When you’re live streaming, whether it’s a gaming stream, vlog, or talk show, the quality of your monitor is important. In this blog post, we’ll share our top picks for the best monitors for streaming based on budget. So whether you’re a content creator who’s just starting out or you’re looking to upgrade your current setup, read on for the best monitors to help you take your live streaming to the next level!
What to Consider Before Buying
When shopping for a gaming monitor, there are several factors to consider, including the resolution, screen size, refresh rate, and response time. While there are additional factors to consider, these are the most significant when it comes to gaming or live streaming.
Now, let’s dive into what each of these means:
- Resolution: A higher resolution means that you’ll be able to see more detail on your screen, which can be beneficial if you’re trying to read text or pick out enemies in a game. We recommend going for higher resolutions when possible. The more pixels in an image, the clearer and sharper it will appear on the screen.
- Screen Size: When it comes to the size of your computer monitor, it is entirely up to you. Some individuals prefer large screens, while others prefer smaller ones. Many people like 24–27 inch monitors for gaming because they allow your eye to track across the screen without having to move your entire head.
- Refresh Rate: To ensure that you have an enjoyable experience while playing games or streaming on your computer, we recommend a display rate of at least 60Hz. Any lower than that and you run the risk of jumping or stuttering frames during gameplay — this could cause discomfort for gamers! If possible, try to get a monitor that allows for higher framerates like 120Hz and 144Hz. As long as your computer can handle it, this will make your gaming and streaming experience much more smooth. Remember, if you have a DisplayPort interface on your computer, it will allow for a higher refresh rate than what you would get with VGA, so it’s important to make sure that the cable is high quality and can handle interactive gaming.
- Response Time: The response time on a gaming monitor refers to how quickly pixels can change from one state or another. This is measured in milliseconds, and it’s crucial for gamers who want the most responsive experience possible without having their screen laggy during gameplay. If you are accustomed to playing highly competitive games, a response time of less than 1 ms is recommended. If you are not a competitive gamer, 3 to 5 milliseconds should suffice.
- Panel Type: Another important factor to consider when purchasing a monitor for live streaming is the panel type. TN panels are the most affordable and have the fastest response times, making them ideal for gaming, but colors suffer when it comes to viewing angles. If you’re looking for better color accuracy and viewing angles, however, an IPS panel would suffice. Lastly, VA (Vertical Alignment) panels offer the best contrast ratio and black levels but have slower response times.
Now that you know what to look for when buying a monitor for live streaming or gaming, let’s get into our favorite recommendations for 2022.
Best Overall Monitor for Live Streaming:
#1: LG 27GN950-B
Specifications:
- Screen size: 27-inch
- Panel type: Nano IPS
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Response time: 1ms
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
Pros:
- Top-of-the-line 4k monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate.
- Amazing color and contrast for your games too
Cons:
- Incredibly expensive
- Need a powerful computer with the latest GPU to get everything out of it
#2 Pixio PX277 Prime
Specifications:
- Screen size: 27-inch
- Panel type: VA
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Response time: 1ms
- Refresh rate: 165Hz
Pros
- Very budget-friendly
- High refresh rate and resolution
- The perfect mix between affordability and technical features
Cons
- No buttons or touch control panel to change settings
#3 Razer Raptor 27
Specifications:
- Screen size: 27-inch
- Panel type: IPS
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Response time: 4ms
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
Pros
- Great color accuracy
- Comes with 165Hz version for higher price
- RGB lighting effect
Cons
- Pricey
- Higher response time than other competitive monitors
#4 Dell Curved Gaming Monitor - S2722DGM
Specifications:
- Screen size: 27-inch
- Panel type: VA
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Response time: 1ms MPRT/ 2ms gray to gray response time
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
Pros
- Curver monitor for more immersive gameplay
- High resolution and low response time
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Reports of colors looking washed out
- VA Panel technology getting slightly outdated
#5 Acer SB220Q bi
Specifications:
- Screen size: 27-inch
- Panel Type: IPS
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Response Time: 4ms
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
Pros
- Very budget-friendly
- Matte screen good at eliminating glare
Cons
- Refresh rate on low end for gaming
- Lower resolution than others on this list.
In Summary:
These are a few of our favorite monitors for live streaming right now. This list offers everything from high-end monitors with amazing features to more affordable options that still offer great performance. We hope this helps you decide which monitor is best for your streaming needs!
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