Best LED/LCD Computer Monitors 2011-2012

The difference between LED and LCD monitors is mainly in the backlighting technology. LED monitors are in fact LCD or "Liquid Crystal Display" monitors that use a more energy efficient "light emitting diode" technology to light the back of the monitor. With 40% less energy consumption, and with no use of mercury, LED monitors are environmentally friendly as well. An additional upside to LED monitors is that, in general, they cause less strain on your eyes. If you get blurry vision or headaches after viewing your screen for long hours, then this could be a huge plus.

While LED monitors are the newer technology, LCD monitors, which use fluorescent lamps to light the display, are generally less expensive and have many of the same specifications and qualities of LED monitors.

Want to learn more? Here's a learning guide to monitor specifications and size.

Our choice for top 27 inch LED monitor for 2012 is the ASUS VE278Q which comes loaded with incredible features and specifications, for a very reasonable price. Out of the box it gives you excellent full high definition color with a 10,000,000:1 ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio and full high definition. When calibrated you'll find that the picture is bright and that the color is both rich and accurate. With the 2ms response you'll also be able to play your favorite games or watch action packed movies without any ghosting or blurring.

Additional specifications for the VE278Q include a 20 degree tilt, built in speakers, SPLENDID video technology, as well as D-Sub, DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort connectors for easy connectivity to all of your electronic devices. Another great feature for this screen is that it uses less than 45W while operating and has a green friendly power saving mode which uses less than 2W. Over time this will help you to recoup some of the costs associated with purchasing a LED monitor. The VE278Q also comes with a 3 year manufacturer's parts and labor warranty.

What One Owner of the VE278Q had to say:

"The monitor has everything I wanted in a top of the line monitor, and it delivers in every way exceptionally well."

Read More Customer Reviews for the VE278Q.


ASUS VE278Q 27-Inch LED Monitor
Amazon Price: $310.67

HP 2711x 27-Inch LED Monitor - Black
Amazon Price: $315.54 

Acer S273HL bmii 27" Full HD LED Monitor
Amazon Price: $299.99 


Viewsonic VX2753MH-LED 27-Inch LED Monitor - Black
Amazon Price: $209.99


Apple LED Cinema Display 27-Inch MC007LL/A
Amazon Price: Too low to display 

The bestselling 24 inch LED monitor of 2012 is the Viewsonic VX2450WM-LED 24-Inch Widescreen monitor. It's combination of price (Under $200) and specifications made it our choice the top 24 Inch LED monitor of the year.

This Full HD monitor (1920x1080p resolution) comes with a beautiful picture that has vibrant colors thanks to its 20,000,000:1 MEGA Contrast Ratio. Additional specifications include; D-Sub, DVI connectors, tilt adjustment, built in speakers, VESA compliant (for mounting), 5ms response time, and a 3 year parts and labor warranty backed by Viewsonic's Pixel Performance Guarantee.

What Buyer's are saying online about the VX2450WM-LED:

"Just got my ViewSonic yesterday and I love it! Giant screen with great graphics, touch controls are great, the design looks awesome. Couldn't ask for more!"

Read More Customer Reviews for the VX2450WM.

Viewsonic VX2450WM-LED 24-Inch (23.6-Inch Vis) Widescreen LED Monitor with Full HD 1080p and Speakers - Black
Featured 24 Inch LED Monitor. Bestselling of 2012.
Amazon Price: $179.99 

ASUS VH238H 23-Inch LED Monitor
Amazon Price: $189.99


HP 2311x 23-Inch LED Monitor - Black
Amazon Price:  


Samsung FX2490HD 24-Inch HDTV LED Monitor (Brown)
Watch TV without a cable box with the FX2490HD's Built In Digital Tuner.
Amazon Price: $319.99  

LG D2342P-PN 23-Inch Widescreen Passive 3D LED LCD Monitor
Amazon Price: Too low to display

The Samsung BX2231 is the perfect mix between price and quality. For under $150 you get an attractive, Ultra-Slim Design (16.5mm thick), with all the specifications you want for home theater and gaming entertainment.

Technical Details From Amazon:

"Breakthrough Picture Quality - Just as you've seen in Samsung LED TV's, our LED monitors deliver a visually stunning picture quality that leaves you speechless with vivid colors and crystal-clear detail.

Get a Better Connection with HDMI - connect it to your cable box, BluRay player, HD game system, computer, or any other device with an HDMI output

Run Greener and Cooler - Samsung's LED technology reduces power consumption up to 40% - making our LED displays much more efficient than conventional LCD monitors and your monitor will stay cool to the touch, even after a long day of hard work.

Ultra Slim-Design - Remember when you replaced your bulky CRT monitor with a slimmer LCD monitor? The next leap forward is here. LED technology enables striking, ultra-thin displays. As slim as 16.5 mm, LED monitors add elegance to your desk.

MagicAngle Technology - Samsung's MagicAngle technology improves the off-angle viewing performance of the monitor so that it maintains superb image quality even if you are leaning back, lying down, or have the monitor mounted on the wall.

Additional Specifications include a 2ms response time, D-Sub and 2 HDMI connectors, 16.7 Million display colors, and a 3 year parts and labor warranty."

What Owners of the Samsung BX2231 are saying online:

"At this price point this monitor is a fantastic buy. I use it primarily for console gaming (mostly FPS and sports) and the responsiveness is a big plus. The screen has also been great for doing school work, and general Internet usage. You can really customize and fine tune the picture, as there are a variety of different settings."

Read More Customer Reviews for the Samsung BX2231.



Price: $149.99

Viewsonic is once again leading innovation by releasing the world's first 27 inch 1ms response time monitor in 2011. This monitor boasts clear and stunning images with a 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. It's also 200x100mm VESA compliant for mounting on your wall so you can sit back and enjoy the show. Even though it's not an LED backlit monitor, the Viewsonic VX2739WM has an ECO mode for 35% energy savings while running. For those of you who have lots of devices it's also extremely convenient to use 1 of the 4 USB connectors on the monitor.

Additional Specifications:

HDMI, DVI and VGA connectors, Integrated Speakers, and a FULL 3 year warranty for parts and labor.

What Customers are Saying:

"I've had this monitor for about 2 months now and its great! I use it for my ps3 and my laptop. Quality of the picture is crisp and clear. You may need to change around some settings if you need to get the full effect that you want. Good size, not too big but not too small."

Read More Customer Reviews for the Viewsonic VX2739WM.



Price: Too low to display

Looking for an LED gaming monitor? Check out this post on the best LED monitors for gaming.

We hope you've enjoyed this review of the best 22, 24, and 27 inch LED and LCD monitors for 2012. Don't forget to vote for your favorite monitor brand above and if you'd like to contribute to this lens please leave a constructive comment in the reader feedback section below.

Here's a list of some other lenses that you might find interesting on the best processors, solid state drives, motherboard CPU combos, and video cards of 2012.