Best Places To Buy Monitors In The Uk

There are many options for purchasing monitors in the UK. Online retailers such as Amazon, Currys, Argos, Box, and Overclockers offer a wide range of monitors with different features and specifications. These retailers provide convenient delivery options and competitive prices, often with deals and discounts available. Additionally, physical stores like Scan and Novatech are also recommended for their customer service and return policies. It is important to consider factors such as size, resolution, refresh rate, and response time when choosing a monitor that suits your specific needs and budget.

Online retailers: Amazon, Overclockers, Currys, Argos, Box, Ebuyer

Amazon

Amazon offers a wide range of monitors, from small and affordable to ultra-widescreen LED monitors. You can find monitors with different features, such as FreeSync Premium, G-Sync compatibility, and built-in speakers. The website provides detailed information about each product, including screen size, resolution, connectivity technology, and customer ratings.

Overclockers

Overclockers offer a range of PC and gaming monitors, including the iiyama 24" G-Master GB2445HSU-B1 IPS 1920x1080 100Hz 1ms FreeSync Gaming Monitor and the Cooler Master Tempest GZ2711 27" 2560x1440 OLED 240Hz 0.03ms Gaming Monitor. The website provides specifications for each product, such as display resolution, refresh rate, and response time.

Currys

Currys PC monitors range from £60 to £999.99, with various brands available, including Samsung, Acer, HP, LG, and Philips. The website allows you to refine your search by brand, type, screen size, features, and price. You can also sort the results by customer ratings, price, and popularity.

Argos

Argos offers a comprehensive range of PC monitors, including well-known brands such as Samsung, Acer, Lenovo, and ASUS. The website provides detailed product information, including screen size, refresh rate, response time, and customer ratings. You can filter the products by screen size, energy efficiency, and price.

Box

Box has a wide selection of monitors, including Full HD, 4K Ultra HD, 5K Ultra HD, and curved monitors. The website provides detailed product descriptions, covering size, resolution, response time, and refresh rate. You can also find monitors based on panel type, such as IPS, TN, VA, OLED, and LED.

Ebuyer

Ebuyer offers a range of PC and gaming monitors, with various features and price ranges. You can find monitors by popular brands, including LG, AOC, iiyama, and Dell. The website provides detailed product specifications, covering screen resolution, input, price, and response time. You can also refine your search by screen size and brand.

In-store: Samsung, Acer, HP, LG, ASUS, Lenovo, Philips, MSI

Samsung

Samsung monitors can be purchased from Amazon.co.uk, with free delivery available.

Acer

Acer monitors can be purchased from the Acer Store UK, with free express delivery.

HP

HP monitors can be purchased from Amazon.co.uk, with free delivery available.

LG

LG monitors can be purchased from LG.com/uk, with free delivery from £30.

ASUS

ASUS monitors can be purchased from ASUS.com/uk/store, with free delivery.

Lenovo

Lenovo monitors can be purchased from Lenovo.com/gb/en, with free delivery.

Philips

Philips monitors can be purchased from Philips.co.uk, with free delivery from £30.

MSI

MSI monitors can be purchased from Amazon.co.uk, with free delivery available.

Monitor types: LED, LCD, OLED, IPS, TN, VA, WQHD, FHD, 4K, 5K, 8K

When it comes to monitors, there are a variety of types available on the market, each with its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Here is a detailed overview of the different monitor types:

LED Monitors

LED (Light-Emitting Diode) monitors are a subset of LCD panels that use LED backlighting. They offer improved viewing angles compared to non-LED LCD monitors and are also physically slimmer. LED monitors are known for their long lifespan and energy efficiency, resulting in low power consumption.

LCD Monitors

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors are the most common type on the market. They use liquid crystals and either LED or CCFL backlighting to generate images. LCD monitors are known for their wide range of sizes and resolutions, good colour reproduction, and energy efficiency. However, they may have limited contrast ratios and motion handling capabilities.

OLED Monitors

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) monitors are different from LCD/LED displays as they don't rely on a backlight to produce an image. Instead, each pixel emits its own light, resulting in stunning image quality with true blacks and no backlight bleeding. OLED monitors offer excellent colour accuracy, infinite contrast ratios, and superior motion handling. However, they are prone to image burn-in and are typically more expensive.

IPS Monitors

IPS (In-Plane Switching) monitors are known for their superior colour reproduction and wide viewing angles. They are ideal for artists and media viewing but tend to be more costly than other panel types. IPS monitors may have higher latency and response times, which can impact their suitability for gaming.

TN Monitors

TN (Twisted Nematic) panels are often used in gaming monitors due to their high refresh rates and low response times. They offer a low-cost solution but may suffer from inferior colour reproduction and poor viewing angles. TN panels are typically used in basic entry-level monitors.

VA Monitors

VA (Vertical Alignment) monitors are known for their excellent contrast ratios, colour reproduction, and viewing angles. They are popular for media consumption and gaming, offering deep blacks and vibrant colours. However, VA monitors may have slower response times compared to other panel types, which can be a consideration for fast-paced gaming.

WQHD Monitors

WQHD stands for Wide Quad High Definition and refers to a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. This resolution offers a significant upgrade in sharpness and detail over FHD (Full High Definition). WQHD monitors are commonly used for gaming and professional work, providing a balance between image quality and performance.

FHD Monitors

FHD stands for Full High Definition and refers to a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. FHD monitors are commonly used in modern displays and offer a significant upgrade in image quality over older standard-definition resolutions. They are widely available and provide a good balance between image quality and performance.

4K, 5K, and 8K Monitors

4K, 5K, and 8K monitors refer to the resolution of the display, with each number representing the number of horizontal pixels. 4K monitors have a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, while 5K and 8K monitors offer even higher resolutions for sharper and more detailed images. These monitors are commonly used for professional work, content creation, and high-end gaming.

Monitor features: Resolution, refresh rate, response time, contrast ratio, aspect ratio, panel type, ports

Monitor Features

Resolution

Resolution is a key feature of any monitor. It measures the width and height of the screen in terms of pixels, or “picture elements”, the tiny points of illumination that compose an image. A 2,560 × 1,440 screen, for example, has a total of 3,686,400 pixels.

Common resolutions include 1,920 × 1,080 (sometimes called “Full HD” or FHD), 2,560 × 1,440 (“Quad HD”, QHD, or “Widescreen Quad HD”, WQHD), or 3840 × 2160 (UHD, or “4K Ultra HD”). Ultrawide monitors are also available with resolutions such as 2560 x 1080 (UW-FHD) and 3440 x 1440 (UW-QHD), 3840x1080 (DFHD), and 5120x1440 (DQHD).

Refresh Rate

Refresh rate is the frequency at which your entire screen refreshes the image. Higher refresh rates make onscreen motion look smoother, because the screen updates the position of each object more rapidly. This can make it easier for competitive players to track moving enemies in a first-person shooter, or just make a screen feel more responsive as you scroll down a webpage or open an app on your phone.

Response Time

Response time measures the time it takes a single pixel to change colour in milliseconds. Lower response times mean fewer visual artifacts, such as motion blur or "trails" behind moving images.

Contrast Ratio

Contrast ratio, one of the most basic measures of a monitor's performance, measures the ratio between the extremes of black and white that the screen can display. A baseline contrast ratio like 1,000:1 means that the white parts of the image are 1,000 times brighter than the dark parts.

Aspect Ratio

A monitor's aspect ratio is the proportion of width to height. A 1:1 screen would be completely square; the boxy monitors of the 1990s were typically 4:3, or “standard”. They have largely been replaced by widescreen (16:9) and some ultrawide (21:9, 32:9, 32:10) aspect ratios.

Panel Type

The overwhelming majority of computer monitors, laptop screens and tablets are based on TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor – Liquid Crystal Display) technology, but not all of them are equal. LCDs are divided by type, each having their own strengths and drawbacks. Here are the most common types:

• TN (Twisted Nematic Film): The most common and least expensive LCD panels are based on TN, or Twisted Nematic designs. They have high refresh rates and response times but poor colour quality and viewing angles.
• IPS (In-Plane-Switching): IPS screens use liquid crystals, polarised filters, and transmitters, but the arrangement is different, with the crystals aligned for better colour visibility and less light distortion. They have rich, bright colours and don't fade or shift when viewed from the sides.
• VA (Vertical Alignment): VA and its variants (PVA and MVA) take the IPS approach with 8-bit colour depth per channel and a crystal design that reproduces rich colours but retains some of the low latency and high refresh speed of TN.
• OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode): OLED screens are emissive, meaning they create their own light, rather than transmissive screens that require a separate light source (like LCDs). They can achieve "true black" and have very high contrast ratios and vibrant colour.

Ports

You'll find a multitude of ports behind or beneath your monitor. Display interfaces connect your screen to graphics output from your PC, while USB and Thunderbolt™ ports provide data and power to external devices.

• VGA (Video Graphics Array): Older monitors may feature this legacy port, a 15-pin analog connection introduced in 1987. It transmits only video, at resolutions up to 3840 × 2400.
• Single-Link DVI (Digital Visual Interface): The oldest display interface found on many modern monitors, this 24-pin digital connection dates back to 1999. It transmits only video and can connect to VGA or HDMI with an adapter. It supports resolutions up to 1920 × 1200.
• Dual-Link DVI: This revision doubles the bandwidth of single-link DVI. It displays up to 2560 × 1600 resolution and supports refresh rates up to 144Hz (at 1080p).
• HDMI: This ubiquitous interface transmits video and audio, and will also connect to game consoles.
• DisplayPort: High-bandwidth ports that transmit video and audio. All DisplayPort cables work with all DisplayPort versions up to 2.0, which requires active cables (cables that include an electronic circuit) for full bandwidth.
• USB: These common ports transfer both data and power. Many monitors let you connect keyboards and mice to them to free up USB ports on your PC.
• Thunderbolt™ 3 Technology: All-purpose port that uses USB-C connectors, supports DisplayPort 1.2, transmits data at up to 40GBit/s using the Thunderbolt™ protocol, and supplies power.

Monitor deals: Refurbished, flexible delivery, free delivery, pay in 3 with 0% interest, price reductions

Refurbished Monitors

Laptop Outlet offers a wide selection of refurbished monitors from top brands like HP, ASUS, Lenovo, Philips, and Samsung at affordable prices. Each of their refurbished monitors has been rigorously tested to ensure peak performance and durability.

Flexible Delivery

Amazon offers flexible delivery options for monitors, including free delivery for Prime members and the option to get your monitor as early as the next day.

Free Delivery

Amazon also offers free delivery on select monitors, with no minimum purchase required.

Pay in 3 with 0% Interest

Payin3 allows you to pay for your monitor in three equal instalments without any interest. The first instalment is due when you place your order, the second within 30 days, and the last within 60 days of purchase.

Price Reductions

Amazon and Hot UK Deals offer various price reductions and deals on monitors, including:

• MSI PRO MP2412 23.8 Inch Monitor: £99.99 reduced to £54.99
• Philips B Line 243B1/00 23.8" Full HD IPS LED Monitor: £299.99 reduced to £129.99
• ASUS ZenScreen 15.6 inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD IPS Portable Flat Monitor: £149.99 reduced to £84.99
• Lenovo ThinkVision S24E-20 23.8 inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD Flat Monitor: £149.99 reduced to £84.99
• Lenovo ThinkVision P27q-20 27 inch 2560 x 1440 Quad HD IPS Flat Monitor: £499.99 reduced to £199.99
• Lenovo Legion Y27gq-25 27 inch 2560 x 1440 Quad HD Flat Gaming Monitor: £499.99 reduced to £299.99
• Lenovo ThinkVision M14t 14 inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD IPS LED Touchscreen Flat Monitor: £244.99 reduced to £179.99
• Lenovo ThinkVision T75 75 inch 3840 x 2160 4K Ultra HD IPS LED Touchscreen Flat Monitor: £1599.99 reduced to £1199.99
• ASUS ProArt PA328CGV 32 inch 2560 x 1440 Quad HD IPS FreeSync Premium Flat Monitor: £699.99 reduced to £449.99
• Philips 222B9T/00 21.5 inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD Touchscreen LCD Flat Monitor: £299.99 reduced to £139.99
• Lenovo L27q-35 27 inch 2560 x 1440 Quad HD WLED AMD FreeSync Flat Monitor: £249.99 reduced to £109.99
• ASUS ProArt PA169CDV 15.6 inch 3840 x 2160 4K UHD IPS Touchscreen LED Monitor: £999.99 reduced to £699.99

Frequently asked questions