Even if larger sizes are becoming more common, 27 inch monitors are still one of the most popular sizes on the market today. Ranging from the most basic 1080p monitors to 4k gaming powerhouses, these gaming monitors are available to match any budget and need. Choosing the monitor for your needs all depends on how you're going to use it, so there's no perfect solution for everyone.
We've tested more than 90 monitors with a 27 inch screen, and below are our recommendations for the best 27 inch gaming monitors that are available for purchase. See our picks for the best gaming monitors, the best 1080p monitors, and the best gaming monitors under $300.
If you want the best 27 inch gaming monitor, check out the Samsung LC27G75TQSNXZA. It's available in both 27 and 32 inches, and although we tested the 32 inch model, the results are also valid for the 27 inch variant. It's an excellent gaming monitor with many features, and it has a 240Hz panel with a quick response time whether you're gaming at its max refresh rate or 60Hz. It also supports FreeSync natively and has G-SYNC compatibility for a nearly tear-free gaming experience.
Unfortunately, there are some issues where the backlight flickers with certain types of content and with the variable refresh rate (VRR) enabled, but not everyone experiences this. It's a good choice for dark room gaming because it displays deep blacks, but don't use the edge-lit local dimming feature because, like most monitors, it performs terribly.
The best mid-range 27 inch gaming monitor we've tested is the Gigabyte M27Q. It's an impressive gaming option if you don't want to spend too much money but still want a high 1440p resolution and good gaming features. It has a high 170Hz refresh rate with native FreeSync support, and G-SYNC works with NVIDIA graphics cards. However, you can only achieve its max refresh rate over a DisplayPort connection, as it's capped at 144Hz over HDMI.
It has a fast response time at any refresh rate, making motion look extremely smooth, and it has low input lag. Unfortunately, while it doesn't affect overall picture quality, the panel has a BGR subpixel layout, which reduces text clarity. However, this depends on the software or program you use, and generally isn't a big issue in gaming menus, meaning it's still a great choice for gaming.
The LG 27GN650-B is the best budget monitor for gaming with a 27 inch screen size. It's a bit different from the Samsung Odyssey G7 LC32G75T and the Gigabyte M27Q because it has a lower 1080p resolution, so while you don't get the same image clarity, the pixel density is still good enough that you can read the in-game menus without issue. It's great for gaming as it has a high 144Hz refresh rate which helps provide an incredible response time at its max refresh rate, and it's also quick at lower refresh rates.
You won't notice any delay when gaming, thanks to the low input lag. It has wide viewing angles if you want to use it for co-op gaming, but its limited ergonomics make it hard to place in an ideal position, though this is common for budget monitors, and you can easily solve it with a third-party monitor stand.
The best 27 inch 4k gaming monitor that we've tested is the LG 27GP950-B. The higher resolution is ideal if you like playing immersive games and your graphics card supports high-frame-rate gaming in 4k. It has a few extra features than the Samsung Odyssey G7 LC32G75T, like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on its two HDMI ports. You can also achieve the max 144Hz refresh over a DisplayPort connection with a graphics card that supports DSC 1.2a, and it has a very fast response time.
Although it gets bright enough to fight glare in a well-lit room, its reflection handling is disappointing, so avoid placing it opposite a bright window. It's not the best in dark rooms either, as it has low contrast, but it has wide viewing angles, meaning it's a good choice for co-op gaming.
If you have an NVIDIA graphics card and want to take full advantage of it, the best 27 inch G-SYNC gaming monitor we've tested is the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM. It's similar to the Samsung Odyssey G7 LC32G75T because it has a 1440p resolution with a 240Hz resolution. However, with native G-SYNC support, you can take full advantage of all the features your NVIDIA graphics card offers, and it has Low Framerate Compensation to keep the VRR working at low refresh rates.
Like many high-end gaming monitors, it has fantastic motion handling across its entire refresh rate range, and it has low input lag, but the input lag slightly increases at 60Hz. It has support for the NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer, which measures the latency of your entire setup.
May 31, 2022: Restructured picks to reflect user needs; renamed the Samsung Odyssey G7 LC32G75T to 'Best 27 Inch Gaming Monitor' and renamed the Gigabyte M27Q to 'Best Mid-Range 27 Inch Gaming Monitor'; added the LG 27GN650-B as the 'Best Budget Monitor' and moved the MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD and the Dell Alienware AW2721D to Notable Mentions.
Mar 17, 2022: Moved the ASUS VG279QM to Notable Mentions and renamed the Samsung Odyssey G7 as 'Best 27 Inch FreeSync Monitor'; added the MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD as a 'Wide Viewing Angle Alternative' for consistency; and replaced the ViewSonic Elite XG270QG with the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM because it has a higher refresh rate.
Jan 17, 2022: Moved the ViewSonic Elite XG270QG to its own Best G-SYNC category and added the Dell Alienware AW2721D as an alternative; added the LG 27GP850-B, MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD, and the Samsung Odyssey G7 S27AG50 to Notable Mentions.
Nov 08, 2021: Replaced the LG 27GN950-B with the LG 27GP950-B because it has HDMI 2.1 inputs; added the 27GN950-B and the LG 27GP83B-B to Notable Mentions.
Sep 09, 2021: Updated text for clarity; added the Dell Alienware AW2721D and Gigabyte M28U to Notable Mentions.
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best 27 inch monitors for gaming currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our 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.