When deciding on what type of monitor to buy, the main choices are between 1440p monitors and 4k monitors.
What to choose: 4K or 1440p monitor?
4K simply means the monitor has an aspect ratio of 4:3 and a resolution of 3840 x 2160. 1440p on the other hand is 2560x1440, which is often given as "QHD" (Quad HD) as well. Due to this naming convention, many computer users refer to 1440p simply as QHD as well instead of writing out 1440p.
Both monitors are great choices but have their pros and cons.
4k monitors were first introduced with an actual common resolution being 4096x2160 pixels. They are best for video games that don't run at crazy high FPS rates, like 200+, or they can be used if you want higher quality in your video game. They are also better for watching 4k videos online or on an external device, like a TV.
However, the prices of these monitors mean they aren't very practical to buy unless you have a good reason for one.
At this point in time 1440p monitors are what I would recommend most people go with if they're going to buy a monitor now while saving up for a 4K monitor later when prices drop further and while there's more choice available, especially if their computer can run games at reasonably high FPS.
When deciding between the two resolutions then, most things are pretty much equal. You can see more on this in "Is 1440p or 4k better?". That is because both monitors have a resolution high enough to display really fine details and you can't tell the difference with your eyes unless you're close up to a monitor.
This exception does exist though: 1440p has a higher PPI (Pixels Per Inch), meaning that 1440p will have smaller pixels compared to 4K. This means that text, especially small text, will appear slightly sharper at 1440p than it would at 4K because each pixel is physically smaller.
However, as mentioned before, the difference only exists if you look closely at a monitor from 1-2 feet away. It's too difficult to see the difference for this reason between 1440p and 4K monitors at normal computer/TV viewing distances (3-6 feet).
3 Best 1440p monitors
Acer VG240YU
Performance:
When it comes to performance, this monitor performs very well. It can produce a maximum of 1920 x 1080 resolution with a refresh rate of 60 Hz and a response time of 5ms, which is great for playing any type of game under the sun. This monitor is built to work with any game, no matter the genre. The only issue is that it doesn't support AMD FreeSync, which will still run smoothly but can be improved if you're having issues with screen tearing or stuttering.
This monitor has an HDMI port and a DisplayPort connection. The display itself is very thin and streamlined, giving it a clean look like many other Acer products. As for the overall build quality of this monitor, It may not be as durable as some other monitors since it's mostly made out of plastic. However, it does feel solid enough to withstand most accidental falls that may happen due to its size and weight
This monitor is also excellent for watching videos online or on an external device. If you plan on hooking up your monitor to a TV or an external device, the Acer VG240YU will do a great job at displaying videos and movies.
Image quality
Acer VG240YU delivers outstanding image quality while being very versatile. It has Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution which is the highest you can get in this price range while still having good performance for gaming. The monitor has good viewing angles of 170 degrees vertically and 160 horizontally. It also comes with Acer VisionCare technology that reduces eye strain during long-time use by minimizing flickering at all brightness levels
If you are used to watching movies on your computer or TV, whether they are on Netflix or Blu-ray discs, then you know that these displays have an aspect ratio of 16:9 since this is the current standard for TVs, monitors, and projectors.
As a result of this, if you try to play a 16:9 video on a monitor with a different aspect ratio then you will notice that either the picture is displayed with black bars on the top and bottom or that it is stretched to fill up the screen. This is because different monitors have different aspect ratios: 4:3 (standard for old computer monitors), 16:10 (most common nowadays), and 16:9 (TVs, most monitors).
Acer VG240YU has an aspect ratio of 16:9 which makes everything you watch look like it's supposed to. This also means that if you're watching videos from your TV or Blu-ray discs then those will be displayed as intended since those are in the same aspect ratio as this monitor. 1440p resolution
This monitor comes with Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. This means that each pixel on your screen is represented by 1,920 columns and 1,080 rows of pixels which are visible from a distance equal to or greater than 6 feet. What this exactly means is that if you're sitting at the right distance then it's impossible to see the individual pixels no matter what you're doing since it only takes 3 pixels to create one physical square.
Design and connectivity:
Acer VG240YU comes with an Acer ErgoStand base stand that provides 5-degree forward or 21-degree backward tilt, 350mm height adjustment which is great if you want to adjust your monitor's height in order to change the viewing angle and switch between landscape and portrait modes.
It also comes with a 100 x 100mm VESA mount pattern so you can attach it to a third-party monitor stand. The monitor has DisplayPort, DVI-D, and HDMI ports for connectivity. It also offers a wide range of ports including a headphone port, a microphone port which is convenient if you use it for recording audio on your computer, and two USB 2.0 ports
The Acer VG240YU is very sleek and slender since this is what modern monitors are going for - thin bezels with an overall minimalist design that will add to the decor of any room while still providing excellent image quality. This monitor comes in a matte black finish which should go well with most decors without drawing too much attention to itself.
Dell U2520D
Performance:
This monitor comes with Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. It is very high definition that provides full detail of all images on your screen no matter what you're viewing since it has a pixel density of 109 pixels per inch which is the highest that you can get in this price range.
This monitor features excellent color reproduction that will provide deep and rich colors, especially if you use it for professional purposes such as graphics design or editing photos. This monitor also has good viewing angles of 170 degrees vertically and 160 horizontally so different people sitting at different angles will still be able to see the picture clearly without any distortions, color changes, or loss in brightness.
Aspect ratio: Dell U2520D comes with an aspect ratio of 16:10 which means that it will provide perfect images for 16:9 videos since these images don't have black bars on the top and bottom and each pixel is represented by 1,920 columns and 1,200 rows of pixels.
Image quality:
Dell U2520D features an IPS panel technology that provides accurate color reproduction, wide viewing angles with no change in picture quality when viewed from different angles, and a superior contrast level. It also has an 8 ms response time which is significantly faster than the response time of standard monitors.
The colors are bright and vivid just like on any other IPS monitor but the greatest difference here is Dell's ComfyView feature which reduces screen glare by up to 75%. This is very beneficial when working under direct sunlight or if you often find yourself watching your monitor from different angles such as while sitting on a couch or laying down since it reduces eye strain and fatigue that would normally happen under such circumstances.
Design and connectivity:
Dell U2520D is designed with Dell's design language which makes it sleek, slim, and sophisticated yet elegant at the same time even though it comes at a very reasonable price tag since this monitor belongs to their budget UltraSharp series.
This monitor has a total of four buttons that allow users to quickly navigate through the OSD menu, change the brightness level, change color settings, and adjust volume levels when used together with the PC audio. For connectivity, Dell U2520D offers a wide range of ports including DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI, and DVI-D in addition to USB 2.0 ports that can be used for connecting peripherals such as a keyboard or mouse.
LG 27QN600
Performance:
LG 27QN600 comes with Quad HD (2560 x 1440) resolution which is the highest native resolution that you can get in this price range. This means that it provides four times as many pixels as Full HD thus providing much sharper images and more details for each pixel on its screen.
This monitor features a 5 ms response time, unlike other monitors in this list where their response time was 8 ms. Response time may not be important for gamers because they are used to motion blur but it is important when using PC for professional purposes such as photo/video editing or code compiling since even slight delays between consecutive frames can result in very low fps or even cause stuttering entirely if your computer's GPU cannot handle ultra-high resolutions at a consistent framerate.
Image quality:
LG 27QN600 features the same IPS panel technology as Dell U2520D and provides accurate colors, wider viewing angles, and superior contrast levels for deeper blacks. It also has a 5 ms response time which is enough for gamers who don't really care about input lag but not so great for professional purposes where quick reaction time and low input lag are crucial.
Design and connectivity:
LG 27QN600 comes with a very slim frame that measures only 9 mm at its thinnest area while the sides of this monitor measure 13 mm. This monitor also has two 10 W speakers that provide surprisingly high-quality sound, something you wouldn't normally expect from monitors in this range since their built-in speakers are usually awful.
LG 27QN600 has limited connectivity options including HDMI, DVI-D, and DisplayPort 1.2 but it doesn't support anything else like VGA connections because VGA cables have been removed from most modern laptops and many new monitors also lack a VGA port since they instead come with a standard DP connector or a MiniDP/mDP connector for Apple Mac computers.
Which one is the best monitor for gaming?
If you are looking for a monitor with the best performance for gaming, Dell U2520D is the one you should choose since it has a response time of 8 ms which is still quicker than most IPS monitors that feature a 5 ms response time. However, LG 27QN600 also offers incredibly smooth gameplay because its response time comes in at an impressive 5 ms. This means that both monitors should provide similar performance when used for gaming purposes.
Which one is the best for web design?
If you are looking for a monitor with the best image quality, Dell U2520D is the one you should choose since it offers better colors and more accurate images than LG 27QN600. However, it lacks advanced calibration settings that would allow users to fine-tune their images so they look absolutely perfect which means that its color accuracy is still not as accurate as it can be.
Which one is the best monitor overall?
It's hard to say which one is better since they both offer different things but if we were to choose, Dell U2520D takes the crown because its 4K resolution provides much sharper and more detailed images. However, LG 27QN600 also has a 1440p resolution which is not far behind in terms of image quality so it still looks incredibly sharp despite having lower native resolution than Dell U2520D.
Dell U2520D also offers a bigger screen size (25 inches vs 27 inches) while occupying less space on your desk due to its sleek design, unlike other monitors that are quite bulky or look like cheap plastic toys that wouldn't look too great on your desk.
LG 27QN600 is only $8 cheaper than Dell U2520D while offering similar performance for gaming purposes thus it comes as no surprise that many people would prefer to spend an extra $8 and get the better-looking monitor with slightly sharper images and far superior build quality in Dell U2520D.