The 5 Best 1440p Monitors of 2026  

Updated May 19, 2026 at 05:24 pm
Best 1440p Monitors
 6

One of the most common monitor resolutions is 1440p. It offers a sweet spot between providing better image clarity than 1080p displays and requiring less processing power than a 4k monitor. Many include gaming features like high refresh rates and VRR support, and they can also include productivity features like ergonomic stands and USB hubs. While many 1440p monitors are focused on gaming, most are good enough for work, too.

The most common size for a 1440p display is 27 inches, but you can still find them with smaller 24-inch or larger 32-inch screens, and choosing the right size is a personal preference. They're available at different price points, with the highest-end models having the most features. Once you know your budget, consider the monitor's performance for what you need; for example, high brightness and a wide viewing angle are useful for work use, while sharp motion and low input lag are important for gaming.

We've bought and tested more than 390 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best 2k monitors available. Check out our picks for the best 1440p 144Hz monitors, the best 1440p gaming monitors, or, if you want a higher resolution, the best 4k monitors.

How We Test Monitors
How We Test Monitors

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.

  1. Best 1440p Monitor

    The best 1440p monitor we've tested is the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG. It's a gaming-focused 27-inch display that's versatile for other uses. It's fantastic for gaming as it offers a high 360Hz refresh rate and incredible motion handling, so there's minimal motion blur with fast-moving objects. On top of that, it delivers stunning picture quality thanks to its QD-OLED panel. It displays deep blacks in dark rooms without haloing, and HDR content also looks remarkable. It gets bright enough to make highlights pop and for colors to look vivid.

    It has a few perks for other uses besides gaming, too. It comes with an ergonomic stand, so it's easy to place in an ideal position, and it has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode and a KVM switch that makes it easy to multitask and switch between different computers. Unfortunately, there are downsides to OLED: they have lower text clarity than IPS monitors with the same pixel density. It doesn't get bright enough to fight intense glare, either. You can consider the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W if you want a brighter OLED, but it costs more and lacks a USB-C port.

  2. Best Upper Mid-Range 1440p Monitor

    If you prefer something cheaper than the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG, check out the LG 27GX700A-B. It's an OLED like the ASUS, so it displays the same deep and inky blacks. It has a few advantages over the ASUS because it uses a newer Tandem OLED panel that gets much brighter, so it's a better choice to use in a well-lit room. It also does a better job at maintaining low black levels in bright rooms, so you get those deep blacks that it's known for, no matter the environment you have it in.

    There are some downsides to using this monitor, though. It achieves this higher brightness by overbrightening the image, so HDR content is less accurate than on the ASUS. It also has vertical banding in dark scenes that can get distracting. While it's a fantastic gaming monitor thanks to its low input lag and sharp motion, it has a lower 280Hz refresh rate than the ASUS. However, that doesn't make much of a difference unless you're a competitive gamer who needs the highest refresh rate. Besides that, it doesn't have as many features as the ASUS, as it lacks a KVM switch and has a smaller USB hub, so it's worse for productivity.

  3. Best Mid-Range 1440p Monitor

    If you want to get a 1440p OLED at a lower cost, the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q is a good-value alternative that's cheaper than the LG 27GX700A-B. It's a bit different from the LG because it uses a QD-OLED panel, which doesn't get as bright as the Tandem OLED panel of the LG. It also has raised black levels in bright rooms, making them look purple, and you need to use it in a dark room to get the perfect black levels that it's known for. Despite the fact that it has a QD-OLED panel, its lower brightness also means that colors aren't as vivid as on the LG, which negatively impacts its HDR picture quality.

    It doesn't have a USB hub like the LG, which is a trade-off for getting a cheaper model. That said, it's still versatile for different uses, as it has better text clarity than the LG. It also has a glossy coating that results in clearer images than the matte coating of the LG. Plus, it offers a similar 240Hz refresh rate with sharp motion handling, so it's another fantastic choice for gaming.

  4. Best Budget 1440p Monitor

    As you look for budget 1440p displays, you'll notice that many are basic displays with limited features. That said, the AOC Q27G3XMN is an entry-level option that punches above its weight versus the competition regarding picture quality. It doesn't have an OLED panel like the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q, so it doesn't display the same deep blacks without any haloing. However, it uses Mini LED backlighting, which is rare for a low-cost display. Its local dimming feature helps it display deep enough blacks with bright highlights that pop in HDR. Plus, it gets much brighter than the HyperX.

    This monitor has a lower 180Hz refresh rate than the HyperX, so it's not as good for competitive gaming with high frame rates. It also has a good enough response time for gaming, but there's smearing, particularly with dark, fast-moving objects. It's very basic besides that, as it doesn't have a USB hub. It's still fine if you want to use it for work, as it has good text clarity and fights glare well. Unfortunately, it has a narrow viewing angle that makes it harder to share the screen with someone sitting next to you.

  5. Best Cheap 1440p Monitor

    If you want something even cheaper than the AOC Q27G3XMN, check out the Dell S2725DC. It's a rather basic and simple model that has worse picture quality than the AOC because it has a much lower contrast ratio and doesn't have a local dimming feature. This means blacks look gray, and it's not something you should consider for HDR gaming. It doesn't get as bright as the AOC, either, but it's still fine if you want to use it in a room with a few lights around.

    It has a 144Hz refresh rate, which helps with gaming, but there's more blur than on the AOC. It's actually designed as an office monitor, so it's more versatile for that than the AOC. Its ergonomic stand makes it easy to adjust to your preferred position, whether you're gaming with a friend or showing your coworker a document. It even has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode, making it easy to quickly connect your laptop. Its 65W of power delivery is also enough to charge most laptops while you're using it.

Notable Mentions

  • LG 27GX790B-B: 

    The LG 27GX790B-B is a high-end gaming monitor with a higher refresh rate than the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG. This makes the LG a better gaming monitor, especially for competitive gaming, but it's less versatile for other uses as it lacks a KVM switch.

     See our review
  • ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQWMG: 

    The ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQWMG uses the same Tandem OLED panel as the LG 27GX700A-B and is similar overall. The main difference is that the ASUS has a glossy coating, resulting in clearer images. This makes it a good alternative if you want this coating, but it's more costly than the LG.

     See our review
  • Dell Alienware AW2726DM: 

    The Dell Alienware AW2726DM is a 1440p QD-OLED that's very similar overall to the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q. It's worth getting if you can find it for cheaper, but it's not as bright, and can be harder to find.

     See our review
  • AOC Q27G40XMN: 

    The AOC Q27G40XMN is a budget-friendly model that sits alongside the AOC Q27G3XMN. It's similar for the most part, and even has better local dimming. That said, the Q27G40XMN is only available in the US, and it has worse ergonomics.

     See our review
  • Dell Alienware AW2725DM: 

    The Dell Alienware AW2725DM is a cheap monitor with better gaming features and performance than the Dell S2725DC. The AW2725DM is a good choice if you're a gamer, but it's less versatile for work as it has a smaller USB hub than the S2725DC.

     See our review

Recent Updates

  1.  May 19, 2026: 

    We replaced the LG 27GR83Q-B with the HyperX OLED OMEN 27q, which has better overall performance. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the Dell Alienware AW2723DF, the Dell Alienware AW3225DM, and the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS with the Dell Alienware AW2726DM, the AOC Q27G40XMN, and the Dell Alienware AW2725DM to better reflect the current market.

  2.  Mar 26, 2026: 

    We replaced the Dell Alienware AW2723DF with the LG 27GR83Q-B for consistency with other recommendations, and the MSI G274QPF-QD with the easier-to-find Dell S2725DC. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the LG 27GX790A-B, the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG, the Gigabyte MO27Q28G, and added the LG 27GX790B-B, the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQWMG, the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS, and the AW2723DF.

  3.  Feb 06, 2026: 

    In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the Dell P2423D and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM with the LG 27GR83Q-B and the Gigabyte MO27Q28G.

  4.  Nov 20, 2025: 

    We replaced the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG with the LG27GX700A-B, which gets brighter. We also added the Dell Alienware AW2723DF as the 'Best Mid-Range 1440p Monitor' to give another option. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the LG 27GS95QE-B and the Gigabyte GS27QC, and added the LG 27GX790A-B, ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM, and the XG27AQDMG.

  5.  Aug 14, 2025: 

    We added the MSI G274QPF-QD as 'Best Cheap' and the Dell Alienware AW3225DM to the Notable Mentions.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best 2k monitors currently available. 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 of our 1440p 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.