The 9 gaming monitors that can boost your gaming experience and results
Keen to boost your gaming abilities? This tech expert has rounded up the best gaming monitors to invest in.
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It’s no secret that the gear you use for gaming can ultimately improve your gaming abilities and experience.
Arguably, one of the most important pieces of your gaming set up would have to be your monitor. Depending on its specs, believe it or not, it could be the difference between a win and a loss.
For example, the higher the refresh rate the faster you can see in-bound enemies in a first person shooter. A curved monitor can also offer you a wider field of view so that you won’t miss a moment. With great options available from Amazon, The Good Guys, Bing Lee and more, there’s plenty to choose from on the market. So let’s break down some of the best monitors out there.
BEST GAMING MONITORS
- Best 8K Gaming Monitor:
Samsung 55” Q900 8K UHD Smart QLED TV, Samsung, $2199.99 (down from $3499.99 - Best 4K Gaming Monitor:
Dell 27 4K UHD Monitor – S2721Q, Dell, $349.29
ASUS ROG STRIX XG438Q, Amazon, $599 - Best Cheap Gaming Monitor:
Samsung LC24RG50FQEXXY 24”144hz Curved Gaming Monitor, Amazon, $249 - Best Curved Gaming Monitor:
Samsung 49” G9 QLED Gaming Monitor, Samsung, $2799 - Best 60hz Gaming Monitor:
ASUS – VZ279HEG1R – 27” GAMING MONITOR, Bing Lee, $259 - Best 144hz Gaming Monitor:
ASUS 90LM0450-B01310 VG258Q 24.5” Full HD Gaming Monitor, Amazon, $265 - Best 240hz Gaming Monitor:
Samsung 27 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor (LC27RG50FQEXXY), Amazon, $412
ASUS VG259QM TUF Gaming monitor, Amazon, $479 (down from $699)
No matter what your needs, we’ve picked the best of the bunch. Here are all the details you need to know.
BEST 8K GAMING MONITOR
Samsung 55” Q900 8K UHD Smart QLED TV, Samsung, $3194
The reality of 8K gaming monitors is that they’re still a long way off. You’re able to grab a 4K monitor from a bunch of different brands but the thing is 8K gaming barely exists and, for now, 8K is expensive. There’s only really one 8K gaming monitor on the Aussie market, but it’s barely sold anywhere and retails for $3899 – the Dell UP3218K. While it’s got great features it’s a bit crazy to invest in something like this when gaming is generally still 4K at its best. Instead, I’d highly recommend an 8K smart TV if you really want the 8K experience. You’re better off with the Samsung Q900 8K UHD QLED TV and the best part is it’s a lot cheaper coming in at $3194. With this TV you’ve also got the added the bonus of a HUGE 55” (7680 x 4320) display to not only play games on but watch movies and stream your favourite series. It has an impressive 200Hz motion rate with dolby digital plus sound and it comes with an additional slim-fit wall mount.
BEST 4K GAMING MONITOR
Dell 27 4K UHD Monitor – S2721Q, Dell, $349.29 (down from $498.99)
This might possibly be one of the best but affordable 4K monitors out there right now coming in at only $349 on sale on Dell’s website. This sleek 27” monitor is true 4K at 3840 x 2160 pixels, with 2x HDMI ports, 1x display port and an audio-out port. It also has AMD FreeSync with a 4ms response time. The only downside is it’s only 60Hz which is now a little on the old side, with most monitors coming in at 120Hz or higher.
ASUS ROG STRIX XG438Q, Amazon, $599
For something bigger and better check out the ASUS ROG STRIX XG438Q. It’s 4K at 43 inches, which is pretty huge for a desktop monitor. Not only that but you can be confident in its ability to keep up with your gaming with FreeSync 2 HDR and a 120Hz refresh rate. It also has a pair of 10W speakers in case you want to play games without a headset or watch YouTube or movies.
BEST CHEAP GAMING MONITOR
Samsung LC24RG50FQEXXY 24”144hz curved gaming monitor, Amazon, $249
It’s hard to get a quality monitor for under $200. In fact any monitors that are cheaper than this are usually not made for gaming which means you may experience ghosting and lag – at the very least! Though one of Samsung’s 24” monitor’s are currently on sale for the awesome price of $249 on Amazon ($50 off). This is by far one of the best affordable gaming monitors I’ve seen. Although it’s only HD resolution (1920x1080) it has a specific game mode and has a refresh rate of 144hz which means you’ll have smooth graphics while gaming.
BEST CURVED GAMING MONITOR
Samsung 49” G9 QLED Gaming Monitor, Samsung, $2799
When I say best curved gaming monitor here, I really am talking about the best gaming monitor. This thing has a super ultra wide display with a 1000R curve (R referring to radius) and it’s one of the curviest monitors you can get on the market, which means you’re completely immersed in the action. Not only that but it has a 49” display (5120x1140) that effectively gives you a display that’s two QHD monitors sitting side-by-side. Stack that with its 240Hz refresh rate and this is the ultimate curved monitor and worth every penny.
BEST 60hz GAMING MONITOR
ASUS – VZ279HEG1R – 27” GAMING MONITOR, Bing Lee, $259
OK, the best 60hz gaming monitor is actually 75Hz. You’ve got to take my word for it when I say 60Hz just isn’t really enough for gaming these days. This monitor has flicker-free technology and is ultra-low blue light so you can game comfortably for hours. Also, don’t worry, you’re not paying more for the extra hertz. This 27” full HD IPS (1920x1080) display is a steal for what you get.
BEST 144hz GAMING MONITOR
ASUS 90LM0450-B01310 VG258Q 24.5” Full HD Gaming Monitor, Amazon, $265
A 140Hz G-sync compatible monitor with a 1ms response time for only $265 – awesome. Don’t worry, you’re not dreaming! This is a speedy all-round monitor that’s excellent for gaming but the downside is the screen is only HD (1920x1080) resolution. Though for the price the features will still eliminate frustrating lag, which is what you need to crush first person shooters, strategy, racers and sports titles.
BEST 240hz GAMING MONITOR
Samsung 27 Inch Curved Gaming Monitor (LC27RG50FQEXXY), Amazon, $412
This monitor is amazing for the price and ensures you’re at the top of your game with a 240Hz refresh rate. It even has a slight curve so your set up looks extra legit. However, it’s only 1920x1080 resolution but the product has raving reviews online from those people shopping on a budget.
ASUS VG259QM TUF Gaming monitor, Amazon, $479 (down from $699)
The Asus VG259QM TUF Gaming monitor is more expensive but for $567 you’re getting an excellent all round gaming monitor. It is a 27” 1920x1080 HD display, which is the perfect size for one or if you want to squeeze two side-by-side. The display actually has an amazing 280Hz refresh rate (better than 240Hz) and its fast IPS technology allows for a 1ms response time – this, along with the Asus Extreme Low Motion Blue Sync technology and its G-Sync compatibility, eliminates ghosting for crisp gaming visuals. This would be my pick for more hardcore gamers who have a little bit more cash and need that awesome 240Hz refresh rate or higher.
IS 8K WORTH IT?
Although it’s always a smart move to consider future-proofing yourself, there’s still no real reason to purchase an 8K monitor. At the moment most AAA games are running in 4K. There’s no rush to purchase an 8K screen unless you’re in the market for an 8K TV – then you may want to buy one to kill two birds with one stone (for regular TV entertainment but also for big screen gaming) For now, for the best experience in gaming monitors a 4K monitor with high end specs around the $1000-2000 mark is the way to go.
WHAT’S THE BEST BUDGET GAMING MONITOR?
If you’re in the market for a budget gaming monitor, do your research. Don’t expect to find anything worthwhile if it’s under $250. You’re likely to find a good all rounder for about $300. Make sure to weigh up what kind of specs and features you need with the price.
HOW DO I KNOW WHICH GAMING MONITOR TO BUY?
Not all monitors labelled with the word “gaming” are good value. Sometimes this is just a buzzword slapped onto an average monitor to get more sales. You definitely want a high refresh rate (like 120hz+) and monitors that boast the low response times (i.e. 1ms). Also look for key features like “freesync” or “g-sync” – these features are made to avoid lag. Consider the display’s quality and colour replication. Also don’t forget to see what ports it has on the back and what inputs you require. HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 is ideal for gaming setups.
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Elly Awesome is an Australian Tech and lifestyle journalist, former Network Ten presenter and the author of How To Feel Awesome Every Day. See more from her here.
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