A 4k monitor is a great choice for an immersive gaming experience with detailed and sharp images. There are plenty of options to choose from, including at different price points. However, while there are some cheap, entry-level 4k models available, those usually have limited gaming performance. It's better to spend more on a dedicated 4k gaming monitor if you want the best performance; otherwise, an entry-level model is good enough for most gamers.
There are a few factors to think about when looking for a 4k gaming monitor. It's important to consider its response time for crisp motion and low input lag for a responsive feel, which most have anyway. For the best gaming experience, you'll want something with HDMI and DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of the latest graphics cards or gaming consoles. Although it's hard for computers to maintain high frame rates with this resolution, there are models available with high refresh rates, like up to 240Hz. Lastly, displays with high contrast and bright highlights also help improve your gaming experience with good HDR picture quality.
We've bought and tested more than 400 monitors, and below are our picks for the best 4k gaming monitors. Also, see our recommendations for the best monitors for Xbox Series X, the best monitors for PS5/PS5 Pro, the best monitors for the Nintendo Switch 2, and the best 4k 144Hz monitors.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
-
Best 4k Gaming Monitor
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize32"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeQD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160The best 4k gaming monitor we've tested is the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Gen3. It's exceptional for gaming while offering incredible picture quality. With a QD-OLED panel, it has a near-instantaneous response time for sharp motion, and its 240Hz refresh rate is high enough for most gamers, providing a smooth feel. Plus, it supports both HDMI and DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth, which is useful if you have a graphics card that can take full advantage of either port. This also means it can make full use of the PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X|S, and it even supports Dolby Vision with an Xbox. Plus, it has a few extra features that make it well-rounded, like a USB hub and a KVM switch, which is ideal for multitasking with different computers or connecting multiple devices.
Besides that, it makes your favorite games look detailed thanks to its high 4k resolution. It displays deep and inky blacks in dark rooms, makes small highlights pop, and has vivid colors, so it's a fantastic choice for HDR gaming. Despite its BlackShield glossy coating maintaining lower black levels in bright rooms than other QD-OLEDs, blacks still look gray in ambient lighting. You can consider the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG if you want a 4k, 240Hz OLED with better black levels in well-lit rooms. It also has a dual-mode feature to boost it to 1080p, 480Hz. However, colors aren't as vivid as on the PG32UCDM Gen3, and it lacks DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth.
-
Best Upper Mid-Range 4k Gaming Monitor
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeQD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Gen3 is too much out of your price range, the Dell Alienware AW2725Q is a good alternative that you can get for less, especially when it's on sale. It's another 4k, 240Hz QD-OLED that performs similarly for the most part, but it has fewer features. For example, it lacks DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of the latest graphics cards. It doesn't have a KVM switch like the ASUS, either, which is something to consider if you want to connect a second device alongside your gaming PC.
Besides that, it offers the same sharp motion, low input lag, and VRR support as the ASUS, so it provides the same high-end gaming performance. Plus, it supports all signals with gaming consoles, including Dolby Vision with an Xbox. It also displays the same deep blacks in dark rooms with bright and vivid colors. However, it overbrightens some content in HDR, depending on the settings used, negatively impacting image accuracy. Another difference is that it uses an older QD-OLED panel that isn't as bright, and blacks look purple in bright rooms, so it performs best in a dark environment.
-
Best Mid-Range 4k Gaming Monitor
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate320 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If you don't have the budget for an OLED, there are some options with great value in the mid-range price category, like the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. It's worth getting when you can find it on sale. It's different from the Dell Alienware AW2725Q because it doesn't have an OLED panel, so it doesn't deliver the same deep blacks and has no haloing around bright objects. However, this is what you have to expect from something cheaper, and it instead has Mini LED backlighting that allows the monitor to get much brighter, making it the better choice for well-lit rooms. It also has a local dimming feature to improve black levels in dark scenes, but it has black crush, causing a loss of details in dark scenes, as well as haloing around bright objects against dark backgrounds.
While it has a lower 160Hz native refresh rate than the Dell, it has a dual-mode feature to boost the refresh rate to 320Hz with a lower 1080p resolution. This gives it versatility for playing different types of games. It has good motion handling in either of the modes, but there's more blur than on the Dell. On the plus side, it supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of gaming consoles, but it doesn't support Dolby Vision, which is a downside if you want to game with an Xbox.
-
Best Budget 4k Gaming Monitor
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If you want the best budget 4k gaming monitor, check out the Dell S2725QS. It's an entry-level 4k monitor that's mainly designed for productivity, but it also has gaming features. It differs from the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx in a few ways, as it doesn't feature Mini LED backlighting. Without local dimming and combined with its lower overall contrast ratio, blacks look gray in dark rooms, and highlights don't pop, particularly in HDR. It also has a lower 120Hz refresh rate without a dual-mode feature, so gaming doesn't feel as smooth. Sadly, it has much worse motion handling than the Acer, so there's blur behind fast-moving objects, which you may notice when playing fast-paced games.
Despite this, it's one of the better entry-level 4k options for gaming because its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and 120Hz refresh rate make it well-suited to modern gaming consoles, especially if you play slower-paced games. It also supports all common VRR formats and has low input lag for a responsive feel. However, it's otherwise limited in perks, as it doesn't even have an audio jack or a USB hub. You can also check out the Dell S2725QC if you want something similar with a USB hub, but it usually costs more than the S2725QS.
Notable Mentions
-
ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM:
The ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM is a premium 27-inch, 240Hz, QD-OLED monitor that's a smaller and cheaper alternative to the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Gen3. It performs similarly for the most part, but it isn't as bright.
See our review -
Samsung Odyssey OLED G73SH S32HG732S:
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G73SH S32HG732S is an upper mid-range 4k gaming monitor. It's an alternative to the Dell Alienware AW2725Q if you want a dual-mode feature to boost the 165Hz native refresh rate to 330Hz. While it maintains lower black levels in bright rooms than the Dell, its colors aren't as vivid.
See our review -
Dell S3225QC:
The Dell S3225QC is a 32-inch QD-OLED that's in the same price range as the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. The Dell has better picture quality with its deeper blacks and more vivid colors. It also has better motion handling, but it has a lower 120Hz refresh rate and no dual-mode feature. This means you should go for the Acer if you want a fast refresh rate.
See our review -
MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M:
The MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M is a 4k Mini LED monitor that competes directly with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. It has many of the same specs and similar performance, and is worth considering if you can find it for less. That said, it costs more than the Acer most of the time.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jul 24, 2026:
We replaced the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM with the newer and brighter ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Gen3. We also replaced the hard-to-find KOORUI S2741LM with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM and the Samsung Odyssey OLED G81SF S27FG810S, and we added the Samsung Odyssey OLED G73SH S32HG732S, the MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M, and the PG27UCDM to reflect the changes to the market and the recommendation.
Jun 09, 2026:
We added the Samsung Odyssey OLED G81SF S27FG810S to the Notable Mentions to reflect its position in the market.
May 13, 2026:
We replaced the MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M with the KOORUI S2741LM, which has better overall picture quality and motion handling. We also moved the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx to the Notable Mentions because it's priced similarly to the KOORUI. Lastly, we removed the Dell Alienware AW2725QF and the Dell S2725QC from the Notable Mentions.
Apr 15, 2026:
We replaced the LG 27G850A-B with the Dell Alienware AW2725QF in the Notable Mentions.
Mar 20, 2026:
We added the MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M as the 'Best Mid-Range 4k Gaming Monitor' to give another option and renamed the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx to the 'Best Lower Mid-Range 4k Gaming Monitor.'
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best 4k gaming monitors currently available in the United States. They're adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. The rating is based on our review, feedback from visitors, and price. For example, two monitors may perform the same, but the cheaper one will be recommended. We also consider availability, as we don't recommend a monitor that's hard to find.
If you'd prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all of our 4k monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.