How to Choose a Monitor
We know the importance of having the right equipment at home or work. This guide will help you choose the right monitor to help you stay productive wherever you are.
Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors
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How to Choose a Monitor for Business
Series Introduction & Comparison
Dell UltraSharp Monitors
Create visuals that meet demanding graphic needs using these top tier ergonomic monitors that provide technology and design for the ultimate user experience.
Dell UltraSharp Monitors are best suited for:
Dell UltraSharp Monitors are best suited for:
- Content creation
- Video and photo editing
- Creating and viewing multiple documents at once
Dell P Series Monitors
Enhance productivity and comfort with these professional, height-adjustable monitors designed with non-reflective screens.
Dell P Series Monitors are best suited for:
Dell P Series Monitors are best suited for:
- Office Applications
- Creating presentations and spreadsheets
Dell S Series Monitors for Small Business
Discover an entertainment experience with rich color and screen clarity. Featuring a slim profile and a modern design.
Dell S Series Monitors are best suited for:
Dell S Series Monitors are best suited for:
- Creating presentations and spreadsheets
- Streaming videos
Dell E Series Monitors
This suite of monitors are affordable, dependable, and eco-conscious in design. They are efficient and reliable for everyday computing at home and work.
Dell E Series Monitors are best suited for:
Dell E Series Monitors are best suited for:
- Browsing the internet
- Writing papers for school or work
- Receiving notifications through the integrated speakers (select models)
Dell C Series Monitors
Experience smarter, faster collaboration with the C Series Monitors, featuring Dell Large Format Monitors, Dell Meeting Space Solutions, and Dell Video Conferencing Monitors.
Best suited for:
Best suited for:
- Presentation displays in meeting spaces
- Upgrading current conference rooms with a full ecosystem conference room bundles
- Primary classroom displays and learning spaces
- Remote video conferencing and collaboration
Dell Portable Monitor
Built to be the ultimate laptop companion, this monitor is ultralight and ultrathin weighing less than a pound and a half and less than a quarter-inch thick at its slimmest.
Dell Portable Monitor can be used for:
Dell Portable Monitor can be used for:
- Indoor or outdoor workspaces
- On the go collaboration
- One to one presentation
Monitor Screen Size
Monitor Screen Size
When choosing your monitor screen size, it is crucial to consider a model that fits your needs. Here are a few suggested guidelines:
- Monitor screen size uses a diagonal measurement in inches – similar to TVs.
- Find a monitor that fits your desk space and provides a large enough screen.
- Larger screens provide more space for enhanced productivity and multi-tasking in one place.
- Smaller screens are perfect for day-to-day tasks like email or browsing the internet.
23 Inch Monitors & Under
23 inches and under fall within the budget friendly market are perfect for day-to-day tasks.
Best suited for:
Best suited for:
- Writing papers for school or work
- General office applications
- Dual monitor setups
24 Inch Monitors
This monitor size is business industry standard and provides multimedia features for both personal and work uses.
Best suited for:
Best suited for:
- Business Analysis
- Creating presentations and spreadsheets
- Dual monitor set ups
25 – 29 Inch Monitors
Monitors in these sizes provide a larger viewing area for graphics-intensive content.
Best suited for:
Best suited for:
- Content creation
- Sharing photos and slideshows
- Reviewing large files and documents
30 – 39 Inch Monitors
A larger screen with a higher resolution provides clear images and more space to get things done.
Best suited for:
Best suited for:
- Video and photo editing
- Seamless connectivity between your PC and monitor
- Presenting highly detailed charts and graphs
40 Inch & Above Monitors
Instead of using two or more monitors, try a larger screen that offers one wide and fluid desktop space.
Best suited for:
Best suited for:
- Content creation
- Keeping an eye on your email inbox while working
- Multiple screens for higher productivity
Curved Monitors
Curved monitors offer reduced eye movement across the screen for a more immersive experience.
Best suited for:
Best suited for:
- Creating multiple documents at once
- Working with an extremely wide field of vision
- Opening different browsers and applications at the same time
Monitor Resolution
Monitor resolution depicts how clearly a monitor can show visual content.
- Monitor resolution shows how many pixels a monitor has in width x height format.
- For example, a 1920x1080 resolution means the width has 1,920 pixels and the height has 1,080 pixels.
- The higher the monitor resolution, the more pixels, the clearer the picture will be displayed.
HD (1366x768 – 1680x1050)
High definition monitors are affordable and provide a quality screen view.
Best suited for:
Best suited for:
- Social media
- Browsing the internet
Full HD (1920x1080 – 1920x1200)
Full high definition monitors are well known as the standard resolution for home and office uses.
Best suited for:
Best suited for:
- Photo sharing
- Videoconferencing
- Streaming movies
Quad HD (2560x1440 - 3440x1440)
QHD or Wide QHD monitors deliver crystal-clear graphics, fine details and vibrant colors to your screen.
Best suited for:
Best suited for:
- Content creation
- Presenting highly detailed charts and graphs
- Videoconferencing
4K Ultra HD (3840x2160)
Commonly known as 4K, UHD or Ultra HD resolution, 4K resolution gives you four times more detail than Full HD monitors.
Best suited for:
Best suited for:
- Detailed charts and graphs
- CAD/CAM rendering
- Video and photo editing
- Creating illustrations for web-design projects
Refresh Rate
The number of times per second that your monitor screen refreshes the image being displayed on your screen.
Refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz) and ranges from 60Hz up to 240Hz. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother your image will be.
If a monitor has a 60Hz refresh rate, this means that the picture on a screen would refresh 60 times per second.
Here are a few examples of how different refresh rates can be used:
Refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz) and ranges from 60Hz up to 240Hz. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother your image will be.
If a monitor has a 60Hz refresh rate, this means that the picture on a screen would refresh 60 times per second.
Here are a few examples of how different refresh rates can be used:
- 60 Hz - Creating spreadsheets, streaming movies or music
- 144 Hz - PC gaming, photo sharing, video editing
- 240 Hz - Competitive, eSports, and FPS gaming
Response Time
This refers to how much time it takes for monitor pixels to change from one color to another.
Response time is measured in milliseconds and is as fast as 0.5ms.
Unlike refresh rate, you want a lower response time – the lower the millisecond, the faster the screen can change an image.
Faster response times are key for video editing and games to help:
Response time is measured in milliseconds and is as fast as 0.5ms.
Unlike refresh rate, you want a lower response time – the lower the millisecond, the faster the screen can change an image.
Faster response times are key for video editing and games to help:
- Reduce image ghosting
- Minimize distortion and blurring
- Sharpen pictures for fast-moving gameplay
Monitor Cables and Ports
It’s important to check the monitor ports and the cables needed to connect to your computer and other devices like docks, computer speakers, mice and keyboards, or even phone chargers.
- Your monitor port can be found on the back and/or sides of your monitor. The monitor port is used as a point of connection from your monitor to your computer’s port.
- Use the cable guide below to identify the cables you need to get your monitor connected. Power output varies by model.
- Questions? Speak to a product expert: Contact US
- Click here to browse Monitor Cables.
USB-C (Universal Serial Bus - C)
- Transmits power, audio, data, and video through a single cable
- Reversible orientation: transmits and receives up to 90W of power (varies by model)
- USB-C Plus Thunderbolt: brings USB-C speeds up to 40GB per second
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface)
- Used for connecting high-definition video and audio between devices through a single cable
- Popular choice for transmitting HD content while using an inexpensive and user-friendly cable
DP (DisplayPort)
- Transmits video signals to monitors
- Supports both audio and video signal transmission
- Can transmit up to 90W of power (varies by model)
- Required for certain high-end gaming setups
Mini DisplayPort
- Compact version of the DisplayPort that transmits up to 90W of power (varies by model)
DVI (Digital Visual Interface)
- Transmits video signals to monitors
- Very high-resolution transmissions – as high as 2560x1600
- Used for high-quality monitors
VGA (Video Graphics Array)
- Older generation connector for monitors, laptops, projectors and televisions
- It might not be compatible with newer computers and electronics
- Produces lower quality resolutions on screens
Monitor Accessories
Docking Stations
Docking stations are equipped with multiple ports that provide a single connection between your laptop, monitors, and USB connected devices.
Arms, Mounts & Stands
Adapt your monitor setup to fit your needs with flexible arms, mounts, and stands.
Keyboards & Mice
Shop our wide variety of keyboards & mice to customize your workspace.
The ProSupport Suite for PCs ensures Dell is always watching for issues so they don’t turn into costly problems.
ProSupport Suite includes:
ProSupport Suite includes:
- Onsite service for repairs
- Single resource for software and hardware expertise
- Command center monitoring and crisis management
- Proactive, automated issue detection, notification and case creation with SupportAssist technology
Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors
Learn More about Intel