24-inch vs 27-inch Professional Monitors Under £100: Which Size Is Better for Office Work

24 inch vs 27 inch: what this comparison is really about

Choosing between 24 inch vs 27 inch budget professional monitors is about balancing price, desk space, color accuracy, and refresh rate so office workers get the most comfortable, efficient workspace without paying for gaming-focused features they do not need. In this comparison, the BenQ GW2490C represents the compact 24-inch Full HD, 144Hz, color accurate monitor under £100, while the Philips 27B2U4601 offers a larger 27-inch QHD panel with strong productivity features at a higher but still reasonable price point. Bottom line: the BenQ suits budget-conscious professionals who want sharp motion and accurate colors on a smaller desk, while the Philips is for users who prioritise more on-screen real estate, ergonomic adjustment and connectivity over staying under a strict £100 ceiling.

BenQ GW2490C: compact, color-accurate office monitor under £100

The BenQ GW2490C is a clear example of an office monitor under 100 that does not feel cheap where it counts. Its 24-inch Full HD IPS panel keeps text readable at typical viewing distances, and the 144Hz refresh rate means scrolling through long documents or spreadsheets feels unusually smooth for this price bracket. Colour accuracy is a standout: testing produced an average Delta E of 1, which is about as precise as most budget professional monitors can hope for. This makes the GW2490C a strong fit for general office work and light creative tasks where reliable colours matter more than resolution. The trade-offs are clear: the stand only tilts and feels wobbly, and USB-C offers no power delivery, so your laptop still needs its charger. If you can live with fixed ergonomics and Full HD sharpness, its low price and motion clarity offer excellent value.

Philips 27B2U4601: bigger workspace and richer productivity features

The Philips 27B2U4601 sits on the other side of the 24 inch vs 27 inch equation: it costs more, but it is built as a feature-rich productivity hub. You get a 27-inch QHD IPS panel, which means a noticeable jump in workspace visibility—more columns in spreadsheets, more panels in creative apps, and fewer window overlaps. Motion is still smooth thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, and default colour accuracy is impressive, with a reported 0.56 Delta E average in its main profile. Where it truly pulls ahead for professional workflows is ergonomics and connectivity: the Smart ErgoBase stand offers height, swivel, tilt and portrait pivot, and the USB-C port supports up to 96W power delivery alongside a USB hub and RJ45 networking. The built-in speakers are weak and the chassis feels a bit plasticky, but as a central office screen, its flexibility is hard to argue with at about £290.

Real-world productivity: colour accuracy, refresh rate and desk space

Both monitors prioritise reliable image quality over gaming bravado. On the BenQ GW2490C, colours look natural without manual tweaking, and its average Delta E of 1 keeps photos, charts and branding consistent across devices. The Philips 27B2U4601 goes further, with strong overall image quality and smooth on-screen action backed by punchy brightness, contrast and an even better default colour error figure. For office workers, high refresh rates translate into less eye strain when scrolling, and accurate colours reduce mistakes in design-heavy work. The bigger question is your desk and working style: a 24-inch screen is easier to fit on compact desks or dual-monitor setups, while a 27-inch QHD panel gives you more room to keep multiple windows fully visible at once. Budget-conscious professionals can achieve quality visuals without paying premium prices, but they need to decide whether space-saving or screen real estate matters more.

Buy if / Skip if

• Buy the BenQ GW2490C if you want a compact, color accurate monitor under £100 and can work happily at Full HD resolution.
• Skip the BenQ GW2490C if you need a fully adjustable stand with height, swivel or portrait mode out of the box.
• Buy the Philips 27B2U4601 if you want a larger 27-inch QHD workspace, strong ergonomics and a USB-C hub that powers your laptop.
• Skip the Philips 27B2U4601 if your budget ceiling is close to £100 and you mainly need a basic office screen.
• Buy the BenQ GW2490C if smooth 144Hz scrolling and accurate colours matter more to you than maximum resolution or stand flexibility.
• Skip the BenQ GW2490C if you expect USB-C power delivery and want to run your laptop from a single cable.
• Buy the Philips 27B2U4601 if you spend long hours working and value easy height adjustment, portrait mode and integrated connectivity over saving money.
• Skip the Philips 27B2U4601 if you have limited desk space or sit very close to the screen, where 27 inches might feel overwhelming.