The best gaming monitor is the only sure way of squeezing the most out of your valued gaming PC. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you spend all you got on the priciest display out there for your rig. The best gaming monitor will depend heavily on your types of games, and it should be something you can realistically afford.
After all, you’ve probably invested a fortune on that Nvidia RTX 3000 series GPU powering your gaming PC. And. Most of today’s PC games don’t come cheap either; that’s another cost to consider as you shop around for the ideal gaming monitor. Luckily, you can find fantastic gaming monitors at just about every price point, not to mention resolution, design, and size.
In this guide, we’ll take you through choosing a display that will give you an edge over components while delivering good value, alongside a smooth, immersive gaming experience. Below are the features to look out for when choosing a gaming monitor. Read through those and our current favorites for 2022.
Best gaming monitors 2022
1. MSI Oculux NXG253R
The Best 360Hz gaming monitor
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 24 inches, 16:9
- Resolution: 1920 by 1080
- Adaptive Sync: Nvidia G-Sync
- Refresh rate: 360 Hz
- Panel type: IPS
REASONS TO BUY
+ Rich colors in game and content testing
+ Very low input lag
REASONS TO AVOID
– Low Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color gamut coverage
Our favorite MSI Oculux NXG253R config:
- 25" Rapid-IPS 240HZ G-Sync panel LED backlight (1920 x 1080 full HD)
The MSI Oculux NXG253R steps into a niche with the markings of high-refresh gaming that many gamers have embraced over the past year while rocking the 360Hz category with a Fast IPS with the best color quality. For your Nvidia RTX 3000 series GPU and if you play games that hover around 400Hz, the Oculux is a well-priced panel.
It has all the features you need, and even some that you don’t; but it will still make all that GPU investment worthwhile with its high refresh rate and G-Sync technology.
2. LG 27GN950-B
A super-fast, responsive 4K gaming monitor
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 27-inch, 16:9
- Panel type: Nano IPS
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Response time: 1 ms
- Refresh rate: 144 Hz
- Refresh rate technology: G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync Premium Pro
REASONS TO BUY
+ Bright vivid colors
+ G-Sync/FreeSync compatible
+ Excellent response time for a 4K monitor
REASONS TO AVOID
– Oversaturated sRGB mode
Our favorite LG 27GN950-B config:
- 27” UHD (3840 x 2160) Nano IPS Display.Mounting Type: Wall Mount.Specific uses for...
- Aspect Ratio is 16:9; Viewing angle is 178º (R/L), 178º (U/D); Brightness is 400nits...
- IPS 1ms (GtG) 144Hz with VESA DSC Technology
4K gaming is no mean feat, but top-shelf graphics cards like the RTX 3080, RTX 3090, or RX 6800 XT are making a simple endeavor. Now, monitors like the LG 27GN950-B are making available the colossal amount of rendering needed to hit decent frame rates at such a high resolution.
It’s the first 4K Nano IPS 1ms gaming monitor that will cleverly show off your supercharged GPU, with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time in tow. However, what’s impressive is the Nano IPS tech that offers a wider color gamut and stellar viewing angles.
3. LG UltraGear 38GN950
A kickass, ultrawide gaming monitor
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 38-inch, 21:9
- Brightness: 450cd/m2
- Resolution: 3840 x 1600
- Response time: 1 ms
- Refresh rate: 144 Hz
- Refresh rate technology: G-Sync
REASONS TO BUY
+ Has many great gaming-centric features
+ Super-responsive and smooth performance
REASONS TO AVOID
– HDR can’t compete with high-end TVs
Our favorite LG UltraGear 38GN950 config:
- 38” Curved UltraWide QHD+ (3840 x 1600) Nano IPS Display
- IPS 1ms (GtG) 144Hz Refresh Rate (O/C 160Hz)
- 3-Side Virtually Borderless Design
The LG UltraGear 38GN950 impresses at every angle. If all you need is an ultimate, wide-screen gaming monitor, this is undoubtedly the one to beat, with a 144Hz refresh rate that can be overclocked to 160Hz, a 1ms response time, and excellent image quality, and lots of other gaming features like G-Sync and DisplayHDR 600.
If you take your gaming seriously and would use lots of screen real estate, then this is the best gaming monitor to buy – if you can afford it, that is.
4. Samsung CRG9
Bigger is Better, Always
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 49-inch
- Aspect ratio: 32:9
- Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440
- Brightness: 600cd/m2 – 1000cd/m2
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Response time: 4ms
REASONS TO BUY
+ Great screen size
+ HDR
REASONS TO AVOID
– Menu can be tricky
– Needs tweaking out of box
Our favorite Samsung CRG9 config:
- DUAL QHD RESOLUTION: The 5120 x 1440 super ultra-wide aspect ratio lets you view content...
- HDR1000 & QLED: Has a brightness rating of 1,000 nits and DCI-P3 95%, so colors are pure,...
- IMMERSIVE CURVE: With a Super Ultra-Wide 32:9 ratio, the CRG9 curves around your field of...
It will cost a fortune, that’s for sure, but the Samsung CRG9 is undoubtedly worth it if you have some extra cash lying around. This bigger-than-average 49-inch monitor boasts bezels that are thinner than your average gaming monitor and a picture-by-picture mode feature that lets you load different inputs, simulating a dual monitor setup on a single monitor. And, that’s without saying the Samsung Odyssey G9 delivers a super-crisp image right out of the box.
Read the full review: Samsung CRG9
5. MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD
4K Gaming for Winners
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen Size & Aspect Ratio: 27 inches / 16:9
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Panel Type: IPS
- Refresh Rate: 165 Hz
- Response Time (GTG): 1ms
- Adaptive-Sync : G-Sync Compatible
REASONS TO BUY
+ Huge color gamut
+ Fast response
REASONS TO AVOID
– No sRGB mode
– Backlight strobe creates artifacts
Our favorite MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD config:
- Rapid IPS with Quantum Dot Technology.Viewing Angle (CR≥10) 178/178 (CR≥10). Wall...
- Viewing Angle is 178° (H) / 178° (V); Brightness(typ) is 300nits; Aspect Ratio is 16:9
- 27" Rapid IPS panel LED backlight (2560 x 1440 QHD)
When it comes to 4K gaming on a wide-screen, nothing beats the MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD gaming monitor. It offers an excellent fusion of good gaming performance, backed by a plethora of features at a very palatable price.
Under its sleeve, the 4K gaming display rings excellent color saturation, is well-calibrated out of the box, and delivers perfect HDR quality points. Additionally, it comes with HDMI 2.1, a 144Hz refresh rate with a 1ms GTG response time.
6. Alienware 25 AW2521HF
The best 240Hz gaming monitor
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 25-inch
- Panel type: IPS
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Response time: 1 ms
- Refresh rate: 240 Hz
- Refresh rate technology: G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync Premium
REASONS TO BUY
+ Great viewing angles
+ Fast response times
REASONS TO AVOID
– No HDR
Our favorite Alienware 25 AW2521HF config:
- LIGHTENING FAST: An incredibly fast 240Hz refresh rate allows for fast-moving visuals to...
- ACCELERATE YOUR REACTIONS: A 1ms GtG (Gray to Gray) response time allows for consistently...
- TRUE COLORS, REAL SPEED: New, fast IPS technology helps maintain image clarity from every...
It may have once been a niche, but 240Hz has now become more commonplace, and Alienware has positioned itself ahead of the competition with the AW2521HF gaming monitor. While it isn’t the cheapest gaming monitor on the market, it has the class, style, and character to make you want this kind of performance on your desk. Did we mention an incredibly bright 1080p picture too?
Read the full review: Alienware 25 Monitor
7. Samsung Odyssey G7
The ultimate Esports monitor
SPECIFICATIONS
- Panel size: 27-inch
- Panel type: VA
- Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440
- Brightness: 350 nits
- Contrast: 2,500:1
- Pixel response: 1ms
- Refresh rate: 240Hz
- Refresh rate technology:G-Sync and FreeSync support
REASONS TO BUY
+ Impressive VA Panel with 240Hz refresh at 1440p
+ Has both G-Sync and FreeSync
REASONS TO AVOID
– Needs some calibration before use
Our favorite Samsung Odyssey G7 config:
- UNMATCHED IMMERSION: Get your head in the game with Odyssey’s 1000R panel, which matches...
- WQHD RESOLUTION: Make your gaming world, more lifelike than ever before. Packing in 1. 7...
- NVIDIA G-SYNC & FREESYNC: Dropping frames means dropping chances to put your enemy in the...
You either settle for a fast refresh rate or high resolution when choosing the best monitor. Rarely do you get a monitor that delivers the best of both worlds, but the Samsung Odyssey G7 does precisely that. It manages to pack 1440p resolution in the same display as a 240Hz refresh rate, as well as excellent HDR.
It makes for a top-choice monitor for any gamer that likes to play Esports one day and later jump into the open-world game in the next.
8. LG UltraGear Ergo 27GN88A
Pro meets Gamer
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 27-inch
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Brightness: 350cd/m²
- Response time: 1ms
- Viewing angle: 178/178
- Contrast ratio: 1000:1
REASONS TO BUY
+ Excellent 1440p 144Hz IPS panel
+ Ergo mount is highly adaptable and versatile
REASONS TO AVOID
– Lack of USB-C might be disappointing to pro users
Our favorite LG UltraGear Ergo 27GN88A config:
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A monitor created for professional creatives and artists with decent ergonomics and extended color easily makes its way into gaming. While the LG UltraGear Ergo 27GN88A may target a niche market, it easily ticks all the right boxes for many gamers, especially those who want to enjoy 1440p without spending on something heavy and taking up much space.
Plus, having a monitor that clamps onto pretty any surface and offers extensive adjustability and clever cable management will ensure you game for hours on end.
9. Dell S3220DGF
Big screen gaming without a hefty price tag
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen Size & Aspect Ratio: 32 inches, 16:9
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 @ 165 Hz
- Panel Type: VA
- Refresh Rate: 165 Hz
- Response Time (GTG): 4ms
- Adaptive-Sync: FreeSync Premium Pro
REASONS TO BUY
+ High contrast and brightness
+ 165Hz refresh rate
+ Color-accurate
+ Nice build quality
REASONS TO AVOID
– No sRGB mode
– No gamma presets
Our favorite Dell S3220DGF config:
- CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor @ 3.00GHz (2 Cores, 4 Threads, 6M Cache, up...
- Display: 15.6" HD (1366 x 768) Anti-glare LED Backlight Non-Touch Narrow Border WVA...
- RAM: 8GB DDR4 Memory; Hard Drive: 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD; Optical Drive: No.
The Dell S3220DGF ticks almost all boxes for any gamer. For starters, it boasts a fast refresh rate, low response time, and FreeSync Premium Pro, which eliminates screen tearing when dealing with both standard and HDR content.
Additionally, this 32-inch monitor offers lots of vertical screen real estate without the need for scrolling, and the 1440p resolution is a sweet spot between image quality and gaming performance. Also, its 1800R curve works miracles in terms of immersive view in both gaming and productivity.
10. Asus ROG Strix XG279Q
Best 1440p gaming monitor
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen Size & Aspect Ratio: 27 inches, 16:9
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Panel Type: IPS
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz (170 Hz with overclock)
- Response Time (GTG): 1ms
- Adaptive-Sync: G-Sync Compatible
REASONS TO BUY
+ Excellent dynamic contrast
+ ELMB blur reduction works in tandem with Adaptive-Sync
+ Better than average HDR
REASONS TO AVOID
– Needs calibration for best accuracy
Our favorite Asus ROG Strix XG279Q config:
- 27-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) Fast IPS gaming monitor with 1ms (GTG) response time and...
- Aspect Ratio is 16:9; Viewing Angle (CR≧10) is 178°/ 178°; Brightness (Typ) is...
- ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync (ELMB SYNC) technology enables ELMB together with G-SYNC...
If you have some stretch in your budget and want to squeeze that extra frame rate out of your 1440p, the Asus ROG Strix XG279Q may be the best gaming monitor for you. This screen takes on the speediest screens, stacking up well against other 165-170 Hz screens without being too expensive.
Not only does this monitor rock a sharp resolution, but it’s one of the rare monitors that allow you to run blur reduction alongside side screen tear-fighting Adaptive-Sync.
How to buy the best gaming monitor in 2022
Screen size.
Bigger is better. At least for gaming, a bigger monitor always delivers a better experience. Still, in some isolated cases, you’ll want to keep the size of your gaming monitor at 27 inches or under. Larger display size will offer a more immersive gaming experience as the game occupies most of your field of vision, but you’ll also consider having the space to keep a large monitor. And, it goes without saying that the larger the monitor, the more it will cost.
Aspect ratio
Little known, but a gaming monitor’s aspect ratio helps determine the width and height of the display. Most widescreen monitors come with an aspect ratio of 16:9, which is a giant leap from older monitors that rock a closer to a square format of 4:3 that otherwise feels out of date in 2022. Then comes popular ultra-wide monitors with aspect ratios of 21:9, offering a wider view of modern titles, which is more reason many ultra-wides have made it to our best gaming monitors 2022.
Refresh rate
Whether shopping for a business monitor or a kickass display for your gaming PC, refresh rate is always vital. The higher the refresh rate, the more frames per second (fps) your monitor can support, resulting in a remarkably smooth gaming experience. In 2022, 60Hz refresh rates are still the most common, but most class-leading panels rock refresh rates of 144Hz and even 200Hz – for a good reason, of course.
Response time
The next big thing after investing in a powerful gaming rig is a gaming monitor capable of pushing all those frame rates without stuttering. An excellent gaming monitor will deliver low response times, meaning you’ll get fast and fluid play with little to no input lag.
As we’ll explain in the next section, the lowest response for TN monitors is 1 millisecond, while newer IPS monitors typically have slower 4ms response times. For competitive games, it is crucial to keep the number as low as possible to avoid latency.
Panel Type
This is where things get a little technical when choosing the best gaming monitor. The type of panel your monitor of choice uses will significantly impact its response and image clarity.
TN (Twisted Nematic): These panels are often more affordable, come with the lowest response times, and have great viewing angles.
IPS (In-Plane Switching): Unlike TN panels, monitors using IPS technology have great viewing angles and excellent color reproduction, but they usually have higher response times.
VA (Vertical Alignment): Meanwhile, VA panels are between TN and IPS panels, but their inherent slow response times make them rare in the gaming world.
Viewing angle
While most of us play games right in front of the gaming monitor, this isn’t always true, especially with an audience. A monitor’s viewing angles will dictate the angle you can look at the monitor from and still make out a clear image. The closer these numbers get to 180, the better your viewing experience will be when standing far away from either side of the monitor or watching content from above or below.
G-Sync and FreeSync
If you’ve been following panel trends keenly, you’ve probably noticed that the best gaming monitors in 2022 come with either G-Sync or FreeSync technology – and, sometimes even both. These make for smooth frames per second (fps), combat screen tearing, and reduce input lag.
Nvidia develops G-Sync technology, so it requires an Nvidia GPU. And, the tech is built into the monitor, which can sometimes bump up the price tag. On the other hand, FreeSync is made by AMD. Since it is free to use by manufacturers, monitors using this technology are popular and usually more economical.
How we choose the best gaming monitors
Surprisingly, choosing the best gaming monitors involves more complex processes than you might think. It takes more than just watching movies and playing a few titles on them – though; we admittedly do that for most gear that we review. After all, we tend to see how each monitor performs in real-world scenarios. It’s tiresome, but someone has to do it.
Beyond that, however, we analyze every gaming monitor’s basic features like resolution, refresh rate, response time, and viewing angles through their paces. Also, we sometimes consider extra features like HDR support, Adaptive sync technology support, and blue light filter. We consider a monitor’s design aspects, from its aesthetic to its stand, ports, and mount, as they are just as important.
Then, we take everything we’ve learned about gaming monitors and compare it to their asking price. Whether or not its performance and features are commensurate with the price and whether it offers the best value for consumers.
Best Gaming Monitors for 2022
MSI Oculux NXG253R
LG 27GN950-B
LG UltraGear 38GN950
Samsung CRG9
MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD
Alienware 25 AW2521HF
Samsung Odyssey G7
LG UltraGear Ergo 27GN88A
Dell S3220DGF
Asus ROG Strix XG279Q
Last update on 2024-06-25 at 19:46 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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