Liquid-crystal display (LCD) monitors are undoubtedly popular. More computer monitors, in fact, feature LCD technology than any other display technology. LCD monitors are energy efficient, inexpensive, long-lasting and support high-definition (HD) images. But if you’re going to buy an LCD monitor, there are several things you should and shouldn’t do.

Do Check the Maximum Resolution

While nearly all LCD monitors support HD images, some of them support higher-resolution images than other. In addition to standard HD, for instance, there’s ultra high-definition (UHD). UHD includes 4K and 8K resolutions. Depending on how you intend to use it, you may want to choose an LCD monitor with UHD support such as this.

Do Choose an Appropriate Screen Size

You should choose an LCD monitor in an appropriate screen size. Screen sizes can vary. Some LCD monitors have a screen size of just 18 inches. Other LCD monitors have a screen size of 30 or even 40 inches. Screen size, of course, represents the distance from one corner to the other corner. The larger the screen size, the bigger the viewport.

Do Stick With Widescreen

For most applications, there’s no better choice than a widescreen aspect ratio. All monitors have an aspect ratio. The aspect ratio is the relative width of a display to its height. Widescreen is a 16:9 aspect ratio. LCD monitors with a widescreen aspect ratio are about twice as long as they are tall. Unless you’re planning to use it for a special purpose that requires a different aspect ratio, you should typically choose a widescreen LCD monitor.

Don’t Overlook Ports

A common mistake people make when buying LCD monitors is overlooking the ports. They focus all of their attention on resolution, screen size and other specifications while ignoring the ports. But the ports will determine how you can connect a given LCD monitor to your computer. Most LCD monitors today have one or more HDMI ports. To set up an LCD monitor, you can connect an HDMI cable from your computer to one of these input ports.

Don’t Assume All LCD Technologies Are the Same

Another common mistake to avoid when buying an LCD monitor is assuming all LCD technologies are the same. LCD is a group of display technologies that involve the use of organic liquid pixels. But there are different types of LCD technologies, some of which include in-plane switching (IPS), vertical alignment (VA), twisted nematic (TN) and the thin-film transistor (TFT).