Buying a new monitor involves a lot more than just picking the biggest screen that fits your budget. The wrong choice can mean eye strain during long work sessions, sluggish gaming performance, or washed-out colours ruining your design work. Here’s everything you need to know to make the right decision.
Resolution: How Sharp Is the Image?
Resolution refers to the number of pixels on the screen. Higher resolution means sharper, more detailed images — but it also requires more processing power from your PC.
- 1080p (Full HD, 1920×1080) — the standard for everyday use. Great value, widely supported, and perfectly sharp on screens up to 27″. Ideal for office work, casual browsing, and budget gaming.
- 1440p (QHD, 2560×1440) — noticeably sharper than 1080p, especially on larger screens. The sweet spot for gaming and creative work. Requires a mid-range GPU to run smoothly.
- 4K (UHD, 3840×2160) — stunning detail, ideal for photo and video editing, or if you simply want the sharpest possible image. Demands a powerful GPU and significantly more processing power.
Panel Type: IPS, TN, or VA?
The panel technology determines colour accuracy, viewing angles, and response times.
IPS (In-Plane Switching)
Best for: Creative work, general use, anyone who values accurate colours.
IPS panels offer the best colour reproduction and wide viewing angles. You can look at the screen from the side without colours shifting. They’ve also improved significantly in response time, making many modern IPS panels suitable for gaming too. This is the panel type we recommend for most people.
TN (Twisted Nematic)
Best for: Competitive gamers who prioritise response time over all else.
TN panels offer the fastest response times (often 1ms) but produce the worst colours and viewing angles. If you’re a serious competitive gamer where every millisecond counts, TN still has a place — but for most people, IPS is the better choice.
VA (Vertical Alignment)
Best for: Film watching, mixed use where contrast matters.
VA panels offer the highest contrast ratios — making blacks look genuinely dark rather than grey. They’re excellent for watching films and general use, but can suffer from “smearing” in fast motion, making them less ideal for gaming.
Refresh Rate: Does It Matter?
Refresh rate (measured in Hz) is how many times per second the monitor updates the image.
- 60Hz — standard for office and general use. Perfectly smooth for everyday tasks.
- 75Hz — a modest improvement that makes general use feel noticeably smoother. Great for everyday monitors at no extra cost.
- 144Hz and above — essential for gaming. Motion looks dramatically smoother, fast-paced games become much more enjoyable. Requires a capable GPU to take advantage of.
Screen Size: What’s Right for Your Desk?
For office and productivity work, 24–27″ at 1080p or 1440p is the sweet spot. For gaming, 27″ at 1440p with a high refresh rate is the current gold standard. For creative work such as photo or video editing, 27–32″ with 4K resolution gives you the most workspace and detail.
Our Monitor Recommendation by Use Case
- Home Office / General Use: 24–27″ IPS, 1080p or 1440p, 75Hz
- Gaming: 27″ IPS or TN, 1440p, 144Hz+
- Photo / Video Editing: 27–32″ IPS, 4K, accurate colour coverage (look for 99% sRGB or Adobe RGB)
- Budget Buy: 24″ IPS 1080p 75Hz — offers tremendous value and will serve most users well
Buy a Monitor from Mojoo Limited
We stock a range of monitors from leading brands including ViewSonic, ASRock, and more — from 1080p everyday screens to high-refresh gaming displays. Browse our Monitor range in the shop, or get in touch if you’d like a recommendation based on your specific setup and budget.