The 4 Best Monitors For Xbox Series S - Spring 2025

The best monitor for Xbox Series S that we've tested is the MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED. It offers both outstanding picture quality and high-end gaming performance. It has a 1440p resolution that's ideal for playing games on the Series S, and while the console can't take advantage of its max 360Hz refresh rate, it's at least useful if you want to use it for PC gaming when you aren't gaming on your Xbox. It has a QD-OLED panel that delivers a near-instantaneous response time for crisp motion, and it even supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to support any signal from the Series S, including downscaled 4k signals, which is ideal for playing HDR games.

Regarding picture quality, it displays near-perfect blacks in dark rooms without any blooming around bright objects. Games in HDR also look vivid and realistic, as the monitor makes small highlights pop and displays a wide range of bright and dark colors in dark rooms. However, if you want something brighter, you can also consider the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG. It performs similarly in terms of gaming and tends to cost less, but it can be harder to find at times.

If you don't need the high-end features of the MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED, check out the LG 27GS95QE-B. It has an OLED panel, so it displays deep blacks in dark rooms, but because it's a WOLED panel, colors aren't as vivid as on the MSI. However, one advantage of using a WOLED is that colors don't desaturate and black levels don't rise as quickly in a bright room as a QD-OLED, so it's the better choice if you game in a bright room. Plus, its matte coating reduces glare well, so reflections aren't distracting.

The LG also has a lower refresh rate than the MSI, but that really doesn't make a difference for gaming on your Series S, and it should only be something you think about if you have a high-end PC gaming setup. Besides that, the LG has everything you'd expect from a gaming monitor, like sharp motion handling and low input lag. It also supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of an Xbox Series S, but like with the MSI, it has a native 1440p resolution and has to downscale 4k signals to get HDR support with an Xbox.

If you don't need a premium monitor for your Xbox Series S and prefer saving some money, check out the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx, which often goes on sale for a lower cost than the LG 27GS95QE-B. It's different from the LG because it doesn't have an OLED panel, so it doesn't display the same deep blacks without any blooming. That said, it uses Mini LED backlighting with a decent local dimming feature, so it still displays deep enough blacks for a good dark room gaming experience, and it also gets bright, which is great for gaming in well-lit rooms.

It also has a higher 4k resolution than the LG, leading to more detailed images, and it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of the Xbox Series S. One thing to note is that it has low input lag as long as you use 120Hz signals from the console, but the input lag increases with 60Hz signals, leading to a less responsive feel if you're gaming at that refresh rate. That said, you can avoid the issue by setting the refresh rate in the console's setting to 120Hz. On the plus side, it has a fast response time for sharp motion.

If you're on a tight budget, the AOC Q27G3XMN is a great option, as it offers solid value for its low cost. It has a lower resolution than the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx, so images aren't as detailed, and it doesn't support HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of the Xbox Series S. This means it doesn't support 4k @ 120Hz, so you can only get HDR at 60Hz, but that's what you should expect in this price range, and it still supports 1440p signals up to 120Hz. Besides those differences, it also uses Mini LED backlighting, and it displays deep blacks and bright highlights. This makes it a great choice for HDR gaming, even better than other low-cost monitors.

It also has lower input lag than the Acer, even at 60Hz, leading to a more responsive feel. While it has a fast overall response time, there's still some smearing with motion, which is a trade-off of using its VA panel. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur, either.