More people are finding 4K gaming monitors more easily than in the past. They’re great choices for an immersive gaming experience as the high resolution allows for detailed and sharp images. While some 4k gaming monitors have high refresh rates—up to 240Hz—maintaining high frame rates with a 4k screen still demands a strong graphics card. When playing 4K games on consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, these displays come in handy as well.
You’ll want something with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for optimal gameplay, so you can fully utilize sources like the newest graphics cards and game consoles. Although most monitors already have minimal input lag, it’s still vital to take into account the monitor’s response time for clear motion and low input lag for a responsive experience.
Best 4k Gaming Monitor
The best 4k gaming monitor we’ve tested is the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80. It is a class-leading QD-OLED display with a 4k refresh rate of 240 Hz. With its exceptional response time and exceptionally precise movements, gaming feels amazing. The monitor also supports all common VRR formats to reduce screen tearing and has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, so it can take full advantage of modern gaming consoles and graphics cards. The display works incredibly well even at lower refresh rates, however to achieve the maximum refresh rate at 4k, you’ll need a very high-end graphics card.
On top of that, its picture quality is outstanding as it displays extremely vivid images alongside deep and inky blacks without any blooming, and HDR highlights get bright enough to truly pop. This is the primary benefit of purchasing a premium QD-OLED display; because of its matte screen coating, it’s also suitable for use in bright environments. If you prefer a glossy QD-OLED over a matte one, the Dell Alienware AW3225QF is a fantastic alternative, however its curved screen may not be to everyone’s taste.
Best Upper Mid-Range 4k Gaming Monitor
If you find the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80 too much out of your price range, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 is a great alternative that you can get for less. Like the G80SD, it offers a refresh rate of 240 Hz, however the primary compromise is the absence of a QD-OLED display. This indicates that the colors are also less vibrant and the display does not have the same deep blacks without any blooming as the higher-end Samsung. That said, it still has good picture quality in HDR with decent Mini LED local dimming, making small highlights stand out.
Although this monitor doesn’t deliver the same near-instantaneous response time as the G80SD either, motion still looks sharp thanks to its fast response time across its VRR range. It also has features you’d expect to find in a gaming monitor, like VRR support and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. Its high refresh rate is ideal even for competitive gaming, but if you don’t need such a high refresh rate, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 is a good alternative with a lower refresh rate of 165 Hz that you may purchase for a little less.
Best Mid-Range 4k Gaming Monitor
If you’re looking for a cheaper 4k gaming monitor in the mid-range price category, check out the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx instead. Its refresh rate is comparatively inferior to the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85; this is the price you pay when you move down the pricing scale. However, it has similar picture quality to the Samsung because it also has Mini LED backlighting, but it has a lower native contrast ratio, so blacks don’t look as deep if you don’t use local dimming.
Despite this, it’s still a superb gaming monitor with a quick response time, albeit a little slower at lower refresh rates than the Samsung, motion still looks sharp. It also supports any type of VRR format, and with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, you won’t have any issues using it with gaming consoles and modern graphics cards. The main downside is that it has increased input lag at 60Hz, but that isn’t an issue if you start gaming at higher refresh rates and use VRR to go down to 60Hz.
Best Budget 4k Gaming Monitor
The finest cheap 4K gaming monitor is something you may choose from a variety of possibilities. Even while entry-level 4k displays with gaming functions are typically more expensive than other basic 4k monitors, such as those intended for business usage, they are nonetheless valuable. getting over office-focused monitors for gaming. If that’s what you’re interested in, the Gigabyte M27U is a good choice, but there are a few trade-offs versus the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx. The main difference is that it doesn’t have Mini LED backlighting or a local dimming feature, so the picture quality is a lot worse, but that’s what you have to expect for a budget-friendly monitor.
Despite the difference in picture quality, it’s still good enough for gaming, with a fast response time at most refresh rates. It supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and has a refresh rate of 160 Hz, which is still sufficient for most games. It is also better than the Acer in terms of input lag at 60 Hz, which is ideal for reaction-based games
