Best Overall Value
Price: £199.00 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.6)
Here's the thing: most people shopping for the best monitors for video calls under £200 aren't thinking ultrawide. But they probably should be. The AOC CU34G2XPD gives you a 34-inch 3440x1440 curved panel, and for video calls that extra horizontal real estate is genuinely transformative. You can have your Teams or Zoom window on one side and your notes, documents, or second browser tab on the other, all without alt-tabbing. That alone makes calls feel less frantic.
The IPS-adjacent VA panel delivers solid colour accuracy and wide enough viewing angles that you won't get washed-out colours when you tilt slightly in your chair. Brightness is adequate for most home office environments, though it won't win awards in a very bright room. The 180Hz refresh rate is overkill for video calls, obviously, but it means everything else on your screen, scrolling, animations, cursor movement, feels buttery smooth throughout the day.
The built-in USB hub is a proper bonus for video call setups. Plug your webcam and headset into the monitor rather than hunting around the back of your PC. The curved 1500R panel also reduces eye strain over long sessions, which matters if you're on calls back to back. Connectivity covers HDMI and DisplayPort, so you're sorted for most laptops and desktops.
The honest limitation? At 34 inches and 3440x1440, some video conferencing apps don't handle ultrawide layouts brilliantly. Zoom and Teams work fine, but you may find some older software letterboxes oddly. Also, the stand is functional rather than premium. No height adjustment here, so factor in a monitor arm if your desk setup needs precise positioning.
Pros
- Ultrawide screen makes multitasking during calls genuinely easy
- USB hub keeps webcam and headset tidy
- Curved panel reduces eye strain on long call days
- Strong value at this price for the screen size
Cons
- Stand lacks height adjustment
- Some apps handle ultrawide layouts awkwardly
- VA panel not quite as bright as IPS rivals
Buy on Amazon
Best Under £100
Price: £79.99 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.6)
BenQ has been making eye-care monitors for years, and the GW2490E shows exactly why that reputation holds up. For video calls specifically, this is probably the most thoughtfully designed monitor in this entire roundup. The IPS panel gives you accurate, consistent colours from wide angles, so your shared screen looks the same to you as it does to your colleagues. The adaptive brightness feature adjusts the backlight based on ambient light conditions, which sounds gimmicky but genuinely reduces fatigue during long call sessions.
The built-in speakers are a real differentiator at this price. They're not going to replace a proper audio setup, but for quick calls where you don't want to faff with headphones, they do the job without sounding tinny and awful. Two HDMI ports plus DisplayPort means you can connect a laptop and a desktop simultaneously and switch between them, handy if you work from home but also use a personal machine.
BenQ's low blue light and flicker-free tech is properly implemented here, not just a marketing badge. If you're doing four or five hours of video calls daily, that matters more than you'd think. The thin bezel keeps the desk looking clean, and wall mount support means you can free up desk space entirely if needed.
At 100Hz and 1080p, it's not a gaming powerhouse. But that's not what you're buying it for. For video calls, it's close to ideal. The only real gripe is the stand, which only tilts. No height adjustment, no swivel. For a monitor aimed at office use, that's a bit of an oversight.
Pros
- Purpose-built eye-care features that actually work
- Built-in speakers good enough for casual calls
- Dual HDMI plus DisplayPort for flexible connectivity
- Adaptive brightness reduces fatigue
Cons
- Stand only tilts, no height or swivel adjustment
- 100Hz refresh rate is modest compared to rivals
Buy on Amazon£79.99
Best Under £50
Price: £69.00 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7)
Sometimes you just need a screen that works. The Amazon Basics 23.8-inch doesn't try to be anything more than that, and honestly, for video calls on a tight budget, that's fine. At this price, you're getting a 1080p panel with HDMI, DisplayPort, and even VGA for older laptops. The 120Hz refresh rate is a nice bonus that makes general desktop use feel smooth.
For video calls, the 1080p resolution is all you need. Your webcam almost certainly outputs at 1080p or lower, so you're not missing anything by not having a 4K screen. The 23.8-inch size is comfortable for a single call window with a bit of space for notes alongside. Colour accuracy is decent for the price, though don't expect the wide colour gamut you'd get from a BenQ or Alienware panel.
VESA compatibility means you can mount it if needed. The build feels a touch plasticky up close, but it's solid enough for everyday use. There are no built-in speakers, no eye-care features worth writing home about, and the stand is basic. But at this price point, those are expected compromises. If your budget is genuinely tight and you need something reliable for calls, this delivers.
Pros
- Exceptional value for a 1080p 120Hz panel
- HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA covered
- VESA mountable
Cons
- No built-in speakers
- Basic stand with limited adjustment
- Colour accuracy is average
Buy on Amazon£69.00
Best for Beginners
Price: £90.10 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.6)
If you're setting up your first proper home office monitor and don't want to overthink it, the Acer SB242Y H1bi is a solid starting point. The ultra-slim, frameless design looks genuinely tidy on a desk, and setup is straightforward enough that you won't be hunting for a manual. For video calls, the 1080p IPS panel gives you clean, accurate colours and wide enough viewing angles that your screen looks consistent from wherever you're sitting.
The frameless design is particularly nice for video calls because it reduces visual clutter. Your call window sits cleanly on screen without a chunky bezel pulling your eye. At 100Hz, it's not a gaming monitor, but everything feels smooth and responsive for everyday use. The 4ms response time is perfectly adequate for video conferencing.
Connectivity is HDMI and VGA only, which is a limitation if your laptop only has USB-C or DisplayPort. Worth checking before you buy. There are no built-in speakers, and the stand only tilts. But for a beginner who wants a clean, no-fuss monitor for calls and general work, this hits the mark without asking you to spend more than necessary.
Pros
- Ultra-slim frameless design looks great on a desk
- Simple setup, ideal for first-time buyers
- IPS panel with good colour accuracy for calls
Cons
- HDMI and VGA only, no DisplayPort
- No built-in speakers
- Stand adjustment limited to tilt only
Buy on Amazon£90.10
Best Build Quality
Price: £169.96 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7)
The Alienware AW2725DM sits right at the top of this budget, and it earns its place. The build quality is noticeably better than anything else in this roundup. The stand is sturdy, the chassis feels premium, and the overall finish is proper quality rather than budget plastic. Alienware backs it with a 3-year warranty, which is rare at this price and genuinely reassuring.
For video calls, the 27-inch QHD panel at 2560x1440 is a real step up. Text is sharper, shared documents look cleaner, and the 95% DCI-P3 colour coverage means your screen is showing colours accurately. That matters when you're presenting work or reviewing designs on a call. The Fast IPS panel delivers wide viewing angles with no colour shift, so colleagues watching your shared screen see exactly what you see.
Three USB ports on the monitor itself make it easy to keep your webcam, headset, and other peripherals tidy. Two HDMI ports plus DisplayPort covers most connection scenarios. The HDR400 support adds some pop to content when you're not on calls. It's a genuinely well-rounded monitor that happens to be excellent for video calls as well as everything else.
The honest caveat: it's a gaming monitor at heart, and the price reflects that. If you only ever use it for calls and documents, you're paying for specs you won't fully use. But the build quality and warranty make it a long-term investment that cheaper options can't match.
Pros
- Premium build quality with 3-year warranty
- QHD resolution makes shared screens look sharp
- 95% DCI-P3 colour accuracy
- Three USB ports for tidy desk setup
Cons
- Sits at the very top of the budget
- Gaming specs you may not fully use for calls
Buy on Amazon
Best Colour Accuracy
Price: £167.97 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.6)
A 4K monitor at this price is genuinely surprising, and the Philips Evnia 27M2N3800A deserves credit for that. For video calls specifically, 4K is honestly more than you need. Your webcam outputs at 1080p, so the call itself won't look sharper. But where 4K earns its keep is in everything around the call. Shared documents look razor sharp, text is crisp, and if you're reviewing design work or detailed visuals on screen, the extra resolution is a real benefit.
The height-adjustable stand is a proper standout feature at this price. Being able to set the monitor at the right height for your eye level makes a real difference to posture during long call sessions. The built-in speakers are a bonus for quick calls. Two HDMI 2.1 ports future-proof your connectivity for newer devices.
The honest truth is that if video calls are your primary use case, the 4K resolution is somewhat wasted. You'd be better served by a QHD or 1080p panel with better eye-care features. But if you also use your monitor for content creation, photo editing, or just want something that'll stay relevant for years, this is a smart buy.
Pros
- 4K resolution at a remarkable price
- Height-adjustable stand for proper ergonomics
- Built-in speakers and HDMI 2.1 connectivity
Cons
- 4K is overkill for video calls specifically
- Needs a capable GPU to drive 4K smoothly
Buy on Amazon£167.97
Best All-Rounder 27"
Price: £169.99 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7)
AOC's 27G2ZNE is a well-established gaming monitor that crosses over nicely into home office territory. At 27 inches, you get a comfortable amount of screen space for video calls without the desk footprint of an ultrawide. The Fast IPS panel delivers solid colour accuracy and wide viewing angles, both important for calls where you're sharing your screen or reviewing documents with colleagues.
AOC is a brand with a proper track record, and the build quality here reflects that. The stand is more adjustable than many rivals at this price, which helps you get the ergonomics right for long call days. The thin bezels keep things looking clean and professional on camera if your monitor is visible in your video feed.
For video calls, it's a solid choice without being exceptional in any one area. It doesn't have built-in speakers, and the eye-care features are fairly standard. But it's a reliable, well-built 27-inch IPS monitor from a brand you can trust, and that counts for something when you're spending close to £170.
Pros
- Trusted AOC brand with good build quality
- 27-inch IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- Better stand adjustment than many rivals
Cons
- No built-in speakers
- Eye-care features are fairly basic
- Pricier than some comparable options
Buy on Amazon
Best Curved Gaming Pick
Price: £109.00 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5)
The MSI MAG 274CXF is primarily a gaming monitor, and it doesn't pretend otherwise. But for video calls, the 27-inch curved panel at 1500R curvature actually works well. The curve draws your eye to the centre of the screen, which is where your call window typically sits, and reduces the sense of eye movement across a large flat panel. For long call sessions, some people find curved screens more comfortable.
The Rapid VA panel has decent contrast for a budget screen, making text and faces on video calls look punchy and clear. The 280Hz refresh rate is completely unnecessary for video calls, but it means the desktop experience is incredibly smooth. The 0.5ms response time is similarly overkill, but it doesn't hurt anything.
Where it falls short for video call use is colour accuracy. VA panels don't match IPS for colour consistency, and the viewing angles are narrower. If you share your screen with someone sitting beside you, they may notice colours look different from their angle. Also, no built-in speakers and no USB hub. It's a gaming monitor doing office duty, and that shows in the feature set.
Pros
- Curved panel comfortable for long sessions
- Good contrast from VA panel
- MSI brand reliability
Cons
- VA panel has narrower viewing angles than IPS
- No speakers or USB hub
- Gaming-focused feature set not ideal for office use
Buy on Amazon
Best Large Screen
Price: £148.97 | Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.4)
If you want a big screen for video calls without breaking the budget, the AOC C32G2ZE delivers 32 inches of curved display for under £100. That's a lot of screen. For video calls, the extra size means you can comfortably run your call window at a decent size while keeping other apps open alongside. It's particularly good if you're presenting or screen-sharing, as everything is large and easy to read.
The trade-off is resolution. At 1920x1080 on a 32-inch panel, pixel density is noticeably lower than on a 24-inch 1080p screen. Text looks slightly softer, and fine details in documents aren't as crisp. For video calls themselves this is fine, but if you're reading a lot of small text during the day, it can feel a bit fuzzy. A 1440p panel at this size would be ideal, but that costs more.
The VA panel has decent contrast but narrower viewing angles than IPS. The 240Hz refresh rate is gaming territory, not video call territory. But the sheer screen size and the AOC brand reliability make this a reasonable pick if you prioritise workspace over pixel density.
Pros
- 32 inches gives loads of space for multitasking on calls
- Under £100 for this screen size is impressive
- AOC brand reliability
Cons
- 1080p on 32 inches means lower pixel density
- VA panel viewing angles not ideal for shared viewing
- No speakers or USB hub
Buy on Amazon
Best Compact Option
Price: £54.99 | Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.3)
The KOORUI E2212H is the smallest screen in this roundup at 22 inches, and that's both its strength and its limitation for video calls. If desk space is genuinely tight, a 22-inch monitor is much easier to fit in. And at 1080p, the pixel density is actually quite good on a smaller panel, so text and faces on calls look sharp and clear.
The VA panel offers decent contrast, and the eye care features help during long sessions. HDMI and VGA connectivity covers most setups, and VESA mounting means you can put it on an arm to save even more desk space. At this price, it's a reasonable entry point.
The honest limitation for video calls is the size. At 22 inches, running a call window alongside other apps starts to feel cramped. You'll find yourself constantly resizing windows or alt-tabbing, which interrupts the flow of a meeting. If you can stretch to 24 inches, you'll thank yourself. But if 22 inches is what fits your space and budget, this does the job.
Pros
- Compact size suits small desks
- Good pixel density at 22 inches
- VESA mountable
Cons
- 22 inches feels cramped for multitasking on calls
- VA panel viewing angles are limited
- KOORUI brand less established
Buy on Amazon
Best QHD Budget Bet
Price: £159.99 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5)
Z-Edge isn't a name most people know, and that's worth acknowledging upfront. But the specs on this 27-inch QHD IPS monitor are genuinely impressive for the price. QHD at 2560x1440 on a 27-inch IPS panel means sharp, clear text and accurate colours, both useful for video calls where you're reading documents or sharing your screen.
The 400cd/m² brightness is higher than most rivals here, which helps in brighter rooms. FlickerFree backlight reduces eye strain during long call sessions. Two DisplayPort and two HDMI connections give you plenty of flexibility. The IPS panel delivers wide viewing angles, so colleagues sitting beside you see consistent colours from your shared screen.
The concern with Z-Edge is longevity and support. If something goes wrong after a year, getting it sorted may be harder than with an established brand. For video calls, where reliability matters, that's a genuine consideration. If you're comfortable with the brand risk, the specs are hard to argue with at this price. If you want peace of mind, the Alienware or AOC options are safer bets.
Pros
- QHD IPS at a very competitive price
- High brightness suits well-lit rooms
- FlickerFree for comfortable long sessions
Cons
- Z-Edge brand has limited UK support track record
- Long-term reliability unproven
- 240Hz is unnecessary for video call use
Buy on Amazon£159.99
