Monitore im Check: Was günstige Bildschirme können – und wo sie schwächeln

Buying cheap monitors usually means sacrificing quality. While models priced between 65 and 200 euros now offer good panel quality, they fall short in ergonomics. This is the result of a comparative test of twelve monitors conducted by the IT magazine "c t" (Issue 21/2026). The issues that affect image quality when viewed from the side or when contrast is low are nothing new.

Cheaper screens provide a good representation. The pencil presses harder in other areas, according to the magazine. Two-thirds of the tested devices only allow vertical adjustment of the display, and only one in four has a swivel arm that can be attached for greater flexibility. Space is also saved in terms of ports: only one out of every four tested screens had USB ports, while only one had a full-fledged hub for keyboard, mouse, and USB sticks.

The question is what to consider when buying a new monitor in the budget segment. It's best to carefully think about what is needed and what can be sacrificed before purchasing. According to computer experts, a few tips can help: Pixel density is more important than the number of pixels for picture quality and readability. It should not be much less than 100 dots per inch (dpi).

Brightness is not always necessary; a maximum of 200 cd/m2 is sufficient for most applications. A monitor in normal environments should not be brighter than 120 cd/m2. Avoid confusion from labels. The magazine states that LED monitors are not better than LCD or TFT; technically, all describe the same technology: LCD monitors use liquid crystals (LC) for light control, small LEDs in their backlighting, and thin-film transistors (TFT) for each pixel.