January 15, 2024

Lines keep blurring between work and pleasure screens, and OLED overwhelms. There are many new computer monitor releases made at the Consumer Electronics Show every year, and it can be challenging to decide which ones are worthwhile. There were two standout themes among this year’s most intriguing models. First off, a lot of the issues I raised in 2022 regarding the lack of OLED monitors were resolved this year. Several ideas for OLED monitors in 2024 were unveiled at CES, and several of those screens were designed to be desktop-friendly in size. This includes the release of alternative smaller screens and 32-inch, non-curved QD-OLED options for those who have been waiting for OLED displays in a wider range of form factors. Second, CES hinted that the distinction between gaming monitors and high-end monitors used for general or even professional reasons may become increasingly hazy in the future as more people combine their personal and professional lives. The optimum gaming display and the greatest productivity monitor do not yet fully align in a single model. However, with this week’s developments, I’m thinking of ways that future displays could be even more useful for users who have significant interests in both work and play. These are the most attractive monitors from CES 2024 for the time being. The Dell UltraSharps reach 120 Hz. Due to their USB-C connectivity, Dell UltraSharp displays have long been a favorite among creatives and professionals, including Mac users. The debut of IPS Black is the most significant innovation that Dell has introduced at the last few CES exhibitions in an effort to enhance its offering. However, Dell concentrated on enhancing video resolution for CES 2024. The 39.7-inch ultrawide Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U4025QW), shown above, has a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a resolution of 5120 x 2160. With the majority of monitors designed for workers still operating at 60 Hz, this represents a significant improvement for users whose PCs can handle 11,059,200 pixels at 120 frames per second. For a while, only gaming displays could boast such speeds, but as more TVs move toward higher refresh rates (mostly thanks to gaming consoles), more people are getting used to seeing quicker panels. Additionally, we wouldn’t blame employees for engaging in some light gaming on the U4025QW, given other features like a 2500R curve. However, according to Dell, the refresh rate enhancement aims to improve eye comfort. A Dell representative told me last month at a press event that the UltraSharp U4025QW is one of two monitors with 5-star accreditation from TÜV Rheinland’s new Eye Comfort program, which Dell helped establish. TÜV claims that the certification procedure now “covers a broader range of safety indicators, such as ambient brightness, color temperature adjustment and regulation, and brightness,” and “is no longer limited to the old low-blue-light or flicker-free labels.” Control over color temperature and brightness for various ambient lighting conditions is one of the new needs. An ambient light sensor built into the Dell ultrawide monitor takes care of this. Additionally, a minimum refresh rate of 120 Hz is required for certification, which is most likely where Dell obtained the figure from. A Dell representative affirmed to Ars that the monitor’s use of IPS Black had no bearing on its TÜV certifications and that, in theory, it could have received five stars if it had used another kind of panel, such as VA. When Dell introduced two 24-inch and two 27-inch UltraSharp displays with 120 Hz refresh rates in November, the company announced that it was adding 120 Hz to the UltraSharp lineup. Dell went all out at CES, bringing the refresh rate to a top-tier ultrawide 5K Thunderbolt 4 monitor, demonstrating that this update wasn’t just a fluke limited to its smaller UltraSharps. An enhanced version of ComfortView Plus, which employs hardware that minimizes blue light levels, is accessible on the U4025QW. It works, in my experience, without causing colors to go yellowish, as some other methods of combating blue light do. Following a 2020 release, Dell has not made any significant updates to ComfortView Plus. However, the company currently claims to be utilizing a “more advanced LED backlight” to lower the percentage of blue light exposure from 50% to less than 35%. According to Dell’s estimations, 8% less eye tiredness is suggested after 50 minutes of less blue light exposure; however, efficacy varies and is challenging to quantify. UltraSharp U4025QW is on sale on February 27.   Asus’ foldable portable monitor Asus intends to introduce what should be the first OLED monitor with a foldable screen in 2024. The 17.3-inch ZenScreen Fold OLED MQ17QH portable monitor from Asus folds in half to make it feel like a 12.5-inch panel when carried. The flexible screen is lightweight for a portable screen of this size and as thin as other portable monitors, measuring 0.38 inches thick when open, which further enhances its portability. However, the Fold OLED is anticipated to be extremely costly for a portable monitor—or any kind of monitor—in true emerging-tech form. According to an Asus representative, the company plans to launch the consumer-grade screen at a price point of roughly $2,000. With such a high price for what’s likely going to be a secondary or tertiary screen, the vast majority of the consumers this monitor targets will not reasonably be able to buy it. Beyond individual ownership and the MQ17QH in particular, though, this display is intriguing because it offers a glimpse into the foldables of the future—a category that tech enthusiasts appear determined to popularize despite their limits. I can finally imagine myself using a foldable screen device for a prolonged period of time. The screen’s possible distraction from glare and reflections is still a source of worry. However, those issues might be more tolerable on a backup screen, such as a portable monitor, than on more important devices, such as PCs and phones. Additionally, since manufacturers won’t have to take into consideration the problems with memory, computation, cooling, storage,