If you are on the lookout for the very best gaming monitor in 2023, Alienware’s glorious 34 QD-OLED nonetheless takes the cake. However, it is not the proper monitor for all players. We’ve reviewed dozens of displays to seek out the highest gaming shows you should buy proper now, no matter when you’re chasing peak HDR experiences or excessive refresh charges for aggressive titles.
We’re targeted particularly on gaming displays right here, which include greater refresh charges and adaptive sync options like G-Sync and FreeSync. If you are on the lookout for an all-around show, ensure that to browse our record of the very best displays.
Why it is best to belief us
We’ve reviewed tons of of displays over time, looking for the very best of the very best. This includes an in-depth technique of not solely utilizing the monitor, but additionally pushing it to the boundaries with numerous types of testing. Make positive to learn our roundup of how we take a look at displays for a better look. This course of ensures that after we come out of a monitor assessment, we all know with certainty if it is a product you should purchase or not.
Key concerns when shopping for a gaming monitor
There are a number of areas the place gaming displays differ from different shows, together with conventional displays and TVs. Here are some essential areas to concentrate to.
Refresh charge
The primary factor that separates a gaming monitor from an everyday monitor is the refresh charge. The next refresh charge means you’ll see the entire frames your graphics card or sport console produces, resulting in a smoother picture. For PC, we advocate sticking above 100Hz. Consoles do not at all times want greater than 60Hz, however the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 can ship 120Hz in choose video games.
Ports
The port choice on a gaming monitor is essential for a few causes. First, it is essential to have a number of inputs so you’ll be able to hook up a couple of sport platform. If you have got a PC and a console, for instance, you may need entry to each. The specification is essential as effectively. HDMI 2.1 is what you need for many consoles, as it may well ship 4K at 120Hz. Older variations of HDMI cannot.
Resolution
You’ll need to remember the decision of the monitor earlier than choosing it up. Higher resolutions are extra demanding in your PC’s graphics card, so that you wish to pair the fitting decision along with your PC for the very best efficiency. If you have got a weaker price range GPU, for instance, you may in all probability wish to restrict your monitor search to 1,080p shows over 4K choices.
Digital Trends
Alienware 34 QD-OLED
The greatest gaming monitor
Pros
QD-OLED distinction is unbeatable
Fantastic HDR efficiency
Excellent colour saturation
Attractive, minimalist design
Surprisingly inexpensive
Cons
SDR brightness is a bit low
Color accuracy is not excellent
Why you should purchase this: The Alienware 34 QD-OLED offers the very best gaming expertise you should buy in 2022.
Who’s it for: Ultrawide followers who wish to expertise OLED with PC video games.
Why we selected the Alienware 34 QD-OLED:
The Alienware 34 QD-OLED is the last word gaming monitor in 2022, and that is as a result of it lastly makes an try and shake up the massively stale market. How? Quantum Dot OLED. The Alienware 34 QD-OLED is not content material with poor HDR, washed-out colours, and low peak brightness. It needs to supply the very best picture high quality potential.
And it succeeds. The Alienware 34 QD-OLED has beautiful distinction as a result of deep blacks which might be attribute of OLED shows. Games look beautiful on the show, particularly when you’re enjoying probably the greatest HDR video games obtainable on PC.
The show will get every thing else proper, too. It’s licensed with G-Sync Ultimate for tear-free gaming, and it may well high out at a 175Hz refresh charge. The decision is nice, too, with the 21:9 side ratio providing up a decision of 3440 x 1400 throughout the 34-inch display screen.
Although the ultrawide kind issue will not be for everybody, the Alienware 34 QD-OLED is value adjusting to. It gives the very best picture high quality out of any gaming monitor you should buy, it is not too costly, and it comes with the important options PC players want.
Alienware 34 QD-OLED
The greatest gaming monitor
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8
The greatest 4K HDR gaming monitor
Pros
Fantastic HDR efficiency
240Hz is nice for 4K gaming
Solid stand and changes
Moody CoreSync lighting
Vibrant colours, if somewhat inaccurate
FreeSync Premium Pro and unofficial G-Sync help
Cons
Lazy cable administration resolution
Few gaming PCs can make the most of refresh charge
Just a few random glints on Windows desktop
Why you should purchase this: It has a super-high refresh charge, glorious HDR, and impeccable readability with a 4K decision.
Who’s it for: High-end PC players who do not thoughts spending up for the very best of all worlds.
Why we selected the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8:
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 is a monitor that permits you to have your cake and eat it, too. While most shows sacrifice picture high quality for refresh charge, or decision for value, the Odyssey Neo G8 ticks each field. It’s 4K, 240Hz, and comes with a few of the greatest HDR you may get on a gaming monitor in need of OLED.
Local dimming in over 1,000 zones create inky blacks and blinding highlights, offering dynamic vary that almost all displays cannot deal with. That makes it nice for cinematic experiences like Cyberpunk 2077 and Horizon Zero Dawn, pushing HDR to the forefront.
It can do aggressive sport, as effectively. The 240Hz refresh charge offers higher movement readability than the inventory 144Hz refresh charge most gaming displays provide. It’s not the best refresh charge you may get on a gaming monitor, however contemplating the decision and HDR efficiency, it is an unimaginable feat. We examined the monitor with Overwatch 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Rainbow Six Siege, and the show held up effectively in even probably the most aggressive video games.
The solely draw back right here is value. At $1,500, the Odyssey Neo G8 is among the costlier gaming displays you should buy. It’s not unreasonable for the way a lot Samsung is providing right here, although, particularly as shows just like the Odyssey Neo G9 and Samsung Arkcost effectively over $2,000.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8
The greatest 4K HDR gaming monitor
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q
The greatest 1440p gaming monitor
Pros
Fantastic colour efficiency
576 full-array native dimming zones
Wide vary of stand changes
165Hz refresh charge
Adaptive Sync help
Cons
Weak cable administration resolution
Poor black ranges
Why you should purchase this: It’s probably the greatest HDR experiences you may get, and it is below $600.
Who’s it for: Gamers who need improbable HDR with out breaking the financial institution.
Why we selected the Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q:
The Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q is a monitor that might’ve been inconceivable just some years in the past. Flagship HDR efficiency, G-Sync and FreeSync help, and a 1440p decision for under $530? The Tempest GP27Q is ready to ship all of that for a low value given rising Mini-LED tech.
The smaller lights permit the Tempest GP27Q to ship 576 full-array native dimming zones, practically six instances as many because the Sony InZone M9. The excessive native dimming zone depend results in distinctive HDR efficiency that is usually reserved for displays that value effectively over $1,000.
It seems attractive, providing a few of the deepest black ranges and brightest highlights you may get in a gaming monitor proper now. Cooler Master combines that improbable HDR efficiency with a low response time and 165Hz refresh charge, making it a strong, if not excellent, choice for aggressive video games that require a number of movement readability.
There are some trade-offs, although. Most notably, the Tempest GP27Q is not probably the most colour correct monitor. It’s improbable with HDR turned off, providing world-class colour protection and efficiency, however colour accuracy takes a nosedive with HDR turned on.
Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q
The greatest 1440p gaming monitor
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Asus ROG Swift PG259QNR
The greatest 1080p gaming monitor
Pros
Unrivaled movement readability
Ultra-low enter lag
Buttery clean gameplay
Superbly steady stand
Includes desk clamp
Cons
Only 1080p
Limited mainstream enchantment
Why you should purchase this: It manages an insane 360Hz refresh charge for probably the most aggressive players.
Who’s it for: Competitive players who want the best refresh charge potential.
Why we selected the Asus ROG Swift PG259QNR:
There are a great deal of price range 1080p displays (we’ll get to our choose there quickly), so we wished to concentrate on a premium 1080p choice. The Asus ROG Swift PG259QNR is a monitor constructed particularly for aggressive gaming, sporting a staggering 360Hz refresh charge.
That’s the primary draw, permitting you to see very good make clear in Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and even Fortnite (offered you have got probably the greatest gaming desktops). The ROG Swift PG259QNR helps G-Sync all the way in which as much as 360Hz, too.
Otherwise, the show is strong, if unremarkable. The IPS panel offers respectable colour accuracy, although not the large gamut of the quantum dot displays above. The 24.5-inch dimension helps the 1080p decision not look too fuzzy, both, offered you wish to sit up near the show.
It’s a little bit of a glass cannon, however for some players, the Asus ROG Swift PG259QNR would be the excellent esports monitor.
Asus ROG Swift PG259QNR
The greatest 1080p gaming monitor
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Alienware 500Hz AW2524H
The greatest esports gaming monitor
Pros
Extremely quick refresh charge
Great movement readability
Nvidia Reflex analyzer constructed into the show
Handy headphone stand
Sturdy, low-profile base
Cons
Very costly
Limited changes
Lacking picture high quality
Why you should purchase this: It’s the quickest gaming monitor you should buy proper now.
Who’s it for: Highly aggressive esports gamers on the lookout for each benefit potential.
Why we selected the Alienware 500Hz AW2524H:
The Alienware AW2524H is not for everybody. As a matter of reality, it is not even for most individuals. It’s costly at $830, the picture high quality is not nice, and it is solely 1080p. All of that’s straightforward to miss when you’re among the many best esports gamers, although.
It’s the primary monitor to return with a 500Hz refresh charge, shaving milliseconds off of lots of the quickest gaming displays in the marketplace. The Alienware AW2524H wholeheartedly focuses on esports gamers, offering a bonus to players who grind hours away in video games like Overwatch 2 and Valorant.
If you step outdoors that viewers, although, the Alienware AW2524H seems a lot much less spectacular. HDR efficiency is poor, picture high quality is missing total, and the small dimension is disappointing given how costly the monitor is. But for that subset of players who solely concentrate on aggressive titles, the Alienware AW2524H delivers in a approach no different monitor does.
Alienware 500Hz AW2524H
The greatest esports gaming monitor
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Gigabyte M32U
The greatest price range 4K gaming monitor
Pros
One of the one 32-inch 4K displays with a excessive refresh charge
Excellent post-calibration colour accuracy
Two HDMI 2.1 ports
Built-in KVM swap
Inexpensive
Cons
Poor HDR efficiency
Subpar stand
Bad pre-calibration colour accuracy
Why you should purchase this: It comes with the entire options 4K players want, however at a value a lot decrease than the competitors.
Who’s it for: 4K players on a good price range.
Why we selected the Gigabyte M32U:
You can choose up the Gigabyte M32U for as little as $750, which is an insane value contemplating the specs. It’s a 32-inch 4K monitor with a 144Hz refresh charge, and it even sports activities twin HDMI 2.1 ports so you’ll be able to hook up a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
All of the specs are proper, and Gigabyte goes additional with an IPS panel that boasts surprisingly good colour accuracy. The M32U even comes with a KVM swap, permitting you to hook up some peripherals by the included USB ports to make use of them between a number of programs.
It’s within the odds and ends the place the M32U lags behind extra premium choices. The stand is horrible and it would not include any gamer flare. Throw the show on probably the greatest monitor stands, although, and people points are straightforward to miss.
Gigabyte M32U
The greatest price range 4K gaming monitor
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Acer Nitro XZ272U
The greatest price range 1440p gaming monitor
Pros
Excellent gaming efficiency
Good distinction
Suprisingly color-accurate
Curved, however not an excessive amount of
Competitive pricing
Cons
Lacking construct high quality
Light smearing with quick movement
Unimpressive colour gamut
Why you should purchase this: It hits the marks that 1440p players displays ought to, however for about $100 much less.
Who’s it for: Gamers who need an optimum expertise with out spending an excessive amount of.
Why we selected the Acer Nitro XZ272U:
The Acer Nitro XZ272U is a sweet-spot monitor, and it is simple to advocate. For round $300, you are getting a 27-inch 1440p show sporting a 1500R curve and a refresh charge of 165Hz. That’s all you really want for gaming, as native 4K is prohibitively demanding most often.
Its VA panel would not include nice colour protection or distinction, however it nonetheless packs respectable colour accuracy out of the field. The show additionally comes with DisplayHDR 400 certification, although our testing reveals the HDR expertise is not the very best.
As is typical of VA panels, the Nitro XZ272U reveals some black smearing when at overdriven refresh charges, however it’s a lot much less pronounced than competing choices. And contemplating the panel’s already quick 144Hz base refresh charge, you do not have to overdrive the show in any respect.
Acer Nitro XZ272U
The greatest price range 1440p gaming monitor
Acer Nitro XF243Y
The greatest price range 1080p gaming monitor
Pros
Inexpensive
Low enter lag and response time
Great gaming efficiency
Why you should purchase this: It’s quick, accessible, and low cost.
Who’s it for: Gamers on the lookout for a feature-rich monitor for round $200.
Why we selected the Acer Nitro XF243Y:
The Acer Nitro XF243Y is not the very best monitor for gaming, however that is arduous to count on for round $200. For that value, you are getting a 24-inch show with Full HD decision and, critically, a 144Hz refresh charge. The show additionally helps FreeSync, permitting you to make use of adaptive refresh with an Nvidia or AMD GPU.
For specs, the Nitro XF243Y checks out. It shoots forward with low enter lag and a very good response time, guaranteeing you can hit your headshots and rating your targets. The IPS panel means the show has strong colour accuracy out of the field, even when it takes successful in the case of brightness and distinction.
The Nitro XF243Y would not help HDMI 2.1 for the most recent consoles, and the stand would not provide a ton of room for adjustment. Still, it is arduous to argue with the worth of the Nitro XF243Y, particularly when it carries glorious gaming efficiency in tow.
Acer Nitro XF243Y
The greatest price range 1080p gaming monitor
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
LG UltraGear OLED 27
The greatest OLED gaming monitor
Pros
Vibrant colours and HDR
Excellent movement readability
Fantastic matte end
Generous port choice
Sturdy stand with loads of changes
Cons
Low SDR brightness
Some textual content readability points
Remote is critical to manage the show
Why you should purchase this: It’s the very best and brightest OLED gaming monitor you should buy.
Who’s it for: Premium players who need nice responsiveness and picture high quality.
Why we selected the LG UltraGear OLED 27:
OLED has been obtainable in TVs for years, however it’s simply beginning to make its technique to displays. This panel tech, which permits pixels to show absolutely off, gives the very best picture high quality you may get out of a display screen proper now, with true black ranges, vibrant colours, and searing highlights.
The UltraGear OLED 27 delivers on all fronts. It has the very best HDR efficiency we have seen out of any gaming monitor, even surpassing the Alienware 34 QD-OLED. It would not get as shiny, however that is really a small benefit for the LG show. With decrease brightness total, the UltraGear OLED 27 is ready to keep significantly better colour accuracy.
Great HDR efficiency is anticipated from OLED, however this panel features a hidden benefit as effectively. Because particular person pixels management their very own brightness, response instances are extraordinarily low on OLED displays. Combined with the 240Hz refresh charge of the UltraGear OLED 27, LG delivers movement readability that may compete with shows with a lot greater refresh charges.
LG UltraGear OLED 27
The greatest OLED gaming monitor
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Samsung Odyssey OLED G8
A great Alienware 34 QD-OLED various
Pros
Exceptional colour and HDR
Ultrathin
USB-C energy supply
Dense settings within the OS
Cons
More costly than the competitors
Limited to mini connections
Why you should purchase this: It’s a shiny and really responsive ultrawide OLED monitor.
Who’s it for: Premium players who need an ultrawide OLED monitor with further options.
Why we selected the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8:
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is in direct competitors with the Alienware 34 QD-OLED, and in that head-to-head battle, Samsung loses. That doesn’t suggest the Odyssey OLED G8 is a nasty monitor, although, and for some individuals, will probably be precisely what they’re on the lookout for.
This show packs the identical 24-inch, 3,440 x 1,440 panel because the Alienware monitor, together with the identical 175Hz refresh charge. Samsung stands out with its Tizen working system, although, which brings apps to the desktop and means that you can entry a variety of media with out ever connecting a PC.
There are a number of different strong additions as effectively, corresponding to 65W of energy supply over the USB-C inputs. This is all backed up by the identical distinctive QD-OLED picture high quality we have come to count on out of this panel.
Samsung Odyssey OLED G8
A great Alienware 34 QD-OLED various
Frequently Asked Questions
What sort of monitor is greatest for gaming?
This very a lot is determined by the kind of video games you wish to play. If you play aggressive, fast-paced video games, high-refresh-rate displays are a should as they’ll scale back enter lag and provide you with a smoother gaming expertise. Higher resolutions and HDR are nice for extra cinematic, AAA experiences, whereas bigger, curved screens add immersion for all types of titles.
Can you see the distinction between 144Hz and 240Hz?
Yes, however it’s very minor. Above 144Hz, refresh charges begin to present diminishing returns, so most players will not discover a distinction between 144Hz and 240Hz. The distinction is {that a} 240Hz has much less latency — it refreshes extra typically — which might make a distinction in how a sport feels, particularly in a aggressive setting.
Is there an enormous distinction between 4K and 1080p?
Yes, there is a huge distinction. 4K has greater than 4 instances as many pixels as 1080p (two million in comparison with over eight million). 4K shows look sharper and supply higher readability. You’ll want a strong gaming PC to render all of these pixels, although, so it’s possible you’ll wish to stick to a decrease decision in case your rig is not as much as snuff.
What is an effective dimension monitor for gaming?
The dimension of your monitor largely is determined by what decision it’s. As the display screen dimension will get bigger, decrease resolutions will develop into extra pronounced. For gaming, we advocate a 24-inch monitor for 1080p, a 27-inch monitor for 1440p, and a 27-inch or bigger monitor for 4K.
Keep in thoughts the side ratio, as effectively. Ultrawide displays are wider, and the display screen dimension is not corresponding to a regular 16:9 show. A 34-inch ultrawide monitor is not as massive as a 34-inch 16:9 one.
Does response time matter for gaming displays?
Yes, however not in the way in which you would possibly assume. Response time on a monitor measures how lengthy it takes from one pixel to transition to a distinct colour, not the enter lag. Faster response instances present clearer movement, so a low response time is good for gaming.
G-Sync versus Freesync: What’s the distinction?
G-Sync and FreeSync are each adaptive refresh charge applied sciences. The primary distinction is that FreeSync is an open-source model, whereas G-Sync is unique to Nvidia graphics playing cards. That has largely modified in recent times, nonetheless, and most displays with adaptive refresh will work with an AMD or Nvidia graphics card.
Can I take advantage of my TV as a gaming monitor?
Yes, you should use a TV as a gaming monitor. TVs have comparable choices for refresh charges, resolutions, HDR help, and connections like HDMI — plus, HDMI 2.1 added help for the open Adaptive Sync expertise, and a few TV manufacturers, like Samsung, help FreeSync as effectively.
However, TVs are typically far more costly than displays, so you’ll seemingly find yourself paying much more for comparable specs. TVs might also lack sure modes, menu choices, and customization options that displays have for gaming.
Can I take advantage of a gaming monitor for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X?
Absolutely. Look for a monitor that has HDMI 2.1 or later ports for the very best outcomes. The consoles help as much as 4k decision and a 120Hz refresh charge, so you may also be beneficiant with specs and get nice outcomes.
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