The Best HDR Monitors (2023 Reviews)

The selection of HDR monitors is nowhere as broad as the selection of HDR TVs. If you want to get the best possible HDR for the money, then check out this HDR monitor buying guide.

If you’re in the market for an HDR monitor, you’ve probably come across terms such as ‘fake HDR’ and ‘pseudo-HDR’ — and now you’re worried that you’ll end up buying a bad HDR display.

We don’t blame you!

Monitor manufacturers put HDR labels on just about anything these days, and that’s why in this buying guide, we’ll fill you in on everything you need to know about HDR when it comes to monitors.

TypeMonitorSizeResolutionPanelRefresh Rate
Best Mini LED HDR Monitors27"2560x1440IPS165Hz
27"2560x1440IPS240Hz
27"3840x2160IPS160Hz
32”3840x2160VA165Hz
32”3840x2160IPS160Hz
49”5120x1440VA240Hz
Best OLED HDR Monitors34"3440x1440QD-OLED165Hz
27"2560x1440OLED240Hz
42"3840x2160OLED120Hz
45"3440x1440OLED240Hz
49"5120x1440OLED240Hz
*Recommended monitor - a review section will be added soon
best overall

Dell AW3423DWF

Dell AW3423DWF Monitor
  • QD-OLED panel
  • Infinite contrast ratio
  • VRR up to 165Hz
budget pick

Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q

Cooler Master GP27Q
  • 576-mini LED FALD
  • 27″ 1440p IPS panel
  • VRR up to 165Hz
premium pick

ASUS PG27AQDM

ASUS PG27AQDM
  • OLED panel
  • Infinite contrast ratio
  • VRR up to 240Hz

In truth, these are the only displays worth buying for the sake of HDR. They feature either OLED or LED panels with full-array local dimming (FALD), which is essential for good HDR (High Dynamic Range) picture quality.

We didn’t include any monitors with edge-lit local dimming – while there are some great models out there, they simply cannot do justice to HDR.

Here’s why: the beauty of HDR image lies in the display’s ability to produce incredibly bright and vivid details in highlights of the picture while preserving black depth and details in shadows at the same time, thus creating this ‘high dynamic range.’

Of course, a wide color gamut and a high screen resolution are also very important in making the picture look great! 

On the other hand, LED-backlit HDR monitors without proper local dimming solutions simply cannot deliver a ‘true’ HDR picture as for them to produce specific bright details, for instance, their entire screen has to adapt, which leads to overexposing of dark areas.

You can view our changelogs for this buying guide at the end of this article.

Best Mini LED HDR Monitors

If you don’t want to deal with OLED’s risk of burn-in, limited brightness and uncommon subpixel layouts, mini LED is the way to go for HDR.

The Pros:

  • High peak brightness, decent pixel density, wide color gamut
  • 576-zone mini LED FALD
  • Quick repsonse time, low input lag
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 165FPS
  • Fully ergonomic stand and rich connectivity options, including KVM and USB-C with 90W PD

The Cons:

  • Minor blooming/haloing noticeable in certain scenes
  • Occasional flickering issues when using VRR and local dimming simultaneously

About The Monitor

The Cooler Master Temepst GP27Q finally makes “budget HDR monitor” a thing.

Sure, $500 is still a lot for a gaming monitor to some users, but you get exceptional value for your money as unlike some $900+ “HDR monitors”, the GP27Q actually delivers a true HDR experience.

Image Quality

To start with, the GP27Q is the cheapest monitor with FALD (full-array local dimming), which is the most important feature if you want good HDR image quality on a LED-backlit display.

What’s more, it doesn’t skimp on the number of local dimming zones. With 576 mini LED dimming zones, you get excellent control over the backlight, resulting in simultaneously bright highlights (up to 1,200-nits) and deep inky blacks.

Edge lit Dimming vs Full array Dimming

Apart from the decent full-array local dimming solution that allows for bright highlights without sacrificing black depth, the Cooler Master GP27Q has a wide 98% DCI-P3 and 100% Adobe RGB color gamut for accurate, consistent and vibrant colors. You can even use the monitor for professional color-critical work.

Further, the 1440p resolution results in a decent pixel density of 108 PPI (pixels per inch) on the 27″ viewable screen of the monitor, meaning that you’ll get plenty of screen space with sharp details and text.

While the image won’t be as sharp as that of a 27″ 4K display, it will still look crisp while being significantly less demanding to drive – and you won’t have to use any scaling.

The monitor’s IPS panel also ensures 178° wide viewing angles with accurate and consistent colors, as well as a rapid 1ms GtG pixel response time speed for virtually no visible trailing behind fast-moving objects.

Features

freesync and gsync

Moving on, the Cooler Master GP27Q supports a variable refresh rate for tear-free gameplay up to 165FPS.

When using VRR and local dimming simultaneously, you might detect flickering in certain scenes or games, so you might have to disable one of the two features.

Other features include Black Stabilization (improves visibility in dark scenes by manipulating the gamma curvature), crosshair overlays, various picture presets, on-screen timers and a refresh rate tracker.

Check out our GP27Q review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q Design

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers height up to 110mm, pivot by 90°, -5°/20° tilt, +/- 15° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.0 ports, USB-C (DP 1.4 Alt Mode, 90W PD), a dual-USB 3.0 hub, a headphone jack, dual 3W built-in speakers and integrated KVM functionality.

Alternatives

  • KTC M27T20 – 27″ 1440p 165Hz VA gaming monitor with 576-zone mini LED FALD, USB-C 90W and KVM, also for $500. Its VA panel offers a higher contrast ratio for less noticeable blooming, but it doesn’t have as wide viewing angles or as wide color gamut. KTC is also yet to release a firmware update that allows VRR and local dimming to work at the same time.

The Pros:

  • 576 dimming zones, high brightness, wide color gamut
  • High pixel density
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 240Hz
  • Fully ergonomic stand and rich connectivity options, including USB type-C with 65W PD and KVM

The Cons:

  • Minor blooming/haloing noticeable in certain scenes

About The Monitor

If you want an even higher refresh rate, there’s the AOC AG274QZM with 240Hz!

Image Quality

Now, while the AG274QZM offers a bit clearer motion and lower input lag in comparison to the GP27Q thanks to its higher refresh rate, the overall HDR image quality is rather similar due to the same 576-zone local dimming solution, ~1100-nit peak brightness, and similar ~97% Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color gamut coverage.

Considering that AOC’s model is twice the price, we can only recommend it if you’re looking for a single display that’s great for both competitive FPS gaming and HDR content consumption.

The AOC Agon Pro AG274QZM supports VRR up to 240FPS and has plenty of useful features, such as Shadow Control, Game Color, a refresh rate tracker, various picture presets, RGB lighting, crosshair overlays and Picture by Picture.

Design & Connectivity

AOC AG274QZM Design

The stand is sturdy and ergonomic with up to 120mm height adjustment, 90° pivot, +/- 20° swivel, -3°/21° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

You also get a detachable shading hood and a small puck for quick OSD settings.

Connectivity options include DP 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 ports, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 65W Power Delivery, a microphone jack, a headphone jack, two 5W integrated speakers, a quad-USB 3.0 hub and built-in KVM functionality.

Alternatives

AOC, MSI and ViewSonic also plan to release 27″ 1440p 300Hz gaming monitors with 576-zone mini LED FALD and dedicated G-SYNC Ultimate models in 2023, but pricing and release date are unknown at the moment.

The Pros:

  • High peak brightness, high pixel density, wide color gamut
  • 1152-zone mini LED FALD
  • Quick response time, low input lag
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 144FPS
  • Fully ergonomic stand and rich connectivity options, including KVM and USB-C with 90W PD

The Cons:

  • Minor blooming/haloing noticeable in certain scenes

About The Monitor

In comparison to the Tempest GP27Q and the AOC AG274QZM, the Innocn 27M2V provides you with a higher 4K UHD resolution and twice the zone count with an 1152-zone mini LED FALD backlight for a higher contrast ratio and less blooming.

Image Quality

Just like the GP27Q, the Innocn 27M2V has a wide 99% Adobe RGB and 99% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage as well as dedicated modes for each color space in the OSD menu. It also has a high 1200-nit peak brightness for HDR content.

While the difference between 4K and 1440p is not that noticeable on a 27″ monitor for watching videos and playing games, details and text are a lot sharper when it comes to regular desktop use, office-related work, photo/video editing, etc.

So, if you have a powerful enough GPU for high frame rate gaming at 4K, the Innocn 27M2V is worth the investment as the 1152 dimming zones provide you with a higher contrast ratio and less blooming.

The monitor also has a rapid 1ms GtG pixel response time speed and VRR support up to 144FPS for NVIDIA GPUs and 160FPS for AMD GPUs. The difference between 144Hz and 160Hz is not noticeable, so don’t worry about it if you have a GeForce card.

Other supported features include PiP/PbP support, crosshair overlays, a refresh rate tracker and Shadow Balance (improves visibility in dark scenes).

Check out our full Innocn 27M2V review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

Innocn 27M2V Design

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

Connectivity options are abundant and include two HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 1.4 with DSC, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 90W Power Delivery (65W in HDR), dual 5W built-in speakers, integrated KVM functionality, a headphone jack and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.

Alternatives

In case the Innocn 27M2V is not available in your region, check out the Cooler Master Tempest GP27U as an alternative, though it has fewer dimming zones (576).

The Pros:

  • 1196 dimming zones, high brightness, wide color gamut
  • High pixel density
  • Plenty of features, including VRR and MBR up to 165Hz
  • Ergonomic stand, USB hub

The Cons:

  • The aggressive 1000R screen curvature won’t appeal to some gamers
  • Minor blooming (in very demanding scenes)
  • VRR performance not ideal

About The Monitor

If you don’t mind its aggressive 1000R screen curvature, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 is one of the best mini LED gaming monitors available.

Image Quality

The Samsung Neo G7 has 1196 dimming zones and a high native contrast ratio of ~4,000:1, which allows it to produce much deeper blacks with less blooming artifacts than the IPS models, while the peak brightness is the same at around ~1,200-nits!

The 4K UHD resolution looks great even on 32″ sized displays with a pixel density of 138 PPI, resulting in plenty of screen real estate and sharp details.

Further, the monitor has a wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and a rapid 1ms GtG pixel response time speed. So, you won’t get quite as vibrant colors as that of the IPS variants.

Now, the Neo G7 has a steep 1000R screen curvature that some users like, some don’t mind it, and some can’t stand it. So, it comes down to personal preference, but keep in mind it will take some time to get used to in case you don’t like it at first.

Features

Variable refresh rate is supported over HDMI 2.1 VRR and FreeSync Premium up to 165FPS. While the monitor doesn’t have official G-SYNC Compatible certification by NVIDIA, you can use VRR with GeForce cards without issues.

Some units might exhibit some VRR brightness flickering, in which case you can use the VRR Control feature to prevent it (though this can introduce some micro-stutter).

Motion Blur Reduction is available as well, which uses backlight strobing to improve motion clarity at a cost of picture brightness.

Other noteworthy features include Black Equalizer, various picture presets, crosshair overlays, a refresh rate tracker, Picture in Picture, Adaptive Picture (integrated sensors) and CoreSync RGB lighting at the back of the monitor.

Check out our full Samsung Neo G7 review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

Samsung S32BG75 Review

The stand of the monitor is prone to some wobbling, but it has full ergonomic support with up to 120mm height adjustment, +/- 15° swivel, +/- 90° pivot, -9°/13° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

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

Alternatives

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 model has a higher 240Hz refresh rate, but it has scanline issues. Considering how demanding 4K UHD is for high frame rates with decent picture settings in most games, we recommend the cheaper Neo G7.

The Pros:

  • 576 dimming zones, high brightness, wide color gamut
  • High pixel density
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 160Hz
  • Ergonomic stand, USB-C 90W PD, KVM

The Cons:

  • Minor blooming/haloing noticeable in certain scenes

About The Monitor

In case you want a flat-screen 32″ 4K high refresh rate HDR gaming monitor, the Acer Predator X32 FP is the best option available.

Image Quality

Since it has an IPS panel and a 576-zone mini LED FALD backlight, the Acer X32FP will have noticeably more blooming artifacts in comparison to the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7.

However, you will get a significantly wider color gamut with 99% Adobe RGB and 96% DCI-P3 color space coverage, wider viewing angles and smooth VRR performance for tear-free gameplay up to 160FPS without any flickering!

Additionally, the Acer X32FP offers plenty of features, such as integrated KVM functionality and a USB-C port with DP Alt Mode and 90W Power Delivery, as well as the standard gaming features, including Black Boost, a refresh rate tracker, various picture presets and crosshair overlays.

Check out our Acer X32FP review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

Acer Predator X32 FP Monitor Design

The stand is sturdy and offers height adjustment up to 130mm, +/- 30° swivel, -5°/35° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include four HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 1.4 with DSC, USB-C, a quad-USB 3.0 hub, a headphone jack, two 7W built-in speakers and KVM.

Alternatives

If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, check out the Innocn 32M2V. It even has a better 1152-zone mini LED FALD backlight, but it has a slower response time speed and flickering issues when using VRR and local dimming at the same time in some games.

ASUS will also release a model with the same 576-zone mini LED FALD and DisplayPort 2.1, the PG32UQXR, but we don’t know the exact pricing and availability yet.

You can also find the ViewSonic XG321UG and the ASUS PG32UQX models with 1152-zone mini LED FALD backlights and G-SYNC Ultimate modules with DisplayHDR 1400, but they go for ~$2,500 yet have a slower response time speed and no HDMI 2.1.

The Pros:

  • High contrast ratio, impressive peak brightness, decent color gamut
  • Fast response time
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 240Hz
  • Ergonomic stand, USB hub

The Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Noticeable blooming in some scenes
  • VRR performance not ideal

About The Monitor

Now, as we mentioned earlier, even though mini LED FALD monitors are brighter than OLEDs and don’t suffer from the risk of burn-in, they offer an overall inferior HDR gaming experience due to the lower contrast ratio, blooming artifacts and slower pixel response time. However, if you want a 49″ super-ultrawide gaming monitor with good HDR image quality, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is your only option (for now).

Image Quality

This gigantic 49″ sized screen has a mini LED backlight that’s capable of reaching up to 1,000-nits of brightness for small windows and a brief time, as well as a strong 400-nits sustained brightness for SDR (600-nits for HDR) with a 100% white window. So, the monitor is overall brighter and can produce punchier highlights.

However, even though it has one of the best FALD implementations with 2048 zones, it still has over 7 million pixels, so those zones won’t be able to always effectively dim parts of the image that are supposed to be dark without some light bleeding into them from the surrounding lit zones, thus creating blooming or the halo effect.

To be fair, this is not a big issue unless you’re looking at a particularly demanding scene, such as fireworks and stars in the night sky.

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 also doesn’t have as vibrant colors as that of OLEDs with around 95% DCI-P3 gamut coverage (~85% Adobe RGB, ~125% sRGB gamut size).

Moving on, while the monitor is rather fast for a LED-backlit panel, some minor ghosting and overshoot can be detected with some fast-moving objects, though it won’t bother most users.

The 5120×1440 resolution results in a pixel density of 110 PPI on the 49″ sized screen of the monitor and you get a regular RGB subpixel layout, so text is sharp and clear with plenty of screen real estate available.

Lastly, the monitor supports FreeSync Premium Pro and it’s G-SYNC Compatible with a 96-240Hz range, however, VRR can cause micro-stuttering on some units, which some users might find bothersome.

Other useful features include Black Equalizer, PiP/PbP and RGB lighting.

Visit our Samsung Neo G9 review for more details.

Design & Connectivity

Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Monitor Design

The stand of the monitor is robust and versatile with up to 120mm height adjustment, -5°/15° tilt, +/- 15° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility, while the screen has an aggressive 1000R curvature for added immersion and a matte anti-glare coating against reflections.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 ports (limited to 144Hz), a headphone jack and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.

Alternatives

Samsung plans to release a 57″ 7680×2160 240Hz version of this monitor in 2023, but there’s no word on pricing and availability yet.

There’s also going to be a 49″ 5120×1440 240Hz model with a QD-OLED panel, but pricing and release date are currently unknown.

Best OLED HDR Monitors

Don’t want to deal with blooming artifacts of mini LED monitors? Want an instantaneous pixel response time speed and an infinite contrast ratio without backlight bleeding? An OLED monitor is for you!

The Pros:

  • Infinite contrast ratio, high peak brightness, wide color gamut
  • Instant response time
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 165Hz
  • Ergonomic stand, USB hub
  • 3-year warranty that covers burn-in

The Cons:

  • Risk of burn-in

About The Monitor

The Dell Alienware AW3423DWF is the best HDR gaming monitor you can get right now and the good news is that it’s actually cheaper than many inferior displays!

Image Quality

Based on an OLED panel, the AW3423DWF has self-emissive pixels that can individually turn off thereby providing you with true blacks and an infinite contrast ratio without any backlight bleeding, blooming, or glowing.

Another advantage of OLEDs is that the pixels can instantaneously change colors, resulting in no noticeable trailing behind fast-moving objects, making them ideal for fast-paced games.

The Dell AW3423DWF is using Samsung’s new QD-OLED panel that’s enhanced with quantum dots for a wider color gamut, higher brightness and better burn-in resistance.

It covers 99.3% of the DCI-P3 color space and 95% Adobe RGB, which is equivalent to around 149% sRGB gamut size. The colors are vibrant and rich, allowing you to watch HDR content the way its creators intended.

You’ll also find dedicated sRGB and DCI-P3 color modes with adjustable brightness and gamma in case you want to do color-critical work or to view SDR content without over-saturation.

Further, the monitor has a peak brightness of 1,000-nits and it can sustain 250-nits when displaying a 100% white window, which is brighter than that of any other OLED currently available.

 100% White Window Max Brightness (SDR)100% White Window Max Brightness (HDR)10% White Window Max Brightness (HDR)1 - 3% White Window Max Brightness (HDR)
AW3423DW,
AW3423DWF,
Samsung G8,
MSI 342C
250-nits250-nits450 ~ 550-nits1000-nits
Samsung OLED G9
250-nits250-nits500-nits1000-nits
ASUS PG27AQDM250-nits**160-nits850-nits900-nits
LG 27GR95QE200-nits130-nits650-nits650-nits
LG 45GR95QE160-nits160-nits650-nits800-nits
Corsair Xeneon Flex190-nits160-nits650-nits800-nits
LG OLED42C2180-nits*120-nits700-nits700-nits
ASUS PG42UQ200-nits**120-nits800-nits800-nits
LG OLED48C3200-nits150-nits800-nits800-nits
Gigabyte FO48U110-nits110-nits500-nits600-nits
LG 48GQ900130-nits130-nits600-nits600-nits

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

The main disadvantage of OLEDs is the risk of image burn-in.

If a static image is left on the screen for too long, some bright elements can become permanently stuck. However, as long as you use a screen saver and the monitor’s integrated features, such as Pixel Refresher and Panel Refresher, you’ll be fine. Dell even offers a three-year warranty that covers burn-in.

Moving on, the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF has an ultrawide resolution of 3440×1440 pixels, which results in a pixel density of 110 PPI (pixels per inch) on its 34″ viewable screen. Overall, you get plenty of screen space with sharp details and no scaling necessary, while the ultrawide format provides you with an extended field of view in compatible games. Moreover, it’s not nearly as demanding to drive as 4K UHD.

One thing to keep in mind is that while the monitor has regular RGB subpixels, they’re in a triangular layout, so there’s some colored fringing on small text. For gaming and videos, it’s not an issue, but if you’re looking at text a lot (coding, writing), it might bother you a bit. Hopefully, Windows ClearType and MacOS HiDPI scaling can be updated to address the new QD-OLED panels.

Features

The Dell AW3423DWF supports VRR (variable refresh rate) for tear-free gameplay up to 165Hz/FPS.

The combination of the instant response time, imperceptibly low input lag and VRR ensure a responsive and enjoyable gaming experience. Unfortunately, MBR (Motion Blur Reduction) is not supported, which could’ve reduced the otherwise unavoidable perceived motion blur via backlight strobing.

Other features include Dark Stabilizer (improves visibility in dark scenes), crosshair overlays, on-screen timers, a refresh rate tracker, RGB lighting, PiP/PbP and more.

Check out our full Dell AW3423DWF review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

Dell AW3423DWF Review

The stand of the monitor is robust and versatile with up to 110mm height adjustment, -5°/21° tilt, +/- 20° swivel, +/- 4° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

The screen has a subtle 1800R curvature and a semi-glossy finish with an anti-reflective treatment. So, it offers a clearer picture than that of displays with matte anti-glare coatings, but it’s not as reflective or quite as vivid as pure glossy screens.

Connectivity options include two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, HDMI 2.0 (limited to 100Hz), a headphone jack, line-out and a quad-USB 3.0 hub.

Alternatives

 AW3423DWFAW3423DWMEG342COLED G8
Max. Refresh Rate165Hz (120Hz 10-bit)175Hz (144Hz 10-bit)175Hz 10-bit175Hz 10-bit
Ports2x DP 1.4,
1x HDMI 2.0,
4x USB
1x DP 1.4,
2x HDMI 2.0,
4x USB
1x DP 1.4
2x HDMI 2.1
1x USB-C (65W PD)
4x USB
1x Mini-DP 1.4,
1x micro HDMI 2.1
1x USB-C (65W PD)
1x USB-C
Cooling fans121N/A
HDR
(AMD GPUs)
GoodGoodGoodBad*
HDR
(NVIDIA GPUs)
GoodGoodGoodGood
PiP/PbPYesNoYesNo
Ambient Light SensorNoYesYesYes
Updatable FirmwareYesNoYesYes
Other Notable FeaturesN/AG-SYNC moduleKVM switchTizen OS
Price (MSRP)$1,100$1,300$1,100$1,500
Warranty (in the US)3 years
(burn-in covered)
3 years
(burn-in covered)
?1 year
(burn-in not covered)
*Limited to ~450-nits unless VRR is disabled

The Philips Evnia 34M2C7600MV and the ViewSonic XG341C-2K are 34″ 3440×1440 ultrawide monitors with mini LED FALD backlights, but they’re way too expensive ($1,500 – $2,000) and have many issues, including very slow pixel response time speed, VRR flickering, broken SDR local dimming, etc.

The Pros:

  • Infinite contrast ratio, decent peak brightness, wide color gamut
  • Instant response time
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 240Hz
  • Fully ergonomic design and rich connectivity options

The Cons:

  • Risk of burn-in
  • Not as bright as some LED or QD-OLED panels

About The Monitor

If you’re not a fan of the ultrawide format, the ASUS PG27AQDM is available in the popular 27″ form factor with a 1440p 240Hz OLED panel!

Image Quality

LG Display’s W-OLED panels usually aren’t as bright as Samsung’s QD-OLED panels, but the ASUS PG27AQDM features a heatsink that allows it to maintain up to 250-nits for SDR and up to ~900-nits for HDR.

Color gamut and volume are also not quite as good, so you won’t get as vibrant colors, but with 98.5% DCI-P3 gamut coverage, the image quality is still excellent.

Thanks to its higher 240Hz refresh rate, motion is clearer and you get smooth VRR performance.

The ASUS PG27AQDM has a WRGB subpixel layout, which just like the triangular layout of QD-OLED panels isn’t ideal when it comes to text clarity. You’ll be able to notice minor fringing on tiny text and fine details, but this isn’t noticeable in games and videos.

Sadly, ASUS doesn’t cover burn-in with its warranty.

While the ASUS PG27AQDM might seem like it has too many disadvantages in comparison to the Dell AW3423DW, it still offers an immersive and responsive HDR gaming experience. So, if you prefer the 27″ screen size, you won’t be disappointed.

Supported features include RGB lighting, Shadow Boost, a refresh rate tracker, various picture presets and crosshair overlays.

Check out our ASUS PG27AQDM review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

ASUS PG27AQDM Monitor Design

The stand offers height adjustment up to 110mm, -5°/15° 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, but it has ~30% lower brightness. It supports hardware calibration and has HDMI 2.1, which makes it better for HDR gaming on the Xbox
  • Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 – Another model with the same panel. It also has a lower brightness in comparison to the ASUS PG27AQDM, but Corsair offers a 3-year warranty that covers burn in and the monitor has a USB-C port with 65W PD in addition to HDMI 2.1

The Pros:

  • Infinite contrast ratio, decent peak brightness, wide color gamut
  • Instant response time
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 120Hz
  • Rich connectivity options, smart OS

The Cons:

  • Risk of burn-in
  • Not as bright as some LED or QD-OLED panels

About The Monitor

Looking for a larger OLED monitor? Sadly, there are no 32″ OLED gaming monitors available yet, so you’ll have to settle for LG’s 42″ OLED TV.

Image Quality

For most people, a 42″ screen will be too big for regular desktop use. However, if you don’t mind its size, the LG OLED42C2 offers exceptional value for the money as it can be found for as low as $850!

It offers a similar image quality as the ASUS PG27AQDM with wide viewing angles, a wide color gamut, an infinite contrast ratio and decent brightness. 4K UHD resolution also results in a similar pixel density of 106 PPI on the 42″ sized screens.

Motion clarity is not as smooth due to the lower 120Hz refresh rate, but you still get instantaneous pixel response time speed and smooth VRR performance.

Since it is a TV, you also get all the smart features and even Dolby Vision support.

Check out our full LG OLED42C2 review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

LG OLED42C2 TV Design

The LG OLED42C2 has a design with legs to better fit on a regular PC desk, but there are no ergonomic adjustments apart from VESA mount compatibility. It has a glossy screen finish for a more vibrant image quality, but it’s reflective.

Connectivity options include four HDMI 2.1 ports, RJ45, tuner, composite-in, both analog and digital audio jacks, three USB 2.0 ports, WiFi, Bluetooth and dual 10W integrated speakers (no subwoofer though).

Alternatives

  • ASUS PG42UQ – Based on the same panel with a 138Hz factory overclocked refresh rate, matte anti-glare coating, a heatsink for a bit higher brightness and a DisplayPort input; however, it doesn’t have any smart TV features or Dolby Vision support, and it goes for $1,400. While it is better for PC use overall (unless you prefer a glossy screen finish), it’s not worth the extra $550 over the C2 that can be found for $850

If you want a similar monitor with a mini LED panel, there’s the Samsung S43CG70. However, it only has 360 dimming zones and a peak brightness of up to 700-nits, so the image quality won’t be as good as that of OLED displays. It also has a slow response time speed and a BGR subpixel layout.

The Pros:

  • Infinite contrast ratio, decent peak brightness, wide color gamut
  • Instant response time
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 240Hz
  • Bendable screen, USB hub
  • 3-year warranty that covers burn-in

The Cons:

  • Risk of burn-in
  • Not as bright as some LED or QD-OLED panels
  • Tilt-only stand, not VESA mount compatible
  • Expensive
  • Low pixel density

About The Monitor

Those looking for a premium HDR gaming monitor might be interested in the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 with a bendable screen!

Image Quality

A 45″ ultrawide is taller than a 32″ 16:9 monitor and almost as wide as a 49″ super-ultrawide display, which results in a particularly immersive viewing experience.

Its 3440×1440 resolution is not ideal for such a huge screen size as you get a pixel density of ~83 PPI (similar to that of 27″ 1080p displays) on top of the WRGB subpixel layout, so text and fine details won’t be that sharp.

However, since you’ll be sitting further away from the screen as you would from a 27″ 1080p monitor, the individual pixels won’t be noticeable.

In games and videos, this won’t be an issue at all, and a higher 5120×2160 resolution would be significantly more demanding on the GPU.

The Corsair Flex also has a bendable screen, allowing you to bend it anywhere between 800R and completely flat.

It also has a decent peak brightness (190-nits for SDR, up to ~800-nits for HDR), 98% DCI-P3 wide color gamut and VRR support up to 240Hz for tear-free gameplay. The monitor also features crosshair overlays, a refresh rate tracker and PiP/PbP support.

Design & Connectivity

Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD Monitor Design

The stand is tilt-only by ~22° and while its legs are removable, the screen is not VESA mount compatible, but 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, a quad-USB 3.0 hub and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

The LG 45GR95QE is based on the same panel and goes for $1,700. However, it has a fixed 800R screen curvature that a lot of users might find too steep and its warranty doesn’t cover burn-in. Check out our LG 45GR95QE review for more information and a more detailed comparison.

Conclusion

Found the best HDR monitor for you?

Feel free to leave us any questions you might have in the comments below!

All in all, we recommend the Dell AW3423DWF. In case you don’t like the ultrawide format or have a more limited budget, the Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q, the Innocn 27M2V and the ASUS PG27AQDM all offer great value for money.

If you don’t mind the steep 1000R screen curvature, the Samsung Neo G7 is a great monitor for the price, while the Acer Predator X32FP is an excellent flat-screen alternative.

In case you want a big format gaming display, the LG OLED42C2 offers amazing value for the price, while the Samsung Neo G9 and the Corsair Xeneon Flex are worth considering if you want something extravagant.

Changelog +

  • April 23, 2023:
    – Replaced the LG 27GR95QE with the ASUS PG27AQDM.
  • March 10, 2023:
    – Added the LG 27GR95QE, the Innocn 27M2V, the Acer X32FP, the AOC AG274QZM, and the Corsair Flex.
  • November 22, 2022:
    – Replaced the Dell Alienware AW3423DW with the AW3423DWF model.
  • November 9, 2022:
    – Removed the Sony Inzone M9.
    – Added the Cooler Master Tempest GP27U and GP27Q.
  • July 22, 2022:
    – Added the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7.
  • April 21, 2022:
    – Added the LG OLED42C2.
  • March 11, 2022:
    – Replaced the ASUS PG35VQ, PG27UQ and PG32UQX with the Dell AW3423DW.
  • February 1, 2022:
    – Included upcoming monitors announced at CES as alternatives where appropriate.
  • December 11, 2021:
    – Added review summaries for the monitors that were missing them.
  • November 24, 2021:
    – Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available.
  • August 10, 2021:
    – Added the ASUS PG32UQX, the Samsung Neo G9, the LG OLED48C1, and the Acer XB323UGX to the table; dedicated review sections will be added soon.
    – Replaced the Philips 436M6 with Gigabyte FV43U, the Acer XB323UGP with ASUS PG329Q, the LG 27GN950 with LG 27GP950, the LG 38GN950 with Dell AW3821DW, and the LG 32UL500 with BenQ EW3270U.
  • December 15, 2020:
    – Added the Dell AW2721D and the Acer XB323UGP.
    – Removed the ASUS CG32UQ as it’s too expensive. The Samsung G7 is a much better option for the money.

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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.