The 5 Best 1440p Gaming Monitors - Black Friday 2024

The best 1440p gaming monitor we've tested is the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3. It combines exceptional gaming performance with outstanding picture quality. This makes it an ideal display for gamers who crave graphically intense games at high frame rates. It features a QD-OLED panel that provides a near-infinite contrast ratio with deep blacks in dark rooms and no blooming around bright objects. Colors are also bright and vivid, resulting in realistic images for outstanding picture quality.

In terms of gaming, its 360Hz refresh rate provides a smooth and responsive gaming feel, and you can reach that refresh rate with both DisplayPort and HDMI connections thanks to its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. It also has a near-instantaneous response time, so fast-moving objects are crisp. It even has a few useful features like a KVM switch, making it easy to switch between different sources. That said, if you don't need the extra perks, the Dell Alienware AW2725DF is another great choice, but it tends to cost the same as the Gigabyte.

If the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3 is out of your price range, check out the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG, which tends to be cheaper than the Gigabyte. It has a lower 240Hz refresh rate, so it's not quite as smooth and responsive as the Gigabyte, but the refresh rate is still high enough even for competitive PC gamers. Besides that, it offers the same near-instantaneous response time, so motion is sharp, but unlike the Gigabyte, it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of modern graphics cards and consoles.

That said, one difference with the Gigabyte is that because it's not a QD-OLED, colors aren't as vivid, but that's the trade-off for getting something cheaper. It still displays perfect blacks thanks to its WOLED panel and gets brighter than most OLEDs, so it's great to use in well-lit rooms, and highlights pop in HDR. Unlike other WOLEDs, it also has a glossy screen coating that makes the image clearer than on competing monitors with a matte coating, and the reflection handling is fantastic as long as you don't have it opposite a sunny window.

If you feel like the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG is still out of your price range, check out a mid-range option like the LG 27GR83Q-B, which you can sometimes find on sale. It has a 27-inch screen and 240Hz refresh rate like the ASUS but because it doesn't have an OLED panel, it doesn't display the same deep blacks without any blooming. It also has a slower response time, so fast-moving objects look less sharp, though it still has very good motion handling across its refresh rate range. It's also brighter than the ASUS, making it the better choice for gaming in well-lit rooms.

Unlike many other mid-range 1440p gaming monitors, it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, which is ideal if you have a modern HDMI 2.1 graphics card. It can even take full advantage of gaming consoles as it supports any signal with the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, including downscaled 4k @ 120Hz, which is useful as the Xbox only supports HDR with 4k signals.

If you're on a budget, there are some good 1440p options you can get for less than the LG 27GR83Q-B, like the AOC Q27G3XMN. Unlike many budget-friendly monitors, it delivers great picture quality as it uses Mini LED backlighting, and combined with its excellent native contrast and good local dimming feature, it displays deep blacks in dark rooms. It also makes highlights pop in HDR, and there isn't much blooming around bright objects either.

Gaming feels responsive thanks to its 180Hz refresh rate and low input lag. It also has a fast response time at any refresh rate, so motion looks sharp, but it has smearing with fast-moving objects. One thing to know is that it sometimes goes out of stock, so if you can't find it available, check out the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx. It's similar to the AOC as it also uses Mini LED backlighting, but it has worse motion handling.

If you want something cheap and simple, look into the Dell G2724D, which you can get for cheap directly from Dell's website. It's a considerable step down from the AOC Q27G3XMN, as it has far worse image quality because it lacks Mini LED backlighting. This means highlights don't pop, and deep blacks appear gray in a dark room. Additionally, HDR colors don't appear as vibrant and life-like as on the AOC. However, this is normal for cheap displays, and it's what you need to expect for an entry-level monitor.

That said, the Dell is still a great gaming monitor, as it has a max 165Hz refresh rate. It also has a fast response time without much smearing. It even has a few advantages for console gaming over the AOC, as it supports VRR with the PS5, which the AOC doesn't, so it helps reduce screen tearing on that console.