10 best gaming monitors of 2024: tested and reviewed
17.01.2024 - 16:43
/ digitaltrends.com
/ Jacob Roach
/ Best
If you're looking for the best gaming monitor, Alienware's excellent 34 QD-OLED still takes the cake. However, it's not the perfect monitor for all gamers. We've reviewed dozens of monitors to find the top gaming displays you can buy right now, regardless of if you're chasing peak HDR experiences or high refresh rates for competitive titles.
We're focused specifically on gaming monitors here, which come with higher refresh rates and adaptive sync features like G-Sync and FreeSync. If you're looking for an all-around display, make sure to browse our list of the best monitors.
Why you should trust us
We've reviewed hundreds of monitors over the years, trying to find the best of the best. This involves an in-depth process of not only using the monitor, but also pushing it to the limits with various forms of testing. Make sure to read our roundup of how we test monitors for a closer look. This process ensures that when we come out of a monitor review, we know with certainty if it's a product you should buy or not.
Key considerations when buying a gaming monitor
There are a few areas where gaming monitors differ from other displays, including traditional monitors and TVs. Here are some important areas to pay attention to.
Refresh rate
The main thing that separates a gaming monitor from a regular monitor is the refresh rate. A higher refresh rate means you'll be able to see all of the frames your graphics card or game console produces, leading to a smoother image. For PC, we recommend sticking above 100Hz. Consoles don't always need more than 60Hz, but the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 can deliver 120Hz in select games.
Ports
The port selection on a gaming monitor is very important for a couple of reasons. First, it's important to have multiple inputs so you can hook up more than one game platform. If you have a PC and a console, for example, you'll want access to both. The specification is important as well. HDMI 2.1 is what you want for most consoles, as it can deliver 4K at 120Hz. Older versions of HDMI can't.
Resolution
You'll want to keep in mind the resolution of the monitor before picking it up. Higher resolutions are more demanding on your PC's graphics card, so you want to pair the right resolution with your PC for the best performance. If you have a weaker budget GPU, for example, you'll probably want to limit your monitor search to 1,080p displays over 4K options.
Alienware 34 QD-OLED The best gaming monitor Jump to details <div data-cloudcity="" data-type=«compact-placement» data-pid=«sFzyDtxYyy» data-limit=«1» data-placement=«BOP1» data-cta_pattern="$%price %merchant"> Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 The best 4K HDR gaming monitor Jump to details <div data-cloudcity="" data-type=«compact-placement»