The 7 Best Gaming Monitors - Winter 2021 Reviews

The best gaming monitor with native FreeSync support that we've tested is the Samsung Odyssey G7. It has a VA panel that can produce deep blacks, making it an ideal choice for dark rooms, and it gets bright enough to overcome glare easily in well-lit environments. It has reasonably good ergonomics for a curved screen model; however, the viewing angles are mediocre, resulting in images that look washed out from the sides.

It stands out thanks to its exceptional motion handling. It has an incredibly fast response time, a Black Frame Insertion feature, and a 240Hz refresh rate to deliver clear images in fast-moving scenes. It supports FreeSync variable refresh rate technology to reduce screen tearing, and it's compatible with NVIDIA's G-SYNC as well. It can deliver an okay HDR experience as it has a good color gamut, but its edge-lit local dimming performs terribly and can be somewhat distracting.

The additional features can enhance your gaming experience. You can add a virtual crosshair, a frame rate counter, and there's a black stabilizer feature that makes objects more visible in dark scenes. It has a Picture-in-Picture mode that lets you display two input signals at once, which can be useful for streamers using two computers. There are two USB 3.0 ports to charge your mobile devices, and the backlight is entirely flicker-free. Overall, it's a feature-rich monitor that should please most people.

The ViewSonic Elite XG270QG is the best gaming monitor with native G-SYNC support that we've tested. It's an excellent gaming model packed with features such as built-in speakers, RGB illumination, and the ability to add a virtual crosshair in your game. It even has three USB inputs, which is great for charging your devices.

It has native G-SYNC support to get the most out of your NVIDIA graphics card, and it's FreeSync compatible. Its 144Hz refresh rate can be overclocked to 165Hz and its response time at its max refresh rate is incredible, resulting in minimal motion blur. Even at 60Hz, the response time is really fast, so you shouldn't notice any motion artifacts in fast-moving scenes. Input lag is really low, and even though it's higher than other gaming monitors at 60Hz, most people shouldn't notice a difference. Its IPS panel provides wide viewing angles and performs well in well-lit environments because it has good peak brightness and great reflection handling.

Unfortunately, it doesn't support HDR and has a low contrast ratio, so blacks appear closer to gray. The out-of-the-box color accuracy is terrible, but this may vary between units. On the upside, the 27 inch, 1440p screen provides an immersive gaming experience and delivers crisp images. If you have an NVIDIA graphics card and want something with native G-SYNC support, this is one of the best gaming monitors we've tested.

The best gaming monitor for esports is the Dell Alienware AW2521H. This is an excellent compact gaming model that delivers a remarkably responsive gaming experience for esports players. It's well-built, and it has a clean and modern design that fits easily into most settings. The stand allows for a good amount of ergonomic adjustments, and its IPS panel has wide viewing angles, making it great for sharing content and playing co-op games.

Motion handling is superb. It has an incredibly fast response time and a 360Hz refresh rate, resulting in almost no blur trail behind fast-moving objects. It has a Black Frame Insertion feature; however, it only works within a narrow refresh rate range, and you can't use it while variable refresh rate is active. Regarding its VRR, it supports G-SYNC natively, but it isn't FreeSync compatible. One thing to note is that you can only get the full 360Hz over a DisplayPort connection, so it's important to make sure your graphics card has the same port.

It supports HDR, but it can't display a wide color gamut and doesn't get bright enough to make highlights stand out. It has four USB 3.0 ports to charge your mobile devices, and you can add a virtual crosshair or timer on the screen. The backlight is entirely flicker-free, which helps minimize image duplication and reduce eye strain. All in all, it's an excellent choice for both casual gamers and professional esports players.

The best gaming monitor with an ultrawide screen that we've tested is the Acer Nitro XV340CK. This is an impressive choice for gamers, as it has a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz and supports FreeSync and G-SYNC to help reduce screen tearing. It features a 34 inch screen, and its 1440p resolution immerses you in the action or allows for multiple windows to be opened side-by-side.

It has excellent response time at the maximum refresh rate, which makes fast-moving content appear crisp. The response time is also really good when gaming at 60Hz. It also has an optional Black Frame Insertion feature to help reduce motion blur. It has decent viewing angles, though unfortunately, it doesn't have a curved screen, so you may notice some slight image degradation on the far sides of the screen if you sit too close. It has okay peak brightness but good reflection handling if you need to use it in a bright room.

Unfortunately, it lacks local dimming, and its IPS panel has a low contrast ratio, which makes blacks appear grayish. Also, while it supports HDR, it can't display a wide color gamut, and it can't get bright enough for HDR content to really pop. That said, its high refresh rate and VRR support help make this the best ultrawide gaming monitor we've tested.

The best gaming monitor available in the budget category that we've tested is the Acer Nitro XF243Y. This excellent and versatile gaming model is one of the few with a 165Hz refresh rate in its price range. It has wide viewing angles so that you can easily share content, and it allows for an incredible amount of ergonomic adjustments, including a full 360-degree swivel range. It handles reflections well and gets bright enough to fight glare, so visibility shouldn't be an issue in well-lit rooms.

It has a 165Hz refresh rate with exceptional response time, resulting in clear motion and almost no blur trail behind fast-moving objects. It supports FreeSync natively to reduce screen tearing and is compatible with NVIDIA's G-SYNC. It has an optional Black Frame Insertion feature that can improve image clarity; however, it can't be used while VRR is active. There's HDR support, but unfortunately, it can't display a wide color gamut and doesn't get bright enough for a true HDR experience.

In terms of additional features, it has a pair of speakers built-in, as well as features that let you add a virtual crosshair, a frame rate counter, and a blue light filter to reduce eye strain. It's available in a 27 inch size if you need the increased screen real estate, but it has the same 1080p resolution, which results in a lower pixel density. Nonetheless, it's an excellent gaming monitor that should please casual and hardcore gamers alike, and best of all, it won't break the bank.