A 27-inch monitor hits the sweet spot for most home and office needs. You get ample screen real estate for efficient multitasking and an immersive viewing experience whether gaming, creating content, or watching movies.
Advancements in panel technology, higher refresh rates, greater connectivity and a range of designs means you have fantastic 27-inch monitors to suit needs and budgets. Let‘s look at the top models in 2023 and what to keep in mind when picking the best 27-inch monitor for your needs.
Why Choose a 27-Inch Monitor?
More Room to Multitask – Upgrading from a 24-inch to 27-inch monitor gives you 15% more screen area. This allows more windows snapped side by side. It reduces alt-tabbing between apps and documents.
Sharp Image Quality – A 27-inch monitor with 2560 x 1440 resolution offers great pixel density for sharp images and text. Photos/videos look great and you avoid any visible pixelation seen on larger 1080p monitors.
Immersive Gaming & Media – The expanded screen with a 27-inch monitor pulls you deeper into the action while gaming or watching movies. Curved options especially enhance immersion.
Flexibility in Setup – There are 27-inch monitors well-suited for productivity, gaming, content creation etc. You can buy matching 27-inch monitors for multi-display setups. Their versatility makes them a safe investment for home and office needs.
Things to Look for in a 27-Inch Monitor
Resolution
- 1080p – It‘s okay for general use but not ideal since larger screen makes pixelation visible. Still good if you mainly do tasks like writing, browsing etc.
- 1440p – The ideal resolution for 27-inch giving you sharp visuals. Great for mixed usage of productivity and entertainment.
- 4K – Overkill for a 27-inch monitor. Better suited for 32-inch and larger displays. Sticks to 1440p or 1080p monitors.
Refresh Rate
- 60Hz ??? Standard for regular computer usage and movies/videos
- 144Hz-240Hz ??? For smooth high FPS gaming. Esports titles can leverage 240Hz monitors.
Panel Type
- IPS – Offers the best color accuracy and wide viewing angles. Ideal for color critical work and entertainment.
- VA – VA panels offer better contrast but viewing angles are lower. Good for gaming usage.
Curve or Flat
Curved 27-inch monitors are more immersive for gaming and movies. A 1800R-1000R curvature matches field of view well. But flat 27-inch monitors are still great for all-round usage.
Best 27-Inch Monitors in 2023
Best Overall: Dell S2721QS
The Dell S2721QS strikes a great balance across gaming, content creation and productivity needs.
- Sharp and vivid 4K visuals
- 75Hz refresh rate and FreeSync support
- Rich color coverage (99% sRGB)
- Tilt, swivel and height adjustability
- Range of ports including HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2
With a sensible 4K resolution for the screen size, you get extra sharpness in everything from text to high-res photos/videos. While the 75Hz refresh rate and FreeSync allow you to enjoy casual gaming or movies without stutters or tears.
The near bezel-less design and slim profile give a modern and minimal aesthetic. Overall the Dell S2721QS is the best bang for buck 27-inch monitor that ticks all boxes.
Key Specs
- Screen Size: 27-inch
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 4K UHD
- Panel Type: IPS
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz (FreeSync)
- Response Time: 8ms (Normal); 5ms (Fast)
- Adaptive Sync: AMD FreeSync
- Ports: 2 HDMI 2.0, 1 DisplayPort 1.2, 1 Audio Out
Check Price on Amazon
Best Budget: AOC 27B2H
The AOC 27B2H gives you solid 1080p performance and connectivity without breaking the bank.
- Good color reproduction backed by IPS panel
- 75Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync
- Super-narrow bezels maximize screen space
- Fully adjustable stand (height/pivot/tilt/swivel)
- Built-in speakers
As a budget monitor, the 27B2H obviously does not have all bells and whistles. But it nails the basics with accurate colors, smooth motion handling and ergonomic adjustments missing in cheaper monitors.
The 27B2H works nicely as a secondary monitor. It‘s also great if you mainly stick to general desktop work, browsing, office apps, videos etc. For gaming usage, the 27B2H is best suited to casual gameplay rather than fast competitive titles.
Key Specs
- Screen Size: 27-inch
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 FHD
- Panel Type: IPS
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz (FreeSync)
- Response Time: 4ms
- Adaptive Sync: AMD FreeSync
- Ports: 2 HDMI 1.4, 1 VGA
Check Price on Amazon
Best 1440p Gaming: Gigabyte M27Q
The Gigabyte M27Q offers a winning mix of features tailor-made for gaming.
- WQHD 2560 x 1440 resolution
- Rapid 170Hz refresh rate (Overclocked)
- Fast 0.5ms (MPRT) response time
- Vibrant image quality with 92% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage
- Gaming-centric features (Aim Stabilizer, Black Equalizer etc.)
While suited mainly for gaming, the excellent 2560 x 1440 resolution and all-round visual performance make the M27Q competent for other usage as well. The stand design offers full ergonomic adjustments letting you tweak viewing angles as needed.
Gigabyte‘s built-in gaming features boost your advantage in FPS and other competitive titles. With support for VESA mounts, you can also swap out the stand for multi-monitor rigs. If you want a speedy 1440p gaming monitor without blowing up your budget, the Gigabyte M27Q is a fantastic choice.
Key Specs
- Screen Size: 27-inch
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 WQHD
- Panel Type: IPS
- Refresh Rate: 170Hz OC
- Response Time: 0.5ms MPRT
- Adaptive Sync: FreeSync Premium
- Ports: 2 HDMI 2.0, 1 DisplayPort 1.2
Check Price on Amazon
Best Ultrawide: LG 29WP60G-B
Step up your productivity with the expansive screen space of the LG 29WP60G-B.
- 29-inch 2560 x 1080 Ultrawide IPS display
- sRGB 99% color gamut coverage
- Reader mode minimizes eyestrain
- On-Screen Control dashboard
- Sleek and minimal design
- Height/tilt adjustable stand
The 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratio gives you approx. 33% more screen real estate versus 16:9 monitors. So you can comfortably snap 4+ windows side by side. The full HD resolution ensures text/images remain crisp across the wider canvas.
While the 29WP60 offers 75Hz refresh rate and FreeSync for smooth visuals, it is best suited for office work, browsing and media usage rather than gaming. Regardless, the expansive workspace boosts productivity for home office needs making it easy to recommend.
Key Specs
- Screen Size: 29-inch Ultrawide
- Resolution: 2560 x 1080 FHD
- Panel Type: IPS
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz (FreeSync)
- Response Time: 5ms GTG
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Ports: 2 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort
Check Price on Amazon
Best 4K: ViewSonic VP2776
The ViewSonic VP2776 brings precise color performance for creators needing a 4K canvas.
- 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 resolution
- Frameless bezel design ideal for multi-monitor setups
- Factory calibrated for Delta E<2 color accuracy
- 100% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB gamuts covered
- Flexible connectivity with USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort
- Fully adjustable ergonomic stand
The combination of 4K resolution, impressive color reproduction and calibrations out of the box make the ViewSonic VP2776 perfectly suited for photo/video editing and graphics work. You also get hardware calibration settings to fine-tune color, brightness, contrast as needed.
The 27-inch 4K display provides ample resolution to view and edit high-res content without needing to zoom in. While color modes are available for optimizing usage across gaming, movies and general tasks. For color critical applications, the ViewSonic VP2776 ticks all boxes.
Key Specs
- Screen Size: 27-inch
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 4K UHD
- Panel Type: IPS
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Ports: 2 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, USB-C
Check Price on Amazon
How to Pick the Right 27-inch Monitor
Keep the following factors in mind while choosing a monitor:
-
Resolution – 1440p is the ideal resolution for a 27-inch monitor balancing sharpness and performance. 4K works if you edit high-res photos/videos. And 1080p monitors are okay for general usage.
-
Refresh Rate ??? Minimum 60Hz for regular usage. But 144Hz or higher is strongly recommended for gaming usages to benefit from high frame rates.
-
Panel Type – IPS panels have the best color reproduction and wide viewing angles. VA panels offer richer contrast but have color shifting issues at wide angles.
-
Ergonomics – Having options to adjust monitor height, tilt, swivel etc. helps minimize eye and neck strain with prolonged use.
-
Ports – Look for HDMI, DisplayPort connectivity. USB-C ports allow transmitting video, data and power delivery over a single cable.
Curved vs Flat 27-inch Monitors
Curved monitors (1800R-1000R) attempt to cover more of your peripheral vision for a more immersive experience. A curve may benefit gamers and movie watchers. But flat monitors still work great for all-round use cases. They offer wider viewing angles with less color shifting versus curved displays.
Ultimately, curved displays are a personal preference. If buying online, check return policies before you buy in case the curve effect does not suit you.
Proper Way to Set Up a 27-inch Monitor
Follow these tips to set up your 27-inch monitor for maximum comfort and productivity:
- Position monitor an arm???s length away for comfortable viewing without eye strain
- Keep the screen at eye level to avoid neck pain from looking up/down
- Reduce glare with proper placement away from light sources
- Get an ergonomic stand/arm to adjust height, tilt, swivel and rotation
- Arrange other stuff like keyboard, mouse, speakers in an organized layout
Taking care to find the best spot and height for your large screen will help minimize fatigue in muscles from poor posture.
Setting up your 27-inch monitor properly is vital for comfortable long duration usage
Final Thoughts on Finding the Best 27-Inch Monitor
When chosen well, a 27-inch monitor really hits the sweet spot blending high productivity and immersive entertainment. The expanded screen space helps minimize alt-tabbing compared to smaller monitors. You also get an engaging experience playing games, watching movies or going through photos thanks to the ample display size.
One aspect to watch out for is getting sharp visuals. So better to stick with 2560 x 1440 resolution instead of 4K. Because 1080p at 27-inches looks pixelated. This guide has monitor recommendations for gaming, professional and general use cases to help pick the right one as per needs.
I hope the buying tips and monitor suggestions above help you invest in a great 27-inch display. Feel free to reach out in comments in case of any doubts!
