There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the best gaming monitor, from size and resolution to refresh rate and panel type. We’ve tested dozens of monitors and put together this guide to point you toward the best models available right now. Don’t forget to check out Best Budget Ultrawide Monitor.
Treat it like a reference: find the section you’re interested in, see our pick for the overall best monitor in that category, and get reading!
If you just want to check out some of our top picks, though, read on.
We’ve included our current favorites for both 4K and 1080p monitors, as well as a few high-end ultrawide monitors that offer more screen real estate than any other display. We cover all the bases here, but if you’re looking for something specific, use our table of contents to jump around. The higher the brightness level of the display, the better it will be able to show details in brighter scenes.
HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
You will see a lot of monitors on the market which claim to be compatible with HDR content, but only a few of them actually offer support for both HDR10 and Dolby Vision. If you want to watch videos with high dynamic range on your monitor, make sure it supports these two standards.
Multiple ports
You will want to connect your monitor to several devices at once, so make sure it has enough video inputs and outputs to allow you to do this. The ideal choice should have at least two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort port.
LG 24GN650
LG 24GN650 is a 24” Full HD gaming monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz. The resolution is 1920 x 1080, which means the pixel density is almost twice as high as full HD, and this allows for sharp images. It’s a good choice for those who are looking for an affordable monitor with high refresh rate and a response time under 5ms.
The LG 24GN650 has an IPS panel, which provides very wide viewing angles and great color reproduction thanks to the sRGB over 99% gamut coverage. This monitor is also equipped with AMD FreeSync technology. This eliminates the screen tearing that can occur when the graphics card output doesn’t fit with the monitor’s refresh rate. FreeSync works with a wide range of frame rates, from 40 to 144Hz. So you won’t have to upgrade your GPU to enjoy smooth gameplay.*
As this is a gaming monitor it has all the necessary features: fast response time (4ms GTG), low input lag (11ms) . And an option to create customized profiles for different kinds of games. The LG 24GN650 has 2 HDMI ports and 1 DisplayPort; however, it can only display video content from one source at a time.
Dell S2522HG
The S2522HG is a very good 1080p monitor. It’s priced very similarly to the Viewsonic XG2402, which I reviewed here. In that review, I found the Viewsonic to be slightly better. They are both great monitors, but the Dell is behind in clarity and has a few design flaws.
The stand on this monitor is similar to the one on the S2417DG monitor. It lets you tilt and rotate it, but does not allow height adjustment or pivoting from portrait to landscape view. The arm is non-detachable and can be a bit of a pain to get the correct height setting for your desk. It also does not allow for a VESA mounting option, which would make setup much easier for those who wish to buy an aftermarket mount or stand.
Some people may find that the monitor is too bright out of the box, with a default brightness level of 75 and a contrast ratio of 1000:1. Lowering these settings made it much more comfortable to use in my office, which has some natural light during the day. I ended up lowering brightness to 50 and increasing contrast to 650:1, which makes it easy on the eyes while providing great colors and deep blacks.
ViewSonic XG2431
This monitor is pricey but is a great choice for competitive gamers. It has an unbeatable speed and provides an excellent visual experience. It has a very strong contrast ratio and a quick response time to do away with any motion blur. Laptop has a 1ms response time which can be further lowered to 3ms through the overdrive feature. The screen has excellent color reproduction and covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut making it ideal for photo editing and watching movies and videos.
Hardcore gamers will love its low input lag, G-sync and superb picture quality. All these features are packed into this enormous 24-inch display that showcases all the details in your games. You can also detach the stand if you want to place it on a table or mount it on your desk using VESA mounting holes. Either way, you’ll have an immersive gaming experience with this monitor by your side!
