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The 3 Best Monitors For Dual Setup - Spring 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Monitors For Dual Setup

Using two monitors in your setup has a few benefits, as you can easily multitask with different windows open. While you can buy any two monitors to use at once, some brands and retailers sell two-in-one monitor bundles. However, those are usually cheap displays that aren't special, so if your budget allows for it, getting two units of the same model is the best way to go. While you can get any size you prefer, 24- and 27-inch screens are common to use in a dual setup, as bigger displays can take up too much space.

There are some factors to consider when looking for monitors for your setup. A monitor with wide viewing angles keeps the image consistent from the sides, which is useful if you aren't viewing the screen from directly in front. Having versatile ergonomics also helps you adjust the two displays to your ideal position.

However, connecting two or more displays isn't so straightforward. You can connect both monitors at once if your computer has two video ports, and most modern computers won't have any problems outputting two signals at once. That said, if your PC only has one output and you don't have a dock or video splitter, then one of the monitors you get needs to support daisy chaining for you to connect a second display.

We've bought and tested over 310 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best monitors to buy for a dual setup. See our recommendations for the best work monitors and the best vertical monitors. However, if you think a dual monitor setup isn't right for you, it may be worth looking for the best ultrawide monitors instead.

Note: We recently published our Test Bench 2.0, and we're updating our reviews to this new test bench. As such, it may seem that two similar monitors have wildly different scores, but scores aren't comparable between different test benches.


  1. Best Monitor For Dual Setup

    The Dell U2723QE is the best monitor for dual setup that we've tested. Its 27-inch screen offers enough space for multitasking, especially if you place two of them side by side, and its 4k resolution helps deliver sharp text. It has remarkable ergonomics, meaning it's easy to adjust to your ideal viewing position next to a secondary display. It also has many connectivity options, including a DisplayPort output, so you can daisy chain a second monitor, which is useful if your computer only has one video output.

    If your setup includes two separate computers too, this display is also a great choice, as it has a KVM switch. This means you can connect your mouse and keyboard directly to the monitor and control both computers with them. Its 90W of power delivery on one of the USB-C ports is also enough to keep your laptop's battery going while you work. In terms of picture quality, it displays a wide range of colors with excellent accuracy, and even though it has disappointing reflection handling, it gets bright enough to fight glare, which is great if you want to use it in a well-lit room.

    See our review

  2. Best Budget Monitor For Dual Setup

    While there are a few good mid-range options you can get as the best secondary monitor, like the Dell S2722QC, which is a 4k monitor with a smaller USB hub than the Dell U2723QE, there are also great options with a budget-friendly price. If that's what you're interested in, consider the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV. It has a lower 1440p resolution than the U2723QE, meaning text isn't as sharp, but that's the sacrifice you need to make for something cheaper. It also has a much smaller USB hub and fewer features as it lacks a KVM switch, but it still supports daisy chaining to quickly connect a second monitor.

    You can easily adjust the monitor as it has outstanding ergonomics; you can even rotate it into portrait mode, making it easy to adjust next to another display. It has fantastic image accuracy before calibration, so you don't need to calibrate it if you're a content creator. Lastly, it has a USB-C port with 65W of power delivery, which is great for connecting smaller laptops. However, if you don't need a USB-C port, the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV is also a good choice but doesn't support daisy chaining.

    See our review

  3. Best Cheap Monitor For Dual Setup

    If you're looking for the best secondary monitor for cheap, check out the ASUS VG246H. Getting a cheap monitor is beneficial if you don't need anything special regarding performance and you can't stretch your budget much, but there are a few trade-offs. It has a smaller 24-inch screen than the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV and a lower 1080p resolution, meaning images aren't as detailed, but the text clarity is still decent. It doesn't support daisy chaining either, but that's the case with most cheap displays; you'll just need to make sure your PC has two video outputs, or you'll have to get a video splitter.

    Fortunately, its smaller screen makes fitting two monitors next to each other easier if you have a small desk. Besides that, it offers good office performance for its cost as it has remarkable ergonomics, letting you easily adjust the screen how you want. It's also fine in a moderately lit room thanks to its good reflection handling and decent peak brightness.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Dell S2721QS: The Dell S2721QS is a 4k alternative to the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV if you want something with better text clarity. However, it has no USB ports and doesn't support daisy chaining, so you'll need two video ports on your computer. See our review
  • Dell U3223QE: The Dell U3223QE is a larger alternative to the Dell U2723QE, which is great if you want as much screen space as possible, but the 32-inch size isn't for everyone, and this monitor costs more. See our review
  • ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV: The ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV is a slightly cheaper alternative to the Dell U2723QE with fewer ports and features, as it doesn't have a KVM switch. It does support daisy chaining, but there are some issues with it, so the Dell is the more reliable option. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. May 07, 2024: Removed the 'Best Upper Mid-Range' and 'Best Mid-Range' categories because they don't fit into the scope of the article, which focuses on cheaper displays at a lower cost. Replaced the Gigabyte M27Q P with the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV in the Notable Mentions.

  2. Mar 12, 2024: Verified that all monitors are still available to purchase and updated text for clarity throughout.

  3. Jan 31, 2024: Added the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV to give another option and for consistency with other recommendations.

  4. Nov 15, 2023: Removed the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV and renamed the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV to 'Best Budget Monitor' because both monitors are similar in price and performance, and the PA278CV supports daisy chaining; added the Dell U3223QE to Notable Mentions.

  5. Sep 21, 2023: Added the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV to give another option; added the Gigabyte M27Q P to Notable Mentions.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors for a dual setup that are currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people, in each price range. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price, and feedback from our visitors.

If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.