One of the easiest ways to improve your PC experience is to get a better monitor. It doesn’t require any upgrades for your desktop or laptop (which is good, since they’re all incredibly expensive right now) and it highlights the primary way you interact with almost everything: images. Even better, prices for luxury models with high resolutions, frame rates, and features like OLED panels have fallen steadily throughout the year. Now is the time to act.
Amazon’s latest Prime Day deals show is almost here for people looking to get a new screen on the cheap, and it’ll kick off on October 6. (Here’s how to get Amazon Prime for free so you can score great discounts.) We are already starting to see a large sales area in the lead-up to the big event.
To find deals on Prime Day or other sales days, when prices are often (ahem) not so straightforward, we compare monitors based on their specs, available reviews, and, of course, value versus the general market. In the case of Amazon in particular, we avoid “white box” brands, whose after-sales support may be lacking. We also check the price history to make sure the sale is actually a sale.
This year we’ll be focusing on OLED gaming monitors, as it’s a popular choice for both first-time buyers and those looking to upgrade an existing setup. On the non-gaming side, USB-C monitors are popular upgrades for laptop owners looking to expand their productivity or simplify work layout.
Offers at a glance
Best budget OLED monitor: Alienware 27-inch 1440p 240Hz ($350 base)
Michael Crider / Foundry
Who is this for? 2026 is an absolutely perfect year to upgrade to an OLED monitor, because the technology is now mature, reasonably affordable… and it’s not like most of us can afford any internal upgrades for our gaming PCs. Dell came out swinging with this branded gaming OLED, hitting a perfect sweet spot in terms of hardware, at a price no other brand can match. Even once Prime Day starts, I doubt you’ll find a better deal on a basic OLED setup with 1440p resolution and 240Hz clock speed.
Why is this deal good? This is not the monitor for you if you want versatility or many inputs. It is simply a large OLED panel and absolutely nothing else. But if that’s all you want, especially if you don’t mind connecting to a laptop, for example, or any web-enabled application, it’s perfect.
Get the Alienware AW2726DM OLED Monitor for $349.99
Best OLED gaming monitor: LG 34-inch 1440p 240Hz ($600 off)
LG
Who is this for? If you want more premium options for your gaming hardware and your budget can stretch a bit, this $700 LG ultrawide monitor is the one for you. The 34-inch, 3440×1440 panel gives you considerably more real estate compared to a 27-inch monitor, with options for multitasking when you’re not gaming. But with a 240Hz refresh rate, it’s also ready to take on intense online multiplayer. It also includes G-sync support and some USB-A ports for additional devices.
Why is this deal good? For a 34-inch ultrawide OLED, you usually have to compromise or pay. But with $600 off this model’s original price, you’ll get name-brand performance at a no-brand price.
Get the LG 34-inch OLED Ultrawide Monitor for $699.99
Best gigantic OLED gaming monitor: Samsung Odyssey G9 49-inch ($504 off)
Samsung
Who is this for? Alright buddy, you’re ready to go all out. I’m impressed. But just because you have a gaming PC that can max out all the pixels doesn’t mean you have to shell out all the money. This 49-inch Samsung OLED is so big that it may not even fit on smaller desks, and with as much screen real estate as two 1440p monitors together, you’ll need a pretty beefy PC to use it to its fullest. That goes double if you want to hit the maximum 144Hz refresh rate.
Why is this deal good? About a year ago, you couldn’t find a monitor of this size and speed with an OLED panel for less than a thousand dollars. But at less than $800, this LS49DG910SNXZA model is cheaper than some monitors about half the size. Just keep in mind that with this size and a fairly dramatic curve, it won’t fit into everyone’s desktop setup.
Get the Samsung Odyssey G9 49-inch OLED Ultrawide Monitor for $796
Best Office Monitor Deal: Asus ZenScreen USB-C 4K Monitor ($70 Off)
asus
Who is this for? For a large, multitasking monitor that does more than a typical display, it’s hard to do better than this Asus model. In addition to a 32-inch 4K IPS panel that’s great for reading text or editing photos and videos, you get built-in Google TV features that can handle streaming apps even without anything connected. And speaking of connections, the USB-C port makes it easy to connect laptops (with 90 watts of charging!) and add other accessories.
Why is this deal good? With all that technology built in, this display costs just $329 at the time of this writing, a savings of $70 off the regular price. For a high-resolution monitor that also doubles as a TV and has a built-in USB hub, that’s fantastic.
Get the Asus Zenscreen 32-inch monitor for $329
Best budget deal on office monitor: BenQ 24-inch USB-C ($35 off)
BenQ
Who is this for? It’s hard to find a cheap monitor with USB-C, but this BenQ model does it for under $100. Only 24 inches and 1080p resolution, but the 144Hz panel gives it a little extra utility. Note that the USB-C connection doesn’t have enough power to recharge a laptop, but it should work for most phones and tablets. Of course, you still have standard HDMI and DisplayPort.
Why is this deal good? Whether you want a flexible, easy-to-connect monitor that’s a great stand-alone display or an addition (including VESA mounting support) to a multi-monitor setup, this will do it without breaking the bank.
Get the BenQ 24-inch USB-C Monitor for $94.99
Best Portable Monitor Deal: MNN 15.6-Inch USB-C Monitor ($6 Off)
MNN
Who is this for? I can’t remember the last time I went on a work trip without a USB-C monitor, the easiest way to add multitasking power to any laptop (or a phone or tablet, if it supports video over USB). This $44, 15.6-inch panel is basic, but it includes everything you need thanks to its 1080p resolution. The extra space gives you a dual-monitor productivity powerhouse that fits in a backpack.
Why is this deal good? At less than $50 as of this writing, this monitor isn’t actually on sale, but it’s the best you can get for a portable display. We’ll keep an eye out for discounts as Prime Day approaches.
Get a MNN 15.6-inch USB-C Monitor for $50
Other great Prime Day deals
These aren’t the only Prime Day deals the PCWorld team is following. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with the juiciest tech sales, click the links for only the best, expert-curated picks we’ve found.
Frequently asked questions
What size monitor should I buy?
Monitor size depends on personal preference and location.
A 24-inch monitor is fine for a desk that is about 24 inches deep or less. Its small size will still be enough because the monitor will be closer to you.
However, most people will prefer a 27-inch monitor. The added size will make the monitor easy to view. This also opens up a wider range of 4K monitor options, as 4K is very rare on a 24-inch monitor.
Larger monitors, such as 32-inch widescreen or 34-inch ultra-widescreen, are great for deep desktops and for people who want an immersive experience. Monitors of this size can serve as a TV replacement in a small room.
Even larger screen sizes, such as 42- or 48-inch HDTVs, are better for home theater setups or an unusually large office. You’ll want to sit four or six feet away from a screen this size.
Which screen input is better? (HDMI vs. DisplayPort vs. USB-C)
USB-C is the best display input for most people. It works by integrating DisplayPort into USB-C, so it offers the same functions as DisplayPort. However, it retains the features of USB-C, including optional Power Delivery support for charging external devices. That’s why we recommend a USB-C monitor for most people.
DisplayPort is generally second best. Supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI. This entry is particularly common on desktop computers.
HDMI comes in third place due to the lowest resolution and refresh rate support. This is improved with HDMI 2.1, but this feature is still difficult to find and often increases the price of a monitor.
The three options above handle 1080p at 60Hz, which is the most common resolution and refresh rate available today. It is also important to buy a monitor that has an input compatible with your PC.
Are all monitors compatible with Windows and MacOS?
Modern monitors are compatible with all recent versions of Windows and MacOS. They are plug-and-play, meaning the monitor should display an image without the need to install driver software or alter Windows or MacOS settings.
