Best gaming monitors 2026: 4K, HDR, best overall, budget, and more

Who should buy the MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED?

If you’re looking for a high-performance gaming monitor, the MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED should be at the top of your list.

This 26.5-inch display delivers stunning 4K resolution with an ultra-smooth 240Hz refresh rate in a cutting-edge OLED panel, making it an excellent choice for gamers who want both visual clarity and fluid motion. With its 240Hz refresh rate, the MSI is built for fast-paced gaming yet maintains the deep contrast and vibrant colors OLED monitors are known for. It also supports Adaptive Sync for smooth frame pacing.

MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED: Further considerations

But wait, there’s more! The QD-OLED panel offers excellent contrast and color accuracy, which makes it a solid pick for creative professionals and anyone who enjoys watching HDR movies. Connectivity is another plus, with HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1a, and USB-C inputs, as well as 98 watts of USB Power Delivery for charging laptops or tablets. While the design is a bit plain, the stand is sturdy and fully adjustable.

Priced at $1,099.99, the MSI MPG 272URX is more expensive than 1440p OLED alternatives, which can be found for under $800. But if 4K clarity and a fluid 240Hz refresh rate are what you’re after, this monitor is worth the investment.

Who should buy the Pixio PX248 Wave?

The Pixio PX248 Wave is a great budget monitor for gamers who want more than a no-frills display. The PX248 Wave stands apart from the budget pack with a colorful, stylish design, and solid motion performance, all available at an enticing price of $159.99.

Pixio offers the PX248 Wave in four colorways: black, white, blue, and pink. The latter two are rather special, as only a handful of monitors — like the more expensive Samsung M8 Smart Monitor — offer similarly alluring colors. The stand matches the monitor’s colorway, and Pixio even offers an optional color-coordinated monitor arm for those who want to go all-in on a particular desktop vibe.

The monitor’s 24-inch Fast IPS display boasts a 200Hz refresh rate that delivers fluid motion. Image quality is reasonable, too, as the PX248 Wave delivers respectable color accuracy and coverage, making it suitable for both gaming and casual content creation. It has built-in speakers, too.

Pixio PX248 Wave: Further considerations

Despite its visual appeal, the PX248 Wave sticks to the basics with connectivity, which includes HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4. USB connectivity isn’t available. The included stand is also basic, as it only adjusts for tilt, and the menu controls could be more user-friendly.

Most competitors at this price point have a similar display panel wrapped in a more generic black, gray, or charcoal case. Pixio’s PX248 Wave manages to match them in image quality and beat them on looks, yet it stays on a budget.

Who should buy the LG Ultragear 45GX950A-B?

The LG Ultragear 45GX950A-B is the best big-screen curved gaming monitor for anyone who wants a premium immersive gaming experience.

The monitor’s class-leading 45-inch 5K2K (5120×2160) OLED panel helps to set the monitor apart, providing a resolution previously unseen in this size class. It’s a significant upgrade over lower-resolution predecessors, like the Corsair Xeneon Flex. The higher resolution pairs well with OLED’s excellent contrast and color performance. HDR performance is solid, with brightness comparable to other leading OLED monitors.

Motion clarity is good, as well. The monitor is a “dual mode” display, meaning it can achieve 5120×2160 at a refresh rate up to 165Hz, or 2560×1080 up to 330Hz. It also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync for smooth gameplay.

LG Ultragear 45GX950A-B: Further considerations

The 45GX950A-B is expensive, and its aggressive 800R curve can feel “off” for productivity. The monitor also has limited USB connectivity. USB-C input is supported, but it only has two downstream USB-A ports.

But if your priority is unparalleled immersion backed by incredible sharpness and excellent HDR on a truly massive display, the LG Ultragear 45GX950A-B is a winner.

Who should buy the Gigabyte GS34WQC?

If you’re looking for the immersive experience of a curved, ultrawide monitor at a cost that won’t leave you hurting, this is it. The Gigabyte GS34WQC checks those boxes and then some. It has a sharp 34-inch display with a resolution of 3440×1440. That’s paired with good motion clarity driven by a 120Hz refresh rate (overclockable to 135Hz) and support for AMD FreeSync, ensuring smooth and consistent gameplay. Camera movements are detailed, and fast-paced action is easily tracked.

Beyond its motion clarity, the GS34WQC delivers great image quality that’s comparable to monitors twice its price. It has a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel instead of the more common In-Plane Switching (IPS). This provides improved contrast with deeper black levels and more convincing shadow detail in dark scenes. These qualities make it especially suitable for games with a dark, gritty presentation.

Gigabyte GS34WQC: Further considerations

The monitor’s design is plain, but functional. It has an ergonomic stand that provides height and tilt adjustment, but its assembly requires manual attachment of four screws, unlike competitors with tool-free clip-in stands. The GS34WQC compensates with an intuitive menu system that has extensive customization options, allowing gamers to tailor the visuals to their preferences.

Value, however, is where the GS34WQC really beats the competition. It’s not the least expensive budget ultrawide monitor, but it delivers better image quality and motion clarity than many competitors while keeping the price in check. Indeed, the GS34WQC is so good it makes $400-to-$500-dollar ultrawide gaming monitors more difficult to recommend.

Who should buy the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG?

If you’re searching for the best gaming monitor for HDR, look no further than the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. It has an LG WOLED panel that delivers stunning HDR without breaking the bank.

The XG27AQDMG’s third-generation LG WOLED panel provides exceptional HDR brightness that outperforms QD-OLED competitors and closes the gap with Mini-LED monitors. It can hit a maximum sustained brightness of 724 nits in a 10 percent window, which is enough to deliver punchy HDR highlights and detail across luminant areas of a game or movie. This pairs well with OLED’s deep, inky blacks and wide color gamut, which covers 96 percent DCI-P3 coverage. Put simply: It looks exceptionally immersive and realistic.

Gamers will appreciate the high refresh rate of up to 240Hz, which is paired with Adaptive Sync technologies like AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync for fluid, tear-free gaming. The refresh rate is lower than some QD-OLED competitors, which achieve up to 360Hz. On the other hand, though, the XG27AQDMG provides motion clarity far better than Mini-LED gaming monitors, such as the Red Magic 4K Gaming Monitor.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG: Further considerations

While the XG27AQDMG has strong color performance, it isn’t quite as good as QD-OLED alternatives with SDR. Sharpness is merely okay, too, and small fonts can look pixelated at times. 

Pricing, however, is an upside. Sold at an MSRP of $749.99, and immediately available for just $699.99 at release, the XG27AQDMG undercuts the competition on price. Gamers who mostly stick to SDR may want to pay $50 to $100 more for a QD-OLED alternative, but the XG27AQDMG has the edge in HDR.

Who should buy the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W?

The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W is built for competitive gamers who prioritize motion clarity above all else. With refresh rates reaching 540Hz at 1440p and 720Hz at 720p, it delivers the best motion performance available from any display to date (which says a lot, as many high-refresh monitors have been released of late). The Extreme Low Motion Blur feature is particularly impressive, offering exceptional clarity even at lower refresh rates for games that can’t hit extreme frame rates.

The monitor’s tandem OLED panel delivers great image quality with strong SDR and HDR brightness, stellar contrast, and a wide color gamut covering 99 percent of DCI-P3. The ultra-glossy TrueBlack finish maximizes perceived contrast for an incredibly rich image in darker viewing environments. Combined with features like Aura Sync RGB lighting and extensive menu customization, it’s a premium package for enthusiasts.

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W: Further considerations

The PG27AQWP-W lacks USB-C connectivity and the ultra-glossy finish can be annoying if you have windows or bright lights nearby. The large tripod-style stand also takes up considerable desk space. It stands in contrast to recent OLED monitors from brands like MSI, which tend to include USB-C.

But the most important thing to consider is just how high a refresh rate you really need. 540Hz at 1440p is amazingly crisp, to be sure, but you might find better value in a less expensive 4K OLED monitors running at 240Hz. That’s particularly true if you want to use the monitor for both work and play.

Who should buy the Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG?

This 27-inch Fast IPS display delivers 5K resolution at up to 180Hz, an unusual combination that makes it ideal for gamers who want extreme pixel density without sacrificing motion clarity. At 218 pixels per inch, text and fine detail are rendered with a crispness that 4K monitors can’t match.

Asus’ ELMB2 backlight strobing technology pushes motion performance further still with a CRT-like scanning technique to reduce blur dramatically. The monitor can also drop to 1440p at up to 330Hz if your GPU needs a break from pushing 5K frame rates.

The monitor also tosses in a few nice extras. It has four video inputs (two HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB-C) which gives it more connection flexibility than most competitors, and a handy tripod mount on the stand neck lets you attach webcam arms or ring lights cleanly.

Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG: Further considerations

Though it has much to recommend it, the XG27JCG has a few weaknesses. The monitor tops out around 1,230:1, so dark scenes look washed out compared to OLED alternatives. The USB-C port delivers only 15 watts, which is enough to charge a phone, but not a laptop. And while it’s technically VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified, HDR quality is limited by the monitor’s edge-lit backlight design.

At $849.99, the XG27JCG is just a sliver less expensive than a typical 4K OLED monitor. Many gamers will find that’s more than sharp enough. But if you want to game at absurdly high resolutions, or want outstanding motion clarity thanks to the monitor’s ELMB2 technology, the XG27JCG is worth your money.