If 4K is a little too expensive for you and 1080p is starting to look small or pixelated, then you can take the middle road with the best 1440p monitors.
Also known as QHD (quad-HD), 1440p is equivalent to four 720p screens stitched together to make a sharp and roomy resolution where you can multitask better and see more of your video game or movies’ beautiful visuals. It’s starting to become the standard and might eventually dethrone 1080p as the most common resolution.
So if you want to upgrade, and now’s a good time since even the best 1440p monitors are more affordable than ever, especially our recommendations.
LG UltraGear 27-Inch Gaming Monitor (27GN800-B)
PROS
- Built-in G-Sync support
- Affordable pricing
- Good color accuracy
CONS
- Some batches are prone to IPS glow
Specs:
- Size: 27 inches
- Panel Type: IPS
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
We did mention that 1440p monitors are becoming more and more accessible now, didn’t we? The LG UltraGear Gaming Monitor is a good proof of this as it’s currently on sale at the time of writing and has a sub-$200 price tag.
What even more amazing is that it comes with a G-Sync chip installed and the standard 144Hz refresh rate. This is one of the most affordable and most long-lasting investments you an purchase for your PC setup.
LG UltraGear 27-Inch Gaming Monitor (27GN800-B)
ASUS ROG Swift 27-inch 1440P Gaming Monitor (PG279QM)
PROS
- High refresh rate
- Stylish base
- Built-in G-Sync support
- Good color accuracy
CONS
- Expensive
- Some batches are prone to IPS glow
Specs:
- Size: 27 inches
- Panel Type: IPS
- Refresh Rate: 240Hz
Our premium option for the best 1440p monitors is also the one with the highest refresh rate among the bunch. The Asus ROG Swift Gaming Monitor proves why it earned its namesake by having a blazing fast and responsive refresh rate.
There’s also apparently a 360Hz variant but realistically, that’s tough to achieve and max out in 1440p so we have to be more conservative with 240Hz. In any case, that’s still more than enough these days.
ASUS ROG Swift 27-inch 1440P Gaming Monitor (PG279QM)
Acer Nitro 27-inch WQHD 2560 x 1440 PC Gaming IPS Monitor
PROS
- High refresh rate
- Has other custom spec options
- Low response rate
- Good color accuracy
CONS
- Flimsy base
- Some batches are prone to IPS glow
- Cheaper monitors have G-Sync support
Specs:
- Size: 27 inches
- Panel Type: IPS
- Refresh Rate: 180Hz
If you find the Asus ROG Switf a little too expensive but still want high refresh rate, the Acer Nitro Gaming Monitor is a solid alternative. It has both a 180Hz and a 240Hz variant depending on your needs.
More importantly, it has reasonable pricing. One drawback is the lack of G-Sync support but it comes with AMD FreeSync Premium which is another good alternative to more expensive tech and features.
Acer Nitro 27-inch WQHD 2560 x 1440 PC Gaming IPS Monitor
LG 27QN600-B 27-inch QHD
PROS
- Excellent color gamut
- Thinner and more compact
- It has other spec options
CONS
- Can't adjust the height
- Low refresh rate
Specs:
- Size: 27 inches
- Panel Type: IPS
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
If you’re serious about your work and need something with a tighter focus on color accuracy and range, this particular model from LG is worth picking over the faster monitors.
It might not have the best refresh rate, but that’s not really important for digital work (as anything above 60Hz is enough). It’s HDR 10 compatible and has a color gamut of SRGB 99% to help you better with creative outputs.
LG 27QN600-B 27-inch QHD
KOORUI 27 Inch Computer Monitor
PROS
- Curved for immersion
- Affordable pricing
- It has other spec options
CONS
- VA panel, cheaper panel
Specs:
- Size: 27 inches
- Panel Type: VA
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Our budget option also happens to be the best curved option and it comes from Koorui, a relative newcomer to the monitor market. There’s also a flat version if you prefer that.
With its price tag of sub-$180, you can’t complain as you might even find some 1080p and 24-inch monitors more expensive. There are compromises here and there, but they’re easily excused due ot the price tag and the curved feature.
KOORUI 27 Inch Computer Monitor
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Are 1440p monitors more demanding than 1080p?
Yes. Higher resoutions are more demanding to the computer and its GPU since it now has to fill in and render significantly more pixels. -
Are 1440p monitors the standard now?
Not quite yet. Recent Steam surveys suggest that there are still more people using 1080p so it's still the most common resolution.