Hey all! I've been putting in a lot of hours coding lately and my current monitor feels a bit cramped. I mostly use VS Code, terminals, and have a ton of browser tabs open. I'm looking to upgrade to something larger and easier on the eyes, with a budget of around $300 to $500. I'd love to hear what monitors you all like for coding!
5 Answers
If you stick to a budget of $300-500, any 27" monitor should do the trick. They’re all pretty similar in that range! I use an Apple Studio Display and it's worlds apart from a standard 4K monitor due to its high pixel density, but slightly bending the budget can really up the quality.
I personally use a 38" ultrawide and it feels like the sweet spot. With a resolution of 3840x1600, it's perfect for running multiple applications side by side without clutter. I’m sold on ultrawides and don’t see myself going back!
It's funny, I spent a lot on a 240Hz ultrawide monitor, but I ended up using just my laptop screen for a couple of years anyway. 😅 But I do love having the ultrawide now. It's great for showing my IDE on one side and a browser on the other without resizing everything!
Right? It's like we crave that perfect setup but sometimes just stick with what's easy or familiar.
I've been really happy with my Philips 34" curved monitor for a few years now. It fits well within your budget, runs at 100Hz, and with a single USB-C cable, it can handle both screen and charging. Perfect for coding!
Honestly, for coding, screen space is far more important than the flashy specs. A lot of devs I know prefer 27" 1440p monitors as a good balance for terminals, browsers, and code editors. Both Dell Ultrasharp and LG Ultrafine are popular choices. And if you can, dual monitors are even better!
Definitely agree! A 27" for coding plus having two monitors is the way to go. I like one portrait for coding and another landscape for browsing.