The market for gaming monitors just keeps expanding and the technology behind these monitors just keeps getting better and better. With all the new features, the bells and whistles for these gaming monitors, the difficulty in choosing the best option for you as a gamer becomes harder. What size should you get? Are there monitos built specifically for gamers? How important is the refresh rate?
So you don’t have to figure out what the best gaming monitor is, we’ve compiled the list for you, with all the key details to help you pick the right monitor for your gaming console.
Key Advice
Refresh rate is super important when it comes to gaming. The refresh rate, measured in Hz is the number of times your monitor screen refreshes each second. As you can imagine if you are playing an action packed dynamic game, this not only enhances the gaming experience but can provide an ever so slight competitive edge over the competition. The standard is 60-75Hz which is OK but modern gaming monitors go up to 144Hz.
Input lag can make or break a game. The easiest way to explain input lag to someone who has had the luxury of never experiencing it is by comparing it to what happens when you are playing an online game on a poor wifi connection, every player seems to move faster than you and by the time you take a shot or make a move, the competition has moved out of the way. Input lag is like this except how often the game and monitor react to your changes not the competition, if you can get the shot off even 1ms faster than the competition in most games that can be a massive advantage. Nowadays, some monitors, especially those used by professionals are built to reduce input lag as much as possible, for casual gamers the lower the better.
Generally speaking there are three types of monitors you will encounter, TN, IPS and VA monitors, all are different behind the scenes technology and as they can be built so differently each have their pros and cons. When it comes to image quality a good rule of thumb is, VA is the best image quality monitor but slower response time, the IPS monitors are a good mix between image quality, color sharpness and response time, while TN monitors are often the cheapest but have the lowest quality images.
The Top Gaming Monitors – Our List
LG UltraGear 34GP950G-B
This is a beast of a gaming monitor, clocking in at a 34” screen size, Nano IPS panel and 144Hz refresh rate. The LG UltraGear ticks all the boxes for serious gamers, it has a super fast response time, cinematic viewing quality and was built for gamers so you’ll never have to worry about screen tearing or ghosting.
Gigabyte G27F
This is a great monitor choice for gamers on a budget. It boasts a respectable screen size of 27”, a response time of 1ms and a 144Hz refresh rate. While it covers the high level features gamers should look for when considering a monitor, it doesn’t have some of the bells and whistles you’d find in some of the higher end monitors, especially around color quality.
Viotek GNV34DBE
The Viotek is for those who want an immersive gaming experience and that is their number one factor. Again, the Viotek measures in at 34” and has a sharp color and image quality that will help you feel part of whatever game you are playing. For competitive gamers, the response time of 4ms and VA panel can be a drawback but still an excellent choice for the casual gamer.
ASUS ROG Strix XG279Q
This monitor highlights all the features you as a gamer should be looking for. 27” screen, IPS panel, up to 170 Hz with the overclock feature and G-sync compatible. What’s important to us as well is the brand name behind it, ASUS is one of the big players in not only the gaming monitor space but technology as a whole. This monitor is built to last and won’t let you down.
AOC 27G2
This monitor falls into the ‘get the job done category’, for those that just want a new monitor and want to keep playing as soon as possible, without having to worry about all the additional factors to consider. The AOC is super compatible and easy to setup, it will also fit in well with any existing setup so you’ll be up and running in no time. In terms of the high level features it hits the mark, 27” screen, response time of 1ms and 1920×1080 resolution.
Samsung Odyssey G7
Another well known brand, it’s hard to fault Samsung for any of their technology. This monitor is for those who want to take their gaming to the next level, the 240Hz refresh rate really ramps it up a notch, and with G-Sync you’ll never have to worry about screen reading again. Each frame looks incredible.
Samsung Odyssey G9
We know, we said the G7 would take it up a notch but the G9 is a whole other story. Everything the G7 comes with except it has a 48.8” screen, this one is even closer to a gaming TV and for those who want to entertain or not miss a beat the G9 is a great choice.
ViewSonic Elite XG270QG
This monitor hits the sweet spot between image quality, affordability and G-sync capability. Clocking it at 27” this is for those who want a high quality display at a reasonable price. Adding the G-sync capabilities enhances the visuals and really makes the colors pop off the screen.
Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor
A monitor for those with a tight space, with a 24.5” screen size they’ve packed a lot of punch into this monitor. It’s a simple but sleek design and won’t stand out when you aren’t using it. If you are after a monitor you can use for work and play, the Alienware is for you.
Razer Raptor 27
We’d consider this the best features monitor, covering the basics. It has a 27” display, 4ms response time and an IPS panel but where the Raptor really shines is the image quality and premium features, it has a RGB stand, super high quality built and sleek bezels. If you want a monitor that looks great and can become the centre of attention in any room this is for you. Truly a crown jewel for any gaming setup.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully this list of the top 10 gaming monitors you should consider has added some value and helped you make a decision. As you can see there is a lot to consider when looking for a new gaming monitor and if you don’t know what is important to you it can be hard to tell which features are important. As a first step we recommend removing all the fluff and marketing hype and focusing on longevity, response rate and how good the image quality is. Once a monitor meets these basics, look at the premium features. Check out monitorwithbuiltinspeakers.com for more information.