Best Dual Monitor Setup in 2022 (gaming, workstation, editing)
There comes a point in life when you know a single monitor setup is no longer for you. Let's find the best alternative
Whether you’re a professional Twitch streamer or an amateur seeking to enhance their experience, broadening your horizons (literally) over two monitors allows you to multitask whilst you game – no need to hit Alt every time you get a Discord message!
Likewise, if you enjoy co-op gaming, you won’t cover half the display with the video call, nor do you have to sacrifice watching each other’s reactions when you’re exposing the saboteur in Among Us, as your pals can have their own screen.
Of course, the benefits of doubling your display mean nothing if those monitors aren’t high quality and built to last. It’s twice as important to make sure you’re investing in a product to improve game time, not frustrate you with flickering or low FPS.
That’s why we’ve produced this specially-selected list of monitors we think are perfect for a dual setup. Whether you’re a HD 144Hz snob or just trying to get by on a budget 1080p display, there’s bound to be something here for any player.
Thinking about picture quality, width, refresh rates, bezel thickness and other performance specifications, we believe each of these would work well doubled up. Let’s get into which ones we’ve picked and why!
Our Top Picks
Best Dual Monitor Setup
In-depth Review
Dell UltraSharp U2720Q
Dell UltraSharp U2720Q
Number one on our list for a reason, the Ultra-Sharp U2720Q from Dell proffers 27 inches of glorious 4K UHD IPS screen, running a super vibrant resolution that brightens and intensifies even the dullest of pictures.
The wide viewing angle that’s enabled by In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology allows for consistently exceptional visuals, supporting practically seamless dual monitor setup for viewing your games as they were intended to be seen.
Versatile connectivity means you’ll be able to hook up using DisplayPort, HDMI, USB and Audio Line cables, compatible with the majority of GPUs favored by gamers. There’s even a security lock slot, for added peace of mind.
Vesa mount compatible, this monitor can tilt, swivel and pivot to your heart’s content, as well as featuring its own in-built USB hub for when your tower just doesn’t have enough ports. It utilizes super fast USB-C ports, for the quickest charging times.
However, despite ticking all of our other boxes, this monitor is unfortunately limited to a frame rate of 60Hz. Whilst this is plenty for many players, professional streamers for instance might want to consider a quicker refresh rate
ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM
ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM
Packing an absolutely incredible 280Hz refresh rate (240Hz when not overclocked), the 27 inch Tuf Gaming monitor from Asus epitomizes an ideal display for gamers by offering one of the fastest response times on the market today.
Design-wise, it’s really easy on the eyes; sleek and stylish, whilst sturdy and rigorous enough to last for years to come. This is a difficult sweet spot to achieve, especially being one of the more affordable models on our list.
An adjustable stand with VESA mounting support allows you to manually adjust the monitor’s height as well as tilt, swivel and pivot as much as you’d like. This is great for a dual-monitor setup, as you can customize your experience for every game.
W-LED backlight technology combined with an IPS panel creates some truly stunning colors that won’t strain your eyes, for clear and crisp 1080p visuals that you can enjoy all day (or night, we know, we’re gremlins too).
For a resolution of 1920 x 1080, some players advise that 27 inches might be a little big – if this is the case for you, you’ll find a smaller version of this monitor with very similar specs in the VG259QM, though performance might vary between the two.
ViewSonic ELITE XG270QC
ViewSonic ELITE XG270QC
With curves in all the right places, the Viewsonic Elite also packs a mighty beautiful 1440p 27 inch display in wide QHD, which combined with the 165Hz refresh rate offers even the biggest noob a chance to experience games like a pro.
Certified HDR compliant with the Vesa DisplayHDR400 seal of approval, experience everything your games have to offer, with in-game detail enhancement that’ll pull you into the game so intensely, you might actually believe you’re there.
An incredibly quick response time of 1ms combined with PureXP Blur Reduction technology makes use of backlight strobing in order to provide crystal-clear images, even at the fastest of frame rates.
Svelte and sexy, the frameless three-sided, incredibly thin bezel means that your gaming screen is maximised, ideal for minimizing compatibility issues when you’ve got a dual monitor setup. You won’t believe how smooth it transitions!
Your gaming rig stands to upgrade even further, with a built-in mouse anchor, high quality Elite RGB ambient lighting and a bonus reinforced headphone hook. Feel like a real-life streamer even if you aren’t quite there yet!
Alienware AW2720HF
Alienware AW2720HF
Four times faster than your standard refresh rate at 240Hz, even veteran gamers will be impressed by one of the latest and greatest offerings from Alienware via Dell, promising real-time reactions in even the biggest and laggiest online games.
Thanks to IPS frame technology, the extra wide-angle viewing range creates consistent color coverage no matter what angle you’re viewing on. Ideal for dual monitor setups, you can create the perfect pair of displays for you.
A 1ms response time allows for incredibly quick pixel changing, blasting away any motion blur to ensure you can fully utilize your quickscoping skills, whilst you’ll see the whole battlefield with ease on all 27 inches of screen.
AlienFX, the fully customizable lighting system developed by Alienware to enable dynamic lighting effects and full RGB values, means you’ll experience unique settings for every single game, for a truly versatile gaming monitor.
AMD Radeon FreeSync technology ensures your display and GPU are fully synchronized, allowing for the maximum frame rate only when your monitor can produce them, to reduce distortions and protect you from dead pixels.
LG 27UK650-W
LG 27UK650-W
Uniting 27 inches of IPS panel technology and 4K UHD resolution for truly impressive visuals, consistently, the 27UK650 from LG has proved popular amongst gamers, supporting basic HDR compatibility at a more affordable price.
You can really take advantage of the 27 inches of space with the super wide 178-degree viewing angle, maximizing the image quality no matter where you’re looking from, even though the black tones aren’t quite as vivid as a VA panel.
Supporting AMD FreeSync technology, you’ll be able to take advantage of the variable refresh rate if you have the appropriate graphics card, aiding to minimize screen tearing and reduce input lag as much as possible.
Although you can definitely make use of the HDR support, we’ve found you only stand to gain an increase in general brightness, because the color gamut isn’t wide enough – you’ll notice it doesn’t have the official HDR400 certification from VESA.
Whilst the height, tilt and pivot can be adjusted with the clean, ergonomic stand design, the screen itself cannot be swiveled from left to right, which might make dual monitor setups more difficult to get absolutely perfect.
Final Word
No matter if you’re obsessed with the ultimate FPS, the most ultra high-definition screen possible or you want to maximize your productivity when streaming, picking out a new monitor couldn’t be simpler with the above list to choose from.
Whether your priorities are a HD curved screen or a flat monitor with an IPS panel, we’ve tried to curate a selection of products that will tick the boxes of gamers across the world, from frame rate to HDR compatibility.
Though we of course pedestalize the Dell U2720Q, that doesn’t mean any of the other choices are inferior, and we stand by all of them as excellent choices for your move to a dual monitor gaming station, especially if you want to mix and match!
As we mentioned above, maximizing your opportunities by getting a flat AND a curved monitor to switch between as you please might not create the most seamless transition when stretching the display, but you’ll have the most flexibility in setup.
Whatever you go for, we hope this guide helped you get the upgrade you deserve – let us know! Do you agree or disagree with our picks? Why? We love to hear from you.