: May show visible ghosting in fast motion
• 1-4ms: Suitable for most users including casual gaming
• 0.5-1ms: Ideal for competitive gaming
• 0.1ms (OLED): Near-instantaneous with perfect motion clarity

Colour Accuracy and HDR: What Really Matters

Colour Space Coverage

Different colour spaces serve different purposes:

• sRGB: Standard for web content and general use (aim for 99%+ coverage)
• Adobe RGB: Important for print photography and professional design
• DCI-P3: Cinema standard, increasingly important for video editing
• Rec. 2020: Future-proofing for next-generation content

HDR Standards in 2025

HDR has matured significantly, but marketing remains confusing:

• HDR400: Entry-level, minimal improvement over SDR
• HDR600: Noticeable enhancement with basic local dimming
• HDR1000: True HDR experience with impactful highlights
• HDR1400: Premium tier for stunning visual impact
• DisplayHDR True Black: OLED-specific certification for perfect blacks

Connectivity and Features

Modern Port Selection

Ensure your monitor has the right connections for your devices:

• HDMI 2.1: Essential for 4K 120Hz+ from consoles and modern graphics cards
• DisplayPort 1.4/2.1: Maximum bandwidth for high refresh rates and resolutions
• USB-C with Power Delivery: Single-cable solution for laptops (65W+ recommended)
• Thunderbolt 4: Premium connectivity with daisy-chaining capability
• USB Hub: Convenient for peripherals and accessories

Built-in Conveniences

Modern monitors offer integrated features that can simplify your setup:

KVM Switch Functionality

Some monitors include built-in KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switches, allowing you to:

• Control multiple computers with one keyboard and mouse
• Switch between work laptop and personal desktop seamlessly
• Share USB peripherals between multiple systems
• Ideal for hot-desking and multi-system workflows

Ergonomics and Comfort

Do not overlook physical adjustability for long-term comfort:

• Height adjustment: 100-150mm range ideal - explore our height adjustable monitors for better ergonomics
• Tilt and swivel: Basic requirements for proper positioning
• Pivot/rotation: Useful for coding and document work
• VESA mounting: 100x100mm standard for monitor arms - check our VESA mount compatible monitors for flexible positioning

Eye Care Technologies

Modern monitors include features to reduce eye strain:

• Flicker-free technology: Eliminates invisible flickering
• Low blue light modes: Reduces eye strain in evening use
• Ambient light sensors: Automatic brightness adjustment
• Reading modes: Optimised settings for text-heavy work

Gaming-Specific Technologies

Adaptive Sync Explained

Variable refresh rate technology eliminates screen tearing and stuttering:

• NVIDIA G-Sync: Premium option with dedicated hardware module
• G-Sync Compatible: NVIDIA-certified FreeSync displays
• AMD FreeSync: Open standard with wide adoption
• FreeSync Premium: Adds low framerate compensation (LFC)
• FreeSync Premium Pro: Includes HDR support

In 2025, most quality gaming monitors support both NVIDIA and AMD adaptive sync technologies, making brand loyalty less important.

Motion Blur Reduction

Technologies like ULMB (Ultra Low Motion Blur) and ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur) strobe the backlight to reduce motion blur, though typically at the cost of brightness and inability to use simultaneously with adaptive sync.

Ultrawide and Super Ultrawide Monitors

Ultrawide displays have become increasingly popular for both productivity and gaming:

21:9 Aspect Ratio (Standard Ultrawide)

• 3440x1440: Sweet spot for productivity and gaming
• 2560x1080: Budget option but lower pixel density
• 5120x2160: Premium 5K2K for professionals

32:9 Aspect Ratio (Super Ultrawide)

• 5120x1440: Equivalent to two 27 inch 1440p monitors
• 7680x2160: Dual 4K experience for ultimate productivity