Image: Matt Smith/Foundry
Programming is possible on nearly any monitor, but most programmers prefer a big, pixel-dense, attractive screen that can render tiny code with clarity and display numerous windows at once. Prolific multi-taskers, many programmers also go all-in on multiple displays and use two or three monitors at once.
In this guide, we’ll point you to the best monitors for programmers that we know of, based on our extensive testing of monitors across a range of sizes, price points, and feature sets. To learn more about what monitor features we consider most important for programmers, scroll below our recommendations.
Updated 3/29/23: For some additional ultrawide display options, see our recent reviews of the Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K, which stands out with its brilliant Mini-LED panel, and the Alienware AW3423DWF, which sports a QD-OLED display and high refresh rate—in case you want to take a break from programming for a quick gaming session.
1. Asus ProArt PA348CGV – Best monitor overall for programming
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 Price When Reviewed:729.99Best Prices Today:$679 at B&H$699 at B&H Photo$899.99 at Amazon
The Asus ProArt PG348CGV is an excellent monitor for programming—and many other tasks.
This is a 34-inch ultrawide monitor with a resolution of 3440×1440, which provides plenty of display space and pixel density for viewing multiple windows or large amounts of code. It also has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 90 watts of Power Delivery. That’s great for easily docking a USB-C-compatible laptop.
Though ideal for programming, the ProArt PG348CGV excels in any task thrown at it. It has accurate color and a wide color gamut, so it’s great for photo, video, and graphics editing. The monitor also has a 120Hz refresh rate and supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, which makes it a solid choice for gaming.
Its price seals the deal. Available for $749.99, the ProArt PG348CGV is less expensive than similar competitors. In fact, it overdelivers compared to most alternatives: Many ultrawide monitors offer similar image quality, a high refresh rate, or USB-C, but very few offer all three.
Read our full Asus ProArt PA348CGV review
2. Dell U3223QE – Best 4K monitor for programming
Pros
IPS Black panel fulfills its promise Accurate color with wide gamut High brightness in SDR USB-C hub with 90 watts of power
Cons
Edges of display are noticeably bright HDR performance disappoints Only a 60Hz panel Price When Reviewed:$1,149.99Best Prices Today:$576.95 at B&H$663.58 at Amazon$734.99 at Best Buy
If you want a standard widescreen monitor for programming, or prefer the pixel density of 4K resolution, the Dell U3223QE is a great choice.
The U3223QE is a 32-inch widescreen monitor with 4K resolution. It offers a large, pixel-dense display that’s great for using four windows in a grid arrangement. The monitor’s high pixel density and strong brightness make code easy to read even when individual windows are small.
Its size and resolution are supported by excellent image quality. This is among the few monitors with an IPS Black panel, which roughly doubles the contrast ratio of a standard IPS panel. The result is a richer, more pleasant image. It also has excellent color accuracy, so it’s great for photo, video, and graphics editing.
The U3223QE is also among the best USB-C monitors available. When connected over USB-C it acts as a feature-rich USB-C hub with multiple USB-A ports, ethernet, audio-out, and DisplayPort-out. It’s perfect for programmers who need to dock a laptop over USB-C.
Need a slightly smaller monitor? Dell also offers the U2723QE, which packs similar features into a 27-inch from factor.
Read our full Dell U3223QE review
3. Asus ProArt PA279CV – Best mid-range monitor for programming
Pros
Accurate image High maximum brightness Menu settings allow calibration Has USB-C with 65 watts Power Delivery Competitive price
Cons
Unimpressive design Luminance uniformity could be better HDR is bright but otherwise falls short Price When Reviewed:$499Best Prices Today:$449 at Adorama$449.99 at Best Buy$499 at Microcenter
The Asus ProArt PA279CV is an affordable way to snag the benefits of high-end monitors with few sacrifices.
This monitor is a 27-inch widescreen with 4K resolution, offering a reasonably sized and pixel-dense space for viewing multiple windows at once. Its pixel density, which works out to 163 pixels per inch, is as high as you’ll find without upgrading to a more extravagant (and much more expensive) option such as a 5K or 8K display. Image quality is excellent, too, with top-notch color accuracy.
This is a USB-C monitor with 65 watts of Power Delivery and four USB-A ports. Its Power Delivery won’t be enough for high-end laptops but remains adequate for more portable machines, and its USB-A port selection is great for the price.
And what, exactly, is the price? The ProArt PA279CV usually retails for $449.99. That’s a sweet deal for the features and quality it offers.
Read our full Asus ProArt PA279CV review
4. AOC CU34G2X – Best budget monitor for programming
Pros
Good performance Curved monitor Special gaming settings Quite inexpensive
Cons
No height adjustability Only medium brightness High power consumption Price When Reviewed:450Best Prices Today:$683 at Amazon
Need a monitor that’s ideal for programming on a tight budget? The AOC CU34G2X has you covered.
The AOC CU34G2X is a 34-inch curved ultrawide monitor with a resolution of 3440×1440. Its size and resolution are the same as our top pick, the Asus ProArt PA348CGV, so it’s just as useful for programming and multi-tasking.
This monitor uses a VA panel that provides an advantage in contrast ratio and black levels. Its color accuracy and color gamut, though not as good as more expensive alternatives, are more than acceptable in day-to-day use. This monitor supports a 144Hz refresh rate and adaptive sync, making it a solid choice for gaming after the workday is done.
Priced at $399.99 (and often available for less), the CU34G2X is more affordable than most alternatives. This does result in a few sacrifices. It’s not especially bright, so it’s best used in a room with some light control. It also lacks the wide color gamut and great color accuracy found in the ProArt PA348CGV. With that said, its overall image quality is solid and won’t distract from programming.
Read our full AOC CU34G2X review
5. LG DualUp 28MQ780-B – Best second monitor for programming
Pros
Unique aspect ratio is useful for photo, video editing Makes an awesome second monitor Highly adjustable stand Vivid, accurate color
Cons
Difficult to fit in a small home office USB-C port offers limited downstream connectivity Can lack immersion in some content Price When Reviewed:699.99Best Prices Today:$619.47 at Amazon$639.53 at B&H$646.99 at Walmart
Programmers often want to use a second monitor—not just for viewing code, but also for managing the wide variety of extra programs (like Slack or Monday) that programmers must use to keep organized and connected. The LG DualUp 28MQ780-B is uniquely suited for this task.
The DualUp 28MQ780-B is a 28-inch monitor with an unusual 16:18 aspect ratio that’s a bit taller than it is wide. It can also rotate 90 degrees, if you’d prefer, to become a bit wider than it is tall. Either way, the monitor is close to square and about as tall as a 32-inch monitor. It also ships with a monitor arm, instead of a desktop stand, which is handy for positioning the monitor next to another display.
Programmers will be pleased with the monitor’s 2560×2880 resolution, which is higher than a 1440p monitor but slightly less than a 4K monitor. The monitor has great image quality with high color accuracy and a wide color gamut. It’s a USB-C monitor, too, providing up to 90 watts of Power Delivery for charging a connected laptop.
Read our full LG DualUp 28MQ780-B review
What to look for in a monitor for programming
Programming doesn’t require a specific type of monitor. Most programmers could be productive on a simple 1080p, 24-inch display. However, there are several features that most programmers will find desirable.
Bump up the size
A larger monitor is often better for programming than a smaller one. This includes ultrawide monitors. A larger monitor effectively increases the size of everything on-screen, which in turn can make it easier to see. We think a 27-inch widescreen monitor is a comfortable minimum size to aim for, and all the monitors on this list are at least that large.
There are limits to size, though: A 48-inch display can be uncomfortable to use because it will lack pixel density and may require a lot of head and neck movement to see the corners of the screen.
More pixels mean more usable space
Programmers will also find high resolutions more useful than lower resolutions.
A higher resolution provides more useable display space because it increases the number of pixels visible. If comparing a 1080p monitor to a 4K monitor, for example, the 4K monitor can literally display four times as many pixels.
Those pixels will also be easier to view and use because a higher resolution improves sharpness. Programmers will find a high-resolution monitor can maintain clarity in extremely small fonts. That’s great when viewing large chunks of code.
Great connectivity, including USB-C, is useful
A wide range of connectivity, including USB-C, can be useful for programmers. That’s epically true for programmers who use a laptop and frequently dock/undock the laptop throughout the workday.
A USB-C connection can carry video over DisplayPort Alternate Mode and charge a connected laptop with Power Delivery. That makes it a one-cable solution for docking the laptop. Just plug it in and you’re good to go. In many cases, the USB-C monitor will even function as a USB-C hub.
Great image quality is always a plus
Programing doesn’t require a monitor with good, or even modest, image quality. Functionally, most tasks core to programming would work just as well on a 20-year-old LCD as on a modern display.
However, most programmers find themselves working with or viewing various forms of media occasionally, whether it’s image files for UI elements or textures for a game. This is where superior image quality becomes useful. It will help programmers get a better idea of what the result looks like on a typical user’s display.
Work-from-home programmers will prefer great image quality in day-to-day use. Many use the same monitor for both work and entertainment.
How we test monitors
PC World’s monitor reviews are based on rigorous testing by the magazine’s staff and freelance testers.
We use a SpyderXElite color calibration tool to measure the brightness, contrast, color gamut, and accuracy of each monitor. This tool, which can measure quality objectively, lets us directly compare hundreds of monitors.
Our tests also consider whether a monitor supports any special features that give it an advantage. We like to see a USB-C hub that includes ethernet connectivity and at least 90 watts of Power Delivery. An ergonomic stand, multiple video inputs, and a useful on-screen menu are desirable, as well.
FAQ
1.
What makes a monitor good for programming?
Programmers need a lot of raw display space, and that display space needs to be as useful as possible. That means larger, more pixel-dense monitors are better for programming than smaller, less pixel-dense displays.
That’s not to say programmers can’t use smaller displays, and not all programmers have the same workflow. Some only need to view code from a single source at once, while others may have several open windows showing code from different programs, or different portions of the same program.
In general, though, bigger is better, and it’s always nice to have a little extra space available.
2.
What is the best resolution for programming?
4K resolution is best for programming.
Programming often requires multi-tasking, which can result in a lot of open windows. A large display is helpful, but the display also needs to be pixel dense, as this helps ensure that small text and interface elements are readable.
With that said, 1440p resolution is often just fine for programming. This resolution may look a bit rough when viewing very, very small font sizes, but that’s a less common use case. 1440p looks sharp in typical use.
3.
Is an ultrawide monitor good for programming?
Yes, an ultrawide monitor is great for programming.
Ultrawide monitors provide more display space than a similarly sized widescreen monitor. A 34-inch ultrawide monitor, for example, is the same height as a 27-inch widescreen but provides 25 percent more overall display space. That’s great when viewing two, three, or four windows at once.
There is a trade-off, however: Most ultrawide monitors don’t support 4K resolution but are instead equivalent to 1440p resolution. There are exceptions, such as the LG 40WP95C-W, but they’re very expensive and not worth the price premium in most situations.
Author: Matthew S. Smith
Matthew S. Smith is a freelance technology journalist with 15 years of experience reviewing consumer electronics. In addition to PCWorld, his work can be found on Wired, Ars Technica, Digital Trends, Reviewed, IGN, and Lifewire. Matthew also covers AI and the metaverse for IEEE Spectrum and runs Computer Gaming Yesterday, a YouTube channel devoted to PC gaming history.
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