The Best Gaming Monitors (Editor’s Picks For 2023)

Nowadays, choosing a gaming monitor that’s most suited for you can be overwhelming due to the sheer amount and variety of available models.

That’s why we made this buyer’s guide! Here, you’ll only find our favorite monitors for gaming – sorted by budget!

Now, while we already have a comprehensive best gaming buyer’s guide with over 25 recommended models, this guide is more compact with a focus on the best value for money models that are highly regarded and have proven to be reliable.

So, you can just pick according to your budget and preferences with ease of mind.

Of course, we’ll also explain exactly why we picked these models and how they compare to their alternatives in the review summaries below; here’s the sum-up by budget:

• $150 – Gigabyte G24F-2
• $250 – Acer XV272UV
• $300 – ViewSonic XG2431
• $400 – Gigabyte M34WQ
• $450 – Gigabyte M27Q-X
• $500 – Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q
• $550 – Acer XB283K KV
• $600 – LG 32GQ850
• $650 – Gigabyte M32U
• $900 – LG OLED42C2
• $1000 – ASUS PG27AQDM
• $1100 – Dell AW3423DWF
• $1150 – Samsung Neo G7
• $2000 – Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240

About The Monitor

The Gigabyte G24F-2 is the best budget gaming monitor you can get for under $200.

Image Quality

If you’re interested in buying a monitor for gaming, the Gigabyte G24F-2 is the cheapest model you should consider. It’s only $20 – $40 more expensive than the budget ~22″ – 24″ models with 60/75Hz, so it’s really worth the investment for 165Hz.

It’s even overclockable to 180Hz from 165Hz.

The monitor is based on an IPS panel by Panda, which boasts a strong 300-nit peak brightness and a static contrast ratio of ~1,500:1 (surpassing the specified 250-nits and 1,000:1 values), resulting in a bright image with decent blacks for an IPS display.

Further, the Gigabyte G24F-2 is one of the rare 24″ 1080p high refresh rate monitors with a wide color gamut thanks to its custom backlight. It covers 95% of the DCI-P3 color space (~125% sRGB gamut size) for more saturated and rich colors.

This results in some over-saturation when viewing regular sRGB content, but it’s rather minor, so most users will prefer the extra vibrancy. There is a factory-calibrated sRGB emulation mode that restricts the color gamut to ~100% sRGB.

The 1080p Full HD resolution results in a decent pixel density of roughly 92 PPI (pixels per inch) on the 24″ screen of the Gigabyte G24F-2, which means you’ll get a fair amount of screen space and reasonably crisp details and text.

On the 27″ 1080p model, you get a considerably lower pixel density, resulting in more pixelated details, which is why recommend the 24″ model.

Also, the 1080p resolution will allow you to take advantage of 180Hz even with budget gaming rigs as it’s not very demanding on the GPU.

Features

Moving on, the Gigabyte G24F-2 has a fast pixel response time speed, so there’s no prominent ghosting behind fast-moving objects, making for a smooth and responsive gaming experience.

Variable refresh rate (VRR) is supported for smooth and tear-free gameplay up to 180FPS.

Alternatively, you can use Aim Stabilizer, which uses backlight strobing to reduce perceived motion blur at a cost of picture brightness.

Other useful features include Black Equalizer for better visibility in dark scenes, Color Vibrance for adjusting color saturation, crosshair overlays and various picture presets.

Check out our Gigabyte G24F-2 review for more information.

We also recommend the Gigabyte G24F-2 as the best budget 1080p 120Hz monitor for the PS5 and the Xbox consoles.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is height adjustable by up to 130mm and it offers -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.2 input, a dual-USB 3.0 hub and a headphone jack.

FreeSync is supported up to 180Hz over both HDMI and DP.

Alternatives

In case the Gigabyte G24F-2 is not available or if it’s overpriced, check out the AOC 24G2/SP, the LG 24GN600/650 and the HP x24i/h as alternatives.

About The Monitor

If your budget is around $250, the Acer XV272UV is our top recommendation for mixed-use, including productivity work, gaming and basic content creation.

Image Quality

The next step from the Gigabyte G24F2 is a 27″ 1440p high refresh rate gaming monitor and we find that the Acer XV272UV offers the best value for money here.

You get a bigger screen with a higher resolution to back it up. Not only do you get more screen space, but with a pixel density of roughly 108 PPI (pixels per inch), details and text are notably sharper and clearer.

This is why most gamers find this screen size and resolution to be ideal; not to mention that it’s significantly less taxing on your GPU than 4K UHD.

Further, the monitor has a decent peak brightness of 400-nits and a static contrast ratio of 1,000:1, while its 95% DCI-P3 wide color gamut coverage adds extra vibrancy to the image without excessive over-saturation.

Features

The Acer XV272UV has a rapid 1ms GtG pixel response time speed for virtually no ghosting in fast-paced games.

It supports a variable refresh rate up to 170Hz for tear-free gameplay and works with both AMD and NVIDIA GPUs without any issues. Motion Blur Reduction is available as well for CRT-like motion clarity at a cost of picture brightness.

Other features include Black Boost (improves visibility in dark scenes), various picture presets, crosshair overlays and on-screen timers.

Visit our Acer XV272UV review for more details.

Design & Connectivity

The design boasts full ergonomic support with up to 110mm height adjustment, +/- 90° pivot, +/- 180° swivel, -5°/25° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0 ports, dual 2W speakers and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

There are plenty of 27″ 1440p high refresh rate IPS gaming monitors available at this price range, such as the LG 27GL83A, the HP X27q and the Gigabyte M27Q-P, however, we recommend going with the Acer XV272UV for the best value/money.

We don’t recommend going with a VA model as they’re not really cheaper yet suffer from slower response times, which result in black smearing, and many units are affected by VRR brightness flickering.

If you want a 32″ 1440p high refresh rate IPS gaming monitor, we recommend the Gigabyte M32Q.

About The Monitor

In case your budget is around $300 and you’re looking for the best monitor for competitive gaming, we recommend the ViewSonic XG2431, but we’ll also include a few excellent alternatives below.

Image Quality

Keep in mind that thanks to its fast response time speed, low input lag and high refresh rate, even the Acer XV272UV can be great for competitive gaming if you can maintain a high frame rate at 1440p.

In fact, some gamers prefer having a higher resolution as it makes all details sharper. However, if you have a weaker system or just want the clearest motion and the lowest input lag you can get, we recommend the XG2431.

To start with, this gaming monitor has a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz, which doesn’t provide quite as a big jump in responsiveness as going from 60Hz to over 120Hz, but you can definitely feel the difference!

In terms of image quality, you’re getting an IPS panel with wide viewing angles and full sRGB gamut coverage for accurate and vivid colors without over-saturation, as well as a decent 350-nit peak brightness and a 1,000:1 contrast ratio.

The 1080p resolution provides you with a respectable pixel density and allows you to easily maintain high frame rates as it’s not very demanding to drive.

Features

The ViewSonic XG2431 monitor supports a variable refresh rate up to 240Hz for tear-free gameplay and has a rapid pixel response time speed for virtually no trailing behind fast-moving objects.

Its main feature, however, is the PureXP Motion Blur Reduction technology with Blur Busters 2.0 certification, ensuring impeccable backlight strobing performance and customization.

Using this monitor at 120Hz with strobing and steady 120 frame rate results in truly CRT-like motion clarity with zero motion blur or other unwelcome visual artifacts.

You can use MBR all the way up to 240Hz for lower input lag, but the image won’t be quite as clear, though you can fine-tune it to your personal liking.

So, the XG2431 provides you with excellent gaming performance regardless of your preferred playing style. You can use it at a fixed 240Hz for minimal input lag, with a variable refresh rate for no tearing, or with MBR for no blur.

Check out our ViewSonic XG2431 review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is robust and versatile with up to 120mm height adjustment, +/- 90° swivel, 90° pivot, -5°/15° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a headphone jack, two 3W built-in speakers and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.

Alternatives

You can also find a 360Hz gaming monitor for around $300 – 400$. We recommend the Acer Aopen 25XV2QF or the Acer XV252QF – both with 390Hz OC and MBR support.

Its higher refresh rate provides you with lower input lag, provided you can achieve 390FPS, but its backlight strobing is not as well-implemented as that of the XG2431. Also, note that the difference between 360Hz and 240Hz is less noticeable than 240Hz vs 144Hz.

Another interesting display for competitive gaming for around $300 is the MSI MAG301RF with a 30″ 2560×1080 ultrawide IPS panel, VRR, MBR, 200Hz and 1ms GtG response time speed. However, consider it only if your favorite competitive titles support the 21:9 format natively!

Serious eSports players should also consider the BenQ XL2566K with a 360Hz TN panel. It has incredibly fast response times and an excellent MBR implementation, but has inferior image quality to IPS versions and goes for $600.

There’s also the ASUS PG27AQN with a 27″ 1440p 360Hz IPS panel with exceptional response time performance for $1050.

There’s also a 24.5″ 1080p 500Hz G-SYNC IPS gaming monitor, the Dell AW2524H, but we don’t recommend it as it’s expensive and doesn’t have a very fast pixel response time speed. Instead, you should consider waiting for the ASUS PG248QP with a 540Hz TN panel

About The Monitor

The Gigabyte M34WQ is the best value monitor you can get for ~$420. It’s a 34″ 3440×1440 144Hz flat-screen ultrawide monitor with an IPS panel!

Image Quality

A 34″ 3440×1440 ultrawide monitor is essentially a 27″ 1440p monitor that’s ~33% wider, providing you with extra horizontal screen space, which is great for productivity work and audio/video editing. Additionally, compatible games and videos are more immersive due to the extended field of view.

On top of that, the M34WQ has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles, vibrant colors (91% DCI-P3) and a fast response time speed for minimum ghosting.

It also has a strong peak brightness of 400-nits and a static contrast ratio of 1,000:1, as expected from an IPS display.

Features

Variable refresh rate is supported with a 48-144Hz dynamic range, while other useful gaming features include Aim Stabilizer Sync, Black Equalizer (improves visibility in dark scenes), Dashboard and PiP/PbP.

Check out our full Gigabyte M34WQ review for more details.

Design & Connectivity

The Gigabyte M34WQ has a stand with height adjustment up to 130mm, tilt by -5°/21°, swivel by +/- 30° and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 18W Power Delivery, a dual-USB 3.0 hub, an integrated KVM switch, built-in dual 3W speakers and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

If you’re looking for something similar but cheaper, check out the HP X34. Its price ranges from ~$370 to over $500, but it doesn’t have as wide color gamut or as many features as the M34WQ.

There’s also the Sceptre E345W-QUT with a 34″ 3440×1440 IPS panel, though a lower 100Hz refresh rate and standard sRGB gamut only for $280.

Other ultrawide monitors worth considering at this price range are the Gigabyte G34WQC-A and the AOC CU34G2X.

They use a curved VA panel with a higher contrast ratio for deeper blacks, but suffer from smearing behind fast-moving objects in dark scenes and some units are affected by VRR brightness flickering – so consider them only if you’re not sensitive to these visual artifacts!

For a 34″ 3440×1440 high refresh rate IPS ultrawide monitor with a curved panel, you’ll have to invest $700 – $800 for the LG 34GP83A. However, at that price, we recommend saving up an additional $200 – $300 for the Dell AW3423DWF or considering a mini LED or an OLED display for better HDR image quality. We’ll get more into these monitors below.

About The Monitor

If your budget is $500 and you’re not interested in ultrawide displays or HDR, the Gigabyte M27Q-X offers amazing value for the price.

Image Quality

Just like the $250 Acer XV272UV, the M27Q-X is a 27″ 1440p IPS gaming monitor with a wide color gamut and a fast response time speed, but it has a higher 240Hz refresh rate!

So, if you cannot get above 170FPS in competitive titles or you mostly play games in which that’s unfeasible, the 170Hz XV272UV will suit you better for less money, that is, unless you plan on upgrading your rig.

The M27Q-X has another advantage, which is the wider coverage of the Adobe RGB color space (97%), resulting in more saturated colors, especially when it comes to green and blue colors. An sRGB emulation mode is available in case you prefer more natural and accurate colors.

Other panel-related specifications include a 400-nit peak brightness and a 1,000:1 static contrast ratio.

Features

Variable refresh rate is supported with a 48-240Hz dynamic range, and the monitor supports Gigabyte’s Aim Stabilizer Sync technology, which allows you to use VRR and MBR at the same time.

You also get the standard set of gaming features, such as Black Equalizer, crosshair overlays, on-screen timers, various picture presets, etc. Picture in Picture and Picture by Picture is available as well.

Check out our M27Q-X review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor offers height adjustment up to 130mm, tilt by -5°/20° and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C (DP 1.4 Alt Mode, 18W Power Delivery), a dual-USB 3.0 hub, a headphone jack, two 2W built-in speakers and an integrated KVM switch.

Alternatives

Another 1440p 240Hz monitor worth considering is the Samsung Odyssey G7, available in both 27″ and 32″ variants for ~$600 and $700, respectively.

They feature a VA panel with a higher contrast ratio and a bit better HDR image quality, but their variable refresh rate performance is not as smooth since it can cause some micro-stuttering. They also have an aggressive 1000R screen curvature, which some users don’t like.

A 1440p 240Hz monitor with a 32″ IPS panel can also be found for ~$600, the LG 32GQ850, which we’ll get into a bit later in the article.

About The Monitor

If you want a gaming monitor with proper HDR support, the Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q is the most affordable model we recommend.

Image Quality

It features a 27″ 1440p IPS panel with exceptional 99% Adobe RGB and 98% DCI-P3 gamut coverage for rich colors. You’ll also find a dedicated color preset for each gamut, including sRGB and BT. 2020.

Its main feature is the 576-zone mini LED FALD (full-array local dimming) backlight. These zones can dim parts of the image that are supposed to be dark, while the areas that should remain bright can reach up to 1200-nits of brightness. As a result, you simultaneously get deep and inky blacks with bright and punchy highlights.

In some demanding scenes (fireworks, stars in the night sky, etc.), the light from small illuminated objects can bleed into the surrounding dimmed zones and create the halo effect or blooming. This is an expected drawback and it’s tolerable considering it’s only visible in those demanding scenes.

Features

The Cooler Master GP27Q also supports VRR and MBR up to 165Hz, though not at the same time.

In some games, using VRR and local dimming simultaneously can cause some flickering issues, so you might need to disable one of the two features.

We find that the Tempest GP27Q is an excellent gaming monitor despite its blooming and occasional flickering issues. The 27″ 1440p 165Hz IPS panel with fast response time, VRR support, exceptional color gamut coverage, fully ergonomic stand and extensive connectivity options (KVM, USB-C) is worth $500 without even adding the 576-zone mini LED FALD backlight to the equation.

Check out our full Tempest GP27Q review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The monitor has a fully ergonomic stand with up to 110mm height adjustment, 90° pivot, -5°/15° tilt, +/- 15° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DP 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 90W Power Delivery, a headphone jack, two 3W integrated speakers and built-in KVM functionality.

Alternatives

There’s also the Cooler Master Tempest GP27U variant with a higher 4K UHD resolution, but it goes for $800. For gaming and content consumption, 1440p still looks great on 27″ sized displays and it’s a lot less taxing on your GPU, so unless you need 4K resolution for work, we recommend the GP27Q.

In case the GP27Q is not available, check out the KTC M27T20 as an alternative. It uses a VA panel, so its higher native contrast ratio makes for deeper blacks and less blooming, but it doesn’t have as wide color gamut or viewing angles. At the moment, it doesn’t support VRR and local dimming at the same time, but KTC plans to release a firmware update to address this.

About The Monitor

In case you prefer visual fidelity over moderate performance gain or HDR, 4K 144Hz might suit you better than 1440p 240Hz – and the Acer XV283K KV offers by far the best value for money in this category.

Image Quality

The 4K UHD resolution results in a high pixel density of 157 PPI on the 28″ viewable screen of the Acer XB283K. In comparison to 108 PPI of 27″ 1440p displays, you get significantly sharper details and text, as well as more screen real estate.

However, you will also need to apply scaling in order to make small text readable; this will reduce the amount of screen space, but further increase detail clarity.

Now, keep in mind that the difference between 1440p and 4K on a ~27″ sized monitor is not actually that noticeable in games and videos at a normal viewing distance.

Since 4K UHD is significantly more demanding than 1440p, the difference is performance will be a lot more obvious, which is why we usually recommend at least 32″ 4K monitors for gaming.

If, however, you plan on using the monitor for other use too, be it photo/video editing, coding/programming, productivity work, etc., then the Acer XB283K KV makes more sense – you get sharper text and more details for your work as well as an excellent gaming experience, provided you got a powerful enough gaming rig.

Moving on, the Acer XB283KKV has an IPS panel with a wide 90% DCI-P3 gamut coverage (with an sRGB mode available), excellent Delta E < 1 factory calibration, a 400-nit peak brightness, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and a rapid 1ms GtG response time speed.

Features

It supports a variable refresh rate with certified G-SYNC compatibility for smooth tear-free gameplay up to 144FPS, as well as backlight strobing via its Visual Response Boost technology.

You’ll also find plenty of additional features, including built-in light and color temperature sensors, Black Boost (improves visibility in dark scenes), crosshair overlays, various picture presets, etc.

Check out our full Acer XB283K KV review for more details.

The Acer XB283K KV is also a great monitor for the Xbox Series X and the PS5.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is robust and versatile with up to 115mm height adjustment, 90° pivot, -5°/20° tilt, +/- 20° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 ports, a USB-C port (DP Alt Mode, 65W PD), a quad-USB 3.0 hub, a headphone jack, two 2W integrated speakers and built-in KVM functionality.

Alternatives

The Gigabyte M28U offers similar performance and can sometimes be found for as low as $500. It doesn’t have USB-C PD or quite as good overdrive.

About The Monitor

In case you want a 32″ gaming monitor with a rapid 240Hz refresh rate, the LG 32GQ850 is the best model available!

Image Quality

Thanks to its nano IPS panel with 98% DCI-P3 gamut coverage, the LG 32GQ850 offers gorgeous colors! It also has a strong peak brightness of 450-nits for SDR and 600-nits for HDR, which along with 16 dimming zones can make certain HDR scenes appear notably better, though still not ‘true HDR.’

The display is overclockable to 260Hz, supports VRR and has a fast 1ms GtG pixel response time speed for virtually no ghosting in fast-paced games.

Another great thing about this monitor that’s not very common is that it has an A-TW polarizer that noticeably helps with IPS glow and improves the perceived black depth.

Other features include Black Stabilizer, crosshair overlays, various picture presets and a refresh rate tracker.

Check out our full LG 32GQ850 review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor offers height adjustment up to 110mm, -5°/15° tilt, 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility. There’s also RGB lighting at the back.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.1 ports with full 48 Gbps bandwidth, DP 1.4 with DSC, a dual-USB 3.0 hub and a DTS HP:X headphone jack with 3D audio simulation.

All inputs support 1440p 260Hz with 12-bit color depth, and the monitor can upscale to 4K 120Hz with VRR and HDR for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

About The Monitor

If you’d like a 32″ 4K 144Hz gaming monitor, we recommend the Gigabyte M32U, which can be found for as low as $650.

Image Quality

Most users find that 4K UHD resolution better suits 32″ screens than 27″-28″ sized displays as you still get a very high pixel density (140 PPI in this case) but without having to rely on scaling.

Additionally, while 1440p looks great on 27″ monitors, 32″ 1440p displays have the same pixel density as 24″ 1080p screens, so 4K UHD is a much better choice here.

The Gigabyte M32U is based on an IPS panel with strong 400-nit peak brightness, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, a wide 90% DCI-P3 color gamut (sRGB mode available) and a fast 1ms GtG pixel response time speed.

Features

Variable refresh rate is supported with a 48-144Hz dynamic range for tear-free gameplay. The monitor also boasts Aim Stabilizer Sync, which allows VRR and MBR to work at the same time.

Other features include Black Equalizer, various picture presets, crosshair overlays and Picture in Picture/Picture by Picture support.

Check out our full M32U review for more information. It’s also a great monitor for the Xbox Series X and the PS5.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers height adjustment up to 130mm, tilt by -5°/20°, +/- 30° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 ports, a USB-C port (DP Alt Mode, 18W PD), a USB 3.0 hub (3 downstream + 1 upstream), a headphone jack, two 3W built-in speakers and a KVM switch.

About The Display

The LG OLED42C2 TV can be found for $850, making it the best value gaming display in this price range.

Image Quality

OLED displays don’t need a backlight to create an image; instead, each pixel emits its own light. As a result, you get an infinite contrast ratio with true blacks and no backlight bleeding, glowing, or other visual artifacts.

Additionally, the LG 42C2 has a 98% DCI-P3 wide color gamut, 178° wide viewing angles and true 10-bit color depth for smooth gradients.

Another advantage of OLEDs is the instantaneous pixel response time speed, resulting in no visible trailing behind fast-moving objects.

The main disadvantage, however, is brightness as OLED displays cannot get as bright as high-end LED-backlit LCDs.

Still, the LG C2 can reach 700-nits for small highlights (10% window), which along with its wide color gamut and infinite contrast ratio provides you with the best HDR viewing experience at this price range – far better than that of any equally priced LED LCD.

A 100% full white window is limited to around 180-nits, which some users might find acceptable, but it’s generally too dim for rooms with strong ambient lighting (screen facing a big window, studio lighting, etc).

*PC Mode, Game Optimizer enabled
**Uniform Brightness enabled

Further, OLED displays have a risk of permanent image burn-in if bright static elements are left on the screen for too long. However, as long as you’re mindful about how you use the display and take advantage of the integrated burn-in prevention features, this won’t be an issue.

Most people will find the 42″ sized screen too big for regular desktop use, though it’s manageable if you sit a bit further from it and mainly use it for games and videos. You get a decent pixel density of 106 PPI (pixels per inch).

Moving on, the LG OLED42C2 offers plenty of useful features, including variable refresh rate (40-120Hz range), Motion Blur Reduction (at 60Hz only) and WebOS 22.

Check out our full review for more information. Obviously, besides PC gaming, the C2 is great for the PS5 and Xbox consoles too.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the TV is sturdy and supports 300x200mm VESA mount compatibility. It has a glossy screen surface for more vivid image quality, but it’s also reflective, so you’ll have to keep in mind the lighting in your room.

Connectivity options include four HDMI 2.1 ports, RJ45, tuner, composite-in, both analog and digital audio jacks, three USB 2.0 ports, WiFi and Bluetooth.

Alternatives

The ASUS PG42UQ uses the same panel but with a matte anti-glare coating, so while it’s better at handling reflections, the image isn’t quite as vivid in dark rooms.

It’s also overclockable to 138Hz, has a heatsink for slightly higher brightness and a DisplayPort 1.4 input, but it doesn’t support Dolby Vision or any integrated smart TV features.

Overall, both models have their advantages and disadvantages, so it’s up to your personal preference. However, while the 42C2 can be found for $850, the PG42UQ usually goes for ~$1400, so LG’s model offers drastically better value for money.

If you want a big 42″ monitor, but don’t want to deal with the risk of OLED burn-in, check out the Gigabyte FV43U and the upcoming Samsung S43CG70.

About The Monitor

The ASUS PG27AQDM is a 27″ 1440p 240Hz OLED gaming monitor, offering both a responsive and immersive gaming experience in the popular 27″ 16:9 form factor!

Image Quality

Just like any OLED display, the ASUS PG27AQDM has instantaneous pixel response time speed and an infinite contrast ratio.

The monitor also offers a wide 98.5% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, VRR support up to 240Hz for tear-free gameplay and a decent peak brightness of up to 900-nits for small HDR highlights.

In SDR, it has a maximum brightness of 250-nits for a full-screen white window, which some users might find too dim, but under normal lighting conditions (not directly facing a big window or using studio lighting), it gets bright enough.

Unlike LG’s OLED TVs, the ASUS PG27AQDM has a matte anti-glare coating, so the image won’t be quite as vivid, but it’s much better at handling reflections.

Further, LG’s W-OLED panels use a WRGB subpixel layout, so there will be some noticeable fringing on small text and fine details. It’s not noticeable in games and videos, but it might bother some users when using the screen for work.

Check out our ASUS PG27AQDM review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor offers height adjustment up to 110mm, -5°/20° tilt, +/- 30° swivel, 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DP 1.4 with DSC, a dual-USB 3.0 hub and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

• LG 27GR95QE – LG’s model based on the same panel. It has a ~30% lower brightness, but it supports HDMI 2.1 and hardware calibration.

About The Monitor

Want an ultrawide gaming monitor with an OLED panel, you’re going to love the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF!

Image Quality

The Dell AW3423DWF uses Samsung’s QD-OLED panel, which improves upon LG’s OLED panel mentioned above.

First of all, you get even wider viewing angles and higher peak brightness. Not only can the AW3423DWF reach 1,000-nits for small highlights, but it can also sustain ~250-nits for a 100% white window, making it more suited for desktop use.

It also has a wider 99.3% color gamut, which results in more saturated colors as well as higher perceived brightness.

Just like any OLED display, it has an instantaneous response time speed and an infinite contrast ratio.

Further, the AW3423DWF has a high 165Hz refresh rate and smooth variable refresh rate performance. You’ll also find other standard gaming features, such as crosshair overlays and Dark Stabilizer.

Next, the 34″ 3440×1440 ultrawide panel provides you with a higher pixel density of 110 PPI, resulting in sharper text and a reasonable screen size for any setup. It’s not a good option for consoles though as they lack native ultrawide support, but you can play with black bars at the sides of the screen.

Lastly, QD-OLED panels are more resistant to burn-in. Dell even offers a 3-year warranty that covers burn-in for the AW3423DWF.

Note that QD-OLED panels use a triangular RGB subpixel layout, which can cause minor fringing on small text, but most users won’t be bothered by this.

Be sure to check out our full Dell AW3423DWF review for more details.

Design & Connectivity

The monitor’s stand is robust and versatile with up to 110mm height adjustment, +/- 20° swivel, -5°/21° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

The screen has a semi-glossy finish, which raises blacks under direct lighting, so it’s best to use in a dark room (true for any OLED).

Connectivity options include two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, HDMI 2.0, a headphone jack, a line-out and a quad-USB 3.0 hub.

Alternatives

There’s also the Dell AW3423DW, which is the same monitor as the AW3423DWF but with a G-SYNC module and a higher 175Hz refresh rate; however, it’s up to $200 more expensive and has fewer features.

If you’re really worried about burn-in or don’t like the AW3423DWF for any reason, the Dell AW3821DW with an IPS panel is a decent ultrawide alternative at this price range.

In case you’d like something in the super-ultrawide format, check out the Samsung Odyssey G9 or the LG 49WQ95C. Keep in mind that these three displays don’t offer nearly as good HDR image quality as the AW3423DWF.

About The Monitor

Want a 32″ 4K high refresh rate gaming monitor with proper HDR image quality? Check out the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7!

Image Quality

The Neo G7 has a strong peak brightness of 1200-nits for HDR content, and thanks to its VA panel with a high native contrast ratio and 1196-zone mini LED FALD, you get deep blacks with less noticeably blooming as opposed to IPS variants.

It also has a wide color gamut support with 95% DCI-P3 coverage, so you won’t get quite as vibrant colors as that of the Cooler Master GP27Q with 99% Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 coverage.

Next, the Neo G7 is one of the rare VA panel monitors with a rapid pixel response time speed for zero ghosting, but its VRR performance isn’t ideal as it can exhibit brightness flickering in certain scenarios (mainly in in-game menus and loading screens as well as in games with fluctuating frame rates).

You can use the ‘VRR Control’ option to prevent this flickering in case you encounter it, but then this option can add latency/micro-stutter instead. So, you’ll most likely need to adjust these settings depending on the game and your personal tolerance to these visual artifacts.

Other features include Black Equalizer, crosshair overlays, Picture in Picture and an integrated sensor that adjusts brightness according to ambient lighting.

Check out our full Neo G7 review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor offers height adjustment up to 120mm, +/- 15° swivel, -9°/13° tilt, +/- 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DP 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 ports with 40 Gbps and DSC, a headphone jack and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.

The screen has an aggressive 1000R curvature which some users won’t like, some will love, and some won’t mind at all, but keep in mind it takes some time to get used to it.

Alternatives

• Innocn 32M2V – A 32″ 4K 144Hz monitor with a flat-screen IPS panel, DisplayHDR 1000 and 1152-zone mini LED FALD. It has wider viewing angles and a wider color gamut, but its response time speed is not as fast and it has more blooming than the Neo G7. It also has flickering artifacts when using VRR and local dimming simultaneously in some games.

There’s also the Neo G8 model with a higher 240Hz refresh rate for $200 more, however, it has scanlines issues and considering how demanding it is to drive 165FPS at 4K UHD, let alone 240FPS, we find that the Neo G7 is a much better product overall.

About The Monitor

If you want to invest over $1500 in a gaming monitor, there are quite a few options worth considering with the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 being the most interesting one!

Image Quality

The monitor features a bendable screen, allowing you to bend it from a steep 800R curvature to a completely flat screen (or anywhere in between).

Further, it has a wide 98.5% DCI-P3 color gamut and a peak brightness of up to ~800-nits for small highlights. However, for a 100% white window in SDR, it’s limited to around 160-nits. Some users might find this too dim, but it’s acceptable under normal lighting conditions.

Another thing that might repulse some users is the low pixel density. The 3440×1440 resolution on a 45″ sized screen has a pixel density of 83 PPI (pixels per inch), which is equivalent to that of a 27″ 1080p display.

Considering that you’ll be sitting a bit further away from a 45″ screen than you would from a 27″, the individual pixels won’t be as noticeable. In fact, at a distance of roughly 41 inches (~104cm), the pixels aren’t distinguishable by the human eye at this pixel density.

On top of that, the LG’s W-OLED panel used here has the WRGB subpixel layout with minor fringing on small text and fine details.

All of these issues aren’t really noticeable in games and videos, but if you want to use the screen for work too, text clarity won’t be ideal.

The Corsair Xeneon Flex supports VRR up to 240Hz for tear-free gameplay as well as other standard gaming features, such as crosshair overlays and a refresh rate tracker. It also supports PiP/PbP.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is tilt-only by 22°. The legs are removable, but the screen is not VESA mount compatible. Corsair plans to release a mounting accessory in Q1 2023.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 1.4 with DSC, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 30W PD, two USB 3.0 ports at the back and two at the front, a headphone jack and an additional USB-C port (upstream).

Alternatives

There’s also the LG 45GR95QE based on the same panel but with a fixed 800R curvature for $1700. The overall image quality and performance are very similar, but some users might find the 800R curvature to be too aggressive.

It implies that you shouldn’t sit more than 80cm away from the screen to take full advantage of the curvature, but due to the low pixel density, the image might be too pixely for you while sitting so close to the screen. The Corsair Flex allows you to use a more moderate ~1800R curvature, which most users prefer.

The LG 45GR95QE does have a more ergonomic stand and it’s VESA mount compatible. However, Corsair offers a 3-year warranty that covers burn-in, while LG’s 2-year warranty doesn’t cover it!

So, it comes down to your personal preference – both models have advantages and disadvantages.

Another monitor worth considering at this price range is the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 with a 49″ 5120×1440 240Hz 1ms curved VA panel and a 2048-zone mini LED FALD backlight.

It goes for $1650 – $2000 and has a higher pixel density, a higher brightness and doesn’t suffer from the risk of burn-in, but it doesn’t have as high contrast ratio or as fast response time.

Its VRR performance is also not as smooth and has the standard issues of LED-backlit VA panels, such as backlight bleeding, VA glow, gamma/saturation shift and haloing/blooming.

Alternatively, if you are interested in a high-end display, consider waiting for the newer Neo G9 with a 57″ 7680×2160 240Hz panel or the Odyssey OLED G9 with a 49″ 5120×1440 240Hz QD-OLED panel. There’s no exact release date or pricing available for these models yet though.

Conclusion

These are the best gaming monitors we recommend!

If you’re on a tight budget, you can’t go wrong with the Gigabyte G24F-2. However, if you have a bit better PC or an Xbox console, you should invest in the Acer XV272UV.

For competitive PC gaming, both the ViewSonic XG2431 and the Gigabyte M27Q-X offer exceptional performance. For professional players, we’ve included the best models as alternatives for the XG2431.

In case you want a 4K UHD monitor for PC/console gaming or a good balance between work and play, the Acer XB283K KV and the Gigabyte M32U are definitely the best in terms of value for money.

Finally, for the best HDR viewing experience, all of the $900+ models recommended as well as the Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q offer excellent image quality and performance for the price, so you can just pick according to your budget and personal preference; our favorite is the Dell AW3423DWF thanks to its excellent value for the money.