The 5 Best Gaming Monitors - Summer 2024

The best gaming monitor we've tested is the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80. This premium monitor features high-end perks like a 4k resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, and QD-OLED panel, providing both outstanding picture quality and gaming performance. Motion looks extremely clear thanks to its near-instantaneous response time, so there's almost no blur behind fast-moving objects. It also supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of modern graphics cards and gaming consoles.

Its QD-OLED panel delivers perfect blacks in dark rooms without any blooming around bright objects. It also gets bright enough for small highlights to pop and colors to look vivid. While it doesn't get bright enough to fight a ton of glare in a well-lit room, it has matte screen coating with fantastic reflection handling, so there aren't any distracting reflections. That said, if you aren't a fan of matte coatings, the Dell Alienware AW3225QF is another 4k, 240Hz QD-OLED monitor that has a glossy coating, so images are clearer, but its curved screen may not be for everyone. If you find the Dell and Samsung at the same price, choosing one over the other comes down to which screen coating you prefer, but the Samsung also has a few extra features like a built-in smart system.

If you don't need a premium option with a high 4k resolution like the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80, check out the cheaper Dell Alienware AW2725DF instead. With a lower 1440p resolution, images aren't as detailed, but it has a higher 360Hz refresh rate, making it an ideal choice for competitive gaming. That said, it doesn't have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, so you can only reach the max refresh rate with a DisplayPort connection. It also has a glossy screen coating, so it's best to avoid placing it opposite a bright window, but if you game in the dark, it's a fantastic choice.

Besides that, it delivers the same outstanding gaming experience as the Samsung with a near-instantaneous response time for incredibly sharp motion. It also has a QD-OLED panel that displays deep and inky blacks, and it's fantastic for HDR gaming thanks to its bright and vivid colors. One downside is that it doesn't have an audio outport, so you'll have to connect your audio devices directly to your PC. If having an audio outport is important to you, the MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED is another fantastic QD-OLED with a 360Hz refresh rate, but it tends to cost more than the Dell.

If you don't need an OLED's high-end performance and picture quality or prefer saving money, check out a mid-range option like the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx. There are a few trade-offs, as it doesn't deliver the same deep blacks or have a near-instantaneous response time like the Dell Alienware AW2725DF. It also has a lower 160Hz refresh rate, which is still good for most gamers, and it has a higher 4k resolution for sharper images. Luckily, it's a versatile gaming monitor that has good motion handling across its VRR range, so there isn't too much blur with fast-moving objects.

On top of its gaming perks, it has good picture quality whether you're gaming in SDR or HDR. It has a decent Mini LED local dimming feature that helps it display deep blacks next to bright highlights, and it also gets bright enough to make highlights pop. There are some downsides, though, as it has increased input lag at 60Hz, which is disappointing for playing games at low refresh rates. However, you can avoid this issue if you connect your device at a higher refresh rate and use VRR to go down to a lower refresh rate.

As you get into budget monitors, you get fewer features than high-end models, but there are some that still offer both good gaming performance and picture quality. That's the case with the AOC Q27G3XMN, which has Mini LED backlighting like the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and is one of the few lower-cost monitors to have it. Combined with its high native contrast ratio, it displays deep blacks next to bright highlights, and there isn't too much blooming, either. It also gets very bright in HDR, so highlights pop against the rest of the image.

However, there are a few trade-offs versus the Acer, as it has a lower 1440p resolution, so images aren't as detailed. While it has a fast response time without much blur behind fast-moving objects, it has some black smearing, which is one of the downsides of its VA panel. One thing to know is that it can go out of stock sometimes, so if you can't find it available, the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx is another great low-cost option with Mini LED backlighting, but it has worse motion handling than the AOC.

If you want a simple and cheap gaming monitor, check out the Dell G2724D, which you can often for a low cost directly from Dell's website. It has similar specs to the AOC Q27G3XMN, as it also has a 27-inch, 1440p screen. However, it doesn't have Mini LED backlighting, so it has much worse picture quality as blacks look gray in dark rooms, which is the trade-off for getting something cheaper. Luckily, it still offers good value as a pure gaming monitor because motion looks sharp, and it doesn't have black smearing like on the AOC.

Besides that, its 165Hz refresh rate is ideal for most gamers, especially if you have an entry-level gaming setup that can't take advantage of higher refresh rates. However, there are a few entry-level 240Hz monitors you can get if you prefer a higher refresh rate, like the ViewSonic XG2431. That said, it has a lower 1080p resolution, so at least the Dell offers both detailed enough images and a smooth gaming feel.