The 5 Best 4k Gaming Monitors - Summer 2021 Reviews

The Acer Nitro XV282K KVbmiipruzx is the best 4k gaming monitor that we've tested. It sports a 28 inch IPS screen with wide viewing angles, and it comes with a very sturdy stand that allows for tons of ergonomic adjustments. It handles reflections well and gets bright enough to provide good visibility in most lighting conditions, but it might struggle a bit in very well-lit or sunny settings.

It has a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz and is one of the first monitors to have HDMI 2.1 support. It has an exceptional response time to deliver a clear image in fast-moving scenes, and it supports VRR to reduce screen tearing. It can display a wide color gamut for HDR, but like most monitors, the overall HDR experience is underwhelming because it doesn't get bright enough to make highlights pop, and its edge-lit local dimming is terrible.

There are many ports on this monitor, including a USB hub with four USB 3.0 and a USB-C input that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. The power delivery is 65W, which should be enough to charge most ultraportable laptops but not power-hungry ones with a dedicated GPU. It has built-in speakers and a blue light filter to help reduce eye strain. All in all, it's an excellent monitor for both PC and console gamers.

The best 4k monitor for gaming in dark rooms we've tested is the LG OLED48C1. While we do recognize that this is a TV, there really is nothing better for dark rooms than an OLED like the C1. Its 48 inch screen feels incredibly immersive, and it can display deep, inky blacks for a great dark room gaming experience. Also, there's no blooming or visible transition between dimming zones like on backlit TVs because there's no backlight.

Like most OLEDs, the response time is near-instantaneous, resulting in clear motion with almost no blur trail behind fast-moving objects. It has HDMI 2.1 ports, which means you can play at 120Hz without chroma subsampling to reduce bandwidth. As for its VRR, it supports FreeSync natively and is certified as G-SYNC compatible. Input lag is exceptionally low and shouldn't increase when playing in HDR.

Unfortunately, there are a few downsides to using an OLED TV as a monitor. First, it has no ergonomic adjustments to speak of, so it might be hard to get a comfortable viewing position. Second, there is a risk of permanent burn-in, although we don't expect it to be an issue for most people. On the plus side, it delivers an amazing HDR experience, and it has built-in speakers. Overall, it's an excellent monitor worth considering.

The best 4k gaming monitor that we've tested in the budget category is the Dell S2721QS. It's a versatile monitor with a simple design that should fit easily into most office settings. It's well-built, and it comes with a sturdy stand that allows for all manner of adjustments so that you can get a comfortable viewing position. Reflection handling is good, and screen brightness is great, which means you shouldn't have any problems with visibility in bright rooms.

Gaming-wise, it's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, which is somewhat expected for a budget monitor. The response times are good, though, and it has both native FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility to minimize screen tearing. It can display a wide color gamut for HDR content, but it doesn't get bright enough, not even for the most basic form of HDR. Also, it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray in the dark, typical of most IPS panels.

It's pretty light on extra features as it's primarily designed for productivity. That said, you do get built-in speakers and a Picture-in-Picture/Picture-by-Picture mode that lets you display two input signals at once, which you can use to watch a TV show or movie while gaming. Overall, while it isn't particularly feature-rich, it's a good budget monitor that most people should be happy with.