Best Overall Value
Price: £279.99 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.6)
Here's the thing: for video calls, screen real estate matters more than refresh rate. And the AOC CU34G2XPD gives you a lot of it. The 34-inch ultrawide WQHD panel at 3440x1440 means you can have your Zoom or Teams window open on one side and your notes, documents, or browser on the other, without squinting or constantly alt-tabbing. That's a genuinely useful setup for anyone doing regular remote meetings.
The 1800R curve is gentle enough that it doesn't feel gimmicky, and the VA-style panel delivers solid contrast that makes faces on video calls look natural rather than washed out. Brightness is adequate for most home office environments, though it won't fight direct sunlight particularly well. Colour accuracy is decent out of the box, and you won't need to fiddle with settings much before jumping on a call.
What really tips this into best overall territory is the built-in USB hub. Plug in your webcam, headset dongle, and a USB drive without reaching around the back of your PC. It's a small thing, but it makes a real difference day to day. The 180Hz refresh rate is wasted on video calls, but it means this monitor doubles as a capable gaming display when you're off the clock.
The stand is a bit basic. You get tilt but no height adjustment, which is a genuine limitation for ergonomics. A VESA mount solves that, but it's an extra cost to factor in. Still, at this price for a 34-inch WQHD screen with a USB hub, it's hard to argue with.
Pros
- Massive ultrawide screen ideal for multitasking during calls
- Built-in USB hub is genuinely practical
- Sharp WQHD resolution makes text and video crisp
- 180Hz means it doubles as a gaming monitor
- Excellent value for a 34-inch ultrawide
Cons
- No height adjustment on the stand
- VA panel has narrower viewing angles than IPS
- Fairly new product with limited long-term owner feedback
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Best Under £100
Price: £148.97 | Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.4)
A 32-inch curved monitor for under £100. Read that again. The AOC C32G2ZE is the kind of product that makes you do a double take at the price tag. For video calls, the sheer size of this screen is a genuine advantage. You can have your call window large enough to actually see people's expressions, with room left over for whatever you're working on.
The 1920x1080 resolution across 32 inches means pixel density is lower than on a smaller FHD screen. Text is a touch softer than on a 24-inch 1080p display. It's not a dealbreaker for video calls, but if you're doing a lot of reading or detailed work alongside your meetings, you might notice it. The 300 cd/m² brightness is solid, and the VA panel delivers punchy contrast that makes video call backgrounds and faces look good.
The 240Hz refresh rate is completely irrelevant for Zoom or Teams, but it means this monitor handles fast-paced gaming without complaint when you're done with work. AOC is a well-established brand with decent UK support, which matters when you're buying at this price point. Build quality is fine for the money, though the stand is fairly minimal.
If your budget is tight and you want the biggest screen possible for video calls, this is the one to get. Simple as that.
Pros
- Exceptional size-to-price ratio
- 300 cd/m² brightness handles most lighting conditions
- Trusted AOC brand with UK availability
- 240Hz for gaming when work is done
Cons
- Lower pixel density at 32 inches on FHD
- Basic stand with limited adjustment
- VA panel has narrower viewing angles than IPS
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Best Build Quality
Price: £189.00 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7)
The Alienware AW2725DM is the premium pick in this roundup. It's not cheap relative to the others, but the build quality and colour performance are in a different league. For video calls, the 95% DCI-P3 colour coverage means skin tones render accurately and naturally. If you're on client calls or presenting yourself professionally, that matters more than you might think.
The fast IPS panel at 2560x1440 gives you sharp, wide-angle viewing. Unlike VA panels, IPS holds its colour accuracy even when viewed slightly off-axis, which is useful if you're in a shared space or have colleagues occasionally looking at your screen. The three USB ports on the monitor itself make cable management much tidier for a video call setup, and the three-year warranty is reassuring.
Alienware's build quality is genuinely excellent. The stand offers full height, tilt, and swivel adjustment, which is something several cheaper monitors in this list can't match. Sitting comfortably at the right height during long video call days is underrated. The HDR400 certification is modest but adds some pop to video content.
It's overkill if all you do is Zoom calls. But if you want a monitor that handles video calls brilliantly and does everything else well too, this is the one to stretch the budget for.
Pros
- 95% DCI-P3 colour accuracy is exceptional
- Full ergonomic stand adjustment
- Three-year warranty for peace of mind
- Three USB ports for tidy desk setup
- Fast IPS with wide viewing angles
Cons
- Most expensive option in this roundup
- High refresh rate largely wasted on video calls
- Alienware branding not to everyone's taste in an office
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Best for Beginners
Price: £128.95 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7)
4K on a 27-inch IPS panel for under £170. That's a proper bargain, and for video calls it means everything on screen looks incredibly sharp. Text in chat windows, shared documents, presentation slides, all of it is noticeably crisper than on a 1080p or even 1440p display. If you're doing a lot of screen sharing during calls, your colleagues will see a cleaner, sharper image too.
The built-in speakers are a genuine bonus for beginners setting up their first home office. They won't win any audio awards, but they're fine for listening to call audio without needing separate speakers or a headset. The height-adjustable stand is another tick in the right box, letting you set the screen at a comfortable eye level for long call sessions.
Two HDMI 2.1 ports mean you can connect a laptop and a desktop simultaneously, which is handy if you switch between devices for different calls. The IPS panel gives wide viewing angles, so colours stay accurate whether you're sitting straight on or slightly to the side. For someone setting up their first proper home office monitor, this covers all the bases without requiring any technical knowledge.
The 160Hz gaming capability is a nice bonus, but honestly, the 4K resolution and built-in speakers are what make this stand out for video call use.
Pros
- 4K IPS panel at a very competitive price
- Built-in speakers save extra hardware
- Height-adjustable stand for ergonomic comfort
- Two HDMI 2.1 ports for multiple devices
- Wide IPS viewing angles
Cons
- Built-in speaker quality is basic
- 4K requires a capable graphics card to drive properly
- Some users report backlight bleed at the edges
Buy on Amazon£128.95
Best Smart Features
Price: £249.00 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.8)
Samsung's 32-inch 4K Smart Monitor sits at the top of this budget bracket, and it earns its price with a genuinely different feature set. The smart TV functionality means you can run certain video call apps directly on the monitor without a PC connected, which is useful if you want a dedicated call screen in a spare room or home office without a full computer setup.
The 4K resolution across 32 inches looks stunning. Video calls look sharp and detailed, and the larger screen size means you can comfortably tile a call window alongside documents or a browser. Samsung's panel quality is reliable, with good colour accuracy and solid brightness for a well-lit home office.
The smart features include access to apps like Microsoft 365 and various streaming services, which adds genuine versatility beyond just video calls. It's the kind of monitor that works as a secondary TV in a home office, which some people will find very useful. At the top of the £300 budget, it's a considered purchase rather than an impulse buy, but the combination of 4K, 32 inches, and smart features is a strong package.
Pros
- Smart TV features for PC-free video calling
- 4K resolution on a large 32-inch screen
- Samsung build quality and reliability
- Versatile as both monitor and smart display
Cons
- Most expensive option at the top of the budget
- Smart features may be unnecessary for most users
- Limited gaming credentials compared to others at this price
Buy on Amazon£249.00
Best Trusted Brand Mid-Range
Price: £101.24 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7)
AOC is one of the most reliable budget-to-mid-range monitor brands in the UK, and the 27G2ZNE is a solid example of why. At 27 inches with an IPS panel, it's a comfortable size for video calls. You get a proper view of whoever you're speaking to, and there's enough screen space to keep a notes app or browser open alongside the call window.
The IPS panel is the key selling point for video call use. Wide viewing angles mean colours stay consistent, and skin tones on video calls look natural rather than oversaturated or dull. Brightness is adequate for most home office environments. The fast response time is irrelevant for calls but means this monitor handles gaming without ghosting.
AOC's build quality at this price is dependable. The stand is basic but functional, and the monitor feels solid rather than plasticky. Connectivity covers the essentials with HDMI and DisplayPort. It's not the most exciting monitor in this roundup, but it's a trustworthy, well-rounded option from a brand with a proven track record in the UK market.
Pros
- IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- Trusted AOC brand with good UK support
- 27-inch size is ideal for video calls
- Solid build quality for the price
Cons
- Basic stand with limited ergonomic adjustment
- Nothing that particularly stands out versus competitors
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Best Curved Mid-Range
Price: £148.97 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5)
The MSI MAG 274CXF is primarily a gaming monitor, and it shows. The 280Hz refresh rate and 0.5ms response time are spec sheet numbers that mean nothing during a Teams call. But the 27-inch curved screen at 1500R is genuinely comfortable for extended video call sessions. The curve wraps the image slightly around your field of view, which some people find less fatiguing over long periods.
The Rapid VA panel delivers excellent contrast, which makes video call backgrounds look rich and faces well-defined. It's brighter than many VA panels in this price range, which helps in well-lit home offices. The 1920x1080 resolution is standard FHD, which is perfectly adequate for video calls. You won't be pixel-peeping during a Zoom meeting.
MSI is a reputable brand and the build quality here is decent. The stand is functional if not particularly adjustable. HDMI 2.0b with CEC support is a nice touch if you're connecting other devices. Honestly, if you want a curved 27-inch screen for video calls and gaming in equal measure, this does both jobs well enough. It's just not the most video-call-optimised choice in the list.
Pros
- 1500R curve is comfortable for long sessions
- Excellent contrast from the Rapid VA panel
- Good brightness for a VA display
- MSI brand reliability
Cons
- 280Hz is wasted on video calls
- VA panel has narrower viewing angles than IPS
- FHD on 27 inches is softer than QHD alternatives
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Best Colour for Price
Price: £79.99 | Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.4)
KOORUI has been quietly producing some surprisingly capable monitors at budget prices, and the G2411P is a good example. The 99% sRGB colour coverage on a fast IPS panel at this price is genuinely impressive. For video calls, that means accurate, natural-looking colours. Faces look like faces, not like they've been through an Instagram filter.
The 24-inch size is a classic home office choice. Big enough to be comfortable, small enough to fit on most desks without dominating the space. The fast IPS panel gives wide viewing angles, so if you're in a shared office or have a second person occasionally looking at your screen, colours stay consistent. Low blue light mode is a useful addition for long call days.
VESA mounting support means you can put this on a monitor arm if you want proper ergonomic positioning, which is worth considering for a video call setup where you want the camera at eye level. The 200Hz refresh rate is surplus to requirements for calls, but it makes this a decent all-rounder. KOORUI's warranty and support are less established than AOC or Philips, which is worth keeping in mind.
Pros
- 99% sRGB colour coverage for accurate skin tones
- Fast IPS with wide viewing angles
- VESA compatible for monitor arm use
- Low blue light mode for long sessions
Cons
- KOORUI brand less established than major names
- Limited long-term owner feedback available
- 200Hz largely irrelevant for video call use
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Best Office Design
Price: £88.85 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7)
The Acer SB242Y is designed specifically for professional home office use, and it looks the part. The ultra-slim, frameless design is genuinely attractive on a desk. If you're on video calls all day and care about how your workspace looks in the background, this is a tidier, more professional-looking option than a chunky gaming monitor with RGB lighting.
The 23.8-inch FHD panel is a sensible size for video calls. You can see your call clearly, keep a browser or notes app open alongside it, and the frameless design makes it feel larger than it is. The 100Hz refresh rate is enough for smooth Windows use without being overkill. Response time at 4ms is fine for video calls, where you're not chasing milliseconds.
Both HDMI and VGA ports are included, which is useful if you're connecting an older laptop that lacks HDMI. Acer is a well-established brand with decent UK support. The tilt adjustment is basic but functional. It's not the most feature-packed monitor in this roundup, but it's a clean, professional option that does exactly what it says on the box.
Pros
- Ultra-slim frameless design looks professional
- VGA port for older laptop compatibility
- Acer brand reliability and UK support
- Sensible 23.8-inch size for home office use
Cons
- No height adjustment on the stand
- 100Hz is modest compared to alternatives at similar prices
- No DisplayPort, only HDMI and VGA
Buy on Amazon£88.85
Best Ultrawide Alternative
Price: £170.09 | Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.7)
The LXZ 34-inch ultrawide offers the same screen format as the top-ranked AOC CU34G2XPD, with a 3440x1440 WQHD resolution that's brilliant for multitasking during video calls. The wide viewing angle claim is important for a curved ultrawide, and the 1500R curve keeps the edges of the screen at a comfortable viewing distance.
For video calls, the ultrawide format is a real advantage. You can run your Zoom or Teams window at a comfortable size on one side while keeping your notes, browser, or shared documents visible on the other. No more alt-tabbing mid-meeting. The 165Hz refresh rate is more than enough for smooth general use, even if it's irrelevant during the calls themselves.
The honest caveat here is that LXZ is a relatively unknown brand with limited owner reviews at the time of writing. That's a genuine risk. The specs look good on paper, but without a track record of long-term reliability or strong UK customer support, it's a harder recommendation than the AOC. If the AOC is out of stock or you find the LXZ at a significantly lower price, it's worth considering. Otherwise, the AOC is the safer bet.
Pros
- 34-inch WQHD ultrawide for excellent multitasking
- Wide viewing angle panel
- 1500R curve is comfortable for extended use
- DisplayPort and HDMI connectivity
Cons
- Unknown brand with limited owner reviews
- No USB hub unlike the AOC alternative
- Higher price than the AOC CU34G2XPD for fewer features
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Best Under £50
Price: £69.00 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.8)
Look, sometimes you just need a monitor that works and doesn't cost much. The Amazon Basics 23.8-inch is exactly that. For video calls, it does everything you need. FHD 1080p resolution is perfectly adequate for Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet. The 23.8-inch size is comfortable for a home office desk. And the price is genuinely low.
Three connectivity options (HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA) mean it'll connect to virtually anything, which is useful if you're using an older laptop or desktop. VESA compatibility means you can mount it on an arm if you want to position it at eye level for calls. The 120Hz refresh rate makes Windows feel smooth day to day.
The Amazon Basics brand doesn't have the heritage of AOC or Acer, but Amazon's own-brand products tend to be reliable enough for basic use. Don't expect exceptional colour accuracy or wide viewing angles. This is a functional, no-frills monitor for people who need a screen for video calls and everyday computing without spending much. It does that job well.
Pros
- Extremely low price point
- Three connectivity options including VGA
- VESA compatible for monitor arm mounting
- Adequate FHD resolution for video calls
Cons
- Basic colour performance
- Amazon Basics brand has limited track record
- No ergonomic stand adjustment
- Not suitable for colour-critical work
Buy on Amazon£69.00
Best Compact Pick
Price: £59.99 | Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.4)
The KOORUI E2212H is the smallest monitor in this roundup at 22 inches, and that's both its strength and its limitation for video calls. If you have a small desk or a cramped home office setup, this fits where larger monitors won't. FHD 1080p on a 22-inch screen actually gives you a sharper pixel density than the same resolution on a 27 or 32-inch panel, so text and images look crisp.
For video calls specifically, 22 inches is on the small side. You can see your call clearly enough, but there's less room to keep other apps open alongside it. If you're doing calls and nothing else simultaneously, it's fine. If you want to multitask during meetings, you'll feel the squeeze. The VA panel gives decent contrast, which helps faces look natural on screen.
Eye care features are a thoughtful inclusion for a monitor at this price, reducing blue light and flicker for long working days. VESA mounting support means you can put it on an arm to free up desk space. VGA connectivity alongside HDMI covers older hardware. It's a decent compact option, but most people would be better served by spending a little more for a 24-inch screen.
Pros
- Compact size suits small desks
- Sharp pixel density at 22 inches FHD
- Eye care features for long sessions
- VESA compatible
Cons
- 22 inches is small for multitasking during calls
- VA panel has narrower viewing angles
- KOORUI brand less established than major names
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