The best gaming monitor in 2024: Budget, 4K & Ultrawide
DexertoGetting a good gaming monitor is difficult, with so much to choose from, we’ve narrowed down your search to the best of the best.
It’s all very well having a great CPU and graphics card, but unless you have a decent monitor, you won’t be getting the best out of your hardware.
A good gaming monitor can offer many advantages, from a high refresh rate to better resolution or accurate color reproduction. Many gaming monitors also come with specific features like G-Sync or Freesync which can improve your gaming experience.
We’ve rounded up the best gaming monitors by resolution, panel type and form factor to take the pain out of searching for them all yourself.
1080p gaming monitors
BenQ Mobiuz EX240
Amazon, Pexels- Screen size: 24”
- Panel type: IPS
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Response time: 1ms
- Refresh rate: 165Hz
- Adaptive-Sync: FreeSync Premium
If you want a decent refresh rate and access to Freesync for a reasonable price, then the BenQ Mobiuz EX240 is for you.
1080p gaming might not be the most up-to-date or flashy thing, but it gets the job done. This monitor provides fast response times and a swift 165Hz refresh rate for smooth gaming. It has good brightness and decent viewing angles.
It’s a budget, no-frills option that provides a solid, all-round experience.
Dell 27 Curved S2721HGF
Amazon, Pexels- Screen size: 27″
- Panel type: VA
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Response time: 1.7ms
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
- Adaptive-Sync: Nvidia G-Sync Compatible
More expensive than the BenQ, but for the price the S2721HGF boasts a larger screen size, complete with a nice curve for superior immersion.
While unlikely to win any design awards, this Dell monitor has got it where it counts. This is thanks to its 144Hz refresh rate, low response time, and compatibility with Nvidia G-Sync.
Despite the budget price, it can deliver excellent contrast, brightness, and black level that is comparable with much more expensive displays.
If you want a 1080p panel that has a gaming pedigree, this might want to go on your shopping list.
1440p gaming monitors
Dell S3222DGM
Amazon, Pexels- Screen Size 32″
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Panel Type: VA
- Refresh Rate: 165Hz
- Response Time (GTG): 0.2ms
- Adaptive-Sync: FreeSync & G-Sync Compatible
The Dell S3222DGM is a great choice for someone looking for a large curved gaming monitor with a higher resolution at an affordable price. The monitor comes with a curved VA panel that offers a 2560x1440p resolution.
At $350, you get impressive built quality, a 165Hz refresh rate, support for AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync at up to 165 Hz, and excellent image quality.
As for the connectivity ports, this monitor has a couple of HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.2 port, and a headphone jack.
It’s an 1800R curved display is fairly bright for a VA panel for those on a budget.
Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS
Amazon, Pexels- Screen Size 27″
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Type: IPS
- Refresh Rate: 180Hz
- Response Time (GTG): 1ms
- Adaptive-Sync: FreeSync & G-Sync Compatible
This monitor manages to cover all the bases when it comes to the basics of what a gaming monitor can offer. From build quality to image fidelity to performance, the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS handles it all competently.
Asus provides high-quality panels that have a high brightness of 450 nits, as well as solid contrast and HDR compatibility.
It does lack a built-in USB hub and speakers, but some compromises are to be expected for a 1440p monitor with a price tag of less than $300.
Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3
Amazon, Pexels- Screen Size 27″
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Type: QD-OLED
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Refresh Rate: 360Hz
- Response Time (GTG): 0.3ms
- Adaptive-Sync: FreeSync & G-Sync Compatible
The OLED screen and blazingly fast refresh rate make this a fantastic choice for gaming at 1440p. It has an almost instantaneous response time and is compatible with HDR and adaptive sync technologies for great visual clarity.
It does struggle to fight against glare in very bright environments. In bright lighting conditions, blacks and other dark colors can appear washed out or purple instead of black.
These are fairly minor quibbles for an otherwise high-quality monitor.
4K gaming monitors
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8
Samsung- Screen Size 32″
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Panel Type: VA
- Refresh Rate: 240Hz
- Response Time (GTG): 1ms
- Adaptive-Sync: G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync
Whatever monitor you spring for, 4K gaming is going to cost you a fairly hefty chunk of change. If you want a great option that might save you a few bucks, then the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 is a good choice.
It uses the slightly older mini-LED VA technology, but its major advantage of gaming comes from its high contrast levels. Compared to many VA panels, it boasts a high contrast level. Perfect for hiding out in the shadows waiting to get that perfect angle on your opponent.
The 240Hz refresh rate also makes it a good choice for first-person shooters, while the HDR compatibility means it can perform well for watching movies or content creation.
LG UltraGear 27GR93U
Amazon, Pexels- Screen size: 27″
- Panel type: IPS
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Response time: 1ms
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
- Adaptive-Sync: G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync Premium
The main showstopper of this LG monitor is how bright and vivid the colors are, without being oversaturated. Games like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora really pop when displayed on this screen.
Being a full 4K screen with a high resolution means that users don’t have to worry about having to squint to read tiny text. There’s plenty of screen real estate here to use.
With a 144Hz refresh rate and compatibility with G-Sync and FreeSync, players can be assured of no screen tearing and a smooth experience.
It can’t match what an OLED is capable of, and can’t quite manage true HDR, but for the price, it is a reasonable approximation.
HP Omen 27k
Amazon, Pexels- Screen size: 27″
- Panel type: IPS
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Response time: 1ms
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
- Adaptive-Sync: AMD FreeSync
The HP Omen 27k supports not only PC gaming fans but also console players. There are two HDMI ports, though only one supports HDMI 2.1 in addition to a DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB Type-C. The HDMI 2.1 port allows users to access the high framerates promised by the refresh rate.
The use of IPS panel tech allows for great response times and color accuracy. Though it can’t quite match the vibrancy of an OLED monitor, the support for DisplayHDR 400 will provide some vivid results for movies, videos, or content creation.
Ultrawide gaming monitors
Xiaomi Mi G34WQi
- Screen size: 34″ ultrawide
- Panel type: VA (curved)
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 3440 x 1440
- Response time: 1ms
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
- Adaptive-Sync: AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync compatible
Ultrawide monitors can provide an unparalleled view of your favorite game, as well as letting users put other content in a corner without needing a second monitor. The downside is that they can often be expensive.
The Xiaomi Mi G34WQi is a budget entry into the ultrawide market. It isn’t perfect, as it lacks HDMI 2.1 and USB-C connector, and it isn’t as bright as it could be. It has a lot of features to make up for this, including HDR support, and compatibility with both common Adaptive Sync technologies.
It is worth it if you want to grab a curved ultrawide without breaking the bank.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 G95NC
Amazon, Pexels- Screen size: 57”
- Panel type: VA
- Aspect ratio: 32:9
- Resolution: 7680 x 2160
- Response time: 1 ms
- Refresh rate: 240Hz
- Adaptive Sync: FreeSync Premium Pro
If you have deep pockets and want the ultimate gaming monitor, then the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 should be on your shopping list.
This monitor is an absolute unit at 57 inches and acts like two 32-inch monitors did a fusion dance. It comes with DisplayHDR1000 for excellent color reproduction, and AMD FreeSync to ensure fluid motion without screen tearing.
If you want the biggest and the best, this is for you. Everyone else should perhaps seek more reasonably priced options.
OLED gaming monitors
Alienware AW2725DF
Amazon, Pexels- Screen Size 27″
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Panel Type: OLED
- Refresh Rate: 360Hz
- Response Time (GTG): 0.01ms
- Adaptive-Sync: FreeSync & G-Sync Compatible
Though OLED technology is still mostly associated with TVs, we are starting to see this tech break into the gaming monitor market.
This monitor uses ‘Quantum Dot’ or QD-OLED technology for a high color gamut and extremely deep blacks. The 1800R curve and built-in motion processing further enhance the feeling of immersion.
Users can also take advantage of five USB ports, including a USB-C port, as well as customizable RGB lighting for a splash of style.
The main downside is the price. If you want a premium gaming experience, you need to be prepared to pay premium prices, though this one manages to be on the lower end for an OLED monitor.
MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED
Amazon, Pexels- Screen Size 32″
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Panel Type: QD-OLED
- Refresh Rate: 240Hz
- Response Time (GTG): 0.03ms
- Adaptive-Sync: AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
The MSI MPG 321URX provides the best of all worlds. A stunning QD-OLED panel that can support 4K resolution at up to 240Hz is already impressive, but paired with the response time of 0.03 ms it becomes perfect for gaming.
With OLED panels, burn-in can be a concern, but MSI has included some clever bits of technology to mitigate the problem, as well as offering a three-year burn-in warranty.
Of course, with OLED monitors, price is a concern. The MSI MPG 321URX is less expensive than some competitors, but it is still not cheap.
If this level of performance is what you need, then the price might just be worth it.
What is 1440p resolution?
1440p is a resolution that sits comfortably between 1080p and 4k. Often used in mid-tier monitors as a compromise between quality and high refresh rate, they make the perfect choice for those not able to shell out for the high-tier GPUs like a 4070 or 4080.
1440p gaming monitors are, right now, the best sweet spot for anyone wanting to game at a high refresh rate. Though the resolution isn’t something you’d typically see on TVs, as the industry mostly skipped over 2K in favor of getting to 4K quality sooner.
1440p also works well with older-generation or mid-tier GPUs. Pair this with DLSS or FSR and you have a match made in heaven for extending the life of your GPU.
Are ultrawide monitors worth it?
If you play MMOs or require lots of windows open at once, ultrawide monitors are definitely worth the cost. With so much screen real estate, games become a whole new experience. Depending on whether you go curved or just a traditional flat monitor, the monitor will also just be a boon for anyone doing almost any kind of work on their PC too.
The best thing about these is that they don’t just work well for those playing FPS games, but MMO players will have more than enough screen real estate to mess about with for literally all their various windows needed. Strategy games become easier as you can see the whole map in some games. It really is game-changing.
Running one of these will need a tad more horsepower than others, especially if you intend to play games, but again, like the 4K counterparts, as long as you keep expectations in check, you’ll have a grand time.
What Gaming Monitor should I look for?
While the best gaming monitor for you really depends on what you need, there are (usually) four main factors to consider:
- Resolution
- Refresh rate
- Size
- Cost
If you’re after smooth gameplay with as many frames as possible – for example, if you typically play reaction-heavy shooters or multiplayer games – then you should prioritize refresh rate.
Resolution is a luxury in these scenarios, and you can offset lower resolution with a smaller screen or even a curved one. You don’t necessarily have to pay big to get impressive refresh rates, though if you want a feature-laden monitor, some kind of compromise is unavoidable.
If you play slower-paced games or don’t need blistering-fast refreshes, then you’ll want to aim for at least 1440p for your resolution. Some 1080p monitors make good use of their Full HD-only panels, but you can get 1440p and even high refresh rates together for a decent price.
As for size, bigger definitely doesn’t mean better with gaming monitors. Aside from the general difficulty of finding a place to fit the monitor, especially if you’re using it for productivity, the visual quality just starts dropping off after 32 inches in most cases anyway.
In short, take some time to consider what you’re looking for in a monitor and what’s going to benefit you the most.
Do you need to improve your gaming battlestation to take full advantage of these monitors? Then check out what graphics card might be a good fit. Or perhaps your controller or mouse could use an upgrade? We’ve got you covered.
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