Competitive gaming is all about speed and if you're feeling like your standard gaming monitor isn't cutting the cheese anymore, what you need is a 240Hz gaming monitor. These extremely fast refresh rate monitors are all about letting you see the action unfold with smooth animations and each individual frame is completely crisp and clear. Of course, you'll need a beefy graphics card to keep up, but luckily there are some really powerful and affordable GPUs to choose from like the Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti and AMD Radeon RX 6800.
The days of every Esports display being the same 24.5-inch TN panel are long gone. These days you'll find 240Hz gaming monitors in all different sizes, resolutions, and even a few Ultrawide options. What's more, we're seeing an increasing number of IPS screens that offer great color accuracy, viewing angles, and HDR support too – and click here to find them in the UK.
TL;DR – These are the Best 240Hz Gaming Monitors:
- Acer Nitro ED270
- Samsung Odyssey G7
- Alienware 27 Gaming
- Samsung CGR5
- Viewsonic Elite XG270
- LG UltraGear 27GN75B
1. Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor (AW2521HFL)
Best 240Hz Gaming Monitor
If you want to go fast, the Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor (AW2521HFL) is the best option to get you there. This display touts some serious performance capabilities, and it even manages to come at a highly competitive price, as we’ve seen it on sale for under $400 commonly and sometimes even below $300.
With the Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor, you’ll get an easy-to-drive 1080p picture that’ll make it that much more likely that your system can match that full 240Hz refresh rate of the monitor. When your frame rate isn’t quite locked at the monitor’s frame rate, you’ll find FreeSync and G-Sync support there to keep your visuals untarnished by screen tearing. On top of it all, Dell has used an IPS panel with a 400-nit peak brightness, ensuring you get easy visibility in whatever room you’ve set up your gaming battle station. The IPS panel’s wide viewing angles will also make it easier to see even if you’re not always looking at the monitor perfectly straight on, though Alienware stands offer so much flexibility, that shouldn’t be an issue.
2. Acer Nitro ED270
Best Budget 240Hz Gaming Monitor
You can go fast and affordable at the same time with the Acer Nitro ED270. This monitor is normally reasonably priced at $300, but you can get it right now for much less, and you'll be getting a lot for your money in either case. The Acer Nitro ED270 delivers a 27-inch, Full HD display that can run at 240Hz with support for adaptive sync technology so you get a clear picture no matter how many frames your system is churning out.
The Acer Nitro ED270 users a VA panel for a strong contrast ratio, and it offers a 1ms response time. Its brightness may be a weak spot, but at 250 nits, it should be bright enough as long as the sun isn't coming through a window and hitting the screen. The monitor includes two low-power speakers if you don't like wearing headphones all the time. And, if you want more flexibility than the included stand offers, the back includes the mounting points for a VESA mount.
3. Samsung Odyssey G7
Best HDR 240Hz Gaming Monitor
Just because you want blistering speeds doesn’t mean you have to settle for a lesser image. The Samsung Odyssey G7 is a total stunner that goes above and beyond around every bend – and we’re talking a serious bend, as this 27-inch monitor has a 1000R curvature that wraps it tightly around your field of view.
It’s going to take some might to drive this monitor at its full refresh rate, because Samsung has packed in not a 1080p panel but a 1440p one instead. That’s just the start, as Samsung has also used a QLED panel with support for a 10-bit color depth and a 600-nit peak brightness, combining to deliver HDR at high speeds. This all comes while the panel maintains a low, 1ms response time, and you’ll also find FreeSync Premium Pro support, so you can get all that high-refresh HDR goodness without smearing or tearing.
4. Alienware 27 Gaming (AW2721D)
Best 27-inch 240Hz Gaming Monitor
The Alienware 27 Gaming (AW2721D) goes for that sweet spot at 27 inches and 1440p, giving you plenty of screen space with a sharp resolution. It doesn’t miss out on the speed, though. As long as your computer has the might to run it, this monitor will let you crank it up to 240Hz even while running at 1440p.
This monitor is packed with technologies that take it to the next level. You’ll get upgraded brightness with the 450-nit IPS panel. With the extra brightness and support for 10-bit color, you’ll also get HDR to enhance the visuals. The monitor supports G-Sync Ultimate as well, so you won’t have to worry about torn frames marring your viewing experience. And, typical of a premium Alienware monitor, the whole thing comes on a highly flexible stand, so you can easily adapt it to find an ergonomic fit at your desk.
5. Samsung CGR5
Best G-Sync 240Hz Monitor
G-Sync can be pricey, as can a 240Hz refresh rate and a curved display. But, the Samsung CRG5 (read our review) offers all three, boasting high speeds and official G-Sync compatibility on its curved panel, without carrying an egregious price tag. You'll be able to enjoy your games with smooth frames whether you're hitting the full 240fps this display can handle or dawdling at a much lower 48fps, the bottom of this display's sync range.
Even though this monitor isn't as expensive as you might expect, you won't be missing out too much picture-wise. The monitor's VA panel hits a decent 300-nit brightness while offering the rich contrast ratio these panels are known for.
6. Viewsonic Elite XG270
Best FreeSync 240Hz Gaming Monitor
If you want a 240Hz monitor that's fast and beautiful you should check out the Viewsonic Elite XG270. It's one of the first high-refresh rate displays to utilize a Fast IPS panel, which grants rich colors and 400 nits of peak brightness that in turn make this screen HDR10-capable. You also get the wide-viewing angles you might expect of any IPS panel, plus a 1ms response time that you might have not expected.
It also comes with FreeSync 2 to take care of any screen tearing. Add in Viewsonic’s Elite display controller, a mouse bungee, and a headphone hook, and this is a great monitor to put in the center of your Esports battle station.
7. LG UltraGear 27GN75B
Best G-Sync Compatible 240Hz Gaming Monitor
Speed is key in esports, but that focus also tends to coincide with the common 24-inch display size. Sometimes you just want to go bigger, and that's what the LG UltraGear 27GN75B will let you do. It features a 27-inch display but still boasts the 1080p resolution and 240Hz refresh rate you'll want for highly competitive gaming.
When you're gaming at those high frame rates, stability can definitely be an issue. Even the best Nvidia graphics cards may not keep up a perfect 240fps at all times, and that's where you'll want the G-Sync compatibility that this monitor offers. It'll help keep your display refresh rate synced up to your graphics card's output so you see only clean frames, not a high-speed, choppy mess.
8. Asus TUF Gaming VG279QM
Best 280Hz Gaming Monitor
If you're going for speed, why stop at 240Hz? Asus has the next step up with the TUF Gaming VG279Q monitor, which can deliver 280Hz when you overclock it. At that refresh rate, you'll definitely be taking full advantage of your graphics card to max out on frame rate. And, this monitor isn't too concerned about which graphics card you use, as you can run either FreeSync or G-Sync with it to avoid tearing when your frame rate doesn't match the refresh rate. Of course, if you're running at 280Hz and outputting nearly that many frames per second, you might not notice any tearing anyway.
This monitor doesn't just stop at an insanely high refresh rate, though. It has a 1080p, IPS panel to offer decently sharp visuals and excellent color. And, it even has a maximum brightness of 400 nits, earning it DisplayHDR 400 certification.
9. Asus ROG Swift PG259QN
Best 360Hz Gaming Monitor
What's that – you want a 240Hz monitor but aren't entirely sure it's going to be fast enough to destroy your competition? Then we have something a little bit different for you. May we introduce the Asus ROG Swift PG259QN. This gaming monitor jumps right past that 240Hz threshold with a 50% increase to 360Hz.
The Asus ROG Swift PG259QN may seem like a straightforward 24.5-inch, Full HD display from the first impression, but it offers quite a bit more than that once you get it properly set up. For one, it has an IPS panel that can support 10-bit color, and you get proper G-Sync capabilities to ensure you don't see 360 torn frames a second. The panel also can muster 430 nits of brightness, so you won't struggle to see it in bright rooms. And, to help make sure your gaming setup is ideal for competition, the monitor includes USB passthrough – perfect for your mouse and keyboard.
10. Samsung Odyssey Neo G9
Best Super Ultrawide 240Hz Gaming Monitor
There’s wide, there’s ultra-wide, and then there’s super ultra-wide. The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is the latter, and it provides a monstrous display not just from a size standpoint. The 49-inch display is like a pair of 1440p monitors side by side without a seam between them, and it has a 1000R curvature to really wrap around your field of view too. You’ll have everything from the center of your view all the way out to your peripheral vision filled up with your games.
As impressive as the size and shape of the display is, the technology behind it goes even further. This uses a Mini LED-lit QLED panel for incredibly bright and vivid content. This is bringing another level of HDR support, blowing past what you’ll find on almost any other premium gaming monitor. The display also offers a blazing fast 240Hz refresh rate. Think of that as future-proofing, as you’ll likely find it pretty hard for even an RTX 3090 to hit a consistent 240fps at this resolution in a lot of games. Fortunately, there’s FreeSync Premium Pro to help keep the visuals from tearing.
Where to Get the Best 240Hz Gaming Monitor in the UK
Pushing your gaming set up even further can yield a lot of benefits, and that's no different no matter where you're located, US or UK. We've managed to find the vast majority of the best 240Hz gaming monitors available, so take your pick.
What to look for in a 240Hz Gaming Monitor
Before you plunk down your hard-earned cash, there are a few things about 240Hz gaming monitors to keep in mind. First, as refresh rate goes up there are diminishing returns on what we’re able to perceive. While there’s a pretty significant difference in what you can see and/or perceive onscreen between 60Hz and 144Hz monitors, the perceptible difference between 144Hz and 240Hz monitors is much less—to the point where some people might not see or feel it at all. If you have a 144Hz monitor now, you are probably better off saving your money, in other words.
Also, at the moment all 240Hz monitors use TN panels, bringing with them the deficiencies of that technology—namely color accuracy and viewing angles. All currently available monitors are also limited to 27-inches and 1080p, so the increase of processing power needed for higher resolutions isn't an issue, but you will need to be hitting 200+ frames per second, so you will need a very powerful video card (like an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super) to keep those frame rate numbers up.
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
