27-inch monitors are among the most popular sizes on the market. They come in a wide range of resolutions, including 1440p and 4k. Although 4k displays offer high pixel density with detailed images, 1440p models tend to come in higher refresh rates. Choosing the right combination of resolution and refresh rate depends on your budget and what type of games you play.
When looking for a gaming monitor, there are a few factors you may want to consider. It's important to think about its input lag, although most have low enough input lag for a responsive feel. A fast response time is also beneficial for gaming, as it results in minimal motion blur behind fast-moving objects. You may also want to think about the monitor's picture quality, especially if you game in HDR. A display with deep blacks, vivid colors, and bright highlights delivers good picture quality.
We've bought and tested more than 375 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best 27-inch gaming monitors available. Also, see our picks for the best gaming monitors and the best 27-inch monitors. If you're looking for other sizes, check out the best monitor sizes for gaming and our monitor size guide.
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 27-Inch Gaming Monitor
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeQD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160The best 27-inch gaming monitor we've tested is the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM. It's a 4k QD-OLED with fantastic picture quality and gaming performance. It has a high 240Hz refresh rate that makes gaming feel responsive. Fast-moving objects look incredibly crisp thanks to its near-instantaneous response time. Its 4k resolution delivers sharp, detailed images thanks to its high pixel density. It also features other useful gaming capabilities, including HDMI and DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth, as well as support for all common VRR formats to minimize screen tearing.
Thanks to its OLED panel, games look vivid, and it displays a wide range of colors. It also has a near-infinite contrast ratio that helps it display perfect blacks next to bright highlights in a dark room. It gets bright enough for small highlights to pop, so it has fantastic HDR performance. That said, while it looks incredible, it's an expensive display, so you may want to consider something cheaper if it's out of your price range. The Dell Alienware AW2725Q is a good alternative that costs less, as it's another 4k, 240Hz QD-OLED, but it doesn't come with DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth like the ASUS.
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Best Upper Mid-Range 27-Inch Gaming Monitor
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeQD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate360 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440While the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM offers the best picture quality and sharpness, there are still some great high-end QD-OLEDs you can find for less. One of those is the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG. The main trade-off of getting this monitor is that it has a lower 1440p resolution, so images and text aren't as detailed. It also lacks DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of modern graphics cards. However, it does have a slightly higher 360Hz refresh rate, so it feels slightly more responsive, and motion looks smoother.
It still delivers all the benefits of a QD-OLED, with deep, inky blacks and a near-instantaneous response time for sharp motion. It also gets bright enough for highlights to pop. However, it doesn't perform well in bright rooms, as deep blacks appear purple because of the panel's lack of a polarizer. If you're looking for a monitor that displays much deeper blacks in a bright room, check out the LG 27GX790A-B. It also has a higher refresh rate, but its colors aren't as vivid as on the ASUS.
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Best Mid-Range 27-Inch Gaming Monitor
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeOLEDMax Refresh Rate280 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440Should the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG still be too expensive for your needs, you can consider some lower-refresh-rate OLEDs for cheaper. If that's what you're interested in, check out the LG 27GX700A-B. Like the ASUS, it's another 1440p option, but it has a lower 280Hz refresh rate, so gaming feels less smooth. There are differences when it comes to picture quality, mainly due to their different panel types. Colors aren't as vivid as on the ASUS, but the LG gets brighter thanks to its RGB Tandem OLED panel. The LG also delivers the same deep blacks that OLED are known for, even in well-lit rooms.
Motion also looks sharp thanks to its near-instantaneous response time, and it has the same HDMI 2.1 bandwidth as the ASUS. There are some downsides to this monitor, though. It overbrightens content in HDR, which is something to consider if you play HDR games and want accurate images. You can consider the similar Gigabyte MO27Q28G if you want something that's more accurate. It uses the same RGB Tandem OLED panel, but it's dimmer overall and is harder to find.
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Best Lower Mid-Range 27-Inch Gaming Monitor
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate320 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160There are some good non-OLED options you can get in the lower mid-range price category, like the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. It differs from the LG 27GX700A-B in that it doesn't display the same deep blacks with no haloing around bright objects. However, it uses Mini LED backlighting, and when its local dimming feature turns on in HDR, it improves black levels but causes some haloing around bright objects. However, you can't use this local dimming in SDR.
There are advantages to getting this monitor over the LG. It features a higher 4k resolution for a more detailed image and is brighter, making it the better choice for gaming in well-lit rooms. While this monitor's native 160Hz refresh rate is lower than that of the LG, its standout feature is its dual mode. This allows you to change the refresh rate to 320Hz for a smoother feel with a lower 1080p resolution, making it more versatile for playing various types of games. However, it doesn't have the same near-instantaneous response time as the LG either, so the motion handling is worse, but it's still good enough for playing fast-paced games.
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Best Budget 27-Inch Gaming Monitor
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeVAMax Refresh Rate180 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440If you're looking for the best 27-inch gaming monitor on a budget, there are a few good options you can choose from, including the AOC Q27G3XMN. It's a step down from the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx because it has a lower 1440p resolution, so images aren't as detailed. It also lacks a dual-mode feature to boost its refresh rate past its max of 180Hz. It doesn't have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of gaming consoles, either. However, this is what you have to expect from an entry-level monitor. It's still good for gaming as it has a fast overall response time, but there's black smearing with fast-moving objects in dark scenes.
What makes it better than other budget-friendly monitors is that it has great picture quality in HDR, as it features Mini LED backlighting, similar to the Acer. This helps it display deep, inky blacks with bright highlights that pop and a wide range of vivid colors. Unlike the Acer, you can even use its local dimming feature in SDR. You can also check out the similar AOC Q27G40XMN if you want something with more dimming zones and better overall local dimming. However, it has worse motion handling than the Q27G3XMN, and can be harder to find.
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Best Cheap 27-Inch Gaming Monitor
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate170 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440If the AOC Q27G3XMN is beyond your budget, you can look at a less expensive display, like the MSI G274QPF-QD. It has the same 1440p resolution and 27-inch screen, and it costs less. However, its performance is a significant step down from the AOC. It makes deep blacks look gray in a dark room, and it has no local dimming system to improve this. It also gets far less bright, so highlights don't pop, and it's a worse choice for gaming in HDR.
That said, it has very good motion handling, as fast-moving objects look fairly crisp at its maximum refresh rate of 170Hz. Plus, it doesn't have any smearing with fast-moving objects. It even feels responsive thanks to its very low input lag. While its 1440p resolution helps deliver detailed enough images, the Dell S2725QS is an alternative if you want a more detailed 4k display. It features some useful gaming capabilities, including a 120Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, which are ideal for gaming consoles. However, it has more blur when displaying fast-moving objects.
Notable Mentions
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MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED:
The MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED is a premium 4k QD-OLED that competes with the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM. It performs similarly for the most part and tends to cost less, but it doesn't get as bright in HDR.
See our review -
Dell Alienware AW2725DF:
The Dell Alienware AW2725DF is an upper mid-range monitor that's a cheaper alternative to the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG. Both monitors have very similar performance. However, the Dell has fewer features, as it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
See our review -
ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG:
The ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG is a 1440p OLED that's in the same price range as the LG 27GX700A-B. It has many similar specs, including a 1440p, 240Hz display. However, the ASUS isn't as bright.
See our review -
LG 27G850A-B:
The LG 27G850A-B is a dual-mode gaming monitor that has a higher max refresh rate than the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. It's something to consider if you're going to make full use of its 480Hz refresh rate. However, it has worse picture quality than the Acer and usually costs more.
See our review -
ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS:
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS is an entry-level 1440p gaming monitor that competes with the MSI G274QPF-QD. It's a slight upgrade in a few areas, as it has slightly better motion handling. However, the ASUS sometimes costs more.
See our review
Recent Updates
Feb 09, 2026:
We added the LG 27GX700A-B as the 'Best Mid-Range 27-Inch Gaming Monitor,' and renamed the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx to the 'Best Lower Mid-Range 27-Inch Gaming Monitor' to better reflect their market positions. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3 and the LG 27GX790A-B with the Dell Alienware AW2725DF and the LG 27G850A-B.
Nov 24, 2025:
We replaced the LG 27G850A-B with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx, which has better picture quality. We also added the LG 27GX790A-B to the Notable Mentions.
Oct 24, 2025:
We replaced the hard-to-find Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx with the LG 27G850A-B. We also replaced the AOC Q27G40XMN with the AOC Q27G3XMN to be consistent with other recommendations. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the Samsung Odyssey OLED G60SD S27DG602S and the Dell Alienware AW2725Q with the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG and the MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED.
Aug 08, 2025:
We replaced the AOC Q27G3XMN with the AOC Q27G40XMN, as the Q27G3XMN is hard to find. We also replaced the Samsung Odyssey G55C S27CG55 with the MSI G274QPF-QD, as it has better performance.
Jul 10, 2025:
We replaced the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG with the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG, as it has better performance. We also added the Samsung Odyssey G55C S27CG55 as 'Best Cheap.'
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best 27-inch gaming monitors currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people. The rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of our 27-inch monitor reviews. 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.