The 7 Best Frameless Monitors
Updated by · How we research
Almost every monitor has thin borders now. Seven 24- and 27-inch frameless models compared on resolution, refresh rate, ports and stand; Dell S2725QS 4K leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A frameless monitor, also sold as borderless or bezel-less, has a very thin border on the top and sides, so the picture runs nearly to the edge and paired screens meet at a narrow seam. Office workers, gamers and people building multi-screen desks buy them. Read speed labels closely: a 1-millisecond figure is often a blur-reduction (MPRT) number, not the slower gray-to-gray time.
From the manual
- The box includes an HDMI 2.1 cable for 4K at 120 Hz; a DisplayPort cable is sold separately. pp. 6, 27
- Of the three response modes, Extreme cuts blur most but can add visible artifacts, so Dell suggests trying each one. p. 13
- Switching Smart HDR on or off blanks the screen for about five seconds, which is normal. HLG video isn't supported. p. 44
- The stand comes off to expose 100 mm VESA holes for a desk arm. p. 7
Why the Dell S2725QS is our top pick
Sharper text decides it. On the same 27-inch size, our pick packs 163 pixels per inch against 109 on our runner-up, the Dell S2725DSM,1,3 so letters and thin lines look cleaner at a normal desk distance. RTINGS called the 4K model's text sharp and its sRGB mode very accurate, needing only minor calibration.5 For anyone who reads, writes or edits all day, that counts for more than speed.
It also connects better. Both of its HDMI ports accept 4K at 120 Hz, and the box includes an HDMI 2.1 cable for that mode, so a PC and a console can share the screen at full rate; the DSM has a single HDMI port.1,3 Its stand rises 130 millimeters against 110, and its speakers are rated 5 watts a side instead of 3.1,3 Both list 350 nits and 99% sRGB coverage,1,3 and both carry a one-year U.S. warranty.2,4
The runner-up wins on motion. It runs at 144 Hz and adds a 1 ms MPRT mode, though that mode needs a 120 Hz or faster signal and turns FreeSync off.3 RTINGS found motion blurry on our pick at any refresh rate,5 so players of fast games may prefer the DSM's faster modes.
| Dell S2725QS | Dell S2725DSM | |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160, 163 ppi | 2560 x 1440, 109 ppi |
| Top refresh rate | 120 Hz | 144 Hz |
| HDMI ports | 2, each 4K at 120 Hz | 1, 1440p at 144 Hz |
| Stand height travel | 130 mm | 110 mm |
| Speakers | 2 x 5 W | 2 x 3 W |
Sources
- Dell S2725QS 1User's guide, Spanish (PDF), pp. 6, 13, 13, 13–14 2U.S. product page
- Dell S2725DSM 3User's guide, Italian (PDF), pp. 7, 14, 14–15, 14, 45 4U.S. product page
- 5RTINGS: Dell S2725QS review
From the manual
- There's a single HDMI port, rated for 1440p at 144 Hz. An HDMI cable is in the box; DisplayPort users buy their own. pp. 7, 13-14
- The 1 ms MPRT mode needs a 120 Hz or faster signal, turns FreeSync off, and can make brightness flicker slightly. p. 45
- A screw can lock the screen to its stand, but the M3 x 6 mm screw isn't included. p. 13
Compare the specs
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Product | Screen (in, pixels) | Top refresh rate (Hz) | Panel | Video inputs | Stand height travel (mm) | U.S. warranty (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Dell S2725QS | 27, 3840 x 2160 | 120 | IPS | 2 HDMI, DisplayPort | 130 | 1 |
| 2. Dell S2725DSM | 27, 2560 x 1440 | 144 | IPS | HDMI, DisplayPort | 110 | 1 |
| 3. ViewSonic VS2725-2K | 27, 2560 x 1440 | 100 | VA | 2 HDMI, DisplayPort | Tilt only | 3 |
| 4. BenQ GW2486TC | 23.8, 1920 x 1080 | 100 | IPS | HDMI, DP, USB-C 65 W | 130 | 3 |
| 5. LG 27U411A-B | 27, 1920 x 1080 | 120 | IPS | HDMI, VGA | Tilt only | 1 |
| 6. Dell S2425HSM | 23.8, 1920 x 1080 | 144 | IPS | 2 HDMI | 110 | 1 |
| 7. ASUS VA249QG | 23.8, 1920 x 1080 | 120 | IPS | HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA | Tilt only | 3 |
Refresh rates are each maker's top rate at full resolution; a computer may start at 60 Hz until you pick the higher rate. "Tilt only" stands don't raise, swivel or pivot, but every pick has 100 x 100 mm VESA holes for an arm. DP is DisplayPort. Warranties are the U.S. terms.
Sources
- Dell S2725QS user's guide, Spanish (PDF) S2725DSM user's guide, Italian (PDF) S2425HSM user's guide (PDF) S2725QS U.S. product page S2725DSM U.S. product page S2425HSM U.S. product page
- ViewSonic VS2725-2K user guide (PDF) Product warranties
- BenQ GW2486TC specifications GW2486TC warranty
- LG 27U411A-B specifications 27U411A-B U.S. support
- ASUS VA249QG tech specs North America monitor warranty (PDF)
From the manual
- ViewSonic recommends 60 Hz, so pick 100 Hz in the computer's display settings; both HDMI inputs and the DisplayPort support it. pp. 23-24
- The tilt-only stand comes off for a 100 x 100 mm VESA arm, held by four M4 x 10 mm screws. p. 11
- Warranty length depends on the country, one to three years, and excludes burn-in from static images and coating damage from harsh cleaners. pp. 39-40
From the manual
- It starts at 60 Hz by default; choose 144 Hz in the computer's display settings to get the smooth mode. p. 14
- The included cable is HDMI 1.4, and both HDMI ports top out at 1080p, 144 Hz and 8-bit color. pp. 6, 13
- MPRT mode needs a 120 Hz or faster signal and turns FreeSync off, and some people notice slight brightness flicker. pp. 13, 35
From the manual
- Motion Sync, the blur-cutting mode, works only at 100 or 120 Hz, dims the screen, and can't run with Adaptive-Sync on. p. 3-5
- The guide lists the HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA cables as optional, so check the box for the one you need. pp. 1-1, 3-11
- There's a headphone jack but no audio input, so a PC on the VGA port can't play sound through the speakers. p. 3-10
- The stand only tilts, from minus 5 to 23 degrees; ASUS says to hold the stand while tilting so the screen doesn't fall. p. 2-3
Editor's Notes
November 5, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
We read the user's guides for five of the seven picks and added a spec table, a section on why the Dell S2725QS leads, and manual notes under those five. We corrected the ViewSonic write-up: its maker lists a VA panel and no DisplayPort output, and both of its input types reach 100 Hz. The BenQ now shows its maker's 100 Hz rating, and the buyer's guide gives Dell's measured border widths in place of a Lenovo link that no longer works.
October 18, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
We picked the Dell S2725QS as the new leader for its sharp 4K text. None of the old picks made it through this update. The Dell U2720QM and Sceptre C355W are no longer sold, the AOC CQ27G2 shows no price or stock, and the ViewSonic Elite XG270QC, Dell S3220DGF, AOC C24G1A, Gigabyte Aorus FI27Q and ViewSonic VP2785 are 2019-2020 models that newer screens have replaced. The HP 24mh is still around, but it tops out at 75 Hz and costs more than faster 24-inch models. The old BenQ GW2480T listing now sells its successor, the BenQ GW2486TC, which joins as a new pick.
Thin borders come on almost every monitor now, so this list ranks on what still differs: resolution for the size, refresh rate, inputs, stand and warranty. The Dell S2725DSM is the value pick. We left out a 34-inch ultrawide this time because of owner reports of failing pixels, and we kept just one of Dell's two near-identical 4K models.
Independent reviews exist only for the Dell 4K panel. For the rest, the evidence is makers' spec pages and rear-panel diagrams, retailer spec sheets, owner reports of early failures and recall checks, and the write-ups say where sources disagree. [2026 update: CHIP's test center in Germany has also reviewed the Dell S2725DSM.]
Earlier notes
October 23, 2020, by Christopher Thomas:
Slowly but surely, display technology is marching forward. We're fortunate now to have a much wider selection of slim-bezel, nearly frameless monitors to choose from, and while all monitors will have at least a small border, we've been careful to stick with those with bezels in the range of about .3" or less.
Of course, it's no surprise that the Dell U2720QM and Dell S3220DGF make an appearance, as Dell appears to be applying their once-heralded "InfinityEdge" technology to a number of their recent releases. On the other hand, both the AOC CQ27G2 and AOC C24G1A are great choices for gamers, from a company that hasn't exactly been on the forefront of ergonomics throughout the past.
Like AOC, the manufacturers of the ViewSonic Elite XG270QC and Aorus FI27Q sometimes dip into gaming displays, and that's where both of these really shine. The ViewSonic is reasonably priced, as many of their are, and the Gigabyte Aorus FI27Q boasts a variety of impressive features, which, again, is generally expected from the performance-oriented brand. A monitor that you might not normally expect to get such a good mention is the Sceptre C355W, and while the brand has been maligned as cheap in the past, its quality is consistently increasing, and this ultrawide model is hard to beat at its price.
However, if all you want is something streamlined for simple tasks at home or work, the BenQ GW2480T is a good choice due to its crisp picture and advanced eye care features, while the HP 24mh is worthwhile because it's so inexpensive, yet doesn't skimp on quality.
June 9, 2019, by Christopher Thomas:
Technically, there's no such thing as a legitimately 100% frameless monitor. Even if there isn't a noticeable piece of plastic surrounding the display's edge, there will still be an ever-so-slight border that doesn't produce an image. This is simply a hardware limitation that LED screens have to deal with. But, given how advanced electronics production has become, manufacturers can come pretty close to bezel-free constructions. In the quest to find the sleekest monitors on the market, we've focused mostly on those without thick plastic borders and gravitated towards displays with bezels of just a few millimeters. One thing you will notice, though, is that there just aren't any that don't have a physical border on the bottom. Generally, that's where edge-sourced LED backlighting lives (hend the name edge-lit), and there's really nowhere else to put it.
Because of their almost non-existent bezels, frameless monitors are typically used in multi-monitor setups for a streamlined experience. As such, you'll find a lot of reasonably priced models such as the HP 27w, Acer G276HL, and Philips E9. Slightly more expensive but also considerably better looking are the AOC 27V2H and the Dell S2418HN and P2719HC. The Dells, in particular, are extremely popular choices, just like most of their monitors. They come about as close to being completely free of a bezel as anything out there. The AOC, on the other hand, is focus-built for gaming purposes, as evidenced by its 144-hertz refresh rate which supports G-Sync adaptive technology. [2026 update: AOC lists the 27V2H at 75 Hz with AMD FreeSync, not 144 Hz with G-Sync.] Then there's the Asus Designo, which is one of the most finely designed options on the market that's still reasonably affordable.
The Alienware is one of the rare ultrawide frameless models, and its 3440 by 1440 resolution is just about perfect for many games, especially considering it's far more common today than it used to be for titles to have native 21:9 support. It used to take hours of fiddling around with settings to get games to run in the ultrawide format without cropping the screen, but the industry is starting to turn now, because the 21:9 gaming experience can really be something else. Finally, if you need something for professional video or photo editing, the ViewSonic is the one to consider. It has great color accuracy, a 4K resolution, and very good HDR support, which checks a lot of boxes needed by commercial users.
What Frameless Really Means
Thin borders shrink the seam, but the gap is still two borders plus whatever space the stands leave.
No LCD monitor is truly frameless. Every panel has a physical edge and a thin black band around the picture that never lights up. "Frameless," "borderless," "bezel-less," "edgeless" and "zero-frame" are marketing names for the same thing, a very thin visible border. Of the makers here, only Dell prints the real figure, measured from the case edge to the first lit pixel: 5.3 millimeters on the top and sides of the 24-inch S2425HSM, about 7.4 on the 27-inch S2725QS, and 12 to 13 at the bottom of both. The bottom edge, or chin, stays thicker on nearly every model because it holds the logo, the controls and often the backlight.
Today almost every office and gaming monitor has thin borders on three sides, so the label alone tells you little. Border width is not a picture-quality feature. Choose on size, resolution, panel type, refresh rate, inputs and stand first, then check the photos to confirm the borders are slim.
The real payoff comes with two or three screens. Thin borders shrink the seam, but the gap is still two borders plus whatever space the stands leave. Even two of those 24-inch Dells pushed together show just over a centimeter of dark seam, so a picture spread across two screens will always have a line through it.
Size, Resolution And Panel Type
Pixel density decides how sharp text looks. A 24-inch 1080p screen has about 93 pixels per inch. At 27 inches, 1080p drops to about 82, which looks soft up close, while 1440p gives about 109 and 4K about 163. For most people, 1440p is the best value at 27 inches. 4K is worth it if you read and edit text all day: RTINGS singles out the sharp text on the Dell S2725QS for office work. On 4K, Windows scaling at 150% keeps menus readable.
IPS panels keep colors steady when you look from the side, which matters on a wide desk or with two screens angled in. VA panels offer more contrast, but colors and brightness shift off-axis; Display Ninja flags exactly that on a VA ultrawide it reviewed. Every pick here is IPS except the ViewSonic, which its maker lists as VA.
Refresh rate matters less than ads suggest for office work. A jump from 60 Hz to 100-144 Hz makes scrolling and the mouse pointer look smoother, and it helps casual gaming. Fast-paced competitive players should look at dedicated gaming monitors, since RTINGS finds motion blurry on the Dell S2725QS at any refresh rate.
Ports, Stands And Multi-Screen Desks
Check the inputs before you buy. Older HDMI 1.4 ports have limited bandwidth, so each maker sets its own ceiling: ViewSonic rates the VS2725-2K's HDMI 1.4 inputs for 1440p at 100 Hz, and Dell's S2425HSM reaches 1080p at 144 Hz over them, but 1440p at 144 Hz or 4K at 120 Hz needs DisplayPort or a newer HDMI port. Some budget screens have only HDMI and VGA, which is fine for an office PC but not for a gaming card that outputs over DisplayPort. A USB-C port with power delivery lets a laptop use one cable for video, data and charging; the BenQ GW2486TC supplies up to 65 watts this way. A DisplayPort output lets you chain a second monitor, but only if the computer's graphics support it.
Stands matter more than borders for comfort. Tilt-only stands are common on the cheapest models. A stand that raises, swivels and pivots lets you line two screens up at the same height, which makes the seam less noticeable. Every pick here has 100 by 100 millimeter VESA holes, so a desk arm can fix a low stand and free up desk space.
Warranties differ. Dell and LG give one year in the U.S., while ViewSonic, BenQ and ASUS give three. We found no monitor recalls for any of these brands since 2015 in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission database or on Health Canada's recall site. Use the power cable or adapter that comes in the box. Clean the screen with a soft, lint-free cloth, and if that isn't enough, put a little ammonia-free, alcohol-free glass cleaner on the cloth, never on the screen.
How we researched this
We compared 20 frameless monitors, including every model on the old list, and narrowed them to nine finalists. For the seven picks we read Dell's user's guides for the S2725QS, S2725DSM and S2425HSM, ViewSonic's VS2725-2K user guide and ASUS's VA249QG series guide, plus BenQ's and LG's spec and warranty pages, since neither maker posts a manual we could open for those models. RTINGS' measured review of the S2725QS was the main independent source. Searches of the CPSC recall database and Health Canada's recall site on November 5, 2026 found no monitor recalls for Dell, ViewSonic, BenQ, ASUS or LG since 2015.
Sources (17)
- RTINGS: Dell S2725QS review
- MonitorNerds: Dell S2725QS review
- Display Ninja: Samsung ViewFinity S50GC review
- CPSC recall database
- Dell: S2725QS user's guide (Spanish PDF)
- Dell: S2725DSM user's guide (Italian PDF)
- Dell: S2425HSM/S2725HSM user's guide (PDF)
- ViewSonic: VS2725-2K user guide (PDF)
- ViewSonic: product warranties
- ASUS: VA249QG series user guide (PDF)
- ASUS: VA249QG tech specs
- ASUS: North America LCD monitor warranty (PDF)
- BenQ: GW2486TC specifications
- BenQ: GW2486TC warranty
- LG: 27U411A-B specifications
- LG: 27U411A-B U.S. support and warranty
- Health Canada: recalls and safety alerts
Frequently asked questions
What is a frameless monitor?
It's a monitor with a very thin border on three sides, usually a few millimeters, so the picture reaches almost to the edge. Makers also call it borderless, bezel-less or zero-frame. The bottom edge stays thicker.
Is any monitor truly frameless?
No. Every LCD has a physical edge and a thin black band that never shows an image. Frameless is a marketing term for a border thin enough that you stop noticing it.
Are frameless monitors better for two screens?
Yes, the seam is much narrower, but it doesn't disappear: you still see two borders and a small gap. A stand that adjusts for height, or VESA arms, helps line the screens up.
Should I get 1080p, 1440p or 4K at 27 inches?
1440p is the best value for most people. 4K makes text noticeably sharper for all-day office work, and 1080p at 27 inches looks soft up close but costs the least.
Do I need USB-C on a monitor?
Only if you use a laptop that charges over USB-C. Then one cable carries video, data and power, which makes docking simple. Desktop PCs don't need it.
Is a frameless monitor better for gaming?
The thin border doesn't change the picture. For gaming, look at refresh rate, response time and adaptive sync instead. The thin border mostly helps if you run two or three screens side by side.
