Gaming monitors are some of the best investments you can sink your budget into concerning PC gaming. With enough care, gaming monitors might even outlast your gaming PC, particularly if the latter is in need of an upgrade.
But as always, comparing monitors and discerning which specs are worthy of your investment is a tricky affair. Too many numbers and letters, you’d need a definitive beginner’s monitor buying guide.
And of course, our recommendations are here to shorten your effort in hunting for the ideal monitor for your gaming PC battlestation. Check out these gaming monitors.
RELATED: 5 Best Mini-LED Monitor Models
Acer Nitro XV272U 27"
PROS
- Reasonable price
- 1440p resolution
- 170Hz refresh rate
- 27 inches is a good size
- FreeSync Premium
- Has speakers
- Good color accuracy
- Sturdy
- Easy adjustment
CONS
- Some batches are prone to IPS glow/backlight bleed
Specs:
- Panel Type: IPS
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 (QHD)
- Size: 27″
- Refresh Rate: 170Hz
1440p is always a good middle-ground between the aging 1080p and the more extravagant 4K. In fact, we even daresay it’s becoming the new standard now. So best to go with the new norm for monitors, and the Acer Nitro XV272U is one of the most competitive offerings in that segment.
IPS, 1440p, 27-inches, and a whopping 170Hz refresh rate is impressive enough. But the fact that it’s also from a reputable mainstream brand that can give you a more reliable warranty is the icing on the cake. FreeSync Premium if that matters, so any card works here for reducing screen tearing the modern way.
Acer Nitro XV272U 27"
Alienware AW3423DW 34-inch OLED
PROS
- Curved, 1800R
- Gorgeous OLED screen
- Astounding color accuracy and deep blacks
- Ultrawide
- High refresh rate
- G-Sync Ultimate
- Beautiful frame
- Sturdy
- Ultra low latency
CONS
- Expensive
- OLED is prone to burn-in
- Expensive
- Heavy
Specs:
- Panel Type: Quantum-OLED
- Resolution: 3440 x 1440 ultrawide
- Size: 34″
- Refresh Rate: 175Hz
It’s been featured many times as the premier OLED monitor to have and we can’t argue with that. This Alienware beauty is just too gorgeous and has dominated the OLED scene and the gaming monitor scene for rich people.
The Quantum Dot-OLED ensures pixel-perfect color accuracy and some of the deepest and most accurate blacks you can gaze at. Everything else also just works in harmony to make this the dream gaming monitor.
Alienware AW3423DW 34-inch OLED
Acer Predator X32 FP 32"
PROS
- 4K resolution
- 32-inch display
- Sturdy metal stand
- High refresh rate (for a 4K display)
- Mini LED lighting makes the image gorgeous with deep black levels
- IPS panel
- FreeSync Premium
- Impressive color accuracy
- High brightness
CONS
- Expensive
- Random firmware bugs
- Batches are prone to IPS glow and backlight bleed
- Have we mentioned expensive?
Specs:
- Panel Type: Mini LED / IPS
- Resolution: 3840×2160 / 4K
- Size: 32″
- Refresh Rate: 160Hz
Mini LED is OLED’s closest competition right now in the high-end monitor segment and it’s quite a popular option among laptops. Mini LED eliminates the burn-in issues of OLED while having a comparable color accuracy and black level. They’re more expensive than OLED though, but the Acer Predator X32 FP has one of the most appealing prices.
It’s also well-regarded. This 4K beauty is simple yet elegant and offers a no-nonsense approach to monitor design. The Mini LED display is also impressive and you might find it hard to go back to other monitor panel types after having experienced this.
Acer Predator X32 FP 32"
ViewSonic ELITE XG320U 32"
PROS
- High refresh rate (for a 4K display)
- 4K resolution
- 32-inch display
- Minimalist design
- FreeSync Premium
- IPS panel
- Good color accuracy, especially with HDR
- Easy-to-use OSD
- Low response rate
CONS
- Expensive
- Batches are prone to IPS glow and backlight bleed
Specs:
- Panel Type: IPS
- Resolution: 3840×2160 / 4K
- Size: 32″
- Refresh Rate: 150Hz
If you still love 4K gaming but without the massive expense of OLED or Mini LED, then you can always grab a traditional IPS panel, like what the ViewSonic ELITE XG320U features. It’s a sensible choice albeit still expensive since it’s a 4K gaming monitor.
However, it’s good for its price and manages 150Hz if overclocked. FreeSync Premium is also there for your screen tearing needs. It also comes with some kind of backlight strobing tech to reduce motion blur and presumably ghosting during movement. Most importantly, the colors are vibrant and amazing.
ViewSonic ELITE XG320U 32"
KOORUI 24" Gaming Monitor 165Hz
PROS
- IPS panel
- Good refresh rate
- Good color accuracy
- Cheap price
- FreeSync Premium
- Great value
CONS
- 1080p is starting to fizzle out of the standard
- Inconvenient power and control button placements
- FreeSync setup is janky
Specs:
- Panel Type: IPS
- Resolution: 1920×1080 / 1080p
- Size: 24″
- Refresh Rate: 165Hz
We did mention that 1080p is starting to go out of fashion as the standard, but if it’s all you want to afford, then here’s one of the most impressive and best-value 1080p monitors you can find right now. Despite the apparent cost-cutting of this budget segment, Koorui was kind enough to build it with an IPS panel.
Moreover, the refresh rate is higher than what most 1080p monitors offer at this price point (sub-$120 USD). As for the brand, Koorui has proven itself to be reliable inside and outside of the US so you don’t have to worry about warranty or service too much. Besides, it’s now getting harder to find 24-inch 1080p monitors with these features.
KOORUI 24" Gaming Monitor 165Hz
Frequently Asked Questions
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Whats the difference between gaming monitors and non-gaming monitors?
Usually, gaming monitors have defining specs that make them better tailored for video games such as low latency or response times and higher refresh rates. Whereas most non-gaming monitors just focus on color accuracy and resolution. And of course, RGB and gamer aesthetics. -
How often do you need to upgrade gaming monitors?
If you chose our recommendations, you don't really have to unless you want to. These ones can last you a decade or more before it lags behind in standard features-- defects and damage notwithstanding.