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Credit: Reviewed.com / TJ Donegan

The Best Gaming Monitors of 2024

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

Credit: Reviewed.com / TJ Donegan

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Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.

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Editor's Choice Product image of Acer Predator XB253Q Gwbmiiprzx
Best Overall

Acer Predator XB253Q Gwbmiiprzx

Check Price at Amazon

This sturdy monitor offers great image quality, performance, and lots of adjustability. We’re not overly fond of the design, though. Read More

Pros

  • Excellent image quality with 280 Hz refresh rate
  • Highly adjustable stand
  • Great build quality

Cons

  • Unattractive design
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 LS49CG954SNXZA
Best Upgrade

Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 LS49CG954SNXZA

Check Price at Samsung

Samsung’s gorgeous super-ultrawide Odyssey OLED G9 sets a new standard for big PC displays. Read More

Pros

  • Unparalleled image quality
  • Durable and attractive design
  • Superb motion clarity

Cons

  • Limited port selection
  • Menus can be confusing
3
Editor's Choice Product image of Alienware AW3225QF
Best 32-Inch

Alienware AW3225QF

Check Price at Dell

The Alienware AW3225QF is the first 32-inch, 4K, 240Hz QD-OLED gaming monitor on the market. It offers excellent color accuracy and vibrancy. Read More

Pros

  • No brightness fluctuations even on full-white screens
  • Vivid, accurate color
  • Packed with ports and quality-of-life features

Cons

  • Might be too large for some
4
Editor's Choice Product image of Gigabyte G24F 2
Best Value

Gigabyte G24F 2

Check Price at Amazon

The Gigabyte G24F 2 hits 180Hz for less money than even the Monoprice Dark Matter 24, and steers clear of direct competition from NZXT’s Canvas 25F. Read More

Pros

  • Fast display
  • Exceptionally colorful
  • Handy connectivity

Cons

  • HDR worth ignoring
5
Editor's Choice Product image of AOC Q27G3XMN
Best Value, 1440p

AOC Q27G3XMN

Check Price at Amazon

The AOC Q27G3XMN is a budget gaming monitor that competes with the Dell G2724D and LG 27GL83A-B, but its image quality is in a different league. Read More

Pros

  • Excellent image quality
  • Super bright HDR
  • Good motion clarity

Cons

  • No USB connectivity
  • Confusing menus
  • Blooming around bright objects
  • Best Overall Acer Predator XB253Q Gwbmiiprzx
  • Best Upgrade Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 LS49CG954SNXZA
  • Best 32-Inch Alienware AW3225QF
  • Best Value Gigabyte G24F 2
  • Best Value, 1440p AOC Q27G3XMN
  • Other Gaming Monitors We Tested
  • How We Test Gaming Monitors
  • What You Should Know About Gaming Monitors
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

The best gaming monitor looks different depending on what you need. Maybe you’re after a 21:9 aspect ratio. Maybe you’re after a higher resolution, so a 1440p or even 4K gaming monitor, or to upgrade to a higher refresh rate, to complement that top-tier graphics card you just bought. Or maybe you want to upgrade to one of the best curved gaming monitors, which can make a noticeable difference in the way you work and play.

The best gaming monitors also support adaptive sync, including AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, which reduces screen tearing while gaming, 1ms response times or lower, and have good HDR capabilities.

While good gaming monitors can be expensive, they aren't all created equal. If you want the best 24-inch monitor, look no further than the Acer Predator XB253Q GW (available at Amazon) . It gives you the feel of an extra big, extra fast gaming monitor for hundreds less than the average ultra wide-screen display. However, if you don't mind going a bit bigger, our list has several great choices, some of which are speedier or offer better image quality overall.

A photo of the Acer Predator XB253Q GW gaming monitor on a desk
Credit: Reviewed / Matthew S. Smith

Acer's 24-inch beauty packs a punch on all fronts, making it the best gaming monitor for most people.

Best Overall
Acer Predator XB253Q Gwbmiiprzx
  • Screen size: 24.5 inches
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
  • Refresh rate: 280Hz

Acer’s XB253Q GW is a 24.5-inch, 1080p monitor that may seem humble at first glance, but it packs the very best in current monitor technology. This is a cutting-edge competitive gaming monitor with excellent image quality and incredible motion performance.

The Acer XB253Q GW has extremely accurate color straight out of the box. It rivals the accuracy of monitors designed for professional work, and its contrast ratio is as high as you’ll find from a monitor with an IPS panel. It’s an extremely bright monitor, as well, so it’s great for gaming in a bright room and can do some justice to HDR games.

This monitor has a super-quick 240Hz refresh rate that can overclock to 280Hz for outrageously smooth performance. It’s great in fast games, but even web pages look clear and crisp in motion.

The only monitors that have better motion performance are new models from Asus and Alienware with a 360Hz refresh rate. However, we don’t think they offer an obvious improvement over the Acer Predator XB253Q GW, and they’re hundreds of dollars more expensive.

Although the spindly stand and oversized lower bezel won't be for everyone, the display is well-built and feels rock solid. The stand is small but balanced and can adjust for height, tilt, swivel, and pivot. The monitor also offers two USB ports along its left flank. Acer even provides a two-year warranty, an advantage over the one-year warranty on most monitors.

It's far from the most expensive monitor in its class, and it’s a good value given its specifications and performance. Because of its small size, its 1080p resolution will look great in any game, and also makes it easier for your gaming PC to achieve high frame rates in games.

The Acer Predator XB253Q GW’s impressive combination of image quality and motion clarity puts it ahead of the pack.

Pros

  • Excellent image quality with 280 Hz refresh rate

  • Highly adjustable stand

  • Great build quality

Cons

  • Unattractive design

Buy now at Amazon
A super ultrawide monitor, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9, with a racing game on screen
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

The 49-inch-wide Odyssey OLED G9 is a blockbuster monitor with a similarly high price.

Best Upgrade
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 LS49CG954SNXZA
  • Screen size: 49 inches, 32:9 aspect ratio
  • Resolution: 5120 x 1440
  • Refresh rate: 240Hz

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is a remarkable gaming monitor. It delivers a super-ultrawide OLED panel with an effectively infinite contrast ratio and sleek design that puts its competitors to shame.

Image quality is outstanding. The monitor pairs OLED with quantum dots technology to provide a vibrant, colorful image that’s eye-catching yet realistic. It’s great for games, of course, but also good news for content creators. The monitor’s color gamut spans 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, 96% of Adobe RGB, and 82% of Rec.2020. It can readily handle professional photo editing, video editing, and digital art.

The gaming experience is the focus, though, and the OLED G9 delivers something all gamers crave: motion clarity. It supports a 240Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for a smooth, responsive experience. The monitor also benefits from OLED’s fast pixel response times, which reduce motion blur behind fast-moving objects.

The monitor, while excellent, isn’t flawless. The port selection is a bit slim and the monitor’s extensive list of options, though convenient to access with the bundled remote control, can feel overwhelming.

Fortunately, these flaws are offset by major perks that really seal the deal. It boasts exceptional build quality, a useful smart TV interface that can stream Netflix or play Nvidia GeForce Now, customizable LED lighting, and a sturdy yet compact stand. The monitor’s original $2,200 price tag is sure to scare off some shoppers, but it’s since dropped to a much more reasonable $1,200. Either way, make no mistake: This monitor is worth the splurge.

Read our full review of the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9.

Pros

  • Unparalleled image quality

  • Durable and attractive design

  • Superb motion clarity

Cons

  • Limited port selection

  • Menus can be confusing

$1,799.00 from Samsung

$1,099.99 from Amazon

$1,099.99 from Best Buy

$1,099.99 from Abt
a 32 inch gaming monitor on a bright blue background
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

The Alienware AW3225QF delivers excellent colors, contrast, pixel response times, and uniform brightness. It even supports Dolby Vision.

Best 32-Inch
Alienware AW3225QF
  • Screen size: 32 inches
  • Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
  • Refresh rate: 240Hz

Alienware was the first to market with Samsung’s third-generation QD-OLED panels for gaming monitors and the results are nothing short of phenomenal. The 32-inch, 240Hz, 4K OLED Alienware AW3225QF doesn’t compromise in any aspect.

Expect the nearly-perfect black levels and instant pixel refresh times that all OLED displays offer, but married to a number of quality-of-life features that past WOLED and QD-OLED monitors neglected. First and foremost, color reproduction, gamut, and accuracy are fantastic. After calibration, we measured an average DeltaE value—the difference between a target value and what’s actually measured—at only 0.57, which is virtually perfect. Naturally, this also means that games are vibrant and realistic. Even browsing the Steam store looks leaps and bounds better than on an IPS or VA panel.

That effect is enhanced further when HDR is enabled. Shadows are appropriately moody and retain detail thanks to the effectively infinite contrast ratio, and highlights get just as bright as you’d expect from a monitor this expensive. To top it off, HDR on the AW3225QF is astoundingly color-accurate; we measured an average DeltaE of only 0.93 with it enabled. It’s accurate and bright enough to leave on even when not gaming.

The Alienware AW3225QF’s secret weapons are the features you can use every day, even while working. It can easily push a uniform 220-plus nits even when an all-white screen is displayed, making it bright enough to write and fill out spreadsheets on. Switching between brighter and darker objects doesn’t cause a rapid dimming or brightening like with other OLED displays, and even the port selection and OSD menus are plentiful and easy to use. Combined with excellent viewing angles and a curve so gentle that it’s easy to forget it exists, the AW3225QF is an all-around winner.

Read our full review of the Alienware AW3225QF.

Pros

  • No brightness fluctuations even on full-white screens

  • Vivid, accurate color

  • Packed with ports and quality-of-life features

Cons

  • Might be too large for some

Buy now at Dell
Looking at a 24 inch gaming monitor against a brick wall with Far Cry on screen
Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

The Gigabyte G24F 2 features good color accuracy and a blazing fast refresh rate on a budget.

Best Value
Gigabyte G24F 2
  • Screen size: 23.8 inches
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
  • Refresh rate: 180Hz

The Gigabyte G24F 2 sets a powerful example of how good a budget gaming monitor can get. It marries exceptional color quality and motion clarity that even high-end monitors can struggle to balance. The IPS panel delivers a wide color gamut that’s exceedingly accurate, has good contrast, and can get far brighter than most of us likely need in a gaming room.

While 1080p is usually the best you’re going to get from a sub-$200 monitor, Gigabyte pairs that with a 180Hz max refresh rate that comes with no noticeable impacts to other areas of the monitor’s quality and provides pleasingly smooth visuals in games.

A very fast pixel response time helps each frame the monitor is presented display clearly, making the G24F 2 reliable in fast-paced games. Gigabyte even includes a height- and tilt-adjustable stand and two USB-A ports, neither of which should be taken for granted at this price point. It sometimes even dips as low as $130 on sale. The only problem is that it often sells out quickly.

Read our full review of the Gigabyte G24F 2.

Pros

  • Fast display

  • Exceptionally colorful

  • Handy connectivity

Cons

  • HDR worth ignoring

$129.99 from Amazon

$139.99 from Best Buy

$139.99 from Walmart
The AOC Q27G3XMN, a gaming monitor showing a ship in space
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

The AOC Q27G3XMN can deliver spectacularly bright highs and excellent contrast for under $300.

Best Value, 1440p
AOC Q27G3XMN
  • Screen size: 27-inch
  • Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440
  • Refresh rate: 180Hz

The AOC Q27G3XMN sets a new standard for affordable gaming displays. It delivers bright HDR, a sharp 1440p resolution, okay motion clarity for a VA panel, and a 180Hz refresh rate for under $300.

Its key feature is the dynamic mini-LED backlight, which breaks the backlight into 336 distinct dimming zones that can turn on and off independently. This elevates SDR and HDR contrast and brightness to levels typically available only from more expensive monitors. The Q27G3XMN’s contrast (we measured it at 25,200:1 with the backlighting turned on and 5,210:1 with it disabled) and peak brightness in HDR defeats most monitors priced between $300 to $600.

The mini-LED backlight is supported by strong fundamentals, like a 180Hz refresh rate for improved motion clarity. Both features can be commonly found on other affordable gaming monitors, but those alternatives lack the Q27G3XMN’s superior backlight.

That’s not to say it’s perfect. The onscreen menu system is confusing and may frustrate users who need to access it frequently. Connectivity is limited, too, as it lacks USB ports for connecting a keyboard or mouse, any kind of device charging, or the integrated KVM commonly found on comparably priced Gigabyte gaming monitors.

These problems also exist on many price-competitive displays, however, and the Q27G3XMN’s advantages make them easy to overlook.

Read our full review of the AOC Q27G3XMN.

Pros

  • Excellent image quality

  • Super bright HDR

  • Good motion clarity

Cons

  • No USB connectivity

  • Confusing menus

  • Blooming around bright objects

$279.99 from Amazon

$286.99 from Walmart

Other Gaming Monitors We Tested

Product image of Alienware AW3423DW
Alienware AW3423DW
  • Screen size: 34.1 inches
  • Resolution: 3440 x 1440 pixels
  • Refresh rate: 175Hz

The Alienware AW3423DW is a titan of a gaming monitor. It packs in so much greatness, it’s almost hard to believe it only costs $1,200 (and under $900 on sale) given how many other monitors fall well short of its capabilities at the same price.

The star of the show is the QD-OLED panel, which delivers incredible color, brightness, and a high contrast ratio. Dell paired that with a peak 175Hz refresh rate backed by Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate to ensure smooth gameplay performance.

The monitor also benefits from the super-fast pixel response times of OLED, which leaves no visible ghosting. Even the best gaming monitors, which top out at a super-fast 360Hz refresh rate, can often struggle with image smearing.

This monitor is a 34-inch curved ultra-wide, which may be the only major point of contention. Ultra-wide aspect ratios are not as widely supported as 16:9, and curved screens can be an acquired taste. But looking past those small concerns, the Alienware AW3423DW puts such a strong foot forward in almost every regard that it’s easy to recommend to anyone with the budget for it.

Even better, the nearly-identical Alienware AW3423DWF, which lacks G-Sync and drops the refresh rate to 165Hz, can be had for as low as $1,000 on sale.

Read our full review of the Alienware AW3423DW.

Pros

  • Stunning visuals

  • No ghosting

  • Equipped with G-Sync Ultimate

Cons

  • Occasional ABL dimming

  • Not every game supports ultra-wide dimensions

$899.99 from Amazon

$1,179.99 from Walmart
Product image of Alienware AW2725DF
Alienware AW2725DF
  • Screen size: 27 inches
  • Resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels
  • Refresh rate: 360Hz

The Alienware AW2725DF is a stunning blend of technology that can give something to any type of gamer. Whether you’re the type to play gorgeous, story-based games with all the graphics settings maxed to enjoy the visuals or into competitive shooters where the fastest framerate is all that matters (or both!), this monitor can keep up.

Its 1440p, 360Hz QD-OLED panel is both sharp and blazing fast. But what elevates it to another level is the third generation of Samsung’s QD-OLED technology driving the display, which provides near-perfect pixel response time, so even the fastest action is displayed clearly. QD-OLED doesn’t only excel at speed though. On the Alienware AW2725DF, it also offers stunning contrast and deep black levels as well as brilliant highlights. That pairs wonderfully with a huge color gamut that brings any game world to life with vibrant visuals—in our testing, we measured 100% sRGB color space coverage, 99% of DCI-P3, and an average DeltaE of only .59.

A monitor isn’t only its display panel. As exceptional as the AW2725DF’s screen is, the rest of the monitor also holds up well. The stand is flexible and stable, and the monitor includes a host of USB ports to serve as a hub for your desktop. Perhaps what’s most amazing is that Alienware has made a monitor this stunning and only charges $900 for it.

Read our full review of the Alienware AW2725DF.

Pros

  • Unyielding visual quality

  • Ultra-smooth gaming

  • A commendable warranty

Cons

  • Easily smudged

  • Audio is neglected

Buy now at Dell
Product image of Alienware AW2523HF
Alienware AW2523HF
  • Screen size: 25 inches
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
  • Refresh rate: 360Hz

The Alienware AW2523HF is the obvious choice if you want a great 360Hz monitor at a reasonable price.

The 360Hz refresh rate and excellent pixel response times promise ultra-smooth gameplay, making titles like League of Legends and games that require lightning reflexes like Counter-Strike 2 come alive with clarity and precision. It also responds to user input with lightning speed, which can make tough shots easier to pull off. The monitor also has a bright, lifelike image that looks attractive at default settings.

Image quality, though good, isn’t perfect. The contrast ratio can make dark scenes appear flat and the color gamut isn’t as wide as alternative gaming monitors with a lower refresh rate. Other 360Hz monitors share these issues, however.

Alienware's "Legend" design language gives the monitor a sleek, modern look, and its robust build quality is obvious. The monitor also boasts a healthy range of video inputs and a quick, intuitive on-screen menu system. These points differentiate Alienware from competitors with less appealing designs and clunkier menus.

Gamers on a budget will find better image quality in monitors on this list that stick to a 144Hz or 165Hz refresh rate. If you want 360Hz, though, the AW2523HF is the go-to option. It achieves a blistering refresh rate with few sacrifices and can easily be found for under $400.

Read our full review of the Alienware AW2523HF.

Pros

  • Excellent motion clarity

  • Bright, color accurate image

  • Attractive design

Cons

  • Limited contrast ratio

  • Color could be more vivid

  • Laser-focused on PC gaming

$299.99 from Amazon

$349.99 from Best Buy

$379.99 from Walmart
Product image of Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 LS49AG952NNXZA
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 LS49AG952NNXZA
  • Screen size: 49 inches
  • Resolution: 5120 x 1440 pixels
  • Refresh rate: 240Hz

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is a 49-inch super-ultrawide behemoth that will dominate most gaming desks, wrapping around you with an aggressive, immersive curve.

This is a Mini-LED monitor with 2048 dimming zones that can operate independently, boosting contrast and dark-level performance beyond other gaming monitors. It’s not as good as OLED but offers similar advantages such as deep, inky black levels and a lack of unsightly bright spots along the edges of the display.

The G9 Neo also has solid HDR performance with bright highlights and a colorful presentation. Asus’ Mini-LED monitor, the ROG Swift PG32UQX, beats the G9 Neo in this area, but the G9 Neo still performs well for a gaming monitor.

Image quality isn’t perfect, however. The Mini-LED backlight creates a subtle pattern noticeable in bright scenes, a problem we haven’t noticed on other Mini-LED displays. We also saw significant blooming, a problem that causes halos around bright objects on a dark background.

Motion performance is top-tier. The monitor has a high refresh rate of 240Hz, fast response times, minimal blur in fast motion, and supports both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro.

This is an expensive monitor, but Samsung’s build quality lives up to the price tag. The Neo G9 has a sleek, futuristic look and an impressive stand that keeps the monitor stable despite its weight. The monitor also has an attractive and intuitive on-screen menu that makes settings easy to change.

Pros

  • HDR performance

  • Deep, inky blacks

  • 240Hz

Cons

  • Blooming issues

$1,942.80 from Amazon

$1,249.99 from Best Buy

$2,199.99 from Walmart
Product image of Alienware AW3821DW
Alienware AW3821DW
  • Screen size: 38 inches
  • Resolution: 3840 x 1440 pixels
  • Refresh rate: 144Hz

Alienware’s AW3821DW is a premium ultrawide monitor. It’s a 38-inch screen with 3840 x 1600 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. Its combination of size, resolution, and refresh rate is rare.

The AW3821DW has a crisp, vibrant image. It’s an extremely bright display that covers a wide range of colors. It’s not the most accurate monitor available, but most gamers will enjoy its hyper-realistic look.

Size is a key point. A 38-inch ultrawide may sound like a small bump over a 34-inch model, but it offers a 25% larger display by volume. This monitor will dominate any gaming setup. It’s also great for multitasking.

HDR is supported and looks better than most competitors. The AW3821DW has the brightness and color support to provide an obvious leap over SDR. Like its competitors, however, this monitor has just a handful of local dimming zones. This can cause uneven lighting in dark scenes.

Motion clarity is a highlight. The 144Hz refresh rate is extremely smooth and is supported by a display panel tuned for fast response times. It’s as good as you’ll find on an ultrawide. This monitor supports Nvidia G-Sync but doesn’t support AMD FreeSync.

The AW3821DW is built like a tank. Its heavy stand keeps the monitor planted and provides adjustment for height, tilt and swivel, and a bit of pivot. The monitor is covered by a 3-year warranty, which is an impressive span for a monitor at any price point.

If you are looking for an even faster ultrawide option, the Alienware AW3423DW is a 34-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor that can hit 175Hz.

Pros

  • Good image quality

  • 144 Hz refresh rate

  • Excellent build quality

Cons

  • No AMD FreeSync support

$894.95 from Amazon

$1,129.99 from Walmart

How We Test Gaming Monitors

The Tester

Matthew S. Smith is a technology journalist, reviewer, and editor with 14 years of experience. He’s tested over 600 laptop and desktop displays over the past decade, keeping a log of his results for future reference. In addition to evaluating monitors, laptops, and other gear for Reviewed, you can find his monitor reviews published at Insider, IGN, and Digital Trends.

The Tests

We used a Datacolor SpyderX Elite monitor calibration tool for the objective evaluation of monitor quality for this list. This tool can measure numerous technical details of a monitor including brightness, black levels, contrast ratio, white point, color gamut, color accuracy, gamma curve, and uniformity.

Gaming monitors must also be tested for motion clarity and responsiveness. We judged this by first observing Blur Buster’s UFO Test and then launching several games to gauge real-world performance. We look not only for clarity in motion but also signs of ghosting and overshoot, problems that can cause visible trails or halos behind fast-moving objects.

We also consider a monitor’s features and ease of use. The best monitors have an ergonomic stand that’s easy to adjust. They also provide USB ports and a wide range of image customization. We consider these features when making our final selections.

These results are logged and placed in a spreadsheet. Reviewed uses an in-house rubric to balance our recorded results and provide an objective ranking.

Price is important, as well. Expensive monitors do tend to perform well, but that’s unsurprising given their cost. A great gaming monitor should balance amazing visuals and smooth gameplay with unrivaled value.

What You Should Know About Gaming Monitors

What Size Gaming Monitor Do I Need?

Finding the right size of gaming monitor for your gaming setup (and your budget) is just as important as choosing one with the best refresh rate. The most common sizes of gaming monitors span 24 inches, 27 inches, and 32 inches:

  • 24-inch monitors: These are popular among both competitive and casual gamers, and offer the highest possible refresh rates, ensuring smooth and responsive gameplay. The most common resolution at this size is 1080p.

  • 27-inch monitors: The most common next step up, and the largest size that makes sense for most people. These monitors range from budget options to well over $1,000 and span the gamut of 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions.

  • 32-inch monitors: provide large amounts of screen real estate but may be too large to fit on most people’s desks. The most common resolution at this size is 4K, as anything lower may appear blurry and make text illegible.

  • Ultrawide gaming monitors: are typically the same height as a 27-inch widescreen monitor but much, well, wider. They can span 34 to 38 inches and provide an immersive field of view when gaming, especially if the display is curved. However, they may not fit on every desk.

  • Extra large monitors: are the largest gaming monitors you can get and encompass everything from curved 48-inch flatscreen OLEDs up to 49-inch ultrawide monitors and beyond. Unless you sit several feet from your desk, these monitors are a poor fit for competitive gaming as large portions of the screen will be in your peripheral vision.

What Resolution Do I Need—1080p, 4K, or Something Else?

Gamers looking to buy a gaming monitor have a lot of choices of resolution, but your choice is likely to be guided by your budget and the performance of your gaming PC.

  • 1080p: 1920 x 1080 resolution, better known as 1080p, is extremely common on budget gaming displays, and found on most displays that exceed a refresh rate of 144Hz. It doesn’t provide the sharpest picture but can offer extremely smooth gameplay. It also works well alongside a mid-range video card which is a major perk.

  • 1440p: 2560 x 1440, shortened to 1440p, is a resolution rarely spoken of outside of PC gaming. It’s extremely popular in mid-range gaming monitors and provides a great balance between smooth gameplay and sharpness. It’s a big upgrade over 1080p and worthwhile (especially for larger monitor sizes) if you can afford it.

  • 4K: 3840 x 2160, better known as 4K, receives a lot of hype, but high-refresh-rate 4K gaming monitors aren’t for everyone. Aside from the price of the monitor, you also have to factor in the price of a new high-end video card. If you’re a console gamer looking for a monitor, however, this is the resolution to target for your Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5.

The Three LCD Panel Types: IPS, VA, and TN

A monitor’s LCD panel sits between the glass or plastic on its surface and the LED backlights at the rear, and is largely responsible for the image quality of a monitor. There are three different technologies you’re likely to encounter here.

  • IPS: This means "in-plane switching." IPS panels tend to be bright, with good color and subdued ghosting behind fast-moving objects. However, IPS can’t show deep black levels, which is a problem in movies and games.

Despite this, many gaming monitors use an IPS panel because it’s an affordable and effective way to achieve smooth motion. Gamers are often willing to trade some image quality for this perk.

  • VA: This means "vertical alignment." This panel technology has far superior contrast than IPS or TN, and its color performance isn’t bad, either. VA panels have poor viewing angles compared to IPS, but this problem is less noticeable on a monitor since you’ll usually sit directly in front of it.

The best VA panels have motion clarity similar to an IPS display, but there’s more variance. In general, this technology is best for gamers willing to trade some motion clarity for better image quality.

  • TN: This means “twisted nematic.” These are the cheapest panels and generally perform poorly in color, contrast, and viewing angles. They have fast response times and remain an option for extremely affordable, high-refresh gaming monitors.

Newer IPS panels have eroded TN’s advantage, and TN is nearly entirely obsolete. We recommend against purchasing a TN gaming monitor.

  • OLED: This means “organic light-emitting diode” and isn’t considered a traditional LCD panel display technology. Unlike the panel types mentioned above, pixels on an OLED display emit their own light and turn off individually, allowing for near-perfect black levels and unparalleled motion clarity.

OLED monitors are typically more expensive than comparable LCD displays and may dim when brighter content is onscreen. This helps prevent the pixels from wearing down over time and extends the life of the panel.

Other Gaming Monitor Features to Consider

HDR stands for “High Dynamic Range.” HDR monitors have a greater color gamut and contrast, giving you a higher variety and intensity of colors. You’ll see brighter whites and darker blacks, and all the colors in the spectrum with greater vividness and clarity.

Sync features like GeForce’s G-Sync and AMD FreeSync help your monitor’s refresh rate match your graphics card’s refresh rate to keep your picture running smoothly. Without it, you might see visual stuttering, or even “screen tearing” that creates horizontal breaks in your video. If your graphics card is working at 56 frames per second, a good sync software will make your monitor refresh at 56Hz.

In addition to smoothing out the video, this can also reduce input lag, where you experience a delay between pressing a button on your controller and seeing the action performed in-game. Input lag is frustrating in any gaming situation, but it’s especially life-or-death in multiplayer games.

Meet the tester

Matthew S. Smith

Matthew S. Smith

Contributor

@Matt_on_tech

Matthew S. Smith is a veteran tech journalist and general-purpose PC hardware nerd. Formerly the Lead Editor of Reviews at Digital Trends, he has over a decade of experience covering PC hardware. Matt often flies the virtual skies in Microsoft Flight Simulator and is on a quest to grow the perfect heirloom tomato.

See all of Matthew S. Smith's reviews

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