The Best Gaming Monitors for Every Type of Gamer

7. Asus TUF Gaming VG279QM

Best 1080p Gaming Monitor

People might be clamoring over 4K displays and 1440p has a home in the hearts of many gamers trying to balance visual quality with value, but 1080p monitors still have their place. The Asus TUF Gaming VG279QM is a prime example where FHD fits in because, for less than $300, you get a screen that delivers an overclockable 240Hz refresh rate, a one-millisecond response time, and low input lag, which will see your games run as smooth as hot butter. FreeSync support and G-Sync compatibility also ensure your monitor and GPU are on the same team for visuals that look great without tearing.

The Asus TUF Gaming VG279QM stretches its 1080p picture across a 27-inch screen, which is reasonable for the resolution. Although, you may do some pixel peeping in exchange for a more immersive viewing experience. Its IPS panel offers decent viewing angles and color reproduction, while the 400-nit brightness means you can use it in brighter spaces. It's been DisplayHDR 400 certified, but given a mediocre contrast ratio and no local dimming, HDR support shouldn’t be why you buy this monitor.

Some other quality-of-life boxes can get ticked off, too, with a height-adjustable pivoting stand, two HDMI ports, and one DisplayPort for ample connectivity opportunities.

8. Dell Alienware AW3423DWF

Best Curved Gaming Monitor

How to Choose a Gaming Monitor

There are four key things to consider when shopping for a gaming monitor: screen size, resolution, panel type, and aspect ratio. We’ll also briefly explain a few of the more technical aspects of computer displays, such as refresh rate and the variable refresh rate technology, to help you make the best shopping decision.

Screen size: “How big?” will probably be the first question, and the answer really comes down to your unique situation. Are you in a tiny dorm with barely any room or looking for a gaming monitor that's capable of replacing your TV? How you answer will ultimately determine the display size you need, so take note of your space and bust out the measuring tape if necessary.

As a general rule of thumb, here are some guidelines to ensure your size and resolution are well matched and images remain crisp, without screen door effect. For 1080p, which is the easiest to run, anything up to 27 inches will work well. For 1440p, 27 to 32 inches is a good choice. For 4K, 32 inches is a good choice for a typical viewing distance at a desk. If you'll be sitting back farther, a 43-inch monitor or even larger can be a good choice.

Aspect ratio: The aspect ratio of your monitor is closely related to its size because it determines which shape your display will have. The majority of monitors fall into the widescreen category with 16:9 aspect ratios. Ultrawide displays have been rising in popularity recently, and these screens often feature the 21:9 aspect ratio you would typically see at the movie theater. Modern displays have only been getting even wider, and there’s a growing crop of 32:9 displays as well.

Screen resolution: This determines how sharp your gaming monitor will be and, for the most part, there are three choices: Full HD (1,920 x 1,080), Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440), and Ultra HD or 4K (3,840 x 2,160). Like screen size, as the numbers go up so does the price, and they'll require a higher-end graphics card if you hope to maintain a high frame rate.

Panel type: Although most monitors might look the same on the surface, a few different panel types offer specific benefits and shortcomings. Twisted Nematic (TN) panels are the worst and should be avoided. While they used to be the fastest you could buy, the advancement of technology has minimized that benefit such that there is little to no reason to choose this type of monitor today.

In-Plane Switching (IPS) is the next-most prevalent type of display. Rather than focusing on speed, IPS panels are known for rendering excellent colors while offering wider viewing angles in exchange for slightly slower response time, usually hovering around 3–5ms. So-called "Fast IPS" and "SuperSpeed IPS" panels are common options and can lower that to 1ms.

Vertical Alignment (VA) panels split the difference between TN and IPS panels, offering great image quality with decently quick response times and better contrast the competing IPS displays. VA panels aren’t perfect, though. Sometimes fast-moving objects will give off ghosting effects due to the slower response time. This varies display to display, so it's important to read reviews.

The final types are mini-LED and OLED (organic light-emitting diode). Mini-LED is technically not a panel type by itself but is instead a kind of backlighting technology that provides monitors with a large amount of local dimming zones and improved brightness. It can be great, but has the downside of causing light objects to glow in dark scenes. Monitors using mini-LEDs are often marketed with this technology as a leading feature, so true "panel type" or not, it's important to know what they offer.

Finally, there are OLED monitors. These displays control their brightness pixel by pixel. This allows them to offer the best contrast and HDR experience of any monitor type. Their picture quality is often applauded for their vibrant colors and deep, inky blacks. These displays use more power and can suffer from image retention (a.k.a. burn-in), so they can't maintain high levels of brightness for extended periods. They're not a good fit for use in direct sunlight because of this but can be just fine in most rooms otherwise. The best OLED monitors are rated for peak brightness above 1,000 nits, allowing for fine highlights that seem to jump from the screen. They require more care and taking best practice steps like auto-hiding your taskbar and desktop icons, but can deliver a truly next-level gaming experience.

Response time: Competitive shooters and MoBAs demand the quickest response times, so it’s best to play these types of games on monitors that offer a 1ms response time. Playing indie games and most single-player experiences shouldn’t be a problem on a display with a response time between 3-5ms – and it's pretty much impossible to find a monitor slower than this.

Refresh rate: This is another important measure of how responsive the display is, and it defines how often your screen can display a completely new image – essentially, it dictates your frame rate. 60Hz is the standard refresh rate for silky smooth PC gaming, but there’s a long list of monitor options that feature even higher refresh rates of 120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, 360Hz, and even up to 500Hz.

Basically, the higher the refresh rates, the more times the image on your screen will update every second, resulting in a smoother gameplay experience. Beyond the visual appeal of high refresh rate displays, they can be useful for gamers who need to keep up with the rapid movements competitive games demand. Generally, you’ll be at an advantage if you see your opponents and react before they do.

G-Sync vs FreeSync: Variable refresh rate (VRR) technology is a fairly recent invention that ensures consistently smooth and responsive gaming experiences. Currently, there are two types of VRR – Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync – and they come with the prerequisite that you own a compatible graphics card from the corresponding brand. Nvidia GeForce cards allow you to enable VRR on any FreeSync monitor, but your results will vary.

At the most basic level, VRR syncs your monitor’s refresh rate with the number of frames your GPU outputs. This prevents screen tearing caused by the graphics card feeding your display multiple frames while it's in the middle of refreshing its picture. If your graphics card is running your game at 60fps, you’ll see your monitor refresh at exactly 60Hz with wonderfully smooth gameplay.

Our only other piece of advice when buying a gaming monitor is to make sure your video card can handle the resolution and refresh rate of the display you’re considering. It would be a waste of money to buy a 4K monitor when your GPU can only handle 1080p gaming.

Gaming Monitor vs. Gaming TV

Choosing a display to game with depends on personal preference and how you want to play. Below, we discuss gaming monitors vs. TVs.

Both monitors and TVs have their own advantages when it comes to image quality. Mid-range and high-end TVs excel in brightness, contrast, and color thanks to their OLED panels or mini-LED backlights. That also lets them take on HDR content better than many monitors. However, some 4K monitors can keep up and often deliver even better image sharpness.

As for gaming performance, you want a display with a low input lag, high refresh rate, and soild pixel response times. Generally, this is where monitors go a notch above even the best 4K TVs.

The majority of monitors offer a super low input lag, often adding just a few milliseconds delay between the input and the input appearing on screen. TVs are hit or miss, so it’s important to do your research before purchasing.

As for refresh rate, even budget monitors hit high frame rates, though you sacrifice resolution. At this point, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a gaming monitor with a refresh rate below 120Hz, with some going up to 360Hz or even 500Hz. There’s also probably some type of VRR baked in for the smoothest frames possible. Gaming TVs still lag behind, with most 4K options landing on either 60Hz or 120Hz refresh rates, while adaptive sync technology is sometimes included.

Then there’s pixel response time, which is essential to avoid ghosting on screen. Both monitors and TVs perform similarly, though OLED panels often seen in TVs have an almost instantaneous response time.

Gaming monitors often provide better value in terms of price. Monitors that go for $200 still offer a wealth of gaming features, including a high refresh rate and adaptive sync. TVs around that same price are more than likely going to lack any type of gaming features. Even budget gaming TVs will set you back a good chunk of change with limited gaming features.

Gaming Monitor FAQ

What's the difference between G-Sync and FreeSync?

FreeSync and G-Sync are similar, using VRR technologies to synchronize the refresh rate of the display and the frame rate of the PC or console you’re gaming on. Both types of monitors have the same VESA Adaptive-Sync technical standard, and most FreeSync displays work as G-Sync-compatible, or vice versa, even if manufacturers can’t make the claim outright.

The only exceptions are G-Sync and G-Sync Ultimate monitors, which require additional hardware, only work with Nvidia GPUs, and handle adaptive sync through a display’s entire refresh rate – other VRR usually taps out around 48Hz. That means these monitors are often pricier.

What’s the best resolution for a gaming monitor?

The ideal resolution for your display really depends on your needs. If you’re after ultra-high refresh rates or have a more modest graphics card, 1080p is the way to go. These monitors are also going to be the most budget-friendly option.

For those that prefer a crisp display, 4K monitors keep pixel peeping to a minimum and are ideal for a 27-inch screen size or bigger. However, you won’t hit 500Hz like some Full HD offerings, and to enjoy a speedy refresh rate – like what the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM offers – you need to be willing to drop a good chunk of change. Driving those high frame rates will also be taxing on your system.

That leads us to the perfect middle ground: a 1440p display. You’ll enjoy a sharper resolution than 1080p, and hit impressively high frame rates. You will still need a mid-range or better graphics card, but if you have the hardware, these monitors are great for competitive gaming. Plus, you’ll find they’re often cheaper than UHD options.

Is HDR worth it?

HDR, or High Dynamic Range, typically brings more vivid colors, improved brightness, and better contrast than SDR, or Standard Dynamic Range on supported monitors, making images pop. In HDR games, that increased clarity provides richer details for a more enjoyable viewing experience and can possibly give you an edge over opponents. For those who gravitate towards those cinematic games, it’s worth finding a solid HDR monitor.

However, not all monitors that claim HDR support deliver a true HDR experience, so finding an option with ample local dimming zones and high peak brightness or an OLED panel is your best bet to make the most of HDR. Check out our guide on HDR for more info.

When is the best time to get a gaming monitor?

It's no secret that gaming monitors can get pretty pricey, so it's definitely worth checking out some of the big sales events that happen every year. Some of the best gaming monitor deals are available during Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Otherwise, whenever big tech companies like Asus or Dell announce new lineups of gaming monitors, you should check whether retailers have put previous models on sale.

Christopher Coke has been a regular contributor to IGN since 2019 and has been covering games and technology since 2013. He has covered tech ranging from gaming controllers to graphics cards, gaming chairs and gaming monitors, headphones, IEMs, and more for sites such as MMORPG.com, Tom’s Hardware, Popular Science, USA Today’s Reviewed, and Popular Mechanics. Find Chris on Twitter @gamebynight.