Monitor

The LG UltraFine OLED Pro (32EP950) is one of the most exciting monitors of 2021, as it is the first to bring OLED technology and a 4K resolution to the 32-inch form factor. The UltraFine OLED Pro 32EP950 promises excellent colour accuracy too, but it will retail for €3,999. There are cheaper 27-inch and 32-inch models, but these will still start at €3,000.

Samsung has updated its Odyssey G9 gaming monitor for 2021. The 49-inch curved monitor now uses mini LED backlights for improved brightness and heightened contrast ratios. The Odyssey G9 2021 also has a 240 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms response times.

Xiaomi has launched a new Redmi monitor to join the already existing Redmi Display 1A. The latest addition has a larger screen size at 27 inches and offers a 1920x1080 resolution, fast gray-to gray response time, and up to a 75 Hz refresh rate. The 27-inch Redmi monitor has a pre-sale price of 899 yuan (US$139) in China.

Laser TVs are devices much more like ultra-short-throw projectors than conventional big screens. Therefore, they can deliver larger display sizes with less harmful blue light, which is what customers want these days - according to Hisense, at least. This OEM claims that it sold over three times more laser TVs in 2020 internationally compared to 2019.

Xiaomi has officially launched the Redmi Max 86” smart TV. The new television joins the massive 98-inch Redmi Max as part of the affordable range of giant TVs from the Xiaomi subsidiary. For 7,999 yuan (US$1,237) buyers get a 4K TV that is both gaming-friendly and elevator compatible. The Redmi Max 86 also has an HDMI 2.1 port and operates on MIUI for TV 3.0.

HP has just confirmed it has secured "a definitive agreement" to buy HyperX, heretofore best known as Kingston's gaming-accessories division. That company's co-founder and CEO, John Tu, calls the move "a brighter future for HyperX", while its new owner is "thrilled" to admit it to its "family".

The 98-inch Redmi Smart TV Max is soon going to be joined by another monster television set from Xiaomi. The Chinese company has been teasing the fact on Weibo and asking followers what size the new Redmi Max TV could be. While some have their fingers crossed for 120 inches, it seems a smaller 86-inch set is more likely.

The Philips Momentum 559M1RYV is the follow-up to last year's Momentum 558M1RY, which already included plenty of features. However, the Momentum 559M1RYV takes things further with a 144 Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 and USB Type-C Power Delivery. All the good features of last year's model remain too, including 1,200 nit peak brightness, AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-Sync and Philips Ambiglow.

Amongst all the laptops, Lenovo has announced the ThinkVision P40w, which they claim is the world’s first professional monitor with both a Thunderbolt 4 connection and support for Intel Active Management Technology. The P40w-20 can act as your desk up with eKVM to switch between connected PCs and multiple peripheral outputs.

It's one of the most affordable 27-inch monitors you can get when considering the size and long list of gaming-centric features included. Hopefully its colors and build quality will be up to snuff.

Samsung has confirmed that its new Neo QLED mini LED TVs support AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, which should provide a tear-free experience when gaming. The TVs also support HDMI 2.1, meaning that they can output at up to 120 Hz.

HBO Max is an upcoming streaming service from the TV studio in question, but also offers content from partners that range from DC to New Line. It will replace the existing Go product in many Latin and South America in June 2021, migrating its existing users to the new platform as it does. A similar transition is planned for European customers, although this lacks a concrete roll-out schedule at present.

The native 1440p resolution will pair perfectly with mid-range to high-end graphics cards even more so than 4K for gamers who prioritize frame rate over resolution. The sale price is attractive considering the large 32-inch screen size.

The ViewSonic XG2705-2K may look unassuming, but it is very much a gaming monitor. The 27-inch monitor features an IPS panel capable of running natively at 1440p and 144 Hz, while supporting 1 ms response times and AMD FreeSync Premium. ViewSonic promises that the XG2705-2K will cover 96% of the DCI-P3 colour space, too.

Acer has released its latest consolidated financial report, which covers January 2021. It includes revenues that are its highest "for the same period" since 2013. This performance is based on solid year-on-year (YoY) growth for the OEM's gaming, creator-PC and Chromebook sectors.

Eve Devices originally pitched the Spectrum as the ideal display for enthusiasts - then pushed its delivery date back until well into 2021. However, it is still posting updates to its community website as a sign it is working on getting the product to the shipping stage. The latest one claims it is crossing things off a long list of desired features, which include VRR and an inbuilt frame-rate counter.

It may not be an UltraSharp, but we're not complaining for $199. This is a deal worth considering as the monitor checks off a lot features not found on most other displays in this price range.

Google launched a new smart screen interface in 2020, which it may intend to roll out across all devices that run its UI going forward. A new software update may bring that to fruition, with a new look for Android TVs that bring features like that found on the new Chromecast dongle.

The ScreenBar Plus is BenQ's most expensive computer monitor light, retailing at US$129 in the US or £119 in the UK. The ScreenBar Plus has a desktop dial, is USB powered and supports auto-dimming, along with a Hue adjustment.

MSI is targeting professionals with the PRO MP271 series of monitors. The series peaks at a WQHD and 60 Hz model, which also has a 120 mm height-adjustable stand. All members of the MSI PRO MP271 series are TÜV Rheinland certified.

Philips and its partner MMD have presented a 28-inch and 4K monitor. The 288E2UAE offers decent colour accuracy, a USB 3.2 four-port hub and an adjustable stand.

AOC has introduced its latest curved gaming monitor, which supports high refresh rates and a peak resolution of 1440p. The AG323QCX2 offers a 1500R curvature and is VESA HDR400 certified.

The 1080p monitor should pair nicely with any GeForce RTX 3060, 3070, or 3080 PC if your intentions are to reach a stable 144 FPS or greater. The Costco deal is expected to last until February 7.

AV1 is a video codec rated to enhance file compression compared to its current alternatives. Google has become its a major proponent, to the extent that it is now reportedly insisting that manufacturers need to have it enabled in devices with compatible SoCs if they want to use the Android 10 for TV interface.

The new LG UltraWide 40WP95C is a monster of a monitor, with a 40-inch curved screen that operates natively at 5K. The nano IPS panel has a 21:9 aspect ratio, covers 98% of the DCI-P3 colour space and offers a peak refresh rate of 72 Hz. The 40WP95C supports Thunderbolt 4, too.

Initially supposed to hit the market in mid-2020, the DisplayPort 2.0 monitors got delayed by the global pandemic and are now expected to become available in the second half of 2021. DP 2.0 is clearly superior to HDMI 2.0, as it offers an 80 Gbps bandwidth that can support 4K resolutions @240 Hz with uncompressed HDR color depth or 16K @60Hz with DSC.

Eve has delayed the release of its Spectrum monitors in what is the least shocking news of 2021, and probably 2020. The company had originally planned to begin shipping its latest product on February 26, but now will not until April 20 at the earliest. The 144 Hz QHD model will not arrive until the 'end of Q2', too.

The LG UltraFine OLED Pro 32EP950 may be intended for professional users, but it is also the first device with a 32-inch, 4K, and OLED screen. The 32EP950 promises exceptional colour accuracy with over 99% coverage of the AdobeRGB and DCI-P3 colour spaces.

Asus unveiled three new 4k monitors with HDMI 2.1 and support for gaming at 3840x2160 144 Hz. The company also announced a 1440p display with a blazing fast 240 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms response time.

Asus announced two new ProArt displays, one of which is a portable 14-inch touchscreen monitor. This little display also has hotkeys and a physical dial for use with Adobe software. Asus also released a 15.6-inch portable monitor for business users.

TCL's latest generation of mini-LED panel is called OD Zero, ostensibly as the OEM claims to have reduced the distance between the backlight and diffuser layers in these panels to "zero millimeters". This could improve on luminance and color-depth for the devices based on it, not to mention their form-factor. TCL has also announced that its 2021 smart TVs will launch with Google's new UI.

LG asserts that it has brought the "ultimate" slew of updates to its premium TV offerings to CES 2021. The OEM has even invented a new sub-category for this year: QNED, a combination of its mini-LED and Quantum NanoCell Color technologies. As for the OLEDs, the 48-inch C1 has already won a Best of Innovation Award at the show.

TCL's display-development subsidiary CSOT has prepared 2 of its flexible prototypes that can function when paired to rollers for display at CES 2021. One is the extendable AMOLED panel that may have been seen as part of a concept smartphone before. The other is a 17-inch piece of OLED that may show what the OEM can offer the makers of devices such as transparent TVs.

HP's new E24u G4 and E27u G4 USB-C monitors allow users to connect their device to a display via a single USB-C cable. This same USB-C cable can also charge the connected device and allows use of a four-port USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 hub.

HP's new M24f, M27f, and M32f Full HD monitors are the first Eyesafe certified displays to be made from recycled plastic that would otherwise be in the ocean. Of the 85% recycled material, 5% comes from ocean-bound plastics.

Sony has announced new SRS-series wireless speakers. The RA5000 and RA3000 have been designed with "room-filling sound" in mind, which entails a novel design meant to distribute sound horizontally in all directions, at least. They can also calibrate this output with respect to the room they are placed in and its dimensions.

27-inch monitors are not uncommon at this price range, but this Lenovo is notable for offering a higher native resolution and higher refresh rate than most. Office workers may find a lot to like while more serious content creators and video editors will likely want something more color accurate.

LG has seen revenues and operating profits in the last quarter of 2020 (4Q2020) higher than for any preceding final quarter in the OEM's history. Similarly, it has broken its operating-profit record for the whole of 2020. It made a total of ~US$57.9 billion in 2020, which kept its revenues above the $55 billion mark for four years running.

Acer shared details on three new gaming monitors at CES 2021 today. The Nitro XV282K KV will be one of the first monitors to bring HDMI 2.1 to desktops, as well as 4K 144 Hz. The other monitors also offer high resolutions with high refresh rates, but they cost a pretty penny.

Eve has two products in the pipeline this year, four years on from the ill-fated release of the original Eve V. However, there are still concerns about missing refunds for orders placed over three years ago. At least US$225,000 is allegedly owed.

Lenovo has launched the Lenovo L24i and L27e monitors at CES 2021. The former comes with a 23.8-inch FHD panel clocked at 75Hz, while the latter is 27-inches in size. The Lenovo L24i will cost €149 (US$183) and the L27e at €169 (US$207). Both monitors will be available for purchase in March 2021.

With 100% coverage of both sRGB and Rec 709 color gamuts, the new Asus ProArt Display PA278CV professional monitor features a 27-inch IPS panel with 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, a rich set of connectivity options, Adaptive-Sync (48~75 Hz), as well as an ergonomic design with adjustable tilt, swivel, pivot, and height.

The new 23.8-inch UltraSharp monitors from Dell feature IPS panels with a wide 178-degree viewing angle, wide color coverage (100% sRGB and 85% DCI-P3), multitasking features, as well as a productivity hub (U2422HE only) with RJ45, USB-C, and more. As usual, availability and pricing depend on the market and retailer.

With a generous screen size of 37.5 inches, the new Dell U3821DW curved UltraSharp monitor features 95% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB and 100% Rec 709 color accuracy, dual 9 W speakers, multiple multitasking facilities such as KWM, PIP, PBP, and Easy Arrange, as well as multiple ports grouped in a hub that includes RJ45, USB-C, and more.

The new 27-inch monitors from Dell feature IPS panels with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels and a color depth of 1.07 billion colors. The U2722D and U2722DE models are almost identical, but the latter also features a hub with RJ45 and USB-C connectivity that can deliver up to 90 W of power.

Dell's new 24-inch C2422HE, 27-inch C2722DE, and 34-inch C3422WE monitors are the world's first ones to be certified for Microsoft Teams. Their list of features includes a pop-up 5 MP IR camera, dual 5 W integrated speakers, a noise-canceling microphone, as well as Dell's ComfortView Plus blue light reduction hardware solution.

The new 55-inch and 65-inch 4K interactive touch monitors from Dell, labeled C5522QT and C6522QT, feature built-in 20 W speakers, dual-tip stylus, 20-point touch support, anti-glare and anti-smudge coatings, ComfortView for reduced blue light emissions, 90 W USB-C power delivery, and more.

The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved U4021QW is a monitor that is geared towards ultimate business productivity. The UltraSharp 40 Curved is a 5K IPS panel with 100% sRGB and 98% DCI-P3 coverage with a delta E less than 2. The UltraSharp 40 Curved offers a wide range of ports and can control two PC inputs at once thanks to Dell's Auto KVM feature.

We could be seeing considerably more laptops with OLED displays this year as Samsung is preparing to introduce 10 new models with sizes ranging from 13.3 to 16 inches. There will be updated 4K screens, as well as new budget-friendly 15.6-inch 1080p versions with improved color gamuts superior to those found on LGs TV panels.

At CES 2021, LG will be showcasing two new OLED display technologies. One is what the manufacturer calls a Bendable Cinematic Sound OLED panel that can curve or flatten as per viewing preference. The other kind of display is a transparent OLED that enables simultaneous information display and transparency for use in homes and commercial settings.