Sound and substance: The best monitors with built-in speakers in 2024

When you’re working with limited desk real estate, there are many ways to save space. With a monitor with built-in speakers, you can have more room for a desk lamp, peripherals like keyboards and mice, and any paperwork you might be working on. This is why many choose to go for the incorporated setup, streamlining their setup to worry less about issues like sound sync and cable management. Even some of the best monitors on the market include speakers these days, but we've ranked the best across a range of budgets to suit your needs. If you want to plug in a monitor and play a game or watch a movie right out of the box, then these are the monitors for you.

The best monitors with built-in speakers at a glance

•Best overall: BenQ EW2880UMonitor - View on Amazon

•Best budget: Philips 241V8LAB Monitor - View on Amazon

•Best for gaming: ASUS TUF VG27AQ Gaming Monitor - View on Amazon

•Best curved: Samsung LS27C390 Curved Monitor - View on John Lewis

Something to know about integrated speakers is that due to the design of most monitors, the sound can occasionally sound quite thin and quiet. If you're looking for the best listening experience on your desktop, the best PC speakers are external ones that sit on your desk. However, if you don't like clutter on your desk, we've assembled the best selection of monitors with built-in speakers.

The best built-in speaker monitors in 2024

All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.

Buyer's Guide

Screen Size and Resolution

Monitors are much like televisions when it comes to size—bigger is better, but only if there’s room. Most monitors are 27-inch screens, with the ultrawide varieties stretching up to 34 inches. As technology has progressed and curved monitors have become more common, they are a way to save a bit of space while not compromising on screen size. The only issue can come when you’re using it for image editing, as the curved display can distort the image you’re seeing, albeit only slightly.

As your screen size changes, resolution rarely does. Resolution means the amount of pixels contained in the screen. This goes across anything with a screen, from as small as a phone to as large as a TV. For example, full HD is measured when the screen’s width is 1,920px and the height is 1080px. This is why HD is referred to as 1080p in some technical specifications. The total amount of pixels on an HD screen should be just under 2.1 million, with 4K displays going as high as 8.3 million.

The higher the resolution, the clearer the picture. This can be handy for editors, but also for anyone wanting to experience 4K gaming. Die-hard film buffs would also be able to fully appreciate their collection of 4K Blu-rays on such a screen. As technology progresses, the average resolution on offer goes up and up, with nearly all smartphones being Quad HD or better, with about twice the amount of pixels than an HD screen.

Speaker Quality

Having a good quality speaker mostly relies on how much power is getting delivered to them. Typically, this is measured in watts (listed as W), with the basic understanding that the higher the number, the better the speaker is at handling louder sounds. However, something to keep in mind is that the watts listed next to a speaker are typically the maximum they can do and that maintaining that amount of power over a long amount of time is likely to do some damage to the speakers. For small speakers such as those that are used inside monitors, the maximum is usually quite small since the monitor itself is drawing a lot of power, and there could be the risk of overburdening your sockets.

Though there are benefits to integrated speakers, finding features like Dolby Atmos and simulated surround is tricky due to the design limitations of the monitor itself. Because of the size of the speakers needed to fit into the housing, there is always a sacrifice of sensitivity (measured in decibels or dB) to generate enough bass and low-end to give a full, if not satisfactory, listening experience. This is true across all smaller speakers, such as the ones in your smartphone. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not possible, take the Apple Studio Display for an example with their Dolby Atmos technology integrated into the display thanks to the high-fidelity speakers, and other monitors incorporate their own subwoofer to handle the low-end whilst the smaller speakers are free to cover the mids and highs.

Panel Types

There are 3 main types of panels used on monitors, with differences across all of them. Below we break down those differences, and the best uses for each panel type:

IPS

Short for Inter Plane Switching, this is the most common panel type across higher-end displays thanks to its wide viewing angles and colour gamuts. The most modern of the 3 panels, it built upon the improvements made by VA and has now become the preferred panel type among the majority of consumers. Through developments, they can now go toe-to-toe with TN panels when it comes to low latency, and thanks to the other benefits is a great all-rounder for gaming and work.

VA

Short for Vertical Alignment, this panel acts as a middle-ground between IPS and TN panels, offering the best contrast ratio in the group as well as very accurate colour representation, though IPS can present a wider gamut. In addition, if you’re someone who likes to game competitively, then other panels may be for you as the VA’s slower response time can result in blur and ghosting.

TN

Twisted Nematic panels were the first used when flat screens were put to market, but old doesn’t always mean bad. One upside for the especially hardcore gamer is their ultra-low input lag and the ability to support up to 240Hz refresh rates. They are sometimes the cheaper option for many if they don’t look for wide viewing angles and colour accuracy in a monitor.

For a more in-depth look at the differences between these panel types, we have a guide to talk you through which monitor type is best for you.

Refresh Rate and Response Time

Refresh rate refers to how quickly a display refreshes per second. This can be measured in FPS (frames per second) but is typically measured in Hz (hertz). This means the higher the refresh rate, the smoother a moving image will look. The most common demographic that looks for high refresh rates is those who play video games. Whilst many consoles are locked to 60-120Hz, when playing on PC, the sky is the limit. The better the monitor, and the PC you’re playing on, the more games will be as smooth as butter.

Connectivity Options

You may not know the official names, but you will have encountered at least 2 out of 3 of these connectivity options before. HDMI is by far the most popular option for putting pictures on a screen, used in televisions as well as monitors, it’s commonality speaks to its reliability. USB-C is typically used for power, but thanks to the 10 GBPS transfer speed it has several other applications, like a display port. For systems such as Mac, this will be the most common port encountered, featuring on all their future smartphones and computers, and the only connection port for their monitors.

Finally, there is the DisplayPort, one of the most important connections for higher-end displays. It is only through a DisplayPort cable that you can screen HDR footage, not to mention the superior transfer speeds compared to HDMI and USB-C. DisplayPort is the way to go if you have multiple displays or would like to work with a higher-quality picture.

Ergonomics and Mounting

Many monitors come with a stand, though the versatility and quality can vary across models. If you want more options when it comes to where you want your monitor, checking for VESA compatibility is a must. VESA is the standard mounting array for nearly all monitors and televisions, including third-party stands should you wish to change the set-up for your screen. Many monitors come with a basic stand, lacking many ergonomic adjustment options. 
The ability to adjust the tilt, pivot and height of your monitor is vital when using it for multiple hours in a day. Being able to adjust for the correct position can help to avoid issues such as bad posture, eye fatigue and back and neck pain. Having an adjustable monitor arm or stand is one way to help reduce these issues, as well as having the right ergonomic chair and desk to make the long hours working or gaming easier on your body.

Olivia Sheed is a Digital Writer with What’s The Best. Here she writes reviews, how-to guides and articles across a range of topics, but primarily technology.

Her interests align with “anything nerdy.” An avid fan of TTRPGs, board games, miniature painting, and video games. Outside of that, she loves to discuss horror films, campy classics such as those from Hammer Film Productions in the 70s are her favourite for a comfy watch. An avid hiker, she visits the Lake District often, for both walking and wild swimming.

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