Best gaming monitors 2024: Level up your display

Any monitor can be used for PC gaming, but a display built for productivity will likely leave you underwhelmed. Limited contrast, blurry motion, and slow refresh rates still hold basic productivity monitors back in games. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of excellent gaming monitors available at a wide range of price points—and the best of them embrace cutting-edge technology unavailable in any other PC display. 

The following are the best gaming monitors we’ve tested throughout this year and last. If you want to learn more about what we look for in a good gaming monitor and how we test them, scroll further down the page.

Quick retail links to select top picks:

Best gaming monitor: MSI MPG 341CQPX

Best budget gaming monitor: Dell G2724D

Best 240Hz gaming monitor: LG UltraGear 27GR83Q-B






MSI MPG 341CQPX – Best gaming monitor














Pros

USB-C power with 98 watts of Power Delivery

Great color performance

Higher HDR peak brightness than some peers

240Hz refresh rate and outstanding motion clarity


Cons

Stand is too large

Works with FreeSync and G-Sync, but lacks certification

SDR brightness is mediocre
















Best Prices Today:


$849.99 at MSI






If you’re in the market for the best gaming monitor, look no further than the MSI MPG 341CQPX.

This 34-inch ultrawide with a Samsung QD-OLED panel stands out in a crowded field with features that put it ahead of its competition. Its 240Hz refresh rate and remarkable motion clarity make it an excellent choice for gamers seeking smooth, responsive gameplay. The MSI MPG 341CQPX also delivers good HDR performance with vibrant colors and excellent contrast. VESA Adaptive Sync is supported and provides compatibility with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync.

MSI pairs the monitor’s beautiful OLED panel with practical features. It has a USB-C port offering up to 98 watts of Power Delivery, which is ideal for those who want to connect and charge a laptop or tablet with a single cable.

While the MSI MPG 341CQPX is excellent, it has a few downsides. The stand is bulky and takes up more space than needed. The monitor also lacks RGB-LED lights, which might disappoint gamers looking for added flair. However, these are minor inconveniences.

Pricing is another advantage. The MPG 341CQPX typically retails for about $850. Though hardly inexpensive, the monitor’s price is fair for its performance, and it’s not much higher than older QD-OLED monitors with a lower refresh rate and lackluster USB-C connectivity. It’s easily worth the price.

Read our full

MSI MPG 341CQPX review






Dell G2724D – Best gaming monitor under $200














Pros

Handsome design with functional stand

Attractive SDR image quality

Good motion clarity at 165Hz

Supports all Adaptive Sync standards


Cons

No USB connectivity or 3.5mm audio-out

Lackluster HDR
















Best Prices Today:


$299.99 at Dell






The Dell G2724D is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a budget gaming monitor that doesn’t compromise on quality. With attractive design, strong motion clarity at 165Hz, and wide Adaptive Sync support, it provides an immersive gaming experience at an affordable price.

It has a 27-inch IPS LCD panel with 1440p resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate. The color gamut spans 100 percent of sRGB, 86 percent of DCI-P3, and 82 percent of Adobe RGB, delivering a bright and vibrant image that’s excellent in games and adequate for most content creation. The monitor’s Adaptive Sync support is a standout feature, with official support for VESA Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and Nvidia G-Sync.

It also delivers a handsome design with a matte black and gray chassis and sporty rear vents that provide an aggressive yet unobtrusive look. The functional monitor stand offers a range of ergonomic adjustments and has a compact base that doesn’t consume excessive desk space.

There are a few downsides: The monitor doesn’t offer USB connectivity or 3.5mm audio-out. HDR performance is lackluster, too, making it a so-so choice for HDR gaming.

Yet it’s hard to beat the G2724D’s performance at $199 and, more importantly, it offers everything an average PC gamer is going to need for a smooth, responsive, and attractive gaming experience. It’s the kind of monitor that, despite its budget price, could have a place on your desk for several years.

Read our full

Dell G2724D review






Pixio PX248 Wave – Best gaming monitor under $150














Pros

Attractive design, especially in unique colorways

Built-in speakers are surprisingly decent

Solid color accuracy and respectable gamut

Good motion clarity


Cons

Built-in stand only adjusts for tilt

Just two video inputs

Awkward menu controls

Color temperature skews cool
















Best Prices Today:


$149.99 at Pixio






The Pixio PX248 Wave stands apart from other budget gaming monitors with colorful, stylish design and solid motion performance, all available at an enticing price of $149.99.

Pixio offers the PX248 Wave in four colorways: black, white, blue, and pink. The latter two are rather special, as only a handful of monitors — like the more expensive Samsung M8 Smart Monitor — offer similarly alluring colors. The stand matches the monitor’s colorway, and Pixio even offers an optional color-coordinated monitor arm for those who want to go all-in on a particular desktop vibe.

The monitor’s 24-inch Fast IPS display boasts a 200Hz refresh rate that delivers fluid motion. Image quality is reasonable, too, as the PX248 Wave delivers respectable color accuracy and coverage, making it suitable for both gaming and casual content creation. It has built-in speakers, too.

Despite its visual appeal, the PX248 Wave sticks to the basics with connectivity, which includes HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4. USB connectivity isn’t available. The included stand is also basic, as it only adjusts for tilt, and the menu controls could be more user-friendly.

Most competitors at this price point have a similar display panel wrapped in a more generic black, gray, or charcoal case. Pixio’s PX248 Wave manages to match them in image quality and beat them on looks, yet it stays on a budget.

Read our full

Pixio PX248 Wave review






Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q – Best budget 4K gaming monitor














Pros

4K resolution

Good gaming performance

Tons of ergonomic adjustment options

Inexpensive 


Cons

A relatively low 60Hz refresh rate


















If you are a gamer who enjoys slower-paced games that feature beautiful graphic detail then you may want to consider a 4K gaming monitor. The Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q is a 28-inch 4K display with a refresh rate of 60Hz and adaptive sync, making it compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync. It’s also only $400—a relative steal for a 4K display. It may not have the refresh rate that is required for quick e-sports or shooter games, but it makes up for that with an absolutely superb 4K display. It also has outstanding image quality and a vivid color range that will make most of the other monitors on this list weep.

Asus branded the VG289Q as a gaming monitor and it will deliver on that in most aspects. But ultimately, it is all about getting a 4K display on a budget and in that respect this monitor is second to none in image quality value for your money.

Read our full

Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q review






Alienware AW3225QF – Best 4K gaming monitor














Pros

Excellent color performance and contrast

Good overall HDR performance

240Hz refresh rate with great motion clarity

Big price drop from prior 4K OLED monitors


Cons

Stand is too large

Curved panel is an acquired taste

HDR brightness is still just okay
















Best Prices Today:


$899.99 at Dell






The Alienware AW3225QF is an easy recommendation for the best 4K gaming monitor.

This 32-inch monitor boasts a 4K QD-OLED panel, offering a 240Hz refresh rate — a new feature for 4K OLED displays. Its motion performance is excellent. The 240Hz refresh rate delivers clear and detailed motion in fast-paced games. Nvidia G-Sync and VESA AdaptiveSync 240 are supported, as well (the monitor will work with FreeSync, though support is not officially listed).

The monitor’s SDR image quality is impressive with true-to-life color accuracy, an infinite contrast ratio, and excellent sharpness. The AW3225QF also delivers good HDR performance, offering a cinematic experience with VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification and Dolby Vision HDR support. Its HDR brightness can’t match Mini-LED displays but proves a hair better than most OLED competitors.

The AW3225QF excels in video connectivity, including DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 ports. That means all three ports can handle the monitor at maximum resolution and refresh rate, something that’s not true of many 4K displays. One HDMI port also offers eARC support, catering to enhanced audio setups. That’s handy if you want to use the monitor with home theater equipment, like a soundbar, and position the AW3225QF as a potential TV alternative in small spaces.

Alienware’s design is both luxurious and attractive, with an appealing white-and-black colorway and sturdy materials. The ergonomic stand is too large, however, and won’t fit comfortably on smaller desks. VESA mount compatibility is included and provides an alternative mounting option.

Read our full

Alienware AW3225QF review






Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG – Best HDR gaming monitor














Pros

Compact ergonomic stand

Superb contrast with deep, inky black levels

Excellent HDR performance

Inexpensive for an OLED monitor


Cons

HDMI ports don’t support 240Hz refresh rate

No USB-C

SDR performance is great, but slightly lags QD-OLED peers
















Best Prices Today:


$699 at Asus






If you’re searching for the best gaming monitor for HDR, look no further than the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. It has an LG WOLED panel that delivers stunning HDR without breaking the bank.

The XG27AQDMG’s third-generation LG WOLED panel provides exceptional HDR brightness that outperforms QD-OLED competitors and closes gap the with Mini-LED monitors. It can hit a maximum sustained brightness of 724 nits in a 10 percent window, which is enough to deliver punchy HDR highlights and detail across luminant areas of a game or movie. This pairs well with OLED’s deep, inky blacks and wide color gamut, which covers 96 percent DCI-P3 coverage. Put simply: It looks exceptionally immersive and realistic.

However, the XG27AQDMG lags in SDR. Its color performance, though strong, isn’t quite as good as QD-OLED alternatives. Sharpness is merely okay, too, and small fonts can look pixelated at times. 

Gamers will appreciate the high refresh rate of up to 240Hz, which is paired with adaptive sync technologies like AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync for fluid, tear-free gaming. The refresh rate is lower than some QD-OLED competitors, which achieve up to 360Hz. On the other hand, though, the XG27AQDMG provides motion clarity far better than Mini-LED gaming monitors, such as the Red Magic 4K Gaming Monitor.

Pricing is another upside. Sold at an MSRP of $749.99, and immediately available for just $699.99 at release, the XG27AQDMG undercuts the competition on price. Gamers who mostly stick to SDR may want to pay $50 to $100 more for a QD-OLED alternative, but the XG27AQDMG has the edge in HDR.

Read our full

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG review






Innocn 27M2V – Best HDR gaming monitor runner-up














Pros

Excellent color gamut and accuracy

Sharp, vivid picture

Strong HDR performance

Good connectivity


Cons

Design looks nice, but feels inexpensive

Thin user manual

Confusing on-screen menu


















Innocn’s 27M2V is an awesome choice if you want punchy, brilliant HDR gaming for less than $1,000. It delivers excellent HDR brightness, 4K clarity, and smooth motion at a reasonable price.

The 27M2V is a 4K Mini-LED monitor with a maximum refresh rate of 160Hz. It falls behind the smoothest monitors available, like the 500Hz Alienware AW2524H, but still looks excellent in motion. Only the most demanding competitive gamers will need a higher refresh rate. The monitor also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro.

HDR is attractive thanks to the monitor’s maximum measured HDR brightness of 877 nits. This is a bit low compared to the best Mini-LED monitors, which can exceed 1,000 nits, but still enough to deliver an obvious boost in HDR games. Bright objects retain good detail, colors look wonderfully saturated, and the dynamic Mini-LED backlight delivers strong contrast.

The 27M2V’s connectivity doesn’t disappoint. It features a USB-C port with a generous 90 watts of Power Delivery, complemented by a DisplayPort and dual HDMI 2.0 ports, tallying up to four video inputs. 

It’s not without its quirks. The monitor’s build, while aesthetically pleasing, feels a bit lackluster when handled. Navigating the on-screen menus is a challenge and made more difficult by the absence of a comprehensive user manual. And while Innocn’s customer service exists, it’s limited to email correspondence.

Yet these minor setbacks are forgiven by competitive pricing. With an MSRP of $799.99, and frequent discounts dropping it to a mere $679.99, the Innocn 27M2V offers unparalleled value for the price.

Read our full

Innocn 27M2V review






Gigabyte GS34WQC- Best budget ultrawide gaming monitor














Pros

Plenty of connectivity and menu options

Good contrast ratio

Solid color performance

Up to 144Hz refresh rate with good motion clarity


Cons

Stand setup uses screws instead of clip mechanism

Modest maximum brightness

HDR is supported but lackluster


















The Gigabyte GS34WQC stands out as an impressive ultrawide gaming monitor available at a low price. It has a sharp 34-inch display with a resolution of 3440×1440. That’s paired with good motion clarity driven by a 120Hz refresh rate (overclockable to 135Hz) and support for AMD FreeSync, ensuring smooth and consistent gameplay. Camera movements are detailed, and fast-paced action is easily tracked.

Beyond its motion clarity, the GS34WQC delivers great image quality that’s comparable to monitors twice its price. It has a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel instead of the more common In-Plane Switching (IPS). This provides improved contrast with deeper black levels and more convincing shadow detail in dark scenes. These qualities make it especially suitable for games with a dark, gritty presentation.

The monitor boasts a dull but functional design. It has an ergonomic stand that provides height and tilt adjustment, but its assembly requires manual attachment of four screws, unlike competitors with tool-free clip-in stands. The GS34WQC compensates with an intuitive menu system that has extensive customization options, allowing gamers to tailor the visuals to their preferences.

Value, however, is where the GS34WQC really beats the competition. It’s not the least expensive budget ultrawide monitor, but it delivers better image quality and motion clarity than many competitors while keeping the price in check. Indeed, the GS34WQC is so good it makes $400-to-$500-dollar ultrawide gaming monitors more difficult to recommend. The GS34WQC looks just as good at a lower price.

Read our full

Gigabyte GS34WQC review






Philips Evnia 8000 – Best super-ultrawide gaming monitor














Pros

Excellent SDR image quality

Great motion clarity

Lots of connectivity including USB-C

Beautiful design


Cons

High power consumption

Expensive
















Best Prices Today:


$999.99 at B & H Photo






In the world of big-screen ultrawide gaming monitors, the Philips Evnia 8000 takes the top spot, replacing the Corsair Xeneon Flex in our recommendations. This super-ultrawide 49-inch QD-OLED monitor delivers an exceptional gaming experience with 5120×1440 resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate.

The Evnia 8000’s image quality is enhanced by its excellent motion clarity, supported by its high refresh rate and compatibility with Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and Nvidia G-Sync. Fast-paced games look clear and crisp.

The monitor’s design stands out with a sleek white-and-silver aesthetic. While the ergonomic stand takes up more desk space than desired, it offers height, tilt, and swivel adjustments for comfortable viewing. The monitor also has a robust 30-watt speaker system, delivering clear and loud audio that surpasses most built-in monitor speakers. The included Ambiglow lighting system enhances the gaming atmosphere with customizable RGB LED backlighting.

Connectivity is another strong suit for the Evnia 8000. It features multiple HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB-C port with 90W Power Delivery, perfect for a range of devices from gaming PCs to work laptops. All of the monitor’s video inputs support its maximum refresh rate and resolution.

Priced at $1,350, the Philips Evnia 8000 isn’t inexpensive, but it’s worth the investment. It combines excellent image quality, great motion clarity, a sleek design, and robust audio.

Read our full

Philips Evnia 8000 review






LG Ultragear 27GN950 – Best 144Hz gaming monitor














Pros

Excellent gaming performance

Incredible image quality

Ergonomic adjustment options

Special gaming configurations


Cons

High power consumption
















Best Prices Today:


$799.99 at LG






If you’re not a professional gamer or you just don’t require the obscenely fast 240Hz, then you can find a whole host of great options at 144Hz instead. Our pick for the best of the bunch is the LG Ultragear 27GN950.

Not only is it still super fast, but it also has 4K resolution, all of the ports your heart desires, and impressively high color fidelity. It is a great option for those who will use it for multimedia other than just gaming and don’t mind sacrificing a little speed to gain a lot of pixel density.

Admittedly, it’s a bit pricey for a 27-inch monitor and you will need a high-end GPU to take advantage of its full potential, but if you can afford it, then this just might end up being the pièce de résistance in your display setup.

Read our full

LG Ultragear 27GN950 review






LG UltraGear 27GR83Q-B – Best 240Hz gaming monitor














Pros

Attractive design

Bright, colorful image

Excellent motion clarity

Officially supports both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync


Cons

Stand is still too large

Modest contrast ratio

HDR is available, but disappointing


















The LG UltraGear 27GR83Q-B is a 240Hz gaming monitor that offers buttery-smooth motion and great image quality at a reasonable price point.

Its best trait is its stellar motion handling. A refresh rate of 240Hz helps the monitor deliver fast response times and smooth motion in competitive multiplayer games. Better still, the monitor supports both AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync. Most similar monitors only support one or the other.

LG delivers great image quality with a bright, colorful picture and a respectable contrast ratio of 1250:1. Although it can’t match the infinite contrast of more expensive OLED alternatives, the 27GR83Q-B provides a better sense of depth and immersion than most gaming monitors below $500.

It has a couple flaws. The 27GR83Q-B’s HDR performance is lackluster, as it can’t achieve a brightness high enough to maximize HDR content. The same is true of the monitor’s competitors, however. LG also opts for an annoyingly large stand, so the monitor might feel oversized on a small desk.

LG asks an MSRP of $499.99, but the monitor’s price has dipped as low as $399.99 on sale. It’s a good value at MSRP and a fantastic deal when discounted. The 27GR83Q-B’s image quality is at the top of its class, and LG’s decision to officially support both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync makes the 27GR83Q-B wonderfully versatile.

Read our full

LG UltraGear 27GR83Q-B review






Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP – Best high refresh-rate gaming monitor














Pros

A new high mark for motion clarity

Excellent image quality

Easy-to-use menu with many options

Broad official Adaptive Sync support


Cons

Stand is too large

No USB-C
















Best Prices Today:


$999 at Asus






The Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP is an ideal monitor for competitive gamers, as it’s the world’s first monitor to deliver a 480Hz refresh rate at 1440p resolution. This combination of motion clarity and resolution results in stunning motion performance that will give players an edge in esports and action-packed games.

Gamers will also appreciate the monitor’s excellent image quality, which enhances immersion across all genres. The WOLED panel provides excellent contrast that adds atmosphere in RPGs and horror games, while its wide color gamut, which spans 96 percent of DCI-P3, delivers a vivid and saturated look. The monitor’s good HDR brightness ensures that explosions and special effects in HDR games are displayed with convincing brightness and contrast.

The PG27AQDP is packed with gamer-centric features. It supports multiple adaptive sync technologies, including Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. Asus’ Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) technology further enhances motion clarity (though, unfortunately, it is only available at a 120Hz or 240Hz refresh rate). Asus also provides aspect ratio modes to contrast the display’s viewable area to that of a 24.5-inch monitor for competitive gamers, or to a 4:3 aspect ratio for older games that lack widescreen support.

It’s not perfect. The monitor lacks USB-C connectivity, which might affect some multi-device setups. Asus’ also ships the monitor with a chunky stand that won’t fit well on smaller desks. Those minor downsides aside, the PG27AQDP is an excellent monitor that will appeal to gamers who crave the best motion clarity possible.

Read our full

Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP review






Dell G3223Q – Best HDMI 2.1 gaming monitor














Pros

Bright, sharp SDR image

Good color gamut and accuracy

Solid build quality and ergonomic stand

Great motion clarity at 120Hz or 144Hz


Cons

Disappointing HDR performance

Odd menu choices for creators 

Modest USB connectivity
















Best Prices Today:


$599.99 at Dell






The Dell G3223Q is a large, attractive 32-inch gaming monitor that’s ideal for PC gamers who also want to connect a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S.

It supports 4K resolution at a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and has two HDMI 2.1 connections. You can connect a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S console simultaneously. DisplayPort is also available for your PC. The monitor supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync.

Image quality is strong with excellent brightness, good contrast, and great color perfor