NPD Group: Top Best-Selling 10 Monitor Brands In Q3 2015

Monitor Madness

Display technology continues to develop rapidly, between the popularity of LED backlight technology, larger-screened monitors, and touchscreen monitors.

Monitor manufacturers have come up with their own innovative technologies to stay ahead of this wave, such as Apple's Retina display and Samsung's curved monitor displays. In the midst of this innovation, the average price of monitors has increased from $167 in 2014 to $171 in 2015.

Following are the top ten best-selling monitor brands in the third quarter, according to NPD Group, a Port Washington, N.Y.-based market research firm, which provides data from leading technology distributors. NPD Group's DistributorTrack sales database comprises primarily U.S. Global Technology Distribution Council members.

10. Apple

Apple was the tenth best-selling brand in the third quarter of 2015, according to NPD Group.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company took 3.3 percent of the monitor market share in the third quarter of 2015, down 0.3 points from the same quarter of 2014.

Thunderbolt, an emerging I/O technology allowing users to transfer data at rapid speeds, is significant for the company's monitor brand, in addition to Apple's Retina Display. Thunderbolt monitors allow users to extend their workstations to two displays or plug in a laptop and work on a larger screen.

Apple's 27-inch LCD Thunderbolt monitor was the second best-selling monitor model in the third quarter, according to NPD.

9. LG

LG took the ninth spot for the best-selling brand in the third quarter of 2015, according to NPD Group.

LG's consumer-oriented monitors took 4 percent of the monitor market in the third quarter of 2015, up 0.7 points from the same quarter in 2014.

The South Korean's monitor portfolio extends from the company's $123.99, 22-inch LED monitor, all the way up to its $1,099, 31-inch widescreen 4K digital cinema monitor. The company's monitors contain a broad array of features for gamers and professionals like curved displays, quad-HD displays, and IPS panels.

8. NEC Display

NEC Display was the eighth best-selling monitor brand in the third quarter of 2015.

However, the company took 4 percent of the monitor brand market, down 0.2 points from the same quarter last year.

NEC Display monitors include large-screen displays, as well as desktop monitors, but the company also has a role in the healthcare vertical with its high-end, costly medical diagnostic displays, which are intelligent LCD displays specifically for healthcare professionals.

The company's desktop displays range from its $149, 17-inch value desktop monitor with LED backlighting to its $1,049, 24-inch widescreen desktop monitor with 4K and IPS panel technology.

7. ASUS

ASUS was the seventh best-selling monitor brand in the third quarter, according to NPD Group.

During the third quarter of 2015, ASUS-branded products made up 5.3 percent of the monitor market, down 0.9 points from the same quarter last year.

ASUS touts a variety of monitors, including 4K and WQHD (quad-HD) displays, professional, gaming, wide-viewing, and portable monitors. More recently, ASUS' PG279Q RoG Swift, released in the fall, is the ultimate gaming monitor with an attractive design, highly adjustable stand and 165Hz refresh rate.

6. Lenovo

Lenovo was the sixth best-selling monitor brand in the third quarter of 2015, according to NPD Group. Lenovo took a big hit in the third quarter, however, with 6.3 percent monitor market share, down 1.9 points from the same quarter last year.

The Chinese company's portfolio includes its ThinkVision flat panel LCD monitors and mobile touch monitors, as well as flat panel LCD monitors.

5. Dell

Dell was the fifth best-selling monitor brand in the third quarter of 2015, according to the NPD Group.

Dell monitors did well in the quarter, taking 9.4 percent of the monitor market share in the third quarter, up 3.8 points from the same quarter last year.

Among the more popular Dell monitors in 2015 were the Dell Ultrasharp U3415W, a 34-inch curved display for gamers and film editors, as well as the Dell UltraSharp 27 Ultra HD 5K, a 28-inch 5K display with 5,120 x 2,880-pixel resolution.

4. Acer

Acer took the fourth spot as the best-selling monitor brand in the third quarter of 2015, according to NPD Group. Acer's monitors took 11.2 percent of the monitor market share, staying flat from the same quarter last year.

The company's V246HL 24-inch LCD black display proved to be particularly popular, as the tenth best-selling model in the third quarter of 2015, according to NPD Group. Acer also recently released two new Predator XB1 monitor models, aimed toward gamers.

3. Viewsonic

Viewsonic was the third best-selling monitor brand in the third quarter of 2015, according to NPD Group. Viewsonic monitors took 11.4 percent of the monitor market share in the third quarter of of 2015, up 0.3 points from the same quarter last year.

Viewsonic's VA2446, LED 23.6-inch monitor with 1920 x 1080 resolution was particularly popular, as the ninth best-selling monitor model in the third quarter. Viewsonic also touts a variety of smart and touch displays, as well as monitors with IPS technology for both gamers and professional audiences.

2. Samsung

Samsung was the second best-selling monitor brand in the third quarter of 2015, according to NPD Group. The South Korean company's consumer-oriented monitors took 13.4 percent of the monitor market in the third quarter, up 0.9 percent from the same quarter last year.

Several of Samsung's monitors were particularly popular, including the S22A200B 1920 x 1080 resolution monitor model, which was the fifth best-selling model in the third quarter, as well as the S24C450D 24-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution monitor, which was the third best-selling model in the third quarter. Samsung's innovations with curved screens were particularly popular among gamers.

1. Hewlett-Packard

Hewlett-Packard was the best-selling monitor brand in the third quarter of 2015, according to NPD Group. The company took 23.7 percent of the monitor market share in the third quarter, down 0.8 points from the same quarter last year.

Hewlett-Packard's EliteDisplay monitors are popular, with their 24-inch EliteDisplay E241i LCD silver monitor with 1920 x 1200 resolution the top-selling model in the third quarter. Other best-selling brands in the third quarter include the E22i LDC black monitor with 1920 x 1080 resolution, and the Z24i LDC black 24-inch monitor with 1920 x 1200 resolution.