Size

Bigger the screen the better, however this will depend on your budget. If you're not worried about specs then a standard 24inch will set you back around $150. Add an extra Fifty and you can get a 27inch Screen for a bargain! For all those multi-taskers out there, go easy on the alt-tabbing and get dual screens ... Just make sure you have enough desk space first!

     Resolution

The bigger the screen, the more pixels we need to maintain the same detail. The most common resolution is the 1080P or FHD (1920 x 1080) which gives you a pretty sharp image at 24inch. Any larger and the pixel density will be reduced. If you're getting a bigger size then you should highly consider upgrading to 2K (2560 x 1440) or 4K (3840 x 2160) as the extra pixels will give you that additional work or play space on the same screen, possibly reducing the need for a 2nd monitor!

     Aspect Ratio

A monitor's Horizontal resolution by vertical resolution should most likely results in the most common 16:9 aspect ratio. You can also consider the Ultra widescreen monitors which have a 21:9 ratio.

     Response Time

In Short, how fast the pixels change colour is the Response time. A lower Response time can make a significant visual difference if there is fast motion consistently happening on the screen (eg. Gaming). For high-end performance, anything around 2ms would be a good start. For any other general purpose, 5-9ms would be fine given that the small difference in response time are unlikely to be noticed!

     Refresh Rate

A higher refresh rate gives a smoother performance. If you're not gaming, then the standard 60 Hz is more than enough.

     Panel Type

• IPS (In Plane Switching) [For the Professional]: Superior image quality, consistency and viewing angles. Excellent for design or colour critical tasks. Typically slower response time.
• VA (Vertical Alignment) [The Mid-range Option]: Good image quality, contrast ratio and viewing angles. Not ideal for design or colour critical tasks. Typically slower response time.
• TN (Twisted Nematic) [The Affordable Everyday Screen]: Good response times and typically cheaper. Reduced image quality, poor contrast and viewing angles. Preferably a better panel technology required for design or colour critical tasks.

     Stand Ergonomics

Height: Up and down. Pivot: Ability to rotate the display. Swivel: Left and right Tilt: Forward and back slope position. How far the stand can move may vary with different manufacturers.

     Additional Features

• Gamers: G-Sync (Nvidia) or FreeSync (AMD) feature allows the screen to sync up with the graphics card.
• General: Ensure input connections on the monitor are suited for your computer. Your displays resolution/Refresh rate may be limited due to the type of connection used.
• Future proof: If we're looking towards 4K resolution and higher, does your monitor's DisplayPort or HDMI version (HDMI 2.1 just released) suit your current/future needs? 
• Optional: If budget isn't an issue, feel free to consider a Curved or Flat screen, In built speakers and webcams. VESA mount compatibility and many more features that a high-end monitor may have.