If you’re looking for the best gaming monitor in 2023, Alienware’s excellent 34 QD-OLED still takes the cake. However, it’s not the perfect monitor for all gamers. We’ve reviewed dozens of monitors to find the top gaming displays you can buy right now, regardless of if you’re chasing peak HDR experiences or high refresh rates for competitive titles.
We’re focused specifically on gaming monitors here, which come with higher refresh rates and adaptive sync features like G-Sync and FreeSync. If you’re looking for an all-around display, make sure to browse our list of the . We’ve reviewed hundreds of monitors over the years, trying to find the best of the best.
This involves an in-depth process of not only using the monitor, but also pushing it to the limits with various forms of testing. Make sure to read our roundup of for a closer look. This process ensures that when we come out of a monitor review, we know with certainty if it’s a product you should buy or not.
There are a few areas where gaming monitors differ from other displays, including traditional monitors and TVs. Here are some important areas to pay attention to. The main thing that separates a gaming monitor from a regular monitor is the refresh rate.
A higher refresh rate means you’ll be able to see all of the frames your graphics card or game console produces, leading to a smoother image. For PC, we recommend sticking above 100Hz. Consoles don’t always need more than 60Hz, but the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 can deliver 120Hz in select games.
The port selection on a gaming monitor is very important for a couple of reasons. First, it’s important to have multiple inputs so you can hook up more than one game platform. If you have a PC and a console, for example, you’ll want access to both.
The specification is important as well. HDMI 2. 1 is what you want for most consoles, as it can deliver 4K at 120Hz.
Older versions of HDMI can’t. You’ll want to keep in mind the resolution of the monitor before picking it up. Higher resolutions are more demanding on your PC’s graphics card, so you want to pair the right resolution with your PC for the best performance.
If you have a weaker budget GPU, for example, you’ll probably want to limit your monitor search to 1,080p displays over 4K options. : The Alienware 34 QD-OLED provides the best gaming experience you can buy in 2022. : Ultrawide fans who want to experience OLED with PC games.
: The Alienware 34 QD-OLED is the ultimate gaming monitor in 2022, and that’s because it finally makes an attempt to shake up the massively stale market. How? . The Alienware 34 QD-OLED isn’t content with poor HDR, washed-out colors, and low peak brightness.
It wants to provide the best image quality possible. And it succeeds. The Alienware 34 QD-OLED has stunning contrast due to the deep blacks that are characteristic of OLED displays.
Games look stunning on the display, especially if you’re playing one of the . The display gets everything else right, too. It’s certified with G-Sync Ultimate for tear-free gaming, and it can top out at a 175Hz refresh rate.
The resolution is great, too, with the 21:9 aspect ratio offering up a resolution of 3440 x 1400 across the 34-inch screen. Although the ultrawide form factor may not be for everyone, the Alienware 34 QD-OLED is worth adjusting to. It offers the best image quality out of any gaming monitor you can buy, it’s not too expensive, and it comes with the essential features PC gamers need.
: It has a super-high refresh rate, excellent HDR, and impeccable clarity with a 4K resolution. : High-end PC gamers who don’t mind spending up for the best of all worlds. : The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 is a monitor that lets you have your cake and eat it, too.
While most displays sacrifice image quality for refresh rate, or resolution for price, the Odyssey Neo G8 ticks every box. It’s 4K, 240Hz, and comes with some of the best HDR you can get on a gaming monitor short of OLED. Local dimming in over 1,000 zones create inky blacks and blinding highlights, providing dynamic range that most monitors can’t handle.
That makes it great for cinematic experiences like and pushing HDR to the forefront. It can do competitive game, as well. The 240Hz refresh rate provides better motion clarity than the stock 144Hz refresh rate most gaming monitors offer.
It’s not the highest refresh rate you can get on a gaming monitor, but considering the resolution and HDR performance, it’s an incredible feat. We tested the monitor with and and the display held up well in even the most competitive games. The only downside here is price.
At $1,500, the Odyssey Neo G8 is one of the more expensive gaming monitors you can buy. It’s not unreasonable for how much Samsung is offering here, though, especially as displays like the Odyssey Neo G9 and Samsung Arkcost well over $2,000. : It’s one of the best HDR experiences you can get, and it’s under $600.
: Gamers who want fantastic HDR without breaking the bank. : The Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q is a monitor that would’ve been impossible just a few years ago. Flagship HDR performance, G-Sync and FreeSync support, and a 1440p resolution for only $530? The Tempest GP27Q is able to deliver all of that for a low price given emerging Mini-LED tech.
The smaller lights allow the Tempest GP27Q to deliver 576 full-array local dimming zones, nearly six times as many as the . The high local dimming zone count leads to exceptional HDR performance that’s normally reserved for monitors that cost well over $1,000. It looks gorgeous, offering some of the deepest black levels and brightest highlights you can get in a gaming monitor right now.
Cooler Master combines that fantastic HDR performance with a low response time and 165Hz refresh rate, making it a solid, if not perfect, option for competitive games that require lots of motion clarity. There are some trade-offs, though. Most notably, the Tempest GP27Q isn’t the most color accurate monitor.
It’s fantastic with HDR turned off, offering world-class color coverage and performance, but color accuracy takes a nosedive with HDR turned on. : It manages an insane 360Hz refresh rate for the most competitive gamers. : Competitive gamers who need the highest refresh rate possible.
: There are loads of budget 1080p monitors (we’ll get to our pick there soon), so we wanted to focus on a premium 1080p option. The Asus ROG Swift PG259QNR is a monitor built specifically for competitive gaming, sporting a staggering 360Hz refresh rate. That’s the main draw, allowing you to see superb clarify in , , or even (provided you have one of the ).
The ROG Swift PG259QNR supports G-Sync all the way up to 360Hz, too. Otherwise, the display is solid, if unremarkable. The IPS panel provides decent color accuracy, though not the wide gamut of the quantum dot monitors above.
The 24. 5-inch size helps the 1080p resolution not look too fuzzy, either, provided you want to sit up close to the display. It’s a bit of a glass cannon, but for some gamers, the Asus ROG Swift PG259QNR will be the perfect esports monitor.
: It’s the fastest gaming monitor you can buy right now. : Highly competitive esports players looking for every advantage possible. : The Alienware AW2524H isn’t for everyone.
As a matter of fact, it isn’t even for most people. It’s expensive at $830, the image quality isn’t great, and it’s only 1080p. All of that is easy to overlook if you’re among the most competitive esports players, though.
It’s the first monitor to come with a 500Hz refresh rate, shaving milliseconds off of many of the fastest gaming monitors on the market. The Alienware AW2524H wholeheartedly focuses on esports players, providing an advantage to gamers who grind hours away in games like and If you step outside that audience, though, the Alienware AW2524H looks much less impressive. HDR performance is poor, image quality is lacking overall, and the small size is disappointing given how expensive the monitor is.
But for that subset of gamers who only focus on competitive titles, the Alienware AW2524H delivers in a way no other monitor does. : It comes with all of the features 4K gamers need, but at a price much lower than the competition. : 4K gamers on a tight budget.
: You can pick up the Gigabyte M32U for as little as $750, which is an insane price considering the specs. It’s a 32-inch 4K monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate, and it even sports dual HDMI 2. 1 ports so you can hook up a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
All of the specs are right, and Gigabyte goes further with an IPS panel that boasts surprisingly good color accuracy. The M32U even comes with a KVM switch, allowing you to hook up some peripherals through the included USB ports to use them between multiple systems. It’s in the odds and ends where the M32U lags behind more premium options.
The stand is terrible and it doesn’t come with any gamer flare. Throw the display on one of the , though, and those issues are easy to overlook. : It hits the marks that 1440p gamers monitors should, but for about $100 less.
: Gamers who want an optimal experience without spending too much. : The Acer Nitro XZ272U is a sweet-spot monitor, and it’s easy to recommend. For around $300, you’re getting a 27-inch 1440p display sporting a 1500R curve and a refresh rate of 165Hz.
That’s all you really need for gaming, as in most cases. Its VA panel doesn’t come with great color coverage or contrast, but it still packs decent color accuracy out of the box. The display also comes with DisplayHDR 400 certification, though our testing shows the HDR experience isn’t the best.
As is typical of VA panels, the Nitro XZ272U shows some black smearing when at overdriven refresh rates, but it’s much less pronounced than competing options. And considering the panel’s already fast 144Hz base refresh rate, you don’t have to overdrive the display at all. : It’s fast, accessible, and cheap.
: Gamers looking for a feature-rich monitor for around $200. : The Acer Nitro XF243Y isn’t the best monitor for gaming, but that’s hard to expect for around $200. For that price, you’re getting a 24-inch display with Full HD resolution and, critically, a 144Hz refresh rate.
The display also supports FreeSync, allowing you to use adaptive refresh with an Nvidia or AMD GPU. For specs, the Nitro XF243Y checks out. It shoots ahead with low input lag and an excellent response time, ensuring that you can hit your headshots and score your goals.
The IPS panel means the display has solid color accuracy out of the box, even if it takes a hit when it comes to brightness and contrast. The Nitro XF243Y doesn’t support HDMI 2. 1 for the latest consoles, and the stand doesn’t offer a ton of room for adjustment.
Still, it’s hard to argue with the price of the Nitro XF243Y, especially when it carries excellent gaming performance in tow. : It’s the best and brightest OLED gaming monitor you can buy. : Premium gamers who want great responsiveness and image quality.
: OLED has been available in TVs for years, but it’s just starting to make its way to monitors. This panel tech, which allows pixels to turn fully off, offers the best image quality you can get out of a screen right now, with true black levels, vibrant colors, and searing highlights. The UltraGear OLED 27 delivers on all fronts.
It has the best HDR performance we’ve seen out of any gaming monitor, even surpassing the Alienware 34 QD-OLED. It doesn’t get as bright, but that’s actually a small advantage for the LG display. With lower brightness overall, the UltraGear OLED 27 is able to maintain much better color accuracy.
Great HDR performance is expected from OLED, but this panel includes a hidden advantage as well. Because individual pixels control their own brightness, response times are extremely low on OLED monitors. Combined with the 240Hz refresh rate of the UltraGear OLED 27, LG delivers motion clarity that can compete with displays with much higher refresh rates.
: It’s a bright and very responsive ultrawide OLED monitor. : Premium gamers who want an ultrawide OLED monitor with extra features. : The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is in direct competition with the Alienware 34 QD-OLED, and in that head-to-head battle, Samsung loses.
That doesn’t mean the Odyssey OLED G8 is a bad monitor, though, and for some people, it will be exactly what they’re looking for. This display packs the same 24-inch, 3,440 x 1,440 panel as the Alienware monitor, along with the same 175Hz refresh rate. Samsung stands out with its Tizen operating system, though, which brings apps to the desktop and allows you to access a wide range of media without ever connecting a PC.
There are a few other solid additions as well, such as 65W of power delivery over the USB-C inputs. This is all backed up by the same exceptional QD-OLED image quality we’ve come to expect out of this panel. .
From: digitaltrends
URL: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/best-gaming-monitors/
