An effective gaming monitor can make a difference to your gameplay experience. In addition to having low input lag and HDR support, a great monitor should boast a high refresh rate and HDR compatibility for seamless action.
The Dell Alienware AW3225QF monitor packs class-leading performance into its slim frame. Equipped with 4K visuals and 240Hz refresh rate for incredible visuals, as well as AMD FreeSync and VESA Adaptive Sync technologies to reduce motion blur, this slim monitor delivers class-leading performance without compromise.
- Dell UltraSharp U2711
With an enormous resolution, outstanding colour, and movie performance, there’s much to love about the Dell UltraSharp U2711. While its slightly higher input lag may put gamers off and somewhat more expensive price point than lesser 27″ monitors, most will not likely be disappointed by what this monitor can deliver.
This stunning panel would look right at home in any professional desktop PC and features an amazing 2560 x 1440 resolution on an IPS Panel, boasting an amazing 80.000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, 350cd/m2, 6ms response time, and 1.07 billion colours!
This display upgrades from its VA roots by becoming an H-IPS, enhancing colour accuracy and enabling smoother greyscale gradients. Furthermore, its 10-bit processing capability should enable greater levels of colour depth than what could be achieved through 8-bit panels.
Dell has also included a comprehensive set of ergonomic adjustments on this monitor, including 100mm height adjustment, tilt and pivot adjustment capabilities. However, please be aware that this monitor requires a computer or graphics card supporting full 10-bit colour depth – meaning single-link DVI connections cannot help it, and only DisplayPort output will work.
There’s much to admire about this Dell display; its excellent picture quality and aesthetic design make it an attractive monitor. However, one drawback may be its price, which may be higher than expected for this type of screen.
- Acer Predator XB323QK
Acer offers an exquisite 4K display without sacrificing colour accuracy and speed, featuring an Agile-Splendor IPS panel with an impressive 144Hz refresh rate and G-SYNC compatibility to deliver one of the most captivating gaming experiences possible on a PC.
It boasts a 1ms response time, support for HDR and Adaptive-Sync, HDMI 2.1 support for next-gen consoles and an adjustable backlight strobe to bring game highlights to light. All these features come together on an elegant but sturdy frame with plenty of ports for connecting all your gaming gear – one DisplayPort input supports FreeSync while an HDMI port handles HDR/Adaptive-Sync at 120Hz refresh rate.
As far as colour accuracy goes, the Acer XB323QK scores well. It covers 138.1% of the sRGB colour gamut and 97.6% of DCI-P3, placing it among top competitors like the Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ and Gigabyte Aorus M32U (both cover 124.1% of sRGB and 89.8% of DCI-P3) but doesn’t match their 576 nits brightness rating.
The Acer XB323QK monitor is an ideal choice for PC gamers using GeForce RTX 30 series graphics cards to take full advantage of its fast refresh rate and high framerates, and next-gen consoles such as PS5 and Xbox Series X/S that support 4K resolution at 144Hz resolution. However, its price tag of approximately $1200 makes it somewhat costly.
The notable drawbacks of the Acer XB323QK include its limited viewing angle and brightness capabilities, which don’t quite reach 480nits in its default SDR mode, leaving some users wanting more.
- Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ
ROG Swift PG42UQ puts OLED panels’ key advantages to full use for desktop gaming with its 41.5-inch display. Pixels that can go completely black next to those that reach brightness levels of 700 nits result in striking visuals with impressive contrast and striking visuals. Add wide colour gamut support and fast response times, and you have an unrivalled monitor that offers truly immersive gaming experiences.
This Asus variant of the LG C2 OLED panel was designed as a gaming monitor, making it an absolute powerhouse. At 4K resolution and 138Hz refresh rate, it can handle most modern titles seamlessly, with some additions like factory calibration enhancement and greyscale performance tweaks over its standard C2 counterpart.
The Asus variant features DisplayPort connectivity for PC gamers who wish to take advantage of its ultra-fast refresh rate and AMD FreeSync 2.0 support to enjoy a smooth gaming experience regardless of whether they play PCs or consoles.
While not as affordable as the Dell UltraSharp U2711, the Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ OLED monitor remains an outstanding choice for gamers who need a stunning OLED monitor with advanced features that offer an enjoyable gaming experience. Particularly useful for PC users equipped with powerful GPUs such as an RTX 2090 or RX 7900 XTX GPU, which can drive its native 4K resolution and 138Hz refresh rate; Xbox One X and PlayStation 5 players may also find this monitor compatible due to HDMI 2.1 connectivity.
- MSI MPG 271QRX
For competitive gamers who demand stunning graphics, nothing tops the MSI MPG 271QRX as a monitor. Its jaw-droppingly beautiful display and 360Hz refresh rate make it the ideal monitor. Although expensive, it’s worth every cent.
The MPG 271QRX features an HD QD-OLED panel that produces stunning images and vivid colours, offering 99 per cent coverage of DCI-P3 colour space to offer an authentic gaming experience. Furthermore, this monitor’s unique panel surface coating reduces glare reflection so you can focus on enjoying gameplay without distraction.
OLED technology also boasts deeper blacks than LCD panels, providing more detail in the darkest corners of games while making images appear sharper and clearer than on an LCD panel. This difference becomes especially obvious in high-resolution video games with intricate shadow and lighting details.
The MPG 271QRX features numerous gaming-oriented features, such as auto low-latency mode, automatically setting an ideal response time for lag-free gaming – perfect for fast-paced first-person shooters, fighters, racing sims and real-time strategy titles. In addition, its OLED panel boasts an incredible 0.03ms GtG response time – the fastest response time currently available in desktop display tech.
The MPG 271QRX offers two HDMI 2.1 ports with 48Gbps data rates and supports FreeSync and G-Sync on PCs and consoles, respectively. It is also certified for HDR with DisplayHDR True Black 400 by VESA. Furthermore, MSI OLED Care helps optimize screen performance to reduce burn-in risk.
- LG OLED Flex
LG’s 42-inch OLED Flex is the latest bendable TV and an outstanding gaming display. Adjusting from flat to 900R curve at the push of a button, this monitor is ideal for watching films or gaming with close fields of view. Furthermore, with 4K picture quality, wide viewing angle capabilities, and features like picture-in-picture, it offers stunning picture quality and reliable performance as a monitor.
While its bendable functionality may grab our attention, what stands out about the OLED panel is its quality: eye-catching contrast levels, deep blacks, and an accurate colour range (100 per cent colour fidelity certified), all at 100 per cent brightness! An Evo technology panel ensures clear images remain crisp with fast response times of just 0.1 milliseconds and low input lag for superior image clarity and crispness.
OLED Flex offers gamers many useful features designed specifically to delight them, such as Audio Sync, which lets effects move in sync with the sound; Video Sync, which integrates graphics and action on screen into the game world; and its Game Mode, which enhances frame rate and contrast for an enhanced gaming experience.
OLED Flex is an outstanding gaming monitor but not necessarily the best overall monitor. You could get a Dell UltraSharp U2711 for similar prices, which boasts a superior refresh rate and image processing engine for better gaming experiences. Alienware’s 34-inch AW3423DW utilizes Samsung QD-OLED tech for even more impressive performance at an even more cost-effective price – while for more versatility, the more versatile Samsung Odyssey Ark should also be considered.