The Best Monitors for Gaming in 2016

Acer XG270HU 27″

When it comes to gaming and movie-watching, total immersive experience is always the best. This is just one of the many things that the Acer XG270HU 27″ brings to the table.

Its frameless design is intended so that viewers can see as much image as they can on the screen, providing a much more realistic experience, as if everything is within reach.

The 27-inch display boasts a resolution of 2560 x 1140 (WQHD), which brings higher pixel density, and better image sharpness and detail when watching and gaming.

The challenge of delivering high quality images seamlessly is easily addressed by the exemplary 144Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time. This translates to high definition action sequences, without any lag time.

This monitor comes with a high speed data transfer connection ports such as HDMI 2.0, Dual Link DVI, and full size Display Port. These connections are necessary in order to maintain lighting fast data transfers, without losing any image quality.

Built-in eye protection features are also incorporated in this gaming monitor, with its flicker-less and low-dimming screen, which is excellent news for gamers who are prone to suffer from eye strain. Hours of gaming will not be a hassle to your eyes, and the experience will be more enjoyable because of it.

The AMD FreeSync ensure that the refresh rate is solely dependent on the graphics card specs, as opposed to the screen’s fixed rate of refresh. This eliminates screen tearing, and delivers smooth and pleasant gaming experience every time. This is especially useful for graphically demanding games that hiccups with other lower quality monitors.

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Dell Gaming S2716DG 27″

The Dell S2716dg 27″ monitor is a high-end option that features solid image quality, a smart design and a ridiculous 144Hz refresh rate.

With an appealing design, a solid construction and quick response time, this monitor has become a top choice for savvy gamers from all around the world.

Refresh rate is becoming increasingly important in determining the performance of gaming monitors. The higher the refresh rate is, the better the gaming experience becomes.

Due to the embedded NVidia G-Sync technology, this monitor ensures a lag-free gaming experience. Additionally, the one millisecond response time gives you an even better performance when playing today’s top games.

The stability and the design offered by the Dell’s stand is impressive. It features a circular hole for running cables, placed right under the monitor, which helps you keep your office de-cluttered and gives you peace of mind that no cable will be able to disturb your gaming experience. The stand is VESA compatible, so you can easily mount it on a wall.

In addition to its design, quick response time, and high refresh rate, another amazing aspect of the Dell Gaming S2716DG 27″ monitor is its connectivity options. This gaming monitor is equipped with four USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and a Displayport.

The S2716DG comes with a three year limited warranty to give you the peace of mind that your investment is safe in case an accident occurs.

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BenQ XL2730Z 27″

While 1080p definitely holds the lion’s share of the gaming monitor market, primarily due to the low hardware requirement to run a game at 1080p, 1440p monitors represent a group that is designed to further enhance the HD experience, by providing even finer details then regular 1080p HD.

But to truly enjoy 1440p you need a larger monitor or else the extra details are not going to matter since they will be too small to notice.

A 27″ monitor is the perfect host for a 2560×1440 resolution and allows gamers to notice every single move that their enemy makes without having to strain their eyes.

But it’s not just the resolution that allows you to dominate the virtual arena, it is the 144Hz refresh rate and the 1ms GTG response time that allows your eyes to track the fastest motions in real time without any lag or ghosting.

On top of that, a height and angle adjustable panel ensures the perfect viewing angles for any seating position, and a 20 level color calibration setting lets you tune up the color distribution to better accommodate the game you are playing. FPS games require more contrast while RPG’s require brighter shades and more vibrant lighting.

While playing your favorite FPS games you can use the advanced black equalizer function to better light the darker spots on the screen while at the same time making sure that you don’t overexpose the more bright areas. This means that enemies or snipers hiding in the dark corners can no longer escape your watchful gaze as you gain the advantage of firing the first shot.

The Benq XL2730Z is a premium monitor built from aluminum coated body panels and a firm metal stand, it also comes with really handy features such as a headphone stand that is attached to the back of the monitor, and can be extended to hang your headphones as you decide o take a break from your gaming session.

There is an industry standard 3-year warranty on the parts, shipping and backlight as well, so your monitor should be besides you for at least half a decade as long as you don’t accidentally smash it after raging in a game.

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ASUS MG MG279Q 27″

Monitors constantly evolve as new technology emerges, and the ASUS MG MG279Q 27″ is the latest in the long line of ASUS products aimed for gaming enthusiasts.

As with all ASUS products, this monitor is designed by blending excellent functionality and clever aesthetics perfectly. Its display resolution is by far the most impressive feature (along with its 144Hz refresh rate) at 2560 x 1440 pixels, allowing for crisp and detailed images.

With an IPS or In-Plane-Switching display technology, this monitor provides better viewing angles, which is perfect for multi-player games.

The ergonomic design also allows for the stand to be adjusted easily without having to move the entire monitor. A choice between free standing and wall-mounting works with this monitor, and both arrangements allow for adjustments, i.e. height, swivel, pivot, and tilt.

ASUS’ display technology includes eye-care feature, which ensures flicker-free viewing and reduced blue light to avoid eye fatigue. In addition, the wide viewing angles (178 degrees) ensure comfortable gameplay, without having to switch or adjust positions.

The six display pre-sets are primarily geared toward gaming, but they can also be useful to graphics professionals especially when viewing photos. Color reproduction and saturation are great in the sRGB (standard Red, Green, and Blue) setting, while FPS, RTG/RPG, and Racing modes are great for better and more realistic gaming experience.

The 144Hz refresh rate and Adaptive Sync technology guarantees seamless gameplay, and reduces such problems as blurry motion in high speed games. With a 4ms response time, stuttering or freezing is not going to be a problem.

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ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q 27″

While most high end gaming monitors excel in one area and fall behind in others, the Asus PG278Q manages to score maximum points in every category, except for the limited viewing angles which is an unavoidable consequence of choosing a TN panel.

But since serious gamers tend to sacrifice viewing angles over precision and lightning fast actions, that is exactly what Asus gave them.

2560X1440 is an amazing resolution right now for gaming because it is sharper than the standard 1080p that we are all used to by now, yet it requires less graphics horsepower than a 4K display.

Besides, many games and operating systems are yet to be optimized for 4K display meaning that even if you invest in a $1000 graphics card to play games on 4K resolution, you will still not be able to make the most out of your money except for on a select few games.

Instead, opting to go for a super-fast 1440p monitor will allow you to hit higher frame rates and still experience incredible details at 120+ fps. Talking of frames per second, you need a monitor with ample refresh rate to backup that insane amount of power your graphics card is generating.

If your graphics card is providing 100 frames in a second to the monitor, but the monitor can only refresh at 60Hz, it will result in screen tearing. Which is why, you are getting GSync on this beast- so that your GPU can directly control the refresh rates of your monitor, resulting in smooth, lag-free input and gaming.

But it’s not just the monitors 3D-ready ability and GSync that make it stand out from most competitors, it has an incredible 144Hz refresh rate and the response time is a mere 1ms GTG, a clear benefit obtainable only by using TN panels.

The faster response time makes it an ideal monitor for competitive gaming and the adjustable monitor stand allows you to change the viewing height and angle according to you convenience so that you can engage in long gaming sessions without straining your back or neck.

The warranty is a standard 3-year warranty on parts, labor and backlight, while the monitor itself is built from premium plastics and metal parts for enhanced durability and aesthetic properties.

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ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q 27″

The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q 27″ monitor is a QuadHD (1440p) screen with a maximum resolution of 2560*1440 pixels. This thin bezel design monitor screen has the perfect combination of screen size and resolution to provide a high-level gaming experience.

The monitor is equipped with ASUS eye technology which carries a TUV certification and Blue Light filter. These features ensure that the user does not experience strain and eye fatigue.

The monitor stand is ergonomically made for easy maneuvering options. Tilt, Swivel, pivot and height adjustment are the functions that provide a 178-degree viewing angle. It can also be wall mounted as per the user’s requirements.

The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q 27″ monitor has an extremely high refresh rate of 165 Hz. This figure has surpassed the previous 144 Hz is the first monitor to provide this refresh rate for an exemplary visual quality for gaming.

The NVIDIA®G-SYNC™ technology is known for its superior technology and prevents screen tearing and stuttering. The IPS panel of the LCD display has a vast sRGB array of color options for games and movies. It also has a low four millisecond gray-to-gray response times.

The dimensions of the monitor are 11.9 x 29.8 x 18 inches and the user can enjoy 77% more desktop space in comparison to the Full HD displays.This monitor supports NVIDIA 3D vision and Lightboost/Ultra Low Motion Blur (ULMB). The product comes with a three-year limited warranty.

The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q 27″ monitor also comes with the NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology which is a Frame Synchronization technology. This has a good response rate and this monitor lives up to the legacy of its predecessors.

This monitor has better cable management and multiple inputs, upgrading the features of its predecessor. The fluid graphic technology makes the gaming a wonderful experience on this device.

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AOC G2460PF 24″

AOC is a company that is well known for its gaming monitors. They collaborate innovation with style for the ultimate gaming experience and is quite popular among gamers. The AOC G2460PF 24″ 144Hz monitor is potentially one of the most advanced PC monitors made by AOC to date. Simple and elegant in style, it is equipped with similar features of some of the other renowned PC monitors available in the market.

Available in impressive black, the G2460PF is a complete HD monitor with a LED screen feature which gives a smooth experience to the gamer. Although these specs can be easily found in other PC monitors as well, the AMD’s technology of free sync is one special added feature of it which provides uninterrupted gaming experience with no screen breakage.

This PC monitor is tailor-made for professional gaming therefore the monitor can be switched from horizontal frame to a vertical frame as per the demands of the game being played. This is truly a distinct feature which is not widely found in PC monitors of Ace, Asus and etc.

The monitor comes with a standard 3 year warranty for parts and labor and one year’s warranty for LED and tube. Though this is a standard practice in the world of PC monitors, it is without a doubt one of the cheapest gaming monitors in the market today, with a price which is 16% lower than Acer’s similarly-specced monitor and 21% less than BenQ’s equal offering.

With an exceptional response rate of 1ms and its 1080p resolution, the G2460PF 24″ is a compact and easy to use monitor. It can be easily be utilized by today’s best graphics cards and it has an HDMI and USB ports for advanced connectivity. Like others it can also be mounted on a wall.

There are a few other companies that are making PC monitors with almost the same characteristics but the reasonable price of G2460PF is an attractive feature. The ability of the monitor to move from horizontal frame to vertical is another feature which is not found in other same priced, same featured monitors.

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ASUS VG278HE 24″

The ASUS VG278HE 24″ is a very solid all-around gaming monitor. It has a maximum screen resolution of 1920*1080 which is ideal for a gaming device. The monitor comes with a 144Hz refresh rate and a 2ms (GTG) response rate for clean and smooth motion playback for games and movies.

The TN-based monitor and the tracer-free LED Gaming display gives impressive picture quality without straining the eyes.

This ASUS monitor has a convenient maneuvering stand with adjustment features like tilt, Swivel, and height- adjustment. It can also be wall-mounted. These features help in comfortable viewing for all people with different heights and different views.

The monitor has connectivity specifications of HDMI 1.4, a D-sub and a DVI-D. The cables can be neatly plugged on one side of the monitor. It comes with a 3-Year replacement warranty and 2-way shipping is provided. This makes it an intelligent purchase for the user.

The 144Hz refresh rate gives a fluid experience while playing games. It’s high refresh rate makes it the perfect option for competitive first-person shooter gamers and any other games that benefit from having such a high refresh rate.

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Nixeus Vue 24″

The Nixeus Vue 24″ is made with a 24-inch LED panel by AU Optronics. The display runs at 144Hz and is not modified or overclocked, so it runs smoothly at its full refresh rate.

The FreeSync 1080P 144Hz display is equipped with a VRR bottom limit of 30 FPS. Available in two models that can be distinguished by a letter at the end of the model (NX-VUE24B and NX-VUE24A).

The NX-VUE24B is made with a basic stand that has a tilt support, while the NX-VUE24A ships with a premium stand that has a full tilt support, height, and rotation.

The Nixeus Vue 24″ runs at a regular full high definition (1920x1080p, with 92ppi). The monitor can also run high framerate games, with no need for an expensive video card. Switching on its V-sync is all you have to do to keep the fps from going above 144Hz.

Equipped with a TN panel, the Nixeus Vue 24-inch runs at a Response Time of 1ms Pixel, which is the fastest response time in the display industry today. Paired with a 144Hz refresh rate the display will provide gamers with a fast and smooth gaming experience. More gaming advantage can be gotten from the Low Input Lag as the screen can swiftly execute controller commands without delay.

For aesthetic functionality, the back of the cabinet features VESA-compliant ergonomic slots, which allows the use of external solutions like a monitor stand or mounts with articulate arms or even triple monitor stands for a more immersive gaming experience.

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LG 24GM77-B 24″

The LG 24GM77-B is a mid-sized well-equipped 24-inch monitor aimed for hardcore gamers. The monitor features a more conservative design, with a glossy base which is quite wide, helping with stability. The monitor’s Black Stabilizer enhances gamer visibility even in dim scenes. This is wonderful, especially when playing shooter games.

The LG 24GM77-B 24″ adopts a 16:9 aspect ratio, a 1920×1080 pixels resolution, and impressive viewing angles. The screen features a highly versatile, multi-functional ergonomic stand which helps you find the best angle for your long gaming sessions. The monitor adopts the 3H anti-glare coating which delivers an enjoyable gaming experience by enhancing the picture clarity.

One of the main features of the LG 24GM77-B 24″ that creates a perfect gaming experience are the three gaming modes. There is also an RTS pre-set mode which helps you choose the best mode. The Clear Motion 240, specially designed for First Person Shooter (FPS) games, reduces motion blur. With the response time faster than 1ms, you are never going to miss out on any action.

As compared to the other high-speed monitors, the LG 24GM77-B 24″ also features a TN-based panel. This offers an impressive 8-bit color depth, high brightness, and refresh rates that are as high as 144Hz. This LG gaming monitor produces highly accurate colors that appear bright and well saturated. The In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology improves color reproduction and enhances the performance of crystal displays.

The low power consumption is one of the attractive features of the LG 24GM77-B. This makes it an excellent value as compared to its competitors since it requires little power to perform at its best. The screen will consume around 25W.

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BenQ XL2411Z 24″

In competitive gaming, three things matter the most- resolution, refresh rate, and pixel response time. Benq absolutely nailed those three on the XL2411z.

It is slightly cheaper than the XL2430T 24″ monitor, yet features the exact same brilliant TN panel on the XL2430T, meaning that this monitor too has 1920×1080 resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response rate. Still not impressed?

In reality, even though a lot of other monitors might offer 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, they still don’t represent colors as accurately as the XL2411z or XL2430T.

This monitor is designed with a special TN panel that drastically improves color reproduction and can be used for movie viewing and even photo editing due to its amazingly accurate colors.

The built in black-equalizer feature allows you to see super low-lit areas better while playing, while the brightness in over-exposed areas is lowered. This allows you to see everything and anything in the most complex FPS game environments, now enemies can no longer use the darkness to hide from you. Couple that with a 144Hz refresh rate along with a rapid 1ms response time and you will always be the one to fire the first shot in an engagement.

It’s not just all-in performance with the XL2411z, since it is also designed for comfortable use through prolonged usage. With features such as flicker-free display and blue light reduction technology, the monitor puts less strain on your precious eyes and means no more headaches or strained eyes while playing an intense FPS match. The more relaxed you feel, the better you can play.

There is a fully height and angle adjustable stand along with a number of USB ports on the side for easy access. Warranty is a standard 3-year on parts, panel and shipping.

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BenQ XL2430T 24″

Yes, it is 1080p. Yes, it is a premium gaming monitor which means that it costs more than the average 24″ monitor. But should you buy it if its resolution is 1080p?

Shouldn’t you be looking at the 1440p options instead?

Truth is, games still look great on 1080p and the overall pixel density of a 27″ 1440p monitor is about the same as that of a 24″ 1080p monitor meaning that your eyes will not be able to detect any significant change in detail.

What a gamer’s eyes can detect however, is the refresh rate, which is a whopping 144Hz on this machine. Combine that with a 1ms GTG response time and you begin to understand why professional gaming teams across the world choose the Benq XL2430T as their monitor of choice.

The display size of 24″ and resolution of 1080p is exactly what most professional tournaments recommend, but if you are a serious FPS or MOBA player, then you know the importance of a high refresh rate.

If your graphics card can run games at 100+ fps, but your screen is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate then you are still essentially playing at 60fps. No more need to waste precious hardware power with the 144Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms GTG response time means you can get those slick no-scope headshots without having to spend precious time on target acquisition.

A special radiation control technology suppresses the wavelengths of light that can harm your retina and cause fatigue, allowing you to practice for the upcoming tournament with any fears of straining your eyes as you play for several hours in the night.

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ASUS VG278HE 27″

Another 27″ gaming display with 3D Vision technology in it. So old, right? Well this one packs a pixel response that is more than twice as fast as that of a standard HD display, and comes with a 144 Hz refresh rate to back it up.

For all of you gamers who are sitting around with ultra-powerful graphics cards that can play the latest games in full HD and 3D, you also need to remember that the monitor you choose is an integral part of your graphics experience.

After all, your graphics card does not show your eyes the image, rather your monitor does it, and in order to correctly track fast moving enemies you will need a monitor with high refresh rate and anti-ghosting ability.

Even if you can see your enemies perfectly, you will then need a fast response rate on the pixels to ensure that you move inside the game exactly when you issue the command to your keyboard or mouse.

Designed for the most hardcore of gamers, the response rate on this monitor is a blazing 2ms grey to grey, meaning that your enemies will be stunned by how fast you react to their actions since those with slower monitors will see you a few fractions of a second after you see them, and in competitive gaming a few seconds is all it takes to determine the difference between securing a frag and getting pawned.

All in all, this is a complete package of raw lightning-fast performance, coupled with support for the latest NVIDIA 3D Vision, so that you can enjoy the latest 3D titles in all their glory.

Movies, games, and photos come to life when you use the Asus Splendid color management function that allows you to choose from a set of 6 predefined settings that will change the color saturation and hue according to your usage scenario to provide the best experience possible no matter what you are viewing.

The ports are conveniently placed on the back, and include a dual-link DVI-D port, an HDMI 1.4 port, headphone jacks, and a D-SUB port, Unfortunately, there are no USB ports which means you can’t plug in your phone or other stuff.

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Acer XB240H 24″

For those looking for a high-end, high-performance 4k monitor, the Acer XB240H 24″ is one of the best options out there. It’s armed with a Full HD (1920 *1080) low-dimming, flicker-less display.

It provides an enhanced viewing experience, no matter how fast- moving the game action is, with high quality, sharp and stunning images.

The Acer XB240H uses a NVIDIA G-SYNC technology which synchronizes the refresh rate of the monitor to the GPU render rate at 1 ms (Gray to Gray) and a refresh rate of 144 Hz; it will deliver the gaming scenes without the annoyance of ghosting, smearing and flickering display stutter experienced in most monitors.

It should be noted, to full utilize this monitor (or any other monitor on this list), you will need a powerful graphics card to deliver the gaming experience in a smooth and fast way.

The viewing comfort is also enhanced through the use of Acer EyeProtect technology which takes into consideration heavy users, and will deliver a flick-less, non–glare display with limited reflections from ambient light source.

The 24 – inch LCD monitor meets the Energy Star standards set that will conserve the energy and reduce the energy costs.

It also incorporates an Ergostand pivot which enables tilting from -5 to 35 degrees to enhance your viewing, a 60 degrees swivel function in both directions and also, height adjustments of up to 150 mm with a single lift or push. Its mounting is VESA compatible which allows mounting in tight spaces, saving on resources and the overall cost.

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Dell U3415W PXF79 34″

With the Dell UltraSharp U3145W, you get a monitor that is great for all sorts of work from gaming, to watching movies and multitasking. It features a superb 34” curved IPS display that is LED backlit, and has a resolution of 3440 x 1440.

The aspect ratio of 21: 9 is perfect for viewing panoramic footage, ultra-high definition videos, gaming, graphics design, and video editing work. Its curved shape allows you to get closer to the on screen action while playing the latest AAA titles, and makes panoramic photos and footage seem much more immersive.

The colors are as good as you would expect from a top tier LED backlit IPS panel (accurately reproduces all 1.07 billion colors in the sRGB spectrum). Viewing angles are pretty wide, although you probably won’t ever need to angle yourself in order to get a good view of the screen considering how wide it is.

There are thin bezels on the side, and although the monitor is not exactly frameless, it is still perfectly suited to a multi-display setup. The extra screen space matters a lot during gaming, and allows you to see the targets that you normally wouldn’t see on a regular 24” or 27” flat screen monitor.

On top of that, the curved shape results in a much more uniform focal distance. Which means you won’t strain your eyes as much as you would while playing on a flat screen display. The response time of this IPS display is 5ms GTG, and it features a true contrast ratio of 1000:1.

The widescreen also features PIP (Picture in Picture) and PBP (Picture by Picture) modes to enhance your multitasking workflow, and increase productivity rates. You can simultaneously work on more than one window, or you can stretch out your video editing workflow across the entire 34” of screen space. Or, you can connect two of these together and work on 4 applications at the same time.

The back of the monitor is mounted to a sleek aluminum stand, and it supports full height, swivel, and tilt adjustments. There is a built-in cable grommet on the stand, and in terms of I/O you are getting USB 3.0, HDMI, DVI, MHL, Mini DisplayPort, and DisplayPort. The screen is coated with a hard 3H anti-glare layer. There are two 9W speakers built into the display, and they sound quite loud and clear.

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LG 34UC97-S 34″

This monitor is an attempt by LG to offer curved IPS displays at a mainstream and slightly more affordable price. While curved displays are surely getting a lot of popularity these days due to the amount of detail and extra visual input that they provide, their sky high prices have always kept them out of the reach of the average consumer.

The LG 34UC97 offers a 34” LED backlit curved ultra-wide monitor that costs less than 800 dollars. Sure, for this price you could get a 24” or 27” 4K monitor, but you’ll be missing out on the extra screen size and curved form factor that this monitor has to offer.

Yes, it doesn’t have a 144 Hz refresh rate, but you need to consider that pushing 120+ fps on a resolution of 3440 x 1440 is near impossible for even the most modern graphics cards, unless of course you run a dual or triple GPU setup in which case you probably have a lot of money and can easily afford a much costlier display.

Besides, the only input type that can handle such data bandwidth is DisplayPort 3.0, and it is yet to be available on any graphics card as of now.

You will get a 21: 9 aspect ratio, and a 5ms GTG response time which is probably one of the best, if not the best response times for a gaming-grade IPS monitor. And this monitor also supports PBP and PIP modes so you can run multiple productivity-based applications at the same times, and you can also connect two of these displays together for the ultimate super immersive life-like viewing experience that is as close to a true home theater experience as you can get.

The color accuracy is outstanding, at 99% SRGB which means that it will accurately reproduce 1.07 billion colors in the SRGB spectrum.

The stand lacks any height, swivel, or tilt adjustment but you can still mount this monitor on a wall or boom arm using the VESA mount pad on the rear. The dual link-up feature on this monitor allows you o connect it to two display sources such as a console and a smartphone, and splits the 34” real estate into two sections, one for each of the two input sources.

In terms of connectivity, you have dual HDMI ports, a DisplayPort, dual USB 3.0 ports, and dual Thunderbolt2 ports.

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Samsung S34E790C 34″

Samsung are renowned for their incredibly good IPS monitors, and while they don’t particularly manufacture monitors targeted at the “gaming” demographic, it is a well-known fact that the colors and contrast ratios on high end Samsung panels are incredible.

That fact is proved by this sub-$800 ultra-wide curved IPS panel monitor from Samsung, the S34E790C. It features an LED backlit IPS panel with a screen size of 34”, and a resolution of 3440 x 1440. That’s 2.4 times the amount of pixels on a 1080p display, and the 34” screen size offers 35-40% more visual input for you to work with, compared to a 27” display.

This extra input can help you locate enemies much faster and stay fully aware of your surroundings while playing the latest AAA games on ultra-high definition.

Talking of games, the response rate is pretty fast, at jut 4ms GTG. The static contrast ratio of 3000: 1 is probably one of the best we have ever seen, far better than Dell, BenQ, and LG monitors that comes in at the same price range. This is actual contrast ratio, not the dynamic number that companies use for marketing.

Viewing angles are pretty standard for an IPS panel, at 178° (H/V), and the panel accurately reproduced 16.7 million colors. Some general features of this monitor include- Game Mode, Flicker Free, Eco Mode, Image Scaling, etc. It also supports PIP and PBP modes to enhance multitasking and productivity.

There are dual 7-watt stereo speakers embedded inside the body of the monitor, and it comes with a 100 x 100mm VESA mounting pad on the back. The stand supports tilt and height adjustment.

Its frame is built from premium metal alloys, and feels sturdy with no flex. In terms of I/O, there are 4 USB 3.0 ports, 2 HDMI ports, and one DisplayPort. The monitor is covered by a standard 3-year limited warranty.

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Acer Predator Curved 34″

If you want a display that is curved, 34” in size, and has NVIDIA G-Sync then currently the Acer Predator X34 is one of the only displays in the market that fulfills all those specifications. It does come at a premium price, but you are getting exactly what you pay for.

The panel is a curved, 34” LED backlit IPS type and features a resolution of 3440 x 1440. This gorgeous looking panel is coated with a hard 3H anti-glare non reflective coating, and sits inside a premium aluminum alloy frameless body that features a polished black metallic finish.

The curved design and nearly non-existent bezels allow you to conveniently use the X34 in a dual-monitor setup that can be considered the pinnacle of modern video gaming experience in term of sheer visual performance.

The 4ms GTG response time is the lowest you will find on any IPS panel today, and is complemented beautifully by the maximum refresh rate of this monitor which is 100 Hz. Yes, it is 60 Hz by default, but we are pretty sure that if you are spending more than 1000 dollars on a monitor, you probably have an equally expensive graphics card setup to power this beast. And modern top of the line GPU’s can push 100+ frames per second in 3440 x 1440 resolutions, so all you need to do is overclock the refresh rate from this monitors OSD.

The OSD also allows you to select from multiple downloadable gaming presets that you can further customize according to your needs, and there are plenty of extra features to optimize your gaming experience.

Motion blur and input lag reduction will give you the unfair advantage while playing fast paced online games, and the NVIDIA G-Sync technology completely removes stuttering and screen tearing. Built in dual 7 W speakers are fitted with DTS surround sound technology to emulate a surround sound experience. The sleek, aerodynamic stand features futuristic angled design and has cable management built in, as well as full tilt and height adjustment.

The I/O ports include HDMI, USB 3.0, and DisplayPort, as well as a couple of 3.5mm jacks.

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ASUS ROG SWIFT PG348Q 34″

With the ASUS ROG line of gaming peripherals, we expect nothing less than the best because these things cost significantly more than their non-gaming branded counterparts from both ASUS as well as other manufacturers.

Even though there are quite a few curved displays in the market right now, not all of them offer the same visual and aesthetic appeal as the top-tier ones such as the ROG SWIFT PG348Q that we have over here.

For example, the IPS panel on this monitor offers incredibly accurate colors and super high contrast ratios with virtually no backlight bleeding, a problem that is prevalent in most IPS panels, even the top-tier ones.

The resolution on this monitor is 3440 x 1440 (21: 9 ratio), and it boasts a full 100% RGB spectrum color accuracy, so its capable of accurately reproducing all the 16.7 million colors in the RGB spectrum.

It also features a 4ms GTG response time, NVIDIA G-Sync, reduced input lag, flicker-free technology, blue-light reduction, and anti-blur, as well as customizable ROG presets for each individual game. You can select the brightness, change the individual Red, Blue, and Green values from the OSD, and select the contrast ratio that you want for each individual preset.

Or, you can just download the monitor presets that your favorite pro players use and copy them into the onboard memory. G-Sync will completely eliminate screen tearing and features reduced input lag compared to V-Sync. You can use this monitor in either the 60 Hz mode, or the “boost mode” that bumps up the refresh rate to 100 Hz so you can enjoy your latest AAA titles in sharp, seamless motion. And, you finally get to make the most out of that thousand dollar GPU, by running games on 3440 x 1440 in 100+ fps.

The frame and stand are made from aluminum alloy, and the panels around the screen are dark, with a sleek brushed finish and angled cuts. The rear of this monitor looks like the interiors of an Alien spaceship, with Mayan-like inscription patterns, copper accents, and a titanium finish (not actual titanium).

The red ROG light beneath the stand gives this monitor a sophisticated look when you leave it on the desk in the dark, and it will perfectly complement the lighting on the rest of your gaming setup. The stand supports tilt and height adjustment, and features built-in cable management. There are USB 3.0 ports on the back, as well as headphone inputs, along with HDMI and DiplayPort connectors.

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Dell P2415Q 24″

It’s hard to find a 4k monitor under $500, and even if you do, it probably won’t have a whole lot of customization features and might not be the best at reproducing colors accurately.

The Dell P2415Q however, comes in at a really affordable price (for a 4k monitor), packs a superb IPS panel with a 178° wide viewing angle, and boasts 99% sRGB color reproduction right out of the box.

That’s right, you don’t need to go into the menu and waste time on color calibration, instead the monitor comes with perfectly calibrated colors and contrast settings straight from the factory.

It also features a delta-E score that’s less than 3, which suggest superior color accuracy. Combined that with the incredible 3840 x 2160 resolution, and high contrast ratio, and you get a monitor that is just as good for video and photo editing, as it is for gaming and watching movies.

It also has a multitude of customizable preset modes that let you adjust the color saturation, contrast levels, brightness, gamma, etc. so that you can conveniently create preset modes for each work scenario- gaming, multimedia (movies, songs, video, etc.), photo editing, and more. It doesn’t have the 1-2 ms response time that is characteristic of TN panels, but you can still decrease the default 8 ms response time of the monitor down to 6 ms, by entering into gaming mode from the menu.

The screen is mounting on a fully tilt-adjustable stand that supports up to 5° of backward tilt and 21° of forward tilt. You can also use the swivel feature to rotate the monitor 180° in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, so that you can view it in both landscape as well as portrait mode.

The bezels are sleek and give the whole setup a very clean, minimalistic look that is ideal for home offices and workstations. Even gamers will love the design, since you can comfortably hook up 2 or three of these beauties in a double or triple monitor setup, thanks to the slim bezel.

There is cable management built into the stand, and the back of the monitor houses a VESA-compatible wall mount socket. There are 5 USB 3.0 ports on the back, along with an HDMI and 2 DisplayPort 1.2 ports.

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Acer S277HK 27″

The Acer S277HK manages to strike a superb balance between beauty and functionality, and it is designed to occupy less space on the desk with a unique asymmetric stand. This elegant 27” 4K monitor sports an IPS panel which allows it to excel at color reproduction while also maintaining a super wide 178° viewing angle.

The 100% sRGB color accuracy is perfect for creative professionals who need a high resolution monitor with precise colors for photo editing and video rendering, or even 3D work. It is also great for gamers who have just updated their rig with a brand new high-end video card, and want to enjoy the latest AAA titles in 4K.

The S277HK comes with Acer’s exclusive Eye Protect technology which reduces screen flickering and blue light emission in order to reduce eye strain, and provide a smooth viewing experience even after several hours of continuous usage. The monitor also includes a dimming function that reduces the brightness to as low as 15% in low light environments.

It packs a 4ms response time, so even the fastest moving objects will appear blur-free and silky smooth. This is definitely a step up compared to regular IPS monitors that feature great viewing angles and color accuracy, but fall behind when it comes to response times.

The stand is made from a lightweight magnesium-aluminum alloy, and supports both tilt as well as swivel adjustments, and the base is super low profile to allow for more desk space in order to accommodate your keyboard, mouse, and phone.

This is also one of the few monitors to support HDMI 2.0, which is capable of displaying 4K images at 60 fps. Its frameless design looks super sleek, and is perfect for setting up 2 or 3-monitor configurations. The base and bottom bezel feature a high gloss white finish that will blend in with any surrounding. All the I/O ports are mounted on the rear of the monitor, and point to the side, allowing for easy access.

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Dell Ultra P2715Q 27″

If you want a no-nonsense 27” IPS monitor with 4K resolution, then the Dell P2715Q might be exactly what you’re looking for. It doesn’t have sleek bezels or aluminum edges, but features 99% sRGB color accuracy, and comes with factory calibration so you don’t have to tinker with the settings when you sit down and begin to work.

The 4K resolution is backed by an incredible contrast ratio that is perfect for editing photos captured on a high-end DSLR camera, and you can also use the high contrast ratio to your advantage while playing first persons shooters.

There are multiple presets and customizable settings that can be accessed from the menu, and they include a movie mode, gaming mode (response time is decreased from 8 ms to 6 ms), photo mode, along with plenty of other customizable settings and options.

The IPS panel sports a wide color gamut, along with a maximum contrast ratio of 720:1 (true contrast ratio, not the inflated numbers that are shown for marketing), as well 79% color reproduction on the Adobe RGB scale (pretty commendable for a mid-range 4K display). Of course you can further improve the color calibration from the menu, but the images look crystal clear and lifelike with just the factory calibrations.

The side panels and the bezel are not particularly slim, meaning that this is not the best monitor for a multi-display setup. Also, the bezels are made from dull looking plastic and feature a matte finish that resists fingerprints and oil (which is good).

The stand is the only part of this monitor which looks sleek and elegant, with its glossy white aluminum finish, and comes with a cutout for cable management. You can tilt the display forward or backward, and swivel it around to view the screen in portrait mode.

Also, there are plenty of I/O ports on the rear. These include 4 USB 3.0 inputs, one USB 3.0 output, a mini DisplayPort, one DisplayPort in, one DisplayPort out (for easy daisy chain linking), an HDMI 1.2 port, and speaker output jacks. The warranty is a standard 3-year limited warranty from Dell, which you can extend up to 5 years.

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ViewSonic XG2700-4K 27″

The ViewSonic XG lineup contains some really feature-packed gaming displays, and the XG2700-4K is one of the latest additions to this elite group of monitors.

It boasts a stunning 3840 x 2160 4K ultra HD display, and packs 4 times the detail of a conventional 1080p gaming monitor (4 times the pixel count compared to a 1080p screen). On top of that, it features an IPS panel with super low input lag and a 5 ms response time.

The low input lag ensures that your on-screen character responds faster when you issue any command via your mouse or keyboard, and the low response time provides blur-free gaming in all sorts of fast-paced competitive games where every millisecond counts.

In addition to the lightning-fast response rate and low input lag, this monitor also features the innovative new FreeSync technology from AMD. This allows your AMD GPU to dynamically control the refresh rate of your display, resulting in zero screen tearing and a much smoother gaming experience, no matter whether you’re playing an FPS, MOBA, RTS, or racing game.

To further enhance the user experience this monitor has a built-in blur reduction technology that you can activate from the menu, which will dynamically sharpen up the edges of the image. The black stabilization function enhances the brightness in dimly lit areas and reduces the shine in overexposed parts of the screen, so you can comfortably search and destroy hidden enemies.

The back of the monitor sports a VESA mount, and HDMI 2.0 input, along with DisplayPort 1.2a inputs, headphone inputs, and USB 3.0. The stand looks stylish with a dual tone black and red finish. You can fully adjust the alignment of the display by changing the tilt, swivel, and height. A cable management system and headphone hook on the back reduces the clutter on your gaming desk, and helps you focus on the game instead of stray wires.

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Acer Predator XB271HK 27″

Designed to be a part of the Predator lineup of gaming peripherals and hardware, this monitor represents Acers first step into the world of exclusive gaming grade 4K monitors. Not that they haven’t built 4K monitors before, rather they have never released a monitor as optimized for gaming as the XB271HK.

It comes with a built-in NVIDIA G-Sync hardware module to completely eliminate screen tearing and stuttering (provided you have an NVIDIA GPU). The response time has been lowered to 4ms, and is just 2-3 milliseconds behind gaming grade TN panels.

Of course you’ll never be able to feel the difference of a couple of milliseconds while gaming, unless you are a superhuman or a professional gamer with nearly a decade of gaming experience.

The 3840 x 2160 IPS display sports a 178° wide viewing angle, along with the ability to correctly reproduce more than 99% of colors on the sRGB spectrum (that’s 1.07 billion colors). And along with all this razor-sharp detail, you also get some cool gaming-oriented features such as lag reduction, motion blur reduction, contrast ratio optimization, black equalizer, and custom gaming presets that allow you to apply a new monitor configuration with a few button presses depending on the type of game that you’re playing.

The back of this monitor is loaded with a bunch of I/O ports- 4 USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI 1.4 port, a DisplayPort 1.2, as well as 3.5 mm jacks for plugging in your headphone and microphone.

The VESA compatible 100 x 100 mm mount socket lets you attach this monitor to a VESA-certified wall mount, or a monitor boom arm. You can of course overclock the default refresh rate to 75 Hz, and if you play around with the HDMI input, you can take the refresh rate to over 90 Hz with a few hacks.

The stand supports full tilt, swivel, and height adjustment, and looks really beautiful with its triangular ergonomic red base, and the body of the stand contains cable management options. Also, the headphone stand on the back looks super cool.

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BenQ BL3201PH 32″

The BenQ BL3201 is like the Rolls Royce of 4K monitors. It is large, it is powerful, and it costs more than your average 4K monitor from Dell or Acer. Actually, the price difference is rather small if you consider the fact that this beast of a monitor costs less than $900.

It may not be marketed as a gaming monitor, but make no mistake- the BenQ BL3201PH is excellent for all gaming purposes, PC as well as console. It packs a gigantic 32” IPS panel, with a resolution of 3840 x 2160.

Then you have the 4ms GTG (Grey to Grey) pixel response rate, and a 20,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Want to edit ultra-sharp HDR photos that you captured on your DSLR camera? Well then, you’ll love the 100% sRGB color compliance, which enables this display to accurately show all 1.08 billion colors in the sRGB spectrum.

If you are a graphics designer or 3D artist, then the CAD/ CAM and animation mode presets could come in really handy. When you switch over to one of these productivity-oriented preset modes, the monitor automatically adjusts its color spectrum, saturation rates, contrast ratio, etc. to suit a graphics design scenario.

On the base of the monitor stand, there is a large circular OSD controller dial that allows you to switch between presets, and makes navigating through the menu much easier. The monitor also includes PIP (Picture in Picture) and PBP (Picture by Picture) modes to increase productivity and speed up your professional workflow.

While the 178° viewing angle is more than enough for you to enjoy a crisp image no matter which angle you’re looking from, BenQ has integrated full height, tilt, and swivel support into the stand of this monitor.

You can also use the flicker free mode and blue light reduction technology to reduce eye strain while working for extended periods during the night. In terms of I/O ports, there are multiple USB 3.0 ports and DisplayPorts, along with an HDMI 1.4 port. For audio, there are 2 built-in 5 W speakers on the back, along with 3.5mm jacks to connect your headphone and microphone while gaming. There is a handy little headphone stand and cable management grommet built into the monitor stand.

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Acer Predator XB321HK 32″

With the XB321HK, you’ll get a slightly curved 4K display that features an impressive 4ms GTG response time, and NVIDIA G-Sync for smooth, stutter-free gaming. Its large size and wide viewing angles make it perfect for watching movies and playing games while relaxing on your bed or couch.

The G-Sync module automatically removes lag, tearing, and screen stutters by letting your NVIDIA graphics card dynamically adjust the refresh rates on the monitor based on the amount of fps that you are getting. This, combined with the low input lag and super-fast pixel response rate, results in one of the most seamless and lag-free gaming experiences possible with current IPS panel technology.

Talking of IPS panels, the one on this monitor is factory calibrated to perfectly reproduce all the 1.08 billion colors in the sRGB spectrum, so you can enjoy all your photos, movies, and games the way they were meant to be displayed.

The accurate color reproduction also comes in handy during graphics design workloads, when you need absolute accuracy in terms of hue and saturation while editing a photo, or designing a graphic for a webpage or magazine. This ensures the colors which you see on your screen, are the exact same colors that are printed or rendered in the final image.

There are plenty of customizable presets for gaming, videos, photos, etc. and you can also create and save your own custom presets. Gaming mode equalizes black levels, boosts response time (up to a minimum of 4ms), and minimizes the input lag.

You can also overclock the refresh rate beyond the monitors default 60 Hz, and it should remain stable up to a 95 Hz overclock (possible on HDMI port only). The monitor is mounted on an aluminum stand that features specially designed, stylish red feet on the base, and a triangular ergonomic design that will consume less space on the desk while leaving more room for your giant gaming keyboard and mouse mat.

There are USB 3.0 ports on the rear, as well as HDMI in and a DisplayPort 1.2 for input. The stand comes with full swivel, height adjustment, and tilt options, along with a built-in cable management grommet.

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BenQ GW2765HT 27″

For under $400, the BenQ GW2765HT monitor offers a fine balance of resolution, contrast ratio, color quality, and brightness.

Its 1440p resolution and 4 ms GTG response time allows you to enjoy the latest AAA game titles on high settings, while the IPS panel enhances color reproduction and makes the monitor a great option for watching movies, editing photos, etc.

The 27” screen offers a more immersive gaming and movie viewing experience compared to a 24” display, and it also features zero flicker and Low Blue Light technology for added viewing comfort. Zero flicker stops the annoying screen flickering (the waves that run across your screen), and Low Blue Light eliminates most of the blue light wavelength that could potentially strain your retina if you use the monitor for a long duration.

This monitor is fully compatible with Windows 7, 8, and 10. Just plug it in via the DVI or HDMI port, and Windows will instantly recognize the monitor so you don’t have to download and install any additional drivers.

There is also a D-sub and DP connector along with the DVI-DL and HDMI for added versatility in terms of connectivity. The monitor stand allows you to adjust the display height according to your sitting position and preference. It can be lowered to a minimum of 17.5” (the distance between your table and the top of the monitor), or can be set as high as 22.25”. The default refresh rate for this monitor is 690 Hz, and you can set it to 75 Hz by using the Benq driver panel.

Built in speakers are decent enough, but they are not a replacement for actual external speakers or headphones.

In summary, this is a great no-frills 1440p monitor that can be used for a variety of tasks. The color reproduction is amazing, and the pictures look clean and crisp due to the non-reflective nature of the panel. Hue saturation and color gradient in photos is evident thanks to the 8-bit color (10-bit via dithering) and the entire monitor is very sturdily built, with a stand that doesn’t feel shaky or unstable at all.

The screen is well shielded from external shock with thick plastic construction, and is pretty lightweight due to the thin 11 mm bezels. This monitor is covered by a standard 3-year warranty on parts and labor.

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Acer G257HU 25″

Just like the BenQ GW2765HT, the Acer G257HU is a multipurpose monitor although it is slightly smaller at 25″, compared to the 27″ of the BenQ.

However a 25″ screen size is actually quite good for all purposes, including gaming since most gamers still use 24″ displays and the one on this monitor is also an IPS panel like the BenQ.

The IPS panel, coupled with a super high contrast ratio and low response time, lets you dominate your opponents in online multiplayer shooters where visual clarity and lag-free performance is of utmost importance.

The monitor sports a 100,000,000:1 contrast ratio that lets you see the darkest blacks and the brightest whites, while its 2560 x 1400 resolution allows you to see the minute details in every frame. It features a stylish polished metal bezel that is black on the edges except for the bottom, and the whole monitor sports an extremely slim and ergonomic profile that allow it to easily fit on walls and VESA mounts.

There is a specially designed X-shaped stand for added stability on a desk, and it supports both HDMI and DVI-D inputs for maximum compatibility. The refresh rate is still limited to 75 Hz, but that should not make much of a difference as long as you don’t play games competitively, or at frame rates higher than 75-80.

Watching movies and editing photos with your friends or family nearby is really fun due to the wide 178° viewing angle which lets everyone nearby enjoy the same viewing experience irrespective of their sitting position.

One thing that would have been great is a tilt-adjustable stand, to help with the angle of the screen and its height. Every time you need to change the height, you must unscrew the stand and fit it back in. The parts are covered by a 3-year manufacturer warranty.

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ASUS PB278Q 27″

Just like every other 27″ 1440p IPS monitor, the ASUS PB278Q features amazing viewing angles and superb color reproduction. But something that is not offered by most gaming or multimedia displays at this price range, is the sweet 100% sRGB color gamut.

This ASUS monitor can perfectly reproduce every single color out of the 16.7 million in the sRGB spectrum, and is therefore extremely optimized for gaming as well as heavy duty multimedia work. And, the IPS panel boasts an incredible 2560 x 1440 resolution as an added bonus.

To ensure maximum connectivity, the ASUS PB278Q includes support for HDMI 1.4, DVI-D, D-sub, and DisplayPort 1.2. The HDMI is capable of MHL, which means you can directly connect your phone to the monitor to view content, while also charging your phone at the same time. For maximum ease of use, the stand comes with tilt, rotate, height-adjustment, and swivel.

This lets you twist, turn, raise, lower, and angle your display to get the perfect usage position. Twin 3 W speakers are built into this monitor, and they are surprisingly loud and clear for their worth.

No matter whether you use it for multimedia or for gaming, the ASUS PB278Q is going to perform better than any other similarly priced 1440p IPS monitor as far as color reproduction is concerned. It also sports an 80,000,000:1 contrast ratio, as well as 300 cd of brightness to truly enhance the darker areas of the screen, while the 5 ms GTG response time ensures zero blur and a smooth gaming experience.

A convenient hotkey lets you select the ASUS Splendid preset of your choice (gaming mode, movie mode, photo mode, etc.), adjust brightness, and select one out of several color adjustment and monitor calibration presets. Refresh rate is 60-75 Hz, and warranty is for 3 years with free two-way shipping and 1 year dead pixel coverage.

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Dell UltraSharp U2515H 25″

Few monitors are capable of claiming 99% sRGB color reproduction. Even fewer are factory-tuned to accurately mimic all 16.78 million colors in the sRGB spectrum.

The Dell Ultrasharp U2515H is one of those monitors that you just plug in and enjoy without bothering about color calibration. It accurately reproduces more than 99% of colors on the sRGB spectrum and offers a 178° viewing angle thanks to an excellent IPS panel, so that you can enjoy its brilliant image quality irrespective of your viewing angle.

There is a built in easy arrange function that lets you set your own custom window layouts in both single as well as dual or triple monitor set ups. It allows you to arrange all your application windows side by side, without anything buried in the background.

Not only is the U2515H good at color reproduction, but it also packs some insane depth of detail with its 25″ screen size and the 2560 x 1440 resolution. Combine that with a 5 ms GTG response time and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and you begin to understand that this is not your typical workstation monitor. It has a 300 cd max brightness level and several color equalizer settings that allow you to get the perfect hue and saturation for various types of usage scenarios such as watching movies, editing photos, playing games, etc.

There is height adjustment, tilt, swivel, and pivot built into the stand so that you can adjust the monitor according to your preferences and seating position. For example, while editing or viewing a portrait photo, just pivot the monitor to make it stand upwards like a smartphone screen.

If you like a higher seating position, just tilt it back to set it at the right angle. For maximum compatibility, this monitor includes DVI- D, DisplayPort, DVI- sub, HDMI, and USB ports. Warranty is 3 years, with a 1 year bright pixel replacement guarantee that lets you get the whole monitor replaced even if there is a single dead or bright pixel on delivery.

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ASUS PB328Q 32″

Sometimes you just need a giant monitor to fulfill your gaming and movie viewing requirements, and if you like console gaming with your friends than a 27” screen size may not be enough.

That’s where the ASUS PB328Q comes in, with its humongous 32” IPS LCD screen that packs a 2560 x 1440 resolution for an unmatched movie viewing and gaming experience.

While the resolution is definitely going to ensure that you don’t miss out any subtle details, the 100% sRGB color reproduction guarantees that you see each color the way it was meant to be seen, true to its source.

The high resolution and amazing color reproduction are matched with an excellent 178° wide viewing angle and 5 ms response time for high speed gaming. ASUS also included their Eye Care and Flicker Free technology in this display for a stress-free and extra comfortable experience that will not hurt your eyes even after several hours of viewing.

Which means you can game as much as you want and get creative with your editing and artwork without having to worry about the stress that a normal monitor would place on your eyes. Since the ASUS PB328Q has such an amazing assortment of color quality, detail, response time, and wide viewing angles, the only thing left to make this monitor perfect is the stand tilt and height adjustment.

And ASUS did not forget to include that, in fact they also threw in a 5-axis navigation joystick for you to easily navigate through the menu options.

The monitor is mounted on a 6-axis adjustable stand that lets you modify the height, tilt, angle, swivel, and rotation. If you wish, you can instantly detach the monitor from its stand for wall mounting by pressing the quick release button. Want to set up 2 or 3 of these giants on your desk in a multi-monitor setup? The ultra-thin bezels are designed precisely for that purpose.

There are 4 USB 3.0 ports, along with HDMI, DVI-sub, DVI-D, and DisplayPort for maximum connectivity. Warranty lasts for 3 years and covers all manufacturing defects and includes shipping. There is a standard 1 year dead pixel warranty as well.

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Acer G226HQL 21.5″

If you’re on a really low budget, and want a monitor to complete that sub-400 dollar gaming rig, then Acer might have the right display for you in the G226HQL. It costs less than $100, and features a full HD 1080p 21.5” LED backlit TN panel. The viewing angles are limited, and color reproduction is pretty mediocre but it still performs great for a budget TN panel based monitor. The response time is actually pretty good, at 2ms GTG. Yes, we know that gaming grade TN panels offer 1ms response times, but on extra millisecond is not THAT big of a setback to your gaming experience, considering the fact that you probably own a budget graphics card and an i3 or AMD FX series chip in your PC.

The overall profile of this monitor is pretty slim except for the thick black bezels, and the entire backside is pretty flat, since there are no fancy adjustment mounts, headphone holders, cable grommets, or VESA sockets. It is still capable of basic tilt adjustment, as you can adjust the tilt from -5° to +15°. You will find the stand to be pretty small and low profile, and it is built in an X-shape so that it will occupy less space on your desk.

There are no USB ports on this thing, but it has both VGA and DVI ports for you to hook up your graphics card. If you run a multimedia or home theater system with onboard graphics, then you’ll find the VGA port pretty useful. The contrast ratio is rather misleading, since it is stated to be 100M: 1 on the product page, but this is unfortunately dynamic contrast ratio instead of actual or true contrast ratio. But it is still pretty standard for a monitor at this price point, and will work perfectly fine for all sorts of budget gaming scenarios.

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ViewSonic VX2276-SMHD 22″

If you must have the incredible color quality and 178° viewing angles of an IPS panel, but you also want to spend less than $150 on your monitor, then the ViewSonic VX2276 might be a great choice for you.

The 1920 x 1080 resolution is perfect for entry level gaming, and it features 5 customizable presets for both gaming and multimedia. The color reproduction is pretty good, as expected from an IPS panel, but is not at par with the higher end IPS monitors or 4K IPS panels. But again, it costs less than a third of a high-end gaming grade IPS monitor.

The viewing angles on this 21.5” monitor are quite solid at 178°, and it comes with flicker-free and blue light reduction to minimize the amount of stress that is put on your eyes during long gaming or work sessions.

The height and swivel are not adjustable, since the stand does not come with a pivot mount. But you can still adjust the tilt from -5° (backward) to +15° (forward). The overall look of this monitor is actually not bad at all for such a cheap model, and it features an aluminum-like bottom bezel with anti-glare coating on the nearly borderless screen.

Response time is 7ms GTG, and the refresh rate can be raised from the default of 60 Hz, up to 75 Hz.

In terms of connectivity, there are no USB ports on the back, but it does come with the three main ports that you’ll need- HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPort. This monitor features an 80M: 1 dynamic contrast ratio, and 250 cd of brightness.

And there is a single 3.5mm audio input jack, as well as 2 built-in 3W speakers which you probably shouldn’t use. The warranty is pretty standard at 3 years, and covers faulty panels and dead pixels for up to one year.

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AOC M2870VHE 28″

With the AOC M2870VHE monitor, you are getting a lot of functionality packed into a super affordable 28” full HD package. This is not an IPS panel, nor is it a TN panel. Instead, this is an LED-backlit MVA panel. MVA panels feature better color reproduction than TN’s, but not up to par with an IPS panel.

On the other hand, they feature less response time than your average IPS LCD, but higher response times than a TN panel. So an MVA is a jack of all trades, but master of none.

Nevertheless, this monitor boasts much better viewing angles than a TN panel based monitor, and a 5m GTG response time which is one par with some of the costliest IPS gaming monitors on the market (a few of them cost 4-5 times as much as this one).

So, if all you need is a good response time, 1080p, and wider viewing angles than a TN panel, then by all means go for this monitor. It is only 20-30 bucks costlier than the ViewSonic VX2276 which happens to be an IPS monitor, but has a small 22.5” display, as well as a slower 7ms response time.

With this AOC, you’ll get more screen space and faster response times, along with good viewing angles and color reproduction which should come in handy in case you also plan on doing some photo editing or light video editing for the content that you captured on your budget camera or your smartphone.

It features a 178° wide viewing angle (same as an IPS), as well as a 20,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. There are no height or swivel adjustments, although the back of this monitor does support a VESA-compatible mount, and its tiny stand lets you tilt the display between -3° and 25°.

There are no DVI or USB ports on the back, although it does include a VGA port for backwards compatibility, as well as an HDMI port. The default refresh rate is 60Hz, although you can bump it up by 15 Hz, up to 75. Warranty is the industry standard 3-years.

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ASUS VG245H 24″

Although Asus markets the VG245H as a “console gaming” monitor, there is really no reason to not buy it for PC gaming. In fact, it is actually one of the most popular 1080p PC gaming monitors on the market due to its sub-$200 price tag, and super-fast 1ms response time.

It also boasts a multitude of technologies that are aimed towards improving the overall smoothness and visual quality of the images on this monitor. One of those technologies is AMD FreeSync, it is basically AMD’s version of G-Sync and it allows your AMD graphics card to communicate directly with the monitor, completely eliminating screen stuttering and tearing.

While this is a TN panel and has rather narrow viewing angles, the color reproduction is quite commendable for a monitor of this price.

It is not at par with even the cheapest IPS gaming monitors, but it also costs half as much as the cheapest IPS gaming monitor, and has 5 times faster response rate (compared to the 5ms GTG which is average for a decent IPS gaming panel). There are certain color calibration options to help you optimize your viewing experience, as well as a gaming hotkey that instantly shifts your monitor into gaming mode when you press it.

The gaming mode features reduced input lag, 1ms response time, optimized contrast ratios, and black equalization.

The bezels are not particularly slim and prevent you from using this in a multi-monitor setup. But as long as you are satisfied with the single 1080p 24” display, everything should be great.

The back of the monitor features a VESA-compatible mounting plate, as well as dual HDMI ports so you can link up multiple HDMI devices/ inputs ad run the monitor in split-screen mode. The ergonomically designed stand looks stylish and allows for full swivel, tilt, and height adjustment, and also features a built-in cable management hole.

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ASUS VE278H 27″

At first glance, the ASUS VE278H seems like any other normal monitor, with its unimpressive looks and boring matte finish. But Asus wisely incorporated a bunch of functionality into this deceivingly simple looking 1080p 27” monitor.

It features a really fast 2ms GTG response rate, which if you are a hardcore gamer, will come in really handy. But what about the other cool stuff such as 144 Hz refresh rates, G-Sync, etc., ? Well first of all, this is a sub-$200 monitor so you won’t be getting any of those.

Second, it actually features a 160°-170° viewing angle, which is pretty surprising for a TN panel. And, while it may not have any super fancy gaming-oriented features, it does have a 50,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, as well as a 1200: 1 true contrast ratio, which is also unusual for a TN monitor that is this cheap.

The high contrast ratio and low response time make this a pretty good 1080p gaming monitor, and if you throw in the IPS-grade viewing angles- it doesn’t look bad at all.

In fact, the monitor comes with a bunch of color adjustment presets and customizable options so you can tune the hue, saturation, brightness, etc. to find the perfect settings for whichever game you’re playing. Its color reproduction is okay, but not great.

The stand on this monitor is pretty basic, and it has no cable management grommets, or swivel and height adjustment. However, there is tilt adjustment as well as a VESA mount on the back. In terms of I/O, you have 2 HDMI ports, a D-Sub port, a 3.5mm audio input jack, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

While the bezels do look boring, they feature a matte finish just like the anti-glare one on the screen, so your brand new display won’t be attracting oils or fingerprints any time soon. Warranty is the standard 3 years, with a one-year replacement cover for dead pixels and faulty panels.

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Acer G277HL 27″

You can’t really go wrong with a sub-$200 IPS monitor that sports a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. On top of that, the Acer G277HL is a 27” monitor, and the extra screen space really matters if you’re into photo editing or graphics design.

Although it features a non-adjustable stand with zero swivel or height adjustment options, the VESA mount on the back allows to hook this monitor up on a wall mount, if you’re into gaming and movies, or an arm mount if you’re more interested in productivity, graphics design, etc.

The monitor can accurately reproduce more than 16.7 million colors from the RGB spectrum, and boasts a 4ms GTG response time which is actually 1ms faster than most high end gaming IPS monitors.

The Acer eColor functionality lets you fiddle with your color calibration in order to obtain the perfect setting for whatever you are doing on your monitor, whether it is gaming, or graphics design, or photo editing, or movies. You can tune the color saturation and hue, brightness levels, contrast ratio, etc. with a few button presses.

The bezels are not slim, so this is not the best monitor for a multi-display setup. However they feature a polished matte finish, and match up well with the matte screen that also has an anti-glare non reflective coating on it.

Although there are no swivel or height adjustment options, the stand still supports tilt. This is not adjustable on-the-fly, rather you need to unmounts the display and re-mount it after adjusting the tilt (what a bummer). The contrast ratio is a brilliant 100,000,000: 1, although it is dynamic so the actual contrast ratio is much closer to 1000:1.

Warranty includes the standard Acer 3-year limited cover, with a 1-year dead pixel replacement guarantee.

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BenQ RL2455HM 24″

Although this is a somewhat old model in the BenQ gaming monitor lineup, it is still one of the best 60 Hz monitors in the world, as long as you are concerned with gaming on it.

The RL2455HM was originally designed as a PC gaming monitor, but with the advent of 144 Hz monitors, it had to take a backseat. But it is still one of the best 1080p 24” monitors out there judging by the basis of design, features, and sheer performance.

The 1080p TN panel looks sharp and the colors are really solid. You will find the 1ms GTG response time perfect for playing any fast paced game where reaction times and speed matter the most. The input lag is pretty low, and is exactly the same as current generation top end TN panel gaming monitors.

In addition to the fast response rate and reduced input lag, BenQ has also integrated several important features for gaming, such as the black equalizer, blur reduction, flicker-free, and customizable gaming preset modes.

The black equalizer is a pretty standard feature on most monitors, but BenQ is one of the few who actually pioneered this technology back in the day, and their black equalizer on the RL2455 is extremely effective in increasing the exposure of dimly lit areas on the screen, allowing you to instantly recognize hidden enemies in the dark. The blur reduction and flicker ensure a much smoother gameplay experience, while the blue light reduction reduces the strain on your eyes while playing.

You can adjust many settings from the easy to navigate menu UI, and select the right settings for whatever game you are playing. It comes with two customizable preset modes that you can modify and save according to your needs.

The stand does not support height or swivel adjustment, but the VESA mount on the back allows you to hang the monitor on your wall, or mount it onto a monitor arm. There are multiple I/O options on the back that include- a DVI-DL connector, D-Sub, HDMI (x2), a headphone jack, and audio-in.

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If you’re not quite ready to buy a monitor to pair with your gaming PC yet because you want to have a better understanding of what to look for before you make your decision, then this section is for you.In this section I will give you a more thorough overview on what you should be looking for in a gaming monitor. I will also go over the important monitor specifications you need to be aware before you make your purchase.

So, jumping right in, there are two main factors you need to consider when purchasing a monitor.

1. Your budget (how much do you want to spend on a monitor?)
2. The graphics card in your gaming PC.

These two factors should be considered before anything else because they will determine the kind of monitor you can get.

First off and most obviously, how much you have to spend on a monitor for your gaming PC will be the biggest determining factor in the options you have available to you.

For instance, if you have $200 to spend, your options will be limited to 1080p monitors. If you are willing to spend $500-$1,000, you can either go with a 4K monitor, or with a coveted 1440p/144Hz monitor (the top-of-the-line in gaming monitors right now.)

However, just because you have a ton of money to spend on a monitor doesn’t necessarily mean you should.

If you have an existing gaming PC that has a low-end to mid-range graphics card in it, there is no point in pairing it with a really expensive gaming monitor.

The reason for this is that a low-end to mid-range graphics card can’t fully utilize the higher-end gaming monitors on the market.

For instance, if you have a GTX 750 Ti in your gaming computer and you go out and spend $700 on a 4K monitor or a 1440p/144Hz monitor, you will be dissappointed to find that your framerate will actually drop once you get your new badass monitor hooked up.

This is because your new monitor requires more GPU power to run than you currently have.

So, it’s very important that if you are going to buy a new monitor to game on, that you have the hardware to accommodate it.

In the above scenario, it would’ve been a better idea to go out and spend $300 on a high-end video card upgrade, and the rest on your monitor.

Important Monitor Features, Specifications, and Terms

Okay, so now that you understand that your budget and your existing graphics card (or the new graphics card you are going to purchase) are the biggest determining factors in what monitor you can get, its’ not time to talk about how to differentiate between monitors.

In my opinion, there are a handful of main features/specifications you need to look at when comparing monitors. They are:

1. Size
2. Resolution
3. Refresh rate
4. Response time
5. Panel type
6. Free-Sync & G-Sync

There are definitely more monitor sepcifications and features than these, but for the most part, these are the main specs you need to be aware of.

I will now discuss each in a little more detail and I’ll go more into why they’re important.

Monitor Size

Obviously, monitor size is a pretty straightforward specification to comprehend. And, the size of the monitor you want to get will depend on your own personal preferences.

Some people like to get the biggest monitor they can. Others, like me, would rather have multiple medium-sized monitors.

Monitor size will come down to how much you have to spend and what resolution you want.

Right now, monitors under 23″ are the most affordable options, but they are mostly limited to 1080p resolutions.

24″-28″ monitors are a little more expensive depending on what resolution you get, but they can come in 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions.

Monitors over 28″ are the most expensive and also range in resolutions from 1080p all the way up to 4K and beyond.

It’s important to note that the bigger the screen you get, the more detail you lose. So, for instance, a game will look a little worse at 1080p on a 27″ screen than it will on a 23″ screen.

That’s why if you’re going to get a bigger monitor, it is always a good idea to also bump up the resolution as well.

Monitor Resolution

Monitor resolution refers to how many pixels there are on your screen. The more pixels there are, the more detail and better graphics you can play your games in.

However, the more pixels there are (and thus, the higher your resolution) the more GPU power it will take to run your games at an ideal framerate.

So, just because you got out and get a 4K monitor doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to enjoy 4K in all of its glory. The resolution you can choose will depend on how powerful of a graphics card you have.

Therefore, it’s very important that when you buy your monitor, you choose something that will compliment your video card.

Currently, 1920×1080 (1080p) is the most popular monitor resolution available. However, 560×1440 (1440p) and 3840 x 2160 (4K) monitors are becoming more and more popular as their prices drop and GPU technology advances.

If you are are building a new computer, or if you have an entry-level to mid-level graphics card in your existing machine, you will be limited to a 1080p monitor. For a 1440p monitor, you will probably need a video card in the ~$200 range or higher.

And, for 4K gaming you will want to consider spending at least $300 on a video card.

It should be noted, though, that just like how a high monitor resolution will take more power and require a bigger video card, so, too, will a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Monitor Refresh Rate (& Response Time)

It wasn’t long ago that a monitor’s refresh rate was considered as being a kind of arbitrary specification. However, as more and more gamers have discovered, a monitor with a high refresh rate can provide a huge difference and a big boost to your in-game experience.

A refresh rate basically indicates how many images your monitor will show you per second. 60Hz is currently the standard refresh rate, which means that a 60Hz monitor will display 60 images per second.

So, a monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate will display 165 images per second.

And, what refresh rate effects in your in-game experience is the smoothness of the gameplay. Playing on a 144Hz monitor will feel much more smooth than playing on a 60Hz refresh rate.

For a lot of gamers, a high refresh rate is a luxury. However, for hardcore and competitive gamers, who rely on every split-second advantage they can get, a higher refresh rate can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

But, it’s important to remember that, just like having a higher resolution monitor will require more GPU power, so, too, will having a monitor with a higher refresh rate.

And, it’s doubly true that if you have a high-res, high-refresh-rate monitor, you will need an even bigger GPU to accommodate it.

As of right now, the highest refresh rate you can get (at least, practically speaking) is 165Hz. However, as there is not yet any support for 4K resolutions at refresh rates higher than 60Hz, the current pinnacle of gaming monitors are the handful of 1440p/144Hz monitors that are currently available.

There should be a 144Hz 4K monitor coming out within the next year, but if you are looking for the absolute best monitor for gaming possible right now, you will want to look into the 1440p/144Hz options listed above on this list.

From a practical point of view, refresh rates currently come in 60Hz, 75Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, and 165Hz.

Monitor Response Time

The response time for a monitor is basically the speed at which the pixels change from one color to the next (in order to switch to the next frame). The longer the response time, the more “ghosting” you will get.

Response times aren’t really as important as they used to be and that’s mostly because you don’t usually find a monitor now with such a bad response time as to hinder performance.

Most TN panels come with response times between 1ms-4ms and most IPS panels come with response times between 5ms-7ms. While 7ms is a bit on the high end, for the most part it is not bad enough to where you would notice a significant difference.

So, the bottom line is that, while response time is an important specification, the truth is that you won’t find a monitor that comes with a subpar response time.

Panel Type

Panel type is another feature you will want to consider. There are quite a few different panel types, but as of right now there are really only two main prevalent options available. They are: TN panels, and IPS panels.

TN (Twisted Nematic) panels are the standard options right now and, therefore, are much more affordable. And, while there are some IPS panel monitors with high refresh rates, there are plenty more TN panels.

TN panels also have faster response times.

However, where TN panels lack in comparison to IPS panels is in color quality, grayscale performance, and viewing angles.

For the most part, TN panels work better as gaming monitors, whereas IPS panels are better suited for professional use. Although, I should point out that that is a general rule, but it is not true in every case.

In fact, one of the best gaming monitors currently on the market is an IPS panel monitor that has a 165Hz refresh rate and a 4ms response time. So, it’s not that IPS panels can’t have high refresh rates and lowish response times, but that you have to pay a premium to get those features on an IPS panel.

FreeSync & G-Sync

There is a lot of hype over FreeSync and G-Sync technologies. Both are designed to provide a better gaming experience by eliminating screen tearing, and reducing input lag.

The result from these two technologies is a smoother gameplay experience.

To better understand how it is that FreeSync and G-Sync work, first you need to understand what screen tearing is and how it can affect gameplay.

Screen tearing is essentially when your GPU is not producing frames at a rate that is consistent with the monitors refresh rate. The result is that your game will “artifcat” and display wrong colors, static, stretched textures, etc.

One of the original ways around this was through V-Sync, a technology that forced your GPU to match your monitors refresh rate. However, that cause a handful of issues as well, including stuttering.

Where FreeSync and G-Sync differ from V-Sync is that instead of forcing your GPU to accommodate your monitor, they force your monitor to accommodate your GPU.

So, if you’re gaming and you’re framerate is bouncing around between a 60-70 FPS, with FreeSync and G-Sync your monitor will vary its refresh rate accordingly so as to eliminate screen tearing, stuttering, and input lag.

While both technologies are a bit different, and neither are perfect, the main takeaway here is that if you do get a monitor that is either FreeSync or G-Sync compatible, that you ensure that you get a video card to match it.

While it does appear that NVIDIA cards can utilize FreeSync to a point, AMD cards cannot utilize NVIDIA’s G-Synch technology. So, if you are planning on getting a monitor with either type of technology, you need to plan accordingly with the GPU you already have, or the one you are planning on buying.

Other Factors to Consider

While the factors discussed above are the core terms, features, and specifications you need to consider when choosing a monitor for gaming, the truth is that there are a lot of other features and specs that will come into play.

And, to every possible specification would be fairly difficult. However, I’ve put together a monitor buying FAQ below to help you sort through some of the more general questions to help you out with more specific queries.