Best AI Monitors 2026: Samsung M9, LG UltraGear evo AI and Dell Picks

AI Life / Computing / AI Monitors

Short answer: the Samsung Smart Monitor M9 is the best AI monitor if you want one 32-inch OLED screen for work, streaming and games, and the LG UltraGear evo AI GM9 is the pick for a sharp 5K desk with AI upscaling. For plain work, the Dell UltraSharp U2725QE tops Wirecutter’s guide.

Last updated: November 14, 2026. Researched comparison from maker specs and named reviews; I have not tested these products myself. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Quick picks: the best AI monitors in 2026

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What is an AI monitor?

An AI monitor is a monitor with built-in processing that changes the picture, the sound or the smart features for you. The common features are AI upscaling (sharpening lower-resolution video and game images to fit a high-resolution panel), AI picture optimization (adjusting settings to match what is on screen) and AI voice enhancement. Samsung’s smart monitor page lists “4K AI Upscaling Pro,” “AI Picture Optimizer” and “Active Voice Amplifier Pro” on its smart monitors, and LG’s UltraGear evo page describes the UltraGear evo’s on-device 5K AI upscaling and scene optimization.

Honest note: these features are real and measurable, but they are a small part of why one monitor beats another. Panel type, brightness, connectivity and price still decide the purchase, and the best work monitors in the guides I read have no AI label at all.

How did I pick the best AI monitors?

I researched, I did not test. I read the maker pages and named reviews linked below and summarized them in my own words. I looked for:

1. Panel quality, such as OLED, mini-LED or IPS Black, and brightness figures from independent tests.
2. What the AI features actually do and whether reviewers found them useful.
3. Connectivity, especially USB-C charging for laptops.
4. Compatibility with Mac and Windows, because bugs matter.
5. Value. Reviewers called out when a premium was hard to justify.

Which is the best AI monitor if you want one screen for everything?

Samsung Smart Monitor M9 (M90SF). Samsung’s page lists a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED panel with smart TV apps, SmartThings, built-in speakers and a built-in 4K camera, plus AI upscaling and picture optimization. Tom’s Hardware’s Samsung M9 review calls it equally suited to gaming, entertainment and productivity, with a gorgeous picture. PCMag’s Samsung M9 review named it the most impressive smart monitor it had tested. WIRED’s Samsung M9 review measured about 980 nits of peak brightness in a 1 percent window but only 233 nits in standard dynamic range, and advised against buying at full price.

• Buy it if you want a monitor that doubles as a TV and a streaming screen, and you will use the extras.
• Skip it if you only need a work monitor, or you use a MacBook. WIRED could not access HDR over a MacBook and hit a macOS bug that fast-forwarded videos.

Which is the best AI monitor for a sharp desk and AI upscaling?

LG UltraGear evo AI GM9. PCWorld’s LG UltraGear evo AI GM9 review says the 27-inch 5K mini-LED panel is bright, fast and vibrant, runs up to 165Hz in 5K and 330Hz at 1440p, and that the AI upscaling made 1080p and 1440p video noticeably sharper. The reviewer was not sure it matched a premium TV’s upscaling, but saw decent results from a Nintendo Switch with no unacceptable lag. Cons: it does not beat a top OLED in every respect, the speakers could be better and there is no KVM function.

• Buy it if you want a dense, bright screen for creative work, media and games.
• Skip it if you want the deepest blacks of OLED or a KVM switch.

Which is the best monitor for work and a laptop?

Dell UltraSharp U2725QE. It is the top pick in Wirecutter’s best monitors guide, which says it looks sharp, has great contrast, can charge a MacBook Pro over USB-C, and can juggle several computers and peripherals thanks to a USB hub, using a 27-inch IPS Black panel.

• Buy it if you want one cable to your laptop and a clean text display.
• Skip it if you want AI features, speakers or a TV mode.

Which is the best big monitor to use as a laptop dock?

Dell UltraSharp U3225QE. PCWorld’s best USB-C monitors guide names it the best USB-C monitor overall, with Thunderbolt 4, 140 watts of power delivery, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, six USB-A ports, KVM switching and a 31.5-inch 4K IPS Black panel at 120Hz. It has no speakers, and its contrast and HDR trail OLED.

• Buy it if you want a monitor that replaces a dock.
• Skip it if you want OLED contrast or built-in speakers.

Which is the best value QD-OLED for a desk?

Dell 32 Plus S3225QC. IT Pro’s Samsung M90SF review says it serves a similarly glorious QD-OLED panel for less than the Samsung, and is glossy, if the Samsung’s matte finish is an issue. WIRED also says that if you are unsure you will use the smart features, the Dell 32 Plus QD-OLED is the better way to spend your money.

What size and resolution should you choose?

For most desks, a 27-inch 4K monitor is the sweet spot, a view echoed by Dockyeah’s MacBook monitor guide: text is sharp, macOS scales it cleanly and prices are reasonable. Step up to 32 inches if you want two full windows side by side at a comfortable size, and go to 5K if you edit photos or video or simply like very crisp text. Ultrawide monitors suit timelines, spreadsheets and code. Whatever you choose, check how far you sit from the screen, because a 32-inch panel at a close desk can feel too large.

Who should avoid an AI monitor?

• Mac users who need HDR and a clean experience, until you have read WIRED’s note about the M9 on a MacBook.
• Buyers on a tight budget. The AI-branded monitors here are premium products, and a plain 4K IPS monitor does the job for less.
• Anyone who does not want a smart TV interface on a work screen. The Samsung M9 asks you to sign in to a Samsung account, which IT Pro found frustrating.
• People who need many downstream USB ports. PCWorld, as quoted by a review aggregator, noted limited USB-A ports on the Samsung.

How do you test a monitor in the return window?

1. Check for dead pixels and uniform color on a white and a black screen.
2. Read a page of small text at your normal distance and look for fringing.
3. Plug in your laptop and confirm it charges and runs at the refresh rate you paid for.
4. Run your usual video call and any game you play to confirm upscaling and refresh behave.
5. Use it for a full workday. Eye comfort shows up after hours, not minutes.
6. Keep the box until you are sure.

What are the smart hacks for a monitor setup?

• Use one cable. A USB-C monitor with power delivery lets one cable carry video, data and charging, as Wirecutter notes for the Dell U2725QE.
• Plug your keyboard and mouse into the monitor, as the Product Bible reviewer does with the Dell U3225QE, so they follow the cable to your laptop.
• Turn off upscaling when you want the lowest response time. PCWorld says the LG GM9 reaches 1ms with its AI upscaling disabled.
• Set your laptop’s scaling once and leave it, instead of changing it each day.

Do AI features on a monitor matter?

A little. Upscaling helps if you play older games or watch 1080p video on a 4K or 5K panel. Picture optimization changes settings you could change by hand. Voice enhancement helps on built-in speakers. None of them fixes a weak panel. If you mostly write, code and use spreadsheets, a sharp IPS or OLED monitor with USB-C charging beats an AI label. Read more in Is AI upscaling on a monitor worth it?

What do reviewers agree on?

• Tom’s Hardware, PCMag and IT Pro agree the Samsung M9 has an excellent QD-OLED picture and works as a monitor, a TV and a gaming display.
• WIRED, IT Pro and PCMag agree it is a premium purchase, and WIRED and IT Pro both point to cheaper Dell alternatives.
• PCWorld says the LG GM9 offers a bright, fast, dense 5K picture with useful upscaling.
• Wirecutter and PCWorld both name Dell UltraSharp monitors among the best for laptop users.

What are the common complaints?

• Menus and setup on the Samsung M9, per Tom’s Hardware and IT Pro.
• Mac problems on the Samsung M9, per WIRED.
• SDR brightness on OLED, per WIRED.
• Speakers and KVM on the LG GM9, per PCWorld.
• No speakers on the Dell U3225QE, per PCWorld.

I summarize each finding in my own words and name the source. I did not read Amazon customer reviews for this page.

Decision checklist before you buy a monitor

Should you buy a monitor now or wait for Black Friday?

Black Friday is Friday, November 27, 2026, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30, 2026. Those are the real dates, and nothing else on this page is a countdown or a claim that stock is running low, because I can’t see Amazon’s inventory.

• Buy now if: you work from home and your screen is the bottleneck, or you are building a desk setup for the holidays.
• Wait for the sale if: you can wait until Black Friday, November 27, 2026, or Cyber Monday, November 30. WIRED expected inevitable discounts on the Samsung M9, and monitors are a common sale item.

That is a pattern, not a promise, and I cannot see Amazon’s price history from here. I don’t list prices here because they change by the hour. Open the Amazon listing to see today’s price, and compare it with what you saw last week before you decide.

Are monitors a good gift?

A big, sharp monitor is a good gift for a remote worker, a student with a laptop or a gamer. Confirm the person’s laptop has USB-C or Thunderbolt with video output, and include the gift receipt.

Where to go next

• AI Monitors hub: every monitor guide in one place.
• Best AI Laptops 2026: the laptop to plug in.
• Best AI Mouse and Keyboard Setup: finish the desk.
• Best AI Webcam With Auto-Framing: a monitor does not fix your camera.
• Best Smart Display: if you want a screen that is not a monitor.
• AI Gadget Gift Guide 2026 and Black Friday AI deals.

FAQ

What is an AI monitor?

A monitor with built-in processing for features such as AI upscaling, picture optimization and voice enhancement. Samsung and LG both market these features on their newest models.

What is the best AI monitor in 2026?

For one screen that does everything, the Samsung Smart Monitor M9. For a sharp 27-inch 5K desk with AI upscaling, the LG UltraGear evo AI GM9. For pure work, the Dell UltraSharp U2725QE.

Is the Samsung Smart Monitor M9 worth it?

Only if you will use the smart TV features. WIRED advised against full price, and IT Pro said you need the smart features to justify the cost.

Does AI upscaling on a monitor work?

PCWorld found the LG GM9 made 1080p and 1440p video noticeably sharper, though it was not sure it matched a premium TV.

Can I charge my laptop from a monitor?

Yes, if the monitor has USB-C or Thunderbolt power delivery. Wirecutter says the Dell U2725QE can charge a MacBook Pro.