Are you a software developer looking for a suitable workspace monitor? So, here are some of the Best Programming Monitors for Developers. We also discussed the essential factors to consider when selecting monitors for developers. Before we begin, let's discuss what makes monitors suitable for programmers.
While there are several factors to consider, the screen size should be at the top of the list. It is advantageous if the display can be rotated into portrait mode to view more lines of code at once. Because you'll be staring at that screen for hours, flicker-free technology and blue light filters that reduce eye strain are also desirable. Don't forget to consider color accuracy and coverage if your projects include images and video. See our how we test page for more information on how we rate and review monitors.
The 10 best
monitors for software developers
- MSI Modern MD271QP
- LG DualUp Monitor 28MQ780
- Samsung CRG9
- BenQ EW3280U
- Huawei MateView
- Philips Brilliance 499P9H
- BenQ Mobiuz EX3410R
- BenQ DesignVue PD3220U
- ViewSonic VP2458 Professional 24-inch monitor
- LG UltraFine Display 32UL950
With so many options available, deciding which one to select can be difficult. To assist you, we've used our expertise to direct you to the best monitor for programming. Whatever your needs or budget, there's a monitor here for you, some of which we've tested or used ourselves and others we recommend based on our experience. Among our selections are some of the best 4K and ultrawide monitors. If you intend to code on the go, check out our guide to the best MSI laptops for students.
01. MSI Modern MD271QP
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| (Image credit: MSI) |
The MSI Modern MD271QP has a color gamut of 100 percent sRGB, a refresh rate of 75Hz, and a highly articulating stand that allows you to tilt, swivel, adjust the height and even pivot up to 90 degrees. This stand will be handy for programmers, especially when that code gets long. It is significantly less expensive than all the other options available.
It's also an excellent budget 1440p monitor for some creative professionals. Despite finding the Adobe RGB and P3 coverage unremarkable during our testing, the Delta-E average of 0.49 makes it one of the most color-accurate displays we've ever tested. In addition, while MSI claims a peak brightness of 250 nits, we measured 350 nits with the brightness set to 100% during our tests. This is the best monitor for beginning as a software developer.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Size: 27 inch
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Input: 1x HDMI, 1x DP, 1x USB Type-C
- Brightness: 250 nits
REASONS TO
BUY
+ High color accuracy
REASONS TO
AVOID
- Low Adobe RGB / P3 coverage
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
$300.84
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02. LG DualUp
Monitor 28MQ780
(Image credit: LG)
We don't understand why more 16:18 monitors aren't available for coders, writers, and other multitaskers. With a 16:18 aspect ratio and a fully articulating mount and stand, LG's latest offering only took a couple of hours to fully convince us of its brilliance. This 2560 x 2880 monitor has a squarish format and is always wide enough to display what you need from any open window, whether in landscape or portrait mode. It also helps you organize those windows by allowing you to stack two or three of them together, brilliantly making them easily accessible and displaying more than enough content.
Of course, if you just want to focus on your code, you can maximize that window and have more than enough space to see a large chunk of it without crushing your neck. The ergonomic and fully articulating stand completes this ultimate productivity package by allowing you to seamlessly tilt, swivel, rotate, and move it forward or backward until you find your most comfortable position. This monitor gives you the best-viewing positions as a working developer in the software development process.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 27.6 inch
- Resolution: 2560 x 2880 SDQHD
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C with DP Alt + 90W PD
REASONS TO
BUY
+ Ergonomic stand is a well-executed
+ Multitasking features are advantageous
REASONS TO
AVOID
- The C-clamp may not fit some workstations
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
$696.99
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03. Samsung CRG9
(Image credit: Samsung)
We've already included an ultrawide monitor in the list, but one at the lower end of the spectrum and appropriate for a broader range of desks. The Samsung CRG9, on the other hand, has a massive 49-inch screen with a 32:9 aspect ratio. It has a large amount of workspace, so you can have your apps, web pages, and other programs open simultaneously. And thanks to multiple inputs and picture-in-picture mode, you may connect two devices and utilize them simultaneously on the same monitor, saving space over several monitors.
The monitor provides excellent image quality thanks to some of Samsung's most influential technology, making it a perfect choice for photo or video editing and coding. It's another pricey option, but it's definitely worth it for what you get. And also this one suits you for your software development work.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 49 inch
- Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440 QHD
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Inputs: 1x HDMI 2.0, 2x Display Port 1.4
REASONS TO
BUY
+ HDR
REASONS TO
AVOID
- Needs tweaking out of the box
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
$1,058.00
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04. BenQ EW3280U
(Image credit: BenQ)
The BenQ EW3280U is part of the manufacturer's entertainment series and is intended for multimedia consumption, but we found it to be an outstanding productivity monitor. The pricing is excellent for budget-conscious programmers, and features such as its light sensors, which detect ambient light and optimize brightness and color temperature accordingly, are fantastic for your eyes.
Meanwhile, its USB-C with DisplayPort Alt mode allows you to connect peripherals, charge your laptop, and operate the display. The 32-inch panel size is ideal for 4K resolution viewing, allowing you to easily see your codes. You can simply kick back and watch a movie when you're done working, owing to its DisplayHDR 400, excellent speakers, and bundled remote. Read our complete BenQ EW3280U review to learn more about why we recommend this screen. BenQ is the best choice for software developers.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 32 inch
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 4K
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Input: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x USB-C
REASONS TO
BUY
+ Excellent color coverage
+ USB-C connectivity
REASONS TO
AVOID
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
$699.99
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05. Huawei
MateView
(Image credit: Huawei)
The Huawei MateView, Huawei's slick offering, is indisputably sleek and well-crafted. For example, utilizing its stand maintains its ultra-tidy, exceptionally slim appearance while delivering an incredible number of ports. Its specifications are outstanding, with 100 percent sRGB and 98 percent DCI-P3 color coverage, up to DeltaE1 color accuracy, 500 nits of brightness, and HDR 400. It has a USB-C connector that supports data and video transfer and up to 65W Power Delivery as a USB-C monitor.
The fact that it has a 3:2 aspect ratio, which is unusual for PC monitors, makes it an excellent programming monitor. We found the 3:2 aspect ratio ideal for productivity when testing it for our Huawei MateView review because it allows a panel to display more lines of text, which means you won't have to scroll as much when dealing with incredibly long documents. This is a godsend for programmers, coders, and web designers. This monitor suits the best professional software development career.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 28.2 inch
- Resolution: 3840 x 2560 4K
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Input: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x Mini DisplayPort, 1 x USB-C
REASONS TO
BUY
+ Extremely bright with HDR capability
REASONS TO
AVOID
- Inconsistent brightness uniformity
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
$1,083.00
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06. Philips
Brilliance 499P9H
(Image credit: Philips)
The Philips Brilliance 499P9H is another massive 49-in ultrawide option. Like the Samsung monitor mentioned above, this provides a more streamlined alternative to working with multiple monitors. With all that screen real estate, you can spread out as much as you want, saving time and allowing you to focus on your work.
It also has a built-in USB-C docking station, a built-in KVM switch to easily switch between sources, and power delivery up to 65W, allowing you to power and charges your notebook via USB-C. In the United States, the stock is currently low. This award-winning programming monitor is not cheap, so only invest if the entire package is worth it to you. This widescreen monitor gives vast space to manage your software development staff.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 49 inch
- Resolution: 5120 x 1440 QHD
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Input: 2x HDMI, 1xDisplayPort
REASONS TO
BUY
+ Replaces multi-monitors
+ USB-C docking station
REASONS TO
AVOID
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
$1,194.55
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07. BenQ Mobiuz
EX3410R
(Image credit: BenQ)
The BenQ EX3203R is primarily aimed at gamers, but after reviewing the screen, we discovered that it is also ideal for general productivity work. Because of its high resolution and large screen size, we believe it is also an excellent programming monitor. So, this is an option worth considering if you're a coder and a gamer. It has a 1440p resolution, which is ideal for coding because it provides more pixels than a 1080p monitor without going overboard like a 4K monitor.
Some may consider the 34-inch screen too large, but it has a 1000R curvature that makes it very comfortable to use. Color accuracy isn't great, and calibration is required for optimal performance, but this is unlikely to be a significant issue for programming. This one offers you an excellent comfortable view of working in the software development process.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 34 inch
- Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 WQHD
- Refresh rate: 144hz
- Input: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB Type B (Upstream), 2x USB 3.0 (Downstream), 1x 3.5in headphone/mic jack
REASONS TO
BUY
+ Curved ultrawide display
+ Excellent for both gaming and programming
REASONS TO
AVOID
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
$549.99
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08. BenQ
DesignVue PD3220U
(Image credit: BenQ)
The BenQ DesignVue PD3220U monitor is excellent. It has excellent color coverage, with 100% Rec.709, 100% sRGB, and 95% P3 color gamuts - through our own tests showed up to 98 percent DCI-P3. It includes several color modes, including Animation, Rec.709, Adobe RGB, and CAD/CAM, to help simplify creative workflows. It is factory calibrated and delivers high color accuracy right out of the box.
More importantly for programmers and web designers, it includes PiP/PbP for multi-input multitasking, two Thunderbolt 3 ports for multiple daisy-chaining monitors and even connecting external GPUs, and the coveted portrait mode, which provides for auto-portrait desktop orientation. We believe that 4K resolution on a 32-inch panel with a pixel density of 140 PPI is the sweet spot for delivering sharp, highly detailed visuals that can make for a comfortable coding experience. Using this monitor, you can get a better experience with programming as a software developer.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 31.5 inch
- Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 4K
- Brightness: 250 nits
- Support: 100% Rec.709, 100% sRGB, 95% DCI P3
REASONS TO
BUY
+ Amazing IPS panel
REASONS TO
AVOID
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
$1,189.99
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09. ViewSonic
VP2458 Professional 24-inch monitor
(Image credit: ViewSonic)
If you're new to programming or still in school, you'll probably want a gentler programming monitor on your wallet while not sacrificing quality. Fortunately, a few good low-cost options are available, including ViewSonic's VP2458 Professional. At less than $300/£300, it is affordable for most people, but it still has some appealing features for programmers.
It has the same blue light filter as more expensive monitors, so you can reduce eyestrain even if you're pulling an all-nighter to meet a deadline. Thanks to its 100 percent sRGB coverage and simple color calibration, it also provides lifelike colors. The 24-in panel is a good size for a dorm or small apartment setup, and the flexible configuration allows you to work in the best posture, even in a small space. Furthermore, if you want to go that route, the near-frameless design provides a seamless visual experience when using multi-monitor setups. This monitor's portrait mode gives you great space and makes software development easy.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 24 inch
- Resolution: 1920x1080 HD
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Input: 1x HDMI, 1xDisplayPort, 1xVGA
REASONS TO
BUY
+ Flexible
+ Almost frameless design
REASONS TO
AVOID
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
$239.99
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10. LG UltraFine
Display 32UL950
(Image credit: LG)
Even if you're just getting started as a programmer, the high price of the LG UltraFine Display 32UL950 might be challenging to accept. However, the screen is excellent, offering 600 nits of brightness, HDR600 support, and 98 percent DCI-P3 color coverage. It's enjoyable to use, not just for coding but also for watching movies or playing PC games.
This display is 32 inches in size, so you won't be squinting at your test code, and you'll have enough room to view multiple windows side by side. An elegant design with minimal bezels contributes to the sense of immersion, while Thunderbolt 3 connectivity enables data transfer speeds of up to 40GB per second. This is not the cheapest programming monitor on our list. Still, given the excellent specs, superior build quality, and excellent color coverage, it is good value and worth the outlay if you have the money. This monitor's good color quality helps you design the UI stage in the software development process.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 32 inch
- Resolution: 3840x2160 UHD
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Input: 1x HDMI, 1xDisplayPort, 1xThunderbolt, 2xThunderbolt 3
REASONS TO BUY
+ 4K resolution
+ Thunderbolt 3
REASONS TO
AVOID
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
$1,008.55