When you compare a 24 inch and a 27 inch monitor, which one do you think will come out on top? The answer will depend on what your needs are, and I am going to evaluate and compare them here so that you can make an informed choice. I am going in depth with this analysis here, and I hope it will be helpful to you. So read our 24 inch vs 27 inch monitor guide below…
How Monitor Size Is Measured
Let’s start with how you measure the monitor. A 24-inch monitor is determined to be that size based on the distance from one diagonal corner to the other.
So, this method of size naming does not measure the longest side, as that would be a smaller distance than the diagonal measurement. What this means is that 24-inch monitors are not really 24 inches in width. This is true for any size of monitor, so keep that in mind if you are making the measurements for your monitor space at home or work, and want to know exactly what to expect.
You may wonder why the monitor size is important at all. The bigger the screen is, the easier it may be to view the picture, but the poorer the resolution or picture quality may be. Your ideal monitor may depend on those factors and others.
Why Monitor Size Matters for Image Quality
Let’s discuss how screen size and picture quality correlate through PPI.
Pixels Per Inch (PPI) Explained
PPI is a measure of the pixel density, and it means Pixels Per Inch (more details). The denser the pixels are in the space, the sharper the image looks. So, if you have two 1080p monitors of different sizes, then you would get a better picture from the smaller one.
You have to know about PPI if you are going to make a good purchasing decision. If resolution is important to you, then PPI is a relevant factor.
It doesn’t make sense to purchase a 1080p monitor that is 32 inches. The resolution won’t be very good, creating a blurry looking image.
So, what kind of PPI should you be shooting for? Try for a screen that offers 90 PPI, if you are buying it for desktop use. Your distance from the screen matters.
Desktop monitors can look incredibly sharp at 90 PPI or any resolution higher than that. If the resolution is too high, it may not make any difference because of your eye’s limited ability to see above a certain resolution.
If you use a desktop monitor that is under 90 PPI, you may notice a fuzzy picture. A 27-inch 1080p monitor will be obviously fuzzier than if you were using a 27-inch 1440p monitor or another 1080p monitor that is smaller than 27 inches.
Check out our article about TAA vs FXAA for more details on screen resolutions.
Why Monitor Size Matters for Use Case and Comfort
The size of your monitor will determine how comfortable your viewing experience is, according to DigitalTrends. You should have a good understanding of what your workload is, and whether you would be better off with a larger screen or smaller one.
It can be difficult to determine which size monitor would be optimum for you. In my experience, and having used 27-inch and 24-inch monitors, I know how the two differ and what makes one better than the other in certain situations.
I’m going to share with you some general guidelines, though I wouldn’t call any of them solid rules. Your vision and preferences may give you a different experience from my own.
Hopefully, the discussion below will help you figure out which monitor size will work best in different situations.
24-Inch vs. 27-Inch Monitor for Desktop Use and Productivity
If you have a high resolution, such as 1440p, then a 27-inch monitor is an excellent pairing, says Benq. A 4K resolution is a great partner with this size monitor too.
The 24-inch monitor may be fine for your productivity, but having a larger screen size gives you more visual workspace to use, which is important for a desktop setting.
If you are using rendering and editing applications that are very complex and detailed in what they show, then a high resolution display will be to your advantage.
High Resolution Monitor Screen Real Estate
If your application puts a lot of things on screen or requires you to have multiple windows open, it makes sense to go with a high resolution screen with a lot of visual real estate. If you’re trying to be productive at the desktop and you do a lot of visual editing, it’s difficult to make a case for a 24-inch monitor rather than a 27-inch one.
When you have a large screen and great resolution, and you’re working with multiple windows at once, your productivity should not suffer in any way due to your monitor setup. If you want to increase the resolution but keep the screen size the same, you should expect the on-screen details to get tinier if you have eye trouble and need glasses or find yourself squinting on the screen, keep that in mind. You may want to go with a resolution that’s lower than what I’m suggesting in those cases.
The 27-inch monitor is the winner for productivity and desktop use.
24-Inch vs. 27-Inch Monitor For Media Viewing
If you’re going to be watching media at a desk, you can’t do any better than the 27-inch monitors. They take up most of your peripheral vision to allow for greater focus, which means that TV shows and movies do really well at this size, particularly if you have an IPS display. It doesn’t make sense to use a smaller monitor for watching media, if you have the choice.
For shared viewing, the 27-inch monitor is decidedly better than something smaller. You will likely be sitting a distance away from the monitor in that scenario, so having a larger screen can make it easier to see all the details of the image compared to a 24-inch screen. That larger monitor makes it more comfortable to pull your chair back a little bit and still soak in everything.
For media viewing, the 27-inch monitor is the clear winner. However, 24 inches works better for close viewing, as long as that screen size is easy on your eyes.
24-Inch vs. 27-Inch Monitor For Gaming
What about if you’re using your monitor for gaming? People have very strong opinions on this one, and part of that comes down to the subjective nature of video gaming. Games should be comfortable to play and fun to experience, so your personal preference will be important here.
While the 24-inch monitor is fine for gaming, the only real benefit is that it gives you a more focused viewing area. You can play most games just fine on a 24-inch monitor at a regular seated distance from the screen. When I played Counter-Strike on one of these, I was able to pull off headshots from a distance just fine. The details can be a little troublesome to pick out, but everything looked pretty sharp without needing to adjust my eyes or head position.
The advantage of the 27-inch monitor for gaming is that you have a more immersive experience. The screen takes up more of your peripheral vision, but that also means that you may need to move your head or eyes slightly, depending on where you’re seated.
It’s much easier to pick out all the details on a 27-inch monitor, and that’s really the biggest advantage. When those details are important to your gaming, depending on the kind of game you play, the 27-inch monitor is the right choice. If you’re concerned about having to move your head or eyes too much to see everything on the screen as you play, you may want to opt for a smaller monitor.
The 27-inch monitor is better for providing you with great detail when you have a high resolution. The 24-inch monitor is the better gaming option if you want to keep your head movement and eye movement to a minimum. My personal preference is the 27-inch screen, though.
24-Inch vs. 27-Inch Monitor: Pricing
Let’s take a moment to talk about the cost of the two different monitors. As you would expect, the 24-inch monitor will be cheaper because it’s smaller. Fewer resources go into making the smaller screen, so if you’re working with a budget, it may be the clear winner for you.
27-inch monitors cost more across the board if you are getting the same features as a 24-inch monitor.
24 Inch vs. 27 Inch Monitor: Which Is Right for You?
You should go with the 24-inch monitor if you:
have limited space
want a monitor that uses as little power as possible
are on a tight budget
sit close to the screen comfortably
want to move your head and eyes less when gaming or working
You should go with a 27-inch monitor if you:
are OK to sit a little bit further from the screen
want the screen to fill your vision
want better visual detail
want more things on the screen at once
have the money to spare for the larger, more expensive screen
FAQ
Do you have any Monitor Recommendations?
I won’t be recommending any particular monitors in this article, but you can check out some of our other guides on the site for specific product recommendations.
Keep in mind that monitors focused on design will give you great color accuracy but tend to be larger. If you read through this article and like the advantages of the 27-inch monitor, you may want to spring for a 32-inch one instead.
What makes Monitor Panel Types different?
There are a few different monitor panel types to choose from- VA, TN, and IPS.
Each one of these panels has its different features, but the one you’ll notice right away is the viewing angles they provide, and that is more evident on large monitors. You will probably want to avoid TN panels if you have a 27-inch monitor or something bigger than that. Although TN Panels are very responsive and less expensive than VA and IPS panels, the viewing angle is not as good and they tend to have more color distortion.
How does Monitor Response Time work?
Monitor response time is something many people are confused about, especially because of misleading advertising. Gamers definitely want to know what response time means for them, since it is most applicable to their monitor use.
A short overview of this concept is that response time does not measure input lag, no matter what anyone tells you. Gamers who know their stuff really value monitors that have a low response time because of the visual clarity it provides. This has nothing to do with input lag but instead relates to the visual refresh rate.
Over to You
That’s all I have to say about these monitors in this article. Hopefully, the information here will assist you in making the choice between the 24-inch monitor or 27-inch one. Since I have used both of them quite a bit, I feel like I can give you the lowdown from a place of experience.
I definitely prefer the 27-inch, but I think this article makes it clear why that is. If you prefer the 24-inch instead, let me know why that is, please.
Screen size is fundamental when considering productivity, and a 27-inch monitor frequently becomes the top choice for many.
When discussing display dimensions, most people's consideration of choice usually falls between a 24-inch, 27-inch, and 32-inch monitor. A 27-inch monitor typically lands in the sweet spot for most users because being neither too large nor too small, rendering it the most ideal dimension for various tasks.
Although larger displays may initially seem enticing, they are not necessarily more effective for increased productivity. The ideal monitor size essentially depends on the nature of the task and user's comfort with changing screen sizes.
A 27-inch monitor with a resolution of at least 2560 x 1440 pixels (WQHD) is an excellent option for office work. Though the UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution is preferred for higher precision tasks.
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This size and resolution blend offers the best screen setup for home office, affording more operational space, substantially improving effectiveness, particularly when multitasking. This size enables users to open various windows side by side conveniently.
A significant indicator of a computer monitor's efficacy is its capacity for multitasking. This aspect is where 27-inch monitors really shine.
They offer ample screen space allowing the user to handle multiple applications and windows simultaneously, making multitasking smoother and easier. Comfortably placing two windows side by side on a 27 inch screen makes switching between tasks seamless.
The efficient screen size for productivity largely depends on the nature of the work being performed. Generally, the larger the screen, the lesser the eyestrain.
However, both practicality and cost justify keeping the monitor size under about 24 inches. Monitors lower than 19-20 inches should be steered clear of because they can cause squinting and headaches.
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Practicality and comfort are important factors when investing in a monitor for productivity, and it appears that a 27-inch monitor perfectly fits most requirements.
Its ample screen size, suitable resolution, and ability to enhance multitasking make it the go-to option for many seeking productivity enhancements through technology.
Further considerations would revolve around specific tasks or personal preferences, but a 27-inch monitor serves as a good starting point for empowering productivity.