A computer monitor can be utilized to establish a connection between different devices, it can be used for multiple purposes, such as playing games, watching movies and TV series, editing multi-media such as pictures and videos.
When it comes to watching movies on a computer screen, users usually love to find the best monitors with some good specifications so that they can receive a better image quality and a good audio output source.
With the availability of video streaming networks, such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney, YouTube, etc. you can now perfectly watch movies on your computer without any hassle. But for that purpose, you will definitely require a good monitor with more ports, a good image quality, and some better refresh rates.
- Size: 27″
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Panel Type: IPS
- Response Time: 5ms (GtG)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Size: 27″
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440(WQHD)
- Panel Type: IPS
- Response Time: 5ms
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
- Size: 34″
- Resolution: 2560 x 1080(UWHD)
- Panel Type: IPS
- Response Time: 5ms
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
According to user reviews, the majority enjoy watching their favorite shows and movies on high-end monitors to get an amazing experience. If you are looking for a monitor to help you enjoy watching your favorite movies and TV shows, then stick to the end of this article.
This article is going to be very helpful for you in choosing the right monitor for the right purpose. So let’s get started.
In-depth Review - Best Monitors for Watching Movies
Following are the top five products chosen by our team for fulfilling your required tasks.
Specifications:
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 8ms
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160p
- Panel Type: IPS
Dell UltraSharp U2720Q which is an excellent 27 inches, color-accurate monitor, highly recommended for watching movies.
This monitor comes up with a 4K resolution and a high-level color accuracy. Other than these features it also offers good display ergonomics and some real good connectivity options under a budget price tag.
So, let’s take a look at this product to see if it matches our ideal buying guide requirements, or not.
Display Characteristics
The Dell UltraSharp U2720Q comes with 27 inches of screen size that is further accompanied by a native resolution of 3840 x 2160 (4K). The Dell UltraSharp U2720Q is equipped with an In-plane Switching panel that helps the monitor display good color accuracy with high-end performance.
With the addition of IPS panels, you will also get good wide viewing angles that will ultimately help you share the movie screen with your group so that they can easily watch from skewed angles without any problem, and with clear color quality.
Due to the 4K resolution of Dell UltraSharp U2720Q, the images and other media displayed on the screen looks realistic and very sharp. Another good thing is that other than watching movies the higher screen resolution will help you to multitask as well.
Also, if you are into gaming, it has a really good response time with a low input lag but unfortunately, there is no adaptive sync or VRR compatibility available with this monitor.
The native contrast ratio delivered by the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q is 1300:1. As for IPS panels, the contrast ratio is average which results in blacks looking gray while watching a movie in a darker environment. However, the peak brightness offered by this monitor is 300 nits, and that is good enough.
If you think that this amount of brightness is not suitable for your eyes, then you can simply access the On-Screen Display menu and adjust it as per your requirements.
Response Time and Refresh Rate
When it comes to response time, the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q offers a quick one of 5 milliseconds. What does that mean? Well, a 5ms response time means that the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q will take 1/200th of a second to quickly transit from white to black.
A 5ms response time is enough for watching movies, in fact, it is quite fast. Hence, the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q ensures that there are no ghosting effects on the screen and the quality is better with more clarity of images.
The Dell UltraSharp U2720Q offers a 60Hz refresh rate which means your screen will be able to draw or display 60 images in a second on your monitor. For watching movies, this refresh rate is absolutely amazing, and more than enough.
Connectivity Options
Checking out the connectivity options is another important thing that you need to consider. Well, when it comes to connectivity, the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q is equipped with a DisplayPort, an HDMI port, USB-C ports, and an Audio Line out port as well. So the connectivity options are quite good.
- The monitor has excellent display characteristics
- It has good viewing angles that make it the best choice for watching movies.
- It offers a fast response time and the input lag is low.
- It consists of HDR support.
- There is no Variable Refresh Rate support.
Specifications:
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440p
- Panel Type: IPS
ASUS ProArt PA278QV, which is an affordable 27 inches monitor, recommended for you to watch your favorite movies and TV series without any hassle.
This monitor offers its consumers a 1440p screen resolution accompanied by the excellent quality color accuracy of IPS panels. It is an ideal budget monitor for people who want a surreal experience when watching movies on their computer while staying on budget.
With the all-in-one package offered by the ASUS ProArt PA278QV, you can get smooth display characteristics, a premium design, accurate colors, and excellent connectivity options. Other than that this monitor also features amazing features for gamers and content creators, but we will review it from the perspective of a movie junkie. So, let’s take a look at what ASUS ProArt PA278QV offers.
Display Characteristics
The first thing that we will check includes the display characteristics which affect the overall image displayed by a monitor.
The ASUS ProArt PA278QV features a 27 inches screen accompanied by a screen resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. A 1440p resolution on a 27 inches screen, is a good combination resulting in an ideal 108 PPI pixel density.
At 108 PPI you will get sharp details and high-quality visuals with a realistic approach towards movies. The ASUS ProArt PA278QV is equipped with an IPS panel that delivers excellent quality colors that are vivid, bright, and accurate.
Other than that this monitor displays 178-degrees wide viewing angles making sure that the screen looks perfect no matter at which angle you are sitting and watching a movie.
Other than these characteristics, the peak brightness offered by this monitor is around 350-nits, long with a static contrast ratio of 1000:1. The contrast ratio is the same as expected from a display with IPS panels.
So, as a result of all these display characteristics, the image quality in movies or your favorite TV series will absolutely blow your mind.
Response Time and Refresh Rate
The ASUS ProArt PA278QV delivers a 5ms GtG pixel response time. Hence with this rapid response time, the monitor ensures that none of the fast-paced objects in a movie goes unnoticed by the audience. Due to this rapid response time, the overall input lag becomes quite low, approximately around 10ms.
This monitor offers a 75Hertz refresh rate that is more than good for movies, as well as for multi-purposes such as gaming, etc.
Another feature offered by the ASUS ProArt PA278QV is that it supports Adaptive-Sync allowing you to synchronize your computer’s refresh rate with your graphics card frame rates.
Well, this feature could get you amazing performance in gaming, and enhance the overall frame rates while watching movies. So a 75 Hz or more refresh rate means that your monitor will draw 75 new images on your screen in a time frame of one second, cool enough?
Connectivity Options
Connectivity should be a top-ranked priority in your list when buying a monitor for movies. When it comes to connectivity, the ASUS ProArt PA278QV offers a DisplayPort 1.2, a mini DisplayPort 1.2, an HDMI 1.4 port, a Dual-Link DVI-D port, a headphone jack, a quad-USB 3.0 hub, and dual 2W integrated speakers as well.
- Excellent value features at an affordable price.
- The pixel density offered by the monitor is high.
- The color quality is good.
- Amazing display characteristics for watching movies
- It is rich in connectivity options.
- Contains IPS glow issues due to IPS panels technology
- FreeSync VRR range could have been improved.
Specifications:
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160p
- Panel Type: IPS
Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q which is an excellent monitor for watching movies. The brand is well known for developing solid monitors. The Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q consists of a 27 inches screen accompanied by a high-end 4K resolution as well. It offers users a premium design and high-quality image production as well.
Other than that, it is equipped with amazing features that make this monitor perfect for multi-purposes, such as gaming, watching movies, and doing some professional work as well. Now, let’s take a detailed look at this monitor to know what to expect and what not to expect from this device.
Display Characteristics
The first thing that we are going to review regarding the Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q is its display characteristics. These mainly consist of the screen size, screen resolution, panel type, peak brightness, contrast ratio, and viewing angles of a monitor.
So the first thing is the screen size and resolution. The Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q is equipped with a 27 inches of screen size along with a 3840 x 2160 4K resolution. With a blend of these two, the monitor displays some amazing and realistic images on a large screen so you can fully enjoy watching movies.
Next up we have the panel type. The Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q features In-Plane Switching panels that tend to display brighter colors. The colors displayed by the Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q are quite vivid with a good color accuracy as well.
This monitor also offers 178-degrees wide viewing angles so that you can enjoy watching movies from any angle of your choice without any issue. The contrast ratio offered by this monitor is 1300:1 with a peak brightness of 350 nits.
Response Time and Refresh Rate
Basically, this monitor offers a response time speed of 5 milliseconds. This speed is quite fast hence the Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q ensures that all the motion blur effects caused by fast-paced objects in movies are completely eliminated.
Also, due to the quick response time, the input lag gets reduced to 9ms only. Low input lag is a great thing for users who are planning to use this monitor for things other than watching movies, such as gaming, etc.
The refresh rate delivered by this monitor is around 60 Hertz, making it suitable for watching movies as well as playing games casually on your desktop.
Connectivity Options
Now let’s check out the connectivity options delivered by the Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q. When it comes to connectivity, this device features an HDMI 2.0 port, a DisplayPort 1.2, and a quad-USB 3.0 hub as well as a headphone jack. But remember that the HDMI port offered by this monitor only supports HDR.
- The design and display features are good for movies.
- The picture presets are amazing.
- Connectivity options are rich.
- No adaptive sync technology
Specifications:
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160p
- Panel Type: TN
Samsung U32J590 which is one of the most well-known budget monitors with a 32 inches screen and a 4K resolution as well. This monitor consists of a lot of amazing features, for example, excellent display characteristics, great image quality, low input lag, and adaptive sync, etc. The display characteristics and connectivity options along with a low input lag are ideal for tasks like watching movies.
So, let’s check out the detailed review of this monitor to know whether it is good for movies and TV series or not.
Display Characteristics
The Samsung U32J590 offers a 32 inches screen size accompanied by a screen resolution of 3840 x 2160 (4K). Thanks to this ultimate screen resolution this monitor offers excellent image quality that most of the monitors are not able to match in the same price range.
It is equipped with a vertical alignment panel that helps the monitor to get a higher static contrast ratio with a good peak brightness and good color accuracy. When compared to IPS panels, VA panels don’t deliver the same color quality as the IPS ones however the contrast ratio and response time speed are better.
The peak brightness offered by this monitor is 270 nits. As compared to other models on our list with IPS panels, it is still low.
On the contrary, this monitor has a contrast ratio of 3000:1 static, which is surely quite higher than the other models on our list. Other than the contrast ratio and peak brightness, this monitor delivers a 10-bit color support as well.
As compared to Twisted Nematic panels, the vertical alignment and in-plane switching panels provide wide viewing angles. In the case of Samsung U32J590, the VA panels provide 178-degrees wide angles from both horizontal and vertical perspectives.
However, some minor shifts in things like image saturation and gamma are witnessed if you view the screen from skewed angles. But while watching movies this may not be that much noticeable.
Samsung has advertised this monitor as a QLED display that means this monitor has a quantum dot film layer to get extended color gamut. On the other hand, the Samsung U32J590 only covers a basic 99% of the sRGB color space. Well, Samsung needs to work on that because most of the QLED displays cover more than ~125% of the sRGB color space.
With all these display characteristics, the manufacturers assure you that the image quality will be more than good and surreal while you stream your favorite movies on the go.
Response Time and Refresh Rate
The refresh rate of this monitor is 60Hz which is quite amazing. Due to the ideal refresh rate, the input lag of the Samsung U32J590 is amazing, probably 10 milliseconds.
If you are planning on using this monitor for tasks other than watching movies and TV series, such as gaming then the refresh rate is considered to be good at casual gaming. On the other hand, for competitive gamers, consider checking out other display options available in this article.
As for the response time, that is the pixel transition speed of a monitor, the Samsung U32J590 is not that much good. While watching your favorite TV shows and movies it will be quite noticeable for you to identify that there are some visible trailing behind the fast-paced objects in any of your movies. For example, during a darker scene in an action movie, you will notice these objects.
So, the response time is the real headache deal. Your overall movie watching experience with this monitor will be good enough, but still, if you need better then consider passing on this product and selecting another one from the list with probably IPS or TN panels instead.
Connectivity Options
For connectivity, this monitor features an HDMI 1.4 port, an HDMI 2.0 port, a DisplayPort 1.2, and a headphone jack as well. Other than that, it also supports HDCP 2.2 so that you can watch copy-protected content in 4K resolution by using the best streaming services, for example, Netflix, and Hulu, etc.
- The image quality in movies is good enough.
- The input lag is low.
- The display characteristics are amazing.
- It comes at a budget price.
- The design is tilt-only, ergonomics could have been improved.
- There is minor ghosting in some fast-paced games.
Specifications:
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Resolution: 2560 x 1080p
- Panel Type: IPS
LG 34WK650-W which is another good monitor with an ultrawide full HD resolution. This monitor is equipped with excellent quality features that allow you to watch movies, attend webinars, manage your lectures, and do live streaming on the go without any issue.
The LG 34WK650-W is an ultrawide monitor that comes with HDR support, an appealing resolution, a premium design, and an affordable price tag.
Let’s check out this product in detail to know more about it.
Display Characteristics
This monitor offers a 34 inches screen size that is further accompanied by a screen resolution of 2560 x 1080 ultrawide high definition. Well, in my opinion, this blend of screen size and resolution is just average. Because this blend produces a pixel density of only 81 PPI. That means the objects in a movie will seem fine while sitting closely, on the other hand, if you are sitting at a distance they will look blurry and smudgy.
The LG 34WK650-W is equipped with IPS panels that display bright and vivid colors. Other than that, this monitor features a typical IPS contrast ratio of 1000:1 and a peak brightness of 300 nits, which is quite high. On the other hand, the viewing angles are 178 degrees wide which makes it easy for you to watch the movie in a clear way while sitting at a skewed angle.
Response Time and Refresh Rate
The response time delivered by the LG 34WK650-W is 5 milliseconds that helps the monitor avoid ghosting and trailing effects of fast-paced objects and scenes in a movie or TV series.
The response time is further accompanied by a 75 Hz refresh rate that enhances the motion clarity of images displayed by the monitor. It gives the monitor a noticeable boost in terms of motion-clarity when compared to any other 60 Hertz monitor.
You can also use the AMD FreeSync compatibility to connect this device with your AMD GPU in order to get a variable refresh rate. If you do that the dynamic refresh rate will help you get rid of issues like stuttering, and screen tearing.
Connectivity Options
When it comes to connectivity, this monitor offers two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, two 5W built-in MaxxAudio speakers, and a headphone jack as well.
- Comes at an affordable price.
- Recommended for watching movies due to good display features and rich connectivity options.
- Offers good ergonomics
- AMD FreeSync included.
- The pixel density is low.
- The HDR is software-enabled only.
Things To Consider When Buying the Best Monitor For Movies
Some factors to consider when choosing a monitor for movies include: screen size, resolution, contrast ratio, brightness, response time and viewing angle. A good rule of thumb is to choose the largest screen size that will comfortably fit in your living room without overwhelming the space.
Display Characteristics
The first thing to look out for while buying a monitor for watching movies is its display characteristics.
1.1. Screen Resolution
Have you ever wondered how a monitor creates an image that is displayed on your screen?
Well, a monitor’s screen creates millions of multi-colored pixels, and every pixel further consists of subpixels. So the thing to take notice of is that if a monitor has more pixels then the image displayed by it will be much better and it will look realistic.
1.2. Screen Size
Depending on the screen resolution and pixels, you should buy the suggested screen size monitor that can handle a given screen resolution.
For example, if someone is planning to buy a monitor with 27 inches screen size then it is necessary that the monitor has a higher resolution, probably Ultra HD or 4K, that will be suitable for a 27 inches screen size. On the other hand, if your 27 inches monitor has 1920 x 1080p resolution, the screen pixels will become blurry and they will bother you for sure while working.
1.3. Brightness
When buying a high-end monitor for watching movies, the average brightness to lookout for must be 300 to 350 nits. If you work in a well-lit room then the extra brightness may help you in different given circumstances.
If you think that high brightness will cause eye strain then get a monitor with lower peak brightness, around 250 nits.
1.4. Contrast Ratio
When it comes to contrast ratio, it should be high, of course. To get a higher contrast ratio, find a monitor with vertical alignment panels. Because In-Plane Switching panels and Twisted Nematic panels are not capable of providing a high-level brightness.
In case you don’t know, a monitor’s contrast ratio is the difference between how white or how black a monitor can become. If the contrast ratio is high, the user will be able to identify colors in movies, at a better rate.
1.5. Viewing Angles
While looking out for a monitor to watch movies, checking the viewing angles is the most important thing. If you plan on watching movies with your family or with your friends then the monitor must have good viewing angles so that your group can easily watch movies from the side as well.
Response Time and Refresh Rate
For watching movies, the response time must be fast, because response time is the speed that shows how an image transits on your monitor. If the response time is not that fast, you might not enjoy watching an action or fast-paced movie.
As for the refresh rate, it should be 60 Hertz or above to watch movies.
Connectivity Options
If you plan to connect your monitor to another device or media source, then it is important to check the number of ports on the monitor you are planning to buy. Remember that your monitor should at least have an HDMI port, a USB-C port, and a DisplayPort.
So these were the things that you need to consider before buying a monitor for movies or TV series. However, looking out for every single feature while buying in a shop is a huge mess.
That’s why we have selected the top 5 monitors with all the above-mentioned things in them. So, in this way you can easily choose the monitor from our list that suits your budget and requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a curved monitor good for watching movies?
Well, to get a more realistic experience, a curved monitor is good for watching movies. It not only enhances the action of your movies but also increases the experience making it surreal.
Which panel is great for watching movies?
Each monitor panel has its own pros and cons. But for watching movies I recommend vertical alignment panels, as they really help enhance the shadow details of a picture in darker rooms. This can’t be done by the IPS panels due to their IPS glow issue.
Is a curved monitor bad for watching movies?
No, a curved monitor is actually good for movies but they can’t be mounted on a wall they will look weird. As for watching movies on a curved monitor, it is important to sit at the center so that you can avoid blurs.
Final Verdict
So this was all about the best monitors for watching movies. I hope that by the end of this article you must have chosen the monitor that suits you the most.
Our team has handpicked all of these monitors to gather all the necessary things in one place. You will find different options in this article, and hence you can easily choose the one which matches your budget and requirements. If you have any questions or queries then let us know in the comments, we would love to hear from you.