Samsung's 28-inch UD590 4K monitor

Samsung has followed up its many ultra-high-definition TVs with a 4K monitor that may help bring down the average cost of super-high-resolution displays for bleary-eyed computer users.

The UD590, a 28-inch 4K monitor priced at US$699.99, displays images at a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, which is four times higher than current 1080p high-definition monitors or TVs. Samsung has already released 4K TVs, both straight and curved, and the UD590 monitor is for computer users.

Samsung's new monitor can display 1 billion colors, the company said in a statement. The product will ship on April 18, according to an order page for the UD590 monitor on Amazon.com.

Prices for 4K monitors are falling as more products become available and Samsung, a big player in the display market, could accelerate this trend.

The UD590's price is a bit higher than the lowest-priced 4K monitor, Dell's 28 Ultra HD Monitor P2815Q, which has been selling for $661.99. However, Dell's monitor shows up as "no longer available" when orders are placed for it on Dell's website.

Dell's 28-inch monitor was criticized for its refresh rate of just 30Hz. The refresh rate is an important metric in determining how monitors are able to cope with moving images while reducing flickering. The refresh rate on Samsung's UD590 through an HDMI 1.4 port is 30Hz, and a more desirable 60Hz with a DisplayPort 1.2 port. The monitor has two HDMI ports and a single DisplayPort port.

Samsung has also brought some of its TV features to the monitor. It can convert lower-definition video content to the 4K resolution, and has a picture-in-picture feature to show content from two sources. The monitor has a "Game Mode" button that reduces screen lag, improves color and alters the "screen's contrast to make dark spots darker and light spots lighter" when playing games, according to a UD590 specification page.

Other technical specifications of the monitor include a 1-millisecond response time, 170-degree viewing angle, and the ability to tilt from 1 degree to 15-degrees.

Other 4K monitors are expected to become available this year, but many still remain priced well over $1,000. A 31.5-inch 4K monitor from Asus is selling for $2,899 on Amazon.com, while a 32-inch Sharp 4K monitor is priced at $3,595. Lenovo is due to ship two 4K monitors this year, including a 28-inch monitor that will be priced at $799.99, the company said in January.

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Samsung's 28-inch, 4K monitor to sell for $699.99