The best gaming monitor is practically essential to any gaming experience and to any gaming rig. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing an RPG that has you running around all of ancient Greece or trying to get some quick gaming in on Overwatch. PC games are becoming a sensory experience more and more and the best gaming monitor is a critical part of that.
There are some crucial things to keep in mind when shopping for the best gaming monitor, and it doesn’t just come down to buying the most expensive monitor out there. You have such a range of options to choose from, perhaps more than ever before, that you’ll have to narrow your options somewhat by what the most important features are for you in a gaming monitor.
Do you want to forget yourself for a day and a half in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey or Control? Is something like Ray Tracing, the cutting edge in lighting in games, important? If so, try to get a display that comes with HDR and 4K resolution.
If you’re more of a competitor and spend your time trying to get to the top of the leaderboards in e-sports games, speed is going to be king. Particularly, high refresh rates and low response times should be your top priorities when shopping. There are screens now reaching 240Hz refresh rates that, powered by the best graphics cards and processors, will make you the fastest gamer on the block.
A number of monitors will have some combination of features so separating the best gaming monitors from the merely passable can be tough. However, with our expertise and hands-on experience with a plethora of gaming panels, we’ve been able to narrow the field down to our choices of the best gaming monitors to the ones below.
The Samsung CRG9 is the best gaming monitor if you’ve got the extra cash laying around.
It may be very expensive and requires a killer gaming PC setup to run, but the Samsung CRG9 is completely worth it and the best gaming monitor if you’ve got the extra cash laying around. This bigger-than-average 49-incher boasts bezels thinner than most gaming monitors and a picture by picture mode feature that lets you use two different inputs, simulating a dual monitor setup in a single monitor. And, that’s without mentioning that the Samsung CRG9 produces an out-of-this-world image right out of the box.
The Alienware AW3418DW delivers a level of immersion that only a 21:9 aspect ratio can.
The Alienware AW3418DW is one of the few gaming monitors that deliver a level of immersion that only a 21:9 aspect ratio can, while also offering up a high refresh rate. With a dense 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, ridiculously fast 4ms response times and a speedy 120Hz refresh rate, this ultrawide monitor gives you the best of both worlds. All these features don’t come cheap though, so budget-minded gamers might want to look elsewhere or start saving up.
The AOC Agon AC352UCG6 carries over the original’s best features.
The AOC Agon AG352UCG was one of the best gaming monitors we ever got our hands on, so when we heard that a follow-up was coming – one that comes with a higher refresh rate and better contrast – it was hard not to get excited. The AOC Agon AC352UCG6 Black Edition carries over the original’s best features but ramps them up to 11, making it a stunning display on which to experience ultra-wide gaming. It’s expensive, yeah, but if you have the hardware to back it up, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice by not investing.
The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ might just be the most advanced gaming monitor to add to your arsenal.
The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ might just be the most advanced – not to mention, best – gaming monitor to add to your arsenal... as long as you’re ready to pay for it. This display features a gorgeous 4K Ultra-HD resolution and HDR, as well as G-Sync and a lightning-quick 144Hz refresh rate. These specs add up to one of the most impressive gaming monitors that’s ever existed – and when you see it in action, it will blow you away. The only thing that holds this gaming monitor back from true greatness is its ridiculous price tag. But, then again, if you have this kind of cash lying around, you should be able to afford a PC powerful enough to drive it.
Originally made for CAD professionals, the BenQ PD3200U is also great for gaming.
While originally made for CAD professionals, the BenQ PD3200U is also great for gaming, making it one of the best gaming monitors you can buy today. This is mostly thanks to its rock-solid focus on graphic design so it’s able to offer incredibly wide viewing angles, which means that your friends can watch your game in comfort. And, unlike most 4K monitors on the market, you won’t have to mess around with the settings to get the best picture, since every unit is individually calibrated by BenQ before shipping. This is definitely one of the best gaming monitors out there, even though it wasn’t actually designed for gaming.
The MSI Optix MPG341CQR's super-wide 1440p resolution and 144Hz refresh certainly give gamers an edge.
While all of its extra frills make the MSI Optix MPG341CQR an even more appealing selection for potential buyers, it does an outstanding job of standing out on its own. The use of VA rather than IPS panel technology, for one, is a welcome advantage, offering punchier colors and better contrast. Plus, its super-wide 1440p resolution and 144Hz refresh certainly give gamers an edge. The best part might be that this display is also reasonably priced, making it one of the best gaming monitors.
The BenQ Zowie XL2540 forgoes flashy lighting effects for a blazing 240Hz refresh rate.
Don’t be turned off by its limitations. The BenQ Zowie XL2540 still absolutely deserves its place right up there on the best gaming monitors list. It forgoes flashy lighting effects for a blazing 240Hz refresh rate and rapid 1ms response time. There aren’t any adaptive sync options, unfortunately, but if you have a setup that’s able of keeping up with this refresh rate, then this gaming display will blow you away. The BenQ Zowie XL2540 keeps things simple by supplying you with a ton of visual presets, an “S Switch” control pod for managing those presets and even a pair of adjustable light screens. This is one of the best gaming monitors to consider if you’re a pro or hardcore gamer.
The AOC Agon AG322QC4 has a lot of aces up its sleeves.
A bit of HDR is always a welcome addition, even if it’s not true HDR. And yet, the AOC Agon AG322QC4 has more aces up its sleeves. That includes a 144Hz refresh rate, FreeSync 2 and a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, ranking this among the best gaming monitors. And it offers users beautiful, super smooth visuals, all while looking good doing so. It’s not exactly a steal, but the Agon AG322QC4 is still reasonably priced for gamers who aren’t shopping in the bargain basement.
The MSI Optix MAG271CR proves that the best gaming monitors are all about the high refresh rates.
When you’re playing competitive first-person shooters like Overwatch or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, you’ll need speed above all else in order to stay on top of the leader boards. That’s where displays like the MSI Optix MAG271CR come in handy. With a 1080p resolution, 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms of latency, you’re equipped with incredibly fast, super smooth gameplay, as long as you have the hardware to drive it.
source https://www.techradar.com/news/best-gaming-monitor
