The 5 Best 1440p Monitors - Fall 2023 Reviews

The best 1440p monitor we've tested is the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM. It's an excellent overall monitor that offers a high 240Hz refresh rate for gaming, and it also has FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. It even offers fantastic motion handling with a near-instantaneous response time at any refresh rate, so there's minimal motion blur with fast-moving objects. On top of its fantastic gaming performance, it delivers stunning picture quality thanks to its OLED panel. It allows it to display deep blacks without blooming, and HDR also looks excellent as it gets bright enough to make highlights pop, so you'll enjoy this monitor even when watching movies.

Unfortunately, there are some downsides as it only performs well after updating its firmware, so if you want something that performs better without any update, you can also consider the LG 27GR95QE-B, but it doesn't get as bright. Another downside with either of those monitors is that OLEDs are prone to burn-in when exposed to the same static elements over time, which can be problematic if you have elements like the taskbar or icons on the screen all day. However, this is less of a concern if you use it for varied stuff, like gaming and watching content in full-screen mode.

If you find the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM too expensive or are concerned about the burn-in risk, consider the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM. It has a 27-inch screen and 1440p resolution like the PG27AQDM but doesn't deliver nearly the same picture quality because it has an LED-backlit LCD panel with a lower contrast ratio. Because of this, it isn't as good for use in dark rooms, but it also gets brighter in SDR, making it a better choice for use in well-lit rooms. Luckily, LCD monitors like this one aren't prone to burn-in, so you can easily use them for gaming and work without worrying about damaging your screen over time.

Like the PG27AQDM, the PG279QM has a 240Hz refresh rate and impressive gaming performance. It has excellent motion handling across its entire refresh rate range, so motion looks smooth no matter the game you're playing. Another difference from the PG279QM is that this monitor has native G-SYNC VRR support, which lets you take full advantage of your NVIDIA graphics card. With this, it supports variable overdrive for improved motion handling and NVIDIA's Reflex Latency Analyzer, which measures the latency of your entire setup.

If you don't have an NVIDIA graphics card and don't need something with native G-SYNC support, the Dell Alienware AW2723DF is a good, cheaper alternative. It has a 240Hz native refresh rate like ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM, but instead of the native G-SYNC support like on the ASUS, it has G-SYNC compatibility and FreeSync VRR, so it can still reduce screen tearing with any graphics card. You can also overclock its refresh rate up to 280Hz for a slightly smoother feel, and it has excellent motion handling too.

It has a few helpful extra features for gaming, like a virtual crosshair or different vision modes that make it easier to see your opponents in games, giving you a competitive advantage. It also has four USB-A ports, so connecting your peripherals or charging devices is easy. Even if you want to use it for general desktop use, it delivers good picture quality with accurate colors and high peak brightness, meaning visibility is fine in well-lit rooms. It has impressive ergonomics and wide viewing angles, so it's a good choice if you need to share your screen with someone else often.

If you prefer saving money and don't mind having a monitor with a lower refresh rate, the LG 27GP850-B is a good alternative. It has a lower 165Hz native refresh rate than the Dell Alienware AW2723DF and still offers excellent gaming performance. It's available in different variants at various retailers as the 27GP850-B and 27GP83B-B. Both models are very similar, but the 27GP850-B has an overclock feature to increase the refresh rate to 180Hz. Both models offer a fast response time for excellent motion handling and have FreeSync VRR with G-SYNC compatibility.

The picture quality is also good, especially if you use it in a well-lit room, because it has great SDR peak brightness and good reflection handling. It also has wide viewing angles that keep the image consistent from the sides, which is great if you need to share your screen with someone else, but its stand doesn't offer swivel adjustments. If you find that the 27-inch screen is too small for your needs, the LG 32GP850-B is another good option with a larger 32-inch screen, but it costs a bit more and has worse image clarity due to the lower pixel density.

If you're looking for something on a budget, there are a few good 1440p monitors to choose from. The Gigabyte M27Q is a great gaming monitor similar to the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B because it has a max 170Hz refresh rate and offers impressive gaming performance, but its motion handling isn't as good. While it has a 27-inch screen and the same pixel density as the LG, it uses a BGR subpixel layout that makes text clarity worse as programs don't render text well with it, but it still delivers the same amount of details while gaming.

Although designed for gaming, this monitor has a few extra features that make it versatile for other uses. It has a KVM switch that makes it easy to switch between devices connected to the monitor, like a gaming PC and a work laptop, and use the same keyboard and mouse for each source. It's great for if you work with two devices simultaneously and often switch between them. If you don't need these extra features, you can also consider the cheaper Gigabyte G27Q, which is similar overall but is a step down in terms of performance too.