Sure, it's 2022 and 1080p monitors seem like old news, but they are still relevant and worth the investment. 4K gaming monitors, 1440p models, and now even 8K options are becoming more mainstream and can give you loads of detail in terms of resolution. However, those higher resolutions put a strain on even the best graphics cards and your wallet, too. This means you may miss out on a big piece of game detail: motion. The simple fact is that 1080p is always going to be easier for your computer or console to render than high resolutions, and that means you can get higher frame rates and smoother visuals. That's no small concession.
At 1080p, you get very affordable monitors that'll deliver a 144Hz refresh rate for smooth gaming. But, 1080p monitors still go a lot faster than that. There's no shortage of 165Hz options, and even 240Hz versions are becoming standard. If that weren't enough, new 300Hz and 360Hz are making their way onto the scene. These speedy 1080p monitors make for a great pairing with modest graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti or even the older Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti, but they can even be a reasonable output for a high-end system geared to get a competitive edge in esports.
There is a boatload of 1080p monitors out there, and we've narrowed down your search, giving you the best of the best for a variety of needs. So, if you're looking to play PC games with a buttery frame rate, these monitors are ready to deliver a great experience, and it gets even better when paired with Nvidia’s G-Sync or AMD’s FreeSync.
TL;DR – These are the Best 1080p Gaming Monitors:
- Asus TUF Gaming VG259QR
- HP X27
- Viewsonic Elite XG270
- MSI Optix G27C5
- ViewSonic Elite XG240R
- Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor (AW2521HF)
1. Asus TUF Gaming VG259QR
Best 1080p Gaming Monitor
If you're looking for a monitor that combines affordability and wild functionality, the Asus TUF Gaming VG259QR will be the perfect addition to your gaming setup. For under $230, you get a screen that delivers a 165Hz refresh rate, jumping right past 144Hz. You'll experience some insanely smooth gameplay at that rate. And, you can take advantage of its G-Sync compatibility to ensure your monitor and GPU are on the same team, so your visuals look great without tearing.
The Asus TUF Gaming VG259QR offers up 24.5-inch display, which is a reasonable size for 1080p. It has a plenty bright IPS type at 300 nits, which means you'll be able to see it clearly in a room full of windows. The stand itself also allows the monitor to swivel, tilt, and change height, so you should be able to find the best viewing angle for you. And, if you find the game itself to be a bit dark, a convenient feature will brighten the scene, possibly exposing your enemies lurking in the shadows.
2. HP X27
Best Budget 1080p Gaming Monitor
So, you've been working on a budget PC build, and now you need the perfect monitor to make it complete. The HP X27 gets you up and running at 1080p without any big sacrifices in quality. Even at its $260 price, a 165Hz refresh rate is on offer, so you’re getting smoother visuals over the more common 144Hz monitors in this price range. And, a VRR through FreeSync Premium is even supported on the IPS panel, letting you keep clear visuals in just about any situation. The one-millisecond response time completes this silky smooth gaming setup. Though, you can make further adjustments through the OMEN gaming hub.
On top of its awesome gaming specs, the HP X27 brings bright, colorful visuals to its 27-inch display. You can see clearly even in a room with strong overhead lighting thanks to the panel's 400-nit peak brightness. And, the colors will always be on point thanks to the 99% sRGB color space. And, if you find the stand to be a bit boring with limited movement, the monitor is compatible with VESA mounts, so you can swap it out easily.
3. Viewsonic Elite XG270
Best 1080p Gaming Monitor with G-Sync
The ViewSonic Elite XG270 is indeed a Full HD display, so it checks that box, but it's the VRR support and high refresh rate that put it over the edge. This display has FreeSync and official G-Sync compatibility, so it can offer clean visuals for both Nvidia and AMD graphics cards. That's going to be helpful in ensuring your computer and monitor play nice with its wild refresh rate. Yes, it can hit a 144Hz refresh rate, but the truth is you'd be missing out on what it really has to offer since it can actually go as high as 240Hz. That's right, this monitor has an IPS panel that hits 240Hz, letting you game immersed in ultra-smooth visuals if your computer has the muscle for it.
Beyond the high refresh rate, the ViewSonic Elite XG270 boasts a bright 27-inch display that can hit 400 nits, which is verging on HDR territory. That combined with the thin bezels and a highly adjustable stand makes it easy to view this monitor from just about any angle. There's even some RGB lighting built-in to make your setup a bit flashier. Now, this $400 monitor may be pricier than most of our other picks, but it has a whole lot going for it.
4. MSI Optix G27C5
Best Curved 1080p Gaming Monitor
One part of immersion is the speed of the monitor, but you can get another step into your game world with a monitor that curves around your field of view. The MSI Optix G27C5 offers up both features with a 1080p panel that can run at up to 165Hz for fluid gameplay while wrapping around your view with a tight 1500R curvature. To keep every frame clean and tear-free, AMD's FreeSync technology is also included, so you'll never get taken out of the action.
The MSI Optix G27C5 costs less than $250, but it's ready to offer you a display for up to three devices thanks to dual HDMI ports ideal for consoles and a DisplayPort connection perfect for a PC. The large VA panel provides a strong contrast ratio to give your games a bit more cinematic flair, and MSI boasts of a compelling 90% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space. And, blue light reduction paired with anti-flicker technology ensures your eyes hold up during longer gaming sessions.
5. ViewSonic Elite XG240R
Best FreeSync 1080p Gaming Monitor
FreeSync comes at a much more affordable price than G-Sync, and that makes the ViewSonic Elite XG240R an excellent value. You can snag this monitor for under $230 and experience super smooth frame rates even during the heat of battle. The 144Hz refresh rate is nothing to rave about, but it pairs perfectly with the FreeSync support and a one-millisecond response time, so you'll always be fully immersed in your game.
With the ViewSonic Elite XG240R, you get a 24-inch TN panel with a decent 350-nit brightness level. It may not have the best viewing angles, but you'll have an easy enough time finding a good view thanks to a highly flexible stand. This monitor also throws in an exciting extra with RGB lighting on the back to provide some stylish bias lighting, a pleasure and a comfort to your eyes.
6. Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor (AW2521HF)
Best 1080p Gaming Monitor for Esports
If you’re playing esports titles, you likely know that the advantage of 1080p is how much easier it is to reach high speeds. With that in mind, you’ll want the Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor AW2521HF. This monitor makes it really easy to see all the action as it's bright, clear, and wicked fast. You get a 24.5-inch 1080p display that hits a solid 400 nits of brightness. It has even been designed for optimal ventilation, so you can ensure your monitor remains cool even during the most heated moments of battle.
The best part of the Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor AW2521HF is its speedy refresh rate of 240Hz. Better still, it’s shockingly affordable for a 240Hz display, so you can take the money you save and put it toward the gaming internals that’ll help you hit 240fps in your games. Whether you’re hitting exactly 240fps won’t be a major concern, though, because you can enable FreeSync or G-Sync to avoid screen tearing and stutter. With a 1ms pixel response time on the display, you won’t have to worry about smearing either. If you like the looks and want even more speed, you can also check out the 360Hz Alienware AW2521H.
Where to Get the Best 1080p 144Hz Gaming Monitors in the UK
Getting that delightfully smooth experience while gaming is important no matter what continent you're on. UK readers should be happy to hear all the brilliant monitors we've mentioned across the length of this article, are also available on the British side of the pond. You've got a few options to choose from here, with our favourite currently the Asus TUF Gaming monitor, perfect for those fast-paced gaming experiences. But, all the options on show will impress even the most avid gamers, so take your time and consider the options.
Why you should consider a 1080p Gaming Monitor
By sacrificing resolution, you gain speed. A 1080p monitor isn’t as crisp as a 1440p monitor, and it hardly holds a candle to a 4K display. However, without a powerful graphics card at the heart of your gaming PC, you probably won't have an enjoyable, or even playable, frame rate at those higher resolutions. Keeping things at a Full HD resolution means you can enable some more graphical effects like tessellation and ambient occlusion.
Refresh rate is a measure of how fast a monitor can display a new image. A 60Hz monitor redraws the image 60 times a second, and a 144Hz monitor does so 144 times a second. Variable refresh rate is important because it puts a cap on how many frames per second you can achieve when syncing your GPU’s output to your monitor’s refresh rate via G-Sync or FreeSync to prevent tearing.
If you play fast-twitch shooters or engage in Esports competitions, then refresh rate is often a more important figure than a monitor’s pixel count. A refresh rate of 144Hz is in the sweet spot between the two most common 60Hz, which are too slow for serious gamers, and 240Hz gaming monitors, which you should only consider if you have a super high-end GPU that will let you push frame rates to their limits.
Variable Refresh Rate and You
A fast 144Hz refresh rate (or faster) isn't the only thing you need for smooth gaming. All that speed can lead to some ugly screen tearing. Screen tearing is when your GPU and screen are out of sync, and you see a partially-drawn frame before the previous frame is gone.
You've no doubt seen this effect before, especially if you played games on older consoles. You can turn on V-Sync in most games to eliminate the problem, but in the process, you add an extra strain on your hardware. A variable refresh rate monitor eliminates the hardware strain while making sure the only complete frames are drawn on your display.
G-Sync is Nvidia's proprietary solution and works with Nvidia graphics cards. FreeSync is AMD's solution and works with its GPUs, but unlike G-Sync, it doesn't require special hardware built into the monitor.
Well, at least that was the way it did until January 15, 2019, when Nvidia announced it was enabling G-Sync on select FreeSync monitors. So, there are loads of officially G-Sync Compatible FreeSync monitors.
The waters on compatibility are a bit muddied now because even if some monitors aren't officially recognized and listed as being G-Sync Compatible, they still might be.
Just look at our roundup of the Best FreeSync gaming monitors for Nvidia GPUs, and you'll see we've picked quite a few that aren't on Nvidia's list of G-Sync compatible displays. That said, we've tested and confirmed that every FreeSync monitor on our list will support Nvidia's version of variable refresh rate.
If you're really worried about getting the best possible experience with a fast monitor, you're going to want a G-Sync or certified G-Sync Compatible monitor.
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
