Club Benefits
The best gaming monitors today are a sight to behold, whether it be a 4K ultrawide beast or a wallet-friendly display with an extremely high refresh rate. And, with the honor of testing screens of all shapes and sizes purely for gaming, our team of monitor experts and I know just the displays to grab.
So, if you're looking for vibrant, color-rich details and blazing fast refresh rates going well beyond 120Hz while kicking back and playing the latest titles on your PC, PS5 or Xbox, you're not alone. We here at Tom's Guide test dozens of screens with hours of gameplay, pinning down a wide range of gaming monitors that will shine in your gaming setup.
I'm Darragh and I (luckily) get to check out a host of gaming monitors, which not only lets me find out color gamut coverage, a screen's response time, refresh rate and simply see if the games look glorious on display, but it also gives me the time to play the latest titles for hours! That's how I get a good idea of the monitors worth talking about. Of course, I couldn't do it without the rest of the monitor experts on the team. For anyone after a monitor made for gaming, we've got just the recommendations.
The best gaming monitors you can buy today
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
The best gaming monitor overall
The MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 deserves a place on any desk for anyone after smooth, immersive gaming performance. Last time I checked, that includes everyone, which is why we've given it the crown for the gaming monitor to get.
On paper, the X36 already knocks it out of the park: 34-inch (3440 x 1440) curved QD-OLED beauty, a blazing-fast 360Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time, plenty of ports including a USB-C 98W with Power Delivery (PD) and actually useful AI features like its AI Care Sensor that automatically turns off the display when it doesn't identify a human presence. In practise, it's a sight to behold.
Whether it's fast-paced competitive shooters like Counter-Strike 2 or visually stunning works of art like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the X36 offers smooth, blue-free performance and detail in spades. Colors are on point, too, with plenty of depth in both bright and dark environments. It also helps that there are different picture modes to choose from, including FPS, RPG, RTS and yes, even AdobeRGB for the creatives out there.
Now, it's not the brightest monitor we've tested, measuring around 280 nits of peak brightness in both SDR and HDR, but that's to be expected with OLED and QD-OLED monitors. Plus, this doesn't come cheap at its $949 cost (that said, I've already seen it drop to $899, so expect even more major discounts). That aside, for the ultimate visual treat for the eyes, the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 deserves a place on your desk.
Read our full MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 review.
The best value gaming monitor
From its spectacular picture quality to its high-level performance for gaming, the Alienware AW2726DM is already a monitor that's hard to beat. But it takes it a step further by delivering premium features that won't put a massive dent in your wallet, and that's a rare trait to find these days.
For a standout price of $349, you get a vivid 27-inch (2560 x 1440) OLED monitor sporting a speedy 240Hz refresh rate with an ultra-low 0.03ms response time, packed in a sleek, understated design. That gives you plenty of room on your desk, and in fact, our reviewer, Tony Polanco, even said he'd happily buy two of these beasts for himself (which is far from a bad idea for a multi-screen setup). That's two monitors for less than the price of our current top pick!
Its OLED panel truly shines, with sharp image quality and rich colors with coverage that goes well above the 100% target (that's for both sRGB and DCI-P3). Playing games like Cyberpunk 2077 shows off just how striking visuals are, but you can also expect to play fast-paced competitive FPS games like Valorant or Call of Duty with smooth graphics.
Alienware decided to leave RGB lighting at the door, so don't expect a colorful glow when turning this monitor on. Moreover, it's quite a dim OLED display, with 181 nits for SDR and 342 for HDR, as tested. But for all the premiums it delivers, those are easily forgiven, making the Alienware AW2726DM the finest gaming monitor for value you can buy right now.
Read our full Alienware AW2726DM review.
The best 1080p gaming monitor
There's really not a whole lot to complain about when it comes to the Alienware AW2525HM, not when this ultra-sleek, 25-inch monitor with a 320Hz refresh rate is just under $250 (and even less during a sale).
That's right. Not only will you find an ultra-smooth 320Hz refresh rate for lag-free visuals in highly competitive games, but also a 0.5ms response time, fantastic color accuracy, exceptional brightness and even HDR. All wrapped up in a compact, minimalist design that fits right on a gaming desk as well as an office setting. That's the best of both worlds.
Despite its standard 1080p resolution and LED panel, all types of games look stunning, with everything appearing detailed, bright and vivid. That includes titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and you can expect blue-free action in games like Counter-Strike and Overwatch.
Although it doesn't arrive with any built-in speakers, and its HDR is weak, that doesn't take away from the major perks any gamer who enjoys fast-paced multiplayer games and single-player hits will gain. It's a simple, 1080p screen, but it's one of the finest ones out there for the money.
Read our full Alienware AW2525HM review.
The best 2K gaming monitor
The Alienware AW2725D is a mid-range powerhouse, and the little sibling of the Alienware AW2752Q — a fantastic 4K monitor. This is the 1440p QHD variant, which has its advantages. Firstly, it’s cheaper, but its lower resolution also allows a faster refresh rate than its 4K brother, and better brightness figures in our lab tests.
QHD still looks super sharp and detailed at 27 inches, and the QD-OLED panel is gorgeous, with bags of contrast and vivid color. In fact, this monitor performed extremely well in our color accuracy and gamut coverage, making it an excellent choice for gamers who also need a production display.
The AW2725D is mainly about gaming, though, which is where it excels. In testing, its fast 280Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms GTG response time resulted in buttery smooth gameplay with no motion blur or ghosting in fast-paced titles.
Our only issues with this monitor were its lack of speakers and relatively few USB ports, but those aren’t major. If you’re looking for your first mid-range monitor and/or an upgrade from a budget display, the Alienware AW2725D is a stand-out choice.
Read our full Alienware AW2725D review.
The best 4K gaming monitor
The MSI MPG 321URXW QD-OLED is a powerhouse that bridges the gap between productivity and enthusiast gaming, provided you can stomach the premium price tag. It's slick with the incredibly thin design and generous port selection, and for any gamer looking for high-end visuals, this won't disappoint.
This monitor is a stunner. During our testing, the QD-OLED panel delivered breathtaking visuals, making games pop with vibrant color and deep contrast, while the blistering 240Hz refresh rate provided an incredibly fluid experience on PC. Usability also gets high marks here; the included stand is significantly sturdier than what we often see from competitors, and MSI earns bonus points for including mounting hardware right in the box, giving you immediate flexibility.
As a 4K monitor equipped with a QD-OLED panel, this is quite a pricey display at its $1,099 cost, but you'll now find it for below $1,000 at retailers (even as low as $899), so be on the lookout for sales. Also, you'll want HDR enabled if you're after something bright, as its SDR brightness only hits 235 nits compared to a more eye-friendly 440 nits with HDR.
Anyone with a high-end gaming PC capable of driving this resolution and refresh rate, it is an easy recommendation that showcases your rig's full potential.
Read our full MSI MPG 321URXW QD-OLED review.
The best dual-resolution gaming monitor
LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B is easily one of the most impressive gaming monitors we've tested. Switching between its two display modes is easy, and its 45-inch curved ultrawide OLED panel excels at drawing you into the game you’re playing. The fact that said curved display is also great for work is the proverbial cherry on top.
This massive display offers phenomenal picture quality, and colors practically pop off the display, which helps to immerse you further. Yes, it's certainly pricey at $1,999, and the monitor could be brighter with its 225 nits of brightness (but it's an OLED, after all), but at the very least, you can now find this monitor on sale for $999 when it's on sale. I recommend waiting for the price to drop instead of paying this in full!
Oh, and it also offers dual resolution, meaning you can switch between highly detailed 4K resolution with a solid 165Hz refresh rate for cinematic gaming and amazingly smooth 2K performance with a fast 330Hz refresh rate for competitive gameplay.
It's one of the finest monitors for your PS5, Xbox or PC, and if you've got the money for it (and just want a monitor that can act as a productivity machine or even a TV), it really won't disappoint.
Read our full LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B review.
The best QD-OLED gaming monitor
I mean, a 4K (3,840 x 2,160) QD-OLED display boasting a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time, with amazing color accuracy for gaming and productivity, too? The MSI MPG 272URX is quite the catch for any gamer looking to spend on glorious OLED.
It offers some wonders in the visual front, sporting a wide color gamut for both gaming and photo/video editing. Its 10-bit color depth means it's capable of showing 1.07 billion individual hues, too. In darker games, you can make out the finer details on enemies, while in other games, neon lights appear bright but never oversaturated — balanced enough for you to appreciate different shades and hues.
At the same time, with its wicked-fast 240Hz refresh rate and near-instant 0.03ms response time, this is one fine monitor for fast-paced gaming, whether it be for the latest FPS or racing titles.
Along with its sleek, minimalist design with lovely (but not garish) RGB lighting on the back panel, the MPG 272URX should fit right into an existing gaming or work setup. Its 27-inch screen also makes quick work of navigating massive spreadsheets or cluttered inventories in games. Pricey, but if you can grab it for under $1,000 during a sale, it's a treat.
Read our full MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED review.
The best PS5 gaming monitor
The Sony Inzone M9 II gaming monitor is a fantastic device for both PC and PS5 games. At $799, this striking 27-inch 4K 160Hz gaming monitor is a great buy for anyone who plays games on PC or PlayStation 5. If you happen to do both and want to do them on the same display, the M9 II is for you.
Aside from a higher refresh rate, the Inzone M9 II sports an updated design that takes up less space on a desk. Though the all-black design might not be as striking, we think it's wise that Sony ditched the tripod-style stand with a generic stand that sits above a low-profile circular base. This new design better suits all gaming setups instead of just PlayStation.
While the Inzone M9 II is undeniably great, it has some drawbacks. The main one is that there is no OLED option to complement the sharp 4K resolution. And though we appreciate the inclusion of built-in speakers, the overall quality, while better than the previous model, won't impress your ears.
Nitpicks aside, you can't go wrong with the Sony Inzone M9 II, whether you own a PS5 or a gaming rig.
Read our full Sony Inzone M9 II review.
The best ultrawide gaming monitor
“Truly immersive gaming.” That’s how we succinctly summed up the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 in our review. The first-ever 49-inch OLED gaming monitor to hit the market, this is one of the most immersive displays your eyes will ever be blessed to witness. Even today, this is hands-down the best large-screen gaming monitor out there, purely thanks to its 32:9 aspect ratio and its stunning OLED display.
Even though this ultrawide monitor launched a few years ago, it's still boasting top-of-the-line specs and amazing visual quality for gaming and productivity. And, thanks to it now being on the market for a while, its price has now dropped to well under its initial launch cost ($1,799). It's now at $1,299, but trust me, wait for a huge sale and you'll see this plummet to under $900.
The Odyssey OLED G9’s specs are pretty stunning. A flash-quick 0.03ms response time and 240Hz refresh rate make it a terrific option for fans of buttery-smooth first-person shooters like Doom Eternal. Perhaps the best aspect of this gargantuan gaming monitor is that there are a few OLED displays out there that prove quite so resistant to the tech’s dreaded burn-in.
See our full Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 review.
Also tested
Frequently asked questions
Scratching your head about what monitor is best for your setup? You're not alone, as there are many factors to think about before taking your wallet out. So, before adding to your cart, it's worth asking yourself some key questions:
How do I choose the best gaming monitor?
The criteria for picking a gaming monitor are a bit different from choosing the best monitors overall. Determining the best gaming monitor for your needs comes down to two major factors: resolution and refresh rate.
Resolution: How much resolution you need depends on how powerful your PC is. Extremely powerful machines can run games at 4K resolutions (3840 x 2160 pixels), and even have dual-resolutions (like the LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B)! That means you'll probably want to pony up for a more elaborate monitor. Cheaper machines pair better with 1080p monitors, but have super high refresh rates, while those in-between can run at QHD (1440p) resolutions, and are like the best of both worlds.
Refresh rate: Refresh rate is similar in that more powerful machines will need monitors with higher refresh rates. While refresh rate and frames per second are not exactly the same thing, it's useful to think of them in the same terms when choosing a monitor. Is your PC powerful enough to get over 60 frames per second (FPS) during gameplay? 120 FPS? More? The higher the refresh rate, the higher the number of frames per second the monitor can support.
How much should I pay for my gaming monitor?
Many of the best gaming monitors are expensive, so you need to set a budget to prioritize the features you really need. As you'll find in our reviews, you can get the excellent displays that offer the right size, qualities and refresh rates that many gamers would be happy with (as we are with the Alienware AW3425DW) for less than $800. In general, smaller monitors are cheaper, and ideally, you shouldn't need to pay more than $1,000/£1,000 (in some cases) if you want the biggest and best monitor for your gaming setup.
What size gaming monitor do I need?
The smallest selection on this list is 25 inches diagonally, which means it could live comfortably on a moderately sized desk. If you opt for a 32-inch monitor, you’ll need a large desk or a small entertainment nook. You'll even find over 40-inch screens, essentially making it a TV replacement, so that's probably more suited to an entertainment setup. You'll also want to take into account ultrawide and curved monitors, as they can take up a lot of space even if they're on the smaller end.
How we test gaming monitors
To test our best gaming monitors, we employ a colorimeter and benchmarking software to measure a monitor's color accuracy, contrast and brightness.
A monitor's brightness refers to how many nits of luminosity it can output; its color accuracy (or Delta-E) measures how lifelike its colors are; its color gamut represents how great a variety of the spectrum it can display. We can also measure a monitor's latency and try to push it to its limits in terms of game frame rates.
Qualitatively, we run each monitor through both productivity and gaming tests. You’re not going to switch monitors each time you need to open a word processor, watch a video or send an e-mail, so every monitor on this list must be sharp and responsive for everyday use. As far as gaming goes, we run each monitor through games in a variety of genres, including FPS, RTS, MOBA, RPG and MMO, in order to ensure that it doesn’t favor one genre at another’s expense.
