When it comes to the best 5K monitor in 2022, LG is the company to beat. They practically corner the market in high resolution 5K monitors. Look for future updates to this article for more manufacturers release new 5K monitors.
A primary benefit of 5K monitors is the ultra-high resoultion at 5120 x 2160 pixels. This resolution allows for a large amount of screen real estate to increase your productivity.
What is the best 5K monitor?
Here are my picks for the best 5K monitor. After this list you can read about what to look for in a 5K monitor.
1. LG 40WP95C-W 40” UltraWide Curved 5K Monitor
The LG 40WP95C-W 40” UltraWide Curved 5K Monitor is a great option for creative people. From video editing to special effects you can stay productive with an incredible amount of screen space. If you're a gamer, you can enjoy a totally immersive game experience with the latest AAA titles. Be sure your PC gaming machine has enough horse power to drive this display.
Technical Specs:
- Brand: LG
- Series: UltraWide
- Screen size: 39.7"
- Color: Abyss Black
- Resolution: 5120 x 2160
- USB-C Port: Yes
Pros:
- HDR support for incredible picture quality
- IPS panel display for high contrast ratio of colors
- Built in speakers for rich sound experience
Cons:
- Premium Features at a Premium Price
2. LG 27MD5KB-B Ultrafine 27" 16:9 5K Monitor
The LG 27MD5KB-B Ultrafine 27" 16:9 5K Monitor is an excellent monitor with an impressive 1.07 billion colors. Additionally, this monitor has built in camera a speakers for a sleak aesthetic when sitting on your desk. This 5K monitor comes with a Thunderbolt 3 connection that integrates well with macOS.
Apple users will want to upgrade to the most recent Mac os to ensure best 5k monitor experience. The latest Macbook pro laptops should be ok.
Technical Specs:
- Brand: LG
- Series: UltraWide
- Screen size:
- Color: Abyss Black
- Resolution: 5120 x 2880
- USB-C Port: Yes
Pros:
- HDR support for vibrant picture quality
- IPS panel display
- Built in speakers, microphone and webcam (not a pop up webcam)
Cons:
- Location of ports not ideal for cable management
What is the best 5K monitor?
Here are my picks for the best 5K monitor. After this list you can read about what to look for in the best 5K monitors.
3. LG 34BK95U-W UltraFine 34" 21:9 5K Monitor
The LG 34BK95U-W UltraFine 34" 21:9 5K Monitor is another option from the LG UltraFine series for incredible color contrast and richness. It combines the wide screen form with the ultra high definition contrast for brilliant colors while multi-tasking. It's a good monitor for gamers, content creators and programmers.
Technical Specs:
- Brand: LG
- Series: UltraWide
- Screen size: 34"
- Color: Abyss Black
- Resolution: 5120 x 2160
- USB-C Port: Yes
Pros:
- HDR support for vibrant picture quality
- IPS panel display
- Built in speakers, microphone and webcam (not a pop up webcam)
Cons:
- Location of ports not ideal for cable management
What to look for in a 5K Monitor
The best 5k monitor is one that fits your intended use case.
Do you have a multi monitor setup with multiple monitors? If so, then consider if an ultrawide monitor is the right choice for you. Having an ultrawide monitor 5k monitor might not easily fit on your desk with your other monitors.
The size, shape and aspect ratio are important factors for your 5K monitor. Features like a wide viewing angle are good for watching movies especially with a few people sitting around and to the side of the 5K monitor. Ultrawide monitors will likely be curved monitors which make the wide viewing angles less important.
Remember that a curved display, common with ultra wide monitors, may aesthetically clash with other monitors on your desk. So you may consider replacing them with one or more 5K monitors. Finding a 5K monitor at a reasonable price point is important when you planning to buy multiple 5K monitors. Look into a compatible height adjustable stand to hold a multi-display setup.
Let's talk about Connectivity
You 5K monitor will need to push a large amount of data from your PC to the screen. Many 5K monitors opt for a usb type c port to support large amount of bandwidth. Evaluate the USB ports on the monitor and note which type and generation they are. USB-A and USB-B is an older standard that may have a slightly lower data transfer speed than USB-C ports. USB type C connectivity is very common in a 5K monitor but pay attention to the number of USB ports.
Does the 5K monitor have a single usb c port? If so, you may not be able to daisy chain multiple 5K monitors together for more screen area. Look at what USB type C interface generation the 5K monitor has. Is it USB 3.2 or 4? Depending on the generation of USB-C ports you get varying speeds of 10/20/40 Gbps data transfer rate. And of course this connectivity drives your cable choice. For example, USB-A connections require a USB-A cable, USB-C a USB-C cable, etc. You will most commonly encounter USB-C type connections when looking for a 5K monitor. HDMI ports are also common.
The right USB-C cable (or displayport cable) is important. A high quality cable can ruin the high resolution of a great 5K monitor.
If your machine doesn't have enough USB C ports consider using a USB hub for your setup. USB hubs have one "inbound" USB C port that can connect to your machine with a single cable, and then have multiple "outbound" USB C cables to connect to multiple peripherals. In my experience, using a USB hub can sometimes but not always increase the CPU usage of your machine.
This decision is driven by how many upstream regular usb ports you need for your other devices. The best 5K monitors are the ones that won't melt your CPU when plugged in. The best 5K monitor will have comprehensive connectivity for you to hook up to your current machine with little frustration.
Size Matters
Screen size is an important feature. Too big and you may injure yourself swiveling your head from left to right. It's also hard to avoid squinting at the high resolution, so choose wisely to maintain minimal eye strain. Too small and you won't have enough room to do meaning, productive work. If you need to have up to six windows visible on 5K monitor, best to go with a ultrawide monitor that gives you plenty of space.
You can skip the ultrawide monitor and go with multi screens if it's more affordable. Be sure to look for 5K monitors with an ultra thin bezel to lessen the distraction when jumping between monitors. The bezel is the top/bottom/left/right sides of the monitor that does not contribute to display images.
Multi Monitor Setup
Some people like to setup three 5K monitors arranged with one horizontal in the center of their desk and two vertical monitors on either side. If this is your use case be sure to check the vertical resolution of the 5K monitor you're purchasing because it may differ than the horizontal resolution. You can also opt for your center monitor to be a curved display running at its native resolution.
When driving multiple 5K monitors, look for compatible graphics cards that can support all your displays at the same time.
If your computer can only support a single screen, go with the biggest 5K monitor your graphics card can support. Choose a curved display because it will give you an ample screen size for your money. Curved monitors also provide great viewing angles so you have crisp, clear image quality wherever you look.
The best 5k monitors are the ones that fit your budget and usage.
Final Thoughts
Consider all of the above factors then choosing the best 5K monitor. Do you really need that high of resolution?
The best 5K monitors are the ones that satisfy the most items on your must-have list. The goal is ample screen size at a reasonable price.