All gamers know how a gaming monitor can make a difference in gaming and we need to ask how to choose a gaming monitor to get the best out there which makes gives us advantages in the competitive gaming arena.
We have used many top gaming monitors that are available in the market till now and had experiences with each one of them and hence like to share the experience with you so that you can find the best option easily for yourself.
So, How to choose a gaming monitor? Let’s find out
To choose a gaming monitor, you should look for a gaming monitor with an appropriate screen size that suits your viewing distance, preferred screen resolution, has fast response time and high refresh rate, preferred aspect ratio, flat or curved, has adaptive sync, and HDR.
When you put a great amount of money into your gaming setup, you might as well want to get all peripherals are up to their job. In this article, we will help you to explain all the aspects of the gaming monitor so that you can choose the best gaming monitor easily.
These crucial eleven factors that every gamer should look for in a gaming monitor before choosing the best gaming monitor for themselves are the screen resolution, display size, refresh rate, response time, current gaming platform, panel type, widescreen or ultrawide, flat or curved, adaptive sync, HDR, and ports options.
What to look for in a monitor for gaming
To choose a gaming monitor you need to know first what to look for in a gaming monitor and that is why we wanted to write this article so that you will have a proper understanding before you choose any gaming monitor.
Once you know about what to look for in a gaming monitor such as your screen resolution, display size, refresh rate, response time, current gaming platform, panel type, widescreen or ultrawide, flat or curved, adaptive sync, HDR, and ports options, you will be able to choose a gaming mouse without regretting your decision later.
What to look for in a gaming monitor for PlayStation & Xbox
If you are a gaming console owner then the answer to the question of what to look for in a gaming monitor does not change a lot but you need to consider certain aspects and factors because gaming consoles are much different than gaming PC and gaming laptops.
Current gaming consoles such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are powered enough which can run high-end graphics games on high resolution such as 4K / 2160p at almost 120 frames per second.
Though you need to check the below factors to consider if you want to buy a gaming monitor for PlayStation or Xbox.
- The viewing distance you are considering.
- The screen resolution at which you want to play games.
- The monitor display size is based on the screen resolution you chose.
- The viewing angles for the split-screen and couch buddy experience.
- The refresh rate that you want to have for gaming.
- The response time you want from the monitor.
Once you know what to look for in a gaming monitor for PlayStation & Xbox then you will be able to choose the best option for your self which will save your time and money and give you the ultimate gaming experience.
Also Read: What Is A Good Internet Speed For Gaming And Streaming? 4 Best Ways To Find Out
1. Monitor Screen Resolution
Some of the monitors that you find in the market have this advertising on them which are displayed as 4K gaming monitors. But are these 4K gaming monitors really going to make your gaming experience to the next level? Well, the answer depends on what graphics card your gaming system has or what generation of gaming console you have.
What is the Best Screen Resolution for gaming?
The best resolution for gaming is 1440p with the best performance and visuals. The best resolution for streaming or playing on an older console is 720p but 1080p is currently popular. The best resolutions for gaming with truly stunning visuals are 4K / 2160p but it requires high-performing graphic cards or next-gen gaming consoles.
We have elaborated on all the factors in the post What Is The Best Resolution For Gaming? 8 Significant Ways
The selection of the screen resolution for gaming is a personal preference and you should know what is the screen resolution that you want for your gaming experience. We recommend you to stick to 720p to 1080p if you are into competitive online gaming but you can upgrade that with the high-end graphics card and next-gen gaming consoles.
2. Monitor Display Size
Choosing the right display size for a gaming monitor is an important factor because it can affect the gaming experience significantly. The display size mainly depends on what screen resolution you want to run your games. The common display size most gamers use is 24 inches which works with mainly competitive online gaming.
What is the best monitor size for gaming?
The best monitor size for gaming is 27 inches, because the best screen resolution for gaming is 1440p which works best on the most commonly found aspect ratio 16:9 and if you sit less than three feet from the screen. The average monitor size used by gamers ranges from 24 – 27 inches which gives the best experience in 1080p – 1440p screen resolutions.
We have elaborated on all the factors in the post What Is The Best Monitor Size For Gaming? 3 Significant Factors
The selection of the monitor display size for gaming is a personal preference and you should first know what is the screen resolution that you want for your gaming experience. We recommend you to stick to 21-24 inches if you are into competitive online gaming and 27-32 inches if you want to play games with stunning graphics.
3. Refresh Rate
Like FPS the frames per second are what we gamers lookout for how many frames our gaming system produces per second whereas the refresh rate is how many times the monitor refreshes the image on the display screen. Although, the refresh rate of the monitor does not affect the frame rate that the GPU of your gaming system produces.
You will find that most of the great gaming monitors have a refresh rate of more than 100Hz and if you are into competitive gaming then you should consider this factor while purchasing the monitor for gaming that has a more refresh rate than 120Hz. There are gaming monitors that offer up to 240Hz refresh rate which will help you to reduce motion blur substantially.
The fastest refresh rate you can get from some of the gaming monitors is up to 360Hz and 4K gaming monitors are mostly limited to 60Hz. The monitor response time is how fast is the image is displayed by the monitor essentially the time taken by the monitor to shift from one color to another which is calculated in milliseconds whereas the refresh rate is the number of times a screen displays a new image every second and calculated in Hertz.
| Factor | Response time | Refresh rate |
| Range | 5 milliseconds or below | 75 Hz or above |
| Scale | Lower is better | Higher is better |
| Sweet spot | 1 ms | 144 Hz |
As a gamer, you should check both monitor response time as well as refresh rate and check what is the best suitable range that you should get. What is the scale of it as if it should be higher or lower? get the best suggestions along with the sweet spot that you should be targeting to get.
Also Read: What To Look For In A Gaming Mouse? 8 Best Factors To Consider
4. Response Time
The monitor response time is essentially how fast is the image is displayed by the monitor and it is measured in milliseconds. The response time should not be confused with the time required to display or get effects an image after getting input from your keyboard, mouse, and peripherals which are essentially called input lag.
What is the best response time for a gaming monitor?
The best response time for gaming monitors is considered 1ms for fast-paced competitive gaming which you can get from most TN & VA type panel monitors, where non-competitive gamers can enjoy gaming with excellent color production and viewing angles with the response time at 4 – 5ms on IPS type panel monitors.
We have elaborated on all the factors in the post What Is The Best Response Time For A Gaming Monitor? 7 Best Ways To Find Out
A good range of response time is considered between 0.5ms to 5ms for a good gaming experience and video or movie experience. The response time for the latest gaming monitors varies between 1ms to 5ms. The average response time for TVs is generally 8ms to 15ms and could go till 30ms in some models.
Response Time vs Input Lag
The monitor response time is how fast is the image is displayed by the monitor essentially the time taken by the monitor to shift from one color to another which is calculated in milliseconds whereas the input lag is the time taken to change the images on the display screen right after your commands from the keyboard, mouse and other peripherals.
As you see in the above image, the input lag for the mentioned monitor brands is shown in blue, and the pixel response in red which is the response time of the monitor in general. Hence, you need to make sure that you get the monitor with less response time along with lower input lag, and also remember that your mouse and keyboard need to have less input lag as well.
Motion Blur
There is also one more method that measures the motion blur and it is called MPRT (moving picture response time). You will find this one as well with the monitor response time. So, it is the measurement of the pixel visibility time on the display where the higher the MPRT the more motion blur you will see on the display.
MPRT is also measured based on the refresh rate with a 60Hz refresh rate monitor you will find 1/60th MPRT and for a 240Hz refresh rate, you will have 1/240th MPRT which is much lower than the 60Hz refresh rate monitor. Hence, with a higher refresh rate monitor, you will have lower MPRT motion blur which can improve your gaming experience drastically.
Ghosting
Ghosting can extremely affect your gaming experience and in extreme cases, playing games makes it much harder. This restricts and misrepresents newly formed images resulting in sub-par gameplay. Amusing sufficient ghosting not only happens in games but in other zones as well. This can really affect competitive gaming and for pro gamers, this ghosting can result in inaccuracy and make the gaming experience less enjoyable.
How is response time related to types of monitor panel?
Yes, you have to take the type of panel of the monitor into consideration where each panel type has its advantages and disadvantages. So there are three-panel types for the monitors such as TN, VA & IPS which you will find in the market.
| Monitor Panel Type | Response Time |
| TN | 1ms |
| VA | 1ms – 4ms |
| IPS | 4ms -10ms |
The TN panels do come with the fastest response time such as 1ms but have limited viewing angles and poor color reproduction. VA panels come with a response time from 1ms to 4ms with better viewing angles and good color reproduction. The IPS panels are excellent with viewing angles and color reproduction but have a response time of 4ms to 10ms.
5. Gaming Platform – PC and Console
For PC gaming, anyone will recommend you to use a gaming monitor than a TV. The reason behind that is because of the viewing distance that is no longer than 3-4 feet away from your computer screen.
So with this small viewing distance, your screen should be less than 32 inches and another benefit is that most computer monitors have all the necessary features which support fast-paced gaming and only be found in TVs that are specially made for gaming.
TV vs Monitor for Gaming
Most gamers know that a single factor missing from their gaming setup can make a significant difference in competitive gaming environments. Hence, we should know what factors we should consider before we choose a TV or monitor for gaming.
We have elaborated on all the factors in the post TV vs Monitor For Gaming? 10 Ways To Choose The Best
| Factors | Gaming Monitor | Gaming TV |
| Screen Size | 19-32 Inches | 32-65+ Inches |
| Resolution | 1080p / 2K / 4K | 720p / 1080p / 4K / 8K |
| Refresh Rate | 60-240Hz | Generally 60Hz |
| Response Time | 1-4ms | Above 10ms |
| Input Lag | 1-5ms | Start at 5ms |
| HDR | Only high-end monitors | Supported by most TVs |
| Viewing Distance | 2-3 Feet – Desk | 3+ Feet – Couch |
| Viewing Angles | Best for front viewing | Wide viewing angles |
| Adaptive Sync | Supported by most monitors | Only high-end TVs |
| Pricing | Medium cost for most features | High cost for most features |
As shown in the above table, it is clear that gaming monitors are much more advanced and suit fast-paced gaming which gives you advantages. Although, you can choose the one from the gaming monitor and TV based on your personal preference.
Also Read: What Is The Best Size TV For Gaming? 8 Factors To Consider
6. Panel Type
You will find gaming monitors in three types Twisted nematic (TN), Vertical Alignment (VA), and In-plane switching (IPS). These three types of gaming monitors have their own advantages and disadvantages and you need to choose the one that suits your gaming needs.
| Aspects | Panel Type | ||
| TN | VA | IPS | |
| Response Time | 1ms | 1 – 4ms | 4 – 10ms |
| Viewing Angle | Limited | Better | Excellent |
| Image Quality | Poor | Good | Excellent |
Viewing Angles
The best viewing angle for gaming is considered about 15 degrees for monitors and 30 degrees for TVs in general. The best viewing angle for gaming PC is considered as 15-20 degrees where mostly the PC gaming is done on the desk.
You can get gaming monitors which are great at wider viewing angles such as monitors integrated with IPS panels, but they come at a higher cost whereas TN & VA monitors are not that great at wider viewing angles.
What is the Best Viewing Angles for Gaming Console?
The best viewing angle for the gaming console is considered 30 degrees. Most of the gaming consoles are used with TVs and mostly all the TVs come with wider viewing angles.
So, choosing a certain panel type can affect your other aspects along with response rate and may not bring the other factors such as viewing angles and color reproduction. The competitive gamers can stick to TN panels to get the best response time by sacrificing other advantages that VA & IPS panels provide.
7. Widescreen or Ultrawide
The average monitors come with a standard widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9. This standard widescreen 16:9 for gaming, in general, is preferred by most gamers. The standard monitor sizes such as 24 and 27 inches also come with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
| Aspect Ratio | Monitor Sizes |
| Standard Widescreen (16:9) | 24″ 27″ 32″ |
| Ultra-Wide (21:9) 30% wider | 29″ 34″ 38″ |
| Super Ultra-Wide (32:9) 2x wider | 43″ 49″ |
But, if you want a wider mode with an immersive gaming experience then you can choose ultra-wide or super ultra-wide as per your choice. Ultra-wide and super ultra-wide requires high-powered PC configuration.
Are ultrawide monitors worth it for gaming?
Yes, an ultrawide monitor is worth it for gaming only if you have a curved display with an aspect ratio of 21:9 to fully enjoy its benefits such as better gaming immersion, larger field of view for competitive gaming advantage, extra screen for multitasking but needs higher processing power for extra pixel count and visible black bars for games with 16:9 aspect ratio.
We have elaborated on all the factors in the post Are Ultrawide Monitors Worth It For Gaming? 7 Best Ways To Find Out
8. Flat or Curved
The curved monitor’s curvature is defined by a radius “R” which is measured in millimeters. Right now you will find the radius for the curved monitor is 1800R, 2300R, 3000R, 4000R. In the future, you may get more radius options to choose from. So, how to measure this? the radius is measured in millimeters and the one with less radius will have a greater curve.
Hence, understand the curvature limit with the radius mentioned for each curved monitor. You can get curved monitors right from 24 inches to 32+ inches and with their individual radius by their manufacturers.
| Factors | Curved | Flat |
| Color consistency across multiple viewing angles | Better | Less effective |
| 3D depths without the headache | Better | Less effective |
| Eyestrain | Less | Normal |
| Fast-paced gaming awareness | Better | Less effective |
| Headaches for longer screen time | Less | Normal |
| Immersive gaming experience | Better | Less effective |
| Larger field of view | Better | Less effective |
| Price | High | Normal |
| Screen reflection chances | High | Normal |
| Space required on the desk | High | Normal |
| Wall mount | Less effective | Easy |
| Work involves straight lines | Less effective | Easy |
Is a curved monitor worth it for gaming?
Yes, a curved monitor worth it only if you have a higher budget and go for an ultra-wide display that lets you fully enjoy its benefits such as better gaming immersion, less eye strain, larger field of view, and better color consistency across multiply viewing angles.
We have elaborated on all the factors in the post Is A Curved Monitor Worth It For Gaming? 7 Best Ways To Find Out
9. Adaptive Sync – G-Sync/FreeSync
Adaptive sync affects gaming in a good way, such as Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, which works better than default V-Sync. What it does is that instead of reducing the GPU’s framerate, it allows the monitor to sync its refresh rate to the GPU’s framerate instead, which eliminates both screen tearing and input lag and gives you the best gaming experience.
The best display option which supports adaptive sync for gaming PC is generally gaming monitors that support adaptive sync technologies such as Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. The majority of the gaming monitors support adaptive sync and it will improve your gaming experience.
10. HDR – High dynamic range
The best display option which supports HDR for gaming PC is generally gaming monitors that support HDR technologies such as gaming monitors with IPS and VA panels whereas TN panel monitors are not supporting HDR currently. The TN panel gaming monitors can give you a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time but it’s hard to combine these factors with HDR on IPS and VA panel gaming monitors which are expensive.
The best display option which supports HDR for the gaming console is generally gaming monitors and TVs that support HDR technologies. Most gaming consoles such as PlayStation 4 (Pro, Slim), Xbox One X/S supports HDR currently. You can enable the HDR option in the display settings of your console.
Also Read: What To Look For In A Gaming Keyboard? 11 Best Factors To Consider
11. Ports – Input/Output
You will find port types from gaming monitors such as display ports, peripherals, and audio ports. The most common display ports you will find such as HDMI, DVI, VGA, DisplayPort (DP), USB-C, Thunderbolt, and SDI whereas VGA and DVI ports are old ones and you may not find them in modern gaming monitors. The most common port you will find is HDMI and DisplayPort (DP) where you need to make sure to check for the latest version of the port for the ultra-light speed.
You can check for the peripheral ports such as USB for the data transfer and also can be used to connect the keyboard or mouse which will free up the USB space from your gaming system. If you plan to use thunderbolt 3 technology for your gaming laptop to boost the performance then make sure you check the port availability. Some gaming monitors will have audio ports such as a 3.5mm jack where you can use your gaming headset and also connect sound over with internal monitor speakers.
Is a normal monitor good for gaming?
Yes, a normal monitor can be a good option for casual gaming which needs higher resolution on static images but we do not recommend a normal monitor for gaming because it can not run games at 175Hz+ and flawlessly without any frame rate lag. We always recommend the best ways so that you get the gaming experience that you love and enjoy in every setting such as high-end graphics gaming and competitive online multiplayer.
Why get a gaming monitor?
You should get a gaming monitor because high-end and fast-paced gaming needs a display that needs to be run at a frame rate produced by the CPU which a normal monitor cannot meet. We recommend gaming monitors that have a high refresh rate, high response time, adaptive sync, and HDR to make sure you enjoy all kinds of gaming with stunning visuals.
What monitor size do pro gamers use?
Pro gamers generally use gaming monitors that come with all other features such as low response time at 1ms, high refresh rate up to 240Hz, and adaptive sync option which comes in a comparatively low budget. The most used screen size with a monitor is 24 inches with a 1080p screen resolution for maximum performance in tournaments and esports.
Also Read: What To Look For In A Gaming Headset? 7 Best Factors To Consider
What should I look for when buying a gaming monitor?
When buying a gaming monitor you should look for the screen resolution, and display size as per your preference, a high refresh rate of more than 120Hz, a response time of 1-5ms, suitable to your current gaming platform, panel type, widescreen or ultrawide, flat or curved as per your preference, which has adaptive sync, HDR, and great ports options.
How much should I spend on a gaming monitor?
As per our experience, we recommend you to spend around 500 dollars on a gaming monitor because in this range you will get a branded gaming monitor which will have all the necessary aspects and factors that will take your gaming to the next level such as high refresh rate, fast response time, adaptive sync, and HDR.
Best gaming monitors
Following are the top 5 best gaming monitors based on our experiences. In the following list of gaming monitors, we have included only high quality because they offer much more performance, features, and customization options than other monitors.
We have added our recommendations along with pros and cons for each of the 15 gaming monitors that will give you some idea about each gaming monitor and will help you to choose the best one for yourself. You can check all 15 of them on our recommended products page about 15 Best Gaming Monitors top gaming monitors in the market.
| Name | Panel Type | Screen Type | Refresh Rate | Response Time | Adaptive Sync | Our Recommendation |
| Samsung Odyssey G7 | VA | Widescreen Curved | 240Hz | 1ms | G-Sync | Read More |
| Alienware 25 | TN | Standard Widescreen | 240Hz | 1ms | G-Sync | Read More |
| ViewSonic Elite XG270 | IPS | Standard Widescreen | 240Hz | 1ms | G-Sync | Read More |
| Acer Nitro VG271U | IPS | Standard Widescreen | 240Hz | 1ms | G-Sync | Read More |
| Sceptre C305B-200UN | VA | Ultrawide Curved | 200Hz | 5ms | FreeSync | Read More |
Best budget gaming monitors
Following are the top 5 best and budget gaming monitors based on our experiences. All of these gaming keyboards have a very fast response time and have an adaptive sync feature. Most of these gaming monitors come under $450 and have great features such as fast response time, high refresh rate, and adaptive sync.
| Name | Panel Type | Screen Type | Refresh Rate | Response Time | Adaptive Sync | Our Recommendation |
| MSI Optix G24C | VA | Standard Widescreen | 144Hz | 1ms | FreeSync | Read More |
| Sceptre C305B-200UN | VA | Ultrawide Curved | 200Hz | 5ms | FreeSync | Read More |
| Aorus G27FC | VA | Widescreen Curved | 165Hz | 1ms | FreeSync | Read More |
| Acer Nitro VG271U | IPS | Standard Widescreen | 240Hz | 1ms | G-Sync | Read More |
| ViewSonic Elite XG270 | IPS | Standard Widescreen | 240Hz | 1ms | G-Sync | Read More |
We hope that you will find the best gaming monitor that will enhance your gaming experience. If you still have issues finding the best gaming monitor then please let us know in the comments. Also, share your feedback on the article, did it help you to choose the best gaming monitor and answer the question of what to look for in a gaming monitor?
