The 5 Best Gaming Monitors of 2025

The best gaming monitor we've tested is the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED. It's a premium 4k, 240Hz monitor with a QD-OLED panel. It provides both outstanding picture quality and fantastic gaming performance. Motion looks extremely clear thanks to its near-instantaneous response time, so there's almost no blur behind fast-moving objects. It also supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of modern graphics cards and gaming consoles and has some neat features, like a KVM switch that makes it easy to switch between sources.

Its QD-OLED panel delivers perfect blacks in dark rooms without any blooming around bright objects. It also gets bright enough for small highlights to pop, and colors are vivid. While it doesn't get bright enough to fight glare, its reflection handling is good enough to use in most well-lit rooms. However, reflections from bright light sources, like a sunny window, can get distracting, and if you think that would bother you, check out the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80 instead. It has a matte coating that spreads reflections out well, but it tends to cost a bit more than the MSI.

If you don't need a premium option with a high 4k resolution like the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED, check out the less expensive MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED instead. Besides the fact that it has a smaller screen, it's very similar in terms of features to its more expensive sibling, as it also has a KVM switch, USB hub, and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of modern graphics cards. It performs as you'd expect for gaming, with a fast response time, and vivid colors.

However, the main difference is that it has a lower 1440p resolution, so images aren't as detailed, and text isn't as sharp. That said, it has a higher 360Hz refresh rate that's ideal for competitive gaming, and the lower resolution makes it easier for your graphics card to maintain high frame rates. If you don't need such a high refresh rate, there are some 240Hz OLED monitors you can get for a bit cheaper, like the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG. However, its colors aren't vivid, so the MSI still offers the best performance in this price range.

If you prefer saving money or you don't need an OLED's high-end performance, check out a mid-range option like the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx, which is worth getting when it's on sale. There are a few trade-offs, as it doesn't deliver the same deep blacks or have a near-instantaneous response time as the MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED. That said, its motion handling is still consistently good across its VRR range, so there isn't much blur with fast-moving objects. It also has a lower 160Hz refresh rate, which is still good for most gamers, and it has a higher 4k resolution for sharper images.

On top of its gaming perks, it has good picture quality whether you're gaming in SDR or HDR. It has a decent Mini LED local dimming feature that helps it display deep blacks next to bright highlights, and it also gets bright enough to make highlights pop. There are some downsides, though, as it has increased input lag with fixed 60Hz signals, which is disappointing for playing reaction-based games. However, you can avoid this issue if you start gaming at a higher refresh rate and use VRR to go down to 60Hz.

As you get into budget monitors, you get fewer features than with high-end models, but there are some that still offer both good gaming performance and picture quality. That's the case with the AOC Q27G3XMN, which is one of the few low-cost monitors to have Mini LED backlighting like the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx. Combining its high native contrast with its good local dimming, it displays deep blacks next to bright highlights, and there isn't too much blooming, either. It also gets very bright in HDR, so highlights pop against the rest of the image.

However, there are a few trade-offs versus the Acer, as it has a lower 1440p resolution, so images aren't as detailed. While it has a fast response time without much blur behind fast-moving objects, it has some black smearing, which is one of the downsides of its VA panel. If you can't find it available in your region, the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx is another great low-cost option with Mini LED backlighting and good picture quality. However, it has worse motion handling than the AOC.

Should you have a limited budget and need a simple gaming monitor, then check out the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B. It's a 1440p monitor that's sold as two separate variants at various retailers, with the 27GP850-B model having some extra features, like an overclockable 180Hz refresh rate and USB ports, but you can usually find the 27GP83B-B for cheaper. They're a clear step down from the AOC Q27G3XMN in terms of picture quality because they don't have local dimming, and with a low native contrast ratio, blacks look gray. This means that they have limited picture quality, but this is what you have to expect for such a cheap display.

That said, both the 27PG850-B and the 27GP83B-B have the basics for gaming, like a 165Hz native refresh rate and VRR support. Plus, motion looks better on these as they have less smearing than on the AOC. Even if they look bad in a dark room, they're good choices for gaming in a bright room, as they get bright enough to fight glare and have good reflection handling.