Should you buy a 4K monitor on Prime Day?
Jun. 20, 20242K or full 4K? That is the question.
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Amazon’s summer sale is closing in, and the question of whether to buy a 4K monitor on Prime Day is sure to be on some of your minds. After all, the seasonal event traditionally slashes screens of all shapes and sizes to record-low levels, and the latest releases are begging to flaunt detailed textures using a UHD display. Plus, high-resolution displays are now cheaper than ever, not to mention additional discounts that make them far more financially approachable than before.
Yes, I know that only makes answering the question more complicated, but don’t worry, I’ve got a few handy tips that should help you figure out if you should buy a 4K monitor during Prime Day. The advice pretty much applies to buying a UHD screen in general, and if you’re reading this after the big day, you’ll likely still find it useful. However, I am writing this with Amazon’s big event in mind, as specific deals and comparative prices will matter when choosing a new screen.
Pick a panel to suit your setup
Before you immediately decide to pick up a4K gaming monitor, I’d highly recommend double-checking your setup specs. If you’re a PC player, that will effectively mean working out whether your rig is built to handle UHD visuals or is better served hitting higher frame rates at 1440p. Some machines might even benefit from sticking to 1080p, as while thebest graphics cardscan handle the latest releases with ease, some models will provide a nicer experience at lower resolutions.
Even if you are rocking a monster like theNvidia GeForce RTX 4090, competitive players are better off investing in a screen with a higher refresh rate. Unless you’re willing to pay top dollar for a UHD 240Hz model, most 4K displays out there will cap out at 144Hz, with some even sticking to a vanilla 60Hz. Choosing a 1440p or 1080p panel will help you spice things up to way beyond 360Hz, which will better match setups aiming to boost fps in shooters like Counter-Strike.
Where picking a 4K screen makes more sense is if you’re using a beefygaming PCor one of the latest consoles. I mean, it makes sense to invest in glorious UHD visuals if you’ve splashed out on an RTX 4090 build or a PlayStation 5, right? Well, yes, but only when it comes specifically to sharpness and pixel density. If you’re the kind of player who can’t actually tell the difference between resolutions (I know you exist), I’d instead recommend looking at alternative ways to overhaul your favorite virtual realms.
There’s a good reason OLED monitors are highly regarded by gamers, as they provide inky blacks and superior colors compared to older TN and LCD panels. That’s not to say they’realwaysbetter than alternatives like mini LED, but they certainly provide something different that’s more likely to appear striking. If you’re only interested in picking up a 4K display, you’ll be thrilled to know that OLED versions of UHD screens do exist, but choosing between one or the other might be a reality you face during Prime Day.
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One of my favoritemonitors for PS5right now is thePhilips Evnia 42M2N8900– an exceptional 4K OLED screen that brings sharpness and incredible contrast to the table. With any luck, Prime Day will work some magic on the display’s lofty $1,179.99 price tag, but unless you’re willing to pay close to the grand mark, you’ll want to consider 1440p options instead. Don’t get me wrong, those can be pretty expensive too, but if you stick with something like theKTC G27P6, you’ll be able to embrace the benefits of OLED, get a decent resolution to feed your PC or console, and pay around the $500 thanks to discounts.
When it comes to monitors, size matters. No, I’m not trying to shame anyone with a tiny screen, and sometimes displays over 32 inches can look worse than their smaller counterparts. The general rule I like to use is to scale resolution with something that can make use of the extra pixels per inch, as you might otherwise end up with something that’s either overkill or looks blown-up and blurry.
If you choose a smaller 27-inch monitor, you’re also less likely to notice any softness associated with 1440p. Having tested screens like theDough Spectrum Blackand theCorsair Xeneon 27QHD240in additional to the cheaper KTC option, I can confidently say that the differences aren’t noticeable when sitting at agaming desk. Sure, if you get up close and personal you may detect some lower-res shenanigans going on, but the abilities ofLG’s OLED panel tech shared across all three options make up for any of that.
On the flipside, you also won’t want to grab a 4K monitor that’s under 32-inch. It will ultimately look nice and sharp, but the results won’t look that different compared to QHD resolutions at an appropriate desktop distance. I’d argue that squeezing higher resolutions into a smaller footprint is only beneficial when it comes to gaming handhelds or even laptops that you’re going to get up close to, and grabbing a small monitor for conventional use is effectively spending money on specs you won’t use. Luckily, most manufacturers agree with this, so more often than not, 4K monitors will come in sizes suited to their resolution.
By this point, I’m sure some of you will have a better idea as to which monitor you should be considering. If not, then you might be better off browsingPrime Day gaming dealsfirst to see if any specific offers grab your attention. Sometimes all it takes is the right discount to inspire some inspiration, and getting a feel for what both 4K panels and the tech required to make use of them will cost may help you decide.
Looking to leave the house this summer? Swing byPrime Day Steam Deck dealsandPrime Day Asus ROG Ally dealsfor rigs you can take on-the-go. Alternatively, Take a peek atPrime Day tablet dealsif you’d rather cosy up with a lightweight machine.
I’ve been messing around with PCs, video game consoles, and tech since before I could speak. Don’t get me wrong, I kickstarted my relationship with technology by jamming a Hot Wheels double-decker bus into my parent’s VCR, but we all have to start somewhere. I even somehow managed to become a walking, talking buyer’s guide at my teenage supermarket job, which helped me accept my career fate. So, rather than try to realise my musician dreams, or see out my University degree, I started running my own retro pop culture site and writing about video games and tech for the likes of TechRadar, The Daily Star, and the BBC before eventually ending up with a job covering graphics card shenanigans at PCGamesN. Now, I’m your friendly neighbourhood Hardware Editor at GamesRadar, and it’s my job to make sure you can kick butt in all your favourite games using the best gaming hardware, whether you’re a sucker for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch or a hardcore gaming PC enthusiast.
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