If you're a competitive gamer, getting a high refresh rate monitor can help you compete against lesser-equipped opponents. Faster refresh rates lead to a smoother gaming experience with the potential for lower input lag and a more responsive feel. However, it's not always the case, so it's still important to consider the monitor's input lag if you play reaction-based games. You also want to make sure the monitor has a quick response time for minimal motion blur. Some monitors even offer dual-mode features to boost the refresh rate with a lower resolution. Plus, variable refresh rate (VRR) is important to reduce screen tearing, and almost every modern gaming monitor works with common VRR formats.
In addition to a responsive gaming experience, having good picture quality also helps provide good overall performance. Luckily, high-refresh-rate OLED monitors combine the best motion handling with their premium picture quality in HDR, displaying deep blacks, bright highlights, and vivid colors. Flagship models with high-end picture quality tend to cost a lot, though. You may want to get a lower-end option for cheaper at the cost of worse picture quality.
We've bought and tested more than 415 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best monitors with a high refresh rate. Also, check out our recommendations for the best 240Hz monitors, the best G-SYNC monitors, and the best 1440p 144Hz monitors. Although we haven't bought and tested all high-refresh-rate monitors, you can follow along with which monitors we buy and test. If there's a specific model you want to see tested, you can vote for it.
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.
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Best High Refresh Rate Monitor
PC GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureRefresh Rate ComplianceSize27"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeWOLEDNative Resolution2560 x 1440Native Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate720 HzSee all our test resultsDual Mode SettingThe best high refresh rate monitor we've tested is the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W. It's a premium OLED that's versatile for a wide range of gamers. This is because it has a dual-mode feature that switches its native 1440p resolution and 540Hz refresh rate to 720p @ 720Hz. It allows you to play detailed games in one mode and action games that need the highest frame rates in another. Its refresh rate is also the highest you can get on any OLED monitor right now. It supports all common VRR formats to reduce screen tearing, and it has a near-instantaneous response time at any refresh rate, leading to sharp motion. Plus, it has low input lag across both dual modes, so it adds minimal delay to your setup's total latency, which is ideal for playing reaction-based games. It also has high-bandwidth HDMI and DisplayPort 2.1 ports to take advantage of the latest graphics cards.
Besides its remarkable gaming performance, it delivers outstanding picture quality. It delivers deep, inky blacks alongside bright highlights, with no haloing around bright objects. Its Tandem WOLED panel is very bright, so it fights glare well. It also has a glossy coating that makes images look clear, but it has distracting mirror-like reflections. You may prefer the LG 27GX790B-B if you want something with a matte coating. It has fewer reflections than the ASUS, but the coating introduces haze instead, so images aren't as clear.
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Best Upper Mid-Range High Refresh Rate Monitor
PC GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureRefresh Rate ComplianceSize27"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeWOLEDNative Resolution2560 x 1440Native Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate480 HzSee all our test resultsDual Mode SettingIf you don't need the versatility of the dual mode of the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W and you want to save some money, the LG 27GX790A-B is a good alternative. It's a lower-end, older model than the ASUS, which you can get cheaper when it's on sale. The main difference versus the higher-end ASUS is that it has a lower 480Hz refresh rate and lacks a dual-mode feature to boost it even further. It performs similarly to the ASUS otherwise, as it supports the same VRR formats and has low input lag for a responsive feel, and motion looks sharp thanks to its quick response time. Like the higher-end model, it has the same HDMI and DisplayPort 2.1 ports, which is great if you have a modern graphics card.
It also has similar picture quality to the ASUS because it's another OLED with the same deep blacks, impactful HDR highlights, and no haloing around bright objects against dark backgrounds. One difference versus the ASUS, though, is that it doesn't have a Tandem WOLED panel. This means it isn't as bright, and colors aren't as vivid, so it's a step down in overall picture quality. Plus, it has a matte coating that produces hazier images than the glossy coating of the ASUS, but at least it has fewer mirror-like reflections.
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Best Mid-Range High Refresh Rate Monitor
PC GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureRefresh Rate ComplianceSize27"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeQD-OLEDNative Resolution2560 x 1440Native Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate360 HzSee all our test resultsDual Mode SettingIf you don't need such a high refresh rate, there are plenty of options you can get for cheaper with lower refresh rates. If that interests you, check out the Dell Alienware AW2725DF. With a lower 360Hz refresh rate than the LG 27GX790A-B, it's still fast enough to provide a smooth and responsive gaming experience. Like the LG, it's another OLED with the same near-instantaneous response time, resulting in sharp motion, and it has low input lag for a responsive feel. A downside is that its HDMI and DisplayPort inputs support less bandwidth. You can only reach its max refresh rate with a DisplayPort connection, and your graphics card needs to use compression to do so.
This monitor actually has an advantage over the LG when it comes to picture quality. This is because it uses a QD-OLED panel with more vivid colors for improved overall picture quality, especially in HDR games. One downside to this panel is that blacks look purple in bright rooms, so you need to use it in a dark room to get the best performance. If you can't find this monitor available in your region, there are other 360Hz QD-OLEDs you can consider that perform similarly, like the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG. You can't go wrong with either of these, but the Dell is usually cheaper.
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Best Lower Mid-Range High Refresh Rate Monitor
PC GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureRefresh Rate ComplianceSize27"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeQD-OLEDNative Resolution2560 x 1440Native Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsDual Mode SettingIf the Dell Alienware AW2725DF is still too expensive for your needs, a cheaper alternative you can consider is the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q. The biggest downside is the fact that it has a lower 240Hz refresh rate, which is expected for a lower-cost option. This means while it doesn't offer the same smooth, high-end feel as the Dell, it's still fast enough for many PC gamers. At least this lower refresh rate is less demanding on your graphics card, so it's easier to maintain high frame rates, especially if you have more of an entry-level PC. Unlike the Dell, this monitor even has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, so you can reach its max refresh rate over HDMI, provided you also have an HDMI 2.1 graphics card.
It has a QD-OLED panel like the Dell, so it has the same incredibly sharp motion handling, making it a fantastic choice for fast-paced gaming. It's also excellent for HDR gaming as it displays the same deep blacks with bright highlights and no haloing in dark scenes. However, it isn't as bright as the Dell, and because its blacks look purple in bright rooms, you have to use it in a dark room to get the best out of it. You may want to consider the LG 27GX704A-B if you want something brighter, but it sometimes costs more than the HyperX.
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Best Budget High Refresh Rate Monitor
PC GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureRefresh Rate ComplianceSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeVANative Resolution2560 x 1440Native Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate300 HzSee all our test resultsDual Mode SettingIf an OLED like the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q is still too expensive for you, you can look into some non-OLED monitors in the budget category. If that interests you, check out the MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV. It's a 27-inch, 1440p monitor like the HyperX, and it actually has a higher 300Hz refresh rate for a smoother feel. Despite this, motion looks blurry because it doesn't have a near-instantaneous response time like the HyperX. It also has black smearing in dark scenes, which is a downside if you play games with a lot of darker content. Regardless, it offers good value with good motion handling in brighter scenes, and low input lag that helps with reaction-based games. It even has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of the latest graphics cards.
Other differences have to do with picture quality. It doesn't have the same deep and inky blacks without any haloing as an OLED. That said, it uses Mini LED backlighting and still delivers great picture quality. Its local dimming feature helps it display deep enough blacks for an impactful HDR gaming experience, but it mutes some small highlights, like in starry scenes, and causes a bit of haloing around bright objects. It at least gets much brighter than the HyperX, making it a great choice for gaming in a well-lit room. If you find this monitor too expensive for a budget model, though, the KOORUI S2721PM is a solid alternative that costs less and also uses Mini LED backlighting. However, it has a lower 200Hz refresh rate.
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Best Cheap High Refresh Rate Monitor
PC GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureRefresh Rate ComplianceSize24"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSNative Resolution1920 x 1080Native Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsDual Mode SettingShould you be on a tight budget and still want a high-refresh-rate display, the Dell SE2426HGS is a solid choice as a cheap, entry-level option. The main trade-off of getting this instead of the MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV is that it has a lower 1080p resolution and a smaller screen, so it offers a less immersive gaming experience. It also has much worse picture quality because it doesn't have Mini LED backlighting. This means blacks look gray, highlights don't pop, and it doesn't get as bright, so it's much worse for HDR gaming. That said, this is what you have to expect from such a cheap display.
Regardless, it's a solid option as a basic gaming monitor because it has a fast enough 240Hz refresh rate. It has similar motion handling to the MSI, with a fast response time that results in minimal motion blur with less black smearing in dark scenes. It even has consistent motion handling across its VRR range, as it doesn't add too much inverse ghosting as the refresh rate drops. Plus, you should know that it supports all common VRR formats, so it works with all sources. A downside is that it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, but you can still reach its max refresh rate over HDMI with 8-bit signals, like in SDR games.
Notable Mentions
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ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG:
The ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG is a high-end OLED. It has a native 4k resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate that you can switch to 1080p, 480Hz in its dual mode. It's something to consider over the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W if you want a higher resolution, but its max refresh rate is still lower.
See our review -
ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDN:
The ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDN is a premium ultrawide gaming monitor with more vivid colors than the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W. It's a great choice if you want an immersive gaming experience, but it has a lower 360Hz refresh rate compared to the PG27AQWP-W.
See our review -
BenQ ZOWIE XQ2566X:
The BenQ ZOWIE XQ2566X is an esports gaming monitor with a 1440p resolution and 360Hz refresh rate. It uses a TN panel, so it's a solid choice if you don't want an OLED or if you don't need good picture quality. That said, it's expensive, as it's in the same price range as the LG 27GX790A-B, but it has a lower refresh rate than the LG.
See our review -
LG 27GX700A-B:
The LG 27GX700A-B is a mid-range option that's a brighter alternative to the Dell Alienware AW2725DF, as it uses a Tandem WOLED panel. However, the 27GX700A-B has a lower 280Hz refresh rate.
See our review -
Dell Alienware AW2726DM:
The Dell Alienware AW2726DM is an entry-level OLED gaming monitor that has a 1440p resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate, like the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q. The Dell is worth getting if you can find it for less, but it's dimmer than the HyperX, and it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
See our review -
LG 27GR83Q-B:
The LG 27GR83Q-B is a budget-friendly 1440p gaming monitor that's sometimes cheaper than the MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV. The LG is a solid gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate and good motion handling. However, it has worse picture quality than the MSI because it doesn't have Mini LED backlighting.
See our review
Recent Updates
Oct 14, 2026:
We replaced the LG 27GR83Q-B with the MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV in the budget category because the MSI has a higher refresh rate and better picture quality. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the LG 27G850A-B and added the 27GR83Q-B.
Sep 01, 2026:
We added the BenQ ZOWIE XQ2566X as a Notable Mention to give a high-refresh-rate option that isn't an OLED.
Jul 24, 2026:
We added the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q as the 'Best Lower Mid-Range High Refresh Rate Monitor' to give another option and better represent the market.
Jun 17, 2026:
In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the hard-to-find ASUS ROG Strix Pulsar XG27AQNGV with the premium ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDN.
May 21, 2026:
We replaced the ViewSonic XG2431, which is hard to find, with the Dell SE2426HGS in the budget category. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the Dell Alienware AW2523HF with the Dell Alienware AW2726DM.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best high refresh rate displays 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 would prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of our highest refresh rate monitors. 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.