Getting a monitor that delivers optimal HDR picture quality is beneficial for playing the latest games. There are a few factors that make a monitor great for HDR. A high contrast ratio helps it display deep blacks against bright objects. Combining an effective local dimming feature and high brightness makes highlights pop against the rest of the image. You'll also want something that displays a wide range of vivid colors in HDR so that images are realistic.
Although most monitors are still behind TVs in terms of overall image quality, there are models with OLED panels or Mini LED backlighting that provide fantastic performance. Even some budget-friendly options are good for HDR, but cheap, entry-level displays usually have limited HDR picture quality. Another advantage of getting a monitor instead of a TV for HDR gaming is that they have higher refresh rates, leading to a smoother feel. A fast response time also makes motion look sharp, and low input lag results in a responsive feel, although most monitors have low input lag. Many monitors are great for gaming, but have limited picture quality, so you'll want something that's fantastic for both if you want the best HDR gaming experience.
We've bought and tested more than 400 monitors, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best HDR gaming monitors. Also, see our recommendations for the best OLED monitors, the best HDR monitors, and the best Mini LED monitors.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
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Best HDR Gaming Monitor
HDR PicturePC GamingConsole GamingHDR Color VolumeHDR Color GamutHDR BrightnessSize32"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeQD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate240 HzNative Resolution3840 x 2160See all our test resultsDolby VisionThe best HDR gaming monitor that we've tested is the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Gen3. It offers high-end gaming performance and premium picture quality. It's a 32-inch, 4k monitor that's fantastic for gaming because of its near-instantaneous response time, which results in crystal-clear motion. Its 240Hz refresh rate benefits most gamers, and it has HDMI and DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of both gaming consoles and modern graphics cards. It also supports Dolby Vision, which is ideal for gaming with an Xbox, which also supports Dolby Vision.
On top of that, HDR content looks amazing because its QD-OLED panel has a near-infinite contrast ratio and highlights really pop. It even displays a wide range of vivid colors, so your favorite games look stunningly life-like, and the high resolution makes content appear full of detail. Lastly, it displays perfect blacks in dark rooms, but they look gray in bright rooms as ambient light causes the black levels to rise. If you want something with better black levels in bright conditions, check out the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG. It's a 4k, 240Hz WOLED that even has a dual mode to boost its refresh rate, but colors are less vivid than on the PG32UCDM Gen3.
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Best Upper Mid-Range HDR Gaming Monitor
HDR PicturePC GamingConsole GamingHDR Color VolumeHDR Color GamutHDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeQD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate360 HzNative Resolution2560 x 1440See all our test resultsDolby VisionIf the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Gen3 is too expensive for your needs, the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG is a much cheaper alternative that's also fantastic for HDR gaming. There are a few differences compared to the higher-end PG32UCDM Gen3 because it has a lower 1440p resolution, so images are less detailed. Despite having the same HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, it lacks DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of the latest graphics cards. On the plus side, it has a higher 360Hz refresh rate for a smoother feel, and it has the same near-instantaneous response time for sharp motion in fast-moving games.
In terms of HDR picture quality, it brings many of the same benefits of any OLED, with the same deep blacks in dark rooms, no haloing around bright objects, and vivid colors. However, it's a bit different from the higher-end PG32UCDM Gen3 because it uses an older QD-OLED panel that isn't as bright. It also has worse black level raise in bright rooms, so blacks look purple. You can consider the LG 27GX790B-B if you want something brighter with deeper blacks in bright rooms. The LG also has a higher 540Hz native refresh rate, but its colors aren't as vivid, and it tends to cost a lot more than the XG27ACDNG.
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Best Mid-Range HDR Gaming Monitor
HDR PicturePC GamingConsole GamingHDR Color VolumeHDR Color GamutHDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeWOLEDMax Refresh Rate280 HzNative Resolution2560 x 1440See all our test resultsDolby VisionIf you want the best HDR monitor for gaming at a lower cost, then consider the LG 27GX700A-B. It has many similar specs to the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG, including a 1440p resolution, HDMI 2.1 ports, and gaming features, like VRR support to reduce screen tearing. It has a lower 280Hz refresh rate, though, so while gaming doesn't feel as smooth, it's still high enough for most PC gamers. Like the ASUS, motion looks sharp at any refresh rate thanks to its very fast response time.
A big difference with the ASUS comes down to their panel types, which impacts the LG's picture quality. It has a Tandem OLED panel that gets brighter. It also has better reflection handling, and it maintains lower black levels in bright rooms, so it's the better choice for gaming in well-lit spaces. There are some downsides, though, as the LG has less vivid colors, so it doesn't deliver the same impactful HDR viewing experience. Plus, its matte coating has a hazier image than the glossy coating of the ASUS. You can also check out the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q if you prefer a QD-OLED with a glossy coating, but it has a lower refresh rate and is dimmer.
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Best Lower Mid-Range HDR Gaming Monitor
HDR PicturePC GamingConsole GamingHDR Color VolumeHDR Color GamutHDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate320 HzNative Resolution3840 x 2160See all our test resultsDolby VisionIf you don't have the budget for an OLED, the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx is a cheaper alternative that offers great value. It's worth getting when you can find it on sale for less than the LG 27GX700A-B. It's different from the LG because it lacks an OLED panel, so it doesn't have the same deep blacks with no haloing around bright objects. Instead, it uses Mini LED backlighting that gets much brighter, so it's the better choice to use in well-lit rooms. Plus, highlights really shine in HDR. It also has an alright local dimming feature that improves black levels in dark scenes, but there's haloing around bright objects and a loss of details in dark scenes.
Although it doesn't have the same near-instantaneous response time as the LG, motion looks sharp for the most part, and it's good enough for playing action games. There are some advantages to getting this for gaming as well. Despite having a 160Hz refresh rate with its native 4k resolution, it also has a dual-mode feature that boosts its refresh rate to 320Hz with a lower 1080p resolution, so it offers versatility for playing different types of games.
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Best Budget HDR Gaming Monitor
HDR PicturePC GamingConsole GamingHDR Color VolumeHDR Color GamutHDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeVAMax Refresh Rate180 HzNative Resolution2560 x 1440See all our test resultsDolby VisionThere aren't as many monitors with good HDR performance in the budget category, but some are still ahead of the competition, like the AOC Q27G3XMN. It uses Mini LED backlighting like the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. It actually delivers better HDR picture quality thanks to a strong local dimming feature that effectively improves black levels with less black crush. It also has a higher native contrast ratio for deep blacks, even without local dimming. Plus, it gets very bright in HDR, similar to the Acer, so highlights really pop. You can also check the similar AOC Q27G40XMN if you want something with better local dimming and an even brighter screen, but it has worse motion handling for gaming.
While the AOC improves picture quality, it takes a step back in gaming. It doesn't have a dual-mode feature to boost its 180Hz refresh rate to anything higher. Sadly, it has worse motion handling than the Acer with black smearing behind fast-moving objects. Also, it doesn't have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of gaming consoles either, but that's what you have to expect for a budget monitor.
Notable Mentions
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ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM:
The ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM is a high-end 4k, 240Hz QD-OLED that's a smaller and cheaper alternative to the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Gen3. The PG27UCDM performs similarly for the most part, but it isn't as bright.
See our review -
Samsung Odyssey OLED G80SH S32HG802S:
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G80SH S32HG802S is a 4k, 240Hz QD-OLED that competes directly with the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Gen3. It has the same panel, and the main difference is that the Samsung has a matte coating for better reflection handling than the ASUS. However, that means the Samsung has less clear images.
See our review -
ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDN:
The ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDN is an ultrawide QD-OLED gaming monitor that offers a more immersive gaming experience than the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG. The PG34WCDN also has better picture quality with a brighter screen, but it costs a lot more than the XG27ACDNG.
See our review -
ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W:
The ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W is an upper mid-range OLED gaming monitor that has a higher 540Hz refresh rate than the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG. The PG27AQWP-W gets brighter and even has a dual-mode feature to boost its refresh rate. That said, it costs a lot more than the XG27ACDNG, and its colors aren't as vivid.
See our review -
Dell Alienware AW2725DF:
The Dell Alienware AW2725DF is a mid-range gaming monitor with a higher 360Hz refresh rate and more vivid colors than the LG 27GX700A-B. However, the Dell doesn't get as bright as the LG.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jul 29, 2026:
We replaced the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM with the newer and brighter ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Gen3. We also replaced the LG 27GX790B-B with the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG, which has more vivid colors, and the Dell Alienware AW2725DF with the brighter LG 27GX700A-B. We replaced the hard-to-find KOORUI S2741LM with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. We made several changes in the Notable Mentions to reflect these newly recommended monitors.
May 08, 2026:
We made several changes to reflect new monitors on the market and to align with our other articles. We replaced the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG, the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG, and the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx with the LG 27GX790B-B, the Dell Alienware AW2725DF, and the KOORUI S2741LM. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the LG 27GX790A-B and the Gigabyte MO27Q28G, and we added the LG 27GX700A-B, the LG 27GX704A-B, the XG27ACDNG, and the XV275K.
Feb 20, 2026:
We added the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx as the 'Best Lower Mid-Range HDR Gaming Monitor' to give another option. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3 with the Gigabyte MO27Q28G.
Dec 05, 2025:
We updated text throughout to reflect the current monitor market. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the Sony INZONE M10S and the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx with the LG 27GX790A-B and the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx for consistency with other recommendations.
Jul 09, 2025:
We removed the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED as it's hard to find, and renamed the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM to the 'Best Monitor.' We also replaced the MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED with the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG for consistency with other recommendations, as the MSI is hard to find. Lastly, in the Notable Mentions, we replaced the Dell Alienware AW3225QF, LG 32GS95UE-B, and the Xiaomi G Pro 27i with the Dell Alienware AW2725Q and the Sony INZONE M10S.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best HDR gaming monitors currently available in the United States. They're adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. The rating is based on our review, feedback from visitors, and price. For example, two monitors may perform the same, but the cheaper one will be recommended. We also consider availability, as we don't recommend a monitor that's hard to find.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our HDR monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.