You finally managed to buy all the components for your new gaming rig including a new (and probably overpriced) graphics card. I hope you still have some money left over, because now it's time to complete your rig with one of the best gaming monitors. Luckily, there's no shortage of gaming monitors on the market, so you have the liberty to pick up the one you want based on the GPU you just bought. After all, it's the graphics card that tells you what kind of gaming monitor is worth buying.
There are a few things to consider while shopping for gaming monitors. The one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work here, sadly, because each user has a different preference. While some users want a high-refresh-rate panel, others may want to buy a high-resolution monitor for 4K gaming. And then there are people who give more importance to extra technologies like HDMI 2.1. So, not all of these recommendations might fit your unique needs, but these are some monitors worth getting.
These are the best gaming monitors in 2023
Alienware AW2723DF
A monitor with everything you could ask for
Dell's Alienware AW2723DF is a higher-end 1440p gaming monitor that comes with a 240Hz refresh rate and has FreeSync Premium Pro anti-screen tearing technology that'll work for any modern GPU.
- 1440p, 240Hz (280Hz with overclocking)
- FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync Compatible
- IPS panel
- Expensive and probably overkill for most people
It's hard to choose a gaming monitor that's good for everybody, since everyone's needs and budget constraints are different. But if you had about $700 to spend on a monitor (which is quite a lot, but monitors will last a long time) then I recommend the Alienware AW2723DF, which is a higher-end 1440p, 240Hz monitor that has basically everything you would need for a good gaming rig.
While most gaming monitors (and gaming devices in general) are ditching the traditional gamery look, the AW2723DF is sticking with it. From the front, you'll see its modern, thin bezels, while on the back there's a layer of white plastic with some RGB lighting emitting from the Alienware logo and the number 27. Admittedly, it looks good overall, and even if you're not a fan of the design, it's not like you're going to be looking at the back of a monitor very frequently anyways.
The specifications on display here are impressive. The AW2723DF has a 1440p, 240Hz IPS panel that's certified for FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync Compatible anti-screen tearing technology. Nominally, this is a 240Hz monitor, but with a DisplayPort 1.4 cable, you can get it up to 280Hz. The AW2723DF is great for high visual quality and high framerate gaming, and while it has an HDR 10 rating, apparently its somewhat low brightness prevents it from being a really good HDR monitor and instead is just an alright one. But in gaming monitors, HDR isn't a big deal yet anyways.
You should expect to pay $650 for the AW2723DF, though it has been on sale for $550. Both of those price points are still pretty high for a monitor, and there are definitely some cheaper 1440p models out there that get you most of what the AW2723DF offers for much less. Still, this kind of monitor would be excellent for a midrange, high-end or even top-end PC build, making it a good option for lots of people and the kind of monitor you're unlikely to want to ditch any time soon.
LG 27GP95R-B
A high-end display best paired with the RTX 4090 and other flagship cards
LG's 27GP95R-B is a 4K gaming monitor with a 160Hz refresh rate and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and is G-Sync Compatible.
- 4K resolution with 160Hz refresh rate
- Support for FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync Compatible
- HDR600
- Very expensive
Powerful new graphics cards like the RTX 4090 enable 4K gaming as the norm. If you have one of these powerful GPUs and want to pair it with a high-end 4K display, then I recommend picking up LG's 27GP95R-B. It's expensive but provides a great 4K gaming experience (which typically requires a high-end PC anyway) without compromises.
The 27GP95R-B shines in the design and build quality department thanks to its slim bezels and its good quality stand that keeps this thing nice and sturdy on the desk. This monitor is actually identical to the LG 27GP950-B but lacks RGB lighting behind the monitor, which probably isn't worth the extra money to most people.
The 27GP95R-B sports a 27-inch 4K Nano IPS panel with support for up to 160Hz refresh rate. You also have both Nvidia’s G-Sync and AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro adaptive refresh technologies, making it a great all-rounder for whichever graphics card you have. Its peak brightness is roughly 400 nits and has an HDR600 rating, which is pretty good for a gaming monitor.
You'll definitely need a powerful GPU to play high refresh rate games at 4K, but 4K is becoming more the norm at the high-end. LG's 27GP95R-B is a particularly good 4K gaming monitor that should get you through this generation and probably the next thanks to its relatively high 160Hz refresh rate, which will probably be sufficient even for high-end GPUs for some time.
Samsung Odyssey G7 32-inch QLED
A high-end 1440p display for high-end PCs
Samsung's Odyssey G7 uses a 32-inch VA display with a 1440p resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync Compatible.
- 32-inches
- 1440p QLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate
- FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync Compatible
- Expensive
- Curved display might be unappealing
While 4K gaming is no longer a distant dream for gamers, it's safe to say that the majority are still leaning towards 1440p gaming thanks to its lower price, lower graphical demand, and generally higher refresh rate. Although Acer's Nitro XV272U 1440p display is my pick for the best overall gaming monitor, Samsung's Odyssey G7 is a higher-end option that's great for gamers with powerful rigs that can push high framerates at 1440p.
The overall build quality is among the best around. It sports an LED ring light at the back along with a sturdy stand that's capable of supporting the monitor with minimal wobble. One thing that is worth pointing out about this monitor, however, is the fact that it has a 1000R curved display. This is quite a high curvature which may take a little time to get used to. But it's worth the change, as, for gaming, in particular, you'll find yourself more immersed and more comfortable.
The Odyssey G7 sports a 32-inch curved VA panel with a 240Hz refresh rate and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync, which means guaranteed anti-screen tearing technology whether you go AMD or Nvidia. The display has a peak brightness of roughly 400 nits, which is decent enough for a gaming monitor, and HDR600 support is also a nice bonus though not crucial for the gaming experience.
However, do not that older versions of the Samsung Odyssey G7 have completely different specifications and pricing than this specific model, which uses a 32-inch VA panel, often branded as QLED. The older G7 with a 27-inch VA panel is about $200 cheaper but has worse quality. It's a good alternative if you're on a budget though.
Acer Nitro XV272U Vbmiiprx 27" Gaming Monitor
A cost-effective 1440p gaming monitor
Acer's Nitro XV272U Vbmiiprx is a 27-inch, 1440p gaming monitor with a refresh rate of 170Hz and support for AMD FreeSync Premium. It's going to give you an excellent gaming experience in a reasonable price range.
- 1440p, 170Hz IPS display
- FreeSync Premium and G-Sync Compatible
- Affordable price
- Poor contrast and brightness means only support for HDR400
These days, 1440p is becoming the new 1080p as the market moves on to higher resolutions and finds ways to offer 1440p for much less than it used to cost. There are lots of 1440p budget displays available, but Acer's Nitro XV272U Vbmiiprx strikes a great balance between features and price, making it the best option for 1440p on a budget.
The Vbmiiprx, although marketed for gamers, has a pretty subdued design. It uses a nearly edge-to-edge bezel at the sides and top, leaving only a modest chin at the bottom, and doesn't have any RGB or colored accents anywhere on the monitor itself. The stand is pretty sleek and has a small, circular red accent at the base of the stand, which represents virtually all the colors in the whole package.
The display on the Vbmiiprx is impressive. It's a 1440p IPS model with a 170Hz refresh rate, and it supports AMD FreeSync Premium and G-Sync Compatible, which is pretty much a necessity for any good gaming monitor these days. It also has 100% coverage of the sRGB color space, but its somewhat low brightness of roughly 400 nits is only enough to earn an HDR400 rating, but that's not super relevant for gaming anyway.
At around $250 to $300, Acer's Nitro XV272U Vbmiiprx is a great deal, offering most of what you get with 1440p gaming monitors for a lower price. The 1440p resolution will probably be the most popular for midrange and high-end gaming for some time thanks to its balance between visual quality and framerate/refresh rate, and the XV272U Vbmiiprx utilizes that strength very effectively at a relatively low price point.
Dell Alienware AW2523HF
The best if you need the highest refresh rate possible
Dell's Alienware AW2523HF is a high-end 1080p gaming monitor with a 360Hz refresh rate that's great for esports titles and other competitive games.
- 360Hz refresh rate
- Support for AMD FreeSync
- 25-inch size is a good fit for 1080p
- Extremely expensive for a 1080p monitor
- High refresh rate might not be as important as better resolution
You might think 1080p monitors have been relegated to the low-end, budget part of the market, but that's not entirely true. There's actually a small segment of top-end 1080p gaming monitors that have the highest refresh rates you can get, much higher than the refresh rates on even the best 1440p and 4K panels. Of all the 360Hz monitors you can buy today, Dell's Alienware AW2523HF is the best overall, though will cost you a fairly expensive $400–$450.
The AW2523HF goes for the standard minimalist look many monitors have these days: thin bezels at the sides and top, slightly thicker chin at the bottom, and an all-black plastic theme. It's an unassuming monitor that certainly doesn't look eye-catching, though that's not really a problem when it's the panel that's supposed to look good and not what's around it.
Speaking of the panel, it measures 25 inches across and is rated at 360Hz, the highest refresh rate possible until 500Hz monitors eventually launch. The AW2523HF comes with support for AMD FreeSync and is G-Sync Compatible, which pretty much has to be on a monitor that sells itself on its refresh rate. Its peak brightness of around 400 nits is decent enough, though out-of-the-box reviews indicate that its color accuracy isn't amazing, and it doesn't have any HDR certification either.
Although it's our top pick in this segment, Dell's Alienware AW2523HF is undeniably in a niche within a niche. A 1080p monitor, even with a 360Hz refresh rate, is expensive at $400, but the AW2523HF is really made for games like Valorant and Overwatch, and not so much gaming in general. If you have $400 and don't plan on playing all your games at over 300FPS, you should probably consider HP's X27q or Acer's Nitro XV272U, which are 1440p gaming monitors that cost less.
LG 24GN600-B UltraGear Gaming Monitor
Cheap but still good for gaming
The LG 24GN600-B UltraGear is an entry level gaming monitor that measures at 24 inches, has a resolution of 1080p, and has a refresh rate of 144Hz. It also has FreeSync Premium anti-tearing technology.
- 1080p IPS display
- 144Hz refresh rate
- AMD FreeSync Premium
- No explicit support for G-Sync (though it should still function)
In recent years, entry-level gaming monitors have gotten better while prices remain about as low as they've always been. It's not uncommon to find a 1080p display with a high refresh rate for less than $200, but LG's 24GN600-B UltraGear manages to stand out from the crowd by offering tons of features and impressive specs for just under $200 (with frequent sales bringing it under $150).
From the front, the 24GN600-B is a pretty normal-looking 24-inch monitor. It has a thin, pure black bezel made of plastic decorated only by the LG logo. On the back, however, this monitor can only be described as gamer-y thanks to its purely decorative wheel-like decoration with red accents. The back of the monitor stand is also pure red. It's kind of weird that all the flashy aesthetics are put in the one area where you're the least likely to be looking, but that might work out if you prefer the basic appearance of this monitor from the front anyway.
On a technical level, the 24GN600-B has quite an impressive set of features. 1080p and a 144Hz refresh rate is nothing special these days, but this is also an IPS display with AMD FreeSync Premium. That basically ensures good color accuracy (LG says this monitor hits 99% of the sRGB color space) and good enough latency for gaming. For $150, you're getting a high refresh rate, decent color accuracy, and limited to no screen tearing no matter what GPU you're using, seeing as all three major vendors support FreeSync. It's hard to ask for anything more.
There are other contenders in the sub-$200 segment but LG's 24GN600-B UltraGear checks off the most boxes for the least amount of money. Asus's TUF Gaming VG27VH1B is one such alternative, which bumps up the screen size to 27 inches, the refresh rate up to 165Hz, and it has a curved display. However, the 24GN600-B goes on sale more frequently and for lower prices than the VG27VH1B, which makes it a generally better deal as long as you can wait for LG's monitor to hit that expected $150 price point.
Alienware AW3423DW Gaming Monitor
A top-of-the-line ultrawide display for gaming
The Alienware AW3423DW is an ultrawide gaming monitor with a 1440p resolution and 175Hz refresh rate, plus support for G-Sync and AMD FreeSync
- 1440p and 175Hz refresh rate
- G-Sync and FreeSync support
- Fantastic HDR experience
- Extremely expensive
Ultrawide monitors are the realm for gamers who want to make full use of their peripheral vision. Gaming at an ultrawide resolution can be buggy at times and requires more graphical horsepower than the typical 16:9 aspect ratio, but the visual experience has proven to be worth those issues. Of all the ultrawide monitors out there, Dell's Alienware AW3423DW is certainly one of the best, though at nearly $1,300 it's not exactly affordable.
From the front, the AW3423DW presents its thin bezels and almost pure black design, making it look pretty normal for most monitors. On the back, however, there's quite a bit of visual flair; the black largely gives away to white and there's some RGB around where the monitor stand meets the monitor itself. Though, what a monitor looks like from the back isn't always important, especially if you put this monitor up against a wall or something.
The AW3423DW has a top-end Quantum Dot OLED 1440p panel with a 175Hz refresh rate. This is also an 1800R curved display, which is sometimes not desirable on typical gaming monitors but is often much appreciated on ultrawide models like this one. The AW3423DW supports G-Sync (not G-Sync Compatible but actual G-Sync) and AMD FreeSync, which means no screen tearing in games no matter what GPU you have. One weakness of this monitor is its relatively low brightness of 250 nits, but in HDR content the brightness is allowed to hit values closer to 1000 nits.
Dell's Alienware AW3423DW is undeniably one of the best ultrawide gaming monitors out there, but it's also one of the most expensive monitors overall. Cheaper alternatives include Samsung's SJ55W, which is also 1440p and $300 but is limited to 75Hz, Gigabyte's GG34WQC A which offers 1440p and 144Hz for $400, and Dell's non-Alienware S3422DWG, which is also around $400 and uses a 1440p, 144Hz panel. These displays are all of course inferior in quality to the AW3423DW, which is the best as long as you can afford it.
Gigabyte Aorus FV43U
Great for the living room
Gigabyte's Aorus FV43U is a TV-sized monitor made for gaming, sporting a VA panel, 4K resolution, and 144Hz refresh rate.
- 43 inches
- 4K resolution
- 144Hz refresh rate
- VA panels are a bit outdated
While most people don't lean towards buying monitors bigger than 32 inches, there are people who like huge monitors for their gaming setups. If you are one of them, then you'd be interested in checking out the Gigabyte Aorus FV43U. This monitor is essentially a TV replacement, packing a massive 43-inch panel, though it doesn't have typical TV functions like channel switching and doesn't even come with a remote. But you can sit close and enjoy content or play games. It also has a good amount of height thanks to the 16:9 aspect ratio, so it's a very different experience to using an ultrawide.
The Gigabyte Aorus FV43U comes with a 43-inch 4K VA with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, which means it's great for gaming. In addition to that, the Gigabyte Aorus FV43U also has support for FreeSync, so you can get rid of those nasty tears on AMD Radeon-powered systems, though it should also work with Nvidia GPUs with some manual driver option selections.
In terms of image quality, the Gigabyte Aorus FV43U handles things very well too. It offers 300 nits of brightness typically and a 4000:1 contrast ratio, which makes up for some of the typical weaknesses of a VA display. It also comes with support for DisplayHDR 1000 and HDR10 certification. Those who are looking to use this monitor with the next-generation consoles including Xbox Series X, S, and PS5 will also have a great time as it sports HDMI 2.1 ports.
If you're focused on size or a display that has great gaming features for the living room, then Gigabyte's Aorus FV43U is a great choice. There aren't a ton of TV-sized gaming monitors out there to begin with but the FV43U doesn't necessarily win by default and has lots of things going for it like its decently high 144Hz refresh rate and 4K resolution.
LG Ultragear 32GQ750-B
If you need HDMI 2.1 in particular
LG's Ultragear 32GQ750-B is a 4K, 144Hz gaming monitor with support for HDMI 2.1 and AMD FreeSync Premium.
- Has HDMI 2.1
- 4K VA panel
- 144Hz refresh rate with FreeSync Premium
- Fairly expensive
There aren't too many gaming monitors out there right now that come with HDMI 2.1 ports, but already there are some compelling models like LG's Ultragear 32GQ750-B. This high-end monitor comes with a 4K, 144Hz VA panel that's certified with AMD FreeSync Premium, and of course sports an HDMI 2.1 port. It's a great high-end monitor though it will cost you around $700.
The 32GQ750-B is pretty unremarkable in terms of design with its thin bezels, black plastic chassis, and dark gray monitor stand. It looks more like a standard monitor you'd find in an office rather than a gaming monitor, though many people probably won't mind that since the gamer aesthetic isn't universally popular, even for high-end displays like this.
This monitor features some pretty good specs that you'd expect on a model at this price point: 4K resolution, 144Hz, 2500:1 contrast ratio, HDR 10, and AMD FreeSync Premium. Unlike many high-end monitors, however, the 32GQ750-B uses a VA panel as opposed to an IPS panel, which allows it to have a super high contrast ratio, but this is offset by poorer color consistency across the whole display and higher response times. Despite the flaws of VA technology, it is used in many great gaming monitors and it's no different for the 32GQ750-B.
$700 is quite a bit of money to spend for a monitor, but if you need HDMI 2.1, it's probably to get the most out of the latest high-end hardware, so in that case you're likely to be able to afford LG's Ultragear 32GQ750-B. There are cheaper HDMI 2.1 monitors out there though, like LG's Ultragear 27GP95R-B and Acer's Nitro XV282K.
Best gaming monitors to buy in 2023: Final thoughts
There are lots of options when it comes to gaming monitors, but my favorite is the Alienware AW2723DF. It's pretty expensive but it has the kind of specs that make it more future-proof than other monitors, and it'll go well with pretty much any PC. A cheaper alternative would be Acer's XV272U Vbmiiprx, which is also 1440p and uses an IPS panel, but only goes up to 170Hz (which is still pretty high in all honesty) and the panel quality is generally a little worse. Still, it's less than half the price and very affordable for most gamers.
Alienware AW2723DF
Dell's Alienware AW2723DF is a higher-end 1440p gaming monitor that comes with a 240Hz refresh rate and has FreeSync Premium Pro anti-screen tearing technology that'll work for any modern GPU.
If you're not particularly looking for just gaming monitors, then you might want to check out our collection of the best monitors. That list has a lot more options to choose including the ones for productivity. And if you are building a new setup from scratch, then we have some other collection articles that you might be interested in including the best webcams and the best mechanical keyboards. Alternatively, you can also join our XDA Computing Forums to discuss your setup or get more product recommendations from the experts in our community.