The 5 best gaming monitors of 2021 from budget screens to 4K displays

The best gaming monitor overall

The BenQ EX2780Q has visuals to match monitors at twice the price and doesn’t compromise motion performance to achieve it

Pros: 

• Excellent image quality
• Smooth 144Hz refresh
• Attractive design
• Built-in soundbar with subwoofer
• Plenty of inputs

Cons: 

• Included stand doesn’t adjust for height

The BenQ EX2780Q is not only an outstanding gaming monitor, but one of the best monitors I’ve ever tested. You can buy this monitor today and still enjoy using it a decade from now. 

Image quality is the headline feature. The EX2780Q brings the brilliant, wide, and highly accurate color capabilities of a professional-grade display to the gaming space. It has a vibrant, lifelike image that seems to leap off the screen. 

The EX2780Q also avoids pitfalls that ensnare many gaming monitors. It doesn’t suffer from large, distracting hazy areas of excess brightness, shows plenty of detail in dark scenes, and the high refresh rate reduces blur around fast objects. 

The monitor’s 2,560 x 1,440 resolution is not as sharp as 4K, but still high enough to show most fine details in games. HDR is supported and can offer better color and brightness in compatible games. Motion looks smooth thanks to the 144Hz refresh rate. AMD FreeSync is officially supported, but Nvidia’s G-Sync also worked in my testing.

It’s also an attractive monitor with a luxurious, golden-black look. It has a built-in soundbar with subwoofer and even includes a remote for controlling monitor settings. The bundled stand doesn’t adjust for height, but a VESA mount is available for attaching third-party monitor arms.

The best budget gaming monitor

Dell’s 2721HGF is a great all-around monitor with surprisingly attractive visuals at an entry-level price

Pros: 

• Punchy image with good dark scene performance
• Officially supports AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync
• Solid build quality with height adjustable stand
• Plenty of inputs

Cons: 

• Only 1080p resolution
• No built-in speakers

Dell’s 2721HGF is a simple, straightforward monitor that makes the right compromises to deliver an excellent gaming experience at a low price.

The screen has a punchy image with bold color. It also hits a higher contrast ratio than many alternatives, providing a strong illusion of depth and excellent detail in dark scenes. It’s perfect for realistic games, horror games, and other titles that use shadows or darkness for dramatic effect.

Despite its price, the 2721HGF has a 144Hz refresh rate and good motion performance. More expensive monitors, like the BenQ EX2780Q, look sharper in motion and will show less blur behind fast objects, but the 2721HGF is a huge upgrade over a run-of-the-mill office monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate. 

The monitor’s resolution tops out at 1080p, which is low for a 27-inch display. Games don’t look sharp on this monitor. You may see distracting saw-tooth edges around fine details. This, however, is unavoidable on a budget. 1440p monitors like the BenQ EX2780Q are much more expensive.

This is a solid, handsome monitor that includes a height-adjustable stand and a VESA mount for attaching third-party monitor arms. The monitor is curved, but the curve is subtle enough that it doesn’t significantly change gameplay. 

The best gaming monitor for competitive gamers

Acer’s Predator XB3 has an absurdly high 280Hz refresh rate for lightning-quick reaction times in competitive games

Pros: 

• Excellent motion clarity
• 240Hz refresh rate, overclockable to 280Hz
• Precise color accuracy 
• Sturdy design 
• Good value for money

Cons: 

• Only one video input

Acer’s Predator XB253Q Gxbmiiprzx, also known as the Predator XB3, is an outstanding 24.5-inch gaming monitor built for competitive gamers. It has remarkable motion clarity and doesn’t sacrifice image quality.

The monitor has a 240Hz refresh rate that can overclock to 280Hz. This leads to excellent motion clarity that helps you pick out details in small, moving objects. The monitor also has low input lag, making it feel almost wired to your brain.

A few competitors have an even higher 360Hz refresh rate. They’re also excellent for competitive gaming but are nearly twice as expensive. It’s hard to justify spending so much when this more affordable Acer can deliver most of their gains. 

The Predator XB3 has excellent image quality. It displays accurate, vibrant color and has enough contrast and brightness to achieve a convincing illusion of depth. HDR is supported and works well in bright scenes, though the monitor doesn’t support the extended range of color required for proper HDR. 

A pair of two-watt speakers are included along the monitor’s rear. They provide usable, if not impressive, audio. You’ll want a headset or desktop speakers for most gaming, but the speakers are passable for short sessions and when audio quality is not important. 

Connectivity is a downside, as the monitor has just one DisplayPort 1.4 input. Its design is divisive, thanks to a large chin on the display’s bottom edge, but the monitor is built like a tank and includes a robust stand with height adjustment. 

The best ultrawide gaming monitor

BenQ’s Mobiuz EX3415R is a huge, immersive display with few downsides

Pros: 

• Expensive, immersive screen
• Highly accurate color
• Great built-in speakers 
• Sturdy, height-adjustable build

Cons: 

• Disappointing HDR for the price
• Expensive

BenQ’s Mobiuz EX3415R is a bigger, more expensive take on BenQ’s EX2780Q. It has most of the qualities that make the EX2780Q our top pick. This includes extremely accurate, vibrant color, good shadow detail, and attractive sharpness, all alongside a 144Hz refresh rate that shows great motion clarity. 

Upgrading to a 34-inch ultrawide monitor leads to a more immersive gaming experience. This is perfect for simulation, open-world, and strategy games, where a wider display often lets you see more at once. It can be a downside in competitive games, which are rarely optimized for ultrawide monitors.

HDR performance is the monitor’s only notable quality flaw. It’s not bad; in fact, it’s better than most displays on this list. But the Mobiuz EX3415R is an expensive display, and that puts it in a different league. Alienware and Samsung monitors have better HDR at this price point.

BenQ’s Mobiuz monitor line, which is new, embraces an eye-catching design that combines the angular lines of a stealth fighter with modern contrasting colors. The sturdy height-adjustable stand keeps the monitor stable. 

The Mobiuz EX3415R has a built-in sound system that includes a subwoofer. It’s loud and enjoyable, which is great if you don’t want external speakers cluttering your desk. 

The best 32-inch gaming monitor

Samsung’s Odyssey G7 is a massive, beautiful monitor with attractive design and a surprisingly high refresh rate

Pros: 

• Excellent color accuracy 
• 240Hz refresh rate
• Striking curved, height-adjustable design
• Good HDR support

Cons: 

• Curve will look too extreme for some
• No built-in speakers

Samsung’s monstrous 32-inch Odyssey G7 is all about extremes. It’s extremely large, extremely curved, and has an extremely high refresh rate. These traits make it easy to recommend to gamers looking to go large.

The Odyssey G7 has exceptionally accurate and vibrant color that’s nearly a match for BenQ’s EX2780Q. That is paired with a slightly better contrast ratio, which provides an immersive illusion of depth. These traits, together with the monitor’s sheer size, make the Odyssey G7 a great pick for simulation games, role-playing games, and other titles with attractive, expansive scenery. The monitor is bright in HDR mode, providing an above average HDR experience.

Yet the Odyssey G7 also has a 240Hz refresh, which is rare for a 32-inch display. The monitor isn’t as clear in motion as some competing 240Hz monitors, but most gamers will be pleased. 

This monitor has a dramatic 1000R (smaller means more) curve, which means it could complete a full circle if it were 1000 millimeters wide. Most curved monitors land between 1900R and 1500R. A curve this aggressive is obvious whether the monitor is off or on. Fans of curved screens will adore it, but gamers unconvinced by curved screens will find it too extreme. The curve is paired with an aggressive design that will stand out on any gamer’s desk.

Our methodology

The monitors recommended in this guide were tested using a Datacolor Spyder X colorimeter. This calibration tool can generate a report that objectively gauges the quality of a monitor based on numerous factors including brightness, contrast, color accuracy, image uniformity, and more. Test results were entered into a database that includes over 600 laptop and desktop displays going back over a decade. 

What else we considered

The monitors in this list are the best for most gamers, but we tested several additional gaming monitors that stand out as honorable mentions. 

Acer Nitro XV340CK ($419.99): This is a solid mid-range ultrawide monitor with good color accuracy and a 144Hz refresh rate. It falls short in maximum brightness and can show hazy, bright spots in dark scenes, but many gamers will excuse these flaws because of the monitor’s low price. 

Alienware AW2721D ($769.99): Want a 27-inch monitor with a refresh rate and motion performance nearly as good as the best 24-inch displays? Alienware’s AW2721D is for you – if you’re willing to pay for the privilege of owning it. 

Dell S3220DGF ($454.99): This 32-incher is a more affordable alternative to Samsung’s Odyssey G7. It performs similarly in many respects, though it has a lower refresh rate. Some gamers may even prefer its less dramatic curve. 

Samsung Odyssey G9 ($1,399.99): Samsung’s absurdly large Odyssey G9 makes every other monitor look tiny, and it has a 240Hz refresh rate, as well. Just be warned: not every game supports a monitor this wide.  

What we look forward to testing

2021 has several exciting developments for gaming displays, including a new OLED monitor from LG and a Mini-LED from Asus.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX ($2,999): This outrageously expensive 32-inch monitor from Asus is one of the first to embrace Mini-LED technology similar to that in high-end HDTVs and Apple’s new iPad Pro.

LG 27GP850 ($499.99): LG’s latest 27-inch gaming monitor is an evolution of its successful LG 27GL850-B. The new model has a higher 180Hz refresh rate and promises support for both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. 

LG UltraFine OLED Pro 32EP950 (Price TBA): Though technically not a gaming monitor, LG’s 32-inch OLED monitor is sure to set a new standard for image quality. Pricing and availability are expected to arrive in summer of 2021.

Samsung Odyssey G5 Ultrawide ($599.99): Samsung’s Odyssey G5 is a promising mid-range 34-inch ultrawide with a 165Hz refresh rate. If other Odyssey monitors are a guide, this could threaten our current top-rated ultrawide, the BenQ Mobiuz EX3415R. 

FAQs

What size is best for a gaming monitor?

 Gaming monitors typically come in 24-inch, 27-inch, and 32-inch widescreen options. While it’s tempting to go big, a 24-inch or 27-inch monitor is often best because most players sit fairly close to the monitor (within three feet or less). 32-inch monitors are ideal as a television substitute in small spaces, like a studio apartment, a bedroom, or a dorm room. Ultrawide monitors are a special case; a 34-inch monitor is roughly as tall as a 27-inch widescreen. 

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What resolution is best for a gaming monitor?

2,560 x 1,440 resolution, often called 1440p, is the sweet spot for PC gaming. It’s sharper than 1080p but not so pixel-dense that you need an absurdly expensive video card for acceptable frame rates in modern games. 1080p is still adequate, however, especially in 24-inch monitors. 4K looks fantastic but can severely tax all but the most expensive gaming PCs, and there’s a slim selection of 4K displays that also support a refresh rate of 120Hz or better. 

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What refresh rate is best for a gaming monitor?

A monitor’s refresh rate is the number of times it can display a new image every second. Cranking up the refresh rate improves perceived smoothness, increases the clarity of objects in motion, and shortens the time between player input and on-screen response. A 144Hz refresh rate is the current sweet spot between performance and price, but gamers who play competitive games that demand quick reactions will prefer a 240Hz refresh rate.

Glossary

• AMD FreeSync: FreeSync compatible monitors can synchronize their refresh rate to match the framerate of games played on an AMD video card. This improves perceived smoothness during gameplay.
• In-Plane Switching: Often abbreviated as IPS, In-Plane Switching is a common LCD panel technology found in computer monitors. Monitors that use an IPS panel have great color accuracy, high brightness, and outstanding viewing angles, but can look hazy in dark scenes. A majority of gaming monitors use an IPS panel.
• High Dynamic Range: Usually abbreviated as HDR, High Dynamic Range describes content packed with added color and luminance information. This leads to brighter whites, deeper blacks, and a greater range of colors across the entire spectrum. HDR content must be viewed on an HDR capable display to see an improvement over standard content. 
• Nvidia G-Sync: G-Sync compatible monitors can synchronize their refresh rate to match the framerate of games played on an Nvidia video card. This improves perceived smoothness during gameplay.
• Refresh rate: This describes how many times a monitor can refresh its image each second. A higher refresh rate leads to smoother motion and improved clarity for fast-moving objects. It can also reduce input lag because less time passes between each refresh.  
• Resolution: This describes a monitor’s pixel count in terms of the number of pixels found on one line along its horizontal and vertical axis. For example, any single horizontal line on a monitor with 1,920 x 1,080 resolution will have 1,920 pixels, while any single vertical line will have 1,080 pixels. More pixels will improve a monitor’s sharpness and clarity. 
• VESA DisplayHDR: DisplayHDR is a set of standards laid out by VESA, an industry organization behind a variety of standards (including DisplayPort). DisplayHDR sets quality minimums that a monitor must reach to be certified. It’s more specific than HDR which, in the case of gaming monitors, doesn’t promise anything aside from the ability to accept an HDR signal. 
• VESA mount: This is a standard mount for computer monitors laid out by VESA that uses four screws spaced 100 millimeters apart in a square pattern. Nearly all monitors and monitor arms use this mount.
• Vertical Alignment: Often abbreviated as VA, Vertical Alignment is a common LCD panel technology found in computer monitors. It’s known for reaching deep, inky shadows in dark scenes and good color performance, but tends to show less clarity in motion. VA panels are the second most popular choice for gaming monitors.