Key Points
- Our choice for the #1 Overall Best 27-inch gaming monitor is the Alienware 27 Gaming Monitor AW2723DF.
- The best 27-inch gaming monitors provide immersive experiences with vibrant colors and smooth refresh rates.
- The best 27-inch gaming monitors offer a balance of size and visual detail.
- When choosing a gaming monitor, consider the size, resolution, video input, budget, and extra features.
When immersing yourself in the fantastical realm of video games, size does matter. For many gamers, a 27-inch monitor perfectly balances viewing comfort and visual detail, delivering an exceptional gaming experience. However, not all monitors are created equal.
We’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best 27-inch gaming monitors available today. These monitors are about more than just size. They combine cutting-edge technology, impressive refresh rates, exceptional color accuracy, and ultra-fast response times to ensure every pixel of your game is rendered in stunning clarity. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a professional eSports player, these monitors will take your gaming experience to the next level.
Here are our top selections for the finest 23-inch gaming monitors:
- Best Overall: Alienware AW2723DF 27-Inch Gaming Monitor
- Best for PS5: Sony Inzone M9 4K HDR
- Best Mid-Range: Dell S-Series S2721DGF
- Best 4K Option: ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ
- Best Budget-Friendly Option: Gigabyte M27Q Pro
Best Overall: Alienware AW2723DF 27-Inch Gaming Monitor
- 27-inch (2,560 x 1,440) 240Hz display
- 1ms response time
- NVIDIA G-Sync
- Preset OSD modes
- Height/tilt/swivel/pivot adjustability
- Lunar light
The Alienware 27 AW2723DF is our choice for the best 27-inch gaming monitor, a testament to peak performance and innovative technology.
This remarkable 1440p monitor boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, providing a superb balance of fluid motion and high-resolution visuals. However, today’s graphics cards deliver faster frame rates without breaking a sweat, so this monitor goes the extra mile.
Its 27-inch, 1440p panel offers an awe-inspiring 240Hz refresh rate that can be overclocked for even more speed. You shouldn’t be afraid of the screen tearing with such rapid frames. With Free-Sync support and G-Sync compatibility, your display and GPU will work seamlessly together, guaranteeing an immersive gaming experience without interruptions.
The Alienware AW2723DF is not just about speed but also quality and versatility. This state-of-the-art monitor features a super-fast IPS panel that is renowned for exceptional motion handling and impressively low input lag. It further enhances your gaming experience with a high peak brightness of 600 nits and 95% DCI-P3 color coverage, immersing you deeper into your gaming world.
Additionally, the monitor’s picture quality is breathtaking; the InfinityEdge screen with IPS Nano Color technology ensures dynamic, vivid colors across a wide viewing angle. Despite the native contrast ratio not being the highest, the robust, highly adjustable stand compensates by providing a perfect viewing angle from virtually anywhere. This model offers excellent value for money, redefining what one can expect from a top-tier 27-inch gaming monitor.
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| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good IPS panel | Pricey for a 1440p panel |
| 280Hz refresh rate | Only 16 dimming zones |
| Good pixel response | HDMI limited to 144Hz |
| Four-port USB 3.2 A hub | No USB-C connectivity |
| AlienFX RGB lighting | |
| AMD FreeSync Premium Pro | |
| Nvidia G-Sync compatible | |
| 95% DCI-P3 color coverage |
Best for PS5: Sony Inzone M9 4K HDR
- 4K HDR
- 144Hz
- Full Array local dimming
- NVIDIA G-Sync
- With Inzone H3 wired gaming headset with 360 degree spatial sound
Boasting a 144Hz refresh rate, VRR support, low input lag, and fast response time at the max refresh rate, the Sony Inzone M9 is the best choice for PS5 gaming, further augmented by its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth compatibility for PS5.
The Sony Inzone M9 combines aesthetics and performance in a seamless blend that captivates gamers of all kinds. With a magnificent 27″ 4K HDR screen, this monitor stands tall with a resolution of 3,440 x 1,440p and an impressive peak HDR brightness of 600 nits.
The refresh rate of 144Hz further augments the gaming experience, ensuring smooth, tear-free gameplay. Features like HDR 600, NVIDIA G-Sync, and 70mm height adjustment enhance its gaming credentials, while the built-in speakers provide an immersive auditory experience. The sleek design, inspired by PS5, adds a touch of elegance that makes the Inzone M9 as pleasing to the eyes as it is thrilling to the senses.
The Inzone Hub app simplifies adjusting monitor settings and switching between its five display modes. One of its unique PS5 features includes auto-swapping between Cinema and Game modes and automatic HDR optimization upon booting up the console. This eliminates the need to alter settings when switching between PS5 and PC — a convenience not commonly found in other gaming monitors.
The Sony Inzone M9 is a striking blend of design and performance, making it an ideal choice for those seeking to elevate their gaming setup, particularly for PS5 enthusiasts.
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| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 144Hz refresh and VRR support | Blacks look gray in dark |
| Low input lag | Some build quality issues |
| Fast response at max refresh | |
| HDMI 2.1 for PS5 and Xbox Series X |
Best Mid-Range: Dell S-Series S2721DGF
- HDR IPS LED display
- QHD 165Hz
- 16:9
- 1ms response time
- HDMI 2.0
- DP 1.2
- FreeSync G-Sync compatible
- Height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjust
Among the best 27-inch gaming monitors in the mid-range category, the Dell Alienware AW2723DF makes a compelling case.
As a successor to the renowned Dell Alienware AW2721D, this 27-inch, 1440p gaming monitor has several enhancements. The monitor boasts an overclockable refresh rate that can climb to an impressive 280Hz, providing ultra-smooth visuals for fast-paced gaming scenarios. It forgoes the native G-SYNC support of its predecessor for native FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support. However, it maintains G-SYNC compatibility, ensuring reduced screen tearing for a more immersive gaming experience.
This monitor also introduces extra features such as a virtual crosshair system and a Console Mode for downscaling 4K images, broadening its appeal to console gamers. In terms of build quality, the Dell S2721DGF is top-notch. The sturdy stand provides excellent support for the screen, ensuring minimal wobble even during adjustment. High-quality plastic materials enhance the monitor’s robustness, reducing flex and contributing to its premium feel.
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| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Overclockable up to 280Hz | Poor handling of reflections |
| FreeSync supported natively | The contrast ratio is low natively |
| G-SYNC is compatible | |
| Remarkably fast response time | |
| Minimal input lag |
Best 4K Option: ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ
- HDR DSC UHD (3,840 x 2,160p)
- IPS
- 144Hz
- 1ms response time
- Adaptive-Sync
- G-SYNC compatible
- DisplayHDR 400
- 90% DCI-P3
- Aura Sync
- VESA mountable
- DisplayPort
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ 27 is our choice for the best 4K 27-inch monitor, epitomizing visual brilliance.
This 27-inch 4K IPS gaming monitor offers a stunning 144Hz refresh rate, ensuring super-smooth gaming visuals that captivate any gaming enthusiast. One of its most unique features is its support for Display Stream Compression Technology. This groundbreaking innovation allows ultra-high-definition video streams to traverse a single interface at high speeds without any perceptible loss of visual quality.
Furthermore, its high dynamic range (HDR) technology guarantees exceptional contrast and color performance with Display HDR 400 certification and a 90% DCI-P3 professional color gamut. This feature further enhances every gaming experience to an unparalleled level.
The ROG Strix XG27UQ doesn’t just stop at being the world’s first 27-inch DSC gaming monitor. It utilizes this technology to its full potential by delivering smooth 4K visuals at up to 144Hz. Its compatibility with G-SYNC ensures a seamless, tear-free gaming experience that significantly minimizes distracting visual artifacts.
The Display Stream Compression (DSC) technology facilitates the delivery of 4K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate through a singular DisplayPort 1.4 interface. It also effortlessly compresses and decompresses each frame on the fly, maintaining impeccable image quality. This combination of advanced technologies makes the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ 27 not just a monitor but an industry-leading marvel in the world of gaming.
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| Cons | Cons |
|---|---|
| Big display with 4K clarity | Subpar contrast levels |
| High refresh rate at 144Hz | Off-angle viewing diminishes image quality |
| Exceptional response speed | |
| Comfortable user ergonomics |
Best Budget-Friendly Option: Gigabyte M27Q Pro
- 27" 165Hz 1,440p
- 2,560 x 1,440p SS IPS display
- 1ms response time
- 98% DCI-P3
- 1x DisplayPort, 2x HDMI 2.0, 3x USB 3.0, 1x USB-C
In the crowded marketplace of 27-inch gaming monitors, the Gigabyte M27Q P stands out as a shining beacon, offering an unbeatable blend of quality and affordability.
This feature-loaded gaming monitor perfectly balances performance and price, making it one of the best 27-inch gaming monitors for budget-conscious buyers. Boasting a high refresh rate and a stunning 1440p resolution, the Gigabyte M27Q P offers an immersive gaming experience that rivals its more expensive counterparts. The monitor’s IPS panel offers a wide color gamut, with an impressive 135% sRGB saturation and 98% DCI-P3. This means that colors pop with vibrancy and depth, bringing your gaming world to life.
Additionally, this monitor also offers a remarkable 135% sRGB gamut size. This means that content created with the sRGB color space in mind will have over-saturated colors, which some users may prefer. However, for those who want a more muted color profile, the monitor’s On-Screen Display (OSD) menu provides an sRGB emulation mode to limit the gamut to around 100% sRGB.
Though the Gigabyte M27Q P boasts an impressive peak brightness of 400 nits, it restricts brightness to approximately 150 nits when operating in the sRGB mode. Nonetheless, considering its appealing price tag of around $300, these minor quirks do little to detract from this monitor’s overall value.
Its blend of top-notch features, exceptional performance, and a budget-friendly price make it one of the best 27-inch gaming monitors available today.
Check out this product on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Superb response speed | Blacks appear gray in dim settings |
| Impressive refresh rate | Ergonomics could be better |
| Supports Variable Refresh Rate | Brightness is limited to around 150 nits in the sRGB mode |
| Broad display with high resolution |
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How to Pick the Best 27-Inch Gaming Monitor: Step-by-Step
In the dynamic gaming world, identifying the crème de la crème of 27-inch gaming monitors can feel daunting. With many choices, each touting its standout attributes to pique the interest of discerning gamers, selecting the ideal monitor can be quite the quest.
However, you should not worry! We have compiled the five key factors that will guide you through your choice.
- Size of the monitor
- Resolution
- Video input
- Budget
- Extra features
Let’s dive deep into these criteria for a more comprehensive understanding.
Size of the Monitor
As the world of technology expands, so does our desire for more immersive gaming experiences. In response, 27-inch monitors have risen to prominence, becoming the darling of the gaming community.
These bigger monitors provide more usable space, allowing for enhanced multitasking and a more immersive gaming experience. However, before opting for a larger monitor, ensure your desk space can comfortably accommodate it.
Resolution
The monitor’s resolution is a vital factor to consider when purchasing a gaming monitor. Higher resolutions allow for sharper images and more information displayed on the monitor. The most common resolution available is 1,920 x 1,080p, but higher resolutions are becoming increasingly popular in gaming monitors.
Bear in mind that as the resolution increases, the elements on the screen appear smaller. However, Windows can effectively scale them with some adjustments, making your gaming experience more enjoyable with sharp images.
Video Input
The monitor’s video inputs also play a critical role in video gaming. Common video inputs include VGA, HDMI, DVI, and DisplayPort. It’s essential to match the connector on your computer, though adapters and cables are available for most input types. DisplayPort is generally the best option, supporting 3,840 x 2,160p (4K) at 60 frames per second (FPS). Still, HDMI is also a strong choice due to its widespread availability and ability to carry audio signals.
So, consider these input options to make your connectivity with gaming consoles and computers effective and easy.
Budget
What we are willing to spend on a gaming monitor is vital to consider. Like any other computer component, a monitor’s price reflects its quality and features. Larger screens and higher resolutions typically come with a heftier price tag. For instance, a 27-inch 4K monitor could cost around $350, while a 27-inch 1080p monitor may be available for under $200. The budget and value of the monitor should be kept in mind.
Extra Features
Equally, it’s essential to consider the additional features of gaming monitors. Some available features include touchscreen interfaces, curved displays, adjustable height, built-in USB hubs, built-in speakers, picture-in-picture, SD card slots, and higher refresh rates for gaming. More features generally equate to a higher price, and some options, like hardware vertical sync and higher refresh rates, are important to gamers.
Choosing the best 27-inch gaming monitors boils down to finding the perfect balance between size, resolution, video inputs, budget, and features. By carefully considering these factors, you can find the ideal monitor for your preferences that delivers an unmatched gaming experience.
What to Know Before Buying the Best 27-Inch Gaming Monitor
If you’re in the market for a 27-inch gaming monitor, consider a few key factors before purchasing. Mostly, you’ll want to think about your budget. You’ll likely come across monitors like Gigabyte M27QP if you’re on a tight budget, offering impressive 400-nit peak brightness and decent performance at a lower price.
However, if you’re willing to spend more, in-plane switching (IPS) panels are worth considering. They excel in color reproduction and viewing angles. Vertical alignment (VA) screens also provide a good middle ground regarding refresh rates, color accuracy, and viewing angles.
In addition to display technology, paying attention to other specifications is essential. Look for monitors that offer a high refresh rate and a low response time to minimize ghosting issues. If you’re concerned about tearing in fast-action games, watch for monitors with NVIDIA G-Sync or AMD FreeSync compatibility, like the Alienware AW2723DF. These features reduce tearing when your frame rate drops.
Input lag is another crucial factor directly impacting your gaming experience. Aim for monitors with a sub-1ms response time to ensure smooth and responsive gameplay. Remember that some monitors offer “game modes,” prioritizing response rates over image fidelity.
While considering all these specifications, remember to factor in all the critical concerns that will meet your needs. Similarly, remember to read and understand the specs before making a decision. Today’s graphically demanding games require monitors that can keep up with the action. So, take your time, weigh the options, and choose the best 27-inch gaming monitor that suits your needs and budget.
Using the Best 27-Inch Gaming Monitors: What It’s Like
When gaming, a good monitor can make all the difference between an epic victory and a facepalm-inducing defeat. That’s where the best 27-inch gaming monitors come into play. These top-performing monitors offer a perfect balance between size, resolution, and immersion.
With vibrant colors, razor-sharp details, and buttery smooth refresh rates, these monitors take gaming to a new level of awesomeness. So, picking the right gaming monitor prepares you for a gaming experience that will make you forget about time, hunger, and that one thing you were supposed to do but can’t remember anymore.
The cutting-edge specs also make these gaming monitors champions of the 27-inch monitor market. First, this size is a sweet spot, providing ample screen real estate without overwhelming your desk or eyeballs. The high resolution brings out the tiniest details in every virtual world. This spec allows you to spot that sneaky enemy lurking in the shadows or admire the breathtaking landscapes game developers spend countless hours creating.
In addition, with refresh rates that are smoother than a waterslide, you’ll experience gameplay so seamless that you’ll wonder if you accidentally stumbled into The Matrix. So, if you’re ready to level up your gaming experience, get your hands on one of these great 27-inch gaming monitors.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com.
