WIRED’s latest guide highlights affordable monitors offering higher refresh rates and better colour, alongside new premium models like Apple’s Studio Display and the LG UltraFine 6K, reshaping expectations across price points.
WIRED’s latest monitor guide argues that good value is no longer limited to basic 1080p panels, with several lower-cost screens now offering faster refresh rates and better colour than budget models of the past. Among the standouts, the Dell 27 Plus is presented as the most convincing sub-$200 option, combining a 27-inch 4K panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the wider WIRED guide frames it as a strong choice for people who want a desk display that feels closer to a premium model than a bargain buy.
At the very bottom of the price range, WIRED highlights the MSI PRO MP243W E14 as a rare sub-$100 monitor that does not feel entirely compromised. MSI says the 23.8-inch Full HD screen uses an IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, adaptive sync, HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, built-in speakers, VESA mounting support and only tilt adjustment. Best Buy’s product listing adds that it is sold in matte white, underlining its emphasis on simple styling as well as utility.
WIRED also points to an upgraded sibling, the MSI PRO MP273QW E14, for buyers who can stretch a little further and want a sharper 27-inch 1440p image. That sits in the same budget conversation as Dell’s 27 Plus, which Dell says is a 27-inch 4K IPS monitor with a 120Hz refresh rate and two HDMI ports plus DisplayPort, a specification set that makes it unusually capable for both office use and light entertainment.
At the top end, the guide moves from value to reference-class displays. Apple’s Studio Display remains the standard WIRED uses for HDR performance in a 27-inch format, with Apple describing it as a 5K Mini-LED screen with 2,304 dimming zones and peak HDR brightness of 1,905 nits in a 25 per cent window. WIRED says that makes it especially strong for professional video work, even if the smaller panel size leaves room in the market for larger, equally sharp alternatives.
That gap is where the LG UltraFine Evo 6K and Asus ProArt 6K come in. LG says its 32BP95E-W offers 224 pixels per inch on a 32-inch panel, with built-in speakers and a design that visually echoes Apple’s Studio Display, while WIRED notes that the Asus ProArt 6K is its closest rival and offers a longer warranty at a slightly lower price. The guide also flags a newer category of smart monitors, with Samsung’s 32 M9 OLED singled out for mixing work, gaming and streaming, and for trying to blur the line between monitor and television.
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