Monitor Manuals & Owner Guides

Resolution, size and pixel density

Pixel density (pixels per inch) determines how sharp text looks at a normal desk distance. Roughly 90–110 ppi works at 100% scaling (a 24-inch Full HD or 27-inch QHD monitor); 4K on a 27-inch screen is about 163 ppi and is usually run at 150% scaling for very crisp text.

Panel types

IPS-type (IPS, ADS, AHVA, PLS)

Wide viewing angles and stable color; the most common choice for office and creative work.

VA

Higher native contrast and deeper blacks; viewing angles narrower than IPS.

TN

Fast and inexpensive, with the narrowest viewing angles.

OLED

Self-emissive pixels with true blacks; take care with static content.

Understanding display energy ratings

ENERGY STAR measures on-mode power at the default brightness, plus sleep and off power. For computer monitors, these combine into a total energy consumption (TEC) figure in kWh per year that assumes the screen is on 35% of the time and asleep 65% of the time. Signage displays are judged mainly on on-mode and sleep power, because their schedules vary widely.

USB-C and single-cable docking

Monitors with USB-C Power Delivery can charge a laptop, carry video and run a built-in USB hub over one cable. Match the monitor's charging wattage to your laptop's charger rating; a lower-wattage port still works but may charge slowly under heavy load. Charging above 60 W requires a 5 A e-marked cable.

Monitor FAQ