The 5 Best 1080p Monitors - Spring 2021 Reviews

The best 1080p gaming monitor we've tested is the ASUS VG279QM. It's one of the best gaming monitors we've tested, as it has a 240Hz refresh rate that can be overclocked up to 280Hz to provide an even smoother and more responsive gaming experience. It has a few extra features, including built-in speakers, so you may not need to get a dedicated setup if you don't want to.

It has an extremely quick response time at its max refresh rate, resulting in almost no motion blur. Even at 60Hz, the response time is outstanding, and even though there's a Black Frame Insertion feature to improve the appearance of motion, you likely won't need it. The monitor has native FreeSync support, and it's certified by NVIDIA to be G-SYNC compatible. The picture quality is great; it has great out-of-the-box color accuracy, it gets bright enough to combat glare, reflection handling is decent, and it has really wide viewing angles.

It has an extremely low input lag when playing at 280Hz, but sadly, it increases quite a bit at 60Hz. Like most IPS panels, it has a low contrast ratio, so blacks appear closer to gray when viewed in the dark. On the upside, it has outstanding ergonomics, and it's well-built, so you shouldn't have to worry about any build quality issues for a while. All in all, most people should be pleased with it, making it the best 1080p gaming monitor we've tested.

The ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG259QN is the best 1080p gaming monitor with a 360Hz refresh rate that we've tested. It's a 24 inch native G-SYNC monitor that delivers incredibly responsive gameplay, making it an excellent option for serious esports players. It has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles, and it gets very bright to combat glare. The stand allows for all manner of adjustments so that you can place the screen at a comfortable viewing position.

Motion handling is outstanding as its 360Hz refresh rate and quick response time result in clear images with almost no blur trail. There's a fair amount of overshoot, though, which can cause some motion artifacts. Although it's a native G-SYNC monitor, it's compatible with FreeSync, so it works with AMD graphics cards. It has NVIDIA's backlight strobing technology, otherwise known as Black Frame Insertion, but it only works at 144Hz or 240Hz, and it isn't usable while VRR is active.

There are many extra features, like the ability to add a virtual crosshair, timer, or frame rate counter, and there's even some LED bias lighting on the back of the monitor. It supports HDR, but it can't display a wide color gamut, and enabling it limits the refresh rate to 300Hz over a DisplayPort connection. Nevertheless, If you want the highest refresh rate for the most responsive gaming experience, this is the one to get.

The best 1080p monitor that we've tested in the budget category is the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx. It's fairly well-built and has excellent ergonomics thanks to its round stand that allows for a 360-degree rotation. It's good to use in a well-lit environment because it gets bright enough to combat glare and has good reflection handling, so visibility shouldn't be an issue. Also, it has wide viewing angles, making it easier to share your screen with others around you.

It has everything most gamers need, a native 144Hz refresh rate that can be overclocked to 165Hz, native FreeSync support to reduce screen tearing, and G-SYNC compatibility. The input lag is incredibly low whether you're gaming at its native resolution or 60Hz, and the remarkable response time results in minimal motion blur. It has a Black Frame Insertion feature; however, it isn't usable simultaneously with VRR and only works within a narrow frequency range.

It supports HDR10, but sadly, it doesn't deliver a true experience because it can't display a wide color gamut and doesn't get bright enough to make highlights pop. Also, it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks appear gray when viewed in the dark, but that's typical of IPS panels. Besides these small issues, if you're on a budget, this is the best 1080p monitor that we've tested.