Choose one of the best gaming monitors you can find to bring your gaming experience to the next level. After all, you need the best display to not just play the best PC games, but also take you places, immersing you in worlds and epic adventures you never thought were possible.
Before buying, you need to understand makes the best gaming monitors better for gaming. There are specs and features to consider, of course, but everything ultimately boils down to what you want and need to get out of it. The market is full of many different types of displays, and the best gaming monitor for you essentially hangs on the type of games you play.
Are you someone who wants to get immersed in your favorite single-player games like Devil May Cry V or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice? You’ll want to look at the best gaming monitors with 4K Ultra HD and HDR.
Are you all about the esports life and playing Overwatch? Get yourself one of the best gaming monitors with a high refresh rate and low response time.
With so many options and features to consider, finding the best gaming monitor can be tricky. But, we are here to help. We put together a list of all the best gaming monitors we’ve tested and reviewed over the last year or so, for you. So that no matter what kind of PC games you typically play, you’ll narrow that long list down to the best gaming monitors for your specific gaming needs.
HDR has been a major selling point for the best TVs for a while now. And yet, the feature has yet to gain popularity in the best gaming monitors sphere. Luckily, the trailblazing BenQ EX3501R takes HDR and runs with it, creating a curved ultra-wide that is not only what we would call ‘gaming monitor goals,’ but a total stunner as well. BenQ bills this monitor as a ‘video enjoyment monitor.’ However, from the moment you start your go-to HDR-enabled games, you’ll know immediately why it’s number one on our list of the best gaming monitors.
The Alienware AW3418DW is one of the few gaming monitors that provide a level of immersion that only a 21:9 aspect ratio can, while also boasting a high refresh rate. With a dense 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, lightning-fast 4ms response times and a fast 120Hz refresh rate, the AW3418DW gives you the best of both worlds. All these features do come with a steep price though, so budget-minded gamers might want to look elsewhere or start saving up. Still, it’s not difficult to see why it’s one of the best gaming monitors 2019 has to offer.
The AOC Agon AG352UCG was one of the best gaming monitors we’d ever had the pleasure of using, so when we heard that a follow-up was on its way – 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 turns them up to 11, making it a dazzling display on which to experience ultra-wide gaming. It’s pricey, 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 may just be the most advanced – not to mention, best – gaming monitor to add to your arsenal… as long as you have the budget for it. This display boasts a stunning 4K Ultra-HD resolution and HDR, as well as G-Sync and a speedy 144Hz refresh rate.
These specs add up to one of the most impressive gaming monitors that have 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 insane 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.
While originally designed for CAD professionals, the BenQ PD3200U is also excellent 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 incredible viewing angles, which means that your friends can watch your game in comfort.
And, unlike a lot of 4K monitors on the market, you won’t have to tinker 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 technically designed for gaming.
If you’re one of those PC gamers that require the absolute best hardware that money can buy, then the Acer Predator X27 might be the best gaming monitor for you. The menu of premium features packed into this display is almost as long as our arm – 4K resolution, HDR-10, G-Sync, 144Hz refresh rate – so you’d be hard-pressed to find a more advanced display.
Once you get your hands on this monitor, it’s hard to go back. That is until you see the price tag – at around $1,600, only those with deep pockets need to apply. Though you can always save some money to take it home.
Don’t be put off by its limitations The BenQ Zowie XL2540 still definitely deserves its place right up there on the best gaming monitors list. It gives up flashy lighting effects for a lightning-fast 240Hz refresh rate and rapid 1ms response time. There aren’t any adaptive sync options, unfortunately, but if you have a setup that’s capable 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 lots 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.
With this monitor, Samsung not only brings QLED to gaming displays in a massive way but also gets bragging rights to the widest ultra-wide monitor on the market today. Coming in at 49.5 inches, this goliath takes up a lot of space – expect it to jut out over the sides of your desk. However, with its spectacular 3,840 x 1080 resolution and HDR, you won’t be able to look away.
Even if you decide not to play in this resolution (it will require a beefy rig), you can still use all that extra real estate to browse the internet or watch movies on the same screen. Its price tag is Herculean as well, but for a monitor this incredible, it may very well be worth it.
A bit of HDR is always a welcome treat, even if it’s not true HDR. And yet, the AOC Agon AG322QC4 has more aces up its sleeves. Those aces include a 144Hz refresh rate, FreeSync 2 and a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, making this among the best gaming monitors of 2019. And it offers users gorgeous, super smooth visuals, all while looking good doing so. It’s not exactly a steal, but the Agon AG322QC4 is still pretty affordable for gamers who aren’t shopping in the bargain basement.
When you’re playing competitive first-person shooters like Overwatch or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, you’ll need speed more than anything 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 super-fast, super smooth gameplay, as long as you have the hardware to drive it. After all, 60Hz panels are so 2014 – the best gaming monitors in 2019 are all about the high refresh rates.
How To Buy The Best Gaming Monitor in 2019
If in the market for the best gaming monitor 2019 has to offer, know that there are a few things to consider before choosing which display should grace your desk.
You’ll need to familiarize yourself with the following terms and specifications to help guarantee that you’re investing in the best gaming monitor that’s most ideal for you. It also means you won’t have to pay extra for additional features that you might not actually need.
Screen size: When looking for the best gaming monitor, one of the most important things to consider is screen size. Larger display sizes can lead to more immersive gaming experiences as the game fills more of your field of vision, but you’ll also need to make sure that you have the room to keep a large monitor. And, it goes without saying that the larger the monitor, the higher the price as well.
Aspect ratio: The aspect ratio of a gaming monitor helps determine the width and height of the screen. Most widescreen monitors have an aspect ratio of 16:9, while older monitors have closer to a square format of 4:3 that might feel pretty dated in 2019. Ultra-wide monitors with aspect ratios of 21:9 are rapidly growing in popularity, as they offer a wide view of your games, which is why many ultra wides have made our list of the best gaming monitors 2019.
Resolution: One other crucial factor to consider when looking for the best gaming monitor for your needs is the resolution. The higher the number, the sharper the picture. You will, however, require a more powerful graphics card for anything over Full HD (1,920 x 1,080), even if many gaming monitors feature resolutions as high as 2,560 x 1,400 (WQHD) and 3,840 x 2,160 (4K).
Refresh rate: When you’re mostly looking to play Counter-Strike and other first-person shooters like it, the refresh rate is even more important. The higher the refresh rate, the more frames per second (fps) the monitor can support, leading to a considerably smoother gaming experience. A 60Hz refresh rate is most common in 2019, but refresh rates of 144Hz and even 200Hz are becoming more prominent – not to mention, more and more necessary.
Response time: The best gaming monitors offer low response times, which means you’re getting fast and fluid actions, with little to no input lag. The lowest response time for TN monitors (we’ll get to this in the next section) is 1 millisecond, whereas the newer IPS monitors typically have slower 4ms response times. When you’re playing games competitively, it’s vital to keep this number as low as possible in order to avoid latency.
Panel type: This is where things get a little technical. The type of panel a gaming monitor uses will largely contribute to its response time and image clarity. TN (twisted nematic) panels, which are often more affordable, have the lowest response times but usually don’t have great viewing angles.
IPS (in-plane switching) panels, on the other hand, have fantastic viewing angles and color reproduction, but usually, have higher response times. Meanwhile, VA (vertical alignment) panels sit between the two, although its slow response times makes these panels rare in the gaming world.
Viewing Angle: While most people play games directly in front of their gaming monitor, this isn’t always the case, particularly when you have an audience. A monitor’s viewing angles tell you what angle you can look at the monitor from and still make out a clear image. The closer these numbers are to 180, the better your viewing experience will be when standing further to either side of the monitor or looking at it from above or below.
G-Sync and FreeSync: You’ve probably noticed that many of the best gaming monitors in 2019 come with either G-Sync or FreeSync technology – sometimes even both. These help keep frames per second (fps) smooth, combat screen tearing and minimize input lag. G-Sync is developed by Nvidia, so you’ll need an Nvidia GPU. And, the tech is built into the monitor, which can bump up their price tag. FreeSync, on the other hand, was created by AMD. Since it is free to use by manufacturers, the monitors that have them are usually more economical.
- Check out our top picks of the best gaming mice of 2019.
