The Best 1440p Monitors (2024 Reviews)

Check out the best 1440p monitors currently available, including budget, gaming, professional, and everyday use models!

In this buyer’s guide, you will find the best and most cost-efficient 1440p monitors.

Since we already have dedicated 1440p 144Hz and 1440p 240Hz gaming monitor buying guides, we will focus on low refresh rate (60Hz – 100Hz) models in this article.

Whether you’re looking for a 1440p display for everyday use, color-critical work, gaming, or something in between, we got you covered!

MonitorSizePanelRefresh RateVRR
23.8”IPS75HzFreeSync
25”IPS60HzN/A
27”IPS100HzFreeSync
27”VA100HzFreeSync
31.5”IPS75HzFreeSync
best overall

Acer SB272U Ebiip

Acer SB272U Ebiip
  • Accurate colors, wide viewing angles
  • High pixel density
  • VRR up to 100Hz
budget pick

Cooler Master GA271

Cooler Master GA271 Monitor
  • High contrast ratio
  • High pixel density
  • VRR up to 100Hz

Now, because the difference between the low and high refresh rate 1440p monitors is not that big, we highly recommend investing in a 144Hz+ model if you play a lot of games and can squeeze out a frame rate over 60-75FPS.

Even if you can’t get a high frame rate with your current rig, a new monitor should last you at least a few GPU upgrades, so it’s not a bad idea to future-proof your display a bit.

You won’t lose anything by running games at lower frame rates on a high refresh rate monitor. In fact, you can still benefit from lower input lag and less noticeable tearing.

Be sure to check out the ‘Alternatives’ sections in the monitor reviews below as we’ll mention similarly priced models you might want to consider, with higher refresh rates and/or other features.

If you want to view our changelogs for this particular buying guide, you can do so at the end of this article.

The Pros:

  • Accurate colors, wide viewing angles
  • High pixel density
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 75Hz

The Cons:

  • Tilt-only stand
  • IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)

About The Monitor

There is only a handful of 24″ 1440p monitors out there, which is a shame given that a lot of people love this combination of screen size and resolution.

Luckily, the LG 24QP500 is an excellent yet affordable model that offers everything you need for an enjoyable gaming and viewing experience.

Image Quality

The Quad HD resolution results in a high 123 PPI (pixels per inch) pixel density on the 23.8″ viewable screen of the LG 24QP500 monitor.

This means that you’ll get plenty of screen space for your spreadsheets and whatnot, as well as crisp and sharp details; from a normal viewing distance (~70cm or 2.3 ft), you won’t be able to distinguish individual pixels at all!

Further, the IPS panel of the monitor ensures accurate, consistent and vivid colors, while the image remains perfect regardless of the angle you’re looking at the screen thanks to the wide 178° viewing angles.

Factory calibration varies across different units, but you will also be able to do some basic content creation without any issues. For more serious colorists though, we recommend getting a monitor with a more precise (Delta E < 3 or less) factory calibration or pairing the 24QP500 with a colorimeter and calibrating it yourself.

Other specifications include a 300-nit peak brightness, which is more than bright enough under normal lighting conditions, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and true 8-bit color depth support, as expected from an IPS display at this price range.

Features

amd freesync logo

Moving on, the LG 24QP500 has a fast pixel response time speed, so there’s no prominent trailing behind fast-moving objects. This makes it great for fast-paced games, though a 1440p 144Hz or even 1080p 144Hz gaming monitor would still be a much better choice if you play a lot of first-person shooters.

Additionally, the monitor supports AMD FreeSync for tear-free gameplay between the supported 48-75Hz variable refresh rate (VRR) range. Using CRU (Custom Resolution Utility), you might even be able to extend that range to ~40-75Hz depending on the unit.

FreeSync is supported over both HDMI and DisplayPort, so you can use it with both AMD and NVIDIA (GTX 10-series or newer) FreeSync-compatible graphics cards.

Other noteworthy features include Black Equalizer (improves visibility in darker scenes of games), various picture modes and advanced image adjustment tools, such as gamma and 6-axis hue/saturation.

Design & Connectivity

LG 24QP500 Monitor Design

The LG 24QP500 has a tilt-only stand, but you can detach it and mount the screen on a third-party stand via the 100x100mm VESA pattern.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2 and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

At $180, the LG 24QP500 is one of the cheapest 24″ 1440p IPS monitors available. However, depending on your region and pricing, you might want to give these models a look too:

If you have a laptop with a USB-C input that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and Power Delivery, consider the following:

NOTE

Keep in mind that for $20 – $40 extra, you can get the Koorui GP01, a 24″ 1440p IPS gaming monitor with a high 165Hz refresh rate and an ergonomic stand.

The Pros:

  • Accurate colors, wide viewing angles
  • High pixel density, wide color gamut
  • Factory-calibrated
  • Fully ergonomic stand and rich connectivity options, including USB-C with 90W PD

The Cons:

  • IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
  • No AMD FreeSync

About The Monitor

If you want something a bit better but in the same ~24″ screen size, check out the Dell UltraSharp U2520D!

Image Quality

This 25″ sized monitor is only slightly larger than the LG 24QP500, so you get to keep the high pixel density of 117 PPI for sharp details and plenty of screen space.

The Dell U2520D, however, is factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2, so it’s accurate straight out of the box and ready for work!

Additionally, it covers a wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut for more saturated and vibrant colors resulting in a more immersive viewing experience and more colors to work with if your projects can benefit from the DCI-P3 color space.

Other panel-related specifications include a 350-nit peak brightness and a static contrast ratio of 1,000:1, which is standard.

The monitor also supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), but without significantly higher brightness and contrast as well as an expensive full-array local dimming (FALD) implementation, the HDR picture won’t look much better.

So, you can basically ignore its HDR support. Thanks to the wide color gamut, some scenes might look a bit better, but it’s far from the true HDR viewing experience, which is only possible on more expensive monitors anyway.

Features

Further, the Dell U2520D has a fast response time speed, so there’s no ghosting in fast-paced scenes. However, it doesn’t support FreeSync or 75Hz, which will disappoint gamers.

Due to its great image quality, fast response time and low input lag, you can still enjoy video games up to 60FPS without any issues, but you will need to use V-Sync if you wish to prevent tearing. In this case, we recommend using this trick to minimize the V-Sync input lag penalty.

You might also want to try manually overclocking the monitor as this panel is usually pushed to 75Hz on other monitors, but your mileage may vary here.

Design & Connectivity

Dell U2520D Monitor Design

The stand of the monitor is quite versatile with up to 130mm height adjustment, 90° pivot, -5°/21° tilt, +/- 45° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options are extensive and include DisplayPort 1.4, DisplayPort-out 1.4 for daisy-chaining, HDMI 2.0, a USB-C port with DP Alt Mode and 90W PD, a USB hub (three downstream USB 3.0 and one upstream USB-C) and an audio line-out port for external speakers.

The Pros:

  • Accurate colors, wide viewing angles
  • High pixel density
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 100Hz

The Cons:

  • Tilt-only stand
  • IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)

About The Monitor

Most people find 27″ monitors to be the ideal size: not too big, not too small. Plus, the 1440p resolution complements it perfectly as you get a lot of screen space with sharp details and text while scaling is not necessary.

The Acer SB272U Ebiip is the most cost-efficient 27″ 1440p IPS monitor.

Image Quality

Thanks to its IPS panel, you get accurate and rich colors covering the sRGB color space, as well as wide viewing angles and quick pixel response time speed.

Further, it offers true 8-bit color depth, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and a 250-nit peak brightness.

The Acer SB272U Ebiip supports AMD FreeSync over both HDMI and DisplayPort with a 48-100Hz VRR range for tear-free gameplay, allowing you to use VRR with both AMD and NVIDIA GPUs for tear-free gameplay up to 100Hz.

Further, thanks to the wide VRR range, if your frame rate drops below 48, you still get tear-free performance thanks to LFC (Low Framerate Compensation, 47FPS = 94Hz).

Additionally, note that there’s a big difference between 60Hz-75Hz and 100Hz in motion clarity. So, considering that the new 100Hz displays aren’t more expensive than the old 60-75Hz models, we highly recommend going with 100Hz. Not only will games be smoother, but just moving your cursor around will be more fluent too.

Overall, it’s a great 27″ 1440p monitor for everyday use, content consumption, basic content creation and casual gaming.

Design & Connectivity

Acer SB272U Ebiip Design

The stand of the monitor is tilt-only, but the monitor is VESA mount compatible via the 75x75mm VESA pattern (note that there are only two holes though).

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0 inputs and a headphone jack. All three ports can display 2560×1440 up to 100Hz.

Alternatives

The Acer SB272U Ebiip price ranges from $165 to $200.

So, in case it goes for $200, and you need a cheaper display right away, consider the Sceptre E275W-QPT with a 27″ 1440p IPS panel and integrated speakers. It has a lower 75Hz refresh rate, but goes for $160.

The Samsung ViewFinity S61B with a 27″ 1440p 75Hz IPS panel can sometimes be found on sale for $150.

NOTE

You can find 27″ 1440p IPS gaming monitors with a higher refresh rate (165Hz – 180Hz) for as low as $180 – $210 when on sale, such as the Sceptre E275B-QPD168 and the Acer XV271UM3.

The Pros:

  • High contrast ratio
  • High pixel density
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 100Hz

The Cons:

  • Tilt-only stand

About The Monitor

Nowadays, you can even find a 27″ 1440p 100Hz monitor with a VA panel at a low price!

Image Quality

The Cooler Master GA271 is the only 27″ 1440p VA monitor with a 100Hz refresh rate, and it’s available for ~$170.

So, if you prefer a high contrast ratio of VA technology to wider viewing angles and better color consistency of IPS panels, the Cooler Master GA271 is for you!

It has a high static contrast ratio of 4,000:1 for deep blacks, and it covers the entire sRGB gamut for vivid colors. The peak brightness amounts to 250-nits, which is enough under normal lighting conditions, but not ideal for particularly bright rooms.

The Cooler Master GA271 also supports VRR with a 48-100Hz range via both AMD Radeon and NVIDIA GeForce GPUs.

Design & Connectivity

Cooler Master GA271 Monitor Design

The stand of the monitor is tilt-only (-5°/20°), but the screen is VESA mount compatible via the 100x100mm pattern.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2 and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

Sadly, the Cooler Master GA271 is not available in the US at the moment. If you want a 27″ 1440p monitor with a VA panel, check out the Acer ED273UA with a curved screen or the MSI MP273QV and ViewSonic VA2715-2K-MHD with flat screens. However, note that these three displays have a lower 75Hz refresh rate.

NOTE

You can find 27″ 1440p 144Hz VA monitors for as low as $160, such as the Koorui 27E6QC with a curved panel or the Koorui 27E1QA with a flat screen.

The Pros:

  • Wide color gamut and viewing angles
  • Plenty of features including VRR up to 75Hz

The Cons:

  • Tilt-only stand
  • IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)

About The Monitor

The Sceptre E325W-QPS is an affordable 32″ 1440p monitor if you’re looking for a bigger screen and don’t mind lower pixel density.

Image Quality

QHD resolution looks excellent even on 32″ displays. You get a pixel density of 93 PPI, which is the same pixel-per-inch as that of a 24″ 1080p monitor.

So, you won’t have quite as sharp details as you would on a 27″ 1440p monitor, but since you’ll be sitting a bit further from the 32″ larger screen, individual pixels won’t be as noticeable as they are on 24″ 1080p.

In short, the image quality overall won’t be as sharp as that of the 27″ 1440p models, but the larger 32″ screen does offer a more immersive viewing experience for some users, while others might find 32″ too big for regular desktop use.

Additionally, the monitor has a wide 119% sRGB gamut volume for more saturated colors, a decent 300-nit peak brightness and a 1,000:1 static contrast ratio.

VRR is supported with a 48-75Hz range.

Design & Connectivity

Sceptre E325W QPS Design

The stand of the monitor is tilt-only, but it’s VESA mount compatible.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 1.4 ports, dual 3W integrated speakers and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

If the Sceptre E325W-QPS is not available, check out the LG 32QN600 as an alternative.

In case you want a 32″ 1440p monitor with a VA panel, the 75Hz models actually cost the same as the 144Hz/165Hz versions or are even more expensive yet don’t provide anything useful in return. So, we recommend checking out the LG 32GN650 with a flat screen or the Gigabyte M32QC with a curved panel.

NOTE

You can find 32″ 1440p 144Hz IPS gaming monitors for as low as $250, such as the Sceptre E325B-QPN168.

Conclusion

Found the best 1440p monitor for you? Feel free to leave us a comment below if you’re still not sure which one to buy!

Overall, most people will be perfectly happy with the Acer SB272U Ebiip or the Cooler Master GA271, depending on your panel preference.

Changelog +

  • November 8, 2023:
    – Replaced the LG 27QN600 with the Acer SB272U Ebiip, the ViewSonic VA2715-2K-MHD with the Cooler Master GA271 and the LG 32QN600 with the Sceptre E325B-QPN168.
  • March 31, 2023:
    – Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available.
  • November 22, 2022:
    – Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available.
  • September 30, 2022:
    – Added the ViewSonic VA2715-2K-MHD.
  • April 27, 2022:
    – Replaced the Acer VG240Y with the LG 24QP500.
  • February 22, 2022:
    – Removed the Philips 325E1C.
  • November 22, 2021:
    – Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available.
  • June 18, 2021:
    – Updated the guide to only include the best 1440p monitors with a low 60Hz – 75Hz refresh rate since we now have dedicated 1440p 144Hz and 1440p 240Hz guides.
  • April 22, 2021:
    – Improved readability and other related things.
  • February 24, 2021:
    – Removed the AOPEN 27ML1U, AOC Q3279VWFD8 and the Samsung CHG70.
    – Added the Gigabyte G27Q.
  • February 9, 2021:
    – Added the LG 32GN650 as an alternative to the LG 32GK650F.
  • December 24, 2020:
    – Replaced the Dell AW2721D with the Acer XV272UX.
  • December 10, 2020:
    – Added the Dell AW2721D and the Acer XV272UX (as an alternative) 1440p 240Hz IPS monitors.
    – Added the Dell S2721DGF as an alternative for the LG 27GL850.

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Rob Shafer

Rob is a software engineer with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver. He now works full-time managing DisplayNinja while coding his own projects on the side.