Gaming with a monitor at 120Hz is useful depending on whether you're a PC or console gamer. Although PCs and displays support refresh rates higher than 120Hz, this is the max that gaming consoles, like the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, support. This means if you want to game with a console, you need a monitor that performs well at 120Hz. Monitors with a 4k resolution and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth can take full advantage of these consoles at 120Hz, but you can also consider a lower-resolution display for cheaper. Plus, getting a monitor is also a good alternative to a TV, as they tend to cost less, are smaller, and are also versatile for other uses, like productivity or PC gaming.
There are different factors to consider when looking for a 120Hz monitor. Firstly, you'll want something with a fast response time at 120Hz so that motion looks crisp. Low input lag for a responsive feel and VRR support to reduce screen tearing are also important for a good gaming experience, though most monitors have low input lag and support all common VRR formats. Lastly, having good HDR picture quality contributes to a great gaming experience with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and highlights that pop.
We've bought and tested more than 415 monitors, and below are our picks for the best 120Hz monitors available to buy, including the best 4k 120Hz monitors. Also, check out our recommendations for the best monitors for PS5/PS5 Pro, the best monitors for Xbox Series X, and the best monitors for Xbox Series S. If you prefer a 120Hz TV, though, check out the best 120Hz TVs.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
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Best 120Hz Monitor
Console GamingPC GamingHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessCAD @ 120HzSize27"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeQD-OLEDNative Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate240 HzNative Resolution3840 x 21604k @ 120Hz1440p @ 120HzSee all our test results1080p @ 120HzThe best 120Hz monitor we've tested is the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM. It's an outstanding gaming monitor with premium picture quality and performance. While it has a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz, it's still fantastic to use at 120Hz thanks to its near-instantaneous response time, which results in almost no motion blur with fast-moving objects. It also has a 4k resolution and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, so you can play 4k games with the PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X|S up to 120Hz.
Its QD-OLED panel even offers outstanding picture quality. It displays deep and inky blacks in dark rooms against bright highlights without any haloing around objects, and it gets bright enough for highlights to pop for a vivid image. Additionally, it displays a wide range of colors in HDR that look extremely lifelike. While its 27-inch screen offers an immersive gaming feel for most gamers, you can also consider the 32-inch ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Gen3 if you want a larger screen. It performs similarly to the PG27UCDM and has many of the same features, but it has higher input lag at 120Hz, so it adds more delay to your setup's total latency, which is less ideal for playing reaction-based games.
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Best Upper Mid-Range 120Hz Monitor
Console GamingPC GamingHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessCAD @ 120HzSize32"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeQD-OLEDNative Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate120 HzNative Resolution3840 x 21604k @ 120Hz1440p @ 120HzSee all our test results1080p @ 120HzIf you find the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM too much out of your price range but still want a premium display at a cheaper cost, look into the lower-end Dell S3225QC. It has a QD-OLED panel and is fairly similar in performance to the higher-end ASUS, with the main difference being that it has a lower 120Hz refresh rate. While this isn't a problem for console gaming at 120Hz, it's something to consider if you want something versatile for PC gaming at a higher refresh rate, too. This is a downside to getting this cheaper option, but if you don't need the higher refresh rate, you can save a lot of money by getting the Dell.
Besides that, it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of gaming consoles, as it supports 4k @ 120Hz signals. Like the ASUS, it has a near-instantaneous response time for sharp motion, supports all common VRR formats to reduce screen tearing, and has low input lag for a responsive feel. It also displays the same deep and inky blacks in dark rooms with bright highlights for incredible picture quality. However, it doesn't get as bright as the ASUS, and it's less accurate in HDR, as content is dimmer than it should be, so it doesn't have the same punch as the ASUS.
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Best Mid-Range 120Hz Monitor
Console GamingPC GamingHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessCAD @ 120HzSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSNative Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate320 HzNative Resolution3840 x 21604k @ 120Hz1440p @ 120HzSee all our test results1080p @ 120HzIf you don't have the budget for premium QD-OLEDs, check out a mid-range option like the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. It costs a lot less, especially when it's on sale. It's different from the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM and the Dell S3225QC in a few ways, with the main downside being that it's a step down in picture quality. It doesn't have a QD-OLED panel like the two previously mentioned monitors, so it doesn't display the same deep and inky blacks in dark rooms. While it has a Mini LED local dimming feature that helps improve the black levels in dark scenes and makes most highlights pop, there's some haloing around bright objects and black crush, resulting in a loss of details in dark scenes. Plus, you can only use its local dimming in HDR, so it has much worse picture quality outside of HDR, with blacks that look gray.
On the plus side, it gets much brighter than the Dell, so it fights glare well in bright rooms. It also has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of gaming consoles at 120Hz, including at 4k. While it doesn't have the same near-instantaneous response time as an OLED, resulting in a bit more blur, motion still looks sharp at 120Hz.
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Best Budget 120Hz Monitor
Console GamingPC GamingHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessCAD @ 120HzSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSNative Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate200 HzNative Resolution2560 x 14404k @ 120Hz1440p @ 120HzSee all our test results1080p @ 120HzIf you want a monitor on a budget, check out the KOORUI S2721PM, which offers great value as a low-cost display. It has a lower resolution than the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx, so images aren't as sharp and detailed. As it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, it doesn't support 4k @ 120Hz signals from gaming consoles, but it supports 1440p @ 120Hz instead. In terms of gaming, motion looks sharp, with a fast response time at 120Hz that results in minimal blur. It also adds minimal delay to your gaming setup as it has low input lag, which is great for playing reaction-based games.
While this monitor has Mini LED backlighting like the Acer, the KOORUI has an advantage in terms of picture quality. Its local dimming feature is more effective at improving its low contrast ratio, as it has less black crush, so it keeps details better in dark scenes. Also, you can use its local dimming feature in and out of HDR as you wish, so it has good picture quality even if you want to play games in SDR. You can also check out the AOC Q27G3XMN if you want something similar with a higher contrast ratio for deeper blacks, but it has more black smearing with fast objects in dark scenes than the KOORUI.
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Best Cheap 120Hz Monitor
Console GamingPC GamingHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessCAD @ 120HzSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSNative Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate180 HzNative Resolution2560 x 14404k @ 120Hz1440p @ 120HzSee all our test results1080p @ 120HzIf you need a simple and cheap monitor for gaming at 120Hz, look into the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS. It's another 1440p option, but as expected for an entry-level monitor, it has much worse picture quality than the KOORUI S2721PM. It has a low contrast ratio, and without a local dimming feature, it fails to display deep blacks and make highlights pop for an impactful HDR experience. It at least has similar motion handling to the KOORUI, with a fast response time that results in minimal blur at 120Hz.
Plus, it's similar to the KOORUI in terms of features. It also supports 120Hz signals with a 1440p resolution from an Xbox or PS5, and its low input lag makes it a solid choice for playing reaction-based games. However, if you want a 4k option for more detailed images, check out the Dell S2725QS. It takes full advantage of gaming consoles with 4k @ 120Hz signals, but it has worse motion handling, and it costs more than the ASUS.
Notable Mentions
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Dell Alienware AW2725Q:
The Dell Alienware AW2725Q is a 4k, 240Hz QD-OLED that's a cheaper alternative to the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM. It performs similarly for the most part, but it doesn't get as bright as the ASUS.
See our review -
LG C6 48 OLED:
The LG C6 48 OLED is a small OLED TV that's popular to use as a monitor. It performs very well at 120Hz thanks to its near-instantaneous response time. It also gets brighter than the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM, but it costs more and lacks monitor-specific features, like a DisplayPort input.
See our review -
ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG:
The ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG is in the same price range as the Dell S3225QC. Although it has a QD-OLED panel, it's different than the Dell because it has a lower 1440p resolution and a higher 360Hz refresh rate. It's more versatile for PC gaming, too, but images are less detailed.
See our review -
MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV:
The MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV is an entry-level 1440p gaming monitor. It has a higher contrast ratio for deeper blacks than the KOORUI S2721PM. However, the MSI tends to cost more, and it has more motion blur in dark scenes.
See our review -
Dell Alienware AW2725DM:
The Dell Alienware AW2725DM is a cheap 1440p gaming monitor that competes with the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS. While you can't go wrong with the Dell, as it performs similarly, it usually costs more.
See our review
Recent Updates
Oct 20, 2026:
We replaced the AOC Q27G3XMN with the KOORUI S2721PM in the budget category, as the KOORUI has better compatibility with consoles. We also replaced the Dell S2725QS in the cheap category with the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS, which has better motion handling. In the Notable Mentions section, we replaced the Dell S2725QC with the MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV to better reflect the changes to the article.
Jul 23, 2026:
We replaced the hard-to-find KOORUI S2741LM with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the LG 27GX700A-B with the LG C6 48 OLED.
May 01, 2026:
We replaced the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx with the KOORUI S2741LM for consistency with other recommendations, as the KOORUI has better motion handling. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the MSI G274QPF-QD with the Dell Alienware AW2725DM.
Feb 13, 2026:
In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the LG 27GR93U-B and the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS with the Dell S2725QC and the MSI G274QPF-QD, and we added the LG 27GX700A-B.
Dec 01, 2025:
We replaced the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG and the LG 24GS65F-B with the Dell S3225QC and the Dell S2725QS for consistency with other articles, as they each have a higher resolution. We also replaced the LG 32GR93U-B with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx, which has better picture quality. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3, the MSI G274QPF-QD, and the Samsung Odyssey G70D S32DG70, and added the LG 27GR93U-B, the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS, and the XG27ACDNG.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best 120Hz monitors currently available in the United States, including the best 4k 120Hz monitors. They're adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. The rating is based on our review, feedback from visitors, and price. For example, two monitors may perform the same, but the cheaper one will be recommended. We also consider availability, as we don't recommend a monitor that's hard to find.
If you'd prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all the monitors we've tested with a refresh rate of 120Hz or higher. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.