Key Points
- Our choice for the #1 Best Overall Gaming Monitor is the Corsair XENEON.
- These best gaming monitors offer specs that are suitable for fast-paced and competitive games that require a lag-free, smooth, and low-latency gaming experience.
- With one of these best gaming monitors, you can give yourself a slight advantage by reducing image tearing, improving the visuals, and protecting your eyes during long hours of gaming.
- Choosing the right gaming monitor for your needs comes down to the size, display type, advanced gaming features, resolution, and refresh rate that fit your gaming preferences.
Gaming monitors are different from regular desktop monitors and offer you advantages that can enhance your gaming experience and even make you a better gamer. Features like a low response time, a high refresh rate, a higher native resolution, a quality display, and gaming-oriented monitor features like AMD FreeSync technology can give you a competitive edge over players who don’t use a gaming monitor.
It’s not good enough to choose any gaming monitor. With so many gaming-oriented features built into these monitors, you must choose a gaming monitor that fits your needs. That’s why we’ve divided our best gaming monitors into categories so you can easily find one that meets your needs.
Just take a look at our roundup of the 5 best gaming monitors:
- #1 Best Overall: Corsair XENEON
- Best for eSports Games: Acer Predator X25
- Best for Widescreen Gaming: Samsung Odyssey G8
- Best Budget-Friendly: ASUS TUF
- Best for 4K Gaming: LG UltraGear
To help you choose a monitor that meets your needs, we’ll go into more detail about each product below. Let’s break it down!
#1 Best Overall: Corsair XENEON
- 27-inch OLED display
- 240Hz refresh rate
- 0.03ms response rate
- NVIDIA G-SYNC compatible
- AMD FreeSync Premium
- DisplayHDR10
- HDMI 2.1
- USB-C 3.1
Corsair is one of the leading manufacturers of OLED monitors. That’s why the Corsair XENEON is the best gaming monitor for future-proofed images to visually enhance any type of gaming.
OLED technology proved to be an excellent technology for larger televisions but it was difficult to introduce it to smaller monitors. Corsair is one of the first companies to succeed in creating a 27” OLED gaming monitor that offers the specifications gamers need, such as a high refresh rate, ultra-low response time, high native resolution, and other gamer-specific features like G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync compatibility.
With its OLED display, the Corsai XENEON is still a very slim monitor that offers a 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio for immersive images thanks to its higher PPI of 110 and narrow bezels. With a refresh rate of 240Hz, a response time of 0.03ms, and motion blur suppression technology, you’ll get the fastest images and gain a competitive edge over other gamers. Plus, thanks to the self-luminous pixel technology, this monitor offers great HDR and incredible contrast, so you can see the smallest details even in the darkest game scenes.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High 240Hz refresh rate | OLED makes it one of the priciest gaming monitors |
| Decent 110 PPI | |
| It is built on a self-lit OLED panel while keeping a 27″ size. |
Check out the Corsair XENEON on Amazon.
Best for eSports Games: Acer Predator X25
- 24.5" FHD (1,920 x 1,080p) Dual Drive IPS
- NVIDIA G-SYNC
- Up to 360Hz
- Up to 0.3ms
- 99% sRGB
- 400 nits
- DisplayHDR 400
- DisplayPort 1.4 and 2x HDMI
The Acer Predator X25 is the ultimate eSports gaming monitor, offering competitive features that meet the needs of gamers competing in eSports games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
With a super-high refresh rate of 360Hz, an ultra-low response time of 0.3ms, and a full HD resolution, the Acer Predator X25 delivers speed and great graphics that competitive gamers will benefit from. Moreover, the X25 gaming monitor is based on a dual-drive IPS monitor panel that is not just an ordinary IPS monitor.
The Dual-Drive IPS technology ensures faster and more consistent response time as well as accurate colors at the highest refresh rate. In addition, the Acer Predator X25 is equipped with gaming-oriented features such as the NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync technology, which further reduce lag and tear, and make intense gaming situations easier on your eyes.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High refresh rate of 360Hz | It’s not very power-efficient. |
| Based on the Dual-Drive IPS panel | |
| Ultra-low response time ideal for competitive gaming |
Check out the Acer Predator X25 on Amazon.
Best for Widescreen Gaming: Samsung Odyssey G8
- 34-inch QD-OLED Ultra WQHD
- Curved monitor
- 175Hz refresh rate
- 0.03ms response time
- DisplayHDR True Black 400
- AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
- Advanced Game Streaming
The Samsung Odyssey G8 is the monitor of choice if you want to experience the action, not only on a widescreen but also on a curved panel.
The Samsung Odyssey G8 is a 34” Ultra WQHD curved gaming monitor with a solid refresh rate of 175Hz and an extremely low response time of 0.03ms. However, its biggest advantage is the Neo Quantum Processor technology, which analyzes each pixel individually to optimize it for the best image quality. With that being said, the display of shades, colors, and contrasts cannot be compared to any other monitor.
It’s great for competitive games like Fortnite or Call of Duty: Warzone, but it’s also a very popular monitor for single-player games where you can enjoy smooth gameplay with such a high resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 pixels.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great size with a curved panel that almost meets the 4K resolution | It requires a lot of space and it’s not VESA mount compatible. |
| Good refresh rate for the size | |
| Neo Quantum Processor technology |
Check out the Samsung Odyssey G8 on Amazon.
Best Budget-Friendly: ASUS TUF
- 27-inch WQHD (2560x1440) IPS gaming monitor.
- ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync (ELMB Sync) Technology.
- Fast 1ms response time.
- DisplayPort 1.2 and Dual HDMI (V2.0).
- 1440p resolution.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a decent gaming monitor that has specs suitable for high-quality gaming, and that’s why ASUS TUF is a great and versatile choice.
The Asus TUF is a 27” gaming monitor that has a relatively high 2K QHD resolution. It is based on the IPS panel, which offers a wide color gamut with more vivid in-game colors. The TUF 27” is quite a versatile gaming monitor as it can reach a refresh rate of 165Hz. However, you can also opt for the 144Hz depending on the type of game you play and a more suitable rate for your gaming setup.
For the low price, ASUS TUF also still offers gaming-oriented features like low motion blur, G-SYNC compatibility, VESA mounting option, ASUS Eye Care technology, and an ergonomic stand with adjustable tilt position.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very budget-friendly | Built-in speakers are very quiet. |
| Adjustable refresh rate | |
| Additional gaming features like G-Sync |
Check out the ASUS TUF on Amazon.
Best for 4K Gaming: LG UltraGear
- 27” UHD (3840 x 2160) Nano IPS display
- Aspect Ratio is 16:9; viewing angle is 178º (R/L), 178º (U/D); brightness is 400 nits
- IPS 1ms (GtG) 144Hz with VESA DSC Technology
- NVIDIA G-SYNC compatible with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
- DCI-P3 98% with VESA DisplayHDR 600
If you have a high-end gaming computer and you would like to experience the latest game titles in the 4K resolution, the LG UltraGear is the perfect monitor for this.
With a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels on a 27” size and a nano IPS display technology, you can experience an even better gamut and a better response time than standard IPS monitors. At 4K resolution, you can also benefit from the high refresh rate of 144Hz and 1ms response time.
Four borderless sides provide better focus on what’s important in the game and even allow for better viewing angles, as well as a decent 16:9 aspect ratio. There are also standard gaming features like G-SYNC and FreeSync technology, which ensures a smooth display of fast-paced games even at 4K resolution.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Supports 4K resolution | Slow wake-up time for devices connected via DP port |
| Decent 144Hz refresh rate considering the size and resolution | |
| Easily adjustable for better comfort |
Check out the LG UltraGear on Amazon.
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How to Pick the Best Gaming Monitor: Step-by-Step
Gaming monitors have certain features you should look out for, but it’s also good to know what other features you should look out for. These are some of the most important ones.
- Display type
- Size
- Resolution and refresh rate
- Advanced gaming features
Let’s break them down below.
Display Type
Various panel types are used in modern monitors. Two of the most popular panel types for gaming monitors are IPS and VA. However, with the surge of OLED gaming monitors and improved technologies like Nano IPS technology, you have a lot of choices.
If budget is not an issue, a newer OLED gaming monitor will give you a gaming experience you won’t want to go back from. However, if you don’t want to spend too much on a gaming monitor, you’re still on the safe side with an IPS or Nano IPS gaming monitor.
Size
Gaming monitors come in all sizes, and while it primarily depends on the gamer’s preferences, it’s important to consider this before buying. Larger monitors often support higher resolutions, so you’ll want to make sure your gaming hardware can support the monitor’s native resolution. You should also consider what games you play. Smaller monitors are better suited for eSports games, while larger monitors are better suited for immersive or even curved gaming experiences.
Resolution and Refresh Rate
Every monitor has a native resolution and you can still find monitors that range from a Full HD (1080p) resolution up to a 4K resolution. While a 4K resolution is always a good idea, you should make sure that your gaming monitor PC supports such a high resolution.
The refresh rate will display more frames per second, and while the difference at higher refresh rates won’t be noticeable to everyone, it’s a good idea to move away from 70Hz or even 100Hz. A standard is at least 144Hz for a smooth gaming experience.
Advanced Gaming Features
While most gaming monitors have built-in advanced gaming features, it’s always a good idea to check if features like NVIDIA G-SYNC or AMD FreeSync are supported by the monitor. These gaming features can reduce lag and image tear and provide better visuals, as well as reduce ghosting and other issues that can occur at higher refresh rates.
You’ll also find that some gaming monitors have proprietary technologies, such as ASUS Eye Care technology, which can reduce blue light and minimize eye strain. Such technologies are always good to have on hand, and you can always manually enable them in the monitor’s menu.
What to Know Before Buying the Best Gaming Monitor
Some of the most important things you should know before buying a gaming monitor are the difference between resolution and detail, and the advantage a higher refresh rate can give you in competitive gaming.
While there isn’t much difference in refresh rate between a 144Hz and a 160Hz monitor, there is a big difference between a 70Hz and a 144Hz gaming monitor. Even though there are 70Hz gaming monitors with great specifications, you should at least opt for a 144Hz refresh rate.
VRR is a variable refresh rate technology you’ll find in some gaming monitors that adjust the refresh rate to the game FPS for even smoother gameplay. It’s a useful feature, but not a necessity since it’s something that G-SYNC and FreeSync technology includes.
Using the Best Gaming Monitor: What It’s Like
After switching to one of the best gaming monitors, the difference is easy to notice. The picture is much clearer and brighter, gaming is much smoother, and the higher refresh rate is noticeable after a switch from lower refresh rate monitors.
Thanks to the better contrast and higher brightness, details can be seen from afar, and a better color gamut improves visuals. Also, most gaming monitors come with a height-adjustable or tiltable stand, so they’re much more comfortable since you can adjust them to your liking.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com.
