Author: Adam Simmons
Last updated: October 12th 2024
Our key up to date recommendations are given in the table below, grouped by size.
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KOORUI GP01 (23.8″ 165Hz IPS, 2560 x 1440)
KOORUI GP01
- 23.8″ IPS panel (BOE MV238QHM-NF0 IPS-ADS)
- 2560 x 1440 (QHD or 1440p)
- 165Hz (48 – 165Hz VRR, FreeSync + G-SYNC Compatible)
- 120Hz 1440p support for the PS5
- 120Hz 1080p support for the Xbox Series X/S and PS5
- 1ms grey to grey response time
- Basic HDR10 support
Additional points:
- Light matte anti-glare screen surface
- PWM-free (flicker-free) WLED backlight
- ~sRGB colour gamut and 350 cd/m² (354 cd/m² measured) peak luminance
- 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, DP 1.4, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Screen is fully adjustable with 100 x 100mm VESA support
Why choose this monitor:
The KOORUI GP01 offers the rare combination of 23.8″ screen size, QHD resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. This provides a significant boost in pixel density and ‘desktop real estate’ compared to ~24″ FHD screens, with a clarity and sharpness that slightly surpasses 27″ QHD screens. The ~sRGB colour gamut (just a little extension beyond) gives a ‘rich and natural’ appearance, with the IPS-type panel offering strong consistency to ensure richness throughout the screen. The contrast performance is typical for the panel type, with the usual ‘IPS glow’ and static contrast close to the specified 1000:1 (a bit below or a bit above depending on settings). Contrast is never a particular strength of this panel type, unless complex local dimming is there to help out. The light matte anti-glare screen surface offers respectable glare handling without a lot of layering or strong graininess – the clarity and vibrancy is better preserved than on stronger matte screen surfaces.
Pixel responsiveness is at a good level for a solid 165Hz performance, complemented by exceptionally low input lag. VRR provision via Adaptive-Sync allows AMD FreeSync and Nvidia ‘G-SYNC Compatible’ to be used. The screen responds to HDR10 content in a very basic way, which gives a different look to things and allows 10-bit colour processing to be put to work. The monitor lacks a suitable brightness level, any local dimming or the wide gamut required for a true HDR experience, though. Build quality is respectable for a budget monitor with full ergonomic flexibility. The OSD includes a few gaming additions such as on-screen crosshairs and an useful controls such as sharpness, an sRGB emulation mode (gamut clamp) to strictly reduce saturation and a Low Blue Light (LBL) mode which can provide a more relaxing viewing experience.
If this model’s not available in your region or priced above it, consider the AOC Q24G2A/BK (affiliate link).
Further reading:
ViewSonic XG2431 (23.8″ 240Hz IPS, 1920 x 1080)
ViewSonic XG2431
- 23.8″ IPS panel (BOE MV238FHM-NG2 IPS-ADS)
- 1920 x 1080 (Full HD or 1080p)
- 240Hz (48 – 240Hz VRR, FreeSync Premium + G-SYNC Compatible)
- 120Hz 1080p and 60Hz ‘4K’ UHD (downsampling) support for the Xbox Series X and PS5
- 1ms grey to grey response time
- VESA DisplayHDR 400
Additional points:
- Medium matte anti-glare screen surface
- PWM-free (flicker-free) WLED backlight
- ~sRGB colour gamut and 350 cd/m² (SDR) peak luminance
- 400 cd/m²+ HDR peak luminance
- 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, DP 1.4, 3.5mm headphone jack, 2 USB 3.2 ports (plus upstream)
- Screen is fully adjustable with 100mm VESA support
- 2 x 3W speakers
Why choose this monitor:
The ViewSonic XG2431 provides consistently rich colours throughout the screen with a natural rather than oversaturated appearance, courtesy of its IPS-type panel and close tracking of the sRGB colour space. Contrast is at a fairly typical level for the panel type, whilst an effective matte anti-glare screen surface provides strong glare handling. Responsiveness is a key strength here, with low input lag (exceptionally low signal delay) and rapid overall pixel responses for a fluid and ‘connected’ 240Hz experience. VRR support via Adaptive-Sync allows FreeSync Premium and ‘G-SYNC Compatible’ to be used to remove tearing and stuttering from frame and refresh rate mismatches. The key attraction of this model, though, comes from its carefully tuned ‘PureXP+’ strobe backlight setting with ‘Blur Busters Approved 2.0’ certification. This delivers superior motion clarity with low strobe crosstalk and excellent adjustability – it’s limited to ~200 cd/m² maximum in this mode but that should be sufficient for most users.
Basic HDR10 support is offered with VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, allowing 10-bit colour processing for enhanced shade variety and a maximum brightness reliably measured as just shy of 600 cd/m². With an insufficient colour gamut plus no local dimming to enhance contrast, this is far from a true HDR experience. A ‘Blue Light Filter’ Low Blue Light (LBL) setting is provided to promote a more relaxing viewing experience, useful for longer gaming sessions or during downtime in the evenings. The monitor offers ‘unfussy’ styling for a gaming screen, with excellent ergonomics and VESA 100 support provided. Overall this is a well-priced and capable gaming display, particularly attractive for those wanting a good strobe backlight mode for competitive play.
Further reading:
AOC 24G2SP/24G2SPU (23.8″ 165Hz IPS, 1920 x 1080)
AOC 24G2SP(U)
- 23.8″ IPS panel (TPV TPM238WF1-LF4F Panda IPS)
- 1920 x 1080 (Full HD or 1080p)
- 165Hz (48 – 165Hz VRR, FreeSync Premium + G-SYNC Compatible)
- 120Hz support for the Xbox Series X/S and PS5
- 4ms grey to grey response time
Additional points:
- Medium matte anti-glare screen surface
- PWM-free (flicker-free) WLED backlight
- ~92% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 300 cd/m² peak luminance (422 cd/m² measured)
- 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, DP 1.2a, VGA, 3.5mm audio line-in, 3.5mm headphone jack
- ‘SPU’ model includes 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (plus upstream) and 2 x 2W speakers
- Screen is fully adjustable with 100mm VESA support
Why choose this monitor:
The AOC 24G2SP(U)‘s IPS-type panel offers strong colour consistency, with an extended but not extreme colour gamut providing a dose of extra vibrancy without strong oversaturation. The monitor provides a strong contrast experience for the panel type – it’s still firmly in ‘IPS’ territory and can’t compete with VA or OLED models in that respect, but there’s a bit of extra depth to things compared to many IPS models. The screen surface has less of a grainy appearance to it than many competing models, including those using 24.5″ AUO AHVA panels – but is still medium (‘regular’) matte anti-glare offering effective glare-handling. The monitor provides low input lag and sufficiently rapid pixel responsiveness for a good 165Hz experience. There are slight weaknesses for some pixel responses, but many will find them unbothersome even for a bit of competitive play.
The monitor also offers Adaptive-Sync, working as we’d hope via both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia ‘G-SYNC Compatible’ to get rid of tearing and stuttering from frame and refresh rate mismatches. Without unwanted additions such as unexcepted stuttering, flickering or other artifacts. An MBR (Motion Blur Reduction) strobe backlight setting is offered as an alternative – not the ‘cleanest’ implementation we’ve seen but not the worst either and some will appreciate it to minimise perceived blur. No HDR support is offered, though the screen does go quite bright. The minimum white luminance (108 cd/m² measured) is higher than some sensitive users will like, though fine for most. Effective Low Blue Light (LBL) settings are also included to promote a more relaxing viewing experience. An addition to full ergonomic flexibility and decent build quality for a budget offering, this is a capable and attractively-priced 165Hz Full HD offering.
Further reading:
A comparison with the BenQ EX2510(S) and Acer XB253Q GP
MSI MAG 274QRF QD E2 (27″ 180Hz IPS, 2560 x 1440)
MSI MAG 274QRF QD E2
- 27″ IPS panel (BOE ME270QHB-NF0 IPS-ADS)
- 2560 x 1440 (QHD or 1440p)
- 180Hz (48 – 180Hz VRR, FreeSync + G-SYNC Compatible)
- 120Hz 1440p support for the Xbox Series X/S and PS5
- 120Hz 1080p support for the Xbox Series X/S and PS5
- 1ms grey to grey response time
- VESA DisplayHDR 400
Additional points:
- Medium or ‘relatively light’ matte anti-glare screen surface
- PWM-free (flicker-free) QD LED backlight
- ~99% DCI-P3 (91%+ Adobe RGB) and 400 cd/m² (511 cd/m² measured) peak luminance
- 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, DP 1.4, USB-C (65W PD, DP Alt Mode, upstream data), 2 USB 2.0 ports (plus Type-B upstream), 3.5mm headphone jack
- Screen is fully adjustable with 100 x 100mm VESA support
Why choose this monitor:
The MSI MAG 274QRF QD E2 features a QHD IPS-type panel, providing a good level of detail and clarity to game content. The very generous DCI-P3 gamut plus good Adobe RGB coverage provides a strong level of vibrancy and saturation. Emulation modes for sRGB, DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB are included to help tone things down if you wish. Colour consistency is good from the IPS-type panel, ensuring relatively consistent saturation levels and vibrancy throughout the screen. The contrast performance is fairly strong for the panel type, though this remains a weakness of IPS-type panels. The ‘relatively light’ matte anti-glare screen surface provides good glare handling and has a fairly smooth finish which avoids an obviously grainy look to the image. Basic HDR10 support is included at the VESA DisplayHDR 400 level, but it’s not very well tuned as it provides an oversaturated look. And without local dimming or high brightness, this is far from a convincing HDR performance.
Very low input lag and competent pixel responsiveness provides a good 180Hz experience, with Adaptive-Sync support working as it should for both AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia ‘G-SYNC Compatible’. This model provides good but not perfect tuning across the VRR range and some will be happy to stick to the ‘Fast’ setting for all content types. A strobe backlight mode is included, with above average performance due to reasonable central strobe crosstalk levels and lack of ‘KSF phosphor fringing’ or flashes. The included stand is fully adjustable, whilst USB-C is included with 65W PD and KVM support. The OSD is comprehensive and includes customisable shortcut key functions, with viewing comfort aided by Low Blue Light (LBL) settings and a pleasing brightness adjustment range (54 – 511 cd/m² measured).
Like the sound of this but want a 240Hz refresh rate? Consider the MSI G274QPX (affiliate link).
Further reading:
Samsung Odyssey OLED G60SD (27″ 360Hz QD-OLED, 2560 x 1440)
Samsung Odyssey OLED G60SD
- 27″ OLED panel (Samsung Display QD-OLED)
- 2560 x 1440 (QHD or 1440p)
- 360Hz (48 – 360Hz VRR, FreeSync + G-SYNC Compatible + HDMI 2.1 VRR)
- 120Hz 1440p support for the Xbox Series X/S and PS5
- 120Hz 1080p and 60Hz ‘4K’ UHD (downsampling) support for the Xbox Series X and PS5
- 0.03ms grey to grey response time
- HDR10 support
Additional points:
- Medium matte anti-glare screen surface
- PWM-free (flicker-free) QD-OLED
- ~99% DCI-P3 (~95% Adobe RGB) colour gamut and 250 cd/m² (SDR) peak luminance
- ~1000 cd/m² HDR peak luminance
- 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 1.4 (with DSC), 3.5mm headphone jack, 2 USB 3.0 ports (plus Type-B upstream)
- Screen is fully adjustable with 100 x 100mm VESA support
Why choose this monitor:
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G60SD (G6) provides a vibrant experience from its 27″ QD-OLED panel. With its per-pixel illumination, the panel can ‘shut off’ some pixels whilst others remain suitably bright, providing exceptional contrast that’s particularly impressive compared to LCDs in dimmer lighting conditions. The anti-glare finish provides exceptional glare-handling even in bright lighting and does so with minimal graininess or layering. The screen size and resolution provides good clarity and detail levels to game content, with a size that’s not too overwhelming for competitive play at the desk. The exceptional colour consistency of the QD-OLED panel combined with generous DCI-P3 plus Adobe RGB gamut provides highly vibrant colour throughout the screen. Effective and flexible sRGB and DCI-P3 colour space emulation settings allow you to tone things down if you want to.
The monitor makes excellent use of its 360Hz refresh rate, with an exceptional (‘visually flawless’) pixel response performance without perceivable weaknesses such as conventional trailing or overshoot. Input lag is also exceptionally low, helping you feel properly ‘connected’ when gaming. VRR support is also included via Adaptive-Sync (Nvidia ‘G-SYNC Compatible’ and AMD FreeSync) and via HDMI 2.1 VRR, with a ‘4K’ UHD downsampling mode at up to 60Hz to improve console compatibility. The per-pixel illumination is also put to good use under HDR, with a well-tuned experience on the colour side for good vibrancy but not strongly oversaturated output. Some decent bursts of brightness are also provided under HDR, but nothing exceptional in that respect. The monitor also offers many settings which can be tweaked under HDR, allowing you to adjust to your liking. The brightness under SDR is sufficient for most, ~250 cd/m² reliably measured without ABL behaviour. The sleek design with metal elements to the housing, RGB LED lighting which can be seen from the front in dimmer lighting and a range of Low Blue Light (LBL) settings help round things off.
Like the sound of this but want a glossy screen? Consider the MSI MAG 271QPX (affiliate link).
Further reading:
MSI MPG 274URF QD (27″ 160Hz IPS, 3840 x 2160)
MSI MPG 274URF QD
- 27″ IPS panel (AUO M270QAN07.0 AHVA)
- 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD)
- 160Hz (48 – 160Hz VRR, FreeSync + G-SYNC Compatible + HDMI 2.1 VRR)
- 120Hz at up to ‘4K’ UHD for the Xbox Series X and PS5
- 0.5ms grey to grey response time
- VESA DisplayHDR 400
Additional points:
- Light matte anti-glare screen surface
- PWM-free (flicker-free) QD-LED backlight
- 97%+ DCI-P3 (97%+ Adobe RGB) colour gamut and 400 cd/m²+ (506 cd/m² measured) peak luminance
- ~500 cd/m² HDR peak luminance
- 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 1.4 (with DSC), USB-C (65W PD, DP Alt Mode, upstream data), 2 USB 2.0 ports (plus Type-B upstream), 3.5mm headphone jack
- Fully adjustable stand. 100 x 100mm VESA mounting supported
Why choose this monitor:
The MSI MPG 274URF QD features a 27″ IPS-type panel with 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD) resolution and 160Hz refresh rate. Full bandwidth HDMI 2.1 also features, allowing compatible games consoles such as the Xbox Series X and PS5 to run a 120Hz ‘4K’ UHD signal with VRR also supported. The monitor provides a very tight pixel density, giving excellent detail and clarity to games and other suitably high resolution image content. With a crisp look to text and other fine edges. The IPS-type panel plus QD-LED backlight solution provides a true wide gamut with near complete DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB coverage. This ensures consistent and highly vibrant colour output, with multiple colour space emulation settings (for sRGB, Adobe RGB and DCI-P3) allowing you to tailor the look. Vibrancy and clarity potential is well-maintained by the light matte screen surface, without obvious layering in front of the image and just a light graininess. The included stand is fully adjustable, whilst USB-C is included with 65W PD and KVM support. The OSD is comprehensive and includes customisable shortcut key functions, with viewing comfort aided by Low Blue Light (LBL) settings and an exceptional brightness adjustment range (39 – 506 cd/m² measured).
The monitor provides well-tuned overdrive across the VRR range, with variable overdrive providing a ‘single overdrive mode experience’. This is combined with low input lag for a fluid 160Hz experience. HDMI 2.1 VRR and Adaptive-Sync (AMD FreeSync and Nvidia ‘G-SYNC Compatible’) are both supported. ‘MPRT Sync’ is also offered, a strobe backlight setting which can work alongside VRR and works to minimise perceived blur – in our testing this proved to be a decent strobe backlight setting due to reasonably low central strobe crosstalk and no KSF phosphor flickering or fringing issues. The monitor responds to HDR10 content in a basic way, with VESA DisplayHDR 400 support. The brightness is rather limited by HDR standards and no local dimming is offered, so it’s a heavily compromised HDR experience. It gives a different look to things which some may like for a bit of variety from time to time, but we feel most will prefer the look and flexibility offered by SDR on this monitor.
Prefer higher HDR brightness and not so fussed about such a wide gamut? Consider the Gigabyte M27U (affiliate link).
Further reading:
AOC Q27G3XMN(/BK) (27″ 180Hz VA, 2560 x 1440)
AOC Q27G3XMN(/BK)
- 27″ VA panel (CSOT SG2701G02-2 with custom backlight)
- 2560 x 1440 (QHD or 1440p)
- 120Hz 1440p support for the Xbox Series X/S and PS5
- 120Hz 1080p and 60Hz ‘4K’ UHD (downsampling) support for the Xbox Series X and PS5
- 1ms grey to grey response time
- VESA DisplayHDR 1000
Additional points:
- Light to very light matte anti-glare screen surface
- PWM-free (flicker-free) WLED backlight
- ~96% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 450 cd/m² peak luminance (567 cd/m² measured)
- 1374 cd/m² HDR peak luminance (measured)
- 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, DP 1.4, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Screen is fully adjustable with 100 x 100mm VESA support
Why choose this monitor:
The AOC Q27G3XMN(/BK) offers a dynamic HDR experience from its 336-zone ‘Mini LED’ backlight and its high contrast VA panel. It can deliver strong bursts of brightness whilst dimming other areas of the screen significantly. Though not comparable to an OLED with per-pixel illumination or a Mini LED solution with many more dimming zones, the monitor does well with the zones it has which elevates HDR beyond anything else in its price class. The Mini LED solution can also be used alongside customisable brightness under SDR, enriching the contrast experience there. The screen size and resolution combination delivers good clarity and detail levels to game content and can provide decent immersion. The VA panel can’t keep up with IPS or OLED panels when it comes to colour consistency, but is decent for a VA model and is combined with quite a generous gamut for good overall vibrancy. An sRGB emulation mode is offered (non-BK model only, but GPU level alternatives exist either way).
The monitor provides 180Hz with low input lag, alongside reasonable pixel responses for the panel type. It has some of the typical VA pixel response time weaknesses, but they’re not too widespread or extreme in this case. VRR is also supported via Adaptive-Sync, allowing technologies such as Nvidia ‘G-SYNC Compatible’ and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to be used to combat tearing and stuttering. ‘4K’ UHD downsampling at 60Hz is also included to help bolster console compatibility – the Xbox Series X requires a ‘4K’ UHD signal for HDR. A range of Low Blue Light (LBL) settings are included to potentially aid viewing comfort. The monitor wraps this all up with good ergonomics, reasonable build quality and a fairly comprehensive though not all that intuitively controlled OSD. It’s a very competitively priced monitor which really sets the standard for HDR on a budget.
Further reading:
MSI MPG 321URX (31.5″ 240Hz QD-OLED, 3840 x 2160)
MSI MPG 321URX
- 31.5″ OLED panel (Samsung Display QD-OLED)
- 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD)
- 240Hz (48 – 240Hz VRR, FreeSync Premium Pro + G-SYNC Compatible + HDMI 2.1 VRR)
- 120Hz at up to ‘4K’ UHD for the Xbox Series X and PS5
- 0.03ms grey to grey response time
- VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400
Additional points:
- Glossy screen surface with anti-reflective treatment
- PWM-free (‘flicker-free’) QD-OLED
- ~99~% DCI-P3 (~94% Adobe RGB) colour gamut and 250 cd/m² (SDR) peak luminance
- ~1000 cd/m² HDR peak luminance
- 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 1.4 (with DSC), USB-C (90W PD, DP Alt Mode, upstream data), 2 USB 2.0 (plus Type-B upstream) and a 3.5mm headphone jack
- Screen offers tilt, swivel and height adjustment with 100 x 100mm VESA support
Why choose this monitor:
The MSI MPG 321URX provides strong vibrancy with exceptional contrast, particularly impressive compared to LCDs in dimmer lighting. The per-pixel illumination of the QD-OLED panel allows some pixels to ‘shut off’ with others right next to them nice and bright (or some way between). Meanwhile, the 31.5″ 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD) screen provides a high pixel density for excellent detail and clarity. The exceptional colour consistency of the OLED panel combined with a generous gamut provides strong vibrancy throughout the screen, with effective colour space emulation settings (sRGB, DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB) allowing you to tailor the saturation levels to your preferences. HDMI 2.1 is supported, allowing compatible games consoles such as the Xbox Series X and PS5 to receive a 120Hz ‘4K’ UHD signal. USB-C is also included with KVM support and 90W PD.
A 240Hz refresh rate is supported, put to exceptionally good use with a ‘visually flawless’ pixel response performance and exceptionally low input lag. This is combined with VRR support via both HDMI 2.1 VRR and Adaptive-Sync, supporting technologies including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia ‘G-SYNC Compatible’. The HDR experience is strong due in part to the per-pixel dimming and ability to provide a brightness of up to ~1000 cd/m² for smaller bright elements. The generous gamut is also put to good use under HDR with 10-bit colour support, delivering an experience which is vibrant and lively. The monitor is tuned to provide a touch of extra saturation under HDR compared to some models with a similar gamut, but not to such an extent it greatly deviates from the artistic intent of the creators. Unlike competing WOLED technology, the screen can provide strong saturation to very bright elements. The balanced spectrum coupled with Low Blue Light (LBL) settings provide a potentially more relaxing viewing experience, too. This monitor is a gaming and entertainment powerhouse with plenty of useful features and attractive characteristics.
On a tighter budget and happy with a 165Hz QD-OLED? Consider the MSI MAG 321UP (affiliate link).
Game competitively at very high refresh rates (far beyond 240fps) or prefer WOLED screen characteristics? Consider the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDP (affiliate link).
Further reading:
MSI MAG 322UPF (32″ 160Hz IPS, 3840 x 2160)
MSI MAG 322UPF
- 32″ IPS panel
- 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD)
- 160Hz (48 – 160Hz VRR, FreeSync Premium + G-SYNC Compatible + HDMI 2.1 VRR)
- 120Hz at up to ‘4K’ UHD for the Xbox Series X and PS5
- 1ms grey to grey response time
- VESA DisplayHDR 400
Additional points:
- Light to very light matte anti-glare screen surface
- PWM-free (flicker-free) WLED backlight
- ~95% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 350 cd/m² (SDR) peak luminance
- 400 cd/m² HDR peak luminance
- 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 1.4 (with DSC), USB-C (90W PD, DP Alt Mode, upstream data), 3 USB 2.0 ports (plus Type-B upstream), 3.5mm headphone jack
- Tilt, swivel and height adjustment. 100 x 100mm VESA mounting supported
Why choose this monitor:
The MSI MAG 322UPF features a 32″ IPS-type panel with 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD) resolution and 160Hz refresh rate. HDMI 2.1 is also supported, allowing compatible games consoles such as the Xbox Series X and PS5 to receive a 120Hz ‘4K’ UHD signal. The large screen provides an engrossing experience and facilitates sitting a bit further from the monitor if you wish. It also delivers an excellent pixel density, providing strong clarity and detail for high resolution content. The IPS-type panel offers excellent colour consistency, which when combined with the fairly generous colour gamut offers fairly vibrant shade output throughout the screen. A good dose of extra vibrancy is provided for SDR content, with sRGB emulation included if you wish to have a more toned down look to things. The light to very light matte screen surface aids this vibrancy and clarity, without strong graininess or clear layering in front of the image. The monitor is also ‘Low Blue Light Hardware Solution’ certified by TÜV Rheinland, with shifted and reduced amplitude peak of blue energy to potentially improve viewing comfort. Additional LBL settings are included if you want a warmer look to the image that may be more relaxing in the evening, for example.
Well-tuned pixel overdrive delivers fast overall pixel responses without strong overshoot, whilst input lag is low. Adaptive-Sync removes tearing and stuttering from frame rate and refresh rate mismatches, via both AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia ‘G-SYNC Compatible Mode’. HDMI 2.1 VRR is also supported. ‘MPRT Sync’ is offered, a strobe backlight setting which can work alongside VRR and works to minimise perceived blur. VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification is included without local dimming or a high brightness by HDR experience. The HDR experience is only basic, though it does allow 10-bit colour reproduction to enhance the nuanced shade variety and the decent DCI-P3 coverage can be put to good use. Good ergonomic flexibility is provided by the stand, USB-C with a generous 90W PD plus KVM is included alongside a comprehensive OSD. A strong all-round performer with plenty of features and excellent pricing.
Prefer higher brightness and VESA DisplayHDR 600 support? Consider the MSI MAG 323UPF (affiliate link).
Further reading:
Philips 328E1CA (31.5″ 60Hz curved VA, 3840 x 2160)
Philips 328E1CA
- 31.5″ VA panel (TPV TPM315WR1-FP01.S Samsung SVA or similar)
- 1500R curve
- 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD)
- 60Hz (48 – 60Hz VRR, FreeSync + G-SYNC Compatible)
- 60Hz ‘4K’ UHD for the Xbox Series X and PS5
- 4ms grey to grey response time
Additional points:
- Light matte anti-glare screen surface
- PWM-free (flicker-free) WLED backlight
- ~122% sRGB colour gamut and 250 cd/m² peak luminance (>300 cd/m² measured)
- 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, DP 1.2a, 3.5mm audio input, 3.5mm audio output
- Screen is tilt-only with 100 x 100mm VESA mounting supported
- 2 x 3W speakers
Why choose this monitor:
The Philips 328E1CA offers an immersive experience from its curved 31.5″ screen. We found the curve easy to adapt to, drawing into the image a bit without feeling unnatural. Something that is certainly exaggerated in photos and videos of the screen. The 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD) resolution offers a pleasing pixel density, with a screen of this size widely considered the sweet spot for the resolution. The high-contrast VA panel, some extension beyond the sRGB colour space and excellent colour consistency for the panel type help to deliver quite a vibrant image with pleasing shade variety.
The monitor also offers decent pixel responsiveness for the panel type and a low level of input lag. Although not marketed as a ‘gaming monitor’, it can certainly offer an enjoyable 60Hz experience for both PC and console gaming. Adaptive-Sync is also supported (FreeSync and ‘G-SYNC Compatible Mode’) to help smooth out drops in frame rate a bit below 60fps. Additional features of note includes effective Low Blue Light (LBL) settings to aid viewing comfort. This is a competitively priced model which offers a lot of monitor for your money, with a nod towards strong contrast.
Further reading:
A post summarising our thoughts on this model in the context of some alternatives
Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 (34″ 175Hz curved QD-OLED, 3440 x 1440)
Philips Evnia 34M2C8600
- 34.18″ OLED panel (Samsung Display QD-OLED)
- 3440 x 1440 (UWQHD – 21:9 ultrawide)
- 175Hz (48 – 175Hz VRR, FreeSync Premium Pro + G-SYNC Compatible)
- 120Hz 1440p support for the Xbox Series X/S and PS5
- 120Hz 1080p and 60Hz ‘4K’ UHD (downsampling) support for the Xbox Series X and PS5
- 0.03ms grey to grey response time
- VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400
Additional points:
- Glossy screen surface with anti-reflective treatment
- PWM-free (‘flicker-free’) QD-OLED
- ~99% DCI-P3 (~94% Adobe RGB) colour gamut and 250 cd/m² (SDR) peak luminance
- ~1000 cd/m² HDR peak luminance
- 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, DP 1.4, USB-C (90W PD, DP Alt Mode, upstream data), 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (plus Type-B upstream) and a 3.5mm audio output
- Screen offers tilt, swivel and height adjustment with 100 x 100mm VESA support
- 2 x 5W speakers
Why choose this monitor:
The Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 delivers a highly vibrant experience with exceptional contrast, particularly impressive when compared to LCDs in dimmer lighting conditions. The per-pixel illumination of the QD-OLED panel allows some pixels to ‘shut off’, others to remain nice and bright and others in between these extremes – delivering that exceptional contrast. The ~34″ 3440 x 1440 (21:9 aspect ratio) screen provides the usual ultrawide benefits, combined with a 1800R curve to draw you in a bit without feeling unnatural. The exceptional colour consistency of the OLED panel combined with a generous gamut provides vivid colour throughout the screen, with an effective sRGB emulation setting to tone things down if you wish. Customisable ‘Ambiglow’ RGB LEDs at the rear create a fairly strong ‘halo’ of light around the monitor, far superior to most integrated RGB lighting features. USB-C is also included with KVM support and 90W PD.
A 175Hz refresh rate is supported, which is put to exceptionally good use thanks to the ‘visually flawless’ pixel response performance. This is combined with low input lag and VRR support via Adaptive-Sync for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia ‘G-SYNC Compatible’. The monitor provides an enjoyable HDR experience owing to its per-pixel illumination and ability to provide a brightness of up to ~1000 cd/m² for smaller bright elements. The generous gamut is also put to good use under HDR with 10-bit colour support, for a vibrant and dynamic experience. Unlike competing WOLED technology, the screen can provide strong saturation to very bright elements. The balanced spectrum coupled with Low Blue Light (LBL) settings help promote a more relaxing viewing experience, too. A very capable monitor that delivers a highly dynamic and engrossing entertainment experience.
Further reading:
Our AW3423DW review, based on the same panel with many similarities
LG 34GN850 (34″ 160Hz curved IPS, 3440 x 1440)
LG 34GN850
- 34″ IPS panel (LG Display LM340UW6 Nano IPS)
- 3440 x 1440 (UWQHD – 21:9 ultrawide)
- 160Hz (48 – 160Hz VRR, FreeSync Premium Pro + G-SYNC Compatible + HDMI 2.1 VRR)
- 120Hz 1080p support for the Xbox Series X/S and PS5
- 1ms grey to grey response time
- VESA DisplayHDR 400
Additional points:
- Light matte anti-glare screen surface
- PWM-free (flicker-free) WLED backlight
- ~98% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 350 cd/m² (SDR) peak luminance
- 400 cd/m²+ HDR peak luminance
- DP 1.4, 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, 2 USB 3.0 ports (plus Type-B upstream), 3.5mm headphone jack
- Screen offers tilt and height adjustment with 100 x 100mm VESA support
Why choose this monitor:
The LG 34GN850 (34GN850-B owing to the mainly black stand and rear) provides a vibrant and immersive gaming experience. It uses a 34″ 3440 x 1440 (21:9 aspect ratio) Nano IPS panel with 1900R curve. This combines the numerous advantages of 21:9 with an extended colour gamut, very close to DCI-P3. This offers high levels of vibrancy, whilst the IPS panel keeps colours rich and consistent throughout the screen. The contrast is decent, largely as expected for the panel type, whilst the smooth and light matte screen surface provides a ‘clean’ look to the image without obvious graininess.
A 160Hz refresh rate is supported, a bump up from the 144Hz of the previous generation. Pixel responsiveness is improved as well, allowing the monitor to put the refresh rate to good use without strong overshoot or obvious trailing. Input lag is low and Adaptive-Sync is supported, including certification for both FreeSync Premium and ‘G-SYNC Compatible’. VESA DisplayHDR 400 support allows the colour gamut and 10-bit colour processing to be put to work for HDR10 content. But this is a basic HDR experience, with relatively limited peak luminance and no local dimming. We feel this is a well-rounded ultrawide, offering a good mixture of colour quality and responsiveness with a smart design.
Further reading:
LG C4 OLED (42″ 144Hz OLED, 3840 x 2160)
LG C4 OLED
- 42″ OLED panel (LG Display WOLED)
- 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD)
- 144Hz (48 – 144Hz VRR, FreeSync + G-SYNC Compatible + HDMI 2.1 VRR)
- 120Hz at up to ‘4K’ UHD for the Xbox Series X and PS5
- <0.1ms grey to grey response time
- HDR10, Dolby Vision & HLG support
Additional points:
- Glossy screen surface with anti-reflective treatment
- PWM-free (flicker-free) WLED backlight
- ~98% DCI-P3 colour gamut ~800 cd/m² HDR peak luminance
- 4 HDMI 2.1 ports (1 with eARC), 3 USB 3.0 ports, optical audio out, ethernet LAN, 2 RF In, CI Slot, S/PDIF plus WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity
- Screen has a fixed (non-adjustable) stand with 300 x 200mm VESA support
- 2 x 10W speakers
Why choose this monitor:
The LG C4 OLED (OLED42C4PUA with regional variations) features a 42″ OLED panel with 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD) resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. DisplayPort isn’t supported but HDMI 2.1 is, allowing compatible games consoles such as the Xbox Series X and PS5 to receive a 120Hz ‘4K’ UHD signal and PCs a 144Hz signal. The screen provides a good level of vibrancy with exceptional contrast, particularly impressive when compared to LCDs in dimmer lighting conditions. The per-pixel illumination allows some pixels to remain brightly lit and others to be ‘shut off’ or between these states, providing vastly superior contrast to LCDs which rely on a backlight and in some cases include local dimming with far fewer dimming zones than pixels. The OLED panel delivers excellent colour consistency overall, coupled with strong DCI-P3 coverage to give good vibrancy potential throughout the screen. The glossy screen surface aids the ‘pop’ in many lighting conditions, too. The screen includes emulation settings for sRGB and Adobe RGB (though the monitor does not come close to fully covering that), in addition to hardware calibration using a compatible calibrator and Calman (LG AutoCal) software.
A 144Hz refresh rate is supported, put to excellent use by a ‘visually flawless’ pixel response performance. This is combined with low input lag, giving a good ‘connected feel’ as well. The screen supports Adaptive-Sync plus HDMI 2.1 VRR to remove tearing and stuttering from frame and refresh rate mismatches with technologies include AMD FreeSync and Nvidia ‘G-SYNC Compatible’. The HDR experience is compelling in terms of contrast, due to the per-pixel dimming and ability for the screen to pump out decent brightness for some scenes (up to ~800 cd/m² for smaller bright areas). 10-bit+ colour processing helps enhance the nuanced shade variety, whilst multiple HDR formats are supported including HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG. The screen provides strong DCI-P3 coverage but is less impressive in terms of Rec. 2020 coverage. It can’t sustain strong saturation at high brightness due to the WOLED technology relying on an unfiltered white subpixel for high brightness, but there will still be a vibrant look to many of the less bright shades. This is a very capable and well-priced screen for a highly immersive gaming experience under both SDR and HDR – and as it is a TV rather than monitor, includes various ‘Smart TV’ features as well. Plus a remote for convenient operation of the very comprehensive settings menus.
Further reading:
This list is heavily condensed; look out for the recommended or approved badge in our reviews as well. You can sort our reviews by badge status and various other features there.
As with all things in the wonderful world of displays, subjectivity is key and no monitor is perfect. The sort of experience somebody seeks will depend on the type of games they play, the level they play at, the power and capabilities of the system and of course their own personal preferences. Some will seek vibrant colours, some prefer strong contrast and others will specific features in mind such as HDR (High Dynamic Range) capability. A powerful PC will be able to make good use of high refresh rates and high resolutions at the same time. But if budget is more restricted or you’re gaming on a less powerful system it might be best to compromise on refresh rate, resolution or perhaps both of these. For consoles you’re more restricted when it comes to system capability. The likes of the Sony PS5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S support a 120Hz maximum refresh rate, which is generally considered a welcome upgrade over 60Hz.
Confused about the terminology? Check out our dedicated guide on the topic.