The Best Gaming Monitor Recommendations for 2023

Are you looking for a new or extra monitor for your gaming setup? This guide on finding the best gaming monitors will help you narrow your choices. Choose from the best 4K, 1440p, and 1080p monitors in different sizes and prices to get the best gaming monitor for you.

Do you game on your phone? Check out the best gaming phones.

What Should You Look for in a Gaming Monitor?

If you’re in the market for a monitor, and your top priority is gaming, you should consider more factors than panel size and refresh rate. What makes a monitor the best gaming monitor is how much it suits your needs as a gamer. To help you make an informed buying decision, consider the must-haves of a monitor:

• High refresh rate – a monitor’s refresh rate dictates how often it refreshes its screen to show new images. For example, a 144Hz monitor will refresh 144 times per second, so the higher your monitor’s refresh rate, the quicker it’ll show new images.
• Low input lag – input lag is the delay between pressing a button and the action showing on your monitor. A monitor with low input lag will ensure that any key you press will translate into you applying quicker actions in the game.
• Response time – response time is how quickly a panel’s pixels change from one color to the next. With millions of colors to render, a monitor with a quick response time is a must for gamers.
• Resolution – a high-res monitor will make images appear clearer and gaming more immersive and pleasant to the eyes.
• Size – the size of a monitor is the size of its panel. A big monitor may sound nice, but you also need to have a high resolution to make it worth it. A big monitor with low resolution will make images look less clear. It won’t be an ideal experience if you like playing games with a lot of image detail, like most modern games.

If a monitor already has all the must-haves, and you’re still struggling to make a decision, the following are some nice-to-have features you should also consider:

• Adaptive sync – while not essential, AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync support are good additions that let your graphics card lock your monitor’s refresh rate to reduce stuttering and screen tearing.
• Connectivity – you’ll see one or two HDMI ports in most gaming monitors, but you should also look for additional ports, like DisplayPort, USB, and audio jacks, for added convenience.

Want to learn the difference between HDMI and DisplayPort? This guide explains what they are and which one you should use.

• HDR support – A monitor with HDR support will display more realistic images with more contrast, brightness, and color than non-HDR monitors.
• Ergonomics – You can make your monitor more comfortable with height adjustment, tilting, swiveling, and pivoting support. Instead of adjusting to the monitor’s overall design, ergonomics will let you adjust the monitor to match your preferred positions.

The best gaming monitor should meet most of your gaming needs, but it should also meet your budget. We have rounded up six gaming monitors for a variety of scenarios.

Good to know: depending on your setup, you may be deciding between a curved and flat monitor.

1. Best for Ultrawide 4K Gaming: Samsung Odyssey Neo G85NB

Price: $1499.99

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G85NB might be overkill for most gamers, but it’s the monitor to get if you want sharp images and a high refresh rate on a 32-inch panel. It’s suitable for an immersive PC gaming experience, but you need a high-end graphics card to produce 240 frames at 4K resolution. If you’re a console gamer, it offers 4K on a 32-inch panel, but 240Hz is overkill when the latest gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have frame rates locked at 120.

Pros

• 240Hz refresh rate
• Low input lag mode
• 1ms GtG response time
• 4K resolution (3840 x 2160)
• HDR support (Quantum HDR 2000)
• 32-inch panel
• Ultrawide aspect ratio (21:9)
• AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support
• Two HDMI 2.1 ports
• DisplayPort 1.4
• Headphone jack
• Two USB 3.0 ports
• Height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustment

Cons

• VA panel
• No NVIDIA G-Sync support
• No USB-C port
• Price is in the high range

Tip: if you’re using multiple monitors, check out our recommendations for dual monitor stands.

2. Best for Mid-Range 4K Gaming: LG 27GN950-B

Price: $799.99

If you’re looking to game in 4K resolution with a graphics card that can’t produce over 144 frames per second, the LG 27GN950-B is a great choice. It’ll give you the resolution you want in a decent-size 27-inch IPS panel, with vivid colors and sharp images.

Pros

• IPS panel
• 144Hz refresh rate
• 1ms response time
• 4K resolution (3840 x 2160)
• AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support
• NVIDIA G-Sync support
• Two HDMI ports
• DisplayPort
• Three USB 3.0 ports
• Headphone jack
• 5- to 15-degree tilt angle
• Pivot and height adjustment

Cons

• 27-inch panel is small for 4K resolution
• Other 27-inch monitors with higher refresh rates are more affordable
• No swivel support

3. Best for Console Gamers: BenQ Mobiuz EX2710Q

Price: $399.99

Do you prefer console gaming or use it as an alternative way to play video games alongside PC gaming? If so, the BenQ Mobiuz EX2710Q is the best gaming monitor for your needs. It has a 165Hz refresh rate and is the perfect size for 1440p resolution. If you play fast-paced PC games at high levels, 165Hz isn’t enough. But if you like to play casually, the BenQ Mobiuz EX2710Q should meet your needs as a PC gaming monitor, console gaming monitor, or both.

Pros

• 165Hz is more than enough for console gaming
• 2560 x 1440 resolution
• IPS panel
• AMD FreeSync Premium support
• HDR support
• Two HDMI 2.0 ports
• DisplayPort 1.4 port
• Three USB ports
• Headphone jack
• 5- to 15-degree tilt angle
• Swivel and height adjustment

Cons

• 2ms GtG response time
• 27-inch panel may be too small for some console gamers
• No pivot support

More for gaming: check out our top suggestions for gaming mice to enhance your setup even more.

4. Best for 4K Gaming: Gigabyte M32U

Price: $799.99

The Gigabyte M32U is a 4K monitor made for console gamers. It has a 144Hz refresh rate, which is more than enough for a smooth console gaming experience, and its 31.5-inch panel is a comfortable size for console gamers who play on their desk, couch, or bed. One thing holding the Gigabyte M32U back from being the best gaming monitor is its price. It’s a lot to pay for a monitor that’s not considered excellent for both PC and console gaming. If PlayStation or Xbox is your main gaming machine, this one’s worth the price.

Pros

• 144Hz refresh rate is just right for console games
• 1ms MPRT response time for better motion blur
• 3840 x 2160 resolution
• HDR support
• 31.5-inch
• SS IPS panel
• AMD FreeSync ready
• Two HDMI 2.1 ports
• DisplayPort 1.4 port
• USB Type-C port
• Earphone jack
• Tilt, swivel, and height adjustment

Cons

• No USB Type-A port
• No pivot support

5. Best Budget Monitor: Acer Nitro XF243Y PBMIIPRX

Price: $196.14

Are you on a budget but want to play with a decent refresh rate? You should check out the Acer Nitro XF243Y PBMIIPRX. It costs under $200, which is a decent price for a monitor from a reputable brand. It has an IPS panel to give you glorious colors and a 144Hz refresh rate that should be enough if you’re not an eSports athlete or just starting to take gaming seriously.

Pros

• Affordable
• 144Hz is enough for a low- to mid-range PC gaming setup
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• IPS panel
• AMD FreeSync Premium support
• Two HDMI ports
• DisplayPort
• Headphone jack
• Height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustment

Cons

• 2ms GtG response time
• No HDR support
• 23.8-inch screen may be too small for some users

Also helpful: we also have a roundup of the best gaming headsets.

6. Best Refresh Rate for PC Gaming: Alienware AW2521H

Price: $629.99

Dell’s Alienware AW2521H is a monitor with a high refresh rate that is just the right size for a PC gaming setup. It’s the best gaming monitor for high-level, fast-paced gaming on high- to mid-range gaming setups. While its refresh rate is attractive, you must remember that you need a graphics card that can push out 360 frames per second on your preferred video settings to make the monitor worth it.

Pros

• 360Hz is one of the best refresh rates
• 1ms GtG response time
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• IPS panel
• AMD FreeSync Premium support
• NVIDIA G-Sync support
• Four USB 3.2 ports
• Two HDMI 2.0 ports
• DisplayPort 1.4 port
• Headphone jack
• Height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustment

Cons

• A 24.5-inch screen may be too small for some users
• No HDR support
• High price point for its size and resolution

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check or change a monitor’s refresh rate?

In Windows 11, right-click on your desktop and select “Display settings -> Advanced display -> Choose a refresh rate.” From that drop-down, you’ll see the highest and lowest supported refresh rates based on the monitor you’re using.

Alternatively, check your monitor’s refresh rate online.

Can I change a monitor’s resolution to a higher or lower value?

Yes. To change your screen resolution in Windows 11, right-click on your desktop and select “Display Settings -> Display Resolution,” then choose a resolution from the drop-down showing all supported resolutions. Windows will recommend the best resolution for your monitor.

What’s the difference between AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync?

The differences between these adaptive sync technologies are who produced them, their supported products, and how often you’ll find them supported by monitors.

AMD’s FreeSync technology is for AMD graphics cards, while NVIDIA’s is for NVIDIA graphics cards. You’ll also notice that NVIDIA G-Sync support is rare in monitors, but you’ll find AMD FreeSync in most monitors.

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