Best 4K Gaming Monitor: Selecting the Right One for Gaming and Beyond

Looking to upgrade your visual experience with the best 4K gaming monitor? Then you have reached the perfect spot!

If you are an avid gamer or a professional game streamer, you know the quality and experience a 4K gaming monitor provides. But, it does not mean that only someone who is a gamer can and should buy a 4k 144Hz monitor.

Please do not be confused when you see the phrase gaming monitor written at the end of the names of some of the best 4K gaming monitors. They are game-specific because the gaming monitors have all the traits necessary for content creation, like high-res videos and their editing and 4K video viewership.

As graphic cards or GPUs are becoming more popular in demand because of the next-level gaming experience, the need for a display that can handle such heavy, resolute graphics is equally met in the shape of the best 4K monitor for gaming. Gamer or not, these best 4K gaming monitors are for everyone.

A 4K curved monitor will absorb you in your games with its high-dynamic range, exceptionally rapid refresh rates, and expansive screen size to fill your whole view. These are expensive, no doubt about it, but they make every penny worth it because you will not find all these features in a simple HDR monitor. The best 4K gaming monitor creates a breathtaking, unique, and immersive gaming ambiance that you will be thankful to us for pursuing you in buying one. These exclusive pieces of LCD & LED monitors are high-priced, and you should purchase them with proper care and research.

We cater to customers coming from all walks of life and different financial backgrounds. For this specific reason, we have tried our best to categorize the best 4K gaming monitors in classifications that solve everyone’s query. Moreover, we have explained the specs of these monitors below to make the decision more easy for the potential buyer.

The Overall Best

Dell UltraSharp U2723QE

Compared to other 4K monitors, the Dell UltraSharp U2723QE stands out because its IPS Black display offers superior color accuracy and contrast. Our tests showed that the screen was clear, and the colors were accurate and lively. Despite the lack of high-quality speakers, this monitor more than compensates with its abundance of ports.

The U2723QE features a Gigabit Ethernet port, five USB-A ports, an additional USB-C port, and a KVM switch, allowing you to utilize all those ports with two connected PCs. It also contains connections for HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C.

The Best Budget Buy

ASUS TUF VG289Q Gaming Monitor

Credit: Tech Radar

A $250 piece of hardware is drastically cheap in the world of the best 4K gaming monitors. For that price, you can get the ASUS TUF VG289Q Gaming Monitor, which has most of the features you would want in a good gaming monitor. Among these features are an HDMI and DisplayPort interface, a 3,480 x 2,160 pixels screen resolution, and a tearing-reduction technology called AMD FreeSynch.

This 28-inch gaming monitor isn’t perfect—its 60 Hz refresh rate means it can’t always keep up with the action, and more graphically intensive games might have blurring and ghosting. However, when not overwhelmed—which is likely to happen with most games—the ASUS TUF VG289Q is fantastic from any angle. You can tilt, raise, lower, pivot it 90 degrees, and even swivel it on its stand.

 

The Best Compact

LG 24UD58-B Ultrafine Monitor

Having a bigger screen isn’t always better, like when you don’t have room for a screen more than three feet wide. This 24-inch LG monitor is ideal for an apartment or dorm room because of its compact design. Compact and affordable, it boasts a stunning 4K screen with detailed visuals and a black stabilizer function. The device is compatible with a wide range of devices thanks to its DisplayPort input and dual HDMI ports, and you can easily set it up using a mouse-activated on-screen interface.

Even though it’s on the lower end of refresh rates, 60 Hz is still more than enough for casual gamers who are short on room. This is a perfectly reasonable option for a second monitor for non-gaming purposes, such as work, editing, graphic design, etc.

 

The Best in Mini-LED

Cooler Master Tempest GP27U 160 Hz Mini LED

Credit: Tech Power Up

Cooler Master has recently joined the 4K gaming monitor market with its latest groundbreaking tech in the form of Tempest GP27U. Its smaller size of 27 inches does not mean it can hang around with the big boys. What it lacks in size makes up for it with distinctive features.

This best 4K gaming monitor’s standout feature is its mini-LED panel with a Quantum Dot Film that boosts 576 dimming zones. This feature spreads across the board a vast color gamut and incredible image quality. It is a compact monitor with a mini-LED and is also somewhat in the budget category. You will have to calibrate this monitor to get the most out of it. Once everything is aligned, the deep blacks will give you an image of the deep space out there.

Moreover, not only the black hues but the overall color performance gives the Cooler Master Tempest GP27U an edge over its competitors. Another feature that has helped it take the edge is the support for up to 160 Hz refresh rates. The Cooler Master Tempest GP27U has heaps of praise on its plate and very few demerits of relevance. When you factor in the pricing, which is relatively inexpensive at $849, it becomes an irresistible offer for gamers.

 

The Best OLED

Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ

Credit: ASUS

If you are a gaming enthusiast then you must know that Asus holds a commendable reputation among the best monitors for gaming. The company caters to both mainstream and game lovers, and with its latest inclusion of ROG Swift PG42UQ, it has taken the gaming space by storm by providing superb picture quality along with good motion resolution.

The enormous 42-inch widescreen dynamic OLED panel makes the ROG Swift PG42UQ take it high in the OLED space. The specifications include a native refresh rate of 120 Hz (which increases to 138 Hz with overclocking), a 0.1 ms reaction time, and a 4K resolution (3840 x 2160). Due to its exquisite OLED panel, this monitor ticks all the boxes with its right-from-the-start color calibration, lag-free video processing, low input lag, and unbeaten contrast.

With its premium build and well-packaged design, the ROG Swift PG42UQ lives up to Asus’s reputation. In fact, Asus even throws you a remote that you can use to adjust the volume and access the on-screen display (OSD). Also included are many connections for connecting various devices, including two HDMI 2.0, one DisplayPort 1.4, and numerous USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports.

 

Best High Refresh Rate Monitor

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQ

Credit: ASUS

A 32-inch gaming monitor is the standard among the monitor users and hence it is becoming very crowded. The ROG Swift PG32UQ dissects the crowd and stands out with some fantastic traits and features. The main feature is the maximum refresh rate of 155Hz, which is narrowly higher than the standard 144Hz and pushes it ahead into the race for the best 32-inch 4k gaming monitor.

Because it is slightly higher than the standard range of 144Hz, our tests show no such significant advantage; however, when you combine the refresh rate with the vibrant color provision of the IPS panel and acute HDR contrast with the HDR 600 rating. We can see that it is a clear winner when we include its excellent video processing, wide color gamut, 1ms reaction time, compatibility with FreeSync and G-Sync, and other advantages.

 

Things to Contemplate When Choosing Among the Best 4K Gaming Monitor

You must have headed out or, in this case, got on to the internet to find the best 4K gaming monitor, thinking it would be a choice between one or two options. But, after seeing so many options, your brain must have become confused.

There is no need to worry; every person has a different set of needs, and they must decide by laying out those needs and seeing what features fit best on it. We have provided an in-depth explanation of the attributes of other gaming monitors in this guide.  Read on to buy a 4K gaming monitor or any other 4K curved monitor.

Size

A 27-inch monitor is just the right size to fit on a desk while still providing enough viewing area to use 4K’s additional detail. Since 4K displays larger than 32 inches occupy too much room on a workstation, we skipped over them.

Display Technology

To get the most out of your 4K monitor, stick with an IPS panel rather than a TN (or VA) one. IPS panels offer superior color reproduction and wider viewing angles.

Cost

A good budget model should be under $400, while a top-notch 27-inch 4K monitor should be under $700. For $700 to $900, you can get a 32-inch model of good quality.

Ports

A good 4K monitor needs to have both HDMI and DisplayPort inputs. The best ones also have a USB-C port that can send a signal to the screen and charge a laptop simultaneously. Because most new laptops have fewer and fewer ports on the device, a USB 3.0 hub is an essential component of any high-quality monitor for connecting external devices like keyboards, mouse, and webcams.

Contrast Ratio

When viewing a movie or playing a game, a good contrast ratio makes it simpler to see the dark portions of the screen. Instead of depending on the manufacturer’s information, we assess the contrast ratio of each monitor while testing. IPS panels generally have a contrast ratio of 1000:1 or above, with higher being better. After the manual calibration of the monitor and fixation of accurate color, a low contrast ratio is more difficult to resolve; therefore, having a good one is slightly more crucial.

Color Gamut and Color Accuracy

When working with photos, videos, or graphics, it’s important to have a monitor that can accurately display colors so that your images look how you intended them to be printed or shown on another screen. Color accuracy is improved on top-tier 4K monitors since the makers calibrate them. The larger the color gamut a monitor offers, the more accurate it represents the sRGB color space, which is essential for high-quality images. Having the broader DCI-P3 color range covered is an advantage. You should calibrate the monitor or get a pro if you’re using it for professional picture editing. Professional calibration may enhance monitors’ accuracy, even if they are factory-calibrated to a high degree.

Monitoring Software

Most people find the tiny and clumsy buttons on monitors unpleasant, and those with limited dexterity in their hands may find them downright impossible to use. With software controls, everyone’s life is made more accessible.

Bases and VESA-Mount Support

Your body can suffer if you cannot adjust your monitor to ensure optimum posture. Having a monitor that can be attached to a monitor arm using a VESA mount is an essential feature for our top picks and the most ergonomic choice. Because high-quality monitor arms can add another $100 to $200 to the price of a 4K monitor, we recommend models with adjustable supports that allow the screen to tilt in any direction, rotate 360 degrees, slide vertically, and even pivot into portrait orientation.

Warranty

Since 4K displays are more expensive than budget monitors, it’s crucial to have a solid guarantee. We’re happy to announce that every monitor comes with solid dead-pixel insurance that safeguards your purchase against flaws in both bright and dark pixels.

Refresh Rate

Animations and mouse movements are kept fluid with a 60-hertz refresh rate over either DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 2.0. Use an HDMI 2.1 cable if you want a fast refresh rate.

The Design

There is no practical relationship between the bezel (the border around the screen) and a monitor. However, if you’re using a multi-monitor configuration, a narrow border will make the screens look more compact and contemporary.

User-Friendly Interface

You should be able to easily adjust your 4K monitor’s brightness and text size using the on-screen display. The buttons should be intuitive and easy to press, whether tactile or capacitive.

Variable Refresh Rates

One issue to watch when playing PC games is variable refresh rates. Adaptive sync refers to a monitor’s ability to adjust its refresh rate in response to changes in the game’s frame rate; this feature reduces input latency, eliminates screen tearing and stuttering, and keeps the game running smoothly. We have seen specific monitors compatible with FreeSync, a technology developed by AMD and used by Nvidia. All of the monitors that we have listed have these technologies.

We have provided all the important and necessary spec information beneath every monitor. So, read the section carefully and choose the one that suits your requirements best.

Best 144Hz Monitor

Philips Momentum 279M1RV

If we tell you the number of gaming monitors that pass through our lab, you will not believe it. Every time, a monitor for gaming that has impressed our testers is the one manufactured by Philips. This time, carrying on the tradition is Philips Momentum 279M1RV—this absolute compact beast masses 4K resolution in every PPI of its 27-inch frame. While 144 Hz, 1 ms reaction speed, and Adaptive-Sync capabilities are standard in this class, Philips really shines on the finer points.

The picture quality of Momentum is out-class, no question about it, but the display brightness (hitting 458 nits in our testing) and IPS panel performance in the contrast test at 1,018:1 were outstanding as well. The color accuracy made the IPS display a class apart due to its HDR brightness and contrast. All this being on-point without the calibration needed.

The AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync make the gaming performance feel alive. Moreover, Philips’ excellent Ambiglow system is back to elate the RGB fans by delivering bias light more to improve contrast/color saturation and gaming immersion.

 

Best 4K HDR Monitor for Gaming

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX

Credit: ASUS

Expensive but impressive, Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX weighs its worth in gold. No monitor is better for HDR movies and games than this. There are other mini-LED monitors for gaming, and we have also discussed one above. But this is the first gaming-focused mini-LED monitor. When we put it to the test, we experienced a remarkable HDR contrast ratio of 180,820.8:1, showing appreciation for its advanced backlight technology. It hit 1,627 nits with HDR during testing. Amazing, isn’t it?

To bring it into the reach of customers, it does not have built-in Dolby Vision Support. This is a slight drawback for people who like watching HDR videos, but it will not affect any games. The good news is that you can use 24p film cadences.

Please do not get the idea that the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX lacks gaming performance. It outperformed when put in relation to other 144 Hz screens in our response time and input lag tests. Surprisingly, it even bested some 4K gaming monitors on this page.

Plus, there’s a cool OLED display on the underside that shows useful metrics like refresh rate and temperatures of the central processing unit and graphics processing unit.

 

The Wrap-Up

Finally, after reaching the end, you must have found your best among the best 4K gaming monitors. And if you are still confused after discovering more than one option, as happens with many, just remember to find five attributes to your matching. That will be:

• Size
• Display Technology
• Contrast Ratio
• Cost
• Refresh Rates

You can also make your own five-pointer, but these are the most common attributes that our customers look into. Moreover, every monitor in this article is among the very best of the 4K gaming monitors. Please feel free to choose; if there is any confusion, contact us.