Gaming monitors have really hit their stride now. Whether you're looking for a 4K gaming monitor for the sharpest picture or a 240Hz gaming monitor for the smoothest experience, you'll be able to find something to cater to your exact style of gaming. Aside from those extremes you'll also find a lot of value and we're not just talking about budget gaming monitors, we mean the majority of monitors now feature VA or IPS panels for great color depth, while offering up fast response times, and almost all of them are faster than 60Hz.
The plethora of options is a boon and a curse though. There are almost too many good options to churn through, but luckily for you, we're experts in this field and have reviewed and seen the majority of the options. We'll save you the trouble of having to pour through all the specs and compare models by simply serving up the best gaming monitors on the market – and click here to see them in the UK. Also check out certified refurbished computer monitors on eBay for a bit of a discount.
TL;DR – These are the Best Gaming Monitors:
- AOC 27G2
- LG UltraGear 27GN950-B
- Samsung Odyssey G7
- Pixio PX279 Prime
- Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A
- Gigabyte Aorus CV27Q
- Samsung Odyssey G9
- Gigabyte Aorus FV43U
- ViewSonic Elite XG270QG
- Gigabyte Aorus FI27Q-X
- Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A
- Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor
1. LG UltraGear 34GP950G-B
Best Gaming Monitor
There’s a new leader of the pack, and that’s the LG UltraGear 34GP950G. You’ll find a little bit of greatness around every corner on this gaming monitor. Its big, 34-inch display provides a spacious viewing area for your games with a cinematic, 21:9 aspect ratio. It stays sharp at 3,440 x 1,440 and it keeps your visuals clear with a fast response time and Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate, so you won’t suffer from screen tearing, stutter, coronas, or ghosting.
LG has used a Nano IPS display on this model that comes with impactful color with a 10-bit color depth, and those visuals will really pop thanks to the 600-nit peak brightness and HDR capabilities. It’s enough for the monitor to almost completely cover the expansive DCI-P3 color space. All of that visual quality can cruise at 144Hz, or you can enable the overclocked mode to boost it up to 180Hz. There’s even content-responsive bias lighting built into the monitor with an RGB light ring on the back. This monitor truly means business if your business is gaming.
2. AOC 27G2
Best Budget Gaming Monitor
Even if you don't have a lot of money to put toward a gaming setup, you can grab a capable monitor for just $200. AOC has delivered some great, affordable gaming monitors like it's AOC C27G1 (read our review). The AOC 27G2 is effectively the flat successor to that monitor, offering up a 1080p display with a 144Hz refresh, giving you ample visual and motion fidelity to see all the action in your games. 1080p is also easier for modern graphics cards to drive at high frame rates, making it an excellent pairing for budget gaming builds.
The AOC 27G2 may not have an insanely bright panel for features like HDR, but 250 nits should be bright enough and can be easier on the eyes. AOC uses an IPS panel for this monitor, which should give you good viewing angles. And, you'll even get support for FreeSync so you can keep your visuals clean with either AMD or Nvidia graphics cards. (Note: the prices of many electronics are fluctuating frequently right now, so you may need to watch closely to find the AOC 27G2 at it's $200 price point.)
3. LG UltraGear 27GN950-B
Best 4K Gaming Monitor
Jumping up to a 4K resolution is one way to improve your gaming experience, as it'll deliver a crisper picture with more fine detail than lower resolutions. But, that high resolution is only a small piece of the picture. For a monitor that delivers 4K as well as upgrades in just about every other department, you'll want the LG UltraGear 27GN950-B (read our review). This 27-inch gaming monitors puts that 4K picture on a shiny IPS display with a 600-nit peak brightness and 10-bit color depth, giving you a 4K HDR experience like you'll find on many TVs.
Unlike TVs, the LG UltraGear 27GN950B is built for speed. The panel can cruise at a neat 144Hz refresh rate for super-smooth gaming. Even if you're not able to hit 144fps at 4K in most games, the monitor's support for both FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync will ensure you've got clean, full frames displayed instead of a torn-up picture.
4. Samsung Odyssey G7
Best 1440p Gaming Monitor
If you don't think 4K is all its cracked up to be, then there's plenty to be gained by sticking with old faithful: 1440p. The Samsung Odyssey G7 (read our review) offers up a 1440p display with a fairly tight curve. That's a good start for gaming, but this monitor is ready to take as much graphical horsepower as you can throw at it thanks to a super-fast, 240Hz refresh rate.
Those are the kinds of speeds usually reserved for 1080p monitors, but with the Odyssey G7, you'll get those speeds alongside a 600-nit peak brightness and 10-bit color depth. So, not only will you be able to see a ton of frames but each frame can look exceptional. And, don't worry about tearing, as this monitor supports both G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro.
5. Pixio PX279 Prime
Best 1080p Gaming Monitor
People might be clamoring over 4K displays and 1440p has a home in the hearts of many gamers who are trying to balance visual quality with value, but 1080p still has its place. The Pixio PX279 Prime is a prime example of just what 1080p is still good for. This gaming monitor delivers some of the latest specs you'd want from a gaming monitor while staying reasonable in price and high in performance.
The Pixio PX 279 Prime stretches its 1080p picture across a 27-inch, IPS panel with FreeSync Premium Pro and support for G-Sync. Thanks to a 400-nit peak brightness, the display can offer HDR support as well. But, the star of the show is the 240Hz refresh rate, which will see your games run as smooth as hot butter. Since 240fps will be a tough target to hit in some games, the support for FreeSync and G-Sync will help keep the visuals clean.
6. Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A
Best Budget 4K Gaming Monitor
You can go 4K and then some with the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A while just spending a little over $300. What do we mean by “and then some?” For one, we’re talking about HDR as the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A supports a 10-bit color depth to show substantially more shades of color than your typical monitor. The IPS panel on this monitor also gets brighter than the typical monitor to let highlights pop. It can boost shadows, too, so you won’t struggle to see what’s going on in darker scenes of your games.
Now, because this monitor only boasts a 60Hz refresh rate, it may not be ideal for competitive gaming where a higher refresh rate can offer a competitive edge. But, the high resolution on a 28-inch panel will offer exceptionally crisp visuals for you to enjoy the detail in story modes and the like. And, thanks to FreeSync support, you won’t have that perfect 4K picture marred by screen tearing.
7. Gigabyte Aorus CV27Q
Best Curved Gaming Monitor
The Gigabyte Aorus CV27Q offers a little bit of everything, including a slight curve to keep every bit of the screen facing you. This upgrade from the Aorus CV27F (read our review) has a reasonable price, especially when considering it's a 1440p display with a fast 165Hz refresh rate. That's good for delivering super smooth gaming at a crisp level.
It's not just that resolution and resfresh rate that will help you keep track of your enemies but also the 400-nit brightness, which has earned this monitor DisplayHDR 400 certification. The Aorus CV27Q also supports FreeSync 2, keeping your visuals looking great regardless of whether you're hitting high or low frame rates.
8. Samsung Odyssey G9
Best Super Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
There's not an error in the picture above. The Samsung Odyssey G9 is in fact super, super wide. It has a 32:9 aspect ratio, making it effectively two standard monitors set side by side with no gap in the middle. This display has an incredibly tight 1000R curvature, so it'll wrap around your field of view. There may be no other monitors that will let you get this deep into the game.
Picture quality is also a high point for the Odyssey G9. That's because it's using a sharp QLED panel with a dazzling peak brightness of 1,000 nits. That puts it on par with even some of the best gaming TVs, especially with the 10-bit color depth. What's almost shocking to see is that, even with all the features Samsung has already packed into the Odyssey G9, it also supports a 240Hz refresh rate for mind-blowing fluidity.
9. Gigabyte Aorus FV43U
Best Gaming Monitor for the Xbox Series X/S and PS5
If you want to game on a monitor with your new consoles, you’ll want to do it on Gigabyte’s Aorus FV43U. This gaming monitor has some serious size with a 43-inch diagonal, but it’s bringing with it some high-end gaming chops that will let you make the most of your PS5, Xbox Series console and even a gaming PC all without needing to swap cables behind the monitor thanks to its inclusion of two HDMI 2.1 ports and a DisplayPort connection.
The Gigabyte Aorus FV43U has a 4K VA panel that gets incredibly bright with a peak at 1,000 nits while also delivering a 10-bit color depth, so you’ll be able to enjoy some serious HDR visuals while you game. And, you can enjoy the 4K visuals and HDR alongside high speeds. The display offers up a 144Hz max refresh rate with the two HDMI ports letting you go for the peak 4K/120Hz on offer from the latest consoles.
10. ViewSonic Elite XG270QG
Best G-Sync Gaming Monitor
If you know you're after a monitor with true G-Sync capability, then you'll love the ViewSonic Elite XG270QG. This monitor hits the sweet spot with a 1440p resolution on a 27-inch display. This gives you clear visuals without putting the crazy stress on your graphics card that 4K visuals can. You'll want that headroom from your graphics card to help it take advantage of this monitor's 165Hz refresh rate.
The capabilities of this monitor extend beyond gaming as well. That's thanks to its colorful display, which supports up to 1.07 billion colors and covers enough of the sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 color spaces to offer an excellent visual experience in whatever you do.
11. Gigabyte Aorus FI27Q-X Tactical Gaming Display
Best FreeSync Gaming Monitor
You can find FreeSync around almost every corner, even popping up on some budget work-oriented monitors. But, if you want the best FreeSync Monitor, it's going to be the Gigabyte Aorus FI27Q-X Tactical Gaming Display. This no casual 1080p display, nor one that settles for a leisurely 144Hz refresh rate. With the Gigabyte Aorus FI27Q-X, you're getting a 1440p display that blazes a trail at 240Hz. Given how hard it'll be to run many games that fast, FreeSync Premium will come into play to keep each frame intact (or G-Sync if you switch to an Nvidia card later on).
The resolution is only one part of what's going to make each of those frames look great, though. The Gigabyte Aorus FI27Q-X pumps out the brightness with a 450-nit display panel, and it pairs that with richer color thanks to 10-bit color support. These are some nice upgrades to the Aorus FI27Q (read our review), which we already liked a lot.
12. Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A
Best G-Sync Compatible Gaming Monitor
G-Sync can be pricy, but it gets a lot more affordable when you just use a quality FreeSync monitor that's been officially vetted for strong G-Sync compatibility. That's what the Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A offers. You'll get a bright, sharp, and fast experience from this monitor thanks to its combination of a 1440p resolution, a 470-nit peak brightness, and a 170Hz refresh rate. However, you'll be limited to 144Hz when using G-Sync.
This display can handle some HDR gaming, and it even supports 10-bit color, letting you get a great picture in and out of games. This monitor is also a strong option for anyone looking at the Xbox Series S, as it can support that console's 1440p and 120Hz specs alongside FreeSync.
13. Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor (AW2521HFL)
Best Esports Gaming Monitor
When it comes to esports, there are few things you need to consider beyond speed. The Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor (AW2521HFL) has that on lock with a 240Hz refresh rate that'll let you cruise through maps while catching all the visual detail you need to get the drop on your opponents.
The Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor keeps things fairly simple by using a 1080p display panel that will make it easier for your system to push the full 240fps you need to take advantage of the display. And, when you can't keep a constant frame rate, FreeSync and G-Sync support ensure you won't run into tearing. A nice extra perk of this monitor is its use of a fast IPS panel, which can help ensure your viewing angle won't impact your ability to see enemies in games.
Where to Get the Best Gaming Monitor in the UK
We've mentioned several brilliant gaming monitors on this list, with up to 14 different options to choose from. These range from the most affordable all the way up until the juggernaut sets for those who love to take in every single detail. Thankfully, all of the displays mentioned can be found in UK retailers, and we've just so happened to track them down to save you the trouble of a time-consuming Google search.
What to look for in a gaming monitor
Below I go over the three essential things you should consider before buying a gaming monitor including screen size, resolution, and aspect ratio. I’ve also briefly explained a few of the more technical aspects of computer display such as panel types, refresh rate, and the variable refresh rate technologies available today.
Screen size: “How big?” Will probably be the first thing you’ll ask yourself when you go about buying a gaming monitor, and the answer really comes down to your unique situation. Are you in a tiny dorm with barely any room or are you looking to get a 43-inch gaming monitor to replace your TV?
How you answer that question will ultimately determine the display size you need. But if you’re looking for some basic guidelines on screen sizes, 24- to 27-inch gaming monitors will satisfy most gamers. Those looking for a more immersive experience might be interested in a 32-inch or larger screen. As with most things, gaming monitors will usually become more expensive as you go up in size, so think with your budget as much as your ambition.
Aspect ratio: The aspect ratio of your monitor is closely related to its size because it determines which form factor your display will have. The majority of monitors fall into the widescreen category with their 16:9 aspect ratio. 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. If you can believe it modern gaming monitors 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, plus 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, there are a few different panel types that offer specific benefits and shortcomings. Twisted Nematic (TN) panels are the most basic and common panel you’ll come across as they deliver the fastest response times of 1ms often at the cost of duller colors, grayer black levels, and poor viewing angles.
In-Plane Switching (IPS) is the next most prevalent type of display and it’s basically the opposite of a TN panel. Rather than focusing on speed, IPS panels are known for rendering excellent colors and contrast while offering wider viewing angles in exchange for slightly slower response time, usually hovering around 3-5ms.
Lastly, Vertical Alignment (VA) panels are becoming increasingly common and they essentially split the difference between TN and IPS panels. They offer great image quality with decently quick response times. VA panels aren’t perfect, though, as sometimes fast-moving objects will give off ghosting effects due to the slower response time.
If you want a responsive gaming monitor, it’s best to pick one with a fast response time, which is a measure of how quickly a pixel can change from the brightest to the darkest (white to black) color.
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 gaming monitor that is slower than this.
Refresh rate: This is another important measure of how responsive a gaming monitor is, and it defines how often your screen can display a completely new image — so it essentially dictates your frame rate. 60Hz is the standard refresh rate for silky smooth PC gaming, but there’s a long list of gaming monitors that feature even higher refresh rates of 120Hz, 144Hz, and, so far, up to 240Hz.
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 and it ensures you have a consistently smooth and responsive gaming experience. Currently, there are two flavors of VRR, Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, and they’ll require a prerequisite that you own a compatible graphics card from the corresponding brand. Nvidia GeForce cards do 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 is in the middle of refreshing its picture. If your graphics card is running your game at 60 fps, you’ll see your monitor refresh at exactly 60Hz with wonderfully smooth gameplay.
My 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 gaming monitor when your GPU can only handle 1080p gaming.
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
