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In the world of gaming, having the right monitor can make all the difference between victory and defeat. Whether you're a casual gamer looking to enhance your experience or a competitive player seeking the ultimate edge, the best gaming monitors offer stunning visuals, lightning-fast response times, and immersive experiences that bring your games to life. Join us as we delve into the top gaming monitors available today, highlighting their key features, performance capabilities, and why they stand out in a crowded market. Get ready to level up your gameplay with the monitors that are setting new standards in the gaming world! We turned to nine expert sources to help us wade through a tsunami of tech jargon to discover the best gaming monitors. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
7 Best Gaming Monitors, According to Gamers
1. Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240
Dive into stunning detail and ultra-smooth action with the Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240. This 27-inch OLED gaming monitor boasts a blazing refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time, ensuring buttery-smooth gameplay and eliminating motion blur. Tom’s HARDWARE raves, “Corsair fully embraces OLED panels with its gaming monitors and has filtered it down to the smaller Xeneon 27QHD240. The panel combined a 240Hz refresh rate with a 2560 x 1440 resolution supporting AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync technology.”
Games Radar adds, “There are plenty of great OLED gaming monitor options out there, but the Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 impresses with a snappy 240Hz refresh rate and excellent HDR. It's expensive, but we reckon the LG panel included with this display is worth the hype, particularly if you're looking for colors that pop.”
PC Gamer does have one bone to pick with this model: “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.”
2. Samsung Odyssey OLED G9
Immerse yourself in a stunning gaming world with the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9, a 49-inch curved behemoth boasting vibrant colors and near-infinite contrast. Prepare to be blown away by the razor-sharp visuals and a lightning-fast refresh rate that bring your games to life. Rtings.com says, “If you want another QD-OLED option with a bigger screen and a higher 240Hz refresh rate, consider the super ultrawide Samsung Odyssey OLED G9/G95SC S49CG95. However, because it costs more, only consider it if you want such a big display.”
Tech Radar writes: “The Samsung Odyssey G9 has always been an expensive gaming display, and that hasn't changed in this new refresh. Now with an OLED panel, this new refresh to the line is probably even worth the investment, however, improving on its predecessor in nearly every way.”
You can't go wrong with this one. PC Magazine says, “It's pricey, but the slim, feature-rich Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is a feast for the eyes and the ultrawide monitor to beat for immersive PC gaming. Pros: Dazzling OLED display, exceptional color-gamut coverage and color accuracy, Samsung's gaming and media hub included, and a sleek, thin design.”
3. Samsung Odyssey G7
Experience hyper-realism with the Samsung Odyssey G7's curved QLED display, where vibrant colors and immersive visuals come to life. Unleash your gaming potential, eliminate lag, and enjoy silky-smooth action. IGN says, “With the Odyssey G7, you'll get those speeds alongside a 600-nit peak brightness and 10-bit color depth. So, not only will you be able to see a ton of frames, but each frame can look exceptional.”
PC Gamer adds, “With the new G7, Samsung has buried the idea that VA panels can't be quick. But the extreme panel curve and mediocre HDR implementation complicate the proposition. For: Stellar VA panel with great response, Buttery-smooth refresh, Great design and quality.”
According to Tech Radar, “The best gaming monitors typically fall into two camps: fast refresh rate or high resolution. But they almost never do both. With the Samsung Odyssey, that’s not the case. It manages to pack 1440p resolution in the same display as a 240Hz refresh rate as well as excellent HDR, making this an ideal choice for any gamer that likes to play Esports one day and jump into an immersive open-world game the next.”
4. Asus ROG Swift OLED
The Asus ROG Swift OLED pushes the boundaries of gaming with its stunning OLED display, delivering inky blacks and vibrant colors that explode off the screen. Dive into hyper-realistic worlds and experience every detail. Tom’s HARDWARE explains, “One of the best OLED panels out there, the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM measures 26.5 inches, has a 3440 x 1440 resolution, and maxes out at 240Hz. This widescreen monitor scored 5/5 stars in our testing and secured our coveted Editor’s Choice award.”
According to Rtings.com, “The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM is a great 27-inch alternative if you prefer a smaller screen. It uses a different type of OLED panel than the Dell Alienware AW3423DW, which doesn't display the same vivid and bright colors. However, it still shows deep blacks without any blooming.”
Engadget compares the Asus OLED to LG’s comparable model. “A few other companies produce 27-inch OLED monitors using the same panel as the [LG] 27GR95QE-B. Most notably, there’s ASUS with the PG27AQDM. It can get a fair bit brighter than the 27GR95QE-B, though it hasn’t been out long enough for people to carry out long-term testing to determine how that affects the longevity of the panel.”
5. Asus TUF Gaming Monitor
Asus TUF Gaming packs serious punch into this stylishly designed monitor. Built to withstand the heat of battle, TUF Gaming gear equips you with the tools to dominate the competition. Medium writes: “The gaming monitor has a top-notch 165Hz refresh rate that offers an extremely smooth gaming experience and eliminates all traces of motion blur. It also uses a higher refresh rate than 144HZ which is more common, making sure that you have an advantage over other players during fast play.”
This monitor will take your gaming setup to the next level. Why? IGN says, “The Asus TUF Gaming VG258QM stretches its 1080p picture across a 24.5-inch TN panel, and at 400 nits, it’s plenty bright for easy viewing. The contrast ratio isn’t the best, but a shadow boost feature while gaming helps to expose enemies lurking in the shadows. Some other quality-of-life boxes can get ticked off, too, with a height-adjustable, pivoting stand, two HDMI ports, and one DisplayPort for ample connectivity opportunities.”
According to Tech Radar, “Thanks to its picture quality and a design that is only subtly gaming-centric, this is among the best 4K monitors not only for gamers but for regular users who consume a lot of visual media as well. Its delivered flawless detail, impeccable sharpness, and vibrant, accurate colors with its 90% color gamut during testing, and we found it excellent not just for gaming but media consumption as well.”
6. Alienware 34 QD-OLED
Experience the stunning convergence of cinematic visuals and immersive gaming with the Alienware 34 QD-OLED monitor. Its quantum dot technology delivers vibrant, true-to-life colors, while the expansive 34-inch curved display pulls you into the heart of the action. According to Digital Trends, “The display gets everything else right, too. It's certified with G-Sync Ultimate for tear-free gaming, and it can top out at a 175Hz refresh rate. The resolution is great, too, with the 21:9 aspect ratio offering up a resolution of 3440 x 1400 across the 34-inch screen.”
Games Radar says, “The Alienware 34 AW3423DWF is the sequel to one of our favorite screens, and it builds upon what made the original our best gaming monitor pick. Its brilliant OLED panel is dazzling enough to distract you from any shortcomings, white its ultrawide curve provides an immersive experience across numerous game genres.”
Engadget writes: “For those set on an ultrawide monitor, one of the best options available right now is the AW3423DWF… easily the most expensive screen on this list, but for that price you get a 21:9 gaming monitor with an up-to 175Hz refresh rate, 0.1ms response rate and HDR True Black 400 performance.”
7. LG UltraGear
LG UltraGear monitors are built for the thrill of the game, boasting lightning-fast refresh rates and vivid HDR visuals that pull you right into the action. Digital Trends says, “The UltraGear OLED 27 delivers on all fronts. It has the best HDR performance we've seen out of any gaming monitor, even surpassing the Alienware 34 QD-OLED. It doesn't get as bright, but that's actually a small advantage for the LG display. With lower brightness overall, the UltraGear OLED 27 is able to maintain much better color accuracy.”
Conquer every challenge with precision control and smooth performance, making this monitor your ultimate weapon in the digital arena. Games Radar writes: “It'll dominate both your desk and bank account, but the LG UltraGear 45GR95QE is an excellent ultrawide monitor. Not only does it cater to fidelity with its curved OLED panel, but it'll also provide your eyes with a 240Hz visuals. That's fantastic given that many OLED displays feature a lower refresh rate, even if it does stick with 1440p on the resolution side of things.”
According to IGN, “The LG UltraGear 48GQ900 offers a massive 47.5-inch OLED panel, so you’ll enjoy all the benefits of true blacks, infinite contrast, and eye-popping color for deep immersion in all of the action. The only area where this display struggles is brightness in certain scenes, but it’s still a brilliant display to enjoy 4K gaming on your next-gen console.”
From advanced recreational gaming to aspiring esports athletes, the best gaming monitors can add that extra layer of tech to make games truly amazing when paired with today’s graphics output cards and gaming consoles. The most imperative features for gaming monitor domination include:
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz is a baseline, but aim for 240Hz+ for buttery-smooth visuals and lightning-fast responsiveness in competitive games. Say goodbye to motion blur and hello to razor-sharp reflexes!
- Panel Technology: IPS (In-Plane Switching) or VA (Vertical Alignment) panels offer excellent color accuracy and viewing angles, while TN (Twisted Nematic) panels prioritize raw speed. Choose IPS for immersive open worlds, VA for stunning contrast, and TN for esports dominance.
- Resolution: QHD (Quad High Definition) is the sweet spot for balanced performance and image clarity. 4K offers stunning detail but demands a powerful graphics card. Choose wisely based on your PC or gaming console’s capabilities.
- Adaptive Sync: Eliminate screen tearing and stuttering with G-Sync or FreeSync. These technologies synchronize your monitor's refresh rate with your graphics card to ensure smooth, uninterrupted gameplay.
- Response Time: Aim for 1ms or less for minimizing ghosting and blur in fast-paced action. Every millisecond counts when you're dodging bullets or mastering aerial combos!
Sources used to find these consensus picks:
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. EdNews is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.
That is one dreadful list.
HDR by G7 is a joke
I have G7 but HDR is a joke