Created on July 31, 2024 & continuously updated. No AI! © Copyright Our own Gaming Monitor guide, texts protected!

Gaming on PC has become part of everyday life, and there’s hardly any user who doesn’t play on a computer at least occasionally. For most “casual games,” modern monitors are more than sufficient. But when it comes to serious gaming, it’s not just the performance of the PC that matters the monitor plays a crucial role as well.

The first deciding factor is, of course, your budget, but equally important are your computer’s performance and your expectations for gaming. A “best gaming monitor” might be perfect for one person but completely unsuitable for another. That’s why it’s impossible to make a one-size-fits-all recommendation too many factors come into play. Instead, we’ll provide you with comprehensive background knowledge so you can choose the best gaming monitor for your specific needs.

Monitors are often overlooked when building a gaming system, as gamers tend to focus on getting the best PC, keyboard, and mouse. While these peripherals are important for high-level play, without a good gaming monitor you’ll only be using a fraction of your PC’s potential. On the other hand, an overly powerful monitor can also overwhelm your system, resulting in poor performance and lack of smooth gameplay.

Unlike many other components, a gaming monitor isn’t replaced as often, and the technology doesn’t become outdated as quickly as graphics cards or motherboards. That’s why it’s worth paying special attention to your monitor and choosing a quality device it will likely stay with you for several years, even if you upgrade your PC, Xbox, or PlayStation.

A good gaming monitor is essential for enhancing your overall experience, thanks to its low response time and high refresh rate. In tactical shooters like Overwatch, CS:GO, and VALORANT, these features allow players to react faster and stay one step ahead of their opponents. And in MOBAs like League of Legends, a gaming monitor can help you secure game-changing objectives like the Dragon or Baron Nashor.

The preferred size for gaming monitors used to be 24 inches. However, with ASUS entering the market, the industry standard now seems to be shifting toward 27-inch models. When gaming, you usually sit quite close to the screen, so bigger isn’t always better. Of course, it also comes down to personal preference, but with a very large monitor and a highly detailed game, it’s easy to lose track of what’s happening because there’s simply too much in your field of view.

The selection is vast, as competition in the market is intense. To find the right monitor for your needs—whether it’s for PlayStation, Xbox, or PC gaming you should familiarize yourself with the most important technical parameters before choosing a specific model.

One of the most important features is the monitor’s resolution. Resolution is defined as the number of pixels displayed on the screen. The higher the resolution, the more pixels are shown, and the sharper the image appears. On the downside, higher resolution also places greater demands on your PC hardware. In other words, a higher resolution requires a more powerful and therefore more expensive gaming PC. The higher the resolution you want to play at, the more capable (and costly) your system must be to deliver smooth, playable performance.

You’ll also need a monitor that supports that resolution, and high-resolution displays can range from quite expensive to extremely expensive. For example, 4K monitors are not cheap. A resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels is currently the standard and the most popular among gamers. In today’s gaming landscape, it offers the best price-to-performance ratio in other words, 1080p/FHD is the sweet spot. QHD or WQHD provides 2560 × 1440 pixels for improved image quality. The “Q” indicates that the pixel count is four times higher than HD/720p (not to be confused with FHD). The “W,” sometimes used, simply stands for “wide,” referring to the widescreen format. However, adding the “W” is unnecessary, since all modern resolutions are widescreen. Beyond 1440p comes 4K, which has 3840 × 2160 pixels and is also known as 4K UHD. While 1440p performance is quite achievable if you’re willing to invest a reasonable amount in your setup, 4K is generally not recommended for the average gamer. The requirements are simply too high, and a decent 4K monitor is still very expensive.

You should definitely opt for a 4K gaming setup if you can afford it but be aware of what you’re getting into, especially if you’re a demanding gamer who wants not just playable 4K performance, but also an exceptionally smooth experience in modern, graphically intensive titles. Below today’s standard of 1080p, there is the 720p resolution, also known as HD (1280 × 720 pixels), which used to be the PC standard. This can be worth considering if you want to build or buy a very budget-friendly entry-level gaming PC and don’t mind lower visual quality in exchange for higher performance. Some games run perfectly fine at lower resolutions like 720p, and in certain eSports titles, some players even prefer sacrificing graphical quality to achieve higher, smoother frame rates.

For most gamers, however, the rule is: if your budget for a new PC you should stick with 1080p, as solid performance at this resolution is very achievable today. After all, your gaming monitor should keep up with technological and gaming advancements for a while. The decision about which resolution to build your PC for and whether to choose between 1080p and 4K (or 1080p and 1440p, or 1440p and 4K) also depends on the type of games you want to play. In games like CS:GO, Overwatch, Rocket League, DOTA 2, and League of Legends, where fast-paced, action-heavy gameplay matters more than stunning environments and graphics (if you look around for even a second too long in CS, the match might be over before you know it), you could argue that resolution isn’t as important. Your overall experience may not change much, since the focus is on gameplay rather than beautifully rendered scenery. On the other hand, in slower, more immersive games where visuals are just as important as gameplay such as Crysis or The Witcher 3 higher resolutions make a much bigger difference. In other words, the visual upgrade is more noticeable and worthwhile compared to games where fine graphical detail is less critical. This is simply another factor to consider when choosing the right resolution for your gaming PC.

What exactly is an aspect ratio? In its simplest form, it’s the relationship between a screen’s width and height. Most modern TVs and monitors use the 16:9 standard (widescreen), meaning that if you divide the width into 16 equal parts, the height measures 9 parts. This format is ideal for most types of content, as the majority of video is produced in a 16:9 aspect ratio. However, modern films often favor the ultrawide 21:9 format, which means that most TVs and gaming monitors display black bars commonly referred to as “letterboxing.” While televisions typically stick to the 16:9 format, the same doesn’t apply to the gaming monitor industry. Gaming monitors come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with many ultrawide (and even super ultrawide) panels available on the market.

• 32:9 aspect ratio: 5120 × 1440, 3840 × 1080

• 21:9 aspect ratio: 5120 × 2160, 3440 × 1440, 2560 × 1080

• 16:9 aspect ratio: 7680 × 4320, 5120 × 2880, 3840 × 2160, 2560 × 1440, 1920 × 1080, 1280 × 720, 1600 × 900

• 16:10 aspect ratio: 2560 × 1600, 1920 × 1200, 1280 × 800

• 4:3 aspect ratio: 2048 × 1536, 1920 × 1440, 1600 × 1200, 1440 × 1080, 1400 × 1050

The best gaming monitors with high refresh rates are ideal if you want to keep up with fast-paced games whether you play competitively or just for fun. If you’ve ever experienced the smooth visuals of a high refresh rate like 144 Hz or 240 Hz, a high-refresh-rate monitor will deliver exactly that and you’ll likely never want to go back to lower values. 60 Hz is the minimum requirement for a PlayStation 4 gaming monitor, while 120 Hz has already become the standard for the PlayStation 5. In general, the gaming experience improves significantly once you reach 100 Hz or 120 Hz.

The higher a monitor’s refresh rate, the smoother games will feel but it’s not always the best option for every gamer. From a competitive player’s perspective, a 360 Hz monitor is superior to a 144 Hz monitor in every way. However, there are a few important factors you need to consider when making your choice:

Based purely on technical specifications, there will always be an “overall best” monitor but the real question is whether that specific gaming monitor fits your system. This is one of the key factors when selecting the right display. If you’re looking for the best refresh rate for gaming, you need to understand your system’s limits or test your favorite games and decide based on the results. Choosing a refresh rate that’s too high or too low can both be problematic.

Most competitive gaming monitors reach maximum refresh rates between 240 Hz and 360 Hz. If you’re a competitive gamer and your system can achieve frame rates above 240 FPS in your favorite games, then a monitor in this range is the best choice for you.

However, it doesn’t help if your monitor can handle those frame rates while the rest of your hardware can’t keep up. Your system should be capable of consistently delivering frame rates that match or exceed your monitor’s refresh rate for example, over 240 FPS for a 240 Hz monitor so you can fully benefit from it. Otherwise, while you can still use the monitor, you may not reach the required average frame rate. In such cases, choosing a monitor with a lower refresh rate is not only better for gameplay but also more cost-effective.

A 165 Hz monitor sits between 144 Hz and 240 Hz options. If your system can deliver more than 144 FPS but doesn’t quite reach 200 FPS, then a 144 Hz monitor is a solid choice. A 165 Hz monitor offers the best of both worlds and is generally more affordable than 240 Hz to 360 Hz models. A 144 Hz refresh rate is the entry point into high-refresh-rate gaming and is essentially the gold standard. Even if you plan to move beyond 60 Hz, a 144 Hz monitor should be the minimum for any gamer interested in competitive play. When it comes to noticing how much smoother one monitor is compared to another, the difference between 60 Hz and 144 Hz is the most noticeable. As you move higher up the scale, however, the differences become increasingly harder to perceive.

Compared to monitors with refresh rates higher than 144 Hz, you’ll find a number of options that can be considered real bargains. In general, before deciding on a high-refresh-rate monitor, you should first test your system in your favorite games. Download your go-to titles and play a few rounds while using software that displays your frame rate, such as MSI Afterburner.

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Each panel technology is best suited for certain gaming habits and, in some cases, specific genres. If you mainly play a particular type of game or simply enjoy a wide variety you may benefit significantly from one type of display over another. IPS monitors are widely praised for their color performance. They are the only type of gaming monitor that regularly covers 95% or even 100% of the DCI-P3 color space, which is one of the widest color gamuts available today and is also used in digital cinema. Even basic IPS panels offer 20–30% more color range than the most advanced TN monitors. When it comes to color reproduction, IPS monitors are clearly ahead although casual users might not always notice a major difference compared to other panel types, especially VA monitors. On the downside, IPS panels tend to struggle with deep black levels, which can reduce detail in darker scenes. VA panels and especially TN panels typically provide more accurate blacks, which is a known weakness of IPS technology.

If a monitor has a good (i.e., lower) black level, it can sometimes make it harder during gameplay to spot, for example, a dark enemy in shadowy areas so sufficient contrast in dark scenes is very important. Some gaming monitors, such as those from Eizo with the “Smart Insight” feature, essentially adjust the gamma curve to brighten dark areas selectively and enhance contrast. With some knowledge of image settings, you can also tweak contrast yourself by adjusting in-game settings and monitor configurations. In short, a good black level improves visual quality in dark environments but may sometimes make it harder to detect enemies quickly.

Returning to the technical strengths of IPS panels: they offer wide viewing angles of up to 178°/178°, meaning you get a clear image from almost any perspective. IPS panels are therefore ideal for shared viewing experiences. If you often have guests over and multiple people are looking at the screen from different angles, an IPS display is the best choice.

Response times and refresh rates on IPS monitors have improved significantly in recent years. They can now keep up with VA panel speeds, although they still lag behind TN panels. In terms of contrast, IPS panels sit between TN and VA, meaning they can display HDR content much better than TN. Combined with their wide color gamut, IPS displays arguably deliver better HDR than VA but the debate is still ongoing.

Aside from minor issues with black levels (see above), IPS monitors are ideal for gamers who enjoy taking in the scenery and immersing themselves in the atmosphere. If you place a high value on visuals and want to experience images as the artists intended, you should go with IPS. This makes them especially suitable for players who enjoy RPGs, open-world games, third-person exploration, and narrative-driven first-person adventures. None of these genres require millisecond-perfect reactions, and all benefit greatly from accurate color reproduction.

For local co-op or shared viewing, IPS panels are unmatched. If you often have friends over to play together, IPS panels clearly outperform TN and offer more consistent wide-angle viewing compared to VA.

TN monitors are probably the oldest panel type and, in most cases, the original form of LCD monitors. They are generally the most affordable option. Their biggest advantage is response time. Until recently, only TN panels were capable of achieving pixel response times of 1 ms or faster, making them the top choice for gaming. The same applies to refresh rates, i.e., frames per second (FPS). TN panels were traditionally the only ones capable of reaching 240 Hz, while other panel types maxed out around 150–200 Hz. Keep in mind: if a monitor responds too slowly, you may experience motion blur, smearing, and ghosting in games. Slower monitors can also increase input lag and overall delay. TN panels are still the fastest option available and have a strong reputation for precise black levels and clear detail in darker scenes.

The downside is that TN panels only cover 100% of the standard RGB color space and rarely achieve a contrast ratio above 1000:1. This is the smallest color gamut, which limits visual richness. However, the biggest weakness of TN panels is their limited viewing angles, typically up to 170°/160°. This means that at wider angles, noticeable color shifts and slight fading of the image can occur. Modern TN panels have largely improved this issue, however.

Due to their still unmatched speed, TN panels remain the best choice for gamers who are interested in competitive multiplayer titles where every fraction of a second matters. If you enjoy shooters or fighting games and want to compete against other players, or if you simply want the highest possible refresh rates, TN is the right choice. Keep in mind that you won’t get the best colors or overall image quality, but you will benefit from maximum display speed.

With the introduction of vertically aligned panels, LCD technology improved in terms of color reproduction and viewing angles. VA panels offer a much wider color gamut than TN panels and provide the highest contrast ratios of all LCD types. While VA panels are not as fast as TN panels, they have improved significantly and are now nearly on par in many cases. They commonly reach response times of 2–3 ms and refresh rates of up to 200 Hz. They exceed the standard RGB color space and often cover the much richer Adobe RGB color space, while also offering wide 178°/178° viewing angles. Thanks to their impressive contrast ratios (3000:1 and higher are common), VA panels are excellent for HDR content which is why they are widely used in most modern televisions.

Above all, gamers. VA panels can handle virtually any game you throw at them they are the ultimate all-rounders. If you are a gaming enthusiast with a wide range of interests across different genres, a VA panel is an excellent choice. You will get strong performance and excellent image quality regardless of what you play. The exception is competitive gamers whose sole focus is winning. Since VA panels are not quite as fast as TN panels, you may want to choose TN instead if your kill/death ratio or win/loss performance matters more to you than contrast ratio. Otherwise, you really can’t go wrong with a VA monitor.

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Speed: The fastest monitors currently available, and the only type that commonly supports 240 Hz refresh rates. Very fast response times, often under 1 ms.

Color: Limited color gamut—typically standard RGB only. However, they can still produce fairly detailed black tones.

Contrast: The lowest of all gaming monitor types, but still sufficient for most uses; newer models are steadily improving.

Viewing angles: The biggest long-standing weakness of TN panels. Even good models suffer from color shifting and slight fading when viewed off-center.

Best suited for: High-speed “twitch” gameplay in FPS titles, MOBAs, and competitive gaming in general. Ideal for power users who want unlocked frame rates and maximum responsiveness.

Speed: Significantly improved almost as fast as TN panels, but still with a slight 1–2 ms gap. Slower than TN, but still very fast, reaching up to 200 Hz.

Colors: Strong overall color performance with a wider color gamut than TN often covering Adobe RGB and sometimes parts of DCI-P3.

Contrast: By far the highest contrast ratio of all panel technologies, commonly reaching 3000:1 or higher.

Viewing angles: Much better than TN and often comparable to IPS, with many VA monitors offering 178°/178° viewing angles (horizontal/vertical).

Best suited for: Perfect for all-round gamers who enjoy different genres as well as movies and TV content.

Speed: Generally the slowest type, with the highest overall input latency due to more complex pixel processing.

Colors: Best performance in this category. The only panel type that consistently supports wider color spaces such as DCI-P3 and Rec. 2020. Excellent color accuracy on high-end models.

Contrast: Falls between TN and VA. Generally good, but IPS panels often suffer from “crushed” blacks, which can hide detail in dark scenes.

Viewing angles: Consistently excellent at 178°/178°, making them ideal for viewing from different positions and angles around the screen.

Best suited for: Story-driven gamers who value beautiful visuals and accurate colors. Also the best choice for local multiplayer due to wide viewing angles.

For those unfamiliar, Adaptive Sync means that the monitor’s refresh cycle is synchronized with the rate at which the GPU in the connected PC renders each individual frame of video even when that rate changes. In games, each frame is rendered separately, and the frame rate can vary significantly depending on the processing power of your PC’s graphics card, PlayStation, or Xbox.

With a fixed monitor refresh rate, the display may start drawing a new frame before the current one has been fully rendered. G-Sync, which works with Nvidia GPUs, and FreeSync, which works with AMD graphics cards, solve this issue. The monitor waits until each frame is fully rendered before displaying it, preventing screen tearing artifacts.

If you haven’t yet committed to a specific GPU technology, you may be wondering which is better when considering FreeSync or G-Sync. If you can choose between both technologies, does one offer a real competitive advantage over the other? Can users actually tell the difference?

In our experience, there is no visible difference between FreeSync and G-Sync when refresh rates are equal.

G-Sync monitors do offer some guarantees that are not always present in their FreeSync counterparts. One of these is motion blur reduction (ULMB), which uses a backlight strobing technique. ULMB is Nvidia’s name for this feature, though some FreeSync monitors offer similar functionality under different names.

While this operates instead of Adaptive Sync, some users prefer it because they believe it reduces input lag. However, multiple tests from various sources have not been able to confirm this. At frame rates of 100 FPS or higher, motion blur is generally not an issue, and input lag is very low, so you can still game comfortably with G-Sync enabled.

G-Sync also guarantees that you won’t experience frame drops even at very low refresh rates. Below 30 Hz, G-Sync monitors double the frame rate (and thus the refresh rate) to keep them within the adaptive refresh range.

FreeSync has a price advantage over G-Sync because it uses Adaptive Sync, an open standard developed by VESA, which is also part of the VESA DisplayPort specification.

Any DisplayPort interface version 1.2a or higher can support adaptive refresh rates. Even if a manufacturer chooses not to implement it, the necessary hardware is already present, meaning there are no additional production costs for enabling FreeSync. FreeSync can also be used over HDMI 1.4.

Because FreeSync is an open system, its implementation varies significantly from monitor to monitor. Budget monitors typically include FreeSync with refresh rates of 60 Hz or higher. The cheapest models are unlikely to include motion blur reduction, and the lower limit of the Adaptive Sync range may be as low as 48 Hz. However, there are FreeSync (and G-Sync) displays that operate at 30 Hz or, according to AMD, even lower.

In general, FreeSync Adaptive Sync performs just as well as any G-Sync monitor. Higher-end FreeSync monitors also include motion blur reduction and Low Framerate Compensation (LFC) to better compete with their G-Sync counterparts.

Again, it is technically possible to run G-Sync on a FreeSync monitor without Nvidia certification, but performance may be affected.

On the Nvidia side, a monitor can support G-Sync with HDR and extended color features without receiving the “Ultimate” certification. Nvidia reserves this label for monitors that deliver what it calls “lifelike HDR.” The exact requirements are somewhat vague, but Nvidia has clarified the G-Sync Ultimate specification: these monitors must be factory-calibrated for the P3 HDR color space and support 144 Hz or higher refresh rates, overdrive, “optimized latency,” as well as “best-in-class” image quality and HDR performance.

Today, a monitor must support HDR and wide color gamuts, reach at least 120 Hz at 1080p resolution, and include LFC in order to be labeled FreeSync Premium on its specification sheet. If you are wondering about FreeSync 2, AMD has replaced it with FreeSync Premium Pro they are functionally identical.

One more fact: if you have an HDR monitor that supports FreeSync with HDR, it is very likely that it will also support G-Sync with HDR (and even without HDR).

And what about FreeSync Premium Pro? It follows the same logic as G-Sync Ultimate, as it does not introduce anything new to the core Adaptive Sync technology. FreeSync Premium Pro simply means that AMD has certified the monitor for a premium experience with at least 120 Hz refresh rate, LFC, and HDR support. If a FreeSync monitor supports HDR, it is also very likely to work with G-Sync as well (whether Nvidia-certified or not).

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Monitor latency, also known as input lag, is the delay between an input device (keyboard, mouse, or controller) and the image being displayed on a monitor or TV. In other words, it is the time that passes from when the GPU sends a signal to the monitor until the image actually appears on screen. Input lag is measured in milliseconds, but the speed at which frames are updated makes a significant difference in gameplay, especially in multiplayer and competitive settings. It can be the difference between getting a kill or losing a fight. Monitor latency (input lag) refers to the delay between the input source (keyboard, mouse, controller) and the display of the resulting image on a monitor or TV. In other words, it is the time between when a CPU/GPU sends a signal to the monitor and when the monitor shows that frame. Although input lag is measured in milliseconds, how quickly images are refreshed makes a major difference in gaming, particularly in fast-paced multiplayer and competitive modes. It can determine whether you get eliminated or secure a kill. This becomes especially noticeable when a lot is happening on screen in fast, action-heavy games. With high response times, pixels cannot update quickly enough to match frame changes, resulting in motion artifacts. In games, this is visible as ghosting blur that appears when you move or when objects and NPCs move, because pixels remain visible longer than they should. When it comes to input lag and response time, lower is always better. For gaming, the lower the monitor latency, the better the experience. Ideally, it would be zero, but since that is rarely achievable, here is a rough guideline for acceptable monitor latency.

0–20 ms is excellent. Input from keyboard/mouse/controller to on-screen action is almost instantaneous. As discussed, this is extremely important for gamers, especially in competitive and esports environments. For general gaming, around 10 ms is considered ideal, and anything below that is a bonus.

21–40 ms is good. This is a solid range that allows for smooth online gaming without noticeably affecting the experience or outcome. However, in fast-paced games where every millisecond counts, players with lower input lag such as professional gamers may have an advantage.

41–70 ms is average. This is still within an acceptable range, provided it is the only source of delay. However, additional latency factors such as network lag can negatively impact the experience, and you may start to notice a slight delay between clicking a mouse or pressing a key and seeing the action on screen. It’s worth noting that even at around 50 ms, many players can still enjoy a comfortable gaming experience.

Above 70 ms is poor. Anything above 70 ms is undesirable and can significantly affect gameplay, especially in online or competitive matches. If you have ever wondered, “How did I shoot first but still die?”, you should check your input lag or system latency. At around 100 ms and above, games become noticeably unresponsive, and beyond 170 ms they can become effectively unplayable.

For console gaming, a TV can sometimes be the better option, as you typically sit farther away from the screen and benefit from a larger display. However, it is essential that the TV includes a bypass mode for image processing, usually called “Game Mode.” This feature significantly reduces input lag, which is essential for smooth and responsive gameplay. It is recommended that a TV has an input lag below 16 ms ideally under 8 ms if it supports 120 Hz refresh rates.

Another important factor to consider is the display’s response time. Since TV manufacturers do not usually list this specification as clearly as monitor manufacturers do, you may need to do some research to find the response time of a gaming TV. While an average IPS monitor has a response time of around 5 ms, an IPS television panel is typically closer to 15 ms, which results in more visible ghosting and trailing behind fast-moving objects.

In short, if you are looking for a TV for gaming, you should make sure it has low input lag (via a “Game Mode” feature) and preferably an IPS panel, since VA panels tend to have slower response times. Even better, if you can afford it, an OLED TV is the best option, as it offers faster response times than any LED-backlit gaming monitor. Unfortunately, these are generally only available in sizes of 42 inches or larger.

A gaming monitor can reach refresh rates of up to 390 Hz (and even up to 540 Hz in 2023!), enabling extremely responsive and smooth gameplay. Televisions, on the other hand, are typically limited to 60 Hz or 120 Hz.

In addition, some TVs offer features such as LG TruMotion 120, which claim to convert 60 FPS (frames per second) into 120 FPS. However, these are essentially “fake” frames that can negatively affect image quality and the overall gaming experience. If you are looking to buy a high-refresh-rate TV, you should ensure that it is a true 120 Hz display that does not rely on motion interpolation, also known as the “soap opera effect.” However, whether this is noticeable or desirable depends on personal preference some people do not notice it, some dislike it, and others actually prefer it. Motion interpolation was originally designed to reduce motion blur on LCD screens, which is a common issue with this type of display technology. Motion blur refers to the effect where moving objects on the screen appear less sharp and detailed compared to when they are stationary.

For this reason, LCDs with higher refresh rates (120 Hz, 144 Hz, 240 Hz) were developed. For this type of display to work optimally, new frames must be inserted between the original ones. Thanks to their advanced processors, modern televisions can “guess” what happens between frames of the source material. These new frames are a “hybrid” of the previous and the next frame. Motion blur is significantly reduced through this technique.

Some gaming monitors offer variable refresh rate or adaptive sync technologies such as AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-SYNC. This technology requires a compatible graphics card and provides a variable refresh rate that eliminates screen tearing and stuttering. The Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X consoles support AMD FreeSync up to 120 Hz. In this case, a FreeSync 120 Hz+ gaming monitor is the perfect choice if you want to play both PC and console games. Newer televisions also support variable refresh rates through AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible, and HDMI 2.1 VRR.

Unlike IPS, VA, and TN panels, OLED displays are self-emissive, which allows for instantaneous pixel response times and virtually infinite contrast ratios. However, there are still relatively few practical OLED monitors available today for everyday use or gaming. OLED TVs are available in sizes of 42 inches and above, which most PC gamers consider too large for desktop use. Therefore, if you are looking for an OLED display for gaming, your options are generally limited to either an ultrawide monitor or a 42-inch (or larger) TV.

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Most older consoles such as the PS4, PS4 Pro, and Xbox One are limited to 60 Hz. With the Xbox One X, Microsoft introduced support for 120 Hz in select game titles however, most developers chose not to use it, preferring higher graphical fidelity at 60 Hz and lower frame rates instead. The Xbox Series X and PS5 support 120 Hz output and can take advantage of it on some displays thanks to the high bandwidth of HDMI 2.1, alongside “4K” UHD resolution. To actually benefit from higher refresh rates, a game must run at more than 60 FPS and ideally reach 120 FPS. This is not possible in all titles, but in some games or less demanding scenes, frame rates can easily exceed 60 FPS even at higher resolutions. Many games will not consistently support 120 Hz on Xbox Series X and PS5, but due to the significant performance leap compared to previous generations, support is much more widespread. The Xbox Series S supports HDMI 2.1, but is not designed for high-resolution, high-frame-rate gaming. However, support for 120 Hz at lower resolutions is still a key focus. A monitor capable of 120 Hz output is therefore a sensible choice if you want to take advantage of supported titles. In contrast, serious (or rather competitive) PC gamers typically prefer and make full use of higher refresh rates such as 120 Hz, 144 Hz, 240 Hz, or even higher. The goal is to play at the highest possible frame rates while ensuring the monitor can keep up, often by lowering graphics settings or alternatively upgrading the system hardware. Even casual gamers appreciate higher refresh rates, and regardless of whether you are a casual or competitive player, there is now strong interest in Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technologies, which help smooth out gameplay when frame rates and refresh rates are not synchronized. The Xbox One X and Xbox Series X/S support AMD FreeSync over HDMI, which is also increasingly supported by monitors via Adaptive Sync. HDMI 2.1 also includes VRR support as an optional (and frequently implemented) feature. In April 2022, Sony added HDMI 2.1 VRR support to the PS5, which can be used as long as the monitor includes HDMI 2.1 with this feature.

Like most gaming peripherals or computer components, buying a console monitor should not be done randomly. There are specific factors that define the best gaming monitor recommendations, especially when choosing a monitor for Xbox or PlayStation, and even more so when pairing it with one of the latest-generation consoles. This way, you can not only make an informed decision but also select the monitor that best matches your specific needs.

We have compiled all the specifications and features you should check and evaluate before making your final purchasing decision.

One of the first things you should consider before buying a new console monitor is the question: “Immersive or competitive?” This refers to whether you want to prioritize visual immersion or monitor responsiveness. Understanding this distinction is important because it has a major impact on which specifications you should focus on when choosing a monitor.

Below are some of the most important specifications to consider when looking for either an immersive or a responsive monitor:

• 4K screen resolution

• Wide color gamut (100% sRGB+, 85% DCI-P3+, 85% Adobe RGB+)

• 32-inch screen size (or larger)

• IPS panel technology (higher color accuracy and wider color gamut)

• Fast response time

• High dynamic range (HDR)

• High refresh rate

• Fast response time

• Low input lag

• FreeSync VRR support

There are arguments for certain features that can apply to both “immersive” and “competitive” setups. However, when reduced to the essentials, the list above covers everything you need to consider when tailoring your setup for either immersive or competitive gameplay.

If you are using one of the older base models from previous console generations, resolution is the least important factor when it comes to gaming monitors 1080p is the maximum resolution supported by most games on PS4 or Xbox One. However, if you are using mid-generation upgrades of those consoles (Xbox One X or PS4 Pro) or next-generation systems (Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5) and want to play or watch 4K content, a 4K panel is definitely the best option. If you only own a PS4, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch, it generally does not make sense to buy a monitor with a resolution higher than 1080p unless you also plan to use it for movies or general PC use. With the release of the first 4K monitor in 2013, gamers were given the opportunity to experience games at an entirely new level. Sony and Microsoft soon followed suit and released updated versions of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which not only support 4K but also enable gameplay at 120 frames per second. Since then, more and more 4K monitors have entered the market, significantly reducing the price of 4K displays. However, it is important to keep in mind that running games at true 4K requires a very powerful PC, with a high-end graphics card at its core. While 1080p is “Full HD,” 4K is “Ultra HD” and much like in fighting games, Ultra is always better (at least when it comes to image quality). Today, you really can’t go wrong with a 1080p monitor, especially since it offers excellent refresh rates and response times two crucial factors for competitive gaming. 4K gaming has also become mainstream, so there is no need to worry about the technology disappearing anytime soon. And since it is still relatively new, you can enjoy 4K gaming without worrying about needing an immediate upgrade. But back to consoles.

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Ultrawide monitors are among the most immersive displays on the market, offering a wide field of view that enhances the visual experience. Unfortunately, consoles do not natively support the 21:9 aspect ratio (ultrawide display AR). Resolutions such as 2560 × 1080 and 3440 × 1440, which are found on these ultrawide monitors, are not supported by most games; instead, they typically default to the traditional 16:9 format. Whether this will change in the future remains to be seen, but for now, we have to stick with 16:9 screens.

You may have already seen the HDR (High Dynamic Range) setting on your smartphone or heard the term in photography but what does it actually do? It’s easier to understand if we first define dynamic range. Simply put, dynamic range measures the difference between the brightest and darkest parts of an image. High Dynamic Range essentially enhances the image to make it look more realistic by improving darker areas and adding more detail. Monitors that support HDR display dark tones in a deeper and clearer way. This can give competitive players an advantage, as it allows them to see darker areas more clearly. However, note that currently the following consoles are the only ones that support HDR:

• Xbox One S

• Xbox One X

• Xbox Series S

• Xbox Series X

• PlayStation 4

• PlayStation 4 Pro

• PlayStation 5

• PlayStation 5 Pro

IPS displays offer excellent color reproduction far better than a standard HDTV, but not quite as refined as full HDR10 performance. When it comes to monitors, IPS provides one of the best viewing experiences available, especially when you take wider viewing angles into account. However, IPS monitors typically have a drawback in response time, which can be an issue if you are a highly competitive, dedicated gamer. TN panels, on the other hand, are cheaper and offer faster response times (usually around 1 ms compared to about 5 ms on most IPS panels). However, they fall short in color accuracy and viewing angles, which can matter if you plan to mount your monitor or use a console setup where you are sitting at different angles or on a floor-level gaming chair.

Previous-generation consoles were limited to a maximum of 60 frames per second. This means that with any PlayStation 4 or Xbox One model, you are capped at 60 FPS regardless of the display you use. The latest next-generation consoles from Microsoft and Sony (Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5) support up to 120 FPS depending on the game. If you are using one of these systems, you should definitely choose a monitor that supports this higher refresh rate range.

• Traditional and familiar

• TV-like experience

• Efficient use of desk space

• Ideal for multi-monitor setups

• Usually more affordable

• Lightweight

• Great for immersion

• Excellent viewing angles

• Better focus toward the user

• Can take up a lot of space

• More expensive

• Excellent for productivity

For practical and other reasons, DisplayPort is the preferred choice for connecting a monitor to a PC. You will not typically find these ports on televisions or other consumer devices, but they are commonly included on modern graphics cards and gaming laptops. The higher bandwidth of DisplayPort has given it an advantage over HDMI at every stage of its development. Even early versions 1.0 and 1.1 already supported 144 Hz at 1080p as well as audio. With version 1.3, the speed increased to 26 Gbps. Although VESA announced DisplayPort 2.0 for 2019, the current widely used version is DisplayPort 1.4. This version supports HDR, compression, and 32-channel audio. Its high data rate allows for 4K resolutions at 120 Hz and 144 Hz refresh rates, with the latter requiring new DSC compression modes. It also supports up to 8K resolution at 60 Hz. Traditionally, NVIDIA’s G-Sync required DisplayPort, and while AMD’s FreeSync is supported over some HDMI connections, adaptive sync technology has been part of the DisplayPort standard since version 1.2a as an optional feature, making adaptive-sync DisplayPort monitors much easier to find. NVIDIA has now begun enabling some G-Sync displays to support variable refresh rate over HDMI as well, but only on newer models, since firmware updates are not available for older G-Sync displays. Connecting multiple monitors is also more flexible with DisplayPort, as daisy-chaining in a Thunderbolt-like fashion is possible. This is beneficial for productivity tasks, although gamers should be aware that this type of multi-monitor connection shares bandwidth between displays. USB-C ports also output video using the DisplayPort standard, making it easy to send video from a laptop or Android phone using an adapter to a standard DP (or HDMI) connection. The next generation of DisplayPort, version 2.0, has already been finalized and increases bandwidth to a massive 77 Gbps, enabling uncompressed 4K at 240 Hz, 5K at 180 Hz, and compressed modes up to 16K at 60 Hz. It will still take some time before consumer displays are widely available to take full advantage of this.

Monitors must be able to display many subtle color shades. If they cannot transition smoothly between slightly different tones, we see “banding” a harsh shift between two colors that creates visible light and dark stripes where a smooth gradient should appear. This is sometimes also referred to as color “crushing.” The ability of a monitor to display many slightly different colors and therefore avoid banding and inaccuracy is measured by color depth. Color depth indicates how much data (measured in bits) the display can use to generate the color of a pixel. Each pixel on a screen has three color channels red, green, and blue which are illuminated at different intensities to produce (typically) millions of shades. 8-bit color means each channel uses eight bits. The total number of colors possible on an 8-bit display is 2⁸ × 2⁸ × 2⁸ = 16,777,216. This is also roughly the number of colors the human eye can distinguish.

• 6-bit color = 262,144 colors

• 8-bit color, or “True Color” = 16.7 million colors

• 10-bit color, or “Deep Color” = 1.07 billion colors

1.07 billion shades are achieved with 10-bit color. This can be done in two ways: true 10-bit panels use 10 bits per channel, meaning 1024 levels for each RGB channel. Combined, this results in 1.07 billion possible colors. However, such displays are often expensive and sometimes more than you actually need. With an 8-bit monitor, you still get access to 16.7 million colors generated from 256 levels per RGB channel. Ultimately, only you can decide which monitor best suits your needs. We hope this article has helped you better understand and make that decision.

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To give you more enjoyment while playing your video games, a good gaming monitor has several important features.

A gaming monitor for PC has a low response time. A gaming monitor for console has low latency. Modern PC gaming monitors are designed so that, at the right moment, you see exactly what you need to see. It’s important that you can quickly detect changes on the screen so you can react in time. Your opponents hide in darker areas, which therefore need to be well illuminated. The screen is an important part of your PC’s hardware chain. That’s why it’s beneficial if it doesn’t harm your health. Constantly flickering, low-quality images with poor contrast can damage your eyes. This can lead to reduced concentration and cause stress.

The size of your available space is an important factor to consider. What’s the use of the biggest and best gaming monitor if you don’t have space for it? None! You should think about what kind of games you play. Do you play only on PC or prefer a console? A TV is usually sufficient as a gaming monitor for consoles. If you use both, you should make sure the monitor has at least two HDMI ports. If the computer is your main platform, you need to pay special attention to response time and refresh rate. Think about what features your PC gaming monitor should have.

Of course, price is also a very important factor. Here you’ll find the most important technical components of a monitor listed and described individually.

For someone who isn’t blessed with a wallet full of money, price is naturally decisive. Nevertheless, it’s better to set yourself a specific budget. A good gaming monitor can be found starting at around $200.

Size is given in inches and refers to the diagonal from one corner to the opposite corner. Screen sizes from 24 to 27 inches are common. The actual size depends on your available space and your budget. Don’t assume that bigger automatically means better. Size alone doesn’t make a good gaming monitor. The most common recommendation is 24 inches. Also remember to account for the frame and stand when measuring your space.

This is one of the most important criteria for a good monitor. For a PC gaming monitor, this value should be low and is measured in milliseconds (ms). It should be at least around 2 ms. If the response time is too high, you’ll see ghosting and blurred effects on the screen. Response time is the time it takes for a pixel to change from one state to another. There are generally two common methods for measuring response time:

This is the time it takes for a pixel to change from dark to light and back to dark. Liquid crystals in LCD monitors take longer for this transition.

This method is called gray-to-gray in English. Many gaming monitor tests consider it the faster standard method. It measures how long a pixel takes to change from a lighter shade of gray to a darker one and back.

Many people often confuse input lag with response time. For PC monitors, input lag is usually not very significant. However, it is essential when gaming on consoles like the Xbox or PS4, where a TV is often used as a gaming monitor. Input lag is a delay in time specifically, the delay between making an input and seeing the result displayed on the screen. For example, you see an opponent on your monitor and press your mouse button or a key on your keyboard. Your PC or console processes this input and sends it to the graphics processor and the monitor’s processor. The time it takes for this signal to travel this path is called input lag. If you’re being very precise, you could even include your own reaction time.

This value indicates how many images the screen displays per second. It is measured in Hertz (Hz) or frames per second (FPS). Gaming monitor recommendations suggest 120 Hz. A 60 Hz display can be sufficient if other components, such as response time, are well balanced. Tests show that a good monitor should not go below 120 Hz.

The panel is crucial for image quality and the display itself. Currently, four main types are available on the market. Which one is best depends on your needs.

These panels have fast response times and are inexpensive to buy and use. They are widely available but are gradually being replaced by newer technologies. Compared to IPS panels, they have poor viewing angles, which becomes noticeable when viewing the screen from the side. However, they are perfectly adequate for gaming.

These panels are much less dependent on viewing angle. This means colors remain consistent even when viewed from the side. You get a good image from almost any angle. However, this comes at the cost of higher price and slightly slower response times.

PVA panels are increasingly replacing IPS and are mostly found in larger monitors.

These monitors are considered top-tier for graphic designers. For gaming, however, they are less suitable due to higher response times. They excel in viewing angle stability, contrast, and color accuracy.

Resolution depends on display size and aspect ratio. The most common formats are 16:9 and 16:10. Most monitors have a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels (Full HD). Higher resolutions allow more detail and content to be displayed, though text and icons appear smaller.

Contrast refers to the relative brightness difference between black and white. The higher the contrast, the more natural and vivid the image appears especially in bright environments.

These include FreeSync from AMD and G-Sync from Nvidia. Both technologies are designed to improve communication between the graphics card and the monitor. They reduce visual artifacts like screen tearing and provide a smoother gaming experience by dynamically adjusting the refresh rate. To benefit from G-Sync, you need a compatible Nvidia graphics card. FreeSync, on the other hand, is primarily a software-based solution.

There are LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), TFT (Thin Film Transistor), and LED displays. LCD is a general term for liquid crystal screens. TFT is a specific type of LCD technology commonly used in TVs. Modern LCD monitors are often referred to as LED monitors. These use light-emitting diodes for backlighting, making displays thinner and more energy-efficient one reason they are considered excellent gaming monitors.

The best gaming monitors support all common interfaces, though this is not always the case. VGA is an older standard. Today’s common connections include HDMI, DVI, D-Sub, and DisplayPort all digital interfaces.

If you want to use your monitor for console gaming, make sure it has at least two HDMI ports.

Modern gaming monitors include technologies like Black eQualizer and Low Blue Light. Black eQualizer improves visibility in dark areas, helping you spot enemies more easily. Low Blue Light reduces eye strain. Flicker-free technology eliminates screen flickering and ghosting effects.

A high refresh rate and low response time are key factors for a great gaming monitor. A good panel and the right screen size are just as important, as is low power consumption. If you play on both PC and console, ensure the monitor has enough HDMI ports. TN panels are the most affordable but offer weaker viewing angles. IPS panels are becoming more affordable and provide excellent viewing angles, though they consume more power and are more expensive. Their contrast and response time are still within the range of a good gaming monitor.

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