The 5 Best 4k Gaming Monitors - Spring 2021 Reviews

The best 4k gaming monitor we've tested is the LG 27GN950-B. It has a large 27 inch screen that provides incredible immersion and plenty of space for multitasking. Its IPS panel has wide viewing angles, so images remain accurate when viewed from the side, great for sharing content or playing co-op games. It doesn't handle reflections all that well, but it gets bright enough to overcome glare easily. The ergonomics are somewhat disappointing as it doesn't allow for swivel adjustment at all.

Motion handling is fantastic thanks to its exceptional response time and high refresh rate, resulting in clear images in fast-moving scenes. However, it requires a graphics card with Display Stream Compression technology to achieve its full 160Hz refresh rate over a DisplayPort connection since there's no HDMI 2.1 port; it's limited to 60Hz over HDMI. The flicker-free backlight helps minimize image duplication, and it has both FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing.

Unfortunately, it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray in the dark, and even though it has a local dimming feature, it performs poorly. On the upside, it has two USB 3.0 ports for charging and a Picture-in-Picture mode that lets you display two input signals at once. It can deliver a pretty decent HDR experience as it displays a wide color gamut and gets bright enough to bring out some highlights. Overall, it's a great gaming monitor that should satisfy casual and serious gamers alike.

The best 4k monitor for gaming in dark rooms we've tested is the LG 48 CX OLED. This is technically a TV, but modern TVs have low enough input lag to make them suitable for PC gaming. As for its dark room performance, it has an OLED panel that can turn off individual pixels to produce perfect blacks. Since it doesn't have a backlight, there's no blooming around bright objects in dark scenes. It has wide viewing angles, so the image remains accurate at the sides even if you sit up close.

Response time on OLED panels is near-instantaneous, delivering clear motion in fast-moving scenes. On top of that, it has a Black Frame Insertion feature to further improve clarity. It has a 120Hz refresh rate and low input lag to provide a smooth and responsive gaming experience, and it supports variable refresh rate technology to minimize screen tearing. It can display 1080p and 1440p signals, allowing you to play at a lower resolution if your graphics card can't maintain a playable frame rate.

The most common concern about OLED is the risk of permanent burn-in. This happens when static elements like the user interface of a game or desktop remain on the screen for an extended period. It shouldn't be an issue for most people, though, and there are built-in features that can help mitigate the risks. So, if you aren't worried about the risks of burn-in, this is definitely worth checking out.

The best 4k gaming monitor that we've tested in the budget category is the LG 32UL500-W. Although it's designed for office use, it still offers decent overall gaming performance. This is also great if you need to use it for office use during the day then game at night, as the 4k resolution helps deliver clear text.

In terms of gaming, it's fairly limited on extra features, but that's somewhat expected. It has a 60Hz refresh rate with FreeSync support to reduce screen tearing, which is good for 4k games that run at 60fps. It has a decent response time, but you may notice some motion blur in dark scenes, and input lag is very low. The 32 inch screen helps deliver an immersive gaming experience, and thanks to its VA panel, it has a good contrast ratio that displays deep blacks. It also has built-in speakers, which is great if you don't want to spend extra on a dedicated setup.

Sadly, it has narrow viewing angles and terrible ergonomics as the stand only has a limited tilt range. This means that it may be harder to share your screen with others around you. It displays a wide color gamut for HDR gaming, but it lacks a local dimming feature and doesn't get bright enough to make highlights pop in HDR content. Regardless of these issues, this is the best 4k monitor for gaming that you can get at a low price.