The technology for touchscreens has been around for a number of years and over time has changed from single-touch to multi-touch controls. Touchscreen monitors were some of the first touch-sensitive devices made for the public. Additional features, like multi-touch capabilities, slide or swipe page changes, and many other features continue to advance this amazing technology. With a touchscreen monitor, not only will you be able to interact with features on the screen, but monitors like the HP Compaq L2105tm, Dell ST2220T and Acer T231H also provide the HD quality you have come to expect. Touchscreen technology lets you experience your favorite games in an entirely new way. For more information on how touchscreen monitors work, check out our articles on touchscreen monitors.
A good touchscreen monitor will offer multi-touch technology to make browsing the web, viewing images or simply navigating simple documents much easier. Companies that require constant access codes or let customers use their computers will love the idea of setting up a computer without a mouse or keyboard. Many of the best monitors will include software for digital keyboards, which eliminates the need for peripheral devices.
There are a lot of stats and specifications associated with touchscreen monitors. Features like multi-touch technology, resolution, aspect ratio, brightness levels and many others are what separate the spectacular from the mediocre. In addition to looking at these features, you should also have a good idea of where you plan to place your new monitor, and plan on buying a monitor that will easily fit on the desk. You will also want to make sure that the company selling the monitor is reliable and offers quality help and support, since as we all know, electronics tend to have a mind of their own. We used the following criteria to determine our lineup of the best touchscreen monitors.
Display
LCD monitors are the main display type used for touch-sensitive technology. Since LCD lighting doesn't offer the full range of colors you will find on a LED screen, you'll need to take into account features like brightness and contrast ratio even more. The best touchscreen monitors are able to produce 1080p-quality images and have response times of 5 milliseconds or lower. The lower the response time, the less blur you will see when watching movies or playing games. You will also want wide viewing angles to ensure that you are able to see a clear picture from all angles.
Features
A good monitor will not only be able to tilt forward and back, but it will also be able to swivel and have an adjustment for height. However, touchscreen monitors vary greatly when it comes to adjustments, so make sure the monitor you select has the functionality you prefer. These monitors are also typically much larger and weigh more than your average computer monitor weighs. Monitors that are at least 21 inches in size and yet are light enough to hang on your wall are our top competitors.
Touch Capabilities
Multi-touch technology has become the standard for any decent touchscreen monitor. However, monitors with Optical Touch Panel technology provide additional touch capabilities and overall better picture quality. Some touchscreen monitors also offer the use of a stylus to help with images that are more detailed or to make creating notes or signing online documents much easier.
Help & Support
A good company will not only create a quality product, but it will also provide a variety of technical support features. Most manufactures offer a phone number, email address, online documentation, FAQs and live chat. These features will make it possible to get in contact with the company about minor issues and of course the more critical problems. A 3-year warranty is the standard for touchscreen monitors, and most companies will offer you the opportunity to purchase an extended 5-year warranty.
These are the primary features we considered when ranking each of these touchscreen monitors. Determining which touchscreen monitor will fit your lifestyle or which will work best in your office can be a confusing choice. However, we've created comprehensive reviews and have defined all the main features for you, so it shouldn't be hard to find the monitor that will work best for your needs.
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HP Compaq L2105tm | Dell ST2220T | Acer T231H | Planar PXL2430MW | ViewSonic VX2258wm | Elo 2201L | Planar PX2230MW | Elo 2242L | One World Touch DM-1700-19 | TouchSystems TE1990R-D |
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Lowest Price |
$262.99 |
$299.99 |
$324.99 |
$394.99 |
$373.62 |
$453.31 |
$324.99 |
$768.71 |
$389.00 |
$480.89 |
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| Display | ||||||||||
| Display Type | LCD | LCD | LCD | LED | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD |
| Brightness (cd/m2) | 250 | 250 | 300 | 250 | 300 | 250 | 300 | 300 | 250 | 200 |
| Response Time (ms) | 5 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Pixel Pitch (mm) | 0.248 | 0.248 | Not Specified | 0.272 | 0.248 | Not Specified | 0.248 | Not Specified | 0.264 | 0.294 |
| Vertical Viewing Angle (degrees) | 170 | 178 | 176 | 170 | 170 | 170 | 170 | 160 | 170 | 160 |
| Horizontal Viewing Angle (degrees) | 160 | 178 | 176 | 160 | 160 | 160 | 160 | 160 | 176 | 160 |
| Typical Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 | 1000:1 | 1000:1 | 1000:1 | 1000:1 | 1000:1 | 1000:1 | 1000:1 | 1000:1 | 800:1 |
| Screen Size (inches) | 21.5 | 21.5 | 23 | 23.5 | 21.5 | 21.5 | 21.5 | 21.5 | 17 | 19 |
| Resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 1680x1050 | 1280x1024 | 1280x1024 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16.9 | 16.9 | 16.9 | 16.9 | 16.9 | 16.9 | 16.9 | 16.9 | ||
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| Power Consumption (watts) | 35 | 28 | 35 | 35 | 28 | 29 | 48 | 50 | 21 | 20 |
| Weight (pounds) | 14.1 | 13.9 | 13.1 | 12.6 | 18.7 | 16.5 | 12.1 | 19.3 | 14.3 | 14.5 |
| Height (inches) | 13.1 | 15 | 15.6 | 15.5 | 13.1 | 15.4 | 14.7 | 14.2 | 12.6 | 15.4 |
| Width (inches) | 20.2 | 20.8 | 22.2 | 21.9 | 20.1 | 21.7 | 20.3 | 21.1 | 14.5 | 17 |
| Depth (inches) | 3 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 3 | 7.6 | 4.9 | 3 | 2.4 | 8.6 |
| Touch Technology | Multi-Touch | Optical Touch | Multi-Touch | Optical Touch | Multi-Touch | IntelliTouch Plus | Optical Touch | IntelliTouch Plus | Multi-Touch | Multi-Touch |
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| Warranty | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years |