Monitor Buying Guide: Size, PPI, Panel and Ports

PPI is the number to shop on

Pixel density, not resolution, determines how crisp text looks. 27" at 4K gives 163 PPI — the sweet spot for sharp text at 100% or 200% scaling. 27" at 1440p gives 109 PPI, which is fine but visibly softer. 32" at 4K drops to 140 PPI and usually needs fractional scaling.

Panel type

IPS for colour and viewing angles. IPS Black for roughly double the contrast, which is a real, visible upgrade in a dim room. VA for deep blacks with worse off-angle colour. Avoid TN for desk work.

USB-C changes your desk

A monitor with 90W upstream USB-C plus a hub replaces a dock. One cable carries video, power, Ethernet and peripherals. If you work from a laptop, this is worth more than any panel spec.

Refresh rate

For work, 60 Hz is fine and 120 Hz is a pleasant luxury for scrolling. Do not pay a colour-accuracy penalty for refresh rate you will not use.