4K monitors are becoming popular in the market as there is a lot of content being made in 4K resolution. The higher the resolution available, the better image quality it will deliver. It is easier to work on such a monitor, especially if it is used for graphic design and similar software. It is also useful for playing games and watching movies to enjoy sharper and more vivid picture quality. However, is it worth buying a 4K monitor for office work ? The answer to this question is NO, since there is no technical advantage in spending the cost of a monitor with these characteristics to send emails and work with Word or Excel.
What does a 4K monitor offer?
The 4k monitor can offer four times more screen real estate, so for a work or home office experience it’s great. These types of screens have a resolution of up to 3840 x 2160 pixels , which provides a sharp and more realistic image than HD or UHD monitors. In layman’s terms, it provides the feeling of looking out of the window rather than just at the monitor.
The 4k monitor comes in different sizes, but the main point here is that it provides the same number of pixels . The higher the pixel density, the clearer the images on the monitor. This is because the more pixels you have applied to the screen, the less likely you are to see the pixels when you want to look at them.
Most TV and monitor manufacturers use this technology to provide a better viewing experience compared to previous versions. The quality of a 4K monitor depends on these factors :
- Size
- color accuracy
- Update frequency
- aspect ratio
- Brightness
- contrast ratio
- Response time
- Connectivity / Cables
- scaled
Size of a 4K monitor
Size matters if you want to have a better experience with this type of screen. If it is bigger it may be better depending on what it is used for. If it is going to be used for work, it is important to have enough space to place it. You have to choose the size that suits the needs of each person . Naturally, the price will also increase the larger the size of the monitor you choose.
color accuracy
When buying a 4K monitor, color accuracy should also be considered. Although technology is advancing more and more, the color gamut of newer monitors is no longer as bright compared to the old ones. Color accuracy plays an important role when viewing the image on the monitor .
The recommended value of delta E should be at 1.0 , the lower this value is, the more accurate the color will be. Therefore, it is also important to check this detail, as it can be an essential factor, especially if it is going to be used for video editing, graphic design and other tasks that must have more explicit and precise details.
refresh rate
When choosing a 4K monitor, refresh rate is also essential to consider. Typically, 4K monitors were designed by manufacturers with variable refresh rates for different applications.
If you are going to edit videos or images, it can be more difficult to handle. Window and mouse control can get slower, so you should have at least 60Hz for it to offer a better speed range or it can even work optimally with higher values.
aspect ratio
The most popular aspect ratio setting is 16:9. It can give the best results when playing games or watching movies. The ratio of length that is similar to the height of the screen. If you work with images and documents most of the time, you can have a great experience with a 16:10 aspect ratio. That will allow you to already enjoy the vertical space that you will need for your projects. However, for gamers, a monitor that offers an aspect ratio of 21:9 is ideal, as it is best suited for that task.
Brightness
The brighter the monitor, the more it will strain your eyes. With that said, you should choose the 4K monitor that prevents this from happening.
If you use the monitor for work, you will likely have to look at it for at least six hours. Therefore, try to choose the correct monitor brightness so that your eyes do not get tired.
Most professionals can opt for the 250 cd/m2 brightness. That should be enough for it to offer good visuals and an accurate view of the platform you need to work on.
Contrast
Contrast ratio can show the difference between the brightest and darkest reflection on the screen. Therefore, it is recommended to opt for monitors that provide a higher contrast ratio. The higher the value, the more differences there will be between the brightness and darkness of the scenes.
Although some manufacturers may not list the exact contrast ratio on their products, you may need to be more careful when selecting a 4K monitor based on this aspect.
Response time
Another important factor when choosing a 4K monitor is the response time, that is, the time it takes for the pixel to change color at a given moment.
Most of the newer designs no longer cause the ghosting that was seen on older models. The manufacturers have made improvements so that the response time can have a range of values from 1 to 4 ms. Try to choose the correct response time value if you want to have a better performing monitor.
connectivity
Another essential part before making a decision is to make sure the monitor uses certified display cables. Most manufacturers may include non-certified DP cables which can cause problems when it comes to connectivity.
If you use generic cables, incorrect voltage may be reflected which can damage the monitor. The recommended cable must support HDMI 4K, and the graphics card and monitor must also support it.
USB hubs also play an important role if you want to work with higher speed on 4K monitor.
scaled
DPI or desktop or window scaling is another aspect to consider when buying a 4K monitor. Most computers are designed with high pixel densities which will help improve the size of menus.
Scaling improves the readability of applications in the operating system, so it is important to check this feature before buying a 4K monitor, although this depends on the applications you use regularly on your computer. It is also important to identify the type of monitor scaling that you are going to buy in case you need it for some applications that you have to use in your day to day.
