Options for 1440p Glossy Screen?

[jasonz50]

I currently use an HP 27xi, which is a reasonably nice 1080p monitor with a glossy screen. I have no particular complaints about it outside of the resolution. 1080p is fine most of the time, but I have a tendency to lean into the screen, which at this size lays bare each individual pixel. This gets irritating.

Clearly there is an abundance of options for 1440p with matte screens, but I can't stand matte. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of a glossy screen selection beyond some cheap imports and a Monoprice model or two. I'm hoping that perhaps I'm missing something.

My other requirements:

1) Good contrast/overall picture quality
2) Decent viewing angles
3) Good response time/lack of blur - I don't need the best of the best here, but something that is reasonable for gaming
4) I would prefer something without speakers as they would never be used
5) A good dead/stuck pixel return policy

Thanks in advance.

 

[mnewsham]

but I can't stand matte

Well when was the last time you used a matte screen?

In 2011-2012 dell switched their hard matte coating for a semi-matte coating which is much less grainy.
If you haven't used a newer matte panel I wouldn't dismiss them yet, there is a reason most of the industry uses matte coatings these days.

 

[Artorius]

Well, to get "good" contrast ratio with LCD you more or less need to go with VA panels. The company that sells most of the VA monitors is Samsung, and at 2560x1440 you don't really have that many options.

The only model I can think of is this 32", but it has a matte screen.

Glossy and semi-gloss and indeed way better when it comes to picture quality, and are always used in TVs for example since all that matters is picture quality, but for monitors they tend to focus more on usability (also why IPS is popular in the market, the better viewing angles and uniformity outweigh better black levels and contrast ratios of VA since you're expected to use your computer with lights turned on) so you'll have a hard time finding a glossy one nowadays.

If you absolutely need good contrast ratios and a glossy screen then it would be easier to buy a 40" TV. The KU7000 supports 3840x2160@60@4:4:4 with a ~30ms input lag which isn't that bad, also supports HDR and DCI-P3 so you'd be more than future proofed. The huge size might be an inconvenience though, although UHD at 40" has the same pixel density of QHD at 27" so you'd just get way more real state compared to your average 27" QHD monitor.

 

[jasonz50]

I admit I haven't spent much time looking at "modern" matte screens, but I doubt they'd sway me to the point that I'd be really satisfied with one. Do any stores sell the Ultrasharps so that I could view one in person?

And a 40" is out the question. It'd be way too big for my seating distance, and even at 4K I'm not solving the pixel issue at that size. I don't have the GPU horsepower to push 4k smoothly anyway.

 

[Thinker_145]

Well when was the last time you used a matte screen?

In 2011-2012 dell switched their hard matte coating for a semi-matte coating which is much less grainy.
If you haven't used a newer matte panel I wouldn't dismiss them yet, there is a reason most of the industry uses matte coatings these days.

I have one and the grain is still very much visible. It's just sad how so many PC gamers don't seem to care about this and thus we have so little options without matte screen.

There is a reason why none of the TVs use a matte coating because it kills the purity of a bright image. Most people play games with the lights off so matte screens are just an unnecessary limitation for them.

 

[mnewsham]

Most people play games with the lights off

I don't think that's true at all, I rarely ever use my PC with my lights off, and I am on my computer ~15 hours a day.

 

[Thinker_145]

I don't think that's true at all, I rarely ever use my PC with my lights off, and I am on my computer ~15 hours a day.

I didn't say all people. I remember a poll somewhere on a gaming forum where the vast majority said they play games with the lights off and that's what my personal experience tells me too.

You see even on a matte screen you have to plan the ambient lightning in your room around your setup or else you will not have a uniform image even if the light is not directly behind the screen. I'll actually take the grain if a matte screen was completely resistant to light but that is not the case at all. In order to get a "uniform image" you pretty much have to have minimal or no ambient lightning regardless of screen type. On a totally black screen you will never have a uniform image with bright lightning even on a hard matte screen.

 

[Headfoot]

Just to throw it out there, I've got 3x Dell s2415h i'm looking to sell plus the triple monitor arm that goes with it. It's pretty much exactly what you listed. Glossy screen, very good colors, solid contrast ratio (around 1000, so about as good as an IPS screen gets), excellent viewing angles since its IPS. Only a 60hz model and 1080p but response times are good. None of the units have dead pixels. No unusual backlight bleed, but on the low side of average amounts of IPS glow. Bought them Black Friday 2015. Only reason I'm selling is that nearly 75% of the games I play don't work on triple monitor, which is super disappointing. I'd sell either 2 or 3 of em but I dont think I'd break out just one. If you wanted 2 or 3 id sell the 3 monitor arm for a song too. 2 i'd do $225 + shipping w/ the arm, $200 w/out. $325 w/ arm for all 3. Extremely slim bezels. Cost me about $550 for the whole set up last year. I can PM you a picture of them if you are interested.

 

[CP5670]

This is one reason I still use my Samsung S27A750D. It's a bit old now and has its issues but is one of the very few computer monitors that is glossy, 120hz (without overclocking) and reasonably large (27"). The matte coatings are better than they used to be but still look ugly compared to glossy ones. I like to game in the dark but the glossy panels actually show the greatest improvement when there is some ambient lighting but no direct light reflections on the screen, which allows the blacks to stand out more.

 

[Rifter]

Check out the new Dell's. I used to hate their matte coating but the new ones are so much better than the old ones from 5-10 years ago. I swore i would never buy a Dell because i hated their coatings but found myself buying one a few months ago.

 

[jasonz50]

Bumping this thread in the hopes that maybe, possibly there's a nice 1440p 27" glossy monitor out there now...?