Size
Diagonal size of the monitor matrix, in inches.
This parameter is one of the most important for any screen — it determines the total size of its working area. In general, it is believed that larger monitors are more comfortable: a large screen allows you to see a large fragment of text, images, etc. without having to scroll the "picture". On the other hand, the diagonal directly affects the dimensions, weight and cost of the monitor. In addition, it is worth remembering that screens with the same diagonal can have different aspect ratios and different specializations: for example, widescreen models are convenient for playing games and watching movies, while classic
4:3 or 5:4 solutions are preferable for working with documents. Now there are monitors of different diagonals on the market, among them the most popular are:
19–20",
22",
23 – 24",
25 – 26",
27 – 28",
29 – 30",
32",
34" and
more.
Smart platform
Operating system that controls the smart functionality of the monitor, which combines the capabilities of traditional models and smart TVs.
— Tizen. Samsung's proprietary development based on the open source Linux kernel. The lion's share of smart TVs from the South Korean electronics brand runs Tizen OS, and this platform is also found in the brand's smart monitors. The operating system allows you to install and run applications, provides access to online services for watching streaming videos, listening to music and consuming other entertainment content, can be used as central hub for smart home ecosystems, and has built-in voice assistants (including the proprietary Bixby).
- webOS. Smart platform from LG, which is found in the brand’s “smart” TVs and monitors. It boasts flexible menu interface customization, high operating speed and support for installing third-party applications from the company store. webOS provides access to content streaming services, streaming platforms and popular video hosting sites. The functionality of the “OS” is in all its glory when using the Magic Remote air control.
— Android. Full-fledged software firmware based on Android OS, adapted to work on large screens. In addition to the common features of all Android devices (such as the ability to install additional applications, including even games), it has number of special features: an optimized interface, integration with smartphones (including...the ability to use them as remote control), voice search, etc. Of course , in order to operate multifunctional OS, the monitor must have dedicated processor, graphics subsystem and memory, and the presence of such hardware resources is reflected in the total cost of the device.
Brightness
The maximum brightness provided by the monitor screen.
Choosing
a monitor with high brightness is especially important if the device is going to be used in bright ambient light — for example, if the workplace is exposed to sunlight. A dim image can be "dampened" by such lighting, making work uncomfortable. In other conditions, the high brightness of the screen is very tiring for the eyes.
Most modern monitors give out about 200 – 400 cd / m2 — this is usually quite enough even in the sun. However, there are also higher values: for example, in LCD panels (see "Type") the brightness can reach several thousand cd/m2. This is necessary taking into account the specifics of such devices — the image must be clearly visible from a long distance.
Colour depth
The colour depth supported by the monitor.
This parameter characterizes the number of shades that the screen can display. And here it is worth recalling that the image in modern monitors is based on 3 basic colours — red, green, blue (RGB scheme). And the number of bits is indicated not for the entire screen, but for each base colour. For example, 6 bits (the minimum colour depth for modern monitors) means that the screen is capable of producing 2 ^ 6, that is, 64 shades of red, green and blue; the total number of shades will be 64 * 64 * 64 = 262,144 (0.26 million). An
8-bit colour depth (256 shades for each base colour) already gives a total of 16.7 million colours; and the most advanced modern monitors support
10-bit colour, allowing you to work with more than a billion shades.
Screens with support for FRC technology are worth a special mention; nowadays, you can find models marked "
6 bit + FRC " and "
8 bit + FRC ". This technology was developed to improve picture quality in situations where the incoming video signal has a greater colour depth than the screen, such as when 10-bit video is fed to an 8-bit matrix. If such a screen supports FRC, the picture on it will be noticeably better than on a regular 8-bit monitor (although somewhat worse than on a full-fledged 10-bit monitor, but “8 bit + FRC” screens are much
...cheaper).
High colour depth is important primarily for professional graphics and other tasks that require high colour fidelity. On the other hand, such features significantly affect the cost of the monitor. In addition, it is worth remembering that the quality of colour reproduction depends not only on the colour depth, but also on other parameters — in particular, colour gamut (see below).Colour space (sRGB)
Monitor colour gamut Rec. 709 or sRGB.
Any colour gamut is indicated as a percentage, however, not relative to the entire variety of visible colours, but relative to the conditional colour space (colour model). This is due to the fact that no modern screen is able to display all the colours visible to humans. However, the larger the colour gamut, the wider the monitor's capabilities, the better its colour reproduction.
Nowadays, sRGB is actually the standard color model adopted for computer technology; This is what is used in the development and production of most video cards. For television, the Rec. standard, similar in parameters, is used. 709. In terms of the range of colors, these models are identical, and the percentage of coverage for them is the same. In the most advanced monitors it can
reach or even exceed 100%; These are the values that are considered necessary for high-end screens, incl. professional.
Colour gamut (DCI-P3)
The color gamut of the monitor according to the DCI P3 color model.
Any color gamut is indicated in percentages, but not relative to the entire variety of visible colors, rather relative to a conventional color space (color model). This is because no modern screen can display all the colors visible to the human eye. Nevertheless, the larger the color gamut, the broader the monitor's capabilities, and the better its color reproduction quality.
DCI P3 is a professional color model mainly used in digital cinemas. It is significantly broader than the standard sRGB, providing more accurate and high-quality colors. Accordingly, the percentage values are lower—for example, 115% coverage in sRGB corresponds to approximately 90% coverage in DCI P3; in the most advanced modern monitors, coverage according to this standard is
98 – 100%. At the same time, supporting DCI-P3 is costly, which is why it is mainly found in high-end monitors for professional and gaming purposes.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth technology (any version) is used for direct wireless communication between various devices. The way it is implemented in monitors may vary, depending on the functionality of the specific model (and Bluetooth version). Thus, it may be possible to broadcast sound to wireless headphones or speakers. In addition, other use cases are provided: connecting keyboards, mice, game controllers, direct file exchange with a laptop, remote control from a smartphone or other gadget, etc. These details should be clarified separately. As for specific versions, in many models these details are not specified at all - for use for the originally intended purpose, “just Bluetooth” is enough.
Wi-Fi
The monitor has a built-in
Wi-Fi module. This paragraph may also specify the supported version of this technology. Nowadays, Wi-Fi can be used both for wireless access to the Internet and local networks, and for direct connection with other devices (for example, broadcasting video from a smartphone/tablet). The specific use of a wireless connection may vary, depending on the functionality of the monitor: providing Internet access, receiving or transmitting video via Wi-Di or Miracast, as well as using a mobile gadget as a remote control. Built-in Wi-Fi can often be found on board models that support smart features.
Connectors (optional)
—
Mini-Jack input (3.5 mm). Audio input with standard 3.5mm mini-jack. Usually, it looks like a socket into which a mini-jack plug is connected from a signal source. The signal itself from such an input can be fed either to the monitor's built-in speakers or to the audio output (see below for both).
—
Mini-Jack output (3.5 mm). Analogue audio output using a standard 3.5mm mini-jack. Usually it is universal, it can be used both for connecting headphones and as a
line output for computer speakers or other active acoustics. The presence of an audio jack on the monitor is convenient because such a port is usually closer to the user than the audio card outputs, and connecting headphones or speakers directly to the monitor is easier than pulling a wire to the system unit.
-LAN. Standard connector for wired connection to computer networks. The presence of such an input in most cases turns the monitor into a network device: any network user with the appropriate access rights can display an image on it. Another use case for LAN is a direct connection to another device. For example, in this way you can connect a laptop with a LAN output without disconnecting the monitor from the PC (to which it can be connected, for example, via the DVI interface). And some especially advanced models have embedded software tools that allow using t
...he local network to view the contents of devices connected to this network, and even use some web services directly from the monitor, without using a computer as such.
— Composite. One of the simplest and most common analogue audio/video inputs. Like component, it uses three wires and in its standard form consists of three RCA connectors; in some monitors, both interfaces can even be implemented through one set of connectors, switched to "component" or "composite" modes in the settings. The peculiarity of this standard is that it allows you to transmit both picture and sound: one of the wires is used for the analogue video signal, and the remaining two are responsible for the left and right stereo channels. However the composite interface is considered outdated: due to video transmission over a single cable, the quality and noise immunity of the picture are low, and there is no talk of HD resolutions at all. On the other hand, such outputs are still quite popular in video technology — both modern and frankly outdated (like VHS VCRs). And the ability to connect both video and sound at once is very convenient. However, if the monitor has neither audio outputs nor built-in speakers, it usually provides a stripped-down version of this connector — "composite video", with one RCA jack.
— Coaxial (S/P-DIF). An electrical version of the S / P-DIF interface: through one coaxial RCA connector (tulip), sound is transmitted digitally, including multichannel. This connector is found mainly among large-format plasma and LCD panels (see "Type"), where it plays the role of an output for connecting external audio systems — primarily home theaters and other advanced multi-channel acoustic sets.
— Linear. The line interface is a standard audio interface for transmitting an audio signal in analogue format. In general, the most popular way to use this connector is to output sound to active speakers and/or an external amplifier. However, monitors can have both outputs and inputs of this type. In this sense, the line interface is similar to the 3.5 mm jack described above; moreover, in some models, the mini-Jack plays the role of a linear connector.
— Optical. Another type of S / P-DIF connector, in addition to the coaxial output described above. It is used for the same purpose — to output multi-channel sound to external acoustics — however, it uses not an electrical, but an optical (light-guide) cable, so that such a connection is absolutely not subject to electrical interference. On the other hand, optical fibre requires careful handling, as it can crack from bending or strong pressure. It is also worth noting that, unlike coaxial, the optical output is found in both large and relatively small monitors.
— COM port (RS-232). Universal digital interface for transferring various data. In monitors, it usually plays an auxiliary role: it allows you to control the screen settings from a connected computer or other device, and in models with touch screens it can also be used to transfer data from the sensor to the computer. It is much less common than USB, it is practically not used in laptops, but it has the advantage of a maximum cable length — 15 m versus 5 m.