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Most ultrawide monitors have a 34-inch panel with a 21:9 aspect ratio, which is the best option for most gamers. Some ultrawide monitors are available in larger sizes, but these typically aren’t the best choice for gamers. Many do not support high refresh rates. Those that do are expensive and often use the same 3440x1440 resolution found on smaller ultrawide monitors, which means they appear less sharp than a 34-inch display.

A refresh rate of 144Hz to 165Hz is ideal for most ultrawide gaming monitors. Very few ultrawide monitors exceed this refresh rate, and those that do are too expensive to make it a good value. Also, gamers shopping for an ultrawide gaming monitor are likely to prefer immersive and graphically demanding games that make it difficult to see the full benefit of a refresh rate above 144Hz. You’ll need a high-end video card, like an RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon 6800, to drive most ultrawide gaming monitors at frame rates above 144 frames per second.

The best portable monitor for most people is PCWorld's midrange pick: the HP Series 5 Pro 514pn, which has an edge of others in its price range thanks to its stylish, slim, and light design and outstanding color accuracy. Sure, you can find portable monitors for less than this monitor's $300 asking price, but you won't get the same premium experience that this 14-inch 2560x1600 IPS Black panel offers.

Most portable monitors are inexpensive, but this is often reflected in their quality. We’ve noticed a wide range of build quality, design, and image quality among portable monitors that retail below $150. It’s possible to find a great portable monitor on a tight budget, but we recommend sticking to models tested by a professional reviewer.A handful of portable monitors, such as the Viewsonic ColorPro VP16-OLED, are priced above $300. These rare models back up their price with special features such as a top-notch OLED panel or built-in battery. Paying extra for a quality monitor is worthwhile,