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 for 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. VRR support is also important for a responsive experience with reduced screen tearing, but almost every modern gaming monitor works with common VRR formats.
Luckily, OLED monitors combine the best motion handling with the best picture quality, with deep blacks and bright highlights, so they provide the best of both worlds. Premium models with high-end picture quality tend to cost a lot, though. Alternatively, there are some cheaper entry-level options with high refresh rates that have limited picture quality.
2026 is an exciting year for high-refresh-rate displays, with monitors coming out with refresh rates as high as 1040Hz. 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've bought and tested more than 380 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.
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 TimeRefresh Rate ComplianceHDR PictureSDR PictureSize27"Panel TypeOLEDNative Resolution2560 x 1440Max Refresh Rate720 HzSee all our test resultsNative Refresh RateHzThe best high refresh rate monitor we've tested so far is the LG 27GX790B-B. It's a premium OLED that offers versatility 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, allowing you to play detailed games in one mode and action games that need the highest frame rates in another. Its refresh rate is the highest you can get on any OLED monitor, too. 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 gaming feels responsive. 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 also delivers outstanding picture quality. This is thanks to its OLED panel, which delivers deep, inky blacks alongside bright highlights, with no haloing around bright objects. Its Tandem OLED panel is very bright, so it fights glare well, and its matte coating absorbs light well.
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Best Upper Mid-Range High Refresh Rate Monitor
PC GamingResponse TimeRefresh Rate ComplianceHDR PictureSDR PictureSize27"Panel TypeOLEDNative Resolution2560 x 1440Max Refresh Rate480 HzSee all our test resultsNative Refresh RateHzIf you don't need the versatility of the dual mode of the LG 27GX790B-B and you want to save some money, the LG 27GX790A-B is a good alternative. It's a lower-end, older model than the 27GX790A-B, which you can get cheaper when it's on sale. The main difference versus the higher-end 27GX790B-B 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 27GX790B-B otherwise, as it supports the same VRR formats, 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.
It also has similar picture quality to the 27GX790B-B because it's another OLED with the same deep blacks, impactful HDR highlights, and no haloing around bright objects. One difference versus the 27GX790B-B, though, is that it doesn't have a Tandem OLED panel. This means it isn't as bright and colors aren't vivid, so it's a step-down in picture quality.
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Best Mid-Range High Refresh Rate Monitor
PC GamingResponse TimeRefresh Rate ComplianceHDR PictureSDR PictureSize27"Panel TypeQD-OLEDNative Resolution2560 x 1440Max Refresh Rate360 HzSee all our test resultsNative Refresh RateHzIf you don't need such a high refresh rate, there are plenty of options you can get in the mid-range price category. 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 low input lag for a responsive feel. Its HDMI and DisplayPort inputs support less bandwidth, though, and you can only reach its max refresh rate with a DisplayPort connection.
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 brighter and 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 the cheapest in North America.
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Best Lower Mid-Range High Refresh Rate Monitor
PC GamingResponse TimeRefresh Rate ComplianceHDR PictureSDR PictureSize27"Panel TypeIPSNative Resolution2560 x 1440Max Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsNative Refresh RateHzIf an OLED like the Dell Alienware AW2725DF is still too expensive for you, you can look into some non-OLED monitors with lower refresh rates. If that interests you, look into the LG 27GR83Q-B. It's a 27-inch, 1440p monitor like the Dell, but it has some notable differences. It has a lower 240Hz refresh rate, so it doesn't offer the same premium and smooth gaming experience as the Dell, but this is what you have to expect at this price point. It doesn't have the same near-instantaneous response time either, so there's more motion blur. Regardless, it offers good value, with a consistently fast response time at any refresh rate and low input lag that helps with reaction-based games.
The biggest trade-off with this monitor, though, is with its picture quality. It fails to deliver an impactful HDR gaming experience, as blacks look gray, highlights don't pop, and it lacks local dimming to improve picture quality in dark scenes. This means you shouldn't get this monitor if you care about picture quality; otherwise, you'd have to spend more on one of the higher-end displays. Regardless, it's still a good choice for gaming in well-lit rooms, as it gets brighter than the Dell.
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Best Budget High Refresh Rate Monitor
PC GamingResponse TimeRefresh Rate ComplianceHDR PictureSDR PictureSize24"Pixel TypeIPSNative Resolution1920 x 1080Max Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsNative Refresh RateHzShould you be on a tight budget and still want a high-refresh-rate display, the ViewSonic XG2431 is a solid choice as an entry-level option. The main trade-off of getting this instead of the LG 27GR83Q-B is that it has a lower 1080p resolution and a smaller screen, so it offers a less immersive gaming experience. It's not as bright as the LG either, which is something to consider if your gaming space is well-lit.
Regardless, it's a solid option as a basic gaming monitor because it has the same 240Hz refresh rate as the LG. It even has improved motion handling than the LG, with quicker response times. An advantage of this monitor is its customizable backlight strobing, which helps reduce persistence blur at low refresh rates. You can adjust the pulse width and phase as you wish, letting you fine-tune the appearance of motion. However, you can't use this feature at the same time as VRR. If you prefer gaming with VRR, you should know that it supports FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility, so it works with most sources.
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 240Hz refresh rate that you can switch to 1080p, 480Hz in its dual mode. It's something to consider over the LG 27GX790B-B if you want a higher resolution. However, it usually costs more than the LG.
See our review -
LG 27GX700A-B:
The LG 27GX700A-B is a brighter alternative to the LG 27GX790A-B as it uses the new RGB Tandem OLED panel. However, the 27GX700A-B has a lower 280Hz refresh rate.
See our review -
ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG:
The ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG is a mid-range 240Hz gaming monitor that's an alternative to the Dell Alienware AW2725DF if you don't need a 360Hz refresh rate. It's another OLED that performs similarly for the most part, but its colors aren't as vivid as on the Dell.
See our review -
LG 27G850A-B:
The LG 27G850A-B is a mid-range gaming monitor that's usually in the same price range as the Dell Alienware AW2725DF. It's a bit more versatile because it has a native 4k resolution and 240Hz refresh rate with a dual-mode 1080p @ 480Hz feature. However, it has worse picture quality than the Dell.
See our review -
Dell Alienware AW2723DF:
The Dell Alienware AW2723DF is a competitor to the LG 27GR83Q-B that sometimes cost less. The Dell also has a slightly higher 280Hz refresh rate, but it has worse motion handling than the LG.
See our review
Recent Updates
Mar 03, 2026:
We replaced the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG with the LG 27GX790B-B, which has a higher refresh rate. We moved the XG32UCWMG to the Notable Mentions, and we removed the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM from there.
Feb 06, 2026:
We replaced the Sony INZONE M10S and the Dell G2524H with the LG 27GX700A-B and the Dell Alienware AW2723DF in the Notable Mentions.
Jan 23, 2026:
We overhauled the structure of this article to make it more similar to other recommendations. We added the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG as the top pick, and the Dell Alienware AW2725DF and the LG 27GR83Q-B in their respective categories. We also renamed the LG 27GX790A-B to the 'Best Upper Mid-Range High Refresh Rate Monitor.' We removed the BenQ ZOWIE XL2586X, the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG, and the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM as main picks. Lastly, we made several changes to the Notable Mentions to reflect the new recommendations, including adding the PG27UCDM, Sony INZONE M10S, LG 27G850A-B, and Dell G2524H.
Nov 07, 2025:
We replaced the Sony INZONE M10S with the LG 27GX790A-B and the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG with the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM for consistency with other recommendations. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the Dell Alienware AW2523HF and the Dell Alienware AW2725DF, and added the Dell Alienware AW2725Q and the XG27AQDMG.
Jun 26, 2025:
Replaced the MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED with the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG, as the MSI is hard to find.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best high refresh rate displays currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people in each market segment. The rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
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.