Father’s Day is just around the corner on June 16, and if you want to celebrate Dad this year, get him a gift that will keep on giving. For globetrotting dads, you can’t do much better than a Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus+ Plan. During our Father’s Day Sale, you can get a lifetime membership for just $69.99. Dollar Flight Club is a leading flight alert service, with more than one million members worldwide. With this intuitive service, all Dad has to do is input his departure airport(s) and Dollar Flight Club will scour sources to find the best deals to destinations all over the world. When they find something great, they’ll send the deal directly to Dad’s inbox with instructions on how to book. Greece on a budget? Why not? Find out why Forbes writes, “A great paid service is Dollar Flight Club, which boasts an impressive average of $500 saved per ticket.” During our Father’s Day Sale, you can get a lifetime Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus+ Plan for just $69.99 (reg. $507).   Dollar Flight Club: Lifetime Membership (Premium Plus+ Plan) – $69.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Entertainment Read...

It’s a heavyweight matchup between the two VPN giants: ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN. They are the Godzilla and King Kong, Gates and Jobs, or Packers and Bears of the VPN world. Both offer some of the fastest, most secure, feature-rich services on the market. So which one should you choose?  NordVPN might be cheaper in the long-term and it offers more servers, but ExpressVPN has a better privacy record and more consistent access to streaming services. While both are neck and neck, I recommend ExpressVPN for most folks. It’s our pick for best VPN overall due to its ease-of-use, unrivaled transparency, and excellent streaming support. That’s not to take anything away from NordVPN, which is also an exemplary choice. The differences are nuanced so let’s break it all down in more detail below to help you choose the best VPN for your own needs. If you’re interested in all of our top picks for VPN head over to out best VPNs article for more great options. ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN: Features compared ExpressVPNNordVPNServer network3,000+ servers, 105 country locations6,000+ servers, 110+ country locationsSimultaneous connections810Average speeds71% of base download, 80% of base upload72% of base download, 80% of base uploadProtocolsOpenVPN, IKEv2, LightwayOpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard), IKEv2Available platformsWindows, MacOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV, Linus, Browsers, RoutersWindows, MacOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV, Linus, Browsers, RoutersBusiness locationBritish Virgin IslandsPanamaCost$12.95 per month, $59.94 for six months, or $99.84 per year$12.99 per month, $82.35 for first year (then $99.48 per year), or $126.63 for first two years (then $99.48 per year) Best for speed: NordVPN (by a hair) In my testing both NordVPN and ExpressVPN ranked with stellar speed scores. Along with Hotspot Shield they’re the fastest VPNs available. While all VPNs will slow down your internet speeds to some degree, these two slow it down the least.  fastest vpn runner-up Hotspot Shield Read our review In my latest tests, ExpressVPN resulted in an average of 71 percent of the base internet speed for downloads and 80 percent of the base for uploads. NordVPN nosed it out, though, with 72 percent of the base download speeds and 80 percent of the base upload speeds. Those are razor-thin margins and the one percent difference is likely unnoticeable in daily use.  Whichever you choose, you can expect it to handle bandwidth-heavy tasks, such as gaming and 4K streaming, with ease. However, the winner for speed — by the slimmest of margins — is NordVPN. Best for cost: NordVPN ExpressVPN only has one subscription tier, which will set you back $12.95 monthly, $59.94 for six months, or $99.84 for one year. NordVPN, on the other hand, offers three subscription tiers: Basic, Plus, and Ultimate. To make an equal comparison for services provided I’ll focus on NordVPN’s Plus plan, which runs $12.99 monthly, $82.35 for the first year, or $126.63 for the first two years. It’s worth noting, though, that both NordVPN’s 1-year and 2-year plans rise to $99.48 annually after their respective renewal periods. While in the end, both services charge you practically the same prices for their annual subscriptions, NordVPN offers much better upfront discount incentives. These introductory prices mean that you can initially save a bit if you choose NordVPN over ExpressVPN. It pretty much equals out in the long term, but NordVPN’s upfront savings give it the nod in terms of costs. Best for privacy and security: ExpressVPN Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are the trend-setters in the industry when it comes to comprehensive and innovative security features. Taking VPNs beyond just anonymizing your internet connection, these two companies have expanded to provide users with an entire suite of security add-ons such as ad- and tracker-blocking, password managers, and more. If it came down to just total features, NordVPN wins. It offers multi-hop, and Onion Over VPN — both of which are currently lacking in ExpressVPN. In addition, NordVPN also gives its Plus subscription users access to cloud storage and robust malware protection. However, many would argue that the main point of a VPN is to maximize privacy and engender trust among users — something I wholeheartedly agree with. And ExpressVPN simply has a better track record of privacy and transparency. While NordVPN has undergone four independent audits in its history, ExpressVPN went through 12 audits in 2022 alone. Both services use AES-256 encryption and RAM-only servers to wipe data after each server reboot, thereby increasing data privacy. But ExpressVPN goes even further by using its own signature TrustedServer technology. This system reloads the latest software stack, OS and all, with each reboot, eliminating the chance for bugs and inconsistencies across servers which could lead to VPN vulnerabilities. our favorite vpn for privacy Mullvad Read our review Best Prices Today: $5.37 at Mullvad Despite the slight numerical feature advantage of NordVPN, the unparalleled transparency and privacy features of ExpressVPN give it the edge here — it’s second only to Mullvad in our privacy rankings. Best for streaming: ExpressVPN VPNs are mainly used for privacy and security, but they can also be used for entertainment purposes, unblocking geo-restricted content. Whether you’re traveling or just want to access region-locked content — looking at you, Netflix England’s entire selection of Ghibli movies — using a VPN to spoof your location is a great way to watch all of the content you want no matter your physical location. In my testing, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN came through with flying colors when attempting to access streaming services in different locations. They successfully unblocked Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, and a handful of other services as well.  The differences in streaming performance lie mostly in the different app interfaces. I personally found that ExpressVPN’s apps (Windows, AppleTV, Fire TV, etc.) were a bit more intuitive and easier to use than NordVPN’s apps. It might be a personal preference here, but I’m going to give the win in streaming to ExpressVPN — but, again, only by the narrowest of margins. Bottom line You can’t really go wrong with either of these VPNs. I gave both ExpressVPN and NordVPN 4.5 out of 5 stars in their respective reviews and both garnered Editors’ Choice awards for their outstanding VPN services. That being said, ExpressVPN is our pick for best VPN overall and for good reason. It provides excellent security features, top-notch speeds, terrific geo-unblocking, a great user interface, and incomparable transparency. best VPn overall ExpressVPN Read our review NordVPN is the fastest VPN on the market and does provide some nice-to-haves that ExpressVPN does not. But the speed difference is negligible and these extra features are really only useful for power users. Still, whenever someone asks me for a VPN recommendation I usually turn to ExpressVPN first. VPN Read...

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Need a new monitor for your PC? We’ve combed through scores of options to find the best monitors on the market right now. Our picks are the result of hundreds of hours spent testing the latest models from Acer, Asus, BenQ, Dell, LG, Samsung, and other major brands.  While we feel that our favorite monitor overall is an awesome choice for most people, we also have alternative options for budget shoppers, gamers, and those seeking the best HDR performance. After all, not everyone needs the same features from a monitor. (If you’re looking specifically for a 4K monitor or gaming monitor, go check out our separate roundups highlighting your best options for those particular needs, as well.) You can find out more about how we evaluate monitors and what specs matter most below our list of recommendations. Scroll below our recommendations to learn more about our monitor review process, or see our article on how we test monitors at PCWorld for even more details. Updated May 23, 2024: See our recent review of the Pixio PX248 Wave, which offers gamers a lot for its $150 price tag: a nice design, decent built-in speakers, adaptive sync, and good motion clarity with up to a 200Hz refresh rate. For budget shoppers, it offers good value. Dell Ultrasharp U2724DE – Best monitor overall Pros Attractive and functional design Class-leading Thunderbolt and USB connectivity IPS Black improves contrast 120Hz refresh rate Cons Most competitors offer 4K resolution No HDR support Adaptive sync has some caveats Dell’s Ultrasharp U2724DE is arguably the most versatile monitor ever sold. It’s great for home office productivity, good for gaming, and can handle more serious content creation workflows, like photo and video editing.  The U2724DE has an IPS Black panel that roughly doubles the monitor’s contrast ratio (compared to other IPS monitors). It can’t beat a more expensive OLED or Mini-LED panel, but it’s still alluring. It also lacks the burn-in worries of OLED which, although unlikely to occur in mixed use, might become an issue if you spend all day working in Excel and plan to keep your monitor for as long as possible. Dell pairs the IPS Black panel with an enhanced 120Hz refresh rate. Upping the refresh rate greatly improves motion clarity and makes the U2724DE a viable display for gamers. That’s a big deal. It means you can buy one monitor for both work and play.  The U2724DE goes all-in on connectivity. Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, DisplayPort-in and -out, and HDMI are present. It even has a 2.5G Ethernet port. These features are ideal if you plan to connect a laptop over USB-C, as the U2724DE will greatly expand the laptop’s connectivity.  Resolution is the only notable downside. The U2724DE is a 1440p monitor, while many competitors in its price bracket offer 4K. This is the trade-off made to hit monitor’s 120Hz refresh rate. Those who prefer 4K should consider the Dell Ultrasharp U2723QE, which also has an IPS Black panel and extensive connectivity. Shoppers on the budget, meanwhile, can consider the U2724D. It’s nearly identical to the U2724DE but reduces the available ports to hit a lower price. Read our full Dell U2724DE review Acer K242HYL – Best budget 1080p monitor Pros Attractive color accuracy and gamut  Acceptable sharpness for a 1080p display  Avoids motion clarity pitfalls   Menu system is easy to use   Cons Barebones design  No height adjustment on stand  Only one HDMI, no DisplayPort  Power LED is very bright  Best Prices Today: $149.99 at Acer Need a monitor that works well at an extremely low price? The Acer K242HYL is our go-to pick. The Acer K242HYL’s specifications are good for a budget display. It has a 24-inch screen with 1080p resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 75Hz. Adaptive sync is supported, so the monitor will function with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. Video inputs include HDMI and VGA. Build quality is good thanks to robust plastic panels that feel thick and durable when handled. This monitor has a bright image with reasonable contrast. Color performance stands out, as the monitor can cover most of the sRGB color gamut and has extremely good color accuracy overall. Photos, videos, and games look close to what their creator intended.  The K242HYL lacks a height-adjustable stand but offers a VESA mount that is compatible with most third-party monitor stands and arms.  That aside, the K242HYL is an outstanding budget monitor suited for everyday use, casual gaming, and amateur content creation. This is all the monitor most people will ever need.  Read our full Acer K242HYL review Monoprice CrystalPro 44522 – Best budget 4K monitor Pros Sharp, clear image Strong color performance Functional ergonomic stand Includes USB-C despite low price Cons Generic design Limited image quality adjustments Not a great choice for viewing games and movies The Monoprice CrystalPro (Model #44522) stands out as the best budget 4K monitor choice, offering a sharp and vibrant 4K display at an affordable price point of $300 (which is often reduced below $220 during sales). Image quality is a highlight. The Monoprice CrystalPro delivers a crisp 27-inch IPS panel, a decent color gamut, and good color accuracy. The monitor’s contrast is mediocre but competitive with other budget 4K monitors. Connectivity is surprisingly good. The monitor includes USB-C connectivity with support for up to 65 watts of USB Power Delivery, which makes it possible to charge a connected tablet or laptop. That feature is usually reserved for more expensive monitors. Monoprice also includes a decent ergonomic stand that can adjust for height, tilt, and swivel. Many similarly priced competitors only adjust for tilt.The monitor has a couple downsides. Its design is generic and its limited image quality adjustments can make image quality more difficult to customize. These problems are usually shared by competitors, however, which leaves Monoprice in a good spot. Shoppers should note our recommendation applies to the 27-inch CrystalPro monitor with model number 44522. Monoprice also has an older, 28-inch model that’s easy to confuse with this newer display. Our recommendation only applies to model 44522. Read our full Monoprice CrystalPro 44522 review Dell G2724D – Best budget gaming monitor Pros Handsome design with functional stand Attractive SDR image quality Good motion clarity at 165Hz Supports all Adaptive Sync standards Cons No USB connectivity or 3.5mm audio-out Lackluster HDR Best Prices Today: $179.99 at Dell Home Dell’s G2724D hits the sweet spot for gamers on a budget who also care deeply about quality. The 27-inch IPS LCD panel features 1440p resolution and a refresh rate of 165Hz. The color gamut spans 100 percent of sRGB, 86 percent of DCI-P3, and 82 percent of Adobe RGB, ensuring a bright and vibrant image that’s not only excellent in games but serviceable for most content creation. But its standout feature is the Adaptive Sync support, with official support for VESA Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and Nvidia G-Sync.  Despite its affordable price, the monitor doesn’t skimp on design, with a handsome matte black and gray chassis and sporty rear vents that provide an aggressive yet unobtrusive look. It also comes with a functional monitor stand that offers a range of ergonomic adjustments and a compact base that doesn’t take up unnecessary desktop space.  The monitor doesn’t offer USB connectivity or 3.5mm audio-out. Also, the HDR performance is a bit lackluster, so those who require HDR gaming may want to look at other options.  But it’s hard to beat the G2724D’s performance at $200 or below and, more importantly, it offers everything an average PC gamer is going to need for smooth and responsive gaming. All told, it offers excellent value, and could have a place on your desk for five to 10 years. If you want to save even more money, check out the Pixio PX248 Wave. It’s a step down from the G2724D, but still surprisingly solid at less than $150 — nice design, decent built-in speakers, up to 200Hz refresh rate, adaptive sync, and good performance. Read our full Dell G2724D review Innocn 27M2V – Best budget HDR monitor Pros Excellent color gamut and accuracy Sharp, vivid picture Strong HDR performance Good connectivity Cons Design looks nice, but feels inexpensive Thin user manual Confusing on-screen menu  Best Prices Today: $799.99 at Amazon You likely haven’t heard of Innocn—but if you want a great HDR monitor on a slim budget, the Innocn 27M2V should be on your short list. The Innocn 27M2V is a 4K Mini-LED monitor with a maximum refresh rate of 160Hz. It hits an impressive maximum measured HDR brightness of 877 nits, which is enough to deliver a gut-punch of detailed luminance in vibrant HDR scenes. The 27M2V outperforms OLED and LED edge-lit monitors. And it’s no one-trick pony. The 27M2V has accurate and vivid color, immersive contrast, and crystal-clear sharpness. It can’t defeat OLED monitors like the Alienware AW3423DW in SDR content, but it’s closer than you’d think. The 27M2V provides strong connectivity, too. It includes a USB-C port with 90 watts of Power Delivery for charging external devices. That’s flanked by one DisplayPort and two HDMI 2.0 ports, for a total of four video inputs.  What’s the catch? The monitor’s design, although reasonably attractive, feels inexpensive when handled. The on-screen menus are confusing, a problem worsened by the lack of a quality user manual. And customer support can only be reached by email.  Fortunately, these issues are reduced by excellent pricing. The Innocn 27M2V has a retail MSRP of $799.99 on Amazon, but frequently goes on sale for as little as $679.99. It’s fantastic value at either price. Read our full Innocn 27M2V review Alienware AW3423DWF – Best gaming monitor Pros Excellent contrast ratio  Top-notch color gamut and accuracy Great motion clarity  Respectable HDR performance Extremely competitive price Cons Stand is a bit too large No USB-C Maximum HDR brightness is lackluster Best Prices Today: $1,094.99 at Amazon Alienware’s AW3423DWF is an outstanding PC gaming monitor.  This monitor has a QD-OLED panel, which is like that used in top-tier OLED televisions. OLED provides a nearly infinite contrast ratio, excellent color performance, and respectable brightness. The result is a punchy, vibrant image with an unparalleled sense of dimensionality. The monitor’s ultrawide aspect ratio only heightens the sense of immersion. Motion clarity is superb. The monitor has a refresh up to 165Hz and supports both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and VESA Adaptive Sync. The OLED panel technology it uses has lower pixel response times than competitors, too, so there’s minimal added blur and ghosting in motion. Motion is as crisp as you’ll find below 240Hz.  The Alienware AW3423DWF is an alternative to the AW3423DW, a slightly older and nearly identical monitor. The AW3423DW has a higher fresh rate of 175Hz and supports Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate. It’s also $100 to $200 more expensive. Though we recommend the AW3423DWF for most people, the AW3423DW is better for owners of high-end Nvidia graphics cards. The AW3423DWF is expensive at $1,099.99, but its performance justifies the price. Competing 34-inch and 38-inch ultrawides without QD-OLED technology are often just as expensive but have less impressive image quality. Read our full Alienware AW3423DWF review Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX – Best HDR monitor Pros Excellent gaming performance 4K resolution Dimmable mini-LED backlight Ergonomic adjustment options Cons High power consumption Extremely expensive Best Prices Today: $1,889.99 at Amazon Okay, folks. Hold onto your butts, because we’re about to take a trip out to the cutting-edge of PC monitors: the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX. This monitor has a Mini-LED backlight with 1,152 zones that can adjust brightness independently. As a result, it can ramp up brightness to extremely high levels when required, or turn off zones entirely in dark scenes. This results in an excellent contrast ratio and superb brightness.  These traits make the PG32UQX a standout in HDR games and movies. Bright, high-contrast scenes look amazing. You can almost feel the heat of an explosion and the intense glare of sun reflecting off a window or mirror.  There’s more to the monitor than HDR, however. It scores extremely well in overall contrast, has class-leading color performance, and provides a crisp 4K image. The monitor supports G-Sync Ultimate for smooth gameplay with Nvidia hardware and has a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz.  The only problem? Price. This monitor sells for around $3,000. Shoppers may want to consider the slightly less exorbitant Viewsonic Elite XG321UG as an alternative. It has a similar Mini-LED backlight. Read our full Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX review Philips Creator Series 27E2F7901 – Best home office monitor Pros IPS Black panel improves contrast ratio Excellent color gamut and accuracy Sharp 4K image USB-C connectivity with Power Delivery, DisplayPort-Out Cons Generic design Awkward on-screen menu system Lackluster HDR, 60Hz refresh rate Best Prices Today: $399.99 at Amazon Philips’ Creator Series 27E2F7901 is the ideal monitor for your home office. It features a 27-inch display with IPS Black panel technology, tons of useful connectivity, and top-notch image quality. Its IPS Black display panel is a rather new technology that significantly enhances the contrast ratio compared to older IPS monitors, which results in a deeper, more immersive image. Its color gamut and accuracy are commendable, too, and its 4K resolution means web pages, photos, and PDFs all look razor-sharp. Connectivity is another big strength. The 27E2F7901 accepts video over HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C, with the latter also serving as a USB hub for multiple downstream USB ports. The USB-C port is also capable of charging devices that require up to 96 watts of power. It has DisplayPort-Out, as well, an uncommon connection that can connect a second monitor directly to the Philips.   While the monitor’s design is not as attractive as Dell’s Ultrasharp series, it still retains the features most people need. It comes with an ergonomic stand that adjusts for height, tilt, swivel, and pivot. The monitor also has an adapter for use with 100x100mm VESA mounts, making third-party monitor arms and stands an option.  Though excellent, the 27E2F7901 isn’t perfect. The on-screen menu system can be awkward to navigate. Also, while HDR is supported, the monitor’s HDR performance is underwhelming. And its humble 60Hz refresh rate will disappoint gamers. These downsides are not uncommon as many competitors also have them. Due to the Philip’s pricing however, these can be forgiven—the 27E2F7901 retails for just $499.99. Though not inexpensive, it undercuts similar home office monitors from Dell and LG by roughly $100. Overall it provides exemplary value by delivering top-tier connectivity and image quality for an excellent price. Read our full Philips Creator Series 27E2F7901 review Viewsonic ColorPro VP16 OLED – Best portable monitor Pros Versatile, useful stands Good connectivity, cables included Numerous image quality customization options Top-tier image quality even at default settings Cons Speakers are included, but weak Pricey for a portable monitor No HDR Best Prices Today: $392.41 at Amazon The Viewsonic VP16-OLED is an impressive portable OLED monitor that combines class-leading image quality with a unique and useful stand. As its name suggests, the VP16-OLED has a 15.6-inch OLED panel with 1080p resolution. It delivers outstanding image quality, scoring top marks in color accuracy, gamut, and contrast. The VP16-OLED’s performance is superior to many full-sized OLED monitors—and completely smashes portable competitors. This makes the VP16-OLED ideal for photographers, videographers, and other content creators.  The monitor has a versatile stand. It can be used as a kickstand, as is true of most portable monitors, or expand to hold the monitor upright. The stand includes two USB-C ports, either of which can be used to provide power and video input to the monitor. It also offers a micro-HDMI port for use with devices that lack USB-C. Viewsonic bundles the monitor with several cable types and a USB-C power brick, so you don’t have to buy additional adapter cables or accessories.  There’s just one problem: It’s expensive. The Viewsonic VP16-OLED retails at $399.99, more than double the price of a basic 1080p portable monitor. That’s tough to justify if you just need a second monitor to display Slack and Twitter, but it’s a worthwhile upgrade if you care about image quality. Read our full Viewsonic ColorPro VP16-OLED review Asus ProArt PA348CGV – Best ultrawide monitor Pros Excellent SDR image quality  Sturdy, hefty design  Wide range of customization 120Hz refresh rate Cons USB-C hub lacks video-out or ethernet HDR is merely passable Best Prices Today: $1,015.06 at Amazon Asus’ ProArt PA348CGV is an ultrawide that targets professionals but throws in features to please gamers.  Professionals will love the PA348CGV for its excellent color accuracy, wide color gamut, and healthy range of image quality adjustments. The monitor looks outstanding at default settings and can be tuned to fit a variety of color gamuts or meet specific color temperature and gamma targets.  Monitors like this normally leave gamers in the cold, but the PA348CGV is an exception. It has a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz and supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. Its motion clarity can’t rival the best 144Hz or 165Hz ultrawide gaming monitors, but it’s a huge boost over a 60Hz panel. The PA348CGV is built like a tank with sturdy plastics and a weighty stand that keeps the ultrawide panel planted. It also has good connectivity with a total of four video inputs, one of which is USB-C. The USB-C port drives a hub with four additional USB-A ports.  And here’s the real surprise: the PA348CGV’s MSRP is just $729. That’s not cheap, but it’s close to the price of alternative professional monitors that completely lack an enhanced refresh rate or adaptive sync. That makes the PA348CGV an easy choice for ultrawide enthusiasts. Read our full Asus ProArt PA348CGV review Alienware AW2524H – Best high-refresh monitor Pros The best motion clarity available today Bright, vivid image quality Compact ergonomic stand Cons Limited video input selection Mediocre image quality High pricing for a 24-inch monitor Do you want motion clarity? Alienware’s AW2524H, the world’s first 500Hz gaming monitor, is for you. Fast objects look detailed and quick camera pans across an in-game map remain legible. Competitive gamers will also love its lightning-fast input latency with support for Nvidia Reflex Analyzer, which helps players see precisely how fast their PC responds to input. Just be warned: this performance comes at a premium price of $829.99 MSRP, and the benefits can only be fully realized in games that can reach 500 frames per second. It’s an attractive monitor, too, with Alienware’s sleek, futuristic design and excellent build quality. The compact stand allows for ergonomic adjustment but doesn’t consume excessive desk space.  The AW2524H’s image quality is not competitive with similarly priced monitors, but it’s not bad, either. It offers strong SDR image quality with decent brightness, good contrast ratio, and vivid color. However, the HDR image quality is underwhelming, and the monitor lacks some connectivity options, such as USB-C input. Alienware’s super-fast 500Hz monitor isn’t for everyone, but competitive gamers shouldn’t think twice. The monitor’s motion clarity is unbeatable. Read our full Alienware AW2524H review Asus ProArt Display OLED PA32DC – Best monitor for professionals Pros The best SDR image quality yet Good HDR performance Long list of image quality features Exceptionally sturdy Numerous inputs, plus USB hub Cons HDR brightness could be better  Glare can be an issue in bright rooms Only 60Hz, no adaptive sync Best Prices Today: $3499 at Asus Do you need a monitor with exceptional color accuracy, contrast, and sharpness? The Asus ProArt Display OLED PA32DC delivers. It’s an impressive monitor that, in several respects, is the best we’ve ever reviewed. The monitor’s key trait is its high-quality OLED display panel. It has excellent contrast, color accuracy, and a wide color gamut, all of which add up to a realistic and dramatic image. The monitor also has 4K resolution and a conventional RGB subpixel layout, which avoids the color fringing issues that are found in QD-OLED monitors like the Alienware AW3423DW.  Image quality is superb out of the box, but experienced owners can go a step further. The PA32DC has numerous image quality options in its on-screen menu system and includes a built-in calibration utility for ultra-accurate results. Professionals can use these options to achieve the exact results their work requires.  It’s a wonderfully robust monitor with chunky bezels, big menu buttons, and a sturdy chassis that includes a built-in handle. Asus supplies both a VESA stand for desktop use and flip-out legs for quick setup at a mobile studio or job site. The monitor has extensive connectivity including five video inputs. The only downside? It’s expensive with a retail price of $3,000. Even that, however, is not so bad: Similar OLED and Mini-LED monitors, like the Apple Pro Display XDR and LG UltraFine 32EP950, are often even more expensive. Read our full Asus ProArt OLED PA32DC review Acer Predator CG48 – Best television alternative Pros Excellent SDR, strong HDR image Great motion clarity Superior contrast and wide color gamut Multiple PC-friendly connections including USB-C hub Useful bundled remote Cons Only one HDMI 2.1 input Sharpness is just ok Stand offers no adjustment, no VESA mount Best Prices Today: $1,267.07 at Amazon Want a massive display, but don’t want to deal with the “smart” features and limited PC connectivity of a television? Acer’s Predator CG48 is an excellent choice. This 48-inch OLED monitor delivers 4K resolution and a refresh rate up to 138Hz. It offers an outstanding picture straight out of the box with spot-on color accuracy, excellent contrast, and a wide color gamut. It also has excellent viewing angles and, of course, a large display area that’s ideal for a large office or small home entertainment center. The monitor’s maximum brightness could be higher, but it still looks good in HDR content, especially when used in a dark room. Though similar in size to some OLED televisions, the Acer Predator CG48 is not a TV. It doesn’t have a TV tuner and can’t connect to a coaxial antenna or cable connection. PC connectivity is superb, though, with DisplayPort, USB-C, and HDMI 2.1 available, as well as three additional HDMI 2.0 ports.  A remote is included and can be used to navigate the monitor’s on-screen menu. Acer provides a wide range of image quality adjustments that make it easy to customize the image to your liking. The monitor’s out-of-box performance was excellent, too, and worked well with both PC and game console inputs. The Acer Predator CG48 carries a MSRP of $1,499.99, which is high. It’s often on sale, so it’s wise to shop around. Buying the monitor at a discount can save you hundreds. Read our full Acer Predator CG48 review Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 – Best big-screen ultrawide Pros Incredibly immersive gaming experience Huge 45-inch ultrawide OLED panel can be adjusted from flat to 800R curve to suit your setup Exceptional image quality, contrast, color performance, and HDR Elite motion clarity on a 240Hz panel Abundant connectivity with USB-C hub and power delivery options It made four people who walked into my office stop and say “WHOA” like Keanu Reeves Cons Poor text clarity and general sharpness for productivity work Very expensive No swivel or tilt options, stand can’t be replaced Bending mechanism feels clunky and mildly terrifying at first Enabling HDR mutes desktop contrast and vibrancy Best Prices Today: $1,499.99 at Amazon$1499.99 at Best Buy Want a monitor that can (literally) flex on your friend’s puny 34-inch ultrawide? The Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 is for you.  The Xeneon Flex has a flexible OLED panel that can be positioned so that the display is entirely flat or curved up to a radius of 800R (among the most aggressive curves you’ll find on any monitor). A pair of handles on the right and left flank are used to flex the display. They feel a tad awkward but get the job done. It’s a massive display with a 45-inch ultrawide panel and a 21:9 aspect ratio. It’s much, much larger than a 34-inch ultrawide (roughly 10 inches wider and 5 inches taller), which provides an extremely immersive experience and tons of room for multi-tasking apps. It’s also taller than a 49-inch super-ultrawide like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9, though (of course) not quite as wide.  Image quality is excellent with an extremely high contrast ratio and wide color gamut. The 240Hz refresh rate provides superb motion clarity, too. Even HDR performs reasonably well, as the panel’s brightness is relatively high (for OLED, at least). The monitor’s 3440×1440 resolution doesn’t look sharp spread across the 45-inch panel, but this only feels noticeable on the Windows desktop. Games and streaming content look incredible. The Corsair Xeneon Flex is built like a tank and has a massive, stable stand with built-in ports including USB-C. Unfortunately, the stand doesn’t adjust for height. It’s also an expensive monitor at a retail MSRP of nearly $2,000. That’s a lot of cash, but the Xeneon Flex’s versatile OLED panel and top-tier image quality justify the price. Read our full Corsair Xeneon Flex review What to look for in a monitor There are literally hundreds—and perhaps thousands—of monitors to choose from. Choosing one from the crowd can be difficult, but knowing the key traits of a monitor will help you make your decision.  Resolution Most monitors are available in 4K (3,840×2,160), 1440p (2,560×1,440) and 1080p (1,920×1,080) resolution. A higher resolution provides a sharper, more attractive image and is generally preferable. There’s nothing wrong with 1080p, however. It remains the baseline and is by far the most popular resolution sold today.  Connectivity Look for a monitor with a connection supported by your computer. HDMI and DisplayPort are the most common. USB-C is rising in popularity because it can charge connected devices, such as a laptop. Refresh rate Most monitors have a 60Hz refresh rate, but a higher refresh rate (such as 144Hz) will make motion look smooth and crisp. This is most appealing to PC gamers, as improved motion performance is most noticeable when panning the camera in a 3D game.  Adaptive sync This technology also improves motion performance. It does so by keeping a monitor’s refresh rate in sync with the video input from your computer. Our guide to FreeSync and G-Sync provides more detail. HDR Many 4K monitors support HDR, but often the HDR performance is lackluster. The HDR will function, and may look superior to SDR, but it won’t approach the quality implied by the spec. To ensure a quality HDR experience, look for a minimum of VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification (or VESA DisplayHDR True Black). See our article on everything you need to know about HDR on your PC to learn more. Want to know more before you make a decision? Our monitor buying guide explains the nerdy details of monitor specifications.  How we test monitors Our monitor guides are based on testing by freelance and staff contributors with decades of combined experience.  While we rely on our eyes for an initial impression, we thoroughly test each monitor with a Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra color calibration tool. This specialized hardware can objectively measure a monitor’s brightness, contrast, color gamut, color accuracy, luminance and color uniformity, gamma, and many other aspects of image quality.  Using this tool helps us detect strengths and weaknesses that don’t stand out at a glance and guarantees that a change in lighting conditions or monitor location won’t skew our impression. FAQ 1. What size of monitor should I buy? Monitor size depends on personal preference and location.  A 24-inch monitor is fine for a desk that is around 24 inches deep, or less. Its small size will still be sufficient because the monitor is closer to you. Most people, however, will want to go with a 27-inch monitor. The added size will make the monitor easy to see. This also opens up a wider range of 4K monitor options, as 4K is very rare on a 24-inch monitor. Larger monitors, such as a 32-inch widescreen or 34-inch ultrawide, are great for deep desks and people who want an immersive experience. Monitors this large can serve as a TV replacement in a small room.  Displays of even larger size, such as 42-inch or 48-inch HDTVs, are best for home theater setups or an unusually large office. You’ll want to sit four to six feet away from a display of this size. 2. What display input is best? (HDMI vs. DisplayPort vs. USB-C) USB-C is the best display input for most people. It works by bundling DisplayPort into USB-C, so offers all the same features as DisplayPort. Yet it retains the features of USB-C including optional support for Power Delivery to charge external devices. This is why we recommend a USB-C monitor for most people. DisplayPort is generally second-best. It supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI. This input is particularly common on desktop computers.  HDMI comes in third due to lower resolution and refresh rate support. This is improved by HDMI 2.1, but this feature remains hard to find and often adds to a monitor’s price. All three of the options above handle 1080p at 60Hz, which is the most common resolution and refresh rate available today. It’s also important to buy a monitor that has an input compatible with your PC. 3. Are all monitors compatible with Windows and MacOS? Modern monitors are compatible with all recent versions of Windows and MacOS. They’re plug-and-play, which means the monitor should display an image without the need to install driver software or mess with Windows or MacOS settings. Gaming, Monitors Read...

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If you have an older TV or yours isn’t delivering the streaming experience you’re hoping for, you should know that the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is now available for just $29.99, down from its regular price of $49.99. This deal is exceptional, as we’ve only seen a lower price during Black Friday sales, making it an unbeatable opportunity to enhance your streaming experience. The Fire TV Stick 4K delivers advanced 4K streaming, significantly improving performance and picture quality over previous models.  Whether you’re watching the latest blockbuster on Max or binge-watching your favorite Netflix series, you’ll enjoy vibrant 4K Ultra HD visuals with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio.  With its Wi-Fi 6 support, the Fire TV Stick 4K ensures smooth and reliable streaming, even when multiple devices are connected to your router. This is especially beneficial for households with high internet traffic, as it allows for uninterrupted streaming. Your entertainment options are virtually limitless. You can dive into Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max, and whatever other streaming platform you favor, including live TV content. Plus, there are over 300,000 movies and shows you can watch for free on ad-supported apps. Oh and if you want even more content, your Fire TV Stick 4K comes with a free six month subscription to MGM+.  Of course, this is an Amazon device, so it comes with the Alexa Voice Remote. This allows you to look for content using your voice and control various other devices you have around the home, such as your smart lights.  So go ahead and pay the price of a few fancy coffee cups and upgrade your streaming experience for just $29.99. Get the Fire TV Stick 4K for $29.99 at Amazon Streaming Devices Read...

In just the last few years, there’s been an explosion of new laptops featuring OLED displays. Just like the phone market saw them become nearly ubiquitous, the laptop market is finding more and more models offering up OLED displays at nearly every price bracket save for some of the cheapest systems. And that highlights a crucial detail: OLEDs cost a premium over traditional LCD displays. So the big question, then, is whether an OLED display is worth the extra cash you’ll have to spend to have it on your laptop. Like most tech questions, the answer will come down to what you want to do with your laptop and what you’re hoping to get out of it. So we’ll need to dive into the perks of OLED and the drawbacks so you can properly weigh the value for your own circumstances. Further reading: The best laptops: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1s, and more The advantages of OLED Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe There’s a reason people are crazy for OLED. The image quality they can offer is simply remarkable. The star of the show is the contrast. Since OLEDs have the ability to adjust brightness on a per-pixel level, allowing one fully illuminated pixel to sit right next to a pitch black pixel, they offer effectively infinite contrast that makes for truly impactful imagery. This is a big bonus for visuals in games, TV, and movies, though has limited utility in office use and casual web browsing. The contrast often pairs with a much wider color gamut than the typical laptop screen. Many OLED displays offer nearly full coverage of the DCI-P3 color space — I’ve tested a handful and can’t recall a single one that was more than a few percentage points away. I’ve seen plenty of LCD displays that also achieve high DCI-P3 coverage, but many only cover the smaller sRGB color space, and side-by-side with a display offering DCI-P3 color, the difference is obvious. Many LCD displays don’t even go that far, covering instead a small percentage of the sRGB color space, sometimes less than 70 percent (you’ll often see this listed as 45 percent NTSC on the laptop’s spec sheet), and the difference between that display and an OLED with 100 percent DCI-P3 coverage is night and day. IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp In plenty of cases, that color gamut has also come with stellar color accuracy. It’s not a given and always worth checking reviews to make sure, but if you’re looking to do creative work where getting the colors right is crucial, then color accuracy is a serious matter. And having a display that not only lets you work with a wider palette but also ensures accuracy could make or break your experience with the machine. Best OLED laptop for content creation Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra Read our review Best Prices Today: $2999.99 at Best Buy OLED displays are still lagging behind LCDs in terms of the refresh rates offered, but plenty of them have fast refresh rates, with 90Hz and 120Hz laptop panels fairly common. And on top of that benefit for gamers is the nearly instant pixel response time. Where LCD panels often exhibit ghosting — especially on laptop displays which typically lack the response times of desktop monitors — OLEDs keep each frame impressively sharp, providing excellent motion clarity in games. One less-considered bonus of OLED laptops is that the display panel can be extra thin. But this consideration hardly matters. The needs for structural integrity in the laptop all but ensure that the display lid won’t go as thin as possible. I’ve seen the Acer Swift Edge show how thin an OLED laptop can go, and the display was worryingly flimsy as a result. The downsides of OLED Is that glare I see? Is that glare I see?IDG / Mark Knapp Is that glare I see?IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp With all their positive attributes, OLED displays might sound like an obvious choice, but they do come with their share of downsides. Obviously the increased price is a key one, but this can vary a lot. Plenty of OLED laptops are available at reasonable prices, and plenty of OLED laptops have more expensive competition that wield LCD panels. Best OlED portable gaming laptop HP Omen Transcend 14 Read our review The upgrade to an OLED display isn’t always one-to-one either, so while it may appear like an expensive option when configuring a laptop, you have to also consider whether an upgrade is just the change to display technology or whether it includes a few other upgrades, like a boost to color gamut, resolution, refresh rate, or touchscreen capabilities. All of these upgrades would also cost more even with an LCD panel. Perhaps the biggest downside to OLED displays on laptops is their visibility in different conditions. Many OLED laptops have glossy screens, and though the displays may offer high brightness, glare can be a major struggle. Reflections appearing on the display also eliminate OLED’s contrast advantage as fast as Thanos eliminated half the universe. This puppy maxed out at 284 nits and was still easy to see This puppy maxed out at 284 nits and was still easy to seeIDG / Mark Knapp This puppy maxed out at 284 nits and was still easy to seeIDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp If you’re someone who expects to be using your laptop all over the place, indoors and outdoors, in dark rooms and bright sunlit spaces, know that reflectivity could hamper the experience of an OLED display. It’s given me plenty of grief using my own OLED laptops, and even drove me to apply an anti-glare cover to one despite the reduction to my perceived contrast. I’d wholeheartedly recommend a solid anti-glare LCD display in this case. Though OLEDs’ per-pixel dimming can offer battery savings in some unique circumstances, those are rare. More often, OLED laptops appear to have worse battery life than their LCD counterparts. That can further compound with the need to bump the brightness to compensate for the glare issues. That said, plenty of OLED laptops still offer stellar battery life, like the 2024 Acer Swift Go 14 and 2024 Asus Zenbook 14 OLED, and you should consult reviews in making your decision. Best overall OlEd laptop Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Read our review You may have also heard of OLED displays having color fringing and text-clarity issues, and while this has been true for desktop OLED monitors, I have not encountered this on laptops. Laptop displays aren’t using the same panels as TVs and monitors, and even if they were, their pixel density is high enough that these issues would effectively be shrunken to the point of being out of sight. While there are other concerns, this isn’t really one of them for OLED laptops. Burn-in is also a concern for any OLED display, and the many static elements on a laptop display can pose some risk of this. Having used an OLED laptop extensively for work, I did not notice any of this, but I relied on some dimming features and a system-wide dark mode to protect the display. My sample size is also limited, and some OLED panels could fare worse. OLED laptops: Yay or nay? OLED displays on laptops have some fantastic qualities that can make them a true delight for entertainment and media. Gamers also get major benefits from them. If these are your primary uses for a laptop, then by all means, go for the OLED laptop. It will almost certainly look gorgeous in ideal conditions. But if you do a lot of work on your laptop, all the downsides of OLED laptops are liable to rear up. While an OLED laptop can make a Word document look good thanks to those inky black pixels composing the text, it’ll hardly be a noticeable improvement, and the glare and battery-life issues you’re likely to face will neutralize any perceived benefit. And if you ever want to work near a bright window or outdoors in the daytime, even a dim LCD panel with a good anti-glare finish can prove substantially easier to see than even a quality OLED display. Laptops Read...