The 8 Best Touch Screen Monitors
Updated by · How we research
Capacitive, resistive and portable touch monitors compared on cables, stands and Mac support. The Dell P2424HT leads with one-cable docking and a fold-flat arm. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A touch monitor needs two links to a computer: one for the picture and a USB connection for the touch signal, though a single USB-C cable can do both on many models. Most now sense fingers the way a phone does. These screens suit store counters, classrooms, kiosks and anyone who would rather tap and swipe than point and click.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Dell P2424HT now leads this list. It replaces the Dell P2418HT, the old favorite here, which is no longer sold, and it adds what a laptop owner wants: one USB-C cable for picture, touch and charging, plus an arm that lowers the screen nearly flat.
Eight of the ten older screens had to go. Both UPerfect screens are unavailable, the ViewSonic TD2455 appears discontinued, and the Angel POS, XtendTouch, G-Story and older Eviciv models no longer turn up for sale. The Asus VT229H and ViewSonic TD1655 stay. New picks cover video calls, a large shared screen, a sharp 4K portable, a budget portable and a pressure-sensing screen for gloved hands.
Bench reviews with real measurements exist for only a few touch monitors, so we weighed those for the Dell and the TD1655 heavily and leaned on makers' spec pages for the rest. A cheap 24-inch with a run of early screen failures didn't make the cut.
Earlier notes
December 1, 2020, by Christopher Thomas:
You'll notice some well-known brands near the top of our list. The ViewSonic TD2455 and Dell P2418HT, for example, come from highly respected manufacturers and both feature two hinges that allow for premium ergonomics. The Asus VT229H isn't quite as versatile, but it's still a very high-quality desktop display. Rounding out the selection of popular brands is the ViewSonic TD1655, which does a considerably better job as a portable display than a wide swath of the options from lesser-known companies.
That said, though, there are some really great models on the market right now that you may not have heard of. The UPerfect Smart is probably the best example of one, as it is the only readily available pressure-sensitive model that we could find, and even boasts an ultra-wide color gamut. The combination of these two premium features makes it a great choice for artists and editors who want to create on the go. The UPerfect Portable isn't geared toward those same creatives, but it has a similarly impressive panel and is among the few with an Ultra HD resolution.
Speaking of portable monitors, the G-Story GSV56FT is a moderately priced choice that should serve casual users well, while the XtendTouch XT1610F is one of the few with an internal battery that's actually worth mentioning.
Then we have a couple more specialized options that are worth considering for the right projects. As the name implies, the Angel POS 17-Inch is an ideal choice for point-of-sale operations, while the Eviciv MDS-702 could work well for a wide range of applications, although not really high-definition entertainment, due its somewhat odd stand and limited resolution.
December 6, 2019, by Christopher Thomas:
There are a few different kinds of touch monitors and they all serve different purposes. Among those most similar to standard desktop displays, the Asus VT229H is one of the newest, and its smaller sibling is just as good and measures 16 inches rather than 22. The Dell P2418HT is no slouch, either, with the kind of image quality that you'd expect from such a popular manufacturer. And the Acer T272HUL is one of the most noteworthy because not only does it measure an impressive 27 inches, it also sports a 1440p resolution, which is currently just about the best in the class. The Planar PCT2235 is reasonably priced and comes in a few sizes with a highly convenient dual-hinge stand or an optional Helium one. For that matter, if you like a fold-flat stand, check out the ViewSonic TD2760, which is pretty expensive but also looks fantastic -- it just doesn't work with Apple products.
Then there are the compact, portable options, such as the Asus ZenScreen MB16AMT, which has an impressive amount of integrate technology. It takes advantage of the newest Type-C connector technology and looks surprisingly good for something so thin and light. The Gechic 1303I looks nearly as sharp, although it's not as large, and the G-Story 15.6-Inch is an excellent value even if its image quality leaves a bit to be desired.
There are also a couple specialty items worth pointing out. The Angel Capacitive POS can serve you well in business settings, and if you need more like it, we'd suggest checking out Dell's website (listed in our Special Honors section) for their Elo line of touch displays. The Eviciv MDS-702 is also a somewhat specialized device, as while it does work with Windows, it's a bit small for general usage, but it's a perfect primary display for the Raspberry Pi.
Special Honors
Elo Touch Solutions Elo makes touch monitors and all-in-one touch computers for stores, restaurants, check-in desks and self-serve kiosks, sold mostly through business resellers. Its commercial screens are built for long hours of public use and come in many sizes, with mounting options for counters and walls. If you're fitting out a business rather than a home desk, its catalog is a good place to start. elotouch.com
Wacom People who search for an artist's touch screen usually want a pen display, not a touch monitor. Wacom's Cintiq pen displays pair a screen with a pressure-sensitive pen that tracks line weight and tilt, which finger-first touch monitors can't do, and some models take finger touch as well. They cost more, but they're built for drawing and photo retouching. wacom.com
Capacitive Or Resistive: The Touch Type Decides Who Can Use It
That makes them a tool for shops, labs, kitchens and point-of-sale counters, like the ViewSonic TD2211, rather than for a home desk.
Nearly every touch monitor sold for desks today is projected capacitive, the same kind of touch as a phone. It senses the small electric charge in your fingertip, it can track ten fingers at once on Windows, and it sits under a sheet of glass, so the picture stays clear (Wikipedia: Touchscreen). If you searched for a "capacitive monitor," this is it. The trade-off is that it ignores a regular glove, a fingernail or a plastic stylus; you need bare skin or a pen with a conductive tip.
Resistive screens work by pressure. Two thin layers touch when you press, so gloves, wet hands and any stylus all register. They usually read one point at a time, though, so pinch and two-finger scroll are out, and the extra layers dull the image a little. That makes them a tool for shops, labs, kitchens and point-of-sale counters, like the ViewSonic TD2211, rather than for a home desk.
Neither type is a drawing tablet. Finger-first screens don't sense pen pressure, and reviewers of the Dell P2424HT found no official stylus support (Tom's Guide). Artists who want line weight and tilt should look at a pen display instead.
Cables, Drivers And Macs: Why Touch Sometimes Does Nothing
The picture and the touch travel on different paths. HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA carry only video, so a touch monitor also needs a USB cable back to the computer, or a USB-C cable that carries both. On the Dell P2424HT, touch works only while the USB-C cable is connected, even if the picture comes in over HDMI (Tech Advisor). Portable screens that run off one USB-C cable need a laptop port with DisplayPort output; a charge-only port gives you nothing.
One cable can also charge the laptop. The Dell sends up to 90 watts back over USB-C (Monitor Nerds) and the Asus BE24ECSBT up to 80 watts (Asus), enough for most thin laptops. Portable monitors work the other way: they draw power from the laptop, and many look dim until you add a wall charger.
Windows 10 and 11 handle multi-touch with no driver. Macs are the catch. macOS has no built-in support for touch screens, so the Asus BE24ECSBT acts as a one-finger pointer on a Mac, and ViewSonic offers a separate vTouch driver to add gestures. Check this before you buy if you work on a Mac.
Size, Stand And Where The Screen Will Live
Pick the size by where you'll use it. A 22- to 24-inch screen suits one person at a desk, and full HD looks sharp at that size. A 27-inch screen works for a counter or a group, though full HD gets soft up close. A 15.6-inch portable rides along with a laptop; our portable monitor picks cover the non-touch ones, and the frameless monitor list covers thin-bezel desk screens.
The stand matters more on a touch screen than on a regular monitor, because you're reaching for it. Holding your arm out to an upright screen gets tiring fast. Stands that lower and tip the screen back, like the Dell's arm or ViewSonic's two-hinge design, let you rest your hand. A tilt-only stand, like the one on the Asus VT229H, tips back only about 20 degrees (Digital Citizen), so it suits occasional taps more than long sessions.
For a kiosk or a wall, look for VESA mounting holes. To clean the glass, switch the screen off and wipe it with a soft, slightly damp cloth; never spray liquid onto the screen, where it can seep into the edges.
How we researched this
We compared 17 touch screen monitors, desk and portable, read the makers' spec pages, weighed independent reviews for the three that have them, looked at owner feedback patterns, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Sources (11)
- Wikipedia: Touchscreen
- Monitor Nerds: Dell P2424HT review
- Tom's Guide: Dell P2424HT review
- PCWorld: Dell P2424HT review
- Tech Advisor: Dell P2424HT review
- Asus: VT229H
- Digital Citizen: Asus VT229H review
- Asus: BE24ECSBT
- Monitor Nerds: ViewSonic TD1655 review
- CyberShack: ViewSonic TD1655 review
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: SaferProducts.gov
Frequently asked questions
Is a touch screen monitor worth it?
It's worth it if you'll reach for the screen often: a point-of-sale counter, a classroom, a kiosk, or apps built for tapping. For typing and spreadsheets, a mouse is faster, and touch adds cost to the same panel.
What is a capacitive monitor?
It's a touch monitor that senses the charge in your fingertip, like a phone. It handles several fingers at once and keeps a clear glass surface, but it won't respond to a regular glove or a plastic stylus.
Does a touch monitor need a driver or a special cable?
Windows 10 and 11 need no driver. Every touch monitor does need a USB link for the touch signal, either a separate USB cable or a USB-C cable that also carries the picture. HDMI alone gives you no touch.
Do touch screen monitors work with a Mac?
Only partly. macOS has no built-in touch screen support, so most touch monitors act as a single-finger pointer on a Mac. ViewSonic offers a driver called vTouch that adds gestures to its touch screens.
Can I draw on a touch screen monitor?
You can sketch with a finger or a capacitive pen, and a stand that lays the screen low helps. These screens don't sense pen pressure, though, so serious drawing calls for a pen display.
What size touch monitor should I get?
Most people do well with 22 to 24 inches at a desk. Pick 27 inches or larger for a shared counter or a classroom, and a 15.6-inch portable to pair with a laptop.
