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The Best Gaming Monitor

Last updated on November 8, 2021

We looked at the top 11 Gaming Monitors and dug through the reviews from 54 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Gaming Monitors.

Best Gaming Monitor

Our Review Process

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When you sit down to game, you want the best gaming monitor for a flawless picture. Although technology is ever-changing, there are a few highly rated monitors on the market specifically for the gaming community today. After checking out all the options, you won’t regret investing in your game with a new gaming monitor.

A monitor is an essential piece of technology needed to access all your computer’s information. It allows you to see what is in your storage and files that lie within the computer console. There are several factors that can increase or decrease a monitor’s performance for gaming. In addition to the specifications of the monitor itself, corresponding processing power within the computer console is an important factor as well. The following are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for gaming monitors:

Resolution is a major contributing factor to the gaming quality of a monitor. Resolution is the measure of pixels, which is an area of illumination that comprises an image, that can fit on the screen of a monitor. So, the higher the number of pixels noted on the description of a monitor, the more precise picture you will see displayed. Most monitors have a minimum of 1080p but the best gaming monitors can have upwards of 4K for display.

Response time is an additional feature to consider when looking into gaming monitors. When you hear the phrase response time, it means the amount of time it takes for a monitor to switch the color of the pixels, either from black to white or between shades of gray. When the response time is long, it creates blurry images for viewers. The lower the response time, the better quality you’ll see in the monitor. The absolute best monitors have close to 1ms response time while the longest response time in today’s technology is roughly 5ms. Monitors with a 1ms response time lend themselves to an outstanding gaming experience.

It’s important to remember that bigger numbers are best for refresh rates. The refresh rate is the number of times new information is updated on the monitor. It is measured with hertz and it’s assumed that consumers know it is per second. The minimum you’ll want for gaming is a monitor with, at least, a 75Hz refresh rate. Most consumers searching for monitors opt for a higher refresh rate of 144 Hz for the smoothest experience.

Doug Brennan, an avid gamer for the past 20 years and a writer for the blog Digital Addicts, agrees, adding that you’ll also want to factor in the number of frames per second.

“In my opinion, 60hz is the absolute minimum required for a stable gaming experience, while 120hz/144hz and above is far more optimal,” he says. “Fortunately, most modern gaming monitors will come standard with a 120hz or 144hz refresh rate. That being said, it’s important to remember that the monitor’s refresh rate is only half of the equation. The other half is playing on a computer (or console) that can keep up by running the game at a stable FPS (frames per second) that’s equal to or greater than the monitor’s refresh rate. If the computer (or console) cannot keep up, the user will experience screen tearing, which will distort the image during graphically intense moments.”

Curved monitors versus flat monitors is another feature for gaming monitors in today’s market. The curved monitors often present glare issues because of the angles but offer gaming consumers a bigger view. Flat monitors will mount to walls better than curved ones, which will stick out quite a bit. However, there isn’t a huge difference in quality between the two, making it a personal preference decision in the end.

Now for the best gaming monitor to function at its best, it’s important to install a good graphics card. This is where the processing power comes into play. The graphics card is inside the computer console and will make the monitor perform at its possible best. Most choose a great graphics card to get the most out of their gaming monitor.

Our Picks For The Top Gaming Monitors

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Best for Long Sessions

Asus VG278QR 27-Inch Gaming Monitor

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Asus

VG278QR 27-Inch Gaming Monitor

Real-time experiences are no problem for this fabulous gaming monitor. It's designed with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 5ms (GTG) response time. Another attractive feature is the incorporated low motion blur technology, which reduces ghosting and motion blur for uninterrupted play.

Overall Take

Easy on the EyesThis gaming monitor sits on an ergonomic stand that is fully adjustable.

Pros
" Supports Nvidia's G-Sync Technology. Solid gaming performance.144Hz refresh rate. Fully adjustable stand"
 Best Overall

AOC C24G1 Ergonomic Gaming Monitor, 24-Inch

AOC

C24G1 Ergonomic Gaming Monitor, 24-Inch

You'll find this gaming monitor utilizes a curved design for a more interactive experience. The monitor can also be adjusted higher or lower, tilted to your desired angle or swiveled from left to right. Thanks to the direct current backlighting, you won't have to worry about eye strain or screen flickering either.

Overall Take

Change Up the HeightThis gaming monitor's frameless design with narrow border means you can set up multiple monitors to create an ultimate battle station.

Pros
" Strong color consistancy. Matte Screen. Strong static contrast. Low inut lag, Great value"
 Wall Mount Option

Sceptre C248W-1920RN Curved 1080P HDMI Gaming Monitor

Sceptre

C248W-1920RN Curved 1080P HDMI Gaming Monitor

You don't have to spend a fortune on a gaming monitor to get an enhanced visual experience. This monitor is actually curved to immerse you in your game. The unit also has a high refresh rate and is fully compatible with Windows 10.

Overall Take

Most EconomicalAlthough this gaming monitor has a stand, it also comes with a wall mount.

 Upgrade Pick

ASUS ROG Ergonomic Gaming Monitor

ASUS

ROG Ergonomic Gaming Monitor

This gaming monitor is a top choice because of its IPS technology, Nvidia G-Sync and HDMI input. The titanium and plasma exterior create an intense gaming design for an excellent appearance. The height adjustment, swivel feature and tilt functions give users the ability to customize its position within their gaming area.

Overall Take

Intense DesignWith a titanium and plasma exterior, this monitor is perfect for intense gaming.

Pros
" ASUS's ROG Swift 4ms response rate provides a smooth gaming experience, and the bold colors exhibitedby its IPS technology are a cut above most monitors. The unit gets bonus points for a backlight designed to reduce eye strain during long..."
Cons
"It’s heavy and bulky, and awkward to set up."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
18

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the gaming monitors available to purchase.
11

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

54

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: BestReviews, Trusted Reviews, The Tech Insider, Tom's Hardware, The Tech Lounge.

58,418

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 11 Gaming Monitors and also dug through the reviews from 54 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Gaming Monitors.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

Our Expert Consultant

Doug Brennan   
Tech writer for Digital Addicts, avid PC/console gamer

Doug Brennan is an avid PC/console gamer for the past 20+ years, and writer for Digital Addicts. In his spare time, he’s an active member on a number of computer peripheral forums (overclock.netgeekhack.orghead-fi.org), so he’s always up to date on the latest products.

What to Look For

  • A bigger budget does not always equal a better gaming monitor.
  • Take your time to decide on the features that you want based on what matters most during your gaming experiences and the types of games you play.
  • Remember to keep the combination of a high refresh rate with a low response time.
  • When you choose a lower resolution but have a quality graphics card. you can achieve fast refresh rates.
  • Be sure to do extra research on the monitor you are considering because input lag (the time it takes between pushing a button and the output by your graphics card) is not usually listed in the general specifications.
  • Some gaming monitors have motion blur reduction or ultra-low motion blur, a feature that can be useful if the resolution is on the lower end of the spectrum.
  • You may not need motion blur reduction, and you actually cannot use it in combination with certain graphics cards and their features.
  • You have a choice of LED or LCD panels.
  • LCD panels come in three types: twisted nematic (TN), vertical alignment (VA), and in-plane switching (IPS).
  • The best-suggested gaming monitor among the three LCD panels is the twisted nematic, also known as a TN panel.
  • Contrast is the biggest contributor to the quality of the image and is usually noted as 5,000:1 in the good range versus 1,000:1 in the lower range.
  • The higher the refresh rate of your monitor, the more expensive graphics card you will need to buy.
  • Monitors in the 32-inch area are currently the most popular and best functioning size among gaming monitors. Some even have a bit of a curve for an interactive experience.

Gaming Monitor Rankings

1. Asus VG278QR 27-Inch Gaming Monitor

Overall Score: 9.4
Reviews Included: 4

2. AOC C24G1 Ergonomic Gaming Monitor, 24-Inch

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 4

3. Sceptre C248W-1920RN Curved 1080P HDMI Gaming Monitor

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 1

4. ASUS ROG Ergonomic Gaming Monitor

Overall Score: 8.8
Reviews Included: 9

5. ASUS ROG Blue Light Mode Gaming Monitor

Overall Score: 8.7
Reviews Included: 11

7. LG UltraWide Gaming Monitor

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 12

8. Sceptre OS Compatible Gaming Monitor

Overall Score: 8.3
Reviews Included: 8

9. ViewSonic Ultra-Fast Adjustable Gaming Monitor

Overall Score: 8.2
Reviews Included: 11

10. Acer Predator Anti Eye Strain Gaming Monitor

Overall Score: 7.9
Reviews Included: 9

11. BenQ Freesync Gaming Monitor

Overall Score: 7.5
Reviews Included: 12

More to Explore

  • William Higinbotham, a physicist, created what is marked as the first computer game in October 1958. It was a tennis game.
  • Computer monitors used to be called VDUs or visual display units.
  • CRTs, cathode ray tubes, were the first monitors made. They were monochrome with quite a dull picture. Apple II created the color display in 1977. A few short years later, Atari 800 in 1979, released a much more advanced graphics monitor. IBM followed suit and, in 1981, it produced the Color Graphics Adapter that displayed up to four colors.
  • Although LCD monitors were available in the mid-1990s, they were too expensive for the average computer user and were not readily used until 1997 when they started to give CRTs some competition.
  • The first gaming machine was on display at the World’s Fair in 1940 in New York. Dr. Edward Uhler Condon created a game based on the math game of Nim, and roughly 50,000 people played it in those six months during the fair.
  • In 1967, Ralph Baer released the “Brown Box” (more widely known as the Magnavox Odyssey) that was made for home use. It connected to a television with controllers for two players to compete against each other on-screen. Users could play ping pong, four different sports games and checkers among other games. It had extra accessories available as well.

More to explore