Is A 32" 4K Display Too Big for a Photographer? BenQ SW271 and SW320 4K Monitor Review

[@michaelxz1305]

my god this man is a genius... this is the first video I've watched comparing monitors where it goes back and forth between the different monitors in the exact same location - so you can really see the difference.

[@CalebKerr]

Genius? I'll take it. Glad it helped!

[@Lishtenbird]

Common sense and/or diligence, sadly, elude most reviewers. It's just faster to make superficial content - it gets the clicks, and who cares past that? Mostly only people who actually use this stuff daily and will literally feel the difference in their eyes, arms and backs. And those people are few and far between.

[@LavaLake7079]

Nice real-world review, refreshing to hear someone talk about something other than gaming! It's especially rare anybody talks about pixel density in relation to viewing distance and that's actually pretty useful info when trying to make a buying decision.

[@imoldgregg8]

yass dadi

[@adso5555555]

Even having both sizes to try, you still couldnt decide, that shows how difficult the decision actually is!! I'm still not sure myself.. but really appreciate the video, and something focussed on productivity > gaming.

[@SamerMatti]

One of the few non-biased reviews on KZbin. In most other videos the products provided are just perfect and everything comes down to your budget. This review sounds like a much more honest take. Thank you!!!

[@Athenal0ve]

This was really helpful! I had been using an old 22" monitor and recently decided to update. So I tried out a 27" but also wondered whether going up to 32" would make sense. I agree about distance. Sitting up to 2' away from the screen, I found that a 27" is already quite a lot to look at, but I also wanted to see how I would feel about watching a show/movie or play a game from 6' away. I decided the latter wasn't really ideal, which is why I entertained the idea of a 32" monitor. But at the end of the day the primary use for the monitor is productivity. So after watching this, I suspect that for me, 27" is already plenty and I would likely be better off watching videos/play games on a my bigger screen TV.

[@reevus01]

and here I just pull my 21 inch closer to my face voila its now 27inch.

[@indonesiaamerica7050]

27" is good for a single display and for mounting over your laptop display. 32" screens start to get cumbersome if you're running your laptop display as well. Also, 27" displays paired side by side are good and you can scale that up infinitely if you have infinite room in your workspace. But above 27" you don't want to keep those things on a typical desk. As the video shows, 32" is OK if it's your only display and you have the room on your desk or can set it back on a wall. 27" is OK for watching movies unless you're used to something much bigger but this is a matter of having realistic expectations and living with your choices.

[@Will-be-free]

When I changed to a larger display, I felt like it was too large at first. I was used to lean forward to be close to the screen and after using the new display for a while, I got used to leaning back. When trying out a new display, make sure it's not just your bad habits that makes you uncomfortable with the change. Also as an older guy who needs glasses to watch at close distance, I can tell you that it is not the same to watch small screen at close distance as watching a large screen far away.

[@Kremithefrog1]

Same

[@allthewaythrough]

I’m the old guy who can not agree with you more. 32 obviously is a better solution!

[@joelwolski]

This is exactly the type of discussion I was looking for. With my eyesight, I can't sit too close (I hate getting older), and if I sit too far away, I need my glasses, which are really for "long distance", not long "close up". Personally, I like the idea of the tighter pixel pitch. I have two 32" 1440 monitors at work running AutoCAD at about 32" away from my normal seated position, and I find myself leaning in often to get get the detail I need. But at only 92ppi, I just don't get the crispness I'm looking for. At home, doing photo editing, I'll be able to position myself closer, and the constant scanning left to right you mentioned seems like a deal breaker for me. So glad I found this video.

[@greatwanna]

What a lovely review that still holds up in 2022, thanks dude!

[@SonickPhotographie]

I can't imagine how much time you've spent on this video. What a great job! And you only have 3K subscribers? That's a shame. Thanks a lot!

[@xeniavader]

this is a great video 27inch all the way. Everything looks sharper given the better pixel density. A larger screen means more eye tracking and increased fatigue. On most desks the monitor needs to be fairly close so the smaller screen if perfectly fine.

[@LetsBuildThatApp]

Yeah you look way too cramped up on that 24" table top. I recommend getting a 29" deep standing desk with a monitor arm attached to the back. With this setup, you can simply pull the monitor closer when you need to, or push it back when watching a movie. Moreover the arm allows you to put the screen flush against the back wall, give you even more depth.

[@CalebKerr]

You have described literally exactly the setup that I switched to. I took this table top, cut it and re-glued it to be 30” deep, put it on a motorized sit/stand base, and put the monitor on an articulated arm.

[@mickaelsflow6774]

@@CalebKerr Any chance we get a video update on that? :D (Or just a set of pictures?)

[@teahousereloaded]

For me bigger is always better, as the father the display is away the more relaxing for your eyes. I'm still figuring out how to have a 60" 4k TV that's 2m (6") away as my primary display. :D (along with my 27 cintiq) Great video tho, it helps me a lot.

[@mickaelsflow6774]

@@teahousereloaded wow! That'd be... A feat! :D wouldn't the LG CX55 or CX65 be big enough for you? The 48" did the round on KZbin and seemed almost perfect as a monitor.

[@teahousereloaded]

@@mickaelsflow6774 It would be awesome, but it's also quite impractical. So most likely I'll go with a 32" screen on my desk :)

[@garydunken7934]

27" or 32" ? Get 27" if you keep your monitor at arm's length or less. But if you are a person like me, who position the monitor far enough (for example, while typing on keyboard, stretch your hand towards the screen and you still can't touch it), then I think 32" is better. I found on 27" screen, the windows icons to be a bit small, unless I do scaling or sit closer. On 32" with 4K resolution, I think there's no need to do up scaling of desktop to make icons bigger. I hope that helps.

[@artemio8]

I have 27 inch asus 4k and for me its amazing for close range and little bit far range 👍

[@anthonycarvalho4613]

I have an 32" 1440 at more than a full arm extended and anything less than that is overwhelming, i was considering an 32" 4k at arm lenght, your coment changed my mind

[@asd-dr9cf]

Thanks for the info. How far do you usually sit away from the monitor? I have a fold out desk (~1m viewing distance) and feel like I have a similar setup to yours but I keep hearing you have to be 80cm or less to actually read the text comfortably on a 32in 4k.

[@AviaryMolina]

@@artemio8 what’s better for gaming on console? 32 or 27 on 4K hdr with ppi ofc

[@Afura33]

@@AviaryMolina For gaming you want the 32 screen.

[@TomGrubbe]

Good video. I've been using a 28" 4k monitor to edit photos and it's been perfect. But I've also been shopping around for new gear and considered a 32" replacement. So this video really helped answer several questions. Much appreciated.

[@mvhan911]

Did you keep the 28“ ? I was also thinking of getting 28“ instead of 27“

[@zzdoodzz]

I have a 24 inch, whenever I feel I need a "big screen" I just pull the monitor closer by 3-4 inches, now I have a 27 inch. LOL.

[@HansLoepfe]

That's what it comes down to - Perception. Viewing distance is the critical factor (when considering the size of the screen)

[@WargodFilms]

Thats funny

[@d_no_allyn_86]

Wooow lol. Don't hurt your eyes.

[@Digital963]

Boot 😂

[@thatirritatingguy5350]

Exactly, my mobile works like a charm

[@delukxy]

If your wall is suitable for a wall mounted cantilever mount you can use a 32" and move it to a distance to suit you. Photowork maybe in one position and films, sports and games at another. Wall needs to be robust to cope with a heavy 32" and the leverage it makes on the arm. The 23" LG I have on an arm works well but it's going to be upgraded for 4K along with a matching graphics card pretty soon. I may need a stronger arm but will probably stick to a 27" or 28".

[@hybridownzDK]

While I was watching the video I thought you already had like 100k or million subs because of the quality of this video and effort. I was shocked to see so little subs. Is this really your video? if it is you need more

[@CalebKerr]

Shannon Sharpe Assuming I stole it sounds like a complement, I’ll take it 😂. Yes, my video, glad you enjoyed!

[@hybridownzDK]

Caleb Kerr The quality of this review is on par with the top youtubers you have bright future

[@Mintyseden]

My thoughts too. It’s all about posting more content at specific intervals, if you want a larger sub base. Awesome video, love the detail with the sound, when mentioning video.

[@CalebKerr]

@@Mintyseden Thanks! Yes, you're definitely right, I don't make nearly enough videos to get the ball rolling.

[@NoahR-di1nu]

I though after I read this comment he must have at least 8K, only around 800??? Watt these videos are great!!

[@speedmatters]

Extremely useful video, thank you. Going for the 4K 27" on a desk arm.

[@CalebKerr]

You're welcome! I put mine on an arm and I love it.

[@kaede_jing]

Very on point! It's the distance between you and your monitor will decide the screen size to buy!!!

[@OniMirage]

GF is a graphic designer and edits photos and advertisements via mac and pc (greatly prefers PC performance and owns both). Uses a calibrated 43" 4k @ 3ft distance. Sony recently researched the distance required to perceive realism with higher resolution displays rather than the traditional distance considered to be optimal. They found the distance is actually half of the traditional "optimal" viewing distance because the density is so high with 4k and beyond that the limitations the formula was designed for no longer applies.

[@dant.6364]

Wow, this guy has a knack for teaching in a "story telling" way. Hope he posts more frequently. Subscribed.

[@CalebKerr]

Thanks for the kind words, Dan! I don't consider myself much of a teacher, but glad to hear the communication was clear and engaging!

[@mr_Gurme]

Main question is, how good your operation system and most used software can scale their interface. For example, Photoshop can literally double all internal interface, and its will look perfect on 4k (for my taste), but for other software you will stick with small buttons and pictograms. And such programs may be not so easy to use on 4k display. So, if you can adjust interface to display ppi and prefered working distance it is will be a good choose for you. And I think this is the determining factor for any display you want to bay.

[@lookash2]

For me the deal breaker is PPI. 4K is not a good resolution for 27". I used it with MacOS and realized that setting 1:1 pixel makes on-screen elements too small, but on the other hand retina settings (4 physical pixels = 1 system pixel) make those same elements too big. In my opinion, 4K is a good option for 24" displays with retina settings, or for 32" with 1:1 pixel setting. For 27" the best resolution is 1440p in 1:1 or 5K in retina (5K = 2x 1440p).

[@khoavan9984]

I think the scale of 125% is suitable for 27 ", the resolution is equivalent 3072x1728px, 2.56 times more space than FHD instead of 4 times

[@hirohikonishikawa4851]

24" is a way too small, I could never go below a 27"

[@lookash2]

@@hirohikonishikawa4851 as I wrote, size of the screen is not most important. You can have 27 inch display with full HD, with 4k, 5k etc.

[@Afura33]

@@lookash2 well I agree, 27 inch on 4k the text and icons are really small and some programs do not up scale the icons or text.

[@aquaphoenixx]

Thank you Łukasz! Your comment was very useful to me and I further researched. I have a M1 MacBook Air and am thinking of getting a base Mac Studio. I was thinking of getting a 27 inch Dell display but after your comment I will probably go with the 32 inch. How is Mac OS text and UI on a 32 inch 4K monitor with 1:1 Pixel? Is it big enough? Is it sharp enough? Thanks!

[@windmaomao]

to be honest, I'm really impressed by the conclusion, especially after seeing so many youtube video using huge monitor for their perfect desk setup. I always think they just have a bigger pocket than knowing how to work.

[@marcelolazaroni6595]

Thanks for the very structured review. The paper illustrations were a great addition and helped with retaining the info. I was in doubt between those two sizes as well, and I think your point about the viewing distance has convinced me and the decision is now clear. Thanks!

[@NickSiekierski]

About a year ago I upgraded from my 2010 27" 1080p HP display to a new 28" 4k HP monitor, it seems to be the sweet spot and for about $350 I can't complain.

[@oantalaroan]

Your review is very intuitive and easy to understand.

[@stefanguy]

Thank you good sir! I've been debating this and this video has confirmed my decision!

[@pxko6984]

I love your videos. Especially the rnb synth one 🙏🙏

[@bobbyporch]

Great video - I was wondering this very thing and you simplified it in 8 mins.

[@DarrenD777]

2 things: 1. Calibrate your monitor(s) to make sure they are the best they can be, and change presets as the light conditions in your room (i.e. sunlight through a window, or light bulb colors/brightness) change. 2. a Matte coating actually reduces sharpness because it scatters light. However, glossy (glass) monitors tend to reflect everything in the room as if they were a mirror. So, it's kinda six of one and half a dozen of another. :-/ That is, unless you have a completely dark room (or you literally put a thick black cloth over you and the screen like a tent. LOL).

[@FranCarreira]

I was aiming for a 42 inch display, but I feel that my viewing distance is not far enough and I will probably spend the day turning my head in all directions to reach every corner. Your video is very clarifying. Thank you

[@juliusw6007]

Man your quality is insane! Please keep doing this, until reading the comments i thought you were a big channel that has done this for years! And I really liked how you gave an actual aid to decisionmaking, instead of just saying "well whatever its up to you" like so many other big channels usually do when comparing. Keep it up

[@CalebKerr]

Julius W Glad you enjoyed it, Julius, thanks for taking the time to comment!

[@MDMZ]

Really well explained, you deserve more subs

[@AndreasViklundOfficial]

I had been planning to go for two 24" with 2560x1440 px each. The idea was "edit on one screen, keeping the tools on the other screen". This was kind of a cost-saving thought, since the prices were fairly low. But my employer asked one very good question: "But, I thought you were talking about 4K video, so why not two 4K displays?". In order to answer, I looked up the pricing (which I expected to be a lot higher), which ended up with me suddenly aiming for another setup: single-screen 28" 4K... I have now used the new studio computer with a 28" Samsung display (3840x2160 px), and now I wouldn't want anything else. Not two 4K displays (not needed, and takes up too much desk space), but just one with good color handling. Going for anything larger would have been too big (again, viewing distance sure matters). So, single screen for me. 28" seems to be the sweet spot - and this Samsung screen ended up being cheaper than my two-screen idea. And the fairly cheap Samsung 4K display (model name: U28E570D) is one I can recommend to anyone who just wants an OK 4K display. It is not in the major league of professional screens - but it works great for everyday use. Even for a professional music producer and hobbyist video editor. Finally: I watched this video when considering which 4K display size I would aim for, and opted to go for 28" - so this video helped me find a setup that I ended up being really happy with. Thanks!

[@CalebKerr]

So glad it was helpful for you! Sounds like you ended up with a good setup. I've yet to see someone successfully put their tool bars on a separate monitor from their workspace. I hear people talk about it, but never seen it go well in practice.

[@dustysgap4297]

This video has the quality content of a much larger channel. I particularly liked your pixel density demonstration. For someone who rarely does video , you are exceptionally good at it. Cheers

[@CalebKerr]

Thanks for the kind words, Ken!

[@loiphin]

Thank you for this video! I am chucking my silly 42.5" 4K Philips monitor and getting 2 x 27" 4K monitors instead. My viewing distance is also 24". You mentioned in your video that you tended to only use the centre part of the 32" for a window. And then I realised that I was watching your video in a small window centred on my screen... the lightbulb in my head turned on ;)

[@CalebKerr]

loiphin so glad it helped!

[@us9831]

This channel will hit a million in no time.. such quality content is hard to find on KZbin

[@CalebKerr]

Usatîi Sabina I can only hope 🤞

[@napoleong011]

thanks. You have just helped me to made the final decision. I'm going to buy the 27 inches (BenQ SW271C- $800) since the larger size version (SW321C) cost more than double price ($2000) the 27'' version. In the future, if I need more work space, I'll buy another SW271C. The total price for 2 monitors SW271C is still cheaper than the single one SW321C.

[@phototocanvaspdx]

Where was that? Im looking at the two and the 271C is $1600

[@sergiominnicifilms]

Quite the c at sw271 🤣

[@emilschneider9974]

Thank you kindly, you have really helped me with my decission. I have the same distance, field of view as you making the 27 " a better option for me. Your explinations are clear and easy to grasp. Thanks again.

[@himanshucbhagat]

Guys lets give this guy more than 4k Likes for an amazing 4k review. Finally a perfect review on youtube I am looking for before buying. A detailed review for a creative professional & all aspects of info are covered. I was seriously confused between 27 & 32. Now after looking & learning from your video I found 27 a better choice upgrading from dell 24. Would also like to know a basic info about how much power supply does it need & what GPU do you suggest for this displays ? Is gtx 1070 good for it ? Thanks a lot Caleb

[@loganhephilim]

This was the best video about this! Everything is very well explained. thanks man!

[@narmiak]

I have Dell u2718q (27", 4k) and recently I bought iiyama XUB2792QSU (27", 1440). For text based operations and OS administration I prefer the iiyama mostly because Windows is terrible with scaling so fonts and applications on Dell are either super small, or blurry.

[@AHMADAHMAD-wb9xf]

Thanks for the video for years back. Being tested with both 32 & 27, I ended up with 27 4k with MacBook 13 pro as a power horse.

[@ab185]

Dropping in to say that this video, recommended to me somewhat randomly, made me reconsider my monitor size choice. I was set on waiting for a 4K 32" IPS 120Hz (or higher) display sometime in 2021, but decided to go with a 27". I must say I'm pleasantly surprised at how accessible 4K 27" is and how easy it is to use.

[@CalebKerr]

Probably recommended because of the 4Runner crossover content. Glad it was helpful!

[@wellingtonrdm1]

Cara, me ajuda. Estou em 2024 em dúvida sobre meu próximo monitor, 28 gigabyte 4k 144hz IPS 1MS ou 31,5 gigabyte 4k 144hz IPS 1MS. Uso apenas para jogos na minha RTX 3080, atualmente tenho um monitor de 24. 50 a 60 centímetros de distância.

[@alexron2023]

Thanks I’ve been battling this decision for weeks and you helped me narrowing it down to the 27”.

[@sky173]

Great video. I do video editing and find that a larger screen and sitting at a further distance is my preferred choice. It also gives me a lot of desk space in front of the screens for taking notes and paperwork. I have two 44in, 4K monitors which helps me check the raw video quality off of the camera, something I had a hard time seeing in smaller monitors. I also set one monitor for raw video and the other for edited content to see comparisons. Thanks for sharing your experience. Again, great video.

[@HenrikDoark]

Man, thank you for taking the time to answer and solve these issues that you presented in the video. For me it was a real savior of life time!

[@CalebKerr]

Henrik D'oark So glad to hear it!

[@Awesomeboyscout]

Extremely well done and concise. Hoping for more contents like this in the future.

[@tenzinyeong]

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[@johnquixote2205]

Subscribed. This could not have been a more informative and well-explained review. Well done, man. You're answering some questions I had with easily relatable research and experience. Fantastic.

[@NirmitGire]

I chose the 32 inches monitor and now I cannot settle for anything less than that, it's the most amazing thing ever.

[@alb12345672]

I am a dev and have 2 32" 2k displays. They were $200 each. 4k was a bit small for unscaled text unless I went to a 40", which is crazy.

[@toyeadeniran6394]

Same, I have a 32in 4k 60hz monitor and a 27in 1440p 144hz monitor and the 27in feels too small for me even for gaming. My dream monitor would be a 32inch 4k 144hz IPS monitor. GPUs just have to catch up though, even a 2080ti just barely gets games over 60hz at 4k in most modern games.

[@mihkus]

@@toyeadeniran6394 Bought 32" 4k 60hz, capable of 85 at 1440 and 120 at 1080 I had 1080 32" before that... I was so impressed by the video playback quality that it felt better than real life. 4k gaming with 2x580s isnt very pleasant but it works quite well with freesync enabled and few games that support crossfire solutions, screen tear is rather bad in most games. So is the framerate. But even at 1080p, the 4k is extremely capable at delivering better image quality, which is weird in a way.

[@aboutech3901]

@@mihkus What's model do you have?

[@ItsMeliTastic]

the thick bezels are hideous

[@thomasslynch1]

This is probably the best product review I have ever seen. You are one talented man!

[@CalebKerr]

Thomas Lynch hey thank you!

[@EpicJCreations]

one thing I would add for anyone picking up a second monitor, make sure its the same resolution as your main monitor. I say this only if you're going to be using scaling to make icons bigger. This is because if you are using a 4k display, this will appear 4 times smaller, at least on a windows pc. on a 27-inch monitor, 4x smaller is too small, this is where scaling comes in, you want to scale everything up by 200%, so its the same size as it would appear at 1080p, but now 4x sharper since it's still at 4k resolution. The problem is if you are using a 2k, or 1080p monitor and you're moving from one to another, going from 4k to 2k, you will have issues where the windows, as they move from one monitor to another, will struggle to resize and appear correctly on either monitor. Hope this helps someone out there deciding on what the second monitor to get. I only use a windows pc, so I can't say that this issue occurs on mac or not, I do no macs tend to be much more refined in aspects like this, so its possible this is not a problem with them.

[@damaito1829]

I have a 1440p/1080p monitor set up and looking to get a 4k. I would put my 1080p 240hz separately on my desk so I can play CSGO on it. I play really close to it with keyboarded tilted and so on. Do you think 4k/1440p would be that bad? I've noticed a little bit or what you talk about but it hasn't been that bad

[@EpicJCreations]

@@damaito1829 Its not really that big of a deal, I have 3 4k monitors and a 1080p monitor, so 4 total, and its really not that bad, just something to get used to. I would say if you ended up getting a 4k monitor or another 2k monitor, I would still use it with your other monitors, More the better, even with the scaling thing.

[@danielpurba3961]

8 min video yet so full of information. Top notch, sir. 😎

[@ricardorgomez]

Good video. I think your reasoning behind the different sized monitors and perceptions of them was excellent and makes great sense. I'm also thinking of building a similar setup with a MacBook Pro. As a photographer myself, while video is an important reason for the bigger screen, it also helps with portrait-oriented images. With my current HD monitor, I like to rotate it to get more on the screen. With a larger screen, I wouldn't have to rotate the screen as often. Maybe never once I upgrade. And there are also many little reasons for using a larger screen: more image previews in Capture One, not using the full-size and having chat or other little apps to monitor. I would just use my current monitor as a second for video production or maybe keep it in portrait-mode. But definitely good use for it. Thanks again for the great video.

[@pastuh]

For 10 years used 23" monitor. Recently got 42" and it's ok only for gaming.. Next plan just go to shop and check 32" and 27" monitors..

[@JazzBarista]

I use my 27" 4k monitor primarily for photography. I use Windows 10 for scaling. I am trying to ascertain if a 32" monitor would give me more desktop space (especially vertical viewing) without being disappointed by lower the lower 140 ppi vs. the 27" 163 ppi. Within an app like photoshop, I'm frequently zooming in regardless. Since I can always use a second monitor to drag windows for workspace, I can't tell if a 32", viewed from the same distance, would provide any benefit or productivity as my primary monitor.

[@RadekPogoda]

I absolutely love your video style. Thanks for a very informative material. I need to finally replace my NEC Multisync P221W for something bigger and your video landed in my browser at the perfect time. I think I wait a moment until the 32 is updated to the 27 level with Thunderbolt 3 and slimmer bezels.

[@CalebKerr]

Radoslaw Pogoda Glad you stumbled across it and enjoyed it! I think that’s a solid plan!

[@Rudenbehr]

For us broke boys, just move the 27” monitor closer.

[@mikebelmont5919]

Broke people cant afford monitors like this

[@Uouttooo]

They are both over $1000. Broke boys cannot afford either.

[@darknightmike10yearsago]

For real. I couldn't believe it when he said "Only a $300 price difference."

[@bobaer3885]

Thanks Caleb. After seing this video i bought the sw271 and did not regret it. It is in my opinion big enough for my needs.

[@roiad876]

I thought you had many more subscribers because the quality of the video is so good.

[@CalebKerr]

Francisco Reyes 🙏 thanks!

[@rogerbarnett8412]

@@CalebKerr Nice 24-70 ya gots there, fellow Canon shooter friend!! I have the excellent Tammy G2.... and the 150-600 G2, both uperb lenses...and the 16-35 f/4 Canon, and the 70-200 f/2.8 L II.... as well as a 500 f/4 II... and now the R5, and two RF lenses the 24-105 F4, and 70-200 f/2.8--which is sweet for its light and compact design!!

[@balthazarriviere6036]

Excellent. I had the same question and this helped me to decide. I'm going to 27''. Thanks!

[@CalebKerr]

Balthazar Rivière Glad to hear it!

[@javaman2883]

I'm a developer, but I've had dual 24" 1080p monitors since 2015, prior to that I had triple 23" rotated vertical from 2012. I mostly liked the vertical rotation, except for the occasional odd issues with the video not being rotated correctly (especially at boot) and limited viewing angle for the left most monitor. Last year, they started rolling out curved ultra wide 29" displays, to which I said, "no thanks". The pair of ultra wides are just so wide, but seem so short. I need more vertical space. I wish I could get 4k in 27", looks to be a sweet spot for typical office desk size.

[@sanjayshorey4225]

I don't know how you would have stared at those very small text in 27 inch 4k monitors. What's point of crisp and smooth text when you can't even see them without scaling and with a comfortable distance.

[@hunterrogue8591]

I have been looking to upgrade and this video was perfect. Thanks. I love the side by side , back and forth comparison.

[@boobtube56]

I got rid of my 32 for 27, tired of moving my head instead of my eyes. I will get another 27 so I can multitask.

[@kyjo72682]

And how will you multitask between two monitors without turning your head?

[@boobtube56]

Well I Iook left right not up down and focus only on my primary objective.

[@martinschultz2631]

Put that 32 one a bit more away and then u can move ur eyes instead of ur head

[@boobtube56]

@@martinschultz2631 Good idea except I was thinking about how I don't full screen as is on one 27''.

[@philippeboutie7673]

Thank you - you absolutely killed it , and perfectly solve my dilemma - shared by so many, if you read the comments: my "desk" is a cave with a small, make that a narrow narrow desk, and I have about the same old Mac setup as you, except my iMac is 27" (2015). I was also thinking "hey, 32 should be better, right?" and even thinking of that beautiful cinemascope format. But I now realize that I DO move my head around even on my 27" iMac! So, thanks

[@KevinRossRN]

Appreciate the work you've put into this video. I definitely know it takes a lot. As a video editor (primarily) I too have been waffling on something in the 27-32" range, but also wonder if I need more real estate, however have to say that you've given me more info to consider. Thanks brother 👊

[@lynxmyster]

I enjoyed the style and performance of your video. I think your a natural at it. Wish you made more. Your voice reminds me of Rich Roll. 👍

[@JohnSmith-rn3vl]

2:22 the puck is awesome for switching between linux and windows which is what i use it for on my PD3200U ... I can KVM switch in 3 seconds ... brilliant.

[@johnstarkey4959]

One of the best reviews I’ve seen Caleb , top job pal 👍

[@CalebKerr]

Thanks John! Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the comment!

[@leodanvillafuerte]

When he said good bye to the 2014 Macbook pro. I said to myself i wish i have one lol

[@MAGAMAN]

Why not just buy a real computer for half the price.

[@martinw.lipworth697]

Wonderfully logically presented! Very helpful. You really know your stuff, Caleb, and you know how to explain it! Thanks 1 x 10 to the 6 !!

[@rathishvbr]

I didn't skip this video & even seek bcoz the way you present so cool. you have one sub now .

[@Volcker1929]

This is a fantastically well done video, how in the hell do you have only 4.5k subs? Great info, excellent review, with actual new and good information.

[@CalebKerr]

Thanks! The low subs may be because I only make a video every 6-12 months or so 😬

[@coolbuddydude1]

The 32 would have been good if it had more resolution. like 5K.

[@effernando]

Man, this is the best "review" video I´ve watched, I agree with the comments, great quality, narrative and subject. Keep it up! Greetings from Mexico City. Also it helped me decide ;)

[@valvenetbabu]

I see another benefit in having a large monitor is that you can have multiple application windows open all at the same time. This would save a lot time & effort switching back & forth between them. Developers who work on many applications at the same time would know how it feels!

[@Zarabozo]

You can have exactly the same amount of windows in both the 27 and the 32. Both have the same resolution. It's the viewing distance what matters here.

[@sanjayshorey4225]

@@Zarabozo : What should be the resolution in a 27" monitor? I'm a new software developer and want to buy my first monitor.

[@Zarabozo]

@@sanjayshorey4225 I'm a software developer and spend my day looking at code. I used to have a 27'' 4k monitor and that was good, except it was some times uncomfortable to read really small text. I now use a 32'' 4k (Dell U3223QE) and I'm pretty happy with how far I can put it from my eyes and how readable things in general are. I think 32'' 4k is the perfect size. My scaling factor is set at 115%.

[@TheRedParallel]

I rarely subscribe to channels when I watch review videos, but I'm definitely subscribing to yours. Your reviews are so concise and informative. Keep it up!

[@joakimgronroos12]

For a more updated 4k 32" monitor at a similar pricepoint (atleast in europe), check out the viewsonic vp3268-4k (there is also a 27" version, the vp2768-4k). Great vid! perfectly executed and very good information density.

[@toyeadeniran6394]

I have this exact monitor, it is quite good. The only issue I have is a little bit of backlight bleed but overall id definitely recommend this monitor.

[@CalebKerr]

Thanks! I know there are definitely a lot of good displays available, these are just some of them. I've heard good things about Viewsonic's higher end ones.

[@juliosaucedo9755]

Just the kind of information I needed. I have been debating with myself about both options.

[@TosinAfolabi]

Very useful video, thanks! Was hoping you would comment on the usability of on-screen elements (text, buttons, other UI controls, etc.) with a native 4K resolution cramped into a 27-inch display. Did you find these rendered too small, or did you need to scale the resolution - e.g. to a QHD equivalent or higher, but less than the native 4K - and were you able to do so reasonably on your Mac?

[@oMeGa0122]

First of all thank you for the details I really was looking for this. Second the transition was so damn smooth good job 👍🏻

[@raw_pc]

I was asking myself the same question as you did in this video. Now I'm happy with 43" LG 43UD79-B 4K monitor. After color correction it's great for its price.

[@CalebKerr]

Glad to hear it!

[@SAJIRAJUNEELAMBARI]

Don't you feel that it is tough with such a wide monitor? How far do you sit from the monitor? If you sit 2-3.5 feet away, ideally 27 inch would be better. Or maximum 32 inch. What do you think about it?

[@ItimDave]

@@SAJIRAJUNEELAMBARI just think of it as a multi-monitor setup on one screen. You can dock windows to the corners and effectively have 4x21.5 inch screens. It's a nice solution.

[@sanjayshorey4225]

@@ItimDave : But a lot of light coming in eyes when using only a part of the screen.

[@whatsonmytable]

Amazing review Your review is so good and real life. I love the back side angles which show how we move our heads while we look at two screens

[@Lemure_Noah]

Amazing review! I use two Dell 27" QHD, but sometimes I'm tempted to upgrade to bigger monitor. After you video, I guess it's best stick with current setup.

[@20per80ID]

What do you thin 27" QHD vs 4K ? i'm planning to buying one but idk which one

[@jamiefenner9443]

​@@20per80ID TLDR; I agree whole-heartedly with Caleb Kerr's conclusion. G'day, I have used two dell 27" QHD IPS monitors for ten years for photography and video, I decided to treat myself to a 31.8" 4K Dell IPS monitor It turns out that my 66 year-old eyes, well-corrected, cannot really see the difference between 4K and QHD - only at the finest level of detail, directly comparing one screen to the other. Younger eyes may be able profit from 4K I have tried closer than arm's length but at the moment, it is sited at arm's length. What did blow me away was how my ten year-old monitors had aged to a yellowish cast, or perhaps slightly brownish. The new monitor looked far too bright and blue ... so i bought an i1Display profiler from XRite, something I should have done long ago. One of the old monitors profiled to nearly D65 and 120 degrees, the other could only manage D65 and 110 degrees, All this is no big deal as I do not print my photos. But yeah, two QHD monitors is the sweet spot (and the minimum acceptable to me), 4K scratched an itch but meh.

[@20per80ID]

@@jamiefenner9443 thank for your kind reply. I haven't bought one yet. I assume the screen size also matter bcz it will decide the PPI. fyi i'm 24 yo and planning to do 4k video editing. I agree QHD is the sweet spot at 27 and 32. Then my budget will decide which one i will get 😂 Edit :: about the blue light, i think it will be great to get monitor with blue light filter available. Some other color preset will be great too. Too much variable for monitor-thing yet the budget is limited. For now i will get one that will give the most satisfaction to my eyes i guess. First item for starter pack can't be perfect 😁👍

[@jamiefenner9443]

@@20per80ID Hi mate. After getting the 31.5" DELL back from my wife for a few days, I must say I LOVE it. I see detail difference on still photos, in details, despite having 66 year-old eyes. In size when scaled to fit, I can fit more widgets on screen, I get greater depth of lists so quicker working. As I mentioned, the colour is better than on the ten year-old monitor. Windows 10 scales the text to 200% and I'm very happy. I look forward to buying another 31.5" monitor when $$ permit. That's for still photos and general usability. As for 4K video that I shot myself, played side by side, the differences in detail between my 27" 2560x1440 and 31.5" 4K screens are much harder to see, if I can see them at all. But with your young eyes, you probably WILL see differences. Good luck

[@20per80ID]

@@jamiefenner9443 that's great mate. Finally I get a LG 27UL600/27UK600. This monitor quality is as expected. I like the 3-side bezel-less design, and its make this monitor even more future-proof as I can use it for dual monitor setup. This monitor is the cheapest 4K IPS monitor available there. Mainly i used for multimedia and light gaming but it sure help a lot in multitasking and editing. Thanks.

[@thudang3039]

Solid vid - totally agree. Thanks for the reminder!

[@podoprigoraisv]

I'm a programmer and make a lot of work with text. I've faced with the same problem, which monitor size would be better for me 27 or 34 inches. Your side by side comparison helped me to see the difference, thank you a lot for the helpful video.

[@Ravend6]

@Z3U5 va bad for text, ips best

[@СтепанНовоселов-т4э]

@@Ravend6 why?

[@CarlosRodrigues-nc2no]

​@@СтепанНовоселов-т4э Search for samsung VA monitor in rtings.com, you will see why. The text looks like a bad anti aliasing is applied or not at all. Not that much really, is not like "hey, i can't read, this cause me headache". My native language is spanish, sry if i didn't explain it very well.

[@houssamalucad753]

@@CarlosRodrigues-nc2no is it just a Samsung thing or VA in general?

[@CarlosRodrigues-nc2no]

@@houssamalucad753 Is because of the technology that VA is made. Nothing about samsung. "Vertical Allignment" it means, and just that is what causes it.

[@OliJono]

Very helpful to include the sitting distance side of it. Most other reviewers would simply say "If you got the money, go for 32 inch one" type of BS.

[@babylon4953]

Im using a 43” 4K monitor. Sitting around 1m from it. Love using lightroom and Photoshop. Gaming and 4K content is really immersive.

[@zaldam]

I think 4k 43'' is the sweetspot now. If at all possible, paired with a 4k 32'' one in a portrait mode.

[@ClareBonthrone]

Wished I'd watched this before I got my 32" monitors. My neck aches after long hours at work, I'm now actually going to have to get rid of them and get smaller monitors for my small work area.

[@CarenKhach]

Hi Caleb. Thanks for helping me decide which monitor size I'll be going with, namely, a 27" 4K monitor for my design work at home. 32" would be too spread physically for most of my tasks, and in occasions where I need to put windows side-by-side, the smaller one is still 4K, and I normally use a single window, so it's just fine. By the way, I wonder if you know my buddy and your namesake Caleb Jordan Lee. He's a great photographer from Virginia. Due to the virus pandemic he lost a lot of wedding jobs this season. How are things looking for you?

[@asd-dr9cf]

I know this is an old video, but I have one major question - How far do you sit away from your monitor, so we have a reference? The whole video you state how "32in is too big for how far you sit vs the 27in" but you fail to mention the actually distance you're sitting which I feel is a very important detail for most people hoping for a reference to their own setup at home when thinking of making to move to a larger monitor. Other than that, your video would've have been near perfect. Love your comparison. One of the best videos covering this topic.

[@CalebKerr]

I’m not sure that I did leave that out 🤔, I’m pretty sure I addressed it.

[@tomcatkzn]

Yes you did adress it. Quite specifically actually 😁 It was the whole point of this video anyway. Thanks for the video by the way. Was tussling with going 1440 or 4k. I see now that 4k is def the way to go, and 27 at a pixel density of 163 makes it a no brainer, unless you actually antntonsit further away. I have to wear reading glasses, so clarity is paramount for me. If I had the 32, tge diatnce I would have tonsit away from the screen to get the whole screen would make my reading glasses out of focus! Thanks again for your effort. Special thanks to not beingbone of thebjerks that has to put themselves in the video more than the product. You spoke nice and fast but not too fast and not too soft orntoo loud. You also took care with the video angles and focus. Well done.

[@EmilFabio]

Thanks for a great review! I bought the BenQ SW271. Now, I was unaware of the importance of having a computer that support monitors with 4K in 60Hz. I am not a gamer or a video-editor, so I thought I could skip this part. I have a Macbook Pro 13’’ (mid 2014) , and it can not display 4K in 60Hz, only in 30Hz. As you guess, I am pretty new to monitors. To all working with graphic design or illustration out there looking for a 4K monitor: going down to 30Hz feels very very slow. I don’t think I would get used to the reaction-time in 30Hz, as some people say on certain forums. Especially if you are using a Wacom-tablet for drawing. The slow reaction on movement is extremely visible, in my opinion. I get the feeling of stop-motion when I watch videos, move windows and scroll down pages. Check this link to see if your apple computer support monitors with 4K in 60Hz: support.apple.com/hr-hr/HT206587 . I now consider smooth movement (which you get with 60Hz) of more importance than high PPI.

[@CalebKerr]

Emil Steinhov thanks for chiming in, and you’re absolutely right. 30hz is unusable as far as I’m concerned, especially with a tablet.

[@EmilFabio]

@@CalebKerr it´s nice to hear that you reached the same conclusion. It was even new to me that the computer uses performance on scaling down the resolution to fit the size of the user interface with my mac. 30hz seemed a little faster when i kept the resolution at 3840x2160(highest). On the other hand it resulted in a very small sized user interface on my monitor. I guess I will have to upgrade my macbook for the 4K era or just stick to 2K. Thanks for your reply.

[@pearlhuynhliu7356]

I have the same struggle whether to buy 27" or 32". Thank for the video. I go for the 27" because it takes less space and I am sitting close to the screen. The pixel and distance explanation is very helpful. Thanks again.

[@Lifeof-Jo]

Thank you I had been looking at the 32 inch for photo editing but felt it was going to be too large I think I’m going with the smaller size

[@KaReEdCa]

Interesting...I agree with the description of BenQ. I ended up with a 27" PD2700Q 2K monitor over a 32" HP 2k option. I found that at 24 or so inches depth was too close for a 32" monitor...I felt like I was sitting at the front row in the movie theater. 2K and 27" seemed to be a great option for me..I too use it primarily for photography and productivity. I also kept my 24" 1080p ViewSonic as a side monitor.

[@AidanArentz]

Great video dude. Nicely put together. I've found my sweet spot is 27" with 2k resolution. It seems to suite my eyes the best. I tested a 32" and found I had to turn me head too much to get things in my field of view. Kind of like watching a tennis match. I think 32" is just a touch too big for a desk.

[@CalebKerr]

I do think it depends on your task (and preference, obviously). I think something like video editing, where you're not constantly looking all over the screen, do well with larger displays, whereas in Photoshop, I'm looking over every inch of the screen frequently, and 32" feels like it hits the point of diminishing returns.

[@andtothewestamerica]

I love working with a 32". I use an adjustable standing desk and I'm often changing positions. I feel like the larger monitor allows for a greater tolerance in viewing distance. Also, when I'm culling or scanning through sessions that have hundreds or thousands of images it's really nice to be able to spread them out. I agree, it's not perfect for everything but... I like it.

[@kenfrank2730]

A very helpful video. After watching I've decided on a 27 inch monitor. I also sit at arm length from my monitor so 27 will be plenty.

[@ninthsunn]

definitely a 27” screen for me, already it’s quite a swing to reach the menu back & forth let alone the 32”. also with the 32” you’d need to sit further as mentioned back but the text is way too small for my age reading distance, i can either reduce the screen resolution for larger fonts or zooming where i can but that’s just not worth having it. that’s my personal opinions that lead me to get the 27”. one of the best comparison reviews, top job. subscribed!

[@firefly6880]

Use the original resolution but use Windows scaling (press windows button, type 'scaling' and enter). Set it to e.g. 125%. Now everything is bigger without throwing away the sharp image.

[@manuelchouza4282]

Great stuff man! I am going through that same analysis only 4 years later and hopefully few bucks cheaper. I hace concluded the same where when you start to move the head too much it makes it more prone to getting loss on what we're you initially looking for and therefore decreasing productivity

[@phase2006]

Excellent video. Super well thought out and genuinely helpful. The 27's bezels would really win me over too!

[@CalebKerr]

Thanks for watching, Pete! Yeah, it's a nice looking product, for sure.

[@evergreen-]

Why not get a 27” 5K LG monitor?

[@Sid-sl3xk]

Thanks for great advice. Now, I know that with similar kind of desk setup, 27 inch monitor is best for me.