If your office work requires a brighter monitor, then choosing the right one for you can be tough. Monitors brands are loaded with different settings and unique features that are meant to help them stand out from one another.
If you need help deciding on what high brightness monitor will work best for your office, then read on for some facts and reviews to help you make that call.
- High brightness monitors are great for detail work that is common in coding and design jobs.
- Many high brightness monitors have color matching settings or options to make sure that your detail work is accurate and efficient.
- High brightness monitors are more expensive, but also feature more functions than a standard office work monitor.
Best 32-Inch High Brightness Monitor For Work
LG 32UL950-W
For those that prefer a larger workspace, then LG’s 32UL950-W is a great choice for a 32-inch, high brightness work monitor. The max brightness of the monitor is at 600 nits. It features a 4K resolution display and its DCI-P3 color-match settings. These color options are 98% effective at generating the exact color that you’re looking for, making them great for design and other detailed visual work.
Additionally, the monitor features a thin bezel on all four sides of the monitor as well as an adjustable plastic stand. These two facets combine to create a product that suits your ergonomic needs so that you can stay productive for longer.
The firmware settings menu is also easy to navigate. This way, you won’t have to fiddle with convoluted option names or nested settings to get your monitor running the way you need it to.
What We Love
- 600 nits of brightness. Boom, like the sun.
- The color and brightness settings make this monitor easy on the eyes for prolonged use.
- The large workspace means that multitasking with multiple programs or windows is easier compared to a smaller monitor.
Things to Consider
- The built-in speakers are not high quality, so you might need a different audio solution if you rely on clear sound for your work.
- Price.
Best 27-Inch High Brightness Monitor For Work
LG 27UP650-W
Smaller than the previous entry, LG’s 27UP650 27-inch monitor works similarly to LG’s 32-inch high brightness model. This model also features a 4K resolution display with a 60 Hz refresh rate, which is great if you need to do finer detail work or want to avoid blur while editing video. However, the DCI-P3 color match of this model is 95% effective, compared to the 32UL950’s 98% effectiveness.
Another thing to note is that the bezel on the sides and top of the monitor is thin, but the bottom is not. This might not be a problem for most users, but using multiple of these monitors side-by-side vertically could introduce some black plastic strips into your workstation.
Still, this monitor features many of the same features as the previous LG model, so you can expect similar outcomes, but on a smaller scale. This monitor sits around two inches narrower than 32-inch monitors, meaning it will take up less room on your desk.
What We Love
- 500 nits of brightness. Slightly less than the 32-inch, still double the industry standard.
- This monitor can charge laptops via USB-C, making it a great auxiliary monitor for your laptop.
- The HDR display is great for clear text and colors, making this a versatile monitor for office and design work.
Things to Consider
- The plastic stand is thin, a structural weak point for the monitor.
Best 24-Inch High Brightness Monitor For Work
ASUS PA247CV
If you’re looking for something even smaller, then ASUS offers their ProArt Display PA247CV as a solid 24-inch high brightness monitor. The 1080p resolution is lower than some of the other choices on this list, but it comes with a 100% sRGB international color standard and a Calman verified factory calibration for color. In other words, this monitor succeeds in matching colors to a fine degree for design work.
This ASUS monitor also makes daisy-chaining multiple monitors via DisplayPort easy. You can chain up to four monitors together with this method. Between this functionality and the smaller monitor size, multi-screen setups are much easier compared to a standard monitor.
The stand that comes with this monitor features a wide range of ergonomic options, including a 90-degree pivot and swivel. This way, the monitors can be adjusted to your workstation without extra mounting options.
What We Love
- 300 nits of brightness. Solid for the price.
- The color settings and manufacturing standards make this display easy on the eyes, reducing strain while working.
- The port selection on the back of the monitor makes this an option for many different workspaces.
Things to Consider
- The resolution of this monitor is only 1080p, so it might not be ideal if you do a lot of visual detail work.
- The settings menu for the monitor is not intuitive and requires navigating to get to most options.
Best Ultra-High Brightness Monitor For Work
Apple Pro Display XDR
For the workers that need the highest brightness, then Apple’s 32-inch Pro Display XDR is our best pick. This large monitor features a sustained brightness level of 1,000 nits, which is four times above the standard monitor brightness. Combined with this monitor’s 6K resolution, and you have a monitor that will have no troubles displaying detail during photo or video editing.
The screen is also designed with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a super wide viewing angle. These two features make it so that collaborative work is easy. The picture doesn’t fade and the colors don’t wash out when viewing at an angle thanks to these two features.
As an Apple product, this monitor is compatible with Apple computers and laptops. Laptops connected to this monitor can charge with just one cable, reducing the clutter on your desk.
What We Love
- 1000 nits sustained brightness. 1600 nits peak brightness. Truly ridiculous.
- High visual fidelity work is easier thanks to the resolution, size, and color calibrations of this monitor.
- Integrates with no issues into an Apple workstation out of the box.
Things to Consider
- Price.
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- It only features ThunderBolt and USB-C ports for connectivity.
Best LG High Brightness Monitor For Work
LG 27UP850-W
LG is considered to be one of the better monitor brands on the market right now. If you like the LG brand, then the LG 27” monitor is one of the best high brightness monitors. It features a 4K resolution and a 60 Hz refresh rate for its high clarity screen. It also has the same DCI-P3 color gamut settings that the other LG monitors on this list offer.
What sets this monitor apart from the others is the extra options it provides. The monitor can deliver power through its USB-C ports, allowing you to charge connected devices. The port options on the monitor also make this a versatile monitor. Both Windows and Mac laptops and computers can connect to this monitor. It’s a solid choice for almost any setup.
What We Love
- 400 nits of brightness. Great, not fantastic.
- Text and colors show up vividly on the screen because of the IPS display.
- The port options on the monitor cut back on the required adapters to make it work for your workstation.
- Built-in speakers for backup audio.
Things to Consider
- Pricey-er.
- Nothing else really.
Best Budget High Brightness Monitor For Work
HP V27i
For high brightness caliber without the price tag, you could look at the HP V27i monitor words as an option for your workstation. This monitor is less expensive than a standard high brightness monitor. Most of this comes down to the resolution and refresh rate. A 1080p resolution and 60 Hz refresh rate is the minimum for most people now, so the specs aren’t top of the line.
However, this monitor does feature HP’s Low Blue Light feature. This feature reduces the amount of blue light that the screen emits, helping to prevent eye strain and make falling asleep at night easier. Blue light tells your brain that you need to be awake, so cutting back on your blue light exposure at night can help you get good sleep after a long night in the office.
What We Love
- 300 nits of brightness. I'd say great for the price.
- As an inexpensive option, you can purchase two or three of these for the same cost as a higher-end high brightness monitor.
- The Low Blue Light feature is great for helping maintain a regular sleep schedule and keep productivity up.
Things to Consider
- The stand that comes with the monitor cannot be adjusted for different heights or viewing angles.
- Only three sides of the monitor have a thin bezel, so screen orientation could be a factor in using multiple monitors.
Best Eye-Care High Brightness Monitor For Work
Dell P2721Q
For workers that are staring at their computer screen all day, the Dell P2721Q couldn’t be a better option for your high brightness needs. This 4K, 60 Hz refresh rate monitor has more options than what a standard monitor offers.
The main eyecare feature here is the ComfortView option in the monitor settings. When you enable this option, you reduce the amount of blue light that the monitor outputs. Reducing this blue light does two things: reduces the strain on your eyes and makes it easier for you to fall asleep at night.
This is because blue light signals to your brain that you should be awake. If you reduce this blue light exposure at night, then your body will feel more tired and allow you to get a better night’s sleep. That way, you can stay productive and alert.
What We Love
- 300 nits of brightness. Just enough, still better than most.
- The ComfortView feature is easy to use and easy on the eyes.
- The 4K resolution is great for detailed work and isn’t hampered by the ComfortView feature.
Things to Consider
- The stand that comes with the monitor doesn’t rotate to adjust viewing angles.
- A new USB-C cable is often required for MacBook users.
Points to Consider Before Buying a High Brightness Monitor
Stuck on choosing one of the best high brightness monitors to suit your needs? Then here are some questions to think about to help you decide.
How much monitor brightness do you need?
The amount of brightness you need depends on what your work environment’s normal light level is. For an indoor office space, you should aim to use about double what the room’s illuminance rating is in nits for your monitor. So, if your office is at 250 nits (which is the industry standard), then aim for a 500 nits monitor. All of the monitors we’ve covered are at least 300 nits.
What display size works for you?
Different kinds of office work will need different monitor sizes to do their tasks. Someone who needs to go through different programs while working or is designing something in fine detail won’t want the same monitor as someone who just needs to keep one or two documents open at a time. Evaluate how much space you need on your virtual desktop and choose a monitor size from there.
What ergonomic features do you need?
Ergonomics plays a key role in health at the office. You don’t want to be slouching or strained for a long time while working. Doing so will cause chronic health issues and injuries down the road. When choosing a monitor, check out what ergonomic features it has. Adjustable stands and screen angles can be the difference between working well and a literal pain in the neck.
Additional Consideration Points
How many windows do you need to open at once?
Do you need a browser and email open or multiple editing modes? The number of windows you have open at the same time determines the screen size and its capabilities. Look for a monitor that can handle your workload.
Will you be gaming?
Refresh rate is key for gamers. Look for a monitor with a refresh rate of 120Hz or higher to ensure smooth frame-by-frame action.
What number of monitors is ideal for you?
Look at your space and consider your work. Do you use more than one monitor? If so, size is an important aspect to consider. If the monitor doesn’t fit with the rest of your components on your desk, it may be a waste of money.
FAQs
As with most tech questions, things can get complicated. Here are some of the common questions we’ve seen about monitor brightness.
What is a good brightness for a monitor?
The brightness you should use for a monitor depends on your environment’s ambient light. You want something that is about double the room’s normal light in nits. For example, a 200 nit room should have a 400 nit monitor for comfortable reading.
Is low or high brightness better for your eyes?
In general, using a lower brightness is better for your eyes than a higher brightness. This is because your eyes have to strain harder when you expose them to more light, which can fatigue the muscles in your eyes over time.
Brief periods of high brightness work are okay, but make sure you relax your eyes from time to time. Looking away from the computer screen and focusing on something farther away can help relax the muscles in your eyes and reduce the tired feeling of strain. Read our guide on the best monitors for eye strain for in-depth coverage on this topic.
What is the best monitor brightness for photo editing?
According to the Adobe RBG Color Image white paper, 160 nits is the best option to edit photos at. This level is what matches the brightness of physical photo prints.