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The best gaming monitor is an incredibly important piece of a PC gamer's setup. Why spend lots of money on a gaming PC if you're going to play it through a tiny, 20-year-old workstation monitor? Fortunately, there are many great gaming monitors available today, including those offering ultra-high-refresh 1080p, zippy 1440p options, high-fidelity 4K, and a slew of ultrawide panels.
While we're expecting further fantastic panels throughout 2026, right now the best gaming monitor is the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED. It's got a stunning OLED panel, one that you normally find in some fantastic gaming monitors, but for less money. Check out our guide to the best OLED gaming monitors for even more options.
You need to match your monitor choice with your PC specs to get the most for your money. A 4K monitor with a high refresh rate would likely be overkill if your rig has an older graphics card, and for those cases, the AOC Gaming C27G4ZXE is the best 1080p monitor at the moment. If you prefer high refresh over resolution, check out our guide to the best high refresh rate gaming monitors.
This MSI 4K display is the best overall gaming monitor we've ever tested. It's a beautiful, sumptuous OLED panel for much less than its OLED competition. Still pricey though, I'll grant you.
As well as being regularly affordable, Asus' Strix 4K display also comes with dual-mode functionality. With a 160 Hz refresh at 4K you then get a 320 Hz refresh going down to a competitive 1080p resolution.
If you prefer a smaller resolution, a higher refresh rate, and a stunning screen, this is the 1440p gaming monitor for you. It's the ultimate 1440p monitor, but maybe its OLED expensiveness puts it out of contention for many gamers.
The H27T22C-3 might come from a lesser-known brand, but it ticks all the right boxes and doesn't sacrifice quality in any fundamental area. Perhaps most importantly, you're getting up to a 210 Hz refresh rate here for a very reasonable price.
This AOC monitor is seriously fast thanks to its 280 Hz refresh rate. Plus, what it lacks in pixel density, thanks to its 1080p resolution in a 27-inch panel, it more than makes up for with punchy VA visuals.
With superb image quality, excellent text handling and a super-fast 240 Hz refresh rate, there's very little not to like about this stunning OLED display. Oh, apart from the price.
A contrasty VA panel, with plenty of backlight punch, reasonable pixel response, and a high enough refresh rate for most gamers' purposes. All this for $300? Impressive.
This 49-inch OLED monster delivers an incredible gaming experience. Just bear in mind that the 32:9 aspect ratio isn't ideal for every game... oh, and it's expensive, of course.
Should you wish for screaming fast refresh rates at 1080p but some lovely detail (and a more sedate rate) at 4K, the Alienware does its darndest to give you both. It's a pricey consideration, however, but if you want to switch it up on the regular, it's the best choice.
Dave's been testing PC hardware for the best part of 20 years and has seen every kind of screen imaginable. As such he knows what makes a good gaming monitor and what makes a bad one, too. Whether it's LCD, OLED, mini-LED, or plain ol' CRT, he's had his eyeballs on them all and has personally checked out all of the best gaming monitors on this list.
Recent updates
November 19, 2025: I've simplified our categorisation of gaming monitors to make it as straightforward as possible for you to find the best gaming monitor for you. I've have also removed some older picks that are sadly no longer available (sadly, because they were still great screens). The main change, however, is that the best 1440p screen is now specifically an OLED display, because that panel tech does make for the best 1440p gaming monitor. And because the affordable 1440p screens, such as the KTC we highlight here, offer all the features you could want from a non-OLED monitor at a great price.
August 28, 2025: Replaced the Pixio PXC277 Advanced with the KTC H27T22C-3 as our pick for the best budget 1440p gaming monitor. The Pixio had a very good run, but it now can't quite match the H27T22C-3 for the price, which is a 210 Hz IPS monitor that delivers on all the fundamentals. KTC might be a lesser-known brand, but it's brought out a very well-rounded monitor here that's well worth the cheap price tag. We also added a few other monitors (including the Pixio) that we've reviewed but haven't made it onto our list to our monitor review section at the bottom.
June 10, 2025: Added the Asus ROG Strix XG27UCG and MSI MPG 322URX to our Other Reviews section down below. The former is a dual-mode monitor, but our current pick in that category, the Alienware AW2725QF, has a higher refresh rate and brighter panel, making it a better overall pick. The ROG Strix is a good alternative if you're on a tighter budget, though. The MSI MPG 322URX is a newer version of our best overall pick, the 321URX. However, it's the same as the old one in almost every way, and given the older one is cheaper it's still the best pick for now.
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Refresh rate technology: Nvidia Gsync, VESA AdaptiveSync
Reasons to buy
+
Stellar 4K visuals
+
Very quick for IPS
+
Dual-mode feature is decent
Reasons to avoid
-
Expensive for an IPS panel
-
Much worse HDR than OLED
-
No USB-C
Buy if...
✅ You like the idea of two monitors in one panel: The Alienware performs the dual mode dance better than any we've tested, so if double trouble is your desire, it's easily the one we'd pick.
Don't buy if...
❌ You want 4K at a reasonable price: Unless you really plan on switching between resolutions and refresh rates on the regular, you can pick up a comparable 4K monitor for cheaper.
What if you want super high refresh rates for a spot of competitive gaming at 1080p, but still want 4K potential for more chilled out, single player shenanigans? Well, you'll want to check out a dual-mode monitor—and the Alienware AW2725QF is the one I heartily recommend.
Dual-mode monitors are something us hardware nerds are starting to see more of these days, and they come with the party trick of super-fast refresh rates at lower resolutions, and more conservative ones for 4K gaming. A best of both worlds approach, although this is the monitor that really pulls it off better than the rest.
At 4K, the 27-inch Alienware can put out a very respectable 180 Hz refresh rate, and that's going to be just dandy for a spot of detailed single-player fun. If you really want to ramp up the refresh rate for an intense game of Valorant, though, the AW2725QF can switch to a 360 Hz refresh rate at 1080p.
That's screamingly fast, and with a claimed 0.5 ms GTG response rate, this monitor can certainly keep up (and surpass) most of the rest of the pack. It's a lovely-looking IPS panel, too, so while it won't quite deliver OLED-style vibrancy, it's still a beautiful-looking thing running at full tilt.
It's worth noting, however, that if competitive gaming is your full-time obsession, then you're still going to want a dedicated high-refresh rate display—as while the dual-mode feature makes a good fist of displaying 1080p content (at immense speeds), it's still pixel doubling to create the effect, and that can blur some detail reproduction if you look really, really closely.
Regardless, this is an excellent panel with a party trick, and it pulls it off to great effect. Jack of all trades, master of none? Far from it. The Alienware makes a lot of sense if you want to swap between high res and high refresh rate on the regular—but you will be paying for the privilege.
LG Ultragear 45GX950A While it feels like a glimpse into the future of gaming monitors that does also mean you're paying two grand for a slightly dim, but sometimes spectacular screen, which you know is going to get surpassed in the very near future by OLED advances. 18WENKU score: 78%
Philips Evnia 27M2N3800A Philips just made 4K gaming mainstream, at least on the display side, with this fantastic new dual-mode monitor. It's just a pity that truly 4K-capable GPUs remain so expensive. 18WENKU score: 89%
Acer Predator X32X The current crop of fast 4K OLEDs are fantastic gaming monitors, and the Predator X32X adds a curve into the mix. Not everyone will appreciate it, but it can genuinely add something to a game, particularly first-person ones, and mixed with the brightness and sharpness of OLED it makes the X32X stand out. 18WENKU score: 86%
MSI MPG 322URX MSI's rebooted 32-inch 4K panel brings all the usual QD-OLED niceties, but also the shortcomings. In the end, it's too little for too much in the crowded premium gaming monitor market. 18WENKU score: 79%
Pixio PXC277 Advanced $240 for a high-refresh 1440p panel? Really? Yup. The 165Hz Pixio PXC277 Advanced does almost everything pretty well. Sure, the HDR support is extremely limited. But for the money, this is a surprisingly lovely all-round gaming monitor. The KTC pick on this list has now pipped this Pixio, though, as it's even better value. 18WENKU score: 85%
Asus ROG Strix XG27UCG Two displays in one monitor is the promise and the dual-mode Asus ROG Strix XG27UCG mostly delivers and for relatively sensible money. Just note that the 1080p mode isn't truly like a native display. 18WENKU score: 83%
Gigabyte MO34WQC2 Gigabyte's first attempt at an OLED ultrawide monitor is pretty good, with a great panel, fast refresh rate and good ports. Unfortunately, its price doesn't match its specs, it has poor speakers, and a pretty uninspired design. 18WENKU score: 80%
Acer Predator SpatialLabs View 27 3D Combining both 3D visuals and 3D audio, this Acer monitor does an awful lot but doesn't nail the landing on any element. It's an impressive feat, but not really worth the money and time. 18WENKU score: 68%
Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM There's no doubt that the PG27UCDM is a fantastic monitor but its also hella expensive without offering much more than its bigger sibling. 18WENKU score: 85%
MSI MPG 272URX One of the first gaming monitors to use 4th gen OLED tech, but it's very expensive, no brighter than 3rd gen displays, and a bit too small. Still, that pixel density is stupendous. 18WENKU score: 85%
Acer Predator X39 OLED It's a lovely big WOLED panel, if a bit of an odd size choice, but Acer's late to the party with this monitor. There are nicer screens to be found at this price tag. 18WENKU score: 80%
AOC Agon Pro AG276KF Yes, that's right—it's a 520 Hz gaming monitor. That's immensely fast but unless you're a genuine pro gamer, the low pixel density and high price just aren't worth it. 18WENKU score: 83%
AOC Gaming C27G4ZXE Affordable and with plenty of zip to it, AOC's 27-inch 1080p monitor is let down by its low pixel density, poor pixel response, and dull HDR mode. 18WENKU score: 73%
Thermaltake TGM-I27FQ Our previous choice for the best 1440p monitor, the Thermaltake TGM-127FQ is a solid choice, with a nice set of features and a pretty IPS panel, but included USB-C power delivery is a bit limited and it's not a great HDR choice. 18WENKU score: 82%
Sony Inzone M10S The Sony Inzone M10S is a stunning panel that is seriously fast, but it's an awful lot of money for a monitor that is just 1440p. 18WENKU score: 83%
Alienware AW2725DF Boasting a super-fast, luscious OLED panel, this monitor is really nice but spending nearly $800 on a 1440p display? It just doesn't make sense. 18WENKU score: 85%
Xiaomi G27i This low-cost screen may be short on inputs and other premium features, but it's got it where it counts and would make the perfect companion to a budget gaming rig. 18WENKU score: 80%
Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED G80SD We've seen Samsung's QD-OLED 4K tech in monitors from other brands and loved it. Unfortunately, Samsung has stuffed this one with SmartTV rubbish that pretty much spoils it. 18WENKU score: 60%
Dough Spectrum Black 27 While we like the Gorilla Glass on this compact OLED monitor, it's tough to justify in the face of 32-inch 4K OLED panels we otherwise much prefer. 18WENKU score: 57%
Alienware 32 AW3225QF Almost identical to the ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM, we ultimately sided with the Asus thanks to its out-of-the-box calibration and feature set, which are a cut above. The Alienware is an awesome alternative, which will be even more alluring with a discount. 18WENKU score: 92%
Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2 The Aorus FO32U2 delivers a similar package to the best OLED gaming monitor right now, except we prefer the warmer color calibration on the Asus. 18WENKU score: 86%
Asus ROG Swift OLED PG49WCD It's a massive, mighty and helluva OLED gaming monitor. Unfortunately for Asus, Samsung (the QD-OLED panel's manufacturer) offers more for less with the OLED G9. 18WENKU score: 81%
Asus ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM As a first taster of LG's new OLED panels, this was a good indicator of some hopefully great screens to come. The ROG Swift is great in its own right, however, and impressed with better full-screen brightness, a 240 Hz refresh rate and great HDR performance. 18WENKU score: 87%
Xiaomi Mi Curved Gaming Monitor 34 This monitor failed to impress us compared to its competitors in its price bracket, but it's still one to check out if it's on sale. It's a budget monitor, so you don't get the latest and greatest panel, but it's a wide and curvy thing for relatively few pennies. 18WENKU score: 75%
MSI MAG 274UPF The MAG 274UPF is a good, safe 4K gaming monitor that doesn’t break the bank but it also doesn’t do anything we haven’t seen before. 18WENKU score: 85%
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 Samsung has just raised the bar for gaming monitors. The new Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 G93SC takes its already outstanding QD-OLED panel tech and stretches it out to epic 49-inch, 32:9 aspect proportions. The results are suitably stupendous. But we'd probably still prefer the more mainstream 21:9 alternatives. 18WENKU score: 90%
Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 If Alienware's very similar 34-inch model was the OLED monitor we've been waiting for, Philips has just bested it. Thanks to a glossy panel coating, the OLED tech really sings. HDR games? They positively sizzle. A few minor OLED limitations remain. But this is as good as gaming monitors currently get. 18WENKU score: 95%
BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ The BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ is a solid choice if you want to adopt the large gaming monitor lifestyle. It's got the speed, color, and contrast you want for PC and console gaming. However, its limited ergonomics and high price make it hard to fully recommend over some of its competitors. 18WENKU score: 79%
Alienware 34 QD-OLED (AW3423DW) It’s been an incredibly long time coming. But OLED awesomeness has finally come to the PC. LCD technology still has the edge for latency, but this quantum dot-enhanced OLED screen is incredible when it comes to contrast. The DWF variant, however, has a glossy coating. And that edges the matte version out of this guide. 18WENKU score: 95%
Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 Corsair's take on the 27-inch 1440p OLED is beautifully engineered and all the usual LG-powered OLED upsides appear, including warp-speed responses and lovely per-pixel lighting. But so does the inconsistent brightness. And that's a little tricky to accept at this lofty price point. 18WENKU score: 80%
Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 When it comes to image detail, pixel density counts and the 32-inch 4K Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 undoubtedly delivers on that front. Factor in a 144 Hz refresh rate and great response, and the upshot is a proper high-DPI gaming experience. The problem is the price and the knowledge that OLED gaming can be had for not much more money. 18WENKU score: 84%
LG UltraGear 27GR95QE-B Waiting for the big-screen monitor that really delivers on the promise of OLED tech? This isn't it. The Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 suffers from all-too-apparent brightness limitations, while the resolution and pixel density are a very hard sell at this price point. 18WENKU score: 68%
BenQ Mobiuz EX240N The cheaper of two superficially similar monitor models, the BenQ Mobiuz EX240N loses a little too much in the transition from IPS to VA panel tech. The pixel response can be problematic, the HDR support is woeful and there's an overall lack of vibrancy and punch. Then there's the slightly fuzzy font rendering and maddening OSD menu. 165 Hz refresh is undoubtedly impressive at this price point, but we'd spend that little bit more on the non-N model. 18WENKU score: 70%
Acer Predator X32 FP As a content creator and designer, I can appreciate the benefit of a monitor that I can also use for professional work but also get lost in the glorious world of Elden Ring. The Predator X32 FP makes a compelling case for Mini LED gaming monitors but it does so at a truly hefty price. 18WENKU score: 79%
Like everything else we test, we live with a gaming monitor in the same way you would at home. We make sure to use it for day-to-day monitor tasks on the Windows desktop—because your PC likely isn't just for entertainment—and we test it while gaming, of course.
The Windows desktop will highlight any failings in factory calibration, and show up any issues with font scaling, too. It is also a good way to test the vagaries of whatever backlighting tech a panel is employing. Using a dark background and a light browser or Explorer window (or the other way around) is great for highlighting what a screen's backlight will do as the level of brightness is demanded by what's on the display.
It's a good way to check out any auto brightness limiting (ABL) functions on a modern OLED display, too.
Using fast-paced shooters is a perfect way to test out the response of a given gaming monitor, and the neon-dripping world of Cyberpunk 2077 makes for an excellent HDR tester.
We also go through a series of experiential tests to highlight any ghosting, backlighting issues, or general smeariness or blurring of images. We find it too easy to get lost in the weeds of specific panel benchmarks and miss more obvious problems that might crop up during day-to-day gaming use.
So, we put more weight on what it's like to actually use a gaming monitor than what the specs might say.
We would always recommend an IPS panel over TN. The clarity of image, viewing angle, and color reproduction are far superior to the cheaper technology, but you'll often find a faster TN for cheaper. The other alternative is VA tech, which is less expensive than IPS but still a lot better than TN. The colors aren't quite so hot, but the contrast performance is impressive.
Should I go for a FreeSync or G-Sync monitor?
In general, FreeSync monitors will be cheaper. It used to be the case that they would only work in combination with an AMD GPU. The same went for G-Sync monitors and Nvidia GPUs. Nowadays, though, it is possible to find G-Sync compatible FreeSync monitors if you're intent on spending less, which work perfectly well with both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards.
Should I buy a HDR monitor?
With a High Dynamic Range monitor, you can take advantage of the ever-growing list of games and apps that feature HDR support. It offers more vibrant colors and greater contrast but is going to drive up the price a little. Windows' native HDR function also leaves a lot to be desired, and you may find you have to fiddle in the settings to get HDR looking like it should.
What aspect ratio should I go for?
Today's movies and games are best enjoyed in a widescreen format at a 16:9 aspect ratio or above. In 4:3, those cinematic moments will look stunted with black strips along the top and bottom. There are a host of minute variations on each ratio, but at the end of the day choosing between these depends entirely on your personal preference.
And the very far-out option, if you have a little extra cash to blow, are ultra-wide aspect ratios like 21:9 and 32:9 and their variants. These will provide a much more immersive, encompassing experience. Or you can encompass yourself with a curved monitor, it's really up to you.
Jargon buster - gaming monitor terminology
Curved Panels Curved panels can make games feel more immersive and the amount of curvature is given by a number such as 1500R or 1800R. The smaller the number, the more tightly curved the screen will be.
IPS In-plane switching panels offer the best contrast and color despite having weaker blacks. IPS panels also tend to be more expensive and have higher response times.
Ghosting When movement on your display leaves behind a trail of pixels when watching a movie or playing a game, this is often a result of a monitor having slow response times.
G-Sync Nvidia's frame synching tech for Nvidia GPUs. It basically allows the monitor to sync up with the GPU. It does this by showing a new frame as soon as the GPU has one ready.
FreeSync AMD's take on frame synching uses a similar technique as G-Sync, with the biggest difference being that it uses DisplayPort's Adaptive-Sync technology which doesn't cost monitor manufacturers anything.
HDR High Dynamic Range. HDR provides a wider color range than normal SDR panels and offers increased brightness. The result is more vivid colors, deeper blacks, and a brighter picture.
OLED Organic Light Emitting Diode. A type of display where the pixels directly emit light, rather than using LEDs as a backlight. OLED panels have the best color reproduction and the fastest response, as well as provide true black colors.
Peak Brightness This refers to the maximum brightness of a monitor or television and is measured in nits. For decent HDR gaming, you want more than 400 nits, ideally near the 1000 mark.
Refresh Rate (Hz) The speed at which the screen refreshes. For example, 144Hz means the display refreshes 144 times a second. The higher the number, the smoother the screen will appear when you play games.
Resolution The number of pixels that make up a monitor's display, indicated by height and width. For example: 1920 x 1080 (aka 1080p), 2560 x 1440 (2K or 1440p), and 3840 x 2160 (4K).
Response Time The amount of time it takes a pixel to transition to a new color and back. Often referenced as G2G or Grey-to-Grey. Slow response times can lead to ghosting. A suitable range for a gaming monitor is between 1 to 4 milliseconds.
TN Panels Twisted-nematic is the most common (and cheapest) gaming panel. TN panels tend to have poorer viewing angles and color reproduction but have higher refresh rates and response times.
Ultrawide Shorthand for monitors with aspect wider aspect ratios like 32:9 or 21:9
VA Vertical Alignment panels provide good viewing angles and have better contrast than even IPS but are still slower than TN panels. They are often a compromise between a TN and IPS panel.
V-Sync Graphics tech synchronizes a game's framerate with your monitor's refresh rate to help prevent screen tearing by syncing your GPU frame rate to the display's maximum refresh rate. Turn V-Sync on in your games for a smoother experience, but you'll lose information, so turn it off for fast-paced shooters (and live with the tearing). Useful if you have an older model display that can't keep up with a new GPU.
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