How to Choose a Gaming Monitor - A Buyer's Guide (2025)

Choosing the right gaming monitor can be overwhelming with so many options available. This guide covers the essential factors: size, resolution, response time, refresh rate, panel types, and screen curvature.

We also include our recommended gaming monitors below to help you make an informed purchase decision.

Size of Gaming Monitors

The ideal monitor size for your gaming setup depends on your viewing distance and desired resolution.

If you sit farther away from the monitor, a larger screen will help you see all the details clearly.

Smaller monitors have the advantage of keeping more of the game within your field of view without requiring excessive eye movement.

Larger monitors allow you to see finer details and create a more immersive gaming experience, similar to watching a movie in a theater.

The chart below shows the optimal resolution for each monitor size.

Resolutions higher than the optimal level listed below typically provide diminishing returns and may not justify the additional cost.

For example, a 27-inch monitor pairs best with a 1440p or 4K resolution. Make sure your computer can handle the higher resolution. Console gamers should note that both the PS5 and Xbox Series X support 4K resolution.

Resolutions for Gaming Monitors

Monitor resolution determines how much detail appears on screen.

In-game details include textures, user interface elements, and text quality.

While resolution affects detail level, a larger screen size makes these details more comfortable to view. On a 27-inch monitor, 1440p appears significantly sharper than 1080p.

If you plan to use your monitor for productivity tasks like web browsing or multitasking with multiple windows, consider the following.

High-resolution monitors allow you to fit more applications on screen simultaneously.

Without UI scaling, text and buttons appear smaller at higher resolutions.

Modern operating systems include UI scaling options, allowing you to maintain readable interface sizes while benefiting from increased detail and sharpness.

Monitor Resolution Comparison Brandon Jones / TechReviewer

Panel Types for Gaming Monitors

Monitor display panels use various technologies. Common LCD panel types include TN, VA, and IPS. Non-LCD options include OLED.

Note that LED and QLED refer to backlight technologies used in combination with TN, VA, and IPS panels.

The comparison below covers different monitor panel types. IPS panels are our preferred choice because they offer the best balance of features and value.

We also include OLED TVs since they function excellently as monitors with superior motion handling, color accuracy, and contrast.

See my recommended IPS gaming monitors below.

See my recommended OLED TV for gaming below.

See my recommended VA gaming monitors below.

See my recommended TN gaming monitors below.

Refresh Rates for Gaming Monitors

Refresh rate determines how smoothly a monitor displays motion. Higher refresh rates provide better performance.

Gaming monitors typically range from 60 Hz to 500 Hz, with high-end models reaching even higher.

Refresh rate measures how many times per second a display redraws the screen. It is measured in hertz (Hz), where one hertz equals one cycle per second. A 60 Hz refresh rate means the screen redraws 60 times each second.

For gaming, aim for 120 Hz to 165 Hz or higher. These refresh rates reduce motion blur and create smoother animations.

Response Times for Gaming Monitors

Response time also affects motion clarity. Lower response times produce better results.

Gaming monitors typically feature response times between 1 and 6 ms, with OLED displays offering even faster response.

Response time measures how quickly a display transitions from one color to another, usually tested by alternating between white and black. This is measured in milliseconds, with lower values being better.

Higher response times cause ghosting, where colors blur together during rapid on-screen movement.

Aim for a 1 ms response time for optimal performance. Monitors with slightly higher response times (such as 5 ms) can still deliver excellent gaming experiences with minimal ghosting.

Some monitors cannot achieve their fastest response time while running at maximum refresh rate. Check the specifications to confirm what your monitor supports.

Curved or Flat Monitor for Gaming?

The choice between curved and flat monitors is largely personal preference. Curved monitors improve edge visibility but do not dramatically impact gaming performance.

Curved monitors maintain more consistent viewing distance and angle across the entire screen width, potentially creating a more immersive experience.

• Curved monitors work best at 27 inches or larger.
• If you sit far from your monitor, a flat screen is typically the better choice.
• For wide monitors used at close distances, curved screens may enhance your gaming experience.

IPS Gaming Monitors

• 27 inch | 1440p | 165 Hz | 1 ms | HDR10 | IPS Panel
• Fast refresh rates reduce motion blur and make animations smoother.
• 1 ms response times prevent ghosting during quick movements.
• The IPS panel provides excellent picture quality.
• Supports:
  • VESA mounting
  • HDR10 (when used with HDR content, allows for darker darks and brighter brights)
• ASUS TUF Gaming 27 inch 2K HDR Gaming Monitor (VG27AQ) on Amazon

• 27 inch | 1440p | 75 Hz | 5 ms | Rotatable | IPS Panel
• The IPS panel provides excellent picture quality.
• Factory calibrated and color accurate; 100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 709 color gamut.
• Supports:
  • Portrait orientation
  • VESA mounting
• ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27 inch 1440p Monitor on Amazon

• 27 inch | 1440p | 144 Hz | 5 ms | HDRi | IPS Panel
• Fast refresh rate reduces motion blur and creates smoother animations.
• The IPS panel delivers excellent picture quality.
• BenQ EX2780Q 27 Inch 1440P 144 Hz IPS Gaming Monitor on Amazon

OLED TV for Gaming

• 42-83 inch | 2160p (4K) | 120 Hz | 0.1 ms | OLED

• While not specifically a monitor, OLED TVs function excellently as gaming displays!

• This is an exceptional TV for any use, whether for movies, games, sports, or as a PC monitor.

• Fast refresh rates reduce motion blur and make animations smoother.

• This TV has wide viewing angles, perfect for many people watching TV together (like most OLED TVs).

• It has an extreme contrast ratio capable of producing pitch-black scenes without suffering from blooming.

• This TV offers improved brightness compared to previous generations, making it suitable for most room lighting conditions.

• This has the fastest response time for smooth fast-moving content, great for games or sports.

• The LG C5 OLED TV also supports very low input lag and variable refresh rate, both of which are also needed for gaming.

• It's superb for HDR content due to its extreme contrast ratio and wide color gamut.

• Check the latest price of the LG C5 OLED TV on Amazon

TN Gaming Monitors

• 27 inch | 1440p | 155 Hz | 1 ms | TN Panel
• Fast refresh rate reduces motion blur and creates smoother animations.
• 1 ms response time prevents ghosting during rapid movements.
• TN panel provides an entry-level price point for budget-conscious gamers.
• Dell S-Series 27-Inch Screen LED-Lit Gaming Monitor (S2719DGF) on Amazon

VA Gaming Monitors

• 32 inch | 1440p | 240 Hz | 1 ms | HDR10 | VA Panel | Curved
• 1 ms response times prevent ghosting during quick movements.
• Fast refresh rates reduce motion blur and make animations smoother.
• The VA panel provides very good picture contrast.
• HDR10, when used with HDR game content, allows for darker darks and brighter brights.
• Supports VESA mounting.
• SAMSUNG Odyssey G7 Series 32 Inch 1440p Gaming Monitor (LC32G75TQSNXZA) on Amazon

• 27 inch | 1080p | 165 Hz | 1 ms | VA Panel | Curved
• Fast refresh rate reduces motion blur and creates smoother animations.
• 1 ms response time prevents ghosting during rapid movements.
• VA panel delivers excellent contrast ratio.
• ViewSonic VX2718-PC-MHD 27 Inch 1080p 165 Hz Curved Gaming Monitor on Amazon

• 32 inch | 1440p | 144 Hz | 1 ms | HDR10 | VA Panel | Curved
• Fast refresh rate reduces motion blur and creates smoother animations.
• 1 ms response time prevents ghosting during rapid movements.
• VA panel delivers excellent contrast ratio.
• HDR10 support enables deeper blacks and brighter highlights when playing HDR content.
• SAMSUNG Odyssey G5 Series 32-Inch 1440p Gaming Monitor (LC32G55TQWNXZA) on Amazon