Buying a monitor sounds simple—until you actually live with it for a few weeks. Too small feels cramped. Too big feels overwhelming. And somehow, even an expensive screen can end up being “wrong.”

After years of watching how people actually use their monitors, three mistakes show up again and again. They’re easy to make—and surprisingly hard to undo once the box is opened.

Mistake #1: Choosing Size Without Considering Viewing Distance

The most common mistake is assuming that bigger automatically means better. A 32-inch or 34-inch monitor looks amazing in a showroom, but on a shallow desk, it can feel exhausting fast.

If your eyes constantly scan from corner to corner, or you feel neck strain after long sessions, the issue isn’t the panel quality—it’s viewing distance mismatch.

A rough guideline many people ignore:

Ignoring this is how people end up blaming “eye strain” on blue light, when the real culprit is geometry.

Mistake #2: Buying for Resolution Instead of Use Case

Another classic trap: “I want 4K because it’s sharper.” True—but only if your workflow benefits from it.

Text-heavy users often discover that:

● 4K on small screens forces scaling

● Scaling breaks UI consistency

● Some apps never quite look right

For many office, coding, or admin workflows, a well-tuned 1440p monitor at the right size is more comfortable than an overkill 4K panel.

Mistake #3: Copying Someone Else’s Setup

A streamer’s ultrawide, a designer’s 32-inch 6K, or a gamer’s dual-monitor rig might look inspiring—but their desk depth, posture, and workflow probably aren’t yours.

Monitor size is personal. When people stop copying and start measuring their desk, posture, and daily tasks, regret rates drop sharply.