1080p vs 1440p vs 4k: Which Resolution external monitor Is Preferable? | TechEnclave

Ever since I managed to wreck my BenQ 4K monitor within a year of buying I have not been able to gather the courage to buy another one. Esp since the monitor with its broken screen is still lying around with me. Thankfully the prices of USBC monitors have come down since, but still.. the lingering pain of wasted purchase.

What I miss most about that monitor is the ease of working on multiple windows and less scrolling on websites but it was a huge ass monitor and its weight led to sagging of my honey comb paper filled IKEA work-desk in the middle.

So what are your current considerations for choosing an external monitor for your laptop (or even your desktop). Which resolution do you prefer and for which kind of task primarily. General rule of thumb was that for document and regular browsing you use 1080p (inexpensive), for gaming you pick a 1440p/QHD with 144Hz refresh rate, and for creative/coding work which requires multiple windows you get a 4K monitor (most expensive). Then there are ultrat-wide monitors which I some dislike, and would prefer a multi monitor setup.

Is QHD/2K a good balance for mixed work, without being too expensive? Or a secondary portable (1080p) monitor better for productivity? Does the choice of monitor vary depending on whether you are going to use it with Windows or a Mac OS?