How to Choose the Right Monitor Categories After Canton Fair 2026

After Canton Fair 2026, one question matters more than booth traffic: which monitor categories are truly worth developing for real business?

From a monitor OEM factory perspective, the answer is usually not the most eye-catching product, but the category that offers the best balance of demand, pricing, and supply feasibility. Based on what we observed at the fair, 23.8-inch monitors, 27-inch gaming monitors, portable displays, small-size entry-level monitors, and practical upgrade options such as 34-inch displays all remain relevant for OEM buyers in different market segments.

1. Why 23.8” monitors remain a stable category

Among mainstream monitor sizes, 23.8-inch models remain one of the safest and most practical choices for OEM projects.

From our side, there are two useful directions in this category:

• 23.8” FHD 75Hz, which offers strong value for entry-level projects
• 23.8” FHD 100Hz, which works well as a more upgraded general-purpose monitor

The reason this category stays important is simple: it is easy to position, suitable for broad everyday use, and more workable for buyers who want a product that can scale across different channels.

For buyers building a monitor line, 23.8-inch models are often a good starting point because they combine mainstream demand with manageable pricing.

2. Why 27” 2K high refresh monitors continue to attract attention

At Canton Fair 2026, buyer interest in 27-inch 2K high refresh gaming monitors was very clear. Both 180Hz and 240Hz drew attention, showing that gaming upgrade demand is still strong.

From a factory perspective, however, these two specifications are not exactly the same in planning value.

• 27” 2K 180Hz is often easier to balance in terms of performance, pricing, and supply feasibility
• 27” 2K 240Hz has strong market appeal, but usually comes with higher pressure on panel availability and cost control

That is why 27-inch gaming monitors remain hot, but product planning still needs to go beyond headline specs. For many buyers, the right question is not only what looks attractive, but what can be launched more smoothly and priced more competitively.

3. Why portable monitors and dual-screen extenders are growing

Another clear trend after the fair is the stronger interest in portable displays.

The 15.6-inch portable monitor remains a practical category as a basic portable second screen. It is easy for buyers to position and easy for end users to understand, especially for flexible work and everyday secondary-screen use.

Within this category, dual-screen extenders deserve even more attention. We noticed that many buyers specifically asked about them, which suggests that demand is becoming more productivity-driven rather than purely novelty-driven.

Compared with standard desktop monitors, portable displays and extenders offer buyers a useful way to expand into:

• mobile work scenarios
• laptop productivity use
• compact multi-screen setups

For OEM buyers, this makes portable displays one of the more interesting growth directions today.

4. Why 49” is not the right fit for every buyer

Large-size monitors such as 49-inch models can attract strong attention at a trade fair, but attention does not always mean real purchasing demand.

From our experience, 49-inch monitors are effective as showcase products, while actual OEM discussions are usually more concentrated on mainstream categories with broader market potential.

For some buyers, 34-inch 4K 165Hz monitors may be a more workable upgrade option, offering a better balance between product differentiation, availability, and pricing.

5. Why small-size monitors still matter in many markets

Although higher-spec and newer categories are attracting more attention, small-size entry-level monitors still have strong market demand in many regions.

In particular, 19-inch and 21.5-inch monitors remain relevant in price-sensitive markets such as parts of Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. These products may not be the most eye-catching at exhibitions, but they are still important in real volume business.

From our perspective:

• 19-inch monitors
• 21.5-inch monitors
• for some projects, 21.5-inch models currently also offer good price advantages

This makes small-size monitors meaningful for buyers who are targeting mass-market demand, commercial projects, or more budget-driven retail segments.

Conclusion: product planning should balance demand and supply feasibility

After Canton Fair 2026, the market signals are quite clear. 23.8-inch monitors, 27-inch high refresh gaming monitors, portable displays, and small-size entry-level models all remain relevant, but for different reasons and in different markets.

At the same time, buyers should not choose categories based only on what attracts attention at an exhibition. The more effective approach is to evaluate both market demand and supply chain feasibility — including pricing, panel availability, delivery stability, and product positioning.

That is where a professional monitor OEM factory can create more value: not only by supplying products, but also by helping buyers choose categories that are workable in real business.

Beyond specifications and trends, supplier reliability has become another key topic for buyers, which we will discuss in our next article.

Looking for a monitor OEM factory in China?

We support OEM and ODM projects for general-purpose monitors, gaming monitors, portable displays, and other display solutions.

If you are interested in any of these monitor categories, feel free to leave a message or contact us to discuss your product requirements.