How do I test for backlight bleed before accepting a production batch?

Display a solid black screen in a dark room and inspect corners and edges. Establish your acceptable standard during sample evaluation and communicate it in your purchase order quality spec.

Is 4K worth sourcing for a 24-inch monitor?

At 24", 4K produces very high density requiring DPI scaling to read comfortably. Most buyers are well-served by 1440p or 1080p at 24". 4K is better justified at 27" and above.

Sourcing Monitors & Displays from China: Wholesale Guide

Q: What panel type should I source for general purpose monitors?

IPS is the best all-rounder for color accuracy and viewing angles. VA is better for high-contrast media viewing. For office and general use, IPS is the right choice.

Q: What is the minimum refresh rate for a gaming monitor in 2026?

144Hz is the practical minimum. Below that feels noticeably less smooth to active gamers. 165Hz and 240Hz are the most popular tiers.

China manufactures most of the world’s flat panel displays. BOE Technology, CSOT (TCL), and Tianma Microelectronics are among the world’s largest panel manufacturers. The assembly of monitors — combining panels with drive electronics, housings, and stands — is concentrated in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.

This is a heavier category to source than most accessories — monitors are large, fragile, and expensive to ship. But the margin opportunity and consistent demand make it worth understanding.

Panel Types You’ll Source

IPS (In-Plane Switching): Best color accuracy and viewing angles. Standard for photo editing, general professional use. Some IPS monitors have IPS glow — a slight brightening in corners of dark content — which can be a complaint at the low end.

VA (Vertical Alignment): Higher contrast ratios than IPS (3000:1 vs 1000:1). Better blacks. Narrower viewing angles. Popular for movie watching and dark room gaming. Some VA panels have “smearing” in fast motion.

TN (Twisted Nematic): Fastest response times (1ms GTG). Poorest color and viewing angles. Fading from relevance except for extreme competitive esports monitors where latency is paramount.

OLED: True blacks, infinite contrast. Color accuracy is excellent. Risk of burn-in with static content. Increasingly available in Chinese monitors at much lower prices than previously — LG and Samsung OLED panels used in Chinese-assembled monitors are becoming accessible.

Specs That Drive Purchase Decisions

Resolution. 1920×1080 (Full HD) is the minimum in 2026 for anything above 24". 2560×1440 (QHD) is the mainstream quality tier for 27"+ monitors. 3840×2160 (4K UHD) for 27–32" provides very sharp images but requires a powerful GPU.

Refresh rate. 60Hz is adequate for office and general use. 144Hz is the gaming minimum. 165Hz and 240Hz are common in gaming monitors. For esports titles, 360Hz+ exists but requires specific panel tech.

Response time. The “GTG” (gray-to-gray) response time measures pixel transition speed. 1ms is fast. 4ms is acceptable for gaming. Higher numbers produce motion blur in fast-paced content.

Color accuracy (Delta E and sRGB coverage). Factory-calibrated monitors have Delta E <2 out of box, which is print-accurate. sRGB 99% covers the standard web/video color space. DCI-P3 95%+ is needed for video production. Most monitors spec sRGB coverage; confirm it’s actual measured coverage, not “typical.”

Adaptive sync. FreeSync (AMD) or G-Sync Compatible eliminates screen tearing. FreeSync is license-free; G-Sync requires Nvidia licensing fees (some budget monitors use “G-Sync Compatible” certification instead, which is free). Either is expected on gaming monitors.

Panel uniformity. Mass-produced budget panels often have backlight bleed — visible bright patches in corners or edges on dark screens. Test samples with an all-black screen in a dark room. If corners glow, it will generate complaints.

Shipping Reality for Monitors

Monitors are large, flat, fragile, and heavy. A pallet of 24" monitors is a different logistics challenge than a box of earbuds.

Sea freight is the only viable mode for bulk monitors. Air freight cost per monitor is prohibitive. A container of 200–400 monitors is the practical import unit.

Packaging must be engineered. The standard dual-wall cardboard with foam corners and a protective bag is mandatory. Test packing by drop-testing a sample unit in standard packaging from typical shipping heights. Broken screens are the #1 landing cost surprise in this category.

Tariff reality. Monitors from China face Section 301 tariffs. Check the current HTS code classification (8528.52 for monitors used with ADP machines, 8528.59 for others). With Section 301 + IEEPA, tariff rates push landed cost significantly above factory price.

Certifications

FCC Part 15B: Required for all monitors — they’re digital devices that emit radio frequency energy. Verify FCC ID at fcc.report.

UL or ETL: Required for major US retailers. A monitor’s power supply must meet US electrical safety standards.

Energy Star: Required or strongly preferred for commercial procurement, government purchases, and eco-conscious buyers.

CE + LVD + EMC: Required for EU/UK.

MOQs

This is where monitor sourcing differs from most electronics. The panels themselves are produced in massive runs. Factory MOQs for monitors:

200–500 units for standard 24" or 27" designs with your branding
100–200 units for premium or specialty monitors (curved, ultrawide, 4K)
Custom bezel design or stand: 500–1,000 units with tooling

Lower MOQs are available from trading companies but you lose factory-direct pricing.

Target Markets for Importers

Commercial display and signage: Digital signage monitors (portrait or landscape orientation, VESA mountable, without stand) sell to retail stores, restaurants, and corporate environments. Demand is consistent and B2B buyers order multiples.

Gaming monitors: 144Hz+ with FreeSync/G-Sync Compatible targeting esports and gaming enthusiasts. Amazon and gaming-specific retail channels.

Portable/travel monitors: 15"–17" USB-C powered portable displays for laptop users. High demand from remote workers and travelers. Good margins and light enough to ship economically.

Touchscreen POS displays: 15"–22" touchscreen monitors for point-of-sale systems. Stable B2B demand. Higher margins than consumer monitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What panel type should I source for general purpose monitors? IPS is the best all-rounder for color accuracy and viewing angles. VA is better for high-contrast media viewing. For a single product targeting office and general use, IPS is the right choice.

What is the minimum refresh rate for a gaming monitor in 2026? 144Hz is the practical minimum. Anything below feels noticeably less smooth to active gamers. 165Hz and 240Hz are the most popular tiers. 360Hz+ exists but is overkill for all but competitive esports.

How do I test a monitor for backlight bleed before accepting a production batch? Display a solid black screen in a dark room. Inspect corners and edges. Some light bleed is common in VA panels; IPS panels should have minimal bleed. Establish your acceptable standard during sample evaluation and communicate it explicitly in your purchase order quality spec.

What certifications does a monitor need for sale in the US? FCC Part 15B is mandatory. UL or ETL certification is required by major retailers and practically necessary for commercial sales. Energy Star is required for many commercial/government procurement contracts. Verify FCC ID at fcc.report.

Is 4K worth sourcing for a 24" monitor? At 24", 4K (3840×2160) produces very high pixel density (~184 PPI) which requires DPI scaling to read comfortably. Most buyers at 24" are well-served by 1440p or 1080p. 4K is better justified at 27" and above where the extra resolution translates to noticeably sharper text and images.