Although many gaming monitors and PCs support refresh rates higher than 120Hz, this is the max refresh rate that the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S support. So, if you want to game with a console on your monitor, you need something with good performance at 120Hz. Getting a monitor is a good alternative to getting a TV (see best 120Hz TVs) as they tend to cost less, are smaller, and are also versatile if you need a monitor for other uses, like productivity or even PC gaming.
When looking for a new monitor, you'll want something with a fast response time at 120Hz so that motion looks crisp. Low input lag is also important for a responsive feel, though most monitors have low input lag. A display with good HDR picture quality also contributes to a great gaming experience. This means you'll want something with vibrant, life-like HDR colors, high contrast, and great brightness so that highlights pop. Lastly, a monitor with a 4k resolution and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth can take full advantage of gaming consoles for 4k gaming at 120Hz, but you can also consider a lower-resolution display if you want to save money.
We've bought and tested more than 335 monitors, and below are our picks for the monitors with the best performance at 120Hz 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.
The best 120Hz monitor we've tested is the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80. It's an outstanding gaming monitor with premium picture quality. While it has a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz, it's still great to use at 120Hz thanks to its near-instantaneous response time at any refresh rate, 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 and Xbox Series X|S up to 120Hz.
Thanks to its QD-OLED panel, it even offers outstanding picture quality. This means it displays deep and inky blacks in dark rooms without any blooming and gets bright enough for highlights to pop. Additionally, it displays a wide range of colors in HDR that look extremely vivid and life-like. Even if you want to use it in a brighter room, its matte screen coating has fantastic reflection handling, though it doesn't get bright enough to overcome bright glare. If you're gaming in a darker room and prefer something with a glossy screen, the Dell Alienware AW3225QF is another great choice. However, the Dell has a curved screen, which may not be for everyone.
If you find the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80 too much out of your price range but still want a premium display, look into the upper mid-range MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED. It has a QD-OLED panel like the Samsung, so it displays the same deep and inky blacks with vivid colors and bright highlights, delivering outstanding HDR picture quality. However, the main difference is that it has a lower 1440p resolution than the Samsung, so images aren't as detailed and sharp, and it also has a smaller screen.
That said, it still has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of gaming consoles, and it also supports downscaled 4k @ 120Hz signals, which are more detailed than native 1440p signals. Although it has a 360Hz refresh rate, it still performs very well at 120Hz, as it has a near-instantaneous response time for sharp motion. If you don't think you need something with such a high refresh rate and prefer a cheaper monitor, the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG is a fantastic OLED gaming monitor, but it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and colors aren't as vivid as on the MSI.
If you prefer a lower-cost mid-range monitor, the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx is a good choice if you can find it for a lower price. It's different from the MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED because it doesn't have a QD-OLED panel, so it doesn't display the same deep blacks and vivid colors. However, this is the trade-off you must make to get a cheaper mid-range monitor. It still delivers good picture quality, as it has Mini LED local dimming that helps improve its contrast, and there isn't much blooming around bright objects either. It also gets very bright, which is ideal for both HDR gaming and use in bright rooms.
Regarding gaming performance, it doesn't have the same near-instantaneous response time as the MSI, but fast-moving objects still look sharp at 120Hz. It also has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of gaming consoles, and its 4k resolution helps deliver a detailed image. However, its input lag increases at 60Hz, so it's not ideal for fast-paced games at that refresh rate.
If you want a monitor on a budget, check out the AOC Q27G3XMN, which offers great value as a low-cost display. It uses Mini LED backlighting like the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx, so it also looks great in dark rooms as it has a high contrast ratio and good local dimming feature, and highlights pop in HDR. However, it has a lower 1440p resolution, so it doesn't display the same detailed images, and without HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, it can't take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Luckily, the AOC has a really quick response time at 120Hz, and while there's black smearing with fast-moving objects in dark rooms, motion still looks sharp. One downside is that it has noticeable VRR flicker with changing frame rates, particularly in dark scenes, but this isn't so much of an issue if you set a frame cap to 120 fps. Also, this monitor sometimes goes out of stock, so if you can't find it available, look into the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx, which is another budget monitor with Mini LED backlighting. However, it has worse motion handling than the AOC.
While you can find the AOC Q27G3XMN for a low cost, check out the Dell G2724D if you need a simple and cheap display. You can get it for cheap directly from Dell's website. It has a 27-inch, 1440p screen like the AOC, but it doesn't have any Mini LED backlighting, so it has much worse picture quality than the AOC, which is the trade-off for getting something cheap. This means blacks look gray in dark rooms, and highlights don't pop in HDR.
On the plus side, it's still good for gaming as it has a fast response time at 120Hz. It has less smearing than the AOC and doesn't have any VRR flicker, either. Another advantage is that its VRR support works with the PS5, which the AOC and other entry-level monitors don't support, so it's a nice touch for a cheap display.
The Dell Alienware AW2725DF competes with the MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED. It performs similarly, but the Dell lacks a few features, like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, to fully take advantage of gaming consoles. However, it's still worth considering if you can find it for less than the MSI.
See our reviewThe LG 27GS95QE-B is a 1440p OLED monitor that's in the same price range as the MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED, and you can find the LG for less when it's on sale. It's fantastic for gaming, but colors aren't as vivid as on the MSI, as it uses a WOLED panel instead of a QD-OLED panel.
See our reviewThe ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM is a 4k monitor with better USB connectivity than the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80. However, it performs similarly and usually costs more than the Samsung.
See our reviewReplaced the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3 with the MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED as 'Best Upper Mid-Range,' as it has similar performance and costs less. Added the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM as a Notable Mention.
Sep 06, 2024: We replaced the Dell Alienware AW3225QF with the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80 to be consistent with other recommendations. We also replaced the LG 27GR93U-B with the Dell Alienware AW2725DF in the Notable Mentions to better represent the current market.
Jun 19, 2024: Moved the LG 27GS95QE-B to the Notable Mentions and added the cheaper Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3 as the 'Best Upper Mid-Range 120Hz Monitor.' Replaced the Gigabyte M27U with the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx due to its better picture quality. Removed the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B and replaced the LG 27GR75Q-B with the AOC Q27G3XMN in the budget category, as it also has better picture quality. Lastly, added the Dell G2724D as 'Best Cheap' for consistency with other recommendations. The Sony INZONE M9 and the LG 32GR93U-B were replaced with the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 and the LG 27GR93U-B in Notable Mentions based on the current monitor market.
Apr 24, 2024: Replaced the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 with the LG 27GS95QE-B as 'Best Upper Mid-Range,' as it has better performance. Replaced the ViewSonic XG2431 with the LG 27GR75Q-B as 'Best Budget,' as it displays a more detailed image.
Feb 08, 2024: Added the Dell Alienware AW3225QF as the 'Best 120Hz Monitor' and moved the LG 32GR93U-B to Notable Mentions; renamed the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 to 'Best Upper Mid-Range' monitor to reflect market position; replaced the Gigabyte M27Q P with the AOC Q27G3XMN in Notable Mentions because of the AOC's better picture quality.
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors currently available that you can use at 120Hz, 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, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
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.