The 7 Best Gaming Monitors - Winter 2020
Reviews

The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is the best FreeSync monitor that we've tested so far. At 27 inches, the 1440p resolution delivers a crisp image with exceptional motion handling, thanks to its high refresh rate and low response time. The support for FreeSync variable refresh rate ensures a nearly tear-free gaming experience and works well with NVIDIA graphics cards too. ASUS has largely kept the same design as their other gaming monitors, which is great because its stand is truly outstanding. It's clean and simple, with amazing ergonomics that allow for all manner of adjustments, including rotation into portrait mode and the ability to VESA mount it. If you're unable to achieve a good viewing position, the wide viewing angles of the IPS panel will help.

Unfortunately, this type of panel is also prone to poor contrast ratio and black uniformity, making it harder to recommend for use in a dark room. HDR is supported on this monitor; however, the mediocre peak brightness and lack of wide color gamut prevent it from being an impactful addition.

If you're looking for the best gaming monitor with tons of features, this is the one.

The best G-SYNC gaming monitor we've tested so far is the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QZ. It has an extremely fast response time that delivers crisp motion in fast paced-games, and a very low input lag for a very responsive gaming experience. It features a flicker-free backlight to help avoid eye-strain but supports NVIDIA's ultra-low motion blur (ULMB) technology that allows it to introduce flicker to help the appearance of motion. The overall picture quality is decent with a peak brightness that's good enough for most rooms, but not enough for very bright ones. It has good, wide viewing angles that favor co-op gaming and supports G-SYNC variable refresh rate technology for nearly tear-free gaming. Gamers will also enjoy the great selection of gaming enhancing features like the optional crosshair or the FPS counter.

Unfortunately, just like most IPS monitors, it isn't the best choice if you regularly game at night or in a dark room, since blacks look more like gray. This monitor is nearly identical to the ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q, so you should choose whichever is cheaper.

Overall, this is a very good monitor that delivers an excellent gaming experience, especially if you own an NVIDIA graphics card where you'll take advantage of the G-SYNC support.

The best ultrawide gaming monitor that we've tested so far is the LG 34GK950F-B. It offers incredible immersion with its 1440p resolution and 21:9 aspect ratio, but without the distracting bezels of a multi-monitor setup. The curved IPS panel provides great viewing angles, and the monitor's decent peak brightness and impressive reflection handling make it a good choice for those in a bright room. However, we can't say the same about dark room performance, as contrast ratio is disappointing and black uniformity is quite poor, resulting in blacks that look more like gray.

Motion handling on this monitor is exceptional. It has amazing response time, an optional black frame insertion feature to reduce blur, and a high 144Hz refresh rate. Gamers will be delighted to hear that input lag is outstanding, and it also supports FreeSync variable refresh rate technology, as well as being compatible with NVIDIA's G-SYNC. And although this monitor supports HDR and can display a wide color gamut, its peak brightness won't be able to bring out highlights in HDR content. Unfortunately, ergonomics are pretty poor, as you can only adjust the swivel and tilt, but on the bright side, the build quality is decent and there's a USB 3.0 hub to let you charge your devices.

If you want an immersive gaming experience while keeping a clean, single monitor setup, this monitor should satisfy even the most hardcore gamers.

The best budget gaming monitor we've tested so far is the ViewSonic XG2402. This 24 inch monitor delivers a great gaming experience, with outstanding motion handling, extremely low input lag, and a fast refresh rate. It also supports FreeSync variable refresh rate technology, even when connected to a recent NVIDIA graphics card over DisplayPort.

This monitor can get very bright, and it has great reflection handling, so there shouldn't be any issues using it in a bright room. This monitor also has good ergonomics, so you can easily place it in the perfect position, or even turn it to portrait orientation for a multi-monitor setup.

Unfortunately, like most TN monitors, it isn't the most versatile display, as it has a limited contrast ratio, disappointing viewing angles, and the 1080p resolution might be too limiting for some users. Despite these flaws, it's a great gaming monitor at a very low price (for more options, see our recommendations for the best budget gaming monitors).