There’s a direct correlation between how powerful your gaming computer is and which monitor is right for you. If your hardware isn’t powerful enough to run most games in 4K, you’re better off with a lower resolution monitor that will make the most of your setup and save you money.
It’s also vital that you understand refresh rates, or how fast the screen updates per second. Measured in hertz (Hz), refresh rates start at around 60Hz on monitors designed for office use and can go all the way up to 360Hz on the most competitive gaming monitor. Higher refresh rates make motion more fluid (especially in fast-paced games), reducing eye strain and generally being more responsive.
Variable refresh rate (VRR) technology like NVIDIA’s G-Sync and AMD’s FreeSync is also important for eliminating screen tearing. This technology helps smooth out performance dips by telling the monitor to wait or duplicate frames so that the screen only updates when the graphics card is ready. Simply put, don’t buy a monitor for gaming that doesn’t support VRR.
Often, a choice needs to be made between high refresh rate monitors designed for competitive multiplayer gaming, and slower high-resolution displays that are designed to make your single-player experiences look as good as possible. You may also want to consider an HDR-capable display to experience higher peak brightness and a wider color gamut.
Finally, there are aesthetics and ergonomics. You might not want RGB lights on every surface, and you might want to use a VESA mount to put your monitor on an adjustable arm. These are all things you should consider before you check out.
With all that out of the way, here are our gaming monitor recommendations.
Best Gaming Monitor Overall: LG Ultragear 27GP950-B
The LG Ultragear 27GP950-B ticks all the boxes for both PC and console gamers looking for a solid 4K monitor. It boasts a stunning 27-inch Nano IPS panel that delivers high peak brightness, great out-of-the-box color accuracy, and a wide color gamut. The monitor also supports HDR and is DisplayHDR 600 certified.
✓ Fast 144Hz refresh rate and VRR support✓ 4K resolution✓ HDMI 2. 1 inputs✓ Excellent color accuracy and wide color gamut
✗ No USB-C input✗ Mediocre contrast ratio
The gamers will most appreciate the monitor’s native refresh rate of 144Hz, which you can overclock to 160Hz. There is also variable refresh rate (VRR) support with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility. Additionally, you get a low input lag and fast response time for an overall responsive gaming experience.
As for the design, the 27GP950-B looks decent and has slim bezels. There is also RGB bias-lighting on the back that you can customize as per your preference to reduce eye strain and give an interesting look to your setup. The included stand offers tilt and height adjustment options, but you can only rotate to portrait orientation in one direction.
Port selection is good with one DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 inputs on board. The monitor also works as a USB hub and has two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack.
You will be happy to know that the Ultragear 27GP950-B also excels as an office or media creation monitor. It has a full coverage of the sRGB and excellent coverage of DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB color spaces.
Unfortunately, as is typical for IPS monitors, its contrast ratio is mediocre, and the local dimming feature isn’t very effective at improving the black levels.
Best Budget Gaming Monitor: Acer Nitro XF243Y
If you’re looking for a budget monitor, you probably have a budget gaming PC too. For many cash-strapped gamers, 1080p is still the preferred target resolution, since even if they buy a 4K monitor, their hardware won’t support it. So save the money and grab the Acer Nitro XV242Y instead.
✓ Full HD (1080p) gaming monitor with up to 165Hz refresh rate✓ AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync compatible✓ Fast response time of up to 0. 5ms✓ Sharp, understated styling and thin bezels for a modern look
✗ Disappointing HDR performance✗ Larger, higher resolution monitors only cost moderately more
24 inches is the sweet spot for many gamers who need to balance hardware constraints with desk space. The Acer makes up for its lack of pixels with plenty of other features, including a refresh rate of up to 165Hz and compatibility with NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium for variable refresh rate support.
The styling is understated enough that the monitor could fit in just about any room, with thin bezels around the edge of the screen and an ergonomic stand with around 120mm of height adjustment, 90-degrees of pivot, and the ability to swivel a full 360-degrees. On the back, you’ll find a VESA mounting pattern, a single DisplayPort 1.2 port, and two HDMI 2.0 ports.
The monitor is DisplayHDR 400 certified, which means it gets plenty bright in SDR applications but HDR performance is disappointing. Understandable as sacrifices need to be made somewhere at this price point.
Best 4K Gaming Monitor: LG C2 42-inch OLED
The LG C2 is one of the best televisions you can buy today. It sports a self-emissive 120Hz OLED panel, full 4K resolution, support for G-Sync and FreeSync Premium, and remarkably low input latency (5 milliseconds) that makes it an ideal gaming display.
✓ Stunning OLED image quality in 4K at 120Hz✓ Excellent HDR support, including HDR10 and Dolby Vision✓ Broad variable refresh rate support including FreeSync Premium and G-Sync✓ TV means native apps and great support for console gaming too
✗ 42-inches requires more room than a standard monitor✗ Burn-in is a risk✗ More expensive than other 4K monitors
In the past the smallest LG OLED you could buy was the 48-inch version, but starting in 2022 LG has upped the ante with a far more desk-friendly 42-inch version.
A 42-inch gaming monitor is still pretty big, but it’s more palatable than the previous 48-inch behemoth if you don’t have a lot of desk space to play with. You’ll still need to allow some room between you and the monitor for a comfortable viewing experience, so consider mounting the monitor directly on the wall behind your battle station (and recover some desk space while you’re at it).
OLED panels are prized for their rich contrast owing to “perfect” blacks which aren’t affected by ghosting from backlights (which can be a problem with LED-lit models). HDR performance is improved on the C2 over previous models, owing to the new “Evo” panels which can get brighter than ever before.
In addition to having a thoroughly impressive gaming monitor with full support for VRR functions and HDMI 2.1 on all four inputs, you’ve also got a rock-solid TV for watching movies or streaming via the rich selection of apps available with webOS 22.
If you’re leaning toward choosing a C2 as a gaming monitor, OLED burn-in is an ever-present risk. This is particularly true of static desktop elements like a taskbar or desktop icons. You’ll also need an HDMI 2.1 compatible graphics card to take advantage of 4K HDR gaming at up to 120Hz, else you’ll be limited to 60Hz. Just be sure to look after it as you would any OLED display and you should be fine.
Best Curved Gaming Monitor: Dell Alienware AW3423DW
If you want to take your PC gaming experience to the next level, getting a curved monitor is a great way to do it. The Dell Alienware AW3423DW, a cutting-edge QD-OLED panel, is a curved gaming monitor that even the most hardcore gamer will be proud of.
✓ World’s first QD-OLED display✓ Lots of gaming features✓ Perfect blacks and realistic colors
✗ Fairly expensive✗ Susceptible to burn-in
This new hybrid display technology provides the perfect blacks and lifelike colors of OLED, but without the associated reduction in brightness that can hamper HDR images. This makes it brilliant for when playing modern games, which increasingly include HDR mode.
As you would expect from an Alienware-branded display, the AW3423DW is packed with features for gamers. The impressive 175Hz refresh rate, native support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, and the built-in FPS counter combine with low input lag and quick response time to provide a brilliant gaming experience.
From the front, the Alienware styling looks like any ultrawide monitor. The monitor is bolder-looking from the back though, with a customizable lighting ring and other brand touches. There are plenty of input options on the back panel, including DisplayPort, HDMI, and several USB 3.2 ports. You also get a headphone port and a security lock slot. Not a bad addition, considering what this display costs.
It certainly isn’t cheap, and the price tag may put off all but the most avid and committed gamers. The advanced 3-year warranty, which covers OLED burn-in, does take some sting out of the cost. But ultimately, you are paying for the incredible picture this QD-OLED monitor provides.
Best 144Hz Gaming Monitor: Gigabyte M27Q
If your PC is modest and you enjoy competitive multiplayer titles, a 1440p resolution monitor like the Gigabyte M27Q is an excellent value proposition. For just shy of $300, you can have a 27-inch monitor that refreshes at up to 170Hz, with sharp looks and a 0.5 millisecond response time.’
✓ 1440p IPS panel at up to 170Hz✓ AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync compatible✓ 0. 5ms respons time, 92% DCI-P3 and 140% sRGB coverage✓ KVM switch for using the monitor with multiple computers and a single set of peripherals
✗ Disappointing HDR performance✗ Questionable aesthetics✗ Stand doesn’t pivot or swivel
The M27Q supports AMD FreeSync Premium and is G-Sync compatible for VRR gaming, and features a handy KVM switch which makes it possible to use the monitor with multiple computers and a single set of peripherals.
Finally, the monitor is compatible with 100×100 VESA mounts, or you can use the included stand with 130mm of height adjustment and a +20-degree to -5-degree tilt (but no swivel or pivot). There’s DisplayHDR 400 certification, 140% sRGB coverage, and 92% DCI-P3 coverage to boot.
The M27Q exudes Gigabyte’s “gamer” styling, which won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it’s a solid pick for anyone looking for that 1440p/144Hz sweet spot.
Best 240Hz Gaming Monitor: Samsung Odyssey G7
If competitive gaming is your primary concern when picking a new monitor, you should be looking at a 240Hz monitor like the Samsung Odyssey G7. This 27-inch 1440p monitor is all about the 240Hz refresh rate, with its 1 millisecond response time and a VA panel that refreshes up to 240 times per second.
✓ 1440p gaming at 240Hz with a 1ms response time✓ Support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-Sync✓ QLED technology means better color reproduction✓ 1000R curve and DisplayHDR 600 for immersive gaming
✗ There are cheaper options out there✗ Curved displays aren’t to everyone’s tastes✗ “Infinity Core” lighting on the back is an acquired taste
The monitor is available in both 27-inch and 32-inch models, with only a $100 price difference—though we’d pick the 27-inch model for the higher pixel density. There’s support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-Sync, while the monitor’s curve helps immerse you in whatever it is you’re playing.
Like the Odyssey Neo G9 (our favorite curved monitor), the G7 delivers impressive HDR performance and is certified to DisplayHDR 600. It also uses quantum dot technology in the panel for better color reproduction, though there’s no Mini LED backlight in this particular model.
If you like the idea of a high refresh rate monitor but don’t have G7 money, you might want to consider something like the 1080p ViewSonic Elite XG270 instead.
