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Gaming

6 of the best gaming monitors to push your PC setup to the next level

See what you’re missing with these eye-opening screens.
By Nicole Bonaccorso  on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

Our Top 6 Picks

Dell Alienware AW3418DW (opens in a new tab)

Best Ultrawide

The speed and ultrawide screen has kept this monitor at the top of our list.

The Good

  • Excellent colors and brightness allow it to double for design work
  • G-Sync Support
  • Gorgeous, thin-bezel design, perfect for multi-monitor setups

The Bad

  • Expensive
  • No USB-C port
  • G-Sync not compatible with AMD

The Bottom Line

Pricey, but one of the best on the market, sporting premium features.
Pros & Cons

Razer Raptor (opens in a new tab)

Best For Speed

Taking speed, refresh rate, and its beautiful display into account, you can’t go wrong with this monitor.

The Good

  • Great refresh rate
  • Gorgeous display and picture quality
  • L-shaped base makes up for desk space it takes up

The Bad

  • May not get as bright as advertised
  • Bright-green wiring may not be a favorite for all

The Bottom Line

It’s still expensive, don’t get us wrong, but the Razer Raptor is still more than a grand cheaper than the Dell Alienware AW3418DW, and does an amazing job.
Pros & Cons

Asus VG245H (opens in a new tab)

Best Budget Monitor

This is a modestly priced monitor that still provides a great gaming experience.

The Good

  • One of the least expensive good monitors on the market
  • Supports FreeSync
  • 75Hz refresh rate is great for the price point

The Bad

  • 1,920 x 1,080p resolution
  • Screen on the small-side

The Bottom Line

This is a modestly priced monitor that still provides a great gaming experience.
Pros & Cons

Asus ROG Strix XG17AHPE (opens in a new tab)

Best Portable Gaming Monitor

If you have the need for a portable gaming monitor, this is the best of the best, but may not be a great replacement for a full-sized monitor.

The Good

  • Lightweight
  • Great refresh rate
  • Quick response time
  • Beautiful display
  • Great speakers

The Bad

  • As expensive as top-ranked full-size desktop gaming monitors
  • A bit wobbly when stood vertically
  • Protective case not reliable

The Bottom Line

When it comes to portable gaming monitors, this can’t be beat. However, at the price point, some may be better off with a full-sized gaming monitor.
Pros & Cons

Dell Alienware 55 OLED (opens in a new tab)

Best Large Display

This may be overkill for those who don’t game often, but if you do and you want to go big, this is a good choice.

The Good

  • Huge screen
  • Great resolution
  • Decent speakers

The Bad

  • Very expensive
  • May be overkill for most gamers

The Bottom Line

If you’re really looking to go wild, and gaming is your life, why not go big or go home?
Pros & Cons

ViewSonic Elite XG270QG (opens in a new tab)

Best For Multiplayer

There’s not much to complain about when it comes to this monitor. It has it all, and 1440p gamers will be extremely happy to not have to sacrifice.

The Good

  • Great speed
  • Gorgeous visuals
  • Good for multiplayer or e-sports

The Bad

  • Not as sleek or attractive as other monitors

The Bottom Line

If high-speed play is what you’re looking for, this monitor can handle pretty much whatever you throw at it, and look great doing so.
Pros & Cons

Gaming isn’t just about skills, it’s also about visuals. And on top of that, you can have all the skills in the world, but that won’t make up for a slow refresh rate or response time. These are all important things to keep in mind when searching for your next gaming monitor.

But there are so many choices out there. Monitors are only getting better as technology advances, and it’s not impossible to get a really great gaming monitor for a low price. Then again, serious gamers will want all the bells and whistles more expensive monitors offer. And believe us, they get pricey. That’s why we’ve researched some of the best monitors available, and picked a range of price points so that you’ll be able to get a winner no matter what your budget looks like.

Which monitor is for you?

It depends on what kind of gaming you’ll be doing. For some, visuals are the most important part of a gaming monitor. These people may want to go large-screen, and for something super immersive, such as a curved ultrawide. High resolution will be the key here. E-sports players, pro gamers, or those looking for something to allow for high-quality multiplayer gaming will want to go with a monitor that supports a high refresh rate.

How we made our selections

Make no bones about it, these are all spectacular monitors. But we wanted to include monitors that span all price points, as well as monitors for different types of gamers. So. you’ll find a top-of-the-line, 55-inch monitor for those who make gaming their life, as well as budget monitors that still offer awesome gameplay, and even a portable monitor for gamers on their way to a LAN party. Whatever your needs our there's something for you.

Here's how we chose our picks.

  • Size: This is a given, but an important thing to nail down right at the start. What size display do you want? How much desk space do you have? What's your budget? Usually, the bigger displays are on the more expensive side. Also, bigger isn't always better.

  • Resolution: The higher the resolution your display can produce, the higher pixel count, which creates better visual detail and clarity. You'll want something that is at least 1080p full HD, but if you want the best quality, aim for 2160p 4K.

  • Refresh rate: This measures the number of times your monitor can refresh an image per second. As long as you have a good GPU in your computer, you should be able to handle a smooth frame rate, and can go for a high Hertz count. 144Hz is a good middle ground to aim for.

  • Adaptive sync: This comes at no extra cost in most monitors, so it's important to make sure your chosen display includes it. AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync are some of the more common ones, and prevents screen tearing while you play.

  • Response time: Response time is a measurement of how much time a pixel needs to go from black to white. When it comes to gaming, this will mostly affect camera movement — the lower the response time, the less motion blur you'll experience when you're moving around during gameplay.

We think these are the best monitors on the market right now, so read on to find yours.

Best Ultrawide
Specs
  • Screen size: 34-inch
  • Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440
  • Aspect ratio: 21:9
  • Refresh rate: 120Hz
  • Weight: 26 pounds

The Dell Alienware AW3418DW(opens in a new tab) is one of the best and fastest ultrawide monitors on the market. With a 21:9 aspect ratio (most monitors and widescreen TVs are 16:9), the monitor offers unparalleled immersion at 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, paired with a 120Hz refresh rate. 

The refresh rate and G-Sync make this monitor faster than its competitors, and it has a thin-bezel, sleek and modern design. Gaming looks nothing but amazing on this monitor, and it offers a range of customizable options to suit your gameplay, such as adjustable response speed, overlaying frames per second count, screen brightness, and more. 

The monitor is expensive, and if you’re on a budget, this will be beyond your price point. But with all its premium features, it still tops our list.

Best For Speed
Credit: razer
Specs
  • Screen size: 27-inch
  • Resolution: 3,560 x 1,400
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9
  • Refresh rate: 144Hz
  • Weight: 30.5 pounds

Another top contender at a bit of a more digestible price is the Razer Raptor(opens in a new tab). While the screen is a lot smaller (27 inches) and the aspect ratio average (16:9), the refresh rate tops out at 144Hz with a 1-millisecond response time, making its performance top-notch. 

The display offers impeccable picture quality and vibrant colors, and supports both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync to reduce screen tear during fast-paced FPS.

The Raptor is Razer’s first gaming monitor, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t reached near-perfection. Design-wise, it’s one of the best-looking monitors out there, with Razer’s typical glowing, sleek style. The modern L-shaped base won’t take up too much desk space.

Best Budget Monitor
Specs
  • Screen size: 24-inch
  • Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9
  • Refresh rate: 75Hz
  • Weight: 11.24 pounds

You don’t need to spend a fortune on a monitor to have a great gaming experience. Sure, there may be a few premium features you need to give up, but if you’re a sometimes-gamer, a less expensive monitor like the Asus VG245H(opens in a new tab) might be more your style.

This monitor offers FreeSync and a 75Hz refresh rate. Another perk is that the monitor rotates 90 degrees for ease, comfort and immersion while gaming. 

However, it is lacking when it comes to resolution. At 1,920 x 1,080, anyone working with high-end GPUs may be disappointed. The screen is also on the smaller side at 24 inches, and very serious gamers may want something larger and a little more high-end. 

Best Portable Gaming Monitor
Specs
  • Screen size: 17.3-inch
  • Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9
  • Refresh rate: 240Hz
  • Weight: 2.34 pounds

Portable monitors have long been a great asset for work, whether you’re traveling or if a laptop screen just isn’t enough. But the Asus ROG Strix XG17AHPE(opens in a new tab) brings that convenience and applies it to play with this sleek and portable gaming monitor. 

She is small, but she is mighty. At 17.3 inches and less than two-and-a-half pounds, this powerful gaming monitor runs with a refresh rate of 240Hz and a 3 millisecond response time.

The monitor offers HDMI, USB-C, and USB-A compatibility, great speakers, and awesome viewing angles. It balances on an origami-style stand that doubles as a protective case and is fitted with a magnet to ensure stability.

Best Large Display
Specs
  • Screen size: 55-inch
  • Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9
  • Refresh rate: 120Hz
  • Weight: 57.9 pounds

Is it a TV or is it a gaming monitor? At 55 inches and sporting a stunning 4K OLED panel that delivers astonishing visuals and a uniquely immersive gaming experience, your main problem will be, where do I put this thing?

The Dell Alienware 55 OLED(opens in a new tab) is big. But that’s what some people are looking for in a gaming monitor. It packs awesome speakers, as well as great resolution (3,840 x 2,160). A 120Hz refresh rate and a 1-millisecond response time make for great gaming, as does the AMD FreeSync. 

The catch is, it’s nearly $4,000. But you saw that coming. 

Best For Multiplayer
Credit: viewsonic
Specs
  • Screen size: 27-inch
  • Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9
  • Refresh rate: 144Hz
  • Weight: 17 pounds

You won’t have to choose between speed and stunning visuals when it comes to the ViewSonic Elite XG270QG(opens in a new tab). It’s got both. 

With an updated design, ViewSonic debuts some RBG highlighting on the back of the monitor as well as along the bottom that its previous models lacked. It’s also Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync compatible.

But most importantly, it’s packing speeds great for multiplayer as well as great visuals and viewing angles for those who want to use the monitor for movie viewing. The 144Hz refresh rate, as well as a 1-millisecond response time, makes for flawless high-speed play.

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