For the longest time, we often had to decide whether to buy a monitor that specialized in high resolution or high frame rates, as monitors couldn't strike a decent middle ground between the two without jeopardizing overall quality.

Nowadays, we have plenty that can achieve 4K and 240Hz at the same time with no issue, but at the common downside of extremely high prices to justify their tech.

Fortunately, one such monitor that we personally tested and enjoyed, the ASUS ROG Swift OLED 32", is having its extortionate listing price of $1,299 reduced by 35% to $849.99 at Amazon for a limited time.

Why buy this OLED Gaming Monitor?

So what makes the ASUS ROG Swift 32" OLED Gaming Monitor great for both gamers? Well, for starters, it's equipped with a 31.5-inch Quantum Dot-OLED display that can render images and videos at 4K resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 240Hz refresh rates, and 0.3ms response times.

With these specs combined with NVIDIA G-SYNC, AMD FreeSync, and VESA Adaptive Sync support, your favorite console or PC games will have their graphical fidelity improved to cinema-level quality and their frame rates run as smooth as butter, so they don't suffer any visual stutter or lag.

Not to mention, the 240Hz refresh rate will help ensure that your controller will not exhibit extra input delay that could get you killed during hard boss fights or nail-biting final rounds in multiplayer games, and just make them more enjoyable to control in general.

Other notable features include a heatsink and graphene film layer to keep the monitor cool while operating, a wide range of HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB ports with KVM support, over 300nits of brightness, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 support to give its visuals a bright and colorful presentation.

So, if you're sick of having to choose a monitor that prioritizes 4K visuals over frame rates and vice versa, then the ASUS ROG Swift 32" OLED Gaming Monitor will satisfy your needs to play games at their max performance and graphical potential.

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PC monitors these days are sometimes equipped with built-in speakers to compensate for a lack of alternatives elsewhere. However, many can have mediocre or subpar audio quality, increasing the price of the monitors they're attached to for essentially nothing.

However, the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED (S3225QC) is one of the rare exceptions to this trend. It has a built-in soundbar with sound quality that puts the competition to shame and an excellent 4K display that's super responsive, all of which is now on sale for $499.99 at Dell (was $799.99).

Why buy the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor (S3225QC)?

So what makes this monitor special? Let's start with its display, which is a QD-OLED panel capable of displaying images, videos, and games in 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rates. These two elements combined will ensure that whatever media you run on it will be displayed with immaculate detail and maintain a smooth, consistent framerate with little to no stuttering or lag.

Secondly, it's incredibly easy to set up for non-PC-build enthusiasts, to the point where you won't even need any tools. Lastly, the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor (S3225QC) is equipped with a built-in 5-speaker soundbar, which produces exceptional audio quality, which is quite a rarity.

What's more, the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED (S3225QC)'s speakers have an AI-empowered spatial audio feature that uses a proximity sensor and beamforming technology to produce an immersive surround sound experience that makes you feel like the speaker's audio is literally following you.

The only major drawback of this monitor is its shortage of ports, as it's only built with an HDMI 2.1 port, a USB-C video port, and two USB-C data ports, with no DisplayPorts, USB-A ports, or audio passthrough to speak of.

If you can overlook that quibble, the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor (S3225QC) is a great premium-priced monitor we highly recommend for those looking for a 4K monitor with great sound quality to match its beautiful visual fidelity.

FAQ

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This year's Amazon Prime Day is fast approaching, but if you're looking for a discounted premium-grade monitor for PC gaming and heavy-duty creative tasks, there's no need to wait that long.

The ASUS ROG Strix 27" OLED gaming monitor (XG27UCDMG) offers 4K resolutions, 240Hz refresh rates, and more gameplay-enriching features, and is now on sale for a 20% discount for $799.99 at Amazon

Why buy the ASUS ROG Strix 27" OLED monitor?

The ASUS ROG Strix OLED 27 (XG27UCDMG) monitor is one of the few lucky gaming monitors we've given a perfect 5/5 review score here at Windows Central, despite its usually high $979.99 listing price.

It didn't earn our accolades lightly as it's packed with some mighty specs for PC gaming, digital art, productivity, or just watching videos online. First off, it features a sharp yet smooth OLED display that renders images in beautiful 4K with 1,000 nits of max peak brightness, HDR support, and 99% accuraly for the DCI-P3 color gamut.

Performance-wise, the ASUS ROG Strix OLED 27 (XG27UCDMG) monitor has 240Hz refresh rates and is responsive at 0.03ms. These will ensure the framerates of your beloved AAA PC games will run consistently smooth without screen tearing and stuttering getting in the way of gameplay.

On top of that, the ASUS ROG Strix OLED 27 (XG27UCDMG) monitor has a variety of HMDI, USB-C, and DisplayPort inputs with keyboard, video, and mouse support. Plus, it has a ton of care features to protect your eyes' health, like anti-flicker mode, TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light mode, and Extreme Low Motion Blur support.

So, if you want visually-stunning games like 007: First Light and Forza Horizon 6 to fullfil their graphical potential, then we recommend the ASUS ROG Strix OLED 27 (XG27UCDMG) monitor is its specs are on par with some of the best gaming monitors out there.

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You can skip the summer shopping you'll have to get done in a few months by picking up a laptop today. Right now, you can save over $500 on a Dell 16 Plus bundle that includes a year of Microsoft 365 Premium, a year of Xbox Game Pass, and a custom Xbox controller.

Several Dell 16 Plus models are on sale right now. The best bargain is the one with an Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB of RAM, and 512B of storage.

Depending on your budget and workflow, you can upgrade to a Mini-LED display or pick other configurations. I suggest clicking around a bit to balance specs and price.

Getting the bundle and saving the most money possible requires some extra steps, which I'll break down below.

Why buy the Dell 16 Plus?

The Dell 16 Plus is a solid laptop regardless of its current discount. It's a roomy, mid-tier laptop with a full number pad and a large screen for getting work done. College students, older high school students who need a PC for schoolwork, and office workers should all consider the Dell 16 Plus.

This laptop easily handles the everyday workloads of students and office workers. Browsing the web, managing projects, and some creative work are all well within the scope of the Dell 16 Plus.

On the other hand, Dell 16 Plus is not a gaming laptop, so you'll have to rely on streaming games from the cloud or playing less demanding titles if you plan to game between classes.

The battery life of the Dell 16 Plus will depend on the exact specs you choose, but any model should make it through a normal day as long as you have a standard workflow.

Our colleagues at TechRadar got 13 hours of real-world use out of the Dell 16 Plus and said the laptop "holds its own among the best available at the moment."

If you want the most bang for your buck, grab the model highlighted above and take advantage of the deals from Dell and Microsoft. If you do that, you'll get a great laptop, a year of Microsoft 365 Premium, a year of Xbox Game Pass, and a custom Xbox controller for under $800 (note that the additional savings require you to be an eligible student).

How to save up to 10% and get free Microsoft 365, Game Pass, and a custom Xbox controller

Students and teachers are eligible to get up to an extra 10% off when they register for Dell Rewards and verify their status. College and university students can also get an additional $500+ in perks through "The Ultimate Microsoft College Offer."

You can stack those benefits, meaning you don't have to pick between a discount or the bundle.

Dell outlines all the terms and conditions and the steps required to take advantage of the deals. You can jump to Dell's page for quick links.

To save up to an extra 10%, you just need to sign in or create an account, register for Dell Rewards, and verify your status. That last step can be done through SheerID.

Getting the Ultimate Microsoft Bundle takes a slightly different process. First, you need to purchase an eligible PC. Then, you have to check your Microsoft account email to verify your status. You'll then receive an email within three days to claim your bundle.

Dell is one of several retailers to be eligible for Microsoft's bundle. A Microsoft page lists all the details.

FAQ

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I might be stating the obvious to gamers, but high-quality monitors are crucial. They prioritize sharper images, faster refresh rates for smoother movement, and reduce input delay compared to your average office-centric display.

Usually, a PC gaming monitor can run you several hundred dollars, but Lenovo is currently offering two of its more affordable (but fantastic) displays with its "Doorstopper" discount event. It includes the Lenovo 27Q-10 27-inch, now on sale for $189.99 at Lenovo.com, and the curved Legion R27fc-30 27-inch for $179.99 at Lenovo.com, just the same.

Why buy these monitors?

Our former Gaming and News Editor, Rebecca Spear, gave the Lenovo Legion RE27fc-30 high praise, awarding it a 4.5/5 score in her review, explaining that "despite having some more impressive specs (240Hz, 0.5ms, AMD FreeSync), it's more affordable than many other options."

It features powerful specs for a lower standard listing price of $239.99, including a 240Hz refresh rate (overclockable to 280Hz), a 0.5ms response time, FreeSync & G-Sync support to prevent screen tearing, and a FHD (1920x1080) resolution with 99% coverage of sRGB & 90% of DCI-P3 color gamuts and HDR10 support, alongside a fully adjustable lift/tilt/pivot/swivel stand. The Legion RE27fc-30 is an even better buy now that it's on sale for $179.99 at Lenovo.com for a limited time.

Otherwise, the 27-inch IPS display of the Legion 27Q-10 is a solid recommendation for PC players looking to eliminate stutters and screen tearing with its G-Sync and FreeSync support. It features up to a 240Hz refresh rate (also overclockable, this time to 300Hz) and a 0.5ms response time, resulting in more responsive in-game controls for fast-paced competitive multiplayer games like Call of Duty.

Lenovo's Legion 27Q-10 monitor also features a QHD (2560x1440) resolution with HDR10 support and 90% DCI-P3 coverage, meaning you get wider contrast and generally better, more accurate color representation. That, and a sturdy design that's fully adjustable from its height, pivot, and swivel to tilt, to fit any desk space, all down to $189.99 at Lenovo.com for a limited time.

FAQ

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Memorial Day is a week away, but Amazon is honoring the event early with exclusive discounts on several products.

One such bargain is the ASUS ROG 27" gaming monitor (XG27UCG) with dual 4K and 1080p modes. For a limited time, it'll be available with a 33% discount, bringing it down to $299 at Amazon.

Why buy the ASUS ROG Strix 27-inch gaming monitor?

Our friends at PC Gamer gave this monitor a high review score of 83/100, stating that "the Asus ROG Strix XG27UCG is a strong all-round package."

This lofty praise is warranted, as the XG27UCG is a top-notch gaming monitor that can swap between displaying images in 4K resolutions with 160Hz refresh rates or FHD 1080p with 320Hz refresh rates.

While it's in 4K mode, visuals are rendered with super-sharp details, great color contrast, and bright clarity at 400nits. Visuals take a bit of a downgrade in 1080p, with the trade-off being superior 320Hz refresh rates to help a game's framerate for smoother, more input-accurate gameplay.

Other notable features of the ASUS ROG Strix 27" include a 1ms response time to help reduce eye-straining motion blur. It has NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility, so it can reduce screen tearing, stuttering, and input lag when connected to a computer with an NVIDIA GeForce GPU, and a DisplayWidget Center for quick and easy access to monitor setting adjustments.

So, if you're looking for a gaming monitor that can pull off immersive cinematic visuals or boost a game's framerate so your controls feel more precise at the press of a button, you can't go wrong with the XG27UCG.

FAQ

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When you're on the road, sometimes you won't have access to a monitor to get work assignments done, especially if you don't have a laptop and you're limited to small-screen mobile phones.

So, before traveling, it's best to bring along a small portable monitor so you can continue your work on it. One such monitor fit for such a role is KYY's 15.6 Portable Monitor, and it's now on sale for $66.48 at Amazon.

Why buy the KYY Portable Monitor?

This monitor is considered a critical darling on Amazon, garnering over 12,000 positive reviews. Why, we even awarded the KYY Portable Monitor the "best budget runner-up" award among our favorite portable monitors for its strong performance for both work and gaming, with an affordable retail price of $99.99 that sweetens the deal.

The KYY Portable Monitor is a 15.6-inch IPS display that can display images in 1920x1080 Full HD resolutions, 60Hz refresh rates, and HDR support.

As a result, videos and images on this monitor will have striking and vibrant color contrasts, with sharp, detailed visuals. Plus, the 60Hz refresh rates will ensure that most games played on this monitor will have smooth and consistent 60fps at 1080p.

In addition, this monitor has a Low Blue-Light mode to protect the user's eyes from straining during long periods of use.

Other notable features of the KYY Portable Monitor include a landscape/portrait so you can have it function as a second screen for monitors/smartphones, an ultra-thin frame of 0.3 inches so it's easy to store while travelling, compatibility with many devices, and a durable smart cover to protect it from harm while doubling as a stand.

So, if you're looking for an affordable portable monitor to take with you on your holidays, then the KYY Portable Monitor could be your next main monitor of choice.

Alternative configuration

An alternative configuration of the KYY Portable Monitor with 4K 3840x2160p visuals and 100% sRGB & HDR is also on sale for $199.99 at Amazon (was $299.99).

FAQ

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Trying to find the right PC gaming monitor can be difficult. Some may offer high resolutions but low refresh rates that make inputs feel sluggish, while others may offer high refresh rates but low resolutions that will make games look too crushed.

However, the ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDP) that's on offer for $899.99 at Amazon is the best of both worlds, as it features high resolutions, refresh rates, and much more to make your favorite PC games more fun to play

Why buy the ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDP)?

Let's start with the ASUS ROG Swift 32" 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDP)'s best feature: Dual Mode. With the press of a hotkey, you can switch between two modes that will either give you 4K resolution at 240Hz or FHD 1080p at 480Hz.

The 4K @ 240Hz mode is best used for cinematic single-player games like Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, so all the astonishing graphics, detailed character models, and stunning environments are rendered to their full artistic potential.

FHD 1080p @ 480Hz mode, meanwhile, is best for fast-paced action games like Ninja Gaiden 4 or competitive multiplayer titles like Overwatch and Call of Duty. In exchange for 4K visuals, you gain insanely high refresh rates that will ensure your controller inputs do not suffer any frustrating lag that will get you killed in firefights.

This monitor's gameplay-enhancing features don't stop there, as the ASUS ROG Swift 32" 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDP) also has compatibility with NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to boost its visuals further by removing stuttering and screen-tearing while minimizing input lag more.

The ASUS ROG Swift 32" 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDP) even includes built-in AI programs to help a player in-game, like AI Sniper and MOBA Map Helper.

Other highlights of the ASUS ROG Swift 32" 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDP) include a matte coating that severely reduces glare, exceptional vibrant colors (up to 99% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage) and brightness (up to 1,300 nits), and a sleek design with sturdy build quality.

With tech like this, it's no wonder that our friends at sister site Tom's Hardware gave this monitor a perfect score of 5/5 Stars. Plus, with this 31% discount, taking its $1,299.99 MSRP down to $899.99 at Amazon, it's a much more affordable option right now compared to the best gaming monitors with similar retail prices, like the HP Omen Transcend 32.

Alternative discounts

If Amazon's discount expires or if it runs out of stock, here are some alternative back-up options to consider:

• $899.99 at Best Buy (was $1,299.99)
• $1,092.00 at Newegg (was $1,193.00)
• $1,195.00 at Walmart (was $1,299.99)

FAQ

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Alienware's QD-OLED monitors are sought after by many PC gamers for their exceptional color and contrast, not to mention their premium performance. However, they don't usually come cheap, leaving a large tranche of PC gamers looking for more affordable options.

Dell recognized this market gap and has decided to fill it with the new Alienware AW2726DM. It's a 27-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor with a 2560x1440 (QHD) resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, and FreeSync Premium support.

Those are some tasty specs for any monitor, but the key here is that it arrives with a $349.99 price tag. You can pick it up now directly from Dell.com or from BestBuy.com. Is this the new best way to land QD-OLED on a budget?

How does Alienware's new QD-OLED gaming monitor compare to other budget gaming options?

Alienware's new AW2726DM is easily the most affordable QD-OLED gaming monitor currently available. The next most affordable option is the Alienware AW2725D at $549.99, notably pushing the max refresh rate up to 280Hz with a few other differences.

Here's how the monitor specs compare.

Alienware cuts costs by about $200 by removing official G-Sync Compatibility certification, dropping panel brightness and refresh rate just a bit, and removing some of the ports.

👉 IPS LCD vs OLED vs NEO LED vs tandem OLED vs QD-OLED vs QLED vs AMOLED vs Mini LED: Which is the best display?

Regardless, the 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time, paired with a QHD resolution at 27 inches, should be a huge hit for PC gamers who want to take the QD-OLED plunge for incredible color and contrast.

Elsewhere, AOC's Q27GAZD is a 27-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor with QHD resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, G-Sync compatibility, and a $379.99 price tag at Amazon.

Windows Central's take on Alienware's new budget QD-OLED gaming display

QD-OLED display tech is a superior version of OLED that leans into quantum dots (microscoping molecules that produce color when hit with light) to improve brightness levels without harming the exceptional color and contrast associated with OLED.

Having more monitors take advantage of this tech is always a good thing, but they've traditionally been priced too high for the average PC gamer to take advantage.

That's been slowly changing over time, and the fact that a big name like Alienware — which offers a three-year warranty with burn-in protection — is introducing a more affordable option shows how OLED is slowly becoming the new norm across the PC gaming industry.

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Anyone who grew up gaming in the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s likely has fond memories of their CRT display. I know I certainly do; I can still smell the static coming off the PC screen as I sat way too close while enjoying games like Diablo 2 and Age of Empires 2.

Although Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) tech fell by the wayside a couple of decades ago as Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) tech became cheaper and more readily available, there are a lot of gamers who refuse to give up the nostalgia.

In fact, the r/crtgaming subreddit is a rather healthy community of more than 75,000 like-minded gamers who are keeping the CRT dream alive as they share their retro gaming setups, troubleshooting advice, sale listings, and preservation techniques. There are even some good ol' LAN parties that arise now and then.

I get the appeal of gaming on a CRT display. Old games are proven to look better on CRT screens because of how the games interact with the tech. Scanlines soften sharp, pixellated edges. The CRT glow is warm and inviting. And a lack of motion blur and input lag keeps old games feeling snappy.

Despite the efforts of tens of thousands of gamers who truly love CRT displays, the tech will eventually die out. Whether it's the cathode ray tube itself that pops or the electronics supporting it that fail, the number of CRT displays is on a constant downward trend.

New CRT displays are no longer produced (except for very specific cases), while LCD and OLED screens have become the new norm. For nostalgia gamers who refuse to give up on the tech, there's a new way forward. The CRT revival is real.

How are modern OLED displays helping drive a CRT comeback?

Gamers everywhere are passionate about their displays. The r/OLED_Gaming subreddit has some 436,000 members, and there's a specific crossover between the two communities that I'd like to highlight.

Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays have several benefits that make them great for CRT emulation. OLED displays generally have extra brightness, low input lag, high resolutions, and fast response times. But how exactly is CRT emulation achieved on modern hardware?

The answer is something I'd never considered until I took the CRT emulation plunge: dedicated video scalers that offer CRT vibes on OLED tech.

RetroTINK is one of the leading companies creating these video processors. RetroTINK's products act as an intermediary between your old gaming console or PC and a modern OLED TV, providing features you'd normally only get from a CRT screen. Scan lines, masks, warm phosphor glow; you get the idea.

With something like a RetroTINK-4K CE, you can enjoy your old games at a 4K resolution on an OLED display, all with your choice of CRT simulation effects enabled.

The results of using a RetroTINK with an OLED display speak for themselves, and there are plenty of video examples to be found.

Although it's often not a 1:1 comparison, there's really nothing else that can get you that CRT feel unless you are maintaining an actual CRT display.

CRT is still cheaper than OLED, but for how long?

The biggest downside to using something like RetroTINK to turn your OLED into a CRT is cost. The top-tier RetroTINK-4K Pro costs $835, with the RetroTINK-4K CE coming in at $530.

There are cheaper options that can deliver similar effects, but you're still looking at dropping anywhere from about $100 to $400.

Old CRT screens are usually quite cheap, and you might be able to haul one home from a garage sale (assuming your back is up to the lifting) without really putting a dent in your wallet. But as I mentioned, CRTs are becoming ever more rare. If collectors are the last bastion of the tech, prices will only go up as numbers dwindle.

CRTS also take up a lot of room. With an OLED panel and a video upscaler, you're getting double-duty out of your modern screen, and you can worry less about when the CRT is going to turn on for the last time.

Are you a CRT gaming aficionado? I want to know!

The world of retro gaming on CRT screens is only now just opening up to me, and I'm trying to decide if I should get something like a RetroTINK or if I should instead find a CRT and figure out how to maintain it properly.

I've held on to most of my old consoles, and I know it would be a blast to put together a PC designed to run all of the discs I still have from decades ago.

Have you also taken the CRT gaming plunge? What does your setup entail? If not, are you interested in the new emulation tactics for modern OLED TVs and monitors? Be sure to let me know in the comments section below!

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Microsoft released non-security Windows 11 preview update KB5079391 on March 26, and with it comes a handful of display improvements, including support for "refresh rates above 1000 Hz."

In terms of display perks, the update likewise improves "auto-rotation and HDR reliability" while also improving power efficiency for sleeping monitors connected via USB4.

Unfortunately, Microsoft pulled the update on March 27 after it discovered installation issues. Regardless, the listed improvements will make their way to your PC eventually.

The 1,000Hz refresh rate support is certainly the most exciting part of the update. This year at CES 2026, several manufacturers, including Acer, AOC, and Philips, unveiled dual-mode gaming monitors hitting 1,000Hz, albeit at an HD (720p) resolution.

Exactly how high above 1,000Hz isn't specifically mentioned by Microsoft in its update notes. However, a blog post at Blur Busters (which first spotted the 1,000Hz Windows 11 news) explains how the company's founder, Mark Rehjon, played a key role in convincing Microsoft that it needed to raise refresh rate support all the way to 5,000Hz.

👉 How to change display refresh rates on Windows 11

This update with support for 5,000Hz refresh rates should keep Windows 11 up to speed with emerging hardware for at least several years, as we're now just starting to hear word of 2,000Hz displays.

In the Blur Busters blog, it's confirmed that "multiple manufacturers" have plans to launch 2,000Hz display panels by 2030. Blur Busters posits that while there are certainly diminishing returns to monitor refresh rates, the human eye is capable of benefiting from five-digit figures.

Windows 11's KB5079391 update also adds "rich image descriptions on Copilot and Copilot+ PCs" when using Narrator, as well as the design of dialog boxes in the "Other" section of the Accounts settings menu. This update applies to Windows 11 version 25H2, 24H2, and 26H1.

Why do display refresh rates matter so much?

A display's refresh rate signifies how many times the panel can update an image in one second. If you're working with a 60Hz display, for example, the image on the screen updates 60 times per second. A 120Hz display updates 120 times per second, and so on.

For the average PC user who sits down in front of a screen to browse the web, read email, and handle some spreadsheets, a higher refresh rate generally means superior eye comfort with reduced strain over time. As someone who stares at a screen all day, I'm always interested in maximizing refresh rates.

Refresh rates are particularly important for PC gamers. Low refresh rates lead to a choppier image, resulting in motion blur and input lag. Most PC gamers shoot for at least a 144Hz refresh rate — a sweet spot that I'm personally fond of — although competitive esports gamers almost always go for the highest refresh rate possible.

When gaming, a higher refresh rate means you can see a clearer picture and respond faster. It's that simple.

What do you think about 5,000Hz refresh rate support in Windows 11?

How long do you think we have until 5,000Hz refresh rates are common in high-end monitors? How high of a refresh rate does your current PC monitor have? Is there a point where you'll call it good enough? Are we already there? Let me know in the comments section below!

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My HP 24x monitor has served me for many years, but it's starting to show its age as it's having trouble rendering newer PC gaming titles at high resolutions and framerates.

Fortunately, I didn't have to look long for a suitable replacement, as the well-regarded HP OMEN 27qs gaming monitor is on sale for $349.99 at HP.

Why buy the HP OMEN 27qs?

The HP OMEN 27qs is a well-balanced gaming monitor that can help you achieve high resolutions and framerates for PC gaming without making you spend over $500 (provided you don't care for 4K visuals).

It's capable of achieving 240Hz refresh rates and 1440p resolutions with 1ms response times and V-Sync support. With these specs, you can expect to have your games play at absurdly high, smooth framerates of nearly 240fps with little to no latency holding your inputs back from decimating enemies in Crimson Desert or sniping the competition in Overwatch.

Plus, the 1440p resolution will make your games pretty to look at without sacrificing those precious, gameplay-enhancing framerates.

Other notable features include a simple design that makes it easy to set up, anti-glare coating, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility, and an intuitive on-screen display with built-in controls.

However, it's not entirely perfect. The HP OMEN 27qs' built-in speakers are lackluster, its HDR support is barely noticeable, and its color contrast is average at best. Yet, those are all minor quibbles in the face of HP OMEN 27qs' overwhelming positive selling points.

So, if you're looking to achieve higher framerates while preserving your budget, then the HP OMEN 27qs is a fantastic option (especially now that it's $349.99 at HP), as it forgoes price-hiking features to deliver a solid gameplay experience.

FAQ

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OLED displays are among the best you can buy right now, especially if you value deep color and contrast. But standard OLED panels are only the start of a monitor rabbit hole that Samsung just made deeper by introducing new QD-OLED Penta Tandem branding for its proprietary tech.

Let me back up for a moment. Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) tech involves each pixel producing its own light when fed an electric current. Because there's no backlight required, you can expect perfect contrast and deep color.

Quantum Dot OLED, also known as QD-OLED, was introduced as a way to make standard OLED displays brighter. Without getting too technical, the quantum dots in these types of displays help boost brightness to a point otherwise impossible in standard OLED screens.

Samsung, the company responsible for a significant share of the high-end screens found in laptops, monitors, phones, and more, has added a fifth layer to its proprietary QD-OLED stack, which the company says "delivers superior picture quality, efficiency, and peak brightness."

As Samsung points out in its QD-OLED Penta Tandem press release, the high-resolution monitor market has intensified significantly of late. It believes this fifth layer is the key to balancing higher resolutions with higher brightness levels.

This revelation is based on the fact that as you add pixel density, there's less space for each pixel to emit light. This dilemma is solved by adding OLED layers, and Samsung's advancements aren't minor.

The company says that "compared to last year's four-layer QD-OLED, Penta Tandem improved luminous efficiency by 1.3 times and extends lifespan by 2 times." That essentially means Samsung's TVs with new QD-OLED Penta Tandem tech will hit 4,500 nits brightness, while monitors will hit 1,300 nits.

Displays with the new QD-OLED Penta Tandem tech will also receive VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, proving they can drop black levels to 0.0005 nits brightness while also hitting at least 500 nits peak brightness.

QD-OLED Penta Tandem display tech is coming to all of Samsung's new displays launching this year, but it's worth pointing out that the tech is already available in many products. The ASUS ROG Swift 27" (PG27UCDM) gaming monitor, for example, features Samsung QD-OLED Penta Tandem and was launched last year.

How does QD-OLED Penta Tandem compare to Tandem OLED?

Throwing the term "tandem" into the display tech mix for another go could serve to confuse shoppers. LG's Tandem WOLED (TV) and Tandem OLED (monitor) tech has been around for a while now, and it implies that there are two OLED displays stacked one on top of the other.

This results in a broader color range and superior HDR TrueBlack visuals. And because the two panels can combine their brightness, they don't require as much power (improving efficiency) and aren't as likely to cause burn-in.

Samsung's Penta Tandem is simply a way to denote that it's added a fifth layer to its OLED stack. Yes, this is all about branding, but it's interesting to see how OLED displays are quickly evolving to be brighter and more efficient.

What do you think?

Have you made the change to some form of OLED display tech? What do you think about it? Let me know in the comments section!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

If you travelling abroad or visiting a friend's home, you may not access to proper monitors to get your work done on your laptop or smartphone efficiantly.

Hence, it's a good idea to pack a portable monitor so you can have a backup screen for work or casual browsing. Fortunately, one of the best budget portable monitors by KYY is on a 34% discount right now for $66.48 at Amazon.

Why should I buy the KYY Portable Monitor?

The KYY Portable Monitor has earned it's favorable reputation on Amazon thanks to it's highly-quality hardware capabilities.

For instance, this monitor comes with a 15.6-inch, 1080p IPS panel with wide 178° viewing angles. It's capable of displaying images with a 1920 x 1080 resolution (FHD) and a refresh rate of 60Hz, along with HDR support.

The HDR support helps the monitor to convey images with crisp and vibrant contrast colors, while its FHD resolution and high refresh rates enhance the monitor's ability to run videos and video games at a rock-solid framerate of 60fps and 1080p resolutions with little to no issues.

What also makes the KYY Portable Monitor an easy recommendation is its Low blue-light mode to prevent the user's eyes from straining after many hours of use and an ultra-light weight of 1.7lbs with a 0.3-inch frame to help it store in luggage more easily.

It also has a landscape and portrait mode, so the KYY Portable Monitor can function as a gaming monitor or a screen extender for laptops or smartphones.

On top of that, it has an MSRP of $99.99, which is pretty affordable as gaming monitors go, though that's likely to change with the ongoing RAM Crisis, causing all kinds of tech to be price-hiked through the roof, not just CPUs.

Fortunately, it hasn't affected this monitor's price tag yet, as it's currently on sale for $66.48 at Amazon, giving players a chance to own our top pick for the "Best budget runner-up" from our best portable monitors list for way less.

FAQ

Dell has a habit of building monitors that make other “pro displays” look like toys, but the new Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U5226KW) still managed to surprise me. When a 52‑inch, 6K panel showed up in my home office, it brought genuine shock and awe with it (and I had to help the FedEx guy carry it).

The specs alone read like a dare. A sprawling 52‑inch canvas at 6K resolution (129 PPI) is something no other company even sells, and just when I thought Dell was done flexing, I saw the 120Hz refresh rate. That’s the moment my jaw hit the desk. A monitor this big, this sharp, and this fast shouldn’t exist—and yet here we are. Yes, you can technically game on it. Or you can simply enjoy Windows 11 animations so smooth they feel illegal, but that's not the target audience here.

At $2,899.99 with the stand (or $2,799.99 without), this isn’t a monitor for casual shoppers. But honestly? I expected it to cost more. Dell charged $5,000 for a 30‑inch 4K 60Hz OLED back in 2016, and this thing makes that look quaint (and Dell still sells the awesome Ultrasharp 32 6K, which I reviewed, with a soundbar for $2,999).

So after a few weeks of living with this absurdly ambitious display, what’s the verdict—and who is this monster actually for? Let’s get into it.

Dell Ultrasharp 52 specs and features

I already spoiled the main specifications of the Ultrasharp 52, but let’s dive a bit deeper.

The panel is not OLED, but it is IPS Black Technology, which is LG’s fancy term for making IPS more OLED-like by knocking contrast up to 2,000:1 and making blacks less washed out. Bonus in not being OLED is that there is no risk for burn-in, which is still a thing when you leave static images on for long periods — and I’d argue the person who needs this monitor is that user.

Resolution is 6144 x 2560 with a 21:9 aspect ratio for the full 51.5-inch 4200R curved panel, with 8.0ms response or 5.0ms in Fast Mode. That 5.0ms is the minimum for a decent gaming sesh, so have at it.

Eye comfort is also a big deal here, so it’s flicker-free and earns 5 stars for the TÜV Rheinland Eye Comfort Certification. Indeed, Dell points out that the Ultrasharp 52 is the “world’s first monitor to achieve TÜV category one hardware low blue light certification … [with] up to 60% less exposure than competitors.” And I was so happy to see it has an Anti-Glare Low Reflectance (AGLR) with hard-coating 3H, making this a glare-free monitor.

Bonus feature that I rarely see? The Ultrasharp 52 has an ambient light sensor on top to auto-adjust brightness and/or color temperature, which is entirely optional if you don’t like how it performs. That's good as it is aggressive in keeping the display dimmer than you expect, but I think it's actually better for reducing eye-strain once you adjust (and I did).

The color gamut is 99% DCI-P3, Display P3 99%, BT.709 100%, and 100% for sRGB, so there are no complaints there, and these checked out during my calibration.

There are plenty of ports, including 2 x HDMI (HDCP 2.2; up to 6144 x 2560, 120 Hz, VRR), 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 (HDCP 2.2), 4 x USB Type-A 10Gbps downstream, 3 x USB-C 10Gbps upstream, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps upstream port, 1 x RJ45 Ethernet, 1 x USB Type-A 10Gbps downstream port/s with Battery Charging 1.2, and 2 x USB-C 10Gbps downstream port/s, Power Delivery up to 27 W.

To make things more accessible, you have two Type-C and one Type-A in a push/dropdown hub in the front, which is a unique feature that Dell likes to do. It’s great for thumb drives or charging your phone with easy access.

For real power users, the Ultrasharp 52 also includes a built in Thunderbolt 4 hub and KVM switch to connect multiple PCs up to it (like a laptop or two in addition to a desktop), Picture by Picture (PbP) supporting up to 4 input sources, Picture in Picture (PiP) supporting up to 2 screen partitions, and Auto USB KVM with Ethernet Switch Mode control supporting up to 4 input sources.

A concern I had was that it wouldn't offer audio, but luckily, Dell did include it as you get two 9-watt speakers, which are down-firing, running the bottom of the monitor.

Included in the box is the monitor, stand (which is height adjustable), power cable, DisplayPort 1.4 cable, HDMI 2.1 cable, USB-C to USB Type-A 10Gbps cable, Thunderbolt 4, and a 40 Gbps active cable.

The whole thing with the base stand weighs 18.23 kg (40.19 lbs.), and yes, it’s VESA compatible.

Dell Ultrasharp 52, what is it like to use?

No lie, putting this behemoth on my desk was comical. It’s soooo massive that when you first turn on your PC, your first thought is no way can I get used to it.

Then I used it for 24 hours, and I can’t see going back.

But let’s step back for a second. Setup was a breeze. In the box, which basically has a sled to carry the monitor to your office (I do advise having someone help you), you also get the stand and the cables. The stand has two parts and is toolless, simply clicking into the monitor’s back.

Being a 4200R curved monitor (which isn’t super dramatic), I really advise being careful, as I find these types really easy to damage, especially if you have the monitor display down.

Like all sane people, I also suggest using the DisplayPort cable over HDMI, but both worked with my NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU. Setting up the auxiliary wires to power the other ports is a bit tricky, but it all worked well enough.

To get the most out of the Ultrasharp 52, you need to install Dell Display and Peripheral Manager, which lets you change brightness, color profile, auto brightness, KVM controls, and even custom Windows snapping schema. It’s a good app, and I have no complaints about it.

Once it’s all set up, what can I say? You can see my screen from the street where you walk by my house!

But if you spend all day looking at data, charts, Slack, etc., there’s nothing like the Ultrasharp 52. At 129PPI, the text is sharp, but not too small as to be a problem (Dell claims that the ideal PPI range is between 110 and 140). That said, I did set Windows scaling to 175%, which is over the 125% recommended range, but I’m getting old, so that’s what happens.

Regular Windows snapping works just fine, but Dell’s custom snapping option, which has preset defaults and the ability to design your own, is pretty awesome.

For size reference, Dell says using the Ultrasharp 52 is equivalent to using one 43” 4K monitor with two vertical 27” QHD ones flanking it (which is already a serious battle station), OR using two 49” DQHD (32:9) monitors stacked on top of each other.

Yeah, it's a lot of screen.

Finally, for the speakers, I was worried I would have to bust out some external ones, but nope, those two 9W ones do the trick for me, being great for watching video just as much as doing video calls. They sound great to me, being relatively rich in sound and being very “center focused,” which is excellent for my frequent online meetings.

Who is the Dell Ultrasharp 52 for, and is it worth $2,899?

Make no mistake, this is a serious monitor for professionals.

Dell claims the Ultrasharp 52 is for “traders, financial analysts, engineers, designers, and executives who demand precision, clarity, and efficiency,” which makes sense. This monitor is no different than the stereotypical setups you see with financial analysts who have multi-monitor arrangements, usually running at various resolutions, and some of them running vertically.

In that sense, the $2,899 is a bargain for those people who, at minimum, are pulling in six figures, but likely much more. For them, this is a necessary work expense. Why? Well, as someone who runs multi-monitor setups and who stares at charts, data, Slack, etc., all day, I can say multi-monitor kind of sucks. You often get different resolutions, you can have cable and video card connectivity issues, not to mention varying color calibrations or refresh rates.

With one monitor, you get 100% awesome all the time.

Indeed, I didn’t have a single bug in my time with the Ultrasharp 52.

Of course, if you’re a regular consumer with some money to burn, I can say you won’t be disappointed if the idea of near-life-size faces during video calls is on your bucket list. I definitely wouldn’t buy it for gamers, but if you do game on it on occasion, it’s also totally fine.

But are there other options?

This isn’t the first 6K monitor from Dell I’ve reviewed; in fact, the one I swapped out for the Ultrasharp 52 is the Ultrasharp 32 6K, which has a built-in sound bar and an excellent web camera. It’s more office-oriented, but arguably one of my favorite monitors of all time (though the webcam has crashed on me numerous occasions).

But there is one other contender that is technically much cheaper and higher spec’d.

The Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 sets the bar with its dramatically curved (1000R) dual 4K resolution (7,680 x 2,160), mini-LED, 2,500:1 contrast, and 240Hz refresh rate at 140 PPI. It’s on sale right now for just $1,499 (if you can find one), which is nearly half the price (hey, buy two! And stack ‘em!).

Of course, you lose out on some things, like Dell’s IPS Black is better for work, reading, and color accuracy, and 6K 21:9 is more natural for multitasking (plus, Mac support). Dell has a Thunderbolt 4 Hub and 140W charging, which is better for laptop‑first workflows (one cable to do it all), or those using PiP for a secondary device (or even up to four) via KVM. While Samsung does have a basic KVM, it doesn’t offer a Thunderbolt 4 hub. Finally, even though Samsung’s mini-LED is very bright and punchy, it’s not built for 10‑hour workdays and lacks that TÜV 5‑Star and hardware Low Blue Light certification.

Basically, Samsung is great for gamers and some office work. Dell is the better choice for those “traders, financial analysts, engineers, designers, and executives” who are staring at their monitors for 8 to 10 hours a day, with multi-device workflows.

It's eye comfort versus eye candy, if you get me.

Dell Ultrasharp 52: Final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You're looking to consolidate your multi-monitor setup
• You need the biggest display with no compromise
• You have a multi-PC workflow or shared workstations
• You're a trader, a financial analyst, an engineer, a designer, or an executive

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You're primarily a gamer
• You have a small desk

So yes — the Ultrasharp 52 is spectacular. It’s overkill in the best possible way, impeccably engineered, and genuinely delightful to use. But it’s also a tool with a very specific mission. If you’re a trader, analyst, engineer, designer, or executive who lives inside charts, timelines, dashboards, and multi‑device workflows, this thing is a productivity multiplier that pays for itself.

If you’re a regular consumer with deep pockets and a desire to experience video calls at near‑life‑size, you’ll love it too.

For everyone else? The price, the size, and the sheer ambition of this display will be more than you need. But for the right audience, the Dell Ultrasharp 52 is the new gold standard for single‑monitor workstations. It’s big, it’s bold, and it’s unlike anything else on the planet.

Needless to say, it's going on our list for the best computer monitors for 2026.

There are monitors, and then there are Monitors with a capital M. In the case of Dell's new UltraSharp 52, announced at CES 2026, it's firmly in the latter category.

It's the world's first 52-inch ultrawide curved 6K (6144x2560) monitor with a 120Hz refresh rate. Yes, 120Hz at 6K. It's not using an OLED panel, which I'm sure will disappoint some, but it does put up strong competition with IPS Black tech that deepens contrast to 2,000:1 without risk of burn-in.

An ambient light sensor can automatically adjust the brightness and color temperature to be easier on the eyes, and it hits the highest tier of TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification. That's no joke if you're someone who looks at a display all day.

Dell compares the one 52-inch 6K screen to a setup with two 27-inch QHD monitors and a 43-inch 4K monitor — the new UltraSharp offers a whopping 61,000 more pixels and 25% higher pixel density than that combination, and you're only dealing with one mounting arm or stand on your desk.

Further helping manage desk clutter is a built-in Thunderbolt 4 hub and KVM switch. The monitor can charge a connected laptop with up to 140W of power, and it can connect to four PCs simultaneously.

Dell has the new UltraSharp 52 (U5226KW) aimed directly at day traders, data scientists, engineers, developers, and practically any other professionals who never seem to have enough screen space. And a professional you'll need to be to afford it; it rings up at $2,899.99 with a stand or $100 less without. It's available now at Dell's website.

Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino got his hands on the monitor a few weeks early to try it out, and I think this sums it up:

"The Dell Ultrasharp 52 is a full‑blown command center disguised as a single display. It proved itself to be a productivity powerhouse: razor‑sharp 6K resolution, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, IPS Black contrast that punches far above typical IPS, and a connectivity suite that feels like Dell stapled a docking station, a KVM, and an IT department directly onto the back."

You can read a whole lot more about this awesome display in our Dell UltraSharp 52 review.

The UltraSharp 52 isn't arriving alone at CES 2026. Dell also announced a new UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED monitor made for pros who need precise color reproduction.

It hits Delta E<1 with no extra tuning out of the box, 99% DCI-P3 and Display P3, 80% BT2020, 94% AdobeRGB, and 100% sRGB/BT709. It has the infinite contrast ratio that OLED is known for, plus it comes with DisplayHDR True Black 500 and Dolby Vision certification.

It, too, has a Thunderbolt 4 hub with up to 140W charging for a connected laptop to help declutter your desk. Dell plans to release the smaller 32-inch UltraSharp display on February 24, 2026. It's expected to cost $2,599.99.

Could your current workflow benefit from an ultimate 52-inch 6K monitor like the new UltraSharp 52? What type of work would you use it for? Let us know in the comments section below!

HP is going all out for CES 2026, with a wide range of products to show off for the new year.

Among the devices announced is the latest iteration of the HP Series 7 Pro 4K Monitor, which has grabbed our attention here at Windows Central thanks to its many useful features, impressive motion clarity, and notable visual quality — all of which are due to the new NEO:LED technology it uses in conjunction with Black IPS.

Take a look at this 31.5-inch monitor's specs yourself:

If you haven't heard of NEO:LED displays before, that's because this is a very new technology developed by LG, which produces crisper details, deeper darks, and more vibrant colors than is typically seen in IPS panels.

According to HP, the 31.5-inch Series 7 4K Monitor is capable of reaching up to a 120Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time while producing up to 99.4% of Adobe RGB, 99.4% of P3, 100% of sRGB, which is well within the color range realm of an OLED display. Using IPS Black technology, it even produces 2700:1 contrast. Impressive indeed for an IPS panel.

RELATED: IPS LCD vs OLED vs NEO:LED vs tandem OLED vs QD-OLED vs QLED vs AMOLED vs Mini LED: Which is the best display?

HP Eye Ease allows the monitor to be put in low blue light modes to reduce eye strain during computer sessions. As with most HP displays, this monitor can be managed using HP Display Center software.

To keep focus on the beautiful screen and the visuals it displays, this monitor offers a borderless design with micro-edge bezels. It's also anti-glare, so pesky reflections don't distract from the main event.

But the HP Series 7 Pro 4K is not just beautiful to look at; it also provides several convenient features that make it perfect for creative projects and artists. Namely, it offers a Smart KVM, allowing owners to use the same keyboard and mouse between two connected devices.

Additionally, it offers a healthy range of ports, complete with RJ45 for a wired internet connection, Thunderbolt 4 Type-C for connecting those aforementioned devices, and USB-A ports for various accessories. Meanwhile, this display also has Single Power On, which is a handy feature that, as the name implies, wakes your PC when you power on the monitor.

Getting the monitor into a perfect viewing position should be easy enough, given that it can be adjusted vertically, tilted, swiveled, and pivoted until the display is in the best location for your setup. And if you'd rather mount the monitor, it has a detachable base and supports 100x100m VESA mounting.

The 31.5-inch HP Series 7 Pro 4K Monitor (2026) is expected to be available in March on the HP website. Pricing has not been revealed yet, but will be disclosed closer to that launch period.

What do you think about the HP Series 7 4K Pro Monitor? Are you interested in NEO:LED display technology? Tell us about it in the comments.

Name any category of technology, and you're likely to find it at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas Nevada.

That includes a vast variety of gaming monitors across sizes, display types, and aspect ratios. One of the more interesting sources for gamers at CES 2026? The new family of high-performance screens from HP and HyperX, which includes even more OLED options.

I've already been a fan of HP OMEN monitors (in fact, I'm typing this article on one such display right now), and HyperX is taking over as the all-in-one, ultimate gaming brand for HP. It makes sense, and leading the charge are four new HyperX monitors, including an absolutely stunning 34-inch, ultrawide, 360Hz OLED display. Here's what you need to know.

HyperX is taking over, and monitors are a part of that rebrand

As a side note, HP is putting itself on the back burner as the brand for its gaming hardware, leaving everything to HyperX and simply "OMEN." That means HP's gaming monitors, laptops, and desktops are now HyperX OMEN, while all its gaming accessories and peripherals are still pure HyperX.

The move makes sense, honestly, but that means this wave of monitors is the first we've technically seen from HyperX, and it's an impressive debut lineup. That includes a 180Hz refresh of the entry-level OMEN 24 monitor, as well as brand-new OLED variants of the OMEN 27q and OMEN 27qs.

I reviewed and loved the original, 240Hz HP OMEN 27qs monitor, but the new HyperX OLED model refreshes the design and rocks an insane 500Hz refresh rate for peak performance. That may end up being a phenomenal monitor for competitive gamers, but it's still not the most exciting.

That honor goes to the new HyperX OMEN OLED 34 (G1). I'm actually still using the last monitor I reviewed, the HP OMEN 34c (G2), and this new addition to the family aims to be better in practically every single way.

You're still getting a 34-inch, 21:9, 1440p, curved ultrawide screen, but this time with V-Stripe QD-OLED as the display technology. What does that mean? Well, "V-Stripe" refers to the pixel array, or how individual pixel clusters are oriented. Vertical stripes can help reduce the risk of burn-in over time by more evenly distributing the pixels.

Beyond that, it's simply a colorful, vibrant, and color-accurate OLED display with perfect contrast and some wild performance for an ultrawide display, like a 360Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time. Pair that with a range of other features, like additional USB ports and a KVM switch, and the OMEN OLED 34 could be one of the best monitors of 2026.

Sadly, we don't know exactly when it's coming or how much it'll cost, only that it's planned to arrive sometime in Spring 2026.

OLED is only continuing to get better, and that's awesome for gamers. Have you switched to an OLED monitor yet? Let us know in the comments below!

If you're desperately multitasking to get mountains of digital paperwork done while travelling with your laptop, sometimes having one monitor isn't enough.

Thankfully, JSAUX's line-up of FlipGo portable monitors is here to help lighten your burdens with their extra screens to give more room for your work apps, high-refresh rates to load them faster, and crisp resolutions so you can see what you're doing with clear detail.

On top of that, several of them are now on sale on Amazon just in time for Christmas with the lowest prices they've seen in a month.

FAQs

Arrives after Christmas and need a gift sooner? 

If your item won't arrive in time for Christmas or you're looking for a quick and easy add on, buying an Amazon eGift Card is a fast, flexible way to give purchasing power now—send instantly or schedule delivery by email or text, choose any amount from $5 to $2,000, and the balance never expires, making it ideal when a deal’s item won’t ship until after the holidays.

Amazon eGift Cards let you pick a design, set a custom amount, add a personal message, and choose delivery by email or SMS with the option to schedule the exact delivery date—including immediate delivery or a future date up to a year ahead. There are no fees, and gift card balances never expire, so recipients can redeem the code and apply the funds to their Amazon account whenever they’re ready, across millions of eligible items.

I reviewed the JSAUX FlipGo Horizon Pro back at the start of November and found it to be an awesome accessory that improved my workflow on a laptop.

It's a monitor extender that provides two 15.6-inch displays that can be oriented in portrait or landscape mode. They can even be stacked on one side if that's preferred.

The JSAUX FlipGo Horizon usually sells for $499.99, but it's currently on sale for $459.99 at Amazon when you click the coupon before checkout. If you order today, it should arrive before Christmas.

What's so special about the FlipGo Horizon Pro?

I tend to have multiple windows and browser tabs open, whether I'm working or I'm in the middle of a creative project.

As such, it's a whole lot more convenient and efficient for me to have more than one monitor when I'm using my laptop. That's where the FlipGo Horizon Pro comes in handy.

The FlipGo Horizon Pro facilitates a wide range of uses with its ability to hold two additional monitors at either landscape or portrait orientation, so it can fit my needs whether I want a long monitor for typing or a wide one for creative designs.

This accessory even supports stacking the monitors in landscape mode, which I find useful when I'm working in Photoshop. On top of that, I can have it display one monitor at a time, which I find is great for gaming on the go.

For additional convenience, the Snap Stand Pro stand that goes behind your laptop features a few ports, so I can plug in any additional accessory or even an Ethernet cable for wired internet. In other words, the stand also serves as a docking station.

In addition to the stand and two displays, this purchase gives you universal adapters, an outlet charger, four USB-C cables, two mini HDMI cables, the adjustable Snap Stand Pro, instructions for how to use the stand, a phone stand adapter with MagSafe attachment, manuals, two hex keys, a carrying case for just the monitors, and then a larger carrying case so you can tote everything around.

So, if you like changing the orientation of your monitors or want to add more screens to your laptop to improve your workflow, I highly recommend grabbing the JSAUX FlipGo Horizon Pro while it's on sale for $459.99 at Amazon.

FAQ

In the past, gamers had to choose between getting a gaming monitor that prioritized resolution quality over responsive refresh rates, and vice versa, or settle for monitors that had a compromising middle ground.

Thankfully, we now live in a world where gaming monitors that can achieve both 4K resolutions and 240Hz refresh rates simultaneously, such as the ASUS ROG Swift OLED 32-inch, which is now on sale for $887.98 at Amazon.

Why buy this OLED Gaming Monitor?

The ASUS ROG Swift OLED 32-inch gaming monitor is packed with many premium features to help bring out the best performance out of your favorite Xbox and PC titles. Its QD-OLED panel display is capable of rendering images in 4K (3840x2160) with superb details, along with vibrant colors and contrast.

The ASUS ROG Swift OLED 32-inch is able to achieve this without sacrificing refresh rates as they can reach up to 240Hz. Combine this factor with a 0.3ms response time, along with NVIDIA G-SYNC, AMD FreeSync, and VESA Adaptive Sync support, and you have a gaming monitor that will fully protect your controller from suffering input delay.

This will ensure that your controller inputs remain consistently instantly responsive, so you don't die any cheap deaths trying to dodge attacks in reaction-heavy games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 or Call of Duty Black Ops 7.

Aside from minor issues detailed in our review, ASUS' ROG Swift OLED 32-inch gaming monitor's biggest complaint is that it's usually priced at a high MSRP of $1,299.99.

Fortunately, this steep price point has been temporarily slashed by 31% for Christmas as it's now on sale for $887.98 at Amazon, making this an ideal time to get yourself or your gaming buddies a premium gaming monitor for the holidays.

Alternative discounts

Should Amazon's stock run out, or if you prefer different retailers, here is an alternative discount offering to consider as a back-up option:

• $949.99 at Best Buy (was $1,299.99).

FAQ

Arrives after Christmas and need a gift sooner? 

If your item won't arrive in time for Christmas or you're looking for a quick and easy add on, buying an Amazon eGift Card is a fast, flexible way to give purchasing power now—send instantly or schedule delivery by email or text, choose any amount from $5 to $2,000, and the balance never expires, making it ideal when a deal’s item won’t ship until after the holidays.

Amazon eGift Cards let you pick a design, set a custom amount, add a personal message, and choose delivery by email or SMS with the option to schedule the exact delivery date—including immediate delivery or a future date up to a year ahead. There are no fees, and gift card balances never expire, so recipients can redeem the code and apply the funds to their Amazon account whenever they’re ready, across millions of eligible items.

The Samsung Odyssey G9 is a 49-inch ultrawide display with a 5120x1440 resolution that feels like having two 1440p monitors side by side.

It runs at a fast 240 Hz with a 1 ms response time, which helps keep motion clear and responsive. It also includes DisplayHDR 1000 brightness, HDR10+ Gaming support, and FreeSync for smoother gameplay.

The deep 1000R curve gives you a comfortable viewing experience across the full width of the panel. For Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the price drops from $1,299.99 to $779.99 at Samsung.

If you are into ultrawide gaming or you want more room for apps and windows, it is hard to go wrong with the Samsung Odyssey G9. It is a huge monitor, and that size immediately stands out when you sit in front of it.

It definitely becomes a conversation starter, and it will not leave you wanting more screen space. The only exception is if you are like me and enjoy building an over the top gaming setup just for the fun of it.

FAQs

More Cyber Monday 2025 - quick links

• All our TOP recommended Black Friday deals: Just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Black Friday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Black Friday deals:
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
• Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17

If you need an ultrawide gaming monitor, you know you need an ultrawide gaming monitor. They're not to everyone's taste, but a lot of us simply can't pass up that extended visual real estate. Sadly, ultrawide gaming monitors actually worth buying often boast price tags as wide as their screens.

Well, usually. For Cyber Monday, the consistently great HP OMEN 34c (G2) is just $319.99 at BestBuy.com, a 40% discount on a terrifically safe monitor for gaming, productivity, and entertainment. Oh, and that price is matched at other retailers like Amazon.com and HP.com, so shop where you love. I wouldn't wait too long to take advantage, though, because this deal likely won't last much longer.

The HP OMEN 34c (G2) doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel, but it does a good job improving upon the foundations set by the G1 series while keeping its specs grounded with only essential components to enhance gaming without bloating its price tag.

It features a 34-inch, ultrawide VA panel display capable of producing crisp visuals up to 3440 x 1440 WQHD resolutions, 400 nits of brightness, and a striking 4000:1 contrast ratio.

The HP Omen 34c (G2) also features a 180Hz refresh rate, which just hits the sweet spot between 120Hz and 240Hz to help keep a game's framerate consistently high while removing all traces of motion blur and artifacting to keep visuals clean.

Other performance-enhancing features include 1ms response times and AMD FreeSync Premium support. The monitor also includes an anti-glare coating to prevent the screen from being obscured by outside lights.

So, if you fancy a simple, straight-to-the-point ultra-wide gaming monitor to play your favorite Xbox or PC titles with commendable performance without costing you an arm and a leg, then the HP OMEN 34c (G2) is not a bad choice at all.

. . .

Happy Cyber Monday, everyone! This is Zachary Boddy, taking over from Alex to share a few extra thoughts on this monitor. I reviewed the HP OMEN 34c (G2) and awarded it 3.5/5-stars, a score heavily influenced by this monitor's retail price tag. A 40% discount pretty comfortably combats any of my major complaints.

With the HP OMEN 34c (G2) going for $319.99 at BestBuy.com (or Amazon.com and HP.com, depending on your retailer preferences), I can't readily recommend any other ultrawide gaming monitor. The easy-to-assemble design, excellent overall performance, and pleasant image quality make this Cyber Monday deal difficult to pass up.

FAQs

More Cyber Monday 2025 — Quick links

• All our TOP recommended Cyber Monday deals: just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Cyber Monday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Cyber Monday deals:
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
• Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: even more PC accessories starting at $17

The Samsung Odyssey G7 is a 40 inch ultrawide with a 5120x1440 curved VA panel, giving you sharp detail and wide viewing angles.
It runs at 180 Hz with a 1 ms response time, so it feels fast and responsive during high level gaming.

DisplayHDR 600, HDR10+, and HDR10+ Gaming support help improve contrast, although I usually leave HDR off.
The 1000R curve wraps the screen around your field of view for great viewing angles and what Samsung claim is an immersive feel.

It normally sells for $1,199.99, but you can pick it up for $749.99 directly from Samsung right now.

The Samsung Odyssey G7 makes for a great all around monitor, and perfect for those who can't fit its bigger counterpart the Samsung Odyssey G9, which has a huge 49-inch display.

👉See more Samsung monitor deals from Cyber Monday that are still alive!

Despite being smaller, the G7 still offers a lot of the same bells and whistles, and it's hard to not recommend it at this price point.

FAQs

More Cyber Monday 2025 - quick links

• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Black Friday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Cyber Monday deals:
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
• Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17

Black Friday weekend is well and truly upon us, and for a long while I've loved 5K monitors. I love high-resolution displays, as I think Windows and text looks best when rendered at 5K. Unfortunately, most 5K monitors are very expensive, at least, that was the case until now.

You can now grab yourself a brand-new 27-inch 5K monitor for just $569. That's for the KTC 27-inch 5K monitor, which offers the same size and resolution display as the Apple Studio Display, but at an almost $1000 discount. You can buy two for the price of one Apple Studio Display, and still have some left over!

5K monitors have become something of a unique but popular market in the last few years. While most people opt for a 4K monitor, 5K monitors have been reserved for creative professionals or people who just want text and images to look as crisp as possible on their display.

4K monitors are great, but they often result in Windows and macOS having to display icons and text at a not ideal rendering scale. With a 27-inch 5K monitor at 217ppi (pixels per inch,) Windows will scale at 200% natively, and macOS will also scale at its native resolution too. That means text and images look even crisper than usual, and the OS's run better as a result.

Just as comparison, Windows will usually render at 150% scaling on a 4K monitor. This is mostly fine, but Windows and visuals just look better at 200%.

The KTC 5K monitor itself is also packed full of features. It has a 5K (5120x2880) 60Hz mode, but also a 2K (2560x1440) 120Hz mode. So if you wanted to use the monitor for gaming or wanted a higher refresh rate for whatever reason, you could swich the monitor into 2K mode and experience Windows and gaming at a much smoother frame rate.

It has built-in 65W Power Delivery, which means you can plug in a laptop with USB-C and send charge to it to keep it alive when using it with the external monitor. It also has HDR 400, though it is only an IPS display so don't expect the screen to be as bright as an OLED monitor is.

Unfortunately, there aren't any 5K OLEDs on the market right now, so IPS is the best we're going to get, and for $535 I think this is one hell of a monitor. You get a lot for your money, including a 217ppi display that most people haven't experienced before.

FAQ

More Black Friday 2025 - quick links

• All our TOP recommended Black Friday deals: Just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Black Friday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Black Friday deals:
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
• Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17

For years now, I've had my eyes set on an OLED TV for my living room — but life and other responsibilities have prevented me from pulling the trigger this long. Every Cyber Monday, the temptation grows as prices on OLED TVs continue to come down. So, is this the year to finally say "yes" to my dream TV?

The jury is still out on me, but the answer may be easier for you. OLED technology still costs more in general than the more common "IPS LCD" tech found in more affordable TVs, but this Cyber Monday is seeing OLED TVs dip well below the "$600" threshold.

If you've been waiting for a good opportunity, I'll highlight some of the best deals I've seen, including the awesome LG 48" Class B5 OLED Smart TV for just $549.99 at BestBuy.com — a $750 discount that does undercut sales I've seen on previous Cyber Mondays. That deal isn't quite as good as last week, though, so I wouldn't wait much longer to pull the trigger.

It's easy to believe Cyber Monday discounts aren't as dramatic as in previous years, and there are plenty of reasons to scrutinize deals before swiping your card, but that doesn't mean there aren't diamonds hidden in the rough.

A lot of people (myself included) would love to have an OLED TV in their home, but have been waiting for the right opportunity. TVs have been a centerpiece of Black Friday for a long time, too. Fortunately, there are some deals on OLED TVs worth taking advantage of, if you know where to look during Cyber Monday.

Being able to secure a high-quality, feature-packed OLED TV for just $549.99 at BestBuy.com is incredibly tempting, at the very least, especially since you're getting it from LG, OLED TV royalty. Don't hesitate if you're interested.

You can still get a great 65-inch OLED TV for $899.99 at BestBuy.com if you need a larger display but don't want to spend more than $1,000, too. Being able to buy my dream OLED TV for $1,399.99 at BestBuy.com may not be the most ridiculous sale (it's a pretty standard "big sale" price for this class of TV), but it is still a good deal.

All that is to say I do believe OLED TVs are affordable enough, as long as you're looking at the most lucrative deals. They're still not going to priced as low as non-OLED TVs, of course (here's a great 55-inch, 4K MiniLED TV for only $499.99 at BestBuy.com, for example), but right now is an excellent time to treat yourself to the vibrant colors, perfect blacks, and responsive performance of OLED.

FAQ

More Cyber Monday 2025 — Quick links

• All our TOP recommended Cyber Monday deals: Just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Cyber Monday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Cyber Monday deals:
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
• Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17

Gaming monitors with the most convenient features tend to be rather costly, as any PC gamer will tell you.

However, every once in a while, a standout display launches at a lower price than expected, making it that much easier to get the gaming setup you want, and that's one of the things that impressed me with the Acer Predator XB273K V5.

I've been using the Acer Predator XB273K V5 for a few months now, and it's been an absolute joy to use while playing the latest AAA games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Thanks to its many features, including its dual refresh rate and included remote, I've been able to game conveniently and smoothly. Here's what makes it such a great pick.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Acer. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

Acer Predator gaming monitor review

As Acer itself notes, Predator is a "high-performance" line of PC gaming devices from laptops to monitors. While not always the case, I've often found that many of the products in the Predator line tend to cost less than many competitors while still offering a great user experience.

The Acer Predator XB273K V5 is a 27-inch dual refresh rate IPS gaming monitor that can swap between up to 3840x2160 @ 160Hz and up to 1920x1080 @ 320Hz, making it an ideal choice for anyone who plays a wide range of games.

It doesn't take any tools to assemble this monitor thanks to the built-in screw at its base and the stand that pops into the back of the display. Unlike many other gaming monitors out there, it also includes built-in speakers and comes with a remote for controlling the OSD (on-screen display).

Despite all of these features, this monitor only has a MSRP of $379.99, and I've already seen it on sale for just $349.99 at Amazon. This not only makes it one of the best gaming monitors out there, but an excellent value buy as well.

Acer Predator XB273K V5 4K — WHAT'S IN THE BOX?

When I opened the box I found the monitor itself, a stand, a base, the Smart Dial remote, AA batteries for the remote, an HDMI cable, and the power cable. This gives you everything you need to connect the monitor to your desktop PC or gaming laptop so you can start playing.

A sturdy build with an adjustable stand and other conveniences

There is absolutely no danger of the XB273K wobbling, thanks to the sturdy stand. However, I do wish it wasn't quite so big; as it is, it takes up a decent amount of space on my desk.

On the plus side, since the stand can be adjusted height-wise and the monitor can be tilted, pivoted, and swiveled, I never had issues getting the monitor lined up at a good position.

This stand also has a mounting screw at the top of it, so you can easily connect any accessories that you might want to use with your gaming setup.

With two HDMI 2.1 ports and a DisplayPort 1.4, it's easy to connect the monitors you want for your gaming setup. There is also an audio jack, but no USB-A or USB-C ports.

Since this monitor includes built-in 2W speakers, I didn't need to connect an external audio device in order to hear game sounds. However, it's worth noting that these speakers don't have the best range, so you might be better off with one of the best gaming headsets if you really want the best audio experience.

This display's OSD menu can be interacted with in two ways, either using the buttons on the back or by using the included Smart Dial remote.

I preferred to use the Smart Dial since the back buttons don't perfectly lineup with the OSD side menu. What's more, the remote doesn't need to be point at the display for it to work. Plus, the convenience of being able to press the DFR button on the remote when I want to swap between settings is incredibly convenient.

Great motion clarity and a respectable color range

I played dozens of games during my time with the Acer Predator XB273K V5, and it always worked beautifully with crisp resolution, great coloring, and excellent motion clarity. And all this without being an OLED panel.

RELATED: IPS LCD vs OLED vs tandem OLED vs QD-OLED vs QLED vs AMOLED vs Mini LED: Which is the best display?

Thanks to DFR (Dynamic Frequency & Resolution), which allows me to quickly swap between 3840x2160 @ 160Hz and up to 1920x1080 @ 320Hz, I was always able to find the settings that best fit my current gaming sessions.

When I used my colorimeter during a color gamut test, the display produced a very nice 100% of sRGB, 86% of AdobeRGB, and 93% of P3. It's worth noting that while this monitor does support HDR-400, I found that I did have to manually turn it on since the Auto option in the OSD didn't seem to actually work.

In SDR mode, the display only reaches about 250 nits of brightness, but in HDR mode, it manages to hit around 450 nits, which is much more ideal.

Acer Predator XB273K V5 4K review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You love the idea of swapping between 3840x2160 @ 160Hz and 1920x1080 @ 320Hz.
• Your computer has an AMD Radeon Graphics card to take advantage of AMD FreeSync Premium.
• You want a monitor with built-in speakers and an adjustable stand.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You'd prefer a monitor that offers an OLED display.
• You're looking for a gaming monitor with colorful RGB lighting.
• You need a monitor with a smaller base or USB ports.

There are hundreds of gaming monitors on the market right now, but with the XB273K, Acer has created a display that stands out from the crowd.

Its great color gamut, HDR support, motion clarity, and dual refresh rate already make it an attractive option, but then it also offers a highly adjustable stand, tool-less assembly, AMD FreeSync Premium support, and a convenient Smart Dial remote so you can easily swap between refresh rates and resolutions.

Overall, the only shortcomings this display has are relatively minor. So, given everything the Xbo273K has going for it, it really is an ideal IPS gaming monitor for those who don't want to spend too much.

Gaming monitor FAQ

This weekend is proving to be a great time to cash in on deep monitor discounts, especially now that new Cyber Monday deals are coming online to replace the Black Friday pricing at major retailers.

I've scoured Cyber Monday monitor discounts from Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, and Newegg, and out of the hundreds of live deals, I've handpicked 15 of the best prices on displays for productivity and gaming.

Update November 30, 11:14 AM EST: Some Black Friday deals disappeared overnight at all major retailers, but new monitor discounts are popping up all the time as we head into Cyber Monday. I checked all prices here and added a few new deals to shop. — Cale Hunt

FAQ

More Cyber Monday 2025 - quick links

• All our TOP recommended Cyber Monday deals: Just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Black Friday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Cyber Monday deals:
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
• Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17

Still scrambling for the perfect Christmas gift? Samsung’s curved gaming monitors are discounted just in time for last‑minute holiday shopping. Whether you’re upgrading your own setup or surprising the gamer in your life, these deals deliver performance without breaking the bank.

Why are curved monitors worth buying over regular monitors?

While curved monitors are often more expensive to buy compared to regular flat monitors, their prices are somewhat justified.

Their massive displays can provide viewers with far greater visual fidelity with HD or 4K resolutions, and greater immersion when watching movies or playing games, akin to going to movie theatres, thanks to their wide field of views.

Curved monitors (including the ones on offer here) also offer extremely high refresh rates and response times, which can massively improve a game's framerates and reduce input lag.

In fast-paced shooters like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 or reaction-based RPGs like Clair Obsur: Expedition 33, these aforementioned monitor specs can help save you from unfair deaths as you won't have to worry about input delay when performing split-second dodges to avoid being killed by an enemy's attacks.

Granted, curved monitors aren't for everyone, as their massive sizes take huge chunks of desk space, and their specs can be overkill if you just need a regular monitor for work or casual gaming.

However, if you have the budget, desk space, and desire to turn your PC into a private cinema for PC gaming and movies, then these Samsung curved gaming monitors are for you.

FAQ

Arrives after Christmas and need a gift sooner? 

If your item won't arrive in time for Christmas or you're looking for a quick and easy add on, buying an Amazon eGift Card is a fast, flexible way to give purchasing power now—send instantly or schedule delivery by email or text, choose any amount from $5 to $2,000, and the balance never expires, making it ideal when a deal’s item won’t ship until after the holidays.

Amazon eGift Cards let you pick a design, set a custom amount, add a personal message, and choose delivery by email or SMS with the option to schedule the exact delivery date—including immediate delivery or a future date up to a year ahead. There are no fees, and gift card balances never expire, so recipients can redeem the code and apply the funds to their Amazon account whenever they’re ready, across millions of eligible items.

Gaming monitors are on sale ahead of Black Friday, and a deal on the Odyssey OLED G6 saves you $200 on a bright and fast monitor that can beautifully handle your favorite games.

This is the lowest price I've ever seen for the Odyssey OLED G6. The monitor launched with a $999.99 price tag and has been discounted a few times since then, though it has never dropped below $799.99. You can snag the Odyssey OLED G6 at a $200 discount through Samsung or get the same deal at Best Buy or Newegg.

Samsung's speedy gaming monitor features a 27-inch QHD (2,560 x 1,440) screen that uses QD-OLED (quantum dot organic light-emitting diode) technology. It has an impressive 0.03ms response time to go along with its 500Hz refresh rate.

The QD-OLED panel delivers high color accuracy (DCI 99%) and contrast (1,000,000:1). The monitor also hits up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness.

NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support help ensure smooth gameplay — assuming you have a graphics card that can power games at your target FPS.

When the Odyssey OLED G6 debuted, it was the world's first OLED monitor with a 500Hz refresh rate, according to Samsung. It has since gained some company, such as the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQPDG. But even with newcomers to the 500Hz OLED scene, the Odyssey OLED G6 stands out due to its matte finish that reduces glare.

FAQ

Portable monitors can be an excellent way to save desktop space compared to larger, full-on monitors, or if you need a portable screen to play docked gaming handhelds on while travelling.

One of the more inexpensive options for portable monitors while still possessing decent hardware specs is the KYY Portable Monitor, which is on an early Black Friday sale for $59.99 on Amazon.

Why is this portable monitor worth buying?

In this day and age, some people aren't content with just a single monitor. They need multiple monitors to help keep track of work more easily or play games on one monitor while chatting online on another.

The KYY Portable Monitor is fit for such a need and is proven to be quite popular, as it has garnered over 1,600 reviews on Amazon, 87% of which are overwhelmingly positive.

It's a 15.6-inch IPS monitor with a 178-degree viewing angle. It's capable of displaying images with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and a refresh rate of 60Hz, so it will run portable games at a stable and solid 1080p resolution and 60fps framerate.

Other standout features include HDR mode, 72% Gamut NTSC Color Gamut, and Blue Light Eye Care protection, allowing the KYY Portable Monitor to have crisp color contrasts while safeguarding your eyes from prolonged exposure to blue lights.

On top of that, it weighs in at 1.7lbs with a 0.3-inch ultra-slim frame, making it very easy to pack and carry for portable travel.

The best part is its MSRP of $87.99, a price so modest for a gaming monitor that it earned the spot for "Best budget runner-up" in our best portable monitors round-up.

So, if you're on the hunt for an inexpensive portable monitor, then you're in luck. Amazon has snagged an early Black Friday deal that has reduced its MSRP to $59.99, which will last until November 15, 2025.

FAQ

Dell's Alienware-series are often regarded as some of the finest gaming monitors in the business for their immaculate visual fidelity and heavenly performance rates.

One such case is the Alienware (AW2725QF), a mighty electronic device with a unique dual mode that can make it function like two gaming monitors in one, and it's now on an early Black Friday sale for $449.99 at Dell.

Why buy this gaming monitor?

Dell's Alienware (AW2725QF) gaming monitor is packed with all kinds of advanced features that are essential for any PC gamer looking to squeeze the best performance possible out of their games.

These include an IPS Edge LED 16:9 screen, a 0.5ms response time, 500 nits of brightness max, NVIDIA G-Sync VRR technology, HDR600 support, an adjustable stand, and an assortment of ports (two HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4, one USB-B, three USB-A, one USB-C 3.2)

The biggest selling point of the Alienware (AW2725QF) gaming monitor, however, is its unique Dual Mode. Essentially, this gaming monitor can switch between having 3840 x 2160, 4K resolution with a 180Hz refresh rate or 1920 x 1080, Full HD resolution with a 320Hz refresh rate.

With this, you will be able to swap between 4K/180Hz mode to take in the beautiful visuals of movies or cinematic-heavy single-player games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to 1080p/320Hz mode so you can get the best framerate performance out of competitive PvP titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 without worrying about input latency.

Considering the insanely complicated technology it possesses and high-quality visuals and framerate it can push, I'm shocked this gaming monitor only costs $549.99 at retail; it's basically two monitors in one.

I'm glad it doesn't cost more, as this is an amazing gaming monitor that any gaming enthusiast and casual movie-streaming viewer should get their hands on.

Fortunately for us, its price tag has become even more affordable thanks to this early Black Friday 18% bargain at Dell, reducing it from $549.99 to $449.99 at Dell.

FAQ

Newegg is celebrating Black Friday big time with "Black November", a special event where the retailer will host "Doorstopper" discounts on certain items for one day, every day up until Black Friday officially starts.

One of today's "Doorstopper" discounts is for the MSI Pro, a budget-friendly gaming monitor outfitted with a refresh rate of 100Hz and 1920x1080 full-HD resolution that's now available for $69.99 at Newegg.

Why should you buy this gaming monitor?

Gaming monitors run the gamut from premium curved monitors that take up the whole desk for a cinematic viewing experience to down-to-earth monitors built with the core features for gaming without costing you thousands of dollars.

The MSI Pro (MP243XW) gaming monitor falls in the latter category. For an entry-level monitor costing $74.99 at retail, it features plenty of advanced features that help make it just as valuable as more expensive mid-range monitors.

It features a 24-inch screen capable of 1920x1080 full-HD resolutions, 100Hz refresh rates, and a response time of 1ms to ensure that your favorite Xbox and PC games are running smoothly with no hiccups to their performance or graphics.

It also comes with multiple DisplayPorts and HDMI ports, built-in speakers, a TÜV-certified display to protect the user's eyes, an adjustable stand, and an IPS grade panel to enhance the screen's clarity and color accuracy.

So, if you want an affordable monitor to play video games on, communicate with colleagues via online video calls, or simply to watch movies, you can't go wrong with the MSI Pro (MP243XW) Gaming Monitor.

The MSI Pro is available at a 15% discount at Newegg for $69.99. Do note that Newegg's discount will only be available for today and will be replaced by another discount for a different product tomorrow as part of Newegg's "Black November" event.

FAQ

We're three days into November, and retailers are already pushing out big discounts for the priciest gadgets and gizmos on the market, weeks ahead of the annual Black Friday sales.

One such bargain is Best Buy's 41% discount for the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9, toppling this gargantuan gaming monitor's premium $1,699.99 MSRP to $999.99 at Best Buy for a limited time.

Is this monstrously-sized monitor worth its mountainous price?

I've seen my fair share of PC gaming monitors over the years, yet few compare to the sheer size and scale of Samsung's Odyssey OLED G9.

This thing is an absolute monster, boasting a 49-inch OLED screen with a 1,800R curvature, 5120 x 1440 resolution, and a 32:9 aspect ratio. Its large size isn't just for show; it's for helping PC titles games achieve their best graphical and performance potential.

It accomplishes this thanks to an ultra-smooth 240Hz refresh rate and a rapid response time of 0.03ms. This safeguards your games from suffering perceptible lag and ensures you get the best input response possible while playing intense online multiplayer games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 or ARC Raiders.

On top of that, it features AMD FreeSync Premium support, which cracks down on screen-tearing and stuttering to ensure your game's framerate runs as smooth as butter.

The only major drawbacks of this monitor are that it takes up so much real estate on your desk and its usually steep MSRP of $1699.99.

However, if you can afford to cover the space and high costs, it will be worth it in the end, as this is one of the best PC gaming monitors on the market in the premium range.

Our colleagues at TechRadar and Tom's Guide have each given it 4.5/5 review scores.

TechRadar's review praised it for its gorgeous 4K HDR display, customization options, and solid built-in speaker system. Meanwhile, Tom's Guide's review loved it for its elegant design, bright and colorful panel, and high refresh rates/low response times.

Both reviews also criticized its huge $1,699.99 MSRP, but Best Buy has come to take it down a peg with an early Black Friday Sales event 41% discount, which will last until November 9, 2025.

This means you can get your hands on this mammoth-sized monitor for $999.99 at Best Buy, instead of $1,699.99. This is the lowest price drop I've ever seen for this monitor during my time at Windows Central, making this the perfect opportunity for premium PC gamers to grab it without spending nearly $1,700 on it.

FAQ

Whenever I go on a work trip, I'm always faced with the same problem: reduced productivity that comes from working on a small laptop screen rather than my usual 49-inch display at home.

Portable monitors can help make me more efficient while away, but only if they meet a certain level of quality and convenience. Over the last few days, I've been using the JSAUX FlipGo Horizon Pro portable dual monitors while connected to my laptop.

These screens can be magnetically placed onto a stand that extends to either side of the laptop in portrait or landscape mode. These displays can also be stacked, or I can choose to only use one of them at a time.

While I love the idea of this accessory and did find that it helped increase my work efficiency on a laptop, there are a few ways in which the FlipGo Horizon Pro monitors could be improved.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by JSAUX. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

In case you don't already know, JSAUX is a brand that creates laptop and gaming accessories. I've reviewed several peripherals from this company over the years and often recommend them to my friends and family.

The company's latest FlipGo Horizon Pro dual monitors have a starting price of $499.00 at JSAUX, and this purchase is composed of several components, depending on the version you select.

When I opened the box, I found that the two JSAUX FlipGo Horizon monitors come with universal adapters, an outlet charger, four USB-C cables, two mini HDMI cables, the adjustable Snap Stand Pro, instructions for how to use the stand, a phone stand adapter with MagSafe attachment, manuals, two hex keys, a carrying case for just the monitors, and then a larger carrying case for everything.

There are various slots within the main carrying case intended for these specific accessories, but some accessories (like cables) also share slots.

Basically, it comes with a lot of accessories and thus gives you everything you need to connect the two monitors to a compatible laptop with either two USB-C ports that support display, two HDMI ports, or a mixture of the two. Really, whatever works best for you.

JSAUX FlipGo Horizon: What I love about it

While not perfect, the FlipGo Horizon offers one of the best ways to tote additional laptop screens around on the go.

I love the flexibility it gives me to work in landscape mode, portrait mode, a mixture of the two, stacked landscape mode, or in solo display mode. Whether I'm working in spreadsheets or playing a video game, I can find the setup that works best for me in that moment.

There are two square indentations on the backs of either monitor, and these attach magnetically to square-shaped blocks on the metal stand. In my experience, these magnets held the displays sturdy enough, but it sometimes took a minute or so to get the slots lined up.

These definitely aren't the best screens on the market when it comes to color accuracy or brightness. They reached only 80% of sRGB, 62% of AdobeRGB, 61% of P3, and a pitiful max brightness of 250 nits in my colorimeter testing.

However, the panels support a crisp 1920 x 1080 resolution and reach up to 60Hz for a good viewing experience overall, at least for a portable monitor. Unless you're doing creative work and need a better color gamut, this should meet most people's work needs.

When it comes time to connect the monitors to your laptop, you get the choice of using your laptop's USB-C display port or an HDMI port.

Three of the four included USB-C cables have a right-angle connection on one side and a typical straight USB-C on the other, which can help hide some of the cables and keep things looking tidier. I also love that passthrough charging reduces the total number of outlet charging cables needed for this laptop setup.

By pressing the menu button on the side of a monitor, I can adjust screen brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, blue light settings, and more. It's all rather easy to do and responsive too.

When it comes to traveling, the hard shell carrying case adds a lot of convenience with its handle and specific indentations for various accessories. I especially appreciate that the monitors are kept within their own separate zippered hard shell case with a soft lining to protect them from getting damaged in transit.

As you might expect, the carrying case is rather heavy when everything is inside, due to the metal stand and monitors. Its large size also means that you might need to plan how to pack this carrying case into your luggage on work trips.

It would have been nicer if the carrying case had a shoulder strap in addition to the handle.

JSAUX FlipGo Horizon: What needs to improve

While it's nice being able to use the screens in so many modes, it can sometimes feel tedious getting everything set up. That's because the stand needs to be set up in different ways to make the different orientations possible, and these positions aren't exactly straightforward.

JSAUX does provide a handy illustrated guide to help with this, but it can still take a while to get things set up correctly. On top of that, the stacked mode requires me to pull out a small, foldout kickstand that likely won't be sturdy on certain uneven surfaces.

I also experienced some potential laptop incompatibility issues.

During my testing, I was initially sent a prelaunch version of the FlipGo Pro and connected the monitors to my HP OmniBook X laptop. For some reason, one of the prelaunch displays would flicker, and if I went into Windows settings to change anything, the display would change to black and white and only show up on half of the panel. This issue didn't go away even after troubleshooting and restarting the laptop multiple times.

When I connected that same prelaunch monitor to my Lenovo Legion 9i laptop, it didn't have the same black and white half-screen issue, but it did flicker quite a bit.

However, when I attached my phone to the display, there was no flickering at all.

I notified JSAUX of this issue, and I was told the flickering could be due to the device incorrectly sensing the laptop's resolution. The company then sent me the finalized version of the product to see if it had the same issues.

Thankfully, I didn't see these same problems when testing the final product, so hopefully it has been resolved.

✅ You should buy this if ...

• You would like more screen space for your laptop and would like some orientation flexibility
  
  The FlipGo Horizon allows me to set up the dual screens in a way that suits my situation best. Plus, the included hard shell carrying case makes it easier to keep them protected during travel.

❌ You should not buy this if ...

• You don't want your monitors to change orientation, or you don't need more than one portable monitor.
  
  There are plenty of single portable monitor options on the market for those who don't need two more screens. Additionally, many people don't need to pay for the added ability to work in portrait mode, if this isn't an orientation they tend to use.

There is definitely room for some improvement, however, the JSAUX FlipGo Horizon and its Snap Stand Pro do provide plenty of convenience and make me a better multitasker when working on a laptop.

Thanks to the included accessories and hard shell cases, it's easy to tote these dual screens around, whether I'm going on a day trip or traveling to another state for work. I'd prefer it if the carrying case had a shoulder strap and you'll wan to make sure you don't throw away the illustrated stand instructions, since the stand can be confusing to use.

In the end, I was able to be more productive while working on my laptop thanks to these handy screens that I can place in whatever orientation serves my needs best.

Personally, I don't need an ultrawide monitor, but the category definitely has a plethora of fans that know exactly what they want. Ultrawide gaming monitors are a dime a dozen, and it's difficult for companies to stand out from the horde.

HP isn't breaking the mold with the OMEN 34c (G2), a second-generation offering that plays it just as safe as the first iteration — but it is another great option with above-average performance and solid image quality for the price.

I certainly have my share of criticisms, but none of them are enough to disqualify the OMEN 34c (G2) from earning a comfortable recommendation from me. It's a good gaming monitor, especially for those looking for a performant, ultrawide display that doesn't inflate the price tag with features they don't need.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

A familiar design from HP OMEN

HP has settled into a nice flow with its OMEN family, carving out a unique visual identity while it builds out a comprehensive ecosystem of products. The OMEN 34c (G2) would never think to resist that flow, so we get an extremely familiar design here.

This monitor is fairly good looking for its price range with its matte black plastic, tasteful "OMEN" logos, and HP's diamond flourish, and the display bezels are as thin as I'd expect around three edges. I still have an issue with this stand, though.

Don't get me wrong, the OMEN 34c (G2) is just as wonderfully easy to assemble as last year, requiring zero tools or complicated instructions (unless you want to use a VESA mount, which will require some extra work).

The stand itself only allows for height and tilt adjustment, though — if you want to pivot, you'll have to turn the entire monitor and stand, which I patently refuse to do. I at least have faith HP will change this design with a future generation of monitors, but it's still annoying now.

I also have to criticize the distinct lack of any USB ports for connecting your accessories. You get two HDMI 2.0 ports, a single DisplayPort 1.4 port, and that's it. Additional ports is a valuable feature for a lot of people (myself included), even if you don't go all the way with KVM support and device charging.

Finally, I'll briefly mention the dual 3W speakers, which are just as hollow, flat, and muddy as last year. These speakers are fine for notifications and casual video conferencing, I would not (and do not) want to use them for anything else.

Good gaming performance, solid image quality

On the display front, the OMEN 34c (G2) finally sees some notable upgrades. This is still a 34-inch, ultrawide VA panel (not IPS LCD or OLED) that runs at 1440p, but the performance and overall image quality have improved.

The upgraded 180Hz refresh rate is the perfect sweet spot between the 120Hz minimum and the 240Hz sweet spot of modern gaming monitors, although you're not likely to notice it over the last model's 165Hz refresh rate. Still, gaming on this monitor feels great.

HP also managed to massively bump up the color accuracy, hitting 100% of the sRGB color gamut and 88% of the DCI-P3 color gamut on the "Native" profile, as well as increasing the contrast ratios across brightness levels. At least with contrast, the OMEN 34c (G2)'s VA panel strikes a nice balance between more popular IPS LCD or OLED displays.

The one issue I have with this display is the viewing angles, which are less than perfect. There's a decent amount of hazing and color shift when viewing things off-axis; while the curve of the display does help to some extent, I still regularly noticed how content on both far ends appeared less vibrant and clear than directly in front of me.

That being said, it never stopped me from staying productive, enjoying videos, video conferencing, or gaming.

HP OMEN 34c (G2) review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You know you want an ultrawide monitor.
• You value great gaming performance and that 180Hz refresh rate.
• You don't care about all the bells and whistles.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You need your monitor to provide additional USB ports.
• You need the best possible image quality and brightness.

My colleague, Rebecca Spear, reviewed the original HP OMEN 34c. Looking back at that review, not a lot has changed going into this second generation. HP did make some worthwhile improvements, but the OMEN 34c (G2) is still, overall, another simply solid option in an ocean of other solid options.

Unless you have specific needs that aren't met by this monitor, like additional USB ports or KVM support, you'll likely be happy. It's easy to assemble, the display looks good across a variety of content, and performance for gaming is generally excellent.

There are no fatal flaws here; HP just made a good ultrawide gaming monitor without any fluff. If that's what you're looking for, the HP OMEN 34c (G2) can be yours for $529.99 at HP.com, and is also available at BestBuy.com.

The holidays are quickly approaching, and while you might be tempted to wait for November's Black Friday and Cyber Monday to pick up big-ticket items, Dell is hosting an early holiday sale with discounts too large to ignore.

Alienware's brilliant QD-OLED gaming monitors are receiving a lot of attention, especially with up to $350 in discounts on top models. I've also included some laptop deals that are too good to miss — up to $450 off!

These deals are only available for a limited time, so be sure to check them out before they're gone.

Dell's Early Holiday Deals: Quick Links

• See all of Dell's Early Holiday Deals | Laptops, desktops, monitors, accessories, gaming, and more
• Top monitor discounts at Dell's Early Holiday Deals | Up to $350 off
• Top laptop discounts at Dell's Early Holiday Deals | Up to $500 off

Best monitor deals at Dell

Quite a few Alienware monitors are on sale at Dell, and I've pulled the four with the biggest discounts right here. My top pick is the Alienware AW2725DF, a gaming monitor that received a full five stars in our review.

That score is thanks to the incredible QD-OLED display with perfect color and contrast, blazing 360Hz refresh rate that will keep up with even the most powerful PC hardware, and peak 1,000 nits with HDR enabled.

A $300 discount drops it to just $599.99, but only for a limited time. If you're looking for something different — whether pricier or more affordable — keep scrolling for more options.

Best laptop deals at Dell

Dell's early holiday sale also encompasses laptops, and the best discounts I've spotted are on the Dell 14 Plus and Dell 16 Plus.

These laptops, which many will know as "Inspiron" from before the major Dell rebrand, provide a great balance of features, build quality, and performance without a high price tag.

The top deal is on the Dell 14 Plus, which drops to $649.99 from the usual $1,099.99 at Dell. It's an AI PC and a Copilot+ PC thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU with 47 TOPS NPU, and it has a sharp 2560x1600 resolution. A 1TB SSD is a nice bonus, especially at this price.

If you need a larger screen, be sure to have a look at the Dell 16 Plus, which is also on sale.

If you ask me what the single most impactful upgrade I've made to my gaming setup in the last year is, you might be surprised when I don't mention a new CPU or a new GPU. It's the MSI MAG MT201D dual-monitor mount that has so conveniently changed my life at a desk.

Although I fully recommend this awesome accessory at the full $130 price, the fact that you can now get it for just $89.60 at Amazon during Prime Big Deal Days makes it a deal anyone with two screens cannot miss.

The best office gaming upgrade I've made all year is down to just $89

There's really no downside to the MSI MAG MT201D dual-monitor mount, especially now that it's enjoying a 31% discount at Amazon.

It's easily the best display mount I've ever used. Setup — which doesn't require you to drill any holes in your desk unless you really want to — didn't take long, and I was back to gaming within 45 minutes.

Thanks to 75mm and 100mm VESA compatibility, the stand will work with the vast majority of modern displays, and with support for up to dual 45-inch screens, you should find it hard to test the mount's limits.

I've been using the MSI MAG MT201D for gaming and professional work for about nine months at this point, and it hasn't yet lost any arm tension or base stability. I haven't had to make any adjustments, and my monitors remain where I place them with no sign of drooping.

Perhaps the best part is the built-in cable channel that runs down each arm. Never has my desktop looked so clean despite having multiple monitors connected to multiple PCs.

I've recommended this mount to a few friends who have followed through, and everyone has been satisfied with the purchase, even at full price. With this discount, it only gets better, but the $89.60 deal price isn't going to last long!

FAQ

The big Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale is on for the next 24 hours, and for a long while I've been in the market for a 5K monitor. I love high-resolution displays, as I think Windows and text looks best when rendered at 5K. Unfortunately, most 5K monitors are very expensive, at least, that was the case until now.

For the next 24 hours, as part of Prime Day, you can grab yourself a brand-new 27-inch 5K monitor for just $569. That's for the KTC 27-inch 5K monitor, which offers the same size and resolution display as the Apple Studio Display, but at an almost $1000 discount. I just bought two for less than $1,200!

5K monitors have become something of a unique but popular market in the last few years. While most people opt for a 4K monitor, 5K monitors have been reserved for creative professionals or people who just want text and images to look as crisp as possible on their display.

4K monitors are great, but they often result in Windows and macOS having to display icons and text at a not ideal rendering scale. With a 27-inch 5K monitor at 217ppi (pixels per inch,) Windows will scale at 200% natively, and macOS will also scale at its native resolution too. That means text and images look even crisper than usual, and the OS's run better as a result.

Just as comparison, Windows will usually render at 150% scaling on a 4K monitor. This is mostly fine, but Windows and visuals just look better at 200%.

The KTC 5K monitor itself is also packed full of features. It has a 5K (5120x2880) 60Hz mode, but also a 2K (2560x1440) 120Hz mode. So if you wanted to use the monitor for gaming or wanted a higher refresh rate for whatever reason, you could swich the monitor into 2K mode and experience Windows and gaming at a much smoother frame rate.

It has built-in 65W Power Delivery, which means you can plug in a laptop with USB-C and send charge to it to keep it alive when using it with the external monitor. It also has HDR 400, though it is only an IPS display so don't expect the screen to be as bright as an OLED monitor is.

Unfortunately, there aren't any 5K OLEDs on the market right now, so IPS is the best we're going to get, and for $569 I think this is one hell of a monitor. You get a lot for your money, including a 217ppi display that most people haven't experienced before.

FAQ

I used Redmagic's 4K mini-LED gaming monitor for the better part of a year, and I like it quite a bit. But I've been meaning to switch to an OLED monitor — all the other tech I use in the house has an OLED panel, after all — so when KTC asked if I'd be interested in taking a look at its new 240Hz monitor, I agreed.

KTC is a Chinese brand that most of you won't be familiar with, but the Chinese manufacturer is increasingly gaining momentum thanks to a strong portfolio of products. The G27P6S is a 27-inch 1440p monitor with 240Hz refresh, and it features an LG WOLED panel — similar to what LG uses on its own gaming monitors.

The difference is the value; coming in at $499, the G27P6S manages to undercut just about every other OLED monitor in the market today, and that makes it a terrific starting point if you're looking to upgrade your existing monitor.

KTC G27P6S: Price and availability

KTC unveiled the G27P6S at the end of 2024, and the OLED monitor is now available in most global markets. It retails for $499 on Amazon U.S. (via a $100 clip-on coupon), and it is a fabulous value when you consider the quality of the panel being used. Like most other KTC monitors, the G27P6S gets a standard three-year warranty, and that includes burn-in coverage.

KTC G27P6S: What I like

Gaming monitors have distinct styling, and the G27P6S is no different. It comes with a metal stand, and the base is sturdy enough that I didn't see any issues in the six months I used the G27P6S. The stand has good customizability, including 11cm height adjustment, ±15 degree swivel, -5 to +20 degree tilt, and 90 degree pivot if you want to use it in a vertical orientation.

What I like the most about the design is the sleek design of the panel; the bezels are significantly thinner than most other monitors, and that leads to a 92.9% surface-to-body ratio, which is great. There isn't a chin at the bottom either, which adds to the design elegance. There isn't a dedicated RGB lighting zone at the back, but the KTC logo lights up if you need it.

Connectivity is decent as well, with the G27P6S getting a DisplayPort 1,4 port, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode that also handles 65W PD, 3.5mm out, and dual USB-A 3.0 ports. Interestingly, the monitor has integrated KVM, allowing you to use the same keyboard and mouse across two PCs.

There's a joystick at the back of the monitor to navigate the OSD, and you can adjust display parameters, color gamut settings, and enable the burn-in prevention features. It's easy enough to navigate the menus using the joystick, and I didn't have any problems in this regard.

The LG WOLED panel is the clear star of the show; the G27P6S is calibrated out of the box, and you get excellent image quality without having to adjust the color balance too much. It's a delight to game using the monitor thanks to fast pixel response times and deep blacks, and the G27P6S holds its own against costlier rivals. Although overall brightness isn't as high as LCD — which is made worse by the matte texture with anti-glare — it isn't an issue in real-world usage.

Colors are vibrant, and the G27P6S excels at HDR content. You'll need to use DisplayPort to get the full 240Hz refresh, and the monitor gets FreeSync Premium and G-Sync tech. Basically, the G27P6S is designed to be the ideal starting point in the world of OLED monitors, and the LG-sourced panel, combined with decent out-of-the-box calibration and unmatched affordability, lowers the barrier to entry.

KTC G27P6S: What I don't like

My only problem with the G27P6S has to do with text fringing. This is my first OLED monitor, and I didn't realize just how pronounced the issue would be; the RGBW layout leads to shadowing on the edges of text, and it makes using the monitor that much more challenging for productivity tasks.

If you're predominantly interested in gaming and want to switch to OLED, the G27P6S is a great choice. But if you want to use the monitor for productivity as well as gaming, I wouldn't recommend it — you'll be better served by a mini-LED monitor instead.

KTC G27P6S: The alternatives

MSI's MAG 272QP is a decent alternative to the G27P6S; it uses a QD-OLED panel, and text fringing isn't as big an issue. You also get 500Hz refresh, and all the extras that you'd want in a gaming monitor. The downside is that it is costly at $749.

If you prefer WOLED tech, LG's 27GS95QE is a good choice to consider. It has a lot of the same features as the G27P6S, including a 27-inch 1440p panel with 240Hz refresh, similar connectivity, and an OLED panel that's nearly identical. But at $699, you're paying $200 more than the G27P6S.

KTC G27P6S: Should you buy it?

✅ You should buy this if:

• You need an OLED gaming monitor
• You want standout image quality
• You need 240Hz refresh

❌ You shouldn't buy this if:

• You need a monitor for productivity as well as gaming

On the whole, the G27P6S has been revelatory. The OLED monitor is fantastic when it comes to gaming, and although overall brightness isn't as high as LCD panels, it wasn't an issue in my usage. The impressive colors more than make up for any deficiencies in brightness, and purely as an OLED gaming monitor, the G27P6S stands out.

Where I ran into problems is using it for productivity; the WOLED tech with an RGBW pixel layout leads to noticeable text fringing, and while there are utilities like Better ClearType Tuner that make a difference, you'll still notice fringing. Given that a decent chunk of my monitor use involves reading and writing text, that precluded the G27P6S from being my main monitor — I had to go back to a regular mini-LED monitor for productivity, instead using the G27P6S while gaming.

If you're looking for an OLED gaming monitor and want a high-quality panel with a good value, the G27P6S is unmatched right now. It delivers the best of LG's WOLED tech, and includes all the extras that are usually limited to monitors that cost over twice as much — the value really is the biggest differentiator with this monitor.

I've dabbled with integrating portable monitors into my life in the past, but that was in the day when most of the affordable ones were pretty awful. This one from Acer, though, is a little different.

That's because it's all set to flex on your laptop-only coffee shop compadres with its dual-screen magnificence. It only takes up the same amount of space in your bag as a single-screen portable monitor, but spreads its wings to reveal a pair of 16-inch displays, one stacked atop the other.

My first thoughts upon unboxing it were mixed. There's a bit of wow factor, naturally, but also a little "who is this for?"

This is for me. That's the answer there. But more broadly speaking, it solves a problem I didn't know I had. I've used it with both a laptop and a desktop PC, and there's definitely something here. It's not without some flaws, but those are specific to the hardware, not the idea behind it.

Two screens are better than one

If you're even considering a portable monitor, it's because you need more screen real estate to play with. So why not double up? The Acer PD163Q features its 16-inch displays stacked on top of each other, so the footprint is no larger than if it were a single panel.

Both use a 16x9 aspect ratio, but since they're arranged vertically, there's little reason to complain about a loss of vertical space. You can use each as an individual display, giving you two extra monitors to play with, or by pressing a button on the side, you can get a single display that fills both.

In this case, you will need to adjust the scaling in Windows 11, and you've got a break of about an inch right through the middle, but it works. It's usable, even if not my favorite layout. The two displays are connected by the sort of hinge you'd find on a convertible laptop, so you get a lot of flexibility over the angle of the upper panel.

The lower one has the kickstand behind it, and so this is how you adjust its angle. It's a solid kickstand, and as much as I've tried to adjust both it and the upper display, I can't make it topple over. So A+ for stability.

You also only need a single cable to power both displays. Using a USB-C connection, you can get both the power required and video output split between both panels, recognized as individual displays. Alternatively, you have a USB-C power brick and an HDMI cable, but this doesn't work quite the same. More on that later.

It's quite a brilliant little setup, though. I've used it mostly on my desk while reviewing the Geekom A9 Max mini PC, hooked up over USB-C, and it's been a champion. Sure, the refresh rate is only 60Hz, but then, it's not a monitor for gaming. It's got plenty of brightness on tap, easy-to-use controls, solid viewing angles, and colors.

Running the colorimeter over, it shows a 95% sRGB compatibility, which is low if you compare it to the latest desktop monitors. But, it's perfectly fine, I think, for something you can toss in a bag. I think it's pretty good to look at, at least. There is also a selection of built-in modes, including gaming and movie, to tweak the contrast and brightness for that type of content.

What I hadn't expected was how using displays stacked vertically like this would feel more natural and comfortable. I've had multiple displays in my life for years, side-by-side. But I do tire of the constant head movement. With this portable monitor, a little glance up and down is all I need. It's been quite eye-opening. A problem I didn't know I needed a solution to.

There are some flaws

To set it straight, I've no qualms with the quality of the hardware or how the displays look. I love the design, the usability, and it's good to look at. But there are some quirks which, while not necessarily dealbreakers, can make this dual-screen portable monitor harder to live with.

The first is the lack of any real direction on how to use it with an HDMI cable. After much web searching, it turns out that you need to plug in the HDMI, the external power, AND then a USB-C cable to join it to your PC. You should then see an external drive, also known as the monitor, with a driver installer.

This driver is important because without it, you can't use both screens as individual displays over HDMI. The trouble is, no matter how hard I've tried, I can't get this process to happen. Nothing shows up in Windows 11. I've tried just about every cable I can find and every USB port I have at my disposal.

Firstly, there should be better instructions in the box. Secondly, why can't I find this driver on Acer's support site? I've searched and searched, but I cannot locate it anywhere. And judging by some threads I've seen, I'm not the only one having this issue.

For me, it's not a problem; I can use USB-C video output, and it all works perfectly. But if you don't have this capability, I would seriously consider looking elsewhere.

I also wish you could turn off one of the panels and just use it as a single display portable monitor. The top panel can fold right the way over into a 'tent,' but you can't shut it off. I get that the whole purpose is having two screens, but I also feel like it's something simple that could have been added.

It can also be a bit sluggish to come back on from sleep. This won't be an issue if you're on the road and hooking it up to a laptop, but in a desktop environment, there have been times I've needed to detach and reattach the USB-C cable to spark it back into life.

It also, for whatever reason, refuses to remember my brightness settings. In the standard mode, every time it turns off, it resets back to 30 when it comes back on. And that's just too dim for my liking.

A good idea if you can use USB-C

I would say that this is an easier recommendation on the proviso that you have USB-C video output capabilities on your laptop, desktop, or mini PC. If you do, it's really quite good. A single cable for power and video to both displays makes it an ideal travel companion.

Folded closed, it has no larger footprint than the laptop you might be carrying it with, so it's slim enough to stash in the same bag, especially since you don't need an extra power adapter.

It looks good to the eye, even if it's not ideally suited to something such as creative work. But the colors are good, the text is crisp, and I've enjoyed using it for the past few weeks.

I wish the process of using it with HDMI were easier, and as such, I'd encourage folks to steer clear if this is their intended method. You may have the same frustrations I had, and at best, you're going to be carrying a power adapter and two cables just to use it.

I said it solved a problem I didn't know I had, and I meant it. I don't have much space on my desk, but the Acer PD163Q has given me two additional displays that need a smaller footprint on the desktop than a laptop. Using displays stacked vertically like this, also, is more comfortable than I expected and actually feels more natural to me than going left to right all the time.

And, hey, you look like a boss in Starbucks.

It's IFA season, and that means a horde of announcements for fresh laptops, desktops, monitors, accessories, and much more. We're certain to see some exciting prototypes and futuristic concepts, too, but this article will be focused on what we'll actually be able to buy.

Lenovo is usually a big player at this event, and it's no different for IFA 2025. We're getting a lot of new Lenovo hardware, including a completely redesigned entry-level pre-built gaming desktop, properly premium OLED gaming monitors, and more.

Many of the most exciting products from Lenovo Legion this year have already arrived, but there's still plenty to look forward to in the coming months. My interest is definitely piqued, too, but my initial response was somewhat soured after diving into the new products.

Oh, Lenovo LOQ Tower that ALMOST looks amazing? ...Almost

When I reviewed the Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9), it felt like the product was listlessly drifting into the new year, lacking both focus and the killer value that should've given it purpose in Lenovo's lineup.

I was hopeful that the next generation would see Lenovo make some big changes. The Lenovo LOQ Tower 26 (Gen 10) is here, and it seems like Lenovo (tentatively) responded to my wishes — with one potentially major caveat.

This is the first 26-liter pre-built tower from Lenovo LOQ (that's up from 17 liters), and it rocks an all-new design that will undoubtedly be polarizing to some. On one hand, the increased internal volume provides far more opportunities for upgrades and expansions (and should lead to improved thermal performance, too), and the new RGB-clad internals and transparent side panel are more in line with what gamers have come to expect of gaming desktops.

On the other hand, the cute and understated LOQ Tower of yesteryear seems to be no more — while you can always disable the RGB lighting, you'll always have a tower that screams "gamer." Personally, though, I think the positives far outweigh the negatives, at least when it comes to design.

Most of what you'll find inside the new LOQ Tower rings the right bells, too, including up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti desktop GPU, up to 64GB of dual-channel SODIMM RAM, up to 4GB of M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 SSD storage, and Wi-Fi 7/Bluetooth 5.4 wireless connectivity.

The potential killer of all this joy? The singular CPU choice that Lenovo listed in our briefing materials: the 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX. Look, it's a fine processor with plenty of power for modern games, but it's also designed with laptops in mind. Yes, this is a mobile CPU — even under the best of circumstances, this one component considerably restricts options for future upgrades.

I have to imagine costs made all the difference with this decision, but the LOQ Tower is entering the world with a morbidly dark cloud hovering over its head. Whether the new LOQ Tower will be even worth consideration with its expected $999.99 entry-level pricing will depend on that starting configuration's GPU, memory, and storage, and there will still be a lot of people understandably avoiding it.

The latest Legion monitors finally embrace the OLED craze

Lenovo Legion also joined the IFA party with three new gaming monitors, and none of these can be described as "budget." Lenovo doesn't often hit the market with ultra-premium monitors, but this trio undoubtedly fits the luxury bill with their crispy, buttery smooth OLED panels.

Lenovo has already begun to embrace the growing OLED craze with its flagship gaming laptops, but now we're finally getting some monitor love, too. Lenovo's naming scheme is still a bit weird, with the monitors coming in as the Legion Pro 27Q-10, 27UD-10, and 32UD-10, but they're thankfully easy to break down.

For one, I adore this two-tone white/black design language. These monitors look gorgeous with clean lines, a unique stand (complete with a built-in phone holder), and slim bezels. Each monitor is equipped with DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 ports (with full console support, of course), too, although you only get three downstream USB Type-A ports.

That's okay, though — it's all about the screens. All three rock Lenovo PureSight OLED panels, but with some differences. The most modest of the siblings is the 27Q-10, with a 26.5-inch, QHD (1440p), 280Hz panel. This is for those who don't mind sacrificing some sharpness for the best performance and want to save a little cash in the process, because this monitor is targeting a $699.99 price tag for its November launch.

Next is the 27UD-10, which bumps you up to a full UHD (2160p) resolution with a 240Hz refresh rate. That's a whole lot of pixels, coming your way with an expected starting price of $999.99 in November. Finally, there's the flagship 32UD-10, which seems mostly identical to the previous monitor, but with a larger 31.5-inch panel for an expected $1,099.99 in October.

Lenovo will be competing with some major players like Alienware, ASUS, and Samsung here, so I'm excited to see if these Legion monitors have what it takes to play in the big leagues of high-end gaming monitors.

A good look for Lenovo gaming, with some other things, too

The Lenovo LOQ Tower 26 (Gen 10) is admittedly bittersweet, given that the promising redesign is dragged down by the questionable CPU choice, but it could still be a great step forward for Lenovo's budget, pre-built gaming desktops.

I'm obviously more excited to get my hands (and eyes) on Lenovo's new flagship gaming monitors, though. I'm a sucker for OLED, and more competition in this space is always a good thing. Lenovo is coming out of the gate with some varied options across price points, too.

I'd be remiss if I left it at that, though. Lenovo also announced a new variant of the Legion Pro 7i (Gen 10), which I reviewed (and loved). The "i" apparently stands for "Intel" in this case, because it's essentially the same laptop but with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D under the hood. That laptop is coming in November with an expected price of $2,399.99.

In other news, Lenovo also finally gave us a deeper look at the upcoming Lenovo Legion Go (Gen 2), and a new update rolling out for the Lenovo Legion Glasses 2 could prove especially interesting for that upcoming gaming handheld.

Overall, the Lenovo gaming landscape is looking really good, even if there's some stiff competition on the horizon from companies like HP.

One sign of a truly great device is when reviewers keep coming back to it. That’s the case with the Alienware AW2725DF. After testing other displays, our Rebecca Spear always returns to this monitor.

The best gaming monitors are often quite expensive. To get high-end specs such as competitive-level refresh rate and response time, you usually have to pay a premium. While the Alienware AW2725DF isn’t exactly a budget monitor, a $280 discount makes it significantly more affordable.

• Shop all Amazon Prime Day deals

Here's makes this such an awesome gaming monitor

The Alienware 27 360Hz QD-OLED is easy to recommend. Even at full price, the gaming monitor received a 5/5 in the value category of our Alienware AW2725DF review.

Occasionally, devices will earn a 5/5 overall when reviewed. It is exceptionally rare to see any item earn a perfect score in every single category. Even 5/5 overall reviews usually have a 4.5/5 in a category or a small complaint from the reviewer.

That was not the case with the Alienware AW2725DF. For value, design, and its display, the monitor received perfect marks across the board.

This Alienware accessory ticks the boxes you need for an excellent gaming performance. Its 26.7-inch QD-OLED screen has a 360Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, and reaches 1,000 nits of brightness.

The only thing it lacks is NVIDIA G-Sync support, so if your gaming PC has an NVIDIA GPU, you'll have to look elsewhere to get the most out of your gaming PC.

The panel of the Alienware AW2725DF has high color accuracy, producing 100% of sRGB, 95% of Adobe RGB, 98% of P3 during our testing.

The monitor is easy to assemble without any special tools, and it features a cable management hole on the back.

While managing cables behind the monitor, you’ll also find a generous range of ports. An HDMI 2.1 port and two DisplayPort 1.4 connections are there to connect to your gaming PC or other device. The monitor also has three USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports and a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port for connecting the best PC gaming accessories.

When researching for this piece, I reached out to Spear to make sure the Alienware AW2725DF has aged well. Not only did Spear recommend it, she said it’s one of her favorite monitors of all time and that she always returns to it after testing others.

I thought my office setup was complete ... until I met the MSI MAG MT201D dual-monitor mount.

Not only is it the single best accessory I've ever purchased to complement my desktop work and gaming space, but it's also not going to break the bank even at full price.

While I can easily recommend the MAG MT201D at the usual $130 MSRP, the fact that it's down to $84.99 at Amazon for Prime Day — by far the lowest price in its history — makes it the single accessory that I'm urging all of my dual-screen friends to consider if you have a Prime membership.

• Shop all of the deals at Amazon Prime Day

Why do I love MSI's dual-monitor mount so much?

Sometimes you upgrade your desktop setup and wonder how you ever managed without the additional hardware. In my case, this occurred with MSI's MAG MT201D dual-monitor mount.

For far too long, I dealt with built-in monitor stands with poor ergonomics and zero space-saving attributes. Now that both of my main monitors — including a 34-inch ultrawide and a 27-inch 4K screen — are attached to MSI's stand, I can never go back.

In my MSI MAG MT201D review, I said:

"When I began my search for the ultimate monitor mount, I was hesitant to spend the $100-$130 on the MSI MAG MT201D. I'm glad I took a chance and didn't spend less on an inferior product. I'm here to firmly recommend the MAG MT201D for anyone using two oversized monitors and who has the space to let the mount's arm operate properly. With a three-year warranty and a quality build, I'm certainly satisfied with my purchase, and I'm confident you will be, too."

Thanks to the smart design, I can freely move my screens around depending on how I'm working or gaming. Need to edit some photos in 4K? No problem; I just pull one monitor forward and square it up with my seat.

Need to multitask or game on the ultrawide? It gets set up at the perfect height so that my neck isn't taking damage while I sit.

The MAG MT201D supports both 75x75mm and 100x100mm VESA mounts, which cover the vast majority of modern monitors. And because it can attach with a C-clamp or with drilled anchors, you can decide whether or not you put holes in your desk.

I chose to use the C-clamp, and so far it has had no problems with stability. It's as secure as when I installed it. I've also not noticed any sag on the tensioning for the arms; everything stays where I put it.

Another perk that I sorely needed is cable management. The MAG MT201D's arms all have channels in which you can run your cables to your monitors. My desk has never been less cluttered.

The monitor mount supports two displays, each at up to 44.09 pounds and measuring 45 inches. That should cover just about everyone, save those with super ultrawide screens.

MSI throws in a three-year warranty to protect your purchase, but after 6 months of flawless daily use, I don't expect I'll need to use it.

You can pick up the MSI MAG MT201D for just $84.99 at Amazon or Newegg. This Prime Day deal marks it down to the lowest price it's ever been.

Check out this great monitor deal to go with the new mount

PC gamers could argue all day about the "perfect" resolution and refresh rate combination on gaming monitors, but I've rarely seen any appeal in the extremely high-end options. For me, 2560 x 1440, also known as 1440p, is an ideal middle ground that bumps you over "Full HD" (1080p) without going to a GPU-stressing 4K (2160p).

Ever since I reviewed the Alienware AW2723DF in March 2023, I've never been tempted by anything else. Sure, it can push its refresh rate above 240Hz (up to 280Hz), but I generally keep it at the former for desktop use and cap most of my games around 144 FPS anyway. Now that Amazon is selling the Alienware AW2723DF for $393.99, just before Amazon Prime Day, it's easier than ever to recommend (if you have a Prime membership).

• Shop all Prime Day deals at Amazon

"I'm something of a USB hub myself"

Part of the reason I kept the 27-inch AW2723DF as a permanent fixture on my monitor arm is its wealthy selection of ports, including a USB 3.2 Gen 1 hub. Essentially, I can leave a collection of USB dongles in the underside of this monitor, hidden from view, and have a single cable connected to my PC to handle it all.

I have two receivers for a work mouse (Logitech MX Master 2S, my beloved) and a gaming mouse (Logitech G305 Lightspeed, I am a simple man) connected behind there, along with a USB-A to USB-C cable that connects whatever I feel like. It's usually hooked up to an official Xbox Series X|S controller, but it works with anything else. Too convenient, especially with the slide-off panel.

I know it sounds unusual to shower so much praise on a monitor stand that I eventually removed, but Alienware really deserves its flowers on this one. Yeah, the feet are big and encroached too much on my older desk (it would be fine with my replacement), but it's almost too easy to adjust this thing vertically, and it doubles as a cable management solution.

600 nits is almost comically bright, and I haven't felt a reason to crank the brightness anywhere close to its max. Then again, I generally keep my monitors in an area free of glare and direct natural light, so it doesn't necessarily need to be that bright in the first place. It's nice to have, if you're gaming in a well-lit room.

Otherwise, the DisplayPort and HDMI port pairing works well to have my Xbox Series X hooked up alongside my PC, ready to switch when inspiration strikes. However, being an IPS panel, you won't get the same lush experience with dark scenes in games or videos as you would on an OLED equivalent, and it can look a little washed out in extreme darkness. It's never been bad enough for me to care in the long run, but it's worth mentioning.

Again, I'm still a fan of monitor arms

The proliferation of OLED displays in personal tech continues, and Dell is bringing another great option to workers and creators with the 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor (S3225QC).

An expansive 32 inches of crispy 4K and buttery 120Hz makes this a tasty screen to have on your desk, and you get a clean and modern design perfectly suited to lighter-themed setups.

The real selling point of this monitor, though, is the built-in soundbar that genuinely delivers incredible audio for a monitor — and the unique spatial audio tracking feature isn't a total gimmick, either.

The S3225QC has all the hallmarks of a great monitor and the right price tag to boot... But it's missing a lot of the ports many people expect their monitor to have, and that's a shame.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Dell. Dell had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

Dell S3225QC review: Pricing and specifications

Like most OLED monitors, the S3225QC does firmly fall in the "premium" segment, but the pricing feels more than appropriate for the quality you're getting here.

The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor (S3225QC) can be yours for $849.99 at Dell, and you can also pick it up for around $849.99 at Amazon.

I have already seen this monitor enjoy some humble discounts, knocking it as low as $800.

In the box, you'll find the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor (S3225QC), the two-piece toolless stand, a single 1m USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 cable, a rear ports cover, and a microfiber cleaning cloth.

Dell S3225QC review: What I like

Setting up the Dell S3225QC is much like any other Dell or Alienware monitor, but this display sports a lighter white design than the silver Dell tends to prefer.

You get a wide, square base and a cylindrical stand, with the entire assembly easily put together without the use of tools (the way it should be). All your ports can be easily hidden for that clean look, too.

Up front, you'll find that large, 32-inch OLED display with thin bezels around three sides, but underneath is the 5-speaker soundbar that plays a big role in how great this monitor is.

Before we get to that, though, let's talk about this screen. The Dell S3225QC rocks a 4K, 120Hz Quantum Dot OLED panel, and it looks excellent. The resolution is perfect for this size, and 120Hz is a perfect middle ground that makes this productivity-focused monitor perfectly suited for casual gaming.

Colors are exactly as vibrant and punchy as you expect from a good OLED screen, and contrast is perfect. This screen is a little cooler-hued than some of the other best monitors, but it's at least consistent across brightness levels.

The Dell S3225QC did fall just shy of the 99% DCI-P3 color gamut Dell promised (it hit 98%), with at least 100% of the sRGB gamut covered. It's still a color-accurate display capable of handling content creation.

A modern, high-end OLED display being great isn't surprising, of course, and Dell also backs the S3225QC with a nice 3-year warranty (that covers any potential burn-in). So, let's move on to that soundbar.

25W of combined speaker power is far more than the vast majority of monitors (and even TVs). Immediately, this sound system provides an awesome listening experience, with increased volume (and clarity at higher volumes) and low-end than the competition.

I had no issues listening to music for hours on end with the Dell S3225QC, which is not something you can say of a lot of displays with built-in speakers. Dell is also using artificial intelligence, a proximity sensor, and beamforming technology to provide spatial audio that follows you.

True surround sound can be a surreal experience, but it's highly dependent on positioning. The Dell S3225QC can tell where you are in front of it and "move" the audio to keep you at the center.

It's a fascinating idea, and credit where credit is due — it works. You notice the split-second delay when you move as the S3225QC adjusts the beamforming speakers, but it does adjust to you.

You can disable the spatial audio if you'd like, and the speakers will continue to sound great, but it's a cool feature — especially if you have a tendency to move around a lot at your desk.

The built-in On-Screen Display (OSD) does its job for managing your settings (including the spatial audio), and the controls on the rear of the monitor are easy to find and well within reach.

However, you can install the Dell Display and Peripheral Manager for a more streamlined experience, and I've grown to like this app a lot. It looks good and is easy to navigate, but it is lacking some features of the OSD, like controls and information for the OLED panel care settings.

Dell S3225QC review: What I don't like

Some of my complaints with the Dell S3225QC mirror those of other premium OLED monitors — the standard brightness is too low at a max of only 250 nits, you're paying for OLED, some of the OLED care features like pixel refresh can occasionally get in the way.

None of that is new, and most of it is inconsequential for many buyers. No, the S3225QC's greatest flaw is the severe lack of ports. You will find a single HDMI 2.1 port, a single USB Type-C video port, and two USB Type-C data ports. There's no DisplayPort, no USB Type-A or audio passthrough, none of it.

At least the USB Type-C video port provides 90W of Power Delivery, and each of the data ports (one being hidden below the monitor) provides 15W of charging. Don't expect this monitor to be a hub for all your devices and accessories, though, and don't expect Keyboard, Video, Mouse (KVM) support.

On top of that, the spatial audio feature does lean a little toward "gimmick." I said before that it's a cool feature, but I also don't think it should be the reason you buy the Dell S3225QC. Buy this monitor for its large, high-quality OLED panel and excellent audio, not because the surround sound experience can follow you a little bit.

Dell S3225QC review: Also consider

Dell S3225QC review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a large, 4K monitor with a high refresh rate.
• You want excellent speakers built into your monitor.
• You don't want to spend more than $1,000 for an OLED monitor.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You don't care at all about the built-in soundbar or spatial audio.
• You need a lot of ports, especially for connecting multiple devices.

Most monitors don't bother with speakers, and those that do are often cursed by terrible, hollow, and shallow audio. It's rare to find a high-quality monitor that also boasts a great listening experience, and the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor (S3225QC) absolutely falls in that category.

Its 4K and 120Hz QD-OLED display is beautiful, and it's perfectly balanced between content creation, productivity, and gaming focuses. The Dell S3225QC is a well-designed monitor in general, and its price tag feels reasonable for what you're getting.

However, this monitor is port-anemic, only offering two display inputs and two USB ports to handle everything (and you won't even find an HDMI port in the box). No matter how good the rest of the monitor is, that alone will kill this display for a lot of buyers.

If you're not fussed about the ports, though, and know you want those speakers, you can buy the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor (S3225QC) for $849.99 at Dell or $849.99 at Amazon.

As Windows Central's primary reviewer right now, I have a lot of products come and go through my office. Some of it excites me, some of it bores me, but I put every product through the same level of testing so I can tell you if you should consider it or save your money for something better.

We're just over halfway through 2025 now, and at the time of publication, I've reviewed a grand total of 58 laptops, monitors, accessories, games, and other tech products for Windows Central — averaging over two a week.

So, let's get a little retrospective and look back at my 10 favorite reviewed products in 2025 so far, ranging from a tiny webcam to a beefy gaming laptop.

10. Razer Blade 14 (2025)

The first appearance from Razer on this list is the redesigned Razer Blade 14 (2025), the company's best-selling laptop, made thinner, lighter, smarter, and more powerful than ever before.

While I've been a big fan of many of Razer's accessories for years, I haven't been enthusiastic about its prohibitively expensive and extremely niche gaming laptops, but 2025 has turned my opinions around dramatically.

In my Razer Blade 14 (2025) review, I wrote:

"Following the trail blazed by its 16-inch sibling, the Razer Blade 14 is entering 2025 with a fresh new design, more power, and a whole lot of AI features. It's Razer's best-selling machine made better than ever, even though most people don't really need this class of device. I also suggest opting for the silver colorway if you dislike dealing with constant fingerprint marks and smudges."

Yes, I still maintain that the majority don't need to spend their money on the Razer Blade 14, but those that do will be met with one of the finest and most powerful 14-inch laptops ever made... At least until I finish reviewing the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025), which has a good chance of surpassing the Blade 14 if my hands-on is anything to go by.

9. Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE)

By far the most surprising addition to this list was a monitor I never expected to fall in love with so quickly, and that's the Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE)... Yeah, I'm not eager to spell out that name again.

At first glance, this is one of countless and generic productivity monitors that every major brand spits out for enterprises, but the U2725QE is anything but generic. It's special enough that I didn't even wait to finish my full review before writing about how much I valued its headlining feature.

When I did publish my full Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE) review, I concluded:

"One of the newest additions to the massive Dell UltraSharp family doesn't check every box a high-end monitor can have, but does pair an excellent productivity-focused IPS LCD display with a full-featured Thunderbolt 4 USB hub that you won't want to give up once you have it. There's room to want more and Dell's "new and improved" software doesn't feel very improved, but it's still difficult to find a true note-for-note alternative to this display."

Dell made an invaluable productivity tool to tie together your entire setup with this monitor, and since my review has noticeably improved its software to be cleaner, more intuitive, and more reliable. To make a long story short, though, monitors are simply better with Thunderbolt built in.

8. ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025)

With 4/5 stars, the ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025) is the lowest-scoring product on this list, but don't mistake that for being the worst. This is a phenomenal mid-range Windows laptop, and one of the best AI PCs any casual user can buy right now.

Weighing less than a single kilogram (just over two pounds) and boasting some of the best battery life of any 14-inch laptop, the cleverly named Zenbook A14 (because ASUS didn't want to risk using "Air" for risk of annoying a certain fruit-based company) was only meaningfully docked because ASUS announced it with a $100 lower starting price than what we got.

In my full ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025) review, I said:

"With a magnesium chassis as light as air and as tough as stone, Snapdragon X series chipsets that barely sip on the physics-defying massive battery, and a great balance of practical function and aesthetic form, the Zenbook A14 is one of the best laptops of the year. It could've been even better with its anticipated $900 entry-level configuration, but a $100 price bump just prevents this laptop from also being one of the best deals for a thin and light AI PC."

I (and our Editor-in-Chief, Daniel Rubino) still absolutely adore this laptop, and since its release, the Zenbook A14 has enjoyed some very healthy discounts. I've seen it go for as low as $650, which is a genuinely incredible deal for one of our favorite Copilot+ PCs of the year.

7. OBSBOT Tiny SE

Not everyone needs a webcam, and many of those who do aren't concerned with the quality. I do (on both counts), and over a year and a half, my favorite webcam has been the OBSBOT Tiny 2, which I reviewed.

That webcam costs $300, though, which is far more than most are willing to spend on a webcam. Thankfully, OBSBOT dropped a new webcam in the Tiny SE, an AI-powered, FHD webcam with full gimbal tracking and a complete set of features. The best part? It only costs $100.

In my OBSBOT Tiny SE review, I concluded:

"The OBSBOT Tiny SE is easily one of the best-value webcams you can buy right now, thanks to its excellent 1080p image quality, reliable low-light performance, and useful AI-powered gimbal tracking. You can see where the corners were cut compared to my favorite OBSBOT Tiny 2, but this webcam also costs a third as much for a lot of the same features."

This is the webcam for $100 or less, and I honestly can't think of another that I wholeheartedly recommend in this price range. The Tiny SE is a fantastic value and is perfect for those who need a reliable webcam but don't want to break the bank.

6. Razer Kishi V3 Pro

The next two actually go hand-in-hand, both because I happened to review them around the same time and because they make each other better. Not that they need the help, with the Razer Kishi V3 Pro easily becoming the best mobile gaming controller you can buy right now.

There are a lot of great options from companies like GameSir and Backbone, but Razer took everything it had learned from previous controllers and made a responsive, durable, comfortable, premium, and feature-packed controller compatible with countless smartphones and tablets.

In my Razer Kishi V3 Pro review, I wrote:

"The Razer Kishi V3 Pro takes everything great about Razer's excellent Kishi Ultra and adds more buttons and features and plenty of other enhancements. It's truly the ultimate mobile gaming controller, as long as you don't mind the size. There's even an XL version that works with up to 13-inch tablets. This is now one of my favorite ways to play."

Full sized TMR thumbsticks (the more advanced version of Hall Effect), multiple additional remappable buttons, the Razer Nexus launcher with PC Remote Play, audio-to-haptics, and Razer's virtual control emulator, the Kishi V3 Pro has it all — and the next on the list may be the best device to pair with it.

5. Lenovo Legion Tab (Gen 3)

Recently, I wrote about how my go-to gaming handheld right now isn't my Nintendo Switch OLED or my ASUS ROG Ally X, and I was talking about this tablet. Well, this tablet and the previous entry, to be more precise.

Lenovo's debut on this list is something unique for myself and Windows Central, in that it's an Android tablet. I decided to review it with Xbox Cloud Gaming and Microsoft's other mobile gaming investments in mind, and I ended up discovering my favorite companion device.

In my in-depth Lenovo Legion Tab (Gen 3) review, I said:

"The Lenovo Legion Tab is a small, Android-powered tablet designed with mobile gaming in mind, but it's a fantastic tablet companion all around. With a sleek and premium design, a fast and responsive display, and powerful internals with a large battery, the Legion Tab isn't just the best iPad Mini alternative — I flat out like it more."

Yes, the Legion Tab is brilliant for gaming on various levels, especially when paired with an equally great mobile gaming controller, but it's also the best option for those in the market for a miniature tablet that can keep up with their daily lives.

4. Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW2725Q)

OLED has gotten incredibly good in the last few years, especially with gaming monitors and laptops. Faster, smoother, and more reliable, OLED has been the go-to choice for gamers looking for the premium way to play.

As such, I've reviewed a lot of the best OLED gaming monitors, but few have been as easy to recommend as the Alienware AW2725Q, which pairs a 4K resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, a competitive 3-year warranty, and a sub-$1,000 price tag.

In my Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW2725Q) review, I said:

"Alienware has taken the latest and greatest OLED tech and shoved it into a compact 27-inch gaming monitor, and it looks and feels every bit the premium product it's supposed to be. You won't enjoy a wealth of extra features, but that barebones approach allows for a lower price tag than many of the AW2725Q's direct competitors."

This is a very focused monitor for those who know they want industry-leading image quality and performance, and don't need the extraneous features that make other monitors more expensive. I still prefer a larger 32-inch display, but the AW2725Q is well worth the cost (especially when it's on sale, which is often).

3. Audeze MM-100

In the hi-fi audio world, Audeze is well-known as the leader of planar magnetic technology, a wildly different approach to your average headphones. Most of those headphones cost many hundreds or even thousands of dollars, though, immediately pricing them out of most people's range.

The MM-100 is Audeze's attempt to bring its signature sound to a more accessible price point, one that a more casual audiophile can invest in to get their foot through the door of true high-end music. These cans aren't perfect, but you won't find a better set of planar magnetic headphones for anywhere near this price.

In my Audeze MM-100 review, I stated:

"The Audeze MM-100 is the latest attempt by the legendary audio company to break into more mainstream spaces, trickling its planar magnetic headphone technology down to a fraction of the cost of its most popular high-end headphones. The pricing is great, the audio quality is phenomenal, and it's accessible to audiophiles of all knowledge levels. As long as you know what you're getting and can accept the minor compromises, you're not likely to find better at this price point."

The Audeze MM-100 will work with basically any device with a 3.5mm headphone jack, but your listening experience will scale with your hardware (especially if you invest in a proper DAC).

2. Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (Gen 10)

Remember when Lenovo first properly entered the gaming scene with its Legion brand? Because it... wasn't great. Fast forward a few years, though, and Lenovo Legion has quickly become one of the most reliable and popular brands for gaming hardware.

Lenovo's second appearance on this list is the flagship Legion Pro 7i (Gen 10), a 16-inch gaming laptop with all the power you could possibly desire. A new generation of Intel and NVIDIA hardware lined up with Lenovo's full redesign, and it's a fabulous machine on so many levels.

In my (very detailed) Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (Gen 10) review, I said:

"The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i no longer feels like the 'flagship killer' deal it was in years prior, but the latest model ushers in a new generation of Intel and NVIDIA hardware with a great redesign, a wonderful OLED display, and some of the best performance you'll find on any mobile machine. This is one of the best gaming laptops we're going to see this year. It is a shame we lost the rear-facing ports, though."

The new Legion Pro 7i is undeniably a premium machine, but it's also one of the best performers on the market (and frankly still undercuts options from companies like Razer by a substantial margin). It's almost peak gaming laptop... I just wish we hadn't lost the rear ports.

1. XREAL One Pro

If you're surprised to see a pair of AR glasses at the top of this list of my favorite reviewed products of 2025, you're not alone — I'm right there with you. XREAL truly earned its place here with the One Pro, though, which in many ways is the pinnacle of this tech category.

Even our own Jez Corden recently argued that XREAL would've been a better partner for Xbox than Meta's Quest headsets, and I agree. The flagship XREAL One Pro is a proper showcase of what modern technology can accomplish, giving you a massive, beautiful, and fully private theater for all your devices, wherever you happen to be.

In my XREAL One Pro review, I stated:

"With the One Pro, XREAL has firmly established itself as the leading innovating force in the AR glasses category, with class-leading advancements making this wearable tech genuinely worthwhile to the average consumer. The design, displays, and feature set are all top-notch, providing an excellent, private theater for working, gaming, and watching, but the XREAL One Pro AR glasses are prohibitively expensive, and you do lose something when transitioning to this more standalone design."

Don't get me wrong, the XREAL One Pro are an expensive investment, but you don't have to go this far. The standard XREAL One AR glasses still provide a ton of value for anyone who loves to game, watch, or even work on the go, in bed, or anywhere that isn't in front of a TV or monitor.

Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale is the perfect antidote for Amazon Prime Day, with countless deals available with no Prime membership required.

Best Buy has cut prices significantly in all categories, and I've handpicked the 21 best deals from laptops, monitors, gaming accessories, Xbox peripherals, and more.

👉 Related: Best Prime Day laptop deals

These deals I've curated here are open to everyone, membership or not. However, those who subscribe to a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership should certainly have a look at the exclusive deals for extra savings.

Quick links — Best Buy Black Friday in July deals

• Best Buy Black Friday in July sale — Shop all the tech deals, no membership required
• Laptops and computers — Save up to 55% with My Best Buy Plus
• Video games and accessories — Save up to 20% with My Best Buy Plus
• TVs and audio — Save up to 35% with My Best Buy Plus
• Shop all Prime Day deals at Amazon

Top anti-Prime Day deals at Best Buy

Amazon Prime Day 2025: Frequently Asked Questions

Amazon's Prime Day was first hosted on July 15, 2015, and it has since grown to tremendous proportions.

This year, many retailers, including Best Buy, are already gearing up with competing sales. I'm here to answer some questions about Prime Day and other sales events at major retailers.

When is Amazon Prime Day 2025?

For 2025, Prime Day has grown from 48 hours to 96 hours, meaning it runs from July 8 until July 11.

It officially begins on July 8 at 12:01 AM PDT and ends at midnight PDT on July 11, but you can expect to see plenty of deals in the lead-up to the main event.

Do other retailers host competing sales during Prime Day?

Absolutely — other major retailers almost always take advantage of the extra attention to online deals spurred by Amazon Prime Day to host their own competing sales events.

For example, Newegg is advertising its "FantasTech Sale" that is expected to run from July 7 until July 13, eclipsing Prime Day.

As always, I'm constantly on the lookout for better competing deals than what Amazon has to offer. Traditionally, it hasn't been Amazon offering the best laptop deals, with retailers like Best Buy and Walmart often having deeper savings on our favorite PCs.

When is Best Buy's Black Friday in July event?

The bulk of the deals I've collected above are born from Best Buy's Black Friday in July event that's expected to run from now until Sunday, July 13th.

That means it starts before Prime Day and ends a couple of days after Prime Day concludes.

I'm seeing discounts on practically everything Best Buy sells, including laptops, desktop PCs, monitors, gaming accessories, games, and a lot more.

Do I need a My Best Buy membership to score these deals?

While a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership can certainly snag you some extra discounts and perks, the current selection of Black Friday in July tech deals doesn't appear to require a paid membership.

The MSI MAG MT201D dual-monitor mount is the single best accessory I've purchased in recent memory, and it's something that I recommend to anyone who wants to make a huge upgrade for about $100.

I've been using it for about six months at this point and have yet to experience any issues; I firmly stand by my five-star review and Windows Central Editor's Choice award.

This monitor mount launched at a $150 price tag but soon dropped to $130, and with the current discount running at Newegg and Amazon, you can currently pick it up for just $99.99.

Why is the MSI MAG MT201D such a great monitor mount?

The monitor mount market has hundreds of options, many of which pull you in with an affordable promise of quality. Unfortunately, there are many lemons just waiting to fall apart once you've attached your monitors.

Imagine my surprise when I spent a little extra money and received a high-quality dual-display mount that has so far caused me no issues after about six months of use. No tension loss in the springs, no drooping displays, and no change in the smooth swing of the arms.

In my MSI MAG MT201D review, I remarked:

"As someone who doesn't need RGB lighting or a particularly stylish mount — I'm here for functionality and ease of use — the MSI MAG MT201D is the ideal accessory for my desk. Now that it's set up and working to improve my workflow (and gameflow, if such a thing exists), I don't know how I managed without it."

Indeed, the MAG MT201D has transformed the way I work and game for the better. My desk is no longer crowded with two monitor stands. And because the MSI mount has sleek built-in channels for cabling, everything remains tidy behind my desk.

Perhaps the biggest benefit is the ergonomic change. I always find that built-in monitor stands aren't high enough to get a straightforward view, and there's not enough space on my desk for two risers.

The MAG MT201D solves that issue, allowing me to easily adjust the height of my displays no matter how I'm sitting. My neck has never felt better.

MSI is often associated with PC gaming, but the MAG MT201D is designed to suit professional and casual environments with its slick design and black finish.

A C-clamp fixes the stand tightly to a desk — you'll need to be sure that your desk is thick enough to support the weight of two monitors — and each arm supports a standard 75mm or 100mm VESA connection. The MAG MT201D supports up to dual monitors at 45 inches.

One drawback I noted in my review has to do with there being cheaper alternatives out there. As I mentioned, I'm completely satisfied with spending a bit more now that I know it's such a high-quality product. MSI backs up your purchase with a three-year warranty.

The only other drawback I mentioned involves a lack of RGB lighting. I'm fine without it, but MSI also has a MAG MT201DR with built-in lighting for PC gamers. It costs about $190 at Amazon.

For everyone else, I can confidently recommend the non-RGB MAG MT201D, especially now that it's once again down to the lowest price ever at $99.99.

A great, reliable monitor can make all the difference in the world when trying to get work done, and HP is one of the best places to get one.

There are countless monitors for all manner of use cases, but the HP Series 7 Pro 34 WQHD Conferencing Monitor (734pm) tries to meet every need.

This is a productivity-focused display that seemingly boasts every feature you could ever want, so you shouldn't need anything else. In fact, the HP 734pm even wants to be the bridge that connects all your other devices and monitors — it's just that capable.

If you need a true all-in-one monitor, this may be exactly what you're looking for. All this hardware packed into one chassis does introduce some compromises, though, and you are paying for it all (even the features you'll never use).

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

HP 734pm review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A widescreen, IPS LCD monitor with built-in video conferencing and multi-device productivity features.
• Who is it for? Those who need the ultimate companion for connecting multiple devices, monitors, and accessories together while working or communicating.
• How much does it cost? The HP Series 7 Pro 34 WQHD Conferencing Monitor (734pm) retails for $1,229 at HP, but I have seen it go on sale already.
• What did I like? The high-quality display, the solid Windows Hello webcam, the Thunderbolt 4 hub, and the wealth of extra features.
• What did I not like? The finicky setup process, the minor annoyances during use, and the high price tag.

HP 734pm review: Pricing and specifications

There are plenty of 34-inch, curved, WQHD monitors on the market, and many don't cost much, either, but few (if any) boast as many features and capabilities as this one.

Those extras are why the HP Series 7 Pro 34 WQHD Conferencing Monitor (734pm) retails for $1,229 at HP, which is a steep cost for a display of this caliber.

I have seen this monitor go on sale already, though, and even below $1,000. Any price under that line is far easier to swallow, but most of those discounts are coming from third-party sellers, so caution is advised.

In the box, you'll find the HP Series 7 Pro 34 WQHD Conferencing Monitor (734pm), its two-piece stand with toolless assembly, a 100 x 100mm VESA mount adapter, the AC power cable, and one each of DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, Thunderbolt 4, and USB Type-C to USB Type-A upstream cables.

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HP 734pm review: What I like

The HP 734pm wouldn't stand out in a crowd of 34-inch widescreen monitors with its 1900R curved display, predominantly plastic chassis, and silver colorway. It looks fine and the build quality is acceptable, but nothing is special about it, either.

That's fine for a productivity-focused monitor, and the 734pm is at least easy to put together. The two-piece stand easily clips to the back of the display and feels very solid. You still get height, tilt, and swivel adjustability, too, although the 734pm doesn't support vertical pivoting.

You'll find most of your ports neatly aligned and labeled on the back of the monitor, with two USB ports stashed on the bottom at the center, a discrete power button off to their left, and a button/D-Pad combo for controlling the On-Screen Display (OSD) on the back right side.

It's a good setup, and that OSD gives you a ton of control over your display settings, color profile, KVM/PiP/PbP settings, hardware features, and more. You can also install the HP Display Center to manage most of these options with your mouse and keyboard and install firmware updates, too, which worked great (once I got it working).

Of course, the HP 734pm is dominated by the display, a curved, 34-inch, 21:9 expanse. The resolution is fairly basic at WQHD (1440p, but wider), so this isn't the sharpest monitor, but HP used a very nice IPS LCD Black panel here.

In my testing, it actually surpassed HP's promises for 98% adherence to the DCI-P3 color gamut and a max brightness of 400 nits, which was great to see. In general, this screen is consistently comfortable and accurate across all brightness levels.

It's also far punchier than your average IPS LCD panel, thanks to the use of "Black" technology to massively boost contrast levels. On top of that, the HP 734pm has a refresh rate of 120Hz, so it's noticeably much smoother than your typical office-bound monitor.

Viewing angles are perfectly fine for a curved monitor, and an anti-glare coating does a suitable job combating reflections. At over 500 nits, though, the HP 734pm is bright enough to overcome a lot of glare without that treatment.

Widescreen monitors have their drawbacks for consuming content, but few would complain about this monitor when gaming and beyond. At the very least, it's an excellent screen for staying productive and multitasking.

What makes the HP Series 7 Pro 34 WQHD Conferencing Monitor (734pm) truly special, though, extends far beyond its widescreen display. This monitor is truly packed with features.

It starts with a full-blown USB hub powered by Thunderbolt 4, giving you access to a ton of extra ports for connecting all the accessories and peripherals you could ever want.

With up to 100W of Power Delivery, any USB4 or Thunderbolt-equipped laptop should be able to take full advantage of the HP 734pm and all its features and ports. DisplayPort and HDMI are on board for desktop PCs, too, and a USB Type-C upstream port (which can also handle video input with 65W of Power Delivery if you'd prefer) will connect you to that USB hub.

Don't worry, there's more. The HP 734pm has dedicated Thunderbolt 4 and DisplayPort 1.4 ports for daisy chaining multiple monitors, so you can instantly connect your device to multiple displays with a single cable (or two).

Thought I was done? You also get full Keyboard, Video, Mouse (KVM) and HP Device Bridge 2.0 support, so you can control multiple connected devices with the same keyboard and mouse (even at the same time), and even share files between those devices by using your monitor as the bridge.

The HP 734pm is already doing more than the vast majority of monitors, but it has a lot more to offer beyond that.

A built-in proximity sensor supports Human Presence Detection (HPD) features, so the HP 734pm can automatically wake up or go to sleep as you approach or leave your desk. An ambient light sensor can also automatically adjust the brightness to match your environment, too.

Finally, the HP 734pm is equipped with everything you need for video conferencing, including a 5MP webcam with High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, dual-array noise-cancelling microphones, and quad speakers. That webcam even supports Windows Hello facial recognition, so you can instantly sign into your computer with a glance.

The webcam is surprisingly solid, with good detail and color reproduction, although it won't best dedicated webcams. Still, getting Windows Hello is awesome, and the HP 734pm can natively handle auto-framing and background blur with any device, without the use of any additional software or drivers.

The speakers are also shockingly loud, easily able to fill an entire room with noise, and the microphones seem to do a great job of avoiding picking up on that speaker noise during a video conference. The HP 734pm is seriously set up to do it all.

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HP 734pm review: What I don't like

I'll start with the basics. Where ASUS easily has the best solution for VESA monitor mounting with its adapter (which screws to your VESA solution and then clips to the back of the monitor just like its stand), HP requires that you detach the stand bracket and install the VESA adapter. Only then can you screw the monitor to your VESA mounting solution, which is just as awkward as you'd imagine with such a large display.

I also wish the left/right and up/down buttons were shortcuts for changing volume and brightness faster than diving into the OSD menu, too.

The HP 734pm does support HDR content, but only meets the DisplayHDR 400 standard and doesn't do a great job of it. If that's a high priority for you, look elsewhere. This monitor isn't the most suited for gaming, either, with an average 5ms response time.

While the dual-array microphone and speakers sound fine, any decent headset will easily give them a run for their money. The microphones sound hollow and grainy, while the speakers very quickly lose clarity and depth at higher volumes, making complex audio like music sound terrible.

Above everything, though, the HP Series 7 Pro 34 WQHD Conferencing Monitor (734pm) is simply annoying sometimes. So many ports and intersecting features make it an exercise in patience to connect your devices and accessories and actually get them to work, even if you're meticulous in your approach (I set up a lot of monitors).

Even when everything is set up properly, the HP 734pm often stumbles anyway. Auto switching to the wrong (often inactive) video inputs, failing to properly switch over the USB hub, and even occasionally resetting certain settings.

The HP Display Center simply refused to connect to the 734pm for days, despite correctly recognizing it was connected, before randomly working out of the blue (with no new updates).

While it seems clear that it's not intended and may be due to a hardware fault (I have been working with HP on this issue), I also have to mention how the microphones were incredibly unreliable in working at first, and when they did the noise cancellation completely ruined the audio quality, making them unusable.

All of these annoyances were temporary or have mostly stabilized over time, but the HP 734pm still runs into occasional hiccups that disrupt my workflow to fix. When everything works, it works awesome, but so much complexity inevitably leads to chaos.

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HP 734pm review: Also consider

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HP 734pm review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a true all-in-one monitor with full video conferencing hardware.
• You value using your monitor as a cross-device USB hub.
• You need a curved, widescreen monitor with a quality IPS LCD screen.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You won't use all the features this monitor offers.
• You have no patience to handle any tech-related oddities.

The HP 734pm is juggling an absurd number of hardware features behind the scenes, and I can only imagine how technically challenging it is to get it all working seamlessly.

HP did a great job, for the most part, resulting in one of the most capable and comprehensive productivity monitors I have ever had on my desk. It's a challenge to find the features this monitor doesn't have, and they all at least get the job done.

Is every feature of the highest quality? No, and you feel that more when this monitor costs as much as it does, but you have limited options if you truly want your primary screen to be a hub that connects all your devices, displays, and peripherals.

If you don't need all those features, there are arguably better ways to spend your money, especially if you're completely fine with supplying your own webcam and microphone. There's something special about a single monitor that can do it all, though.

The HP Series 7 Pro 34 WQHD Conferencing Monitor (734pm) is now available for $1,229 at HP, and I do consider it worthy of being counted among the best monitors you can buy right now.

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