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The 6 best gaming monitors for 2024, including one under $800
Samsung, Dell, ViewSonic, Razer, LG
Whether you’re a moderate or serious gamer, one of the most important components of your gaming gear should be your monitor. The very best gaming monitors offer a high resolution, fast refresh rate, impressive response time and a screen size that nicely fits within your gaming haven.
You can go all out and spend $2,500 on the Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 Dual 4K UHD Quantum Mini-LED gaming monitor (which is absolutely gorgeous, by the way), but most people don’t have that kind of cash sitting around. So our in-house gaming experts have curated this roundup of the best gaming monitors to accommodate more typical gaming spaces. Don’t worry: Each monitor still offers a premium visual experience when playing your favorite games.
Need help beyond monitors? We have you covered. Learn about all of the best gaming gear for 2024 — including gaming laptops, gaming keyboards, gaming headsets, the best Nintendo Switch games, the best PlayStation 5 games and the best Xbox games — all courtesy of our relentless tech coverage. And be sure to read our in-depth reviews of popular video games, like “Super Mario Bros. Wonder,” “Super Mario RPG” and “Mario vs. Donkey Kong,” as well as gaming systems, like the Asus ROG Ally.
What’s the best gaming monitor in 2024?
When it comes to the best gaming monitors you can get right now, they’re available in a wide range of sizes, and come from brands like Acer, Asus ROG, Dell Alienware, HP, LG, Razer, Samsung and ViewSonic. Some have a traditional flat design, while others are curved.
Best gaming monitor overall: Samsung 49″ Odyssey OLED G9 (G95SC)
Samsung
Display size: 49 inches | Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440 pixels (Dual QHD) | Display type: OLED | Refresh rate: 240Hz | Aspect ratio: 32:9 | Contrast ratio: 1,000,0001:1 | Adaptive sync support: FreeSync Premium Pro, G-Sync | Max. brightness: 250 nits | HDR support: HDR10+ Gaming, Display HDR True Black 400 | Curvature: 1800R | Response time: 0.03ms (GTG) | Adjustability: Height, Tilt | Dimensions: 47 x 20.8 x 9.3 inches
While we absolutely love the 57-inch version of the Odyssey Neo G9 monitor, it’s just too large to be practical in most homes. But even this 49-inch version of the monitor features a stunning display. Even better: It can fit on an average-sized desk.
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 was definitely designed with gamers in mind. It features a high refresh rate (up to 240Hz) and really short response time (0.03ms). You also get both FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync support, so you won’t see those annoying flickers. You’ll also get good contrast ratio and a 110 PPI, so the blacks are dramatically dark, while the whites appear extremely bright. And thanks to the size of the monitor and its 32:9 aspect ratio, you can expect to feel immersed in your games in a way that smaller sized flat monitors simply can’t match. Right out of the box, this monitor supports Samsung’s Game Hub, so you get easy access to Xbox Game Pass and other cloud-based gaming services.
If you have the budget and the physical space the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 provides everything you could want from an utra-wide gaming monitor.
Best OLED gaming monitor: Dell Alienware 32″ AW3225QF 4K
Dell
Display size: 31.6 inches | Resolution: 4K (3,840, 2160 pixels) | Display type: QD-OLED | Refresh rate: 240Hz | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1| Adaptive sync support: G-Sync | Max. brightness: 1,000 nits | HDR support: Dolby Vision, Display HDR True Black 400 | Curvature: 1700R | Response time: 0.03ms (GTG) | Adjustability: Height, tilt, swivel | Dimensions: 28.17 x 18.61 x 12.04 inches
For a casual or moderate gamer, a 32-inch monitor is plenty adequate. That said, Dell’s Alienware product line does cater to gamers, so this monitor also offers an impressive collection of gaming features from an OLED display.
In addition to 4K resolution, you get up to a 240Hz refresh rate, a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a 0.03ms response time. We also love that this curved monitor has one of the highest maximum brightness levels (1,000 nits) that we found in any model we’ve seen. While it’s a tad on the pricy side, feature-for-feature, this monitor performs exceptionally well in an average size gaming space, even if that space has really bright ambient light.
Beyond gaming, it’s also nicely equipped for watching TV shows and movies, thanks to its Dolby Vision and VESA Display HDR True Black support. For color performance, the monitor offers 99% DCI-P3 coverage. We found this monitor is a great companion to a PC gaming setup or a console-based gaming system. The main components lacking, however, are built in speakers.
Best Mini-LED gaming monitor: ViewSonic 32″ Gaming Elite XG321UG
Amazon
Display size: 32 inches | Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) | Display type: IPS (Mini LED) | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Contrast ratio: 120M:1 | Adaptive sync support: G-Sync, Nvidia Reflex | Max. brightness: 1,400 nits | HDR support: HDR 1400 | Response time: 3ms (GTG) | Adjustability: Tilt, swivel, height, rotate) | Dimensions: 10.4 x 28.6 x 23.71 inches
If you’re after a high-end and versatile flat monitor that can also be used for gaming — and money is no object — ViewSonic offers its Gaming Elite XG321UG. This is a 32-inch Mini-LED monitor that offers a super-quick 144Hz refresh rate and 4K resolution. It’s also extremely bright (up to 1,400 nits). The monitor’s viewing angle is 178-degrees.
For gaming, the ViewSonic XG321UG offers G-Sync support, an impressively high 120,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a standard 16:9 aspect ratio. You also get built-in speakers and blue-light filtering (which reduces eye fatigue). The monitor’s stand provides tilt, swivel and height adjustability.
This all sounds pretty amazing, right? Well, make sure you’re sitting down for this next tidbit: If you want to add this monitor to your gaming space, it’ll set you back a whopping $2,500, but it’s worth it. If you have the budget, this premium flat monitor can be the perfect addition to your PC gaming setup or used with any console gaming system.
Best 27″ gaming monitor: Razer Raptor 27″
Amazon
Display size: 27 inches | Resolution: 1440p (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) WQHD | Display type: IPS | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Adaptive sync support: FreeSync Premium, G-Sync | Max. brightness: 350 nits | HDR support: HDR 400 | Response time: 1ms (MPRT), 4ms (GTG) | Adjustability: Tilt | Dimensions: 19.24 x 24.15 x 19.24 inches
When it comes to all things gaming, we’re big fans of the Razer product line. Everything we’ve seen from this company — from its gaming keyboards, mice, desktop PCs and laptops — are all higher-end products that live up to the expectations of savvier gamers.
The Razer 27-inch gaming monitor is a nice option if you have limited space for your gaming setup, but don’t want to compromise on quality or functionality. This is a 1440P resolution monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate and 1,000:1 contrast ratio. It’s not exactly cutting-edge, but it gets the job done.
We like that it offers a 95% DCI-P3 color gamut and HDR400 support. That translates to vivid and accurate colors. And as you’d expect from a Razer gaming product, the monitor’s solid aluminum stand is equipped with built in, programmable RGB lighting, as well as integrated cable management. For someone who prefers a more compact, flat monitor, the Razer Raptor 17 is a viable gaming monitor option.
Best 45″ gaming monitor: LG 45″ UltraGear OLED
LG
Display size: 45 inches | Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 pixels (WQHD) | Display type: OLED | Refresh rate: 240Hz | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Contrast ratio: 1,500,000:1 | Adaptive sync support: FreeSync Premium, G-Sync | Max. brightness: 200 nits | HDR support: HDR10 | Curvature: 800R | Response time: 0.03ms (GTG) | Adjustability: Height, swivel, tilt | Dimensions: 39.1 x 25.5 x 14.3 inches
A really good (but slightly smaller) alternative for the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is this 45-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor from LG. In addition to a beautiful OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, this monitor offers an exceptionally high contrast ratio, both FreeSync Premium and G-Sync support and a 0.03ms response time.
The one thing where this monitor could use some improvement is with its maximum brightness. It’s a mere 200 nits. So, if you’ll be gaming in a dark space, you’ll enjoy vivid, detailed and immersive graphics and animations. But you may not like the performance in a brighter gaming space. The display is coated with an anti-glare, low reflection front polarizer, but it might not be enough to compensate for bright ambient lighting.
Thanks to a 43.3 inch width, you’ll need to make sure this monitor will fit in your gaming space — either using its included stand or a 100mm x 100mm wall mount. When it comes to using this monitor for non-gaming tasks, you’ll enjoy having features like Picture-by-Picture and Picture-in-Picture. — all the better for multitasking. For someone looking for an ultra-wide curved monitor that nicely handles gaming, you can’t go wrong with this LG UltraGear OLED. It offers good value for the premium price.
Best rotating and curved gaming monitor: Samsung Odyssey Arc (2nd Gen)
Samsung
Display size: 55 inches | Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) | Display type: Mini-LED | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Aspect ratio: Adjustable (16:9, 21:9 or 32:9) | Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1 | Adaptive sync support: FreeSync Premium Pro | Max. brightness: 600 nits | HDR support: HDR10+ Gaming, Quantum HDR 32x | Curvature: 1,000R | Response time: 1ms (GTG) | Adjustability: Height, tilt, swivel | Dimensions: 46.3 x 43.4 x 15 inches
The feature that sets this model apart from the company’s other ultra-wide Odyssey monitors? This one can rotate on its base. You can position it in landscape or portrait mode. Or try vertical “Cockpit Mode.”. Tilt and pivot the screen to achieve the perfect viewing angle.
You also get a four-input multi-view feature, so you can actually view four feeds from four sources. This is different from a picture-by-picture feature that allows for multitasking from a single source.
You also get a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, with FreeSync Premium Pro support. And built-in speakers create a sound stage that nicely complements the immersive visuals. Like all Samsung gaming monitors, this one includes the company’s Game Hub feature, which makes it easy to access a variety of cloud games. Or install all of your favorite apps for video streaming services, like Netflix or Paramount+.
12 key features to look for in a gaming monitor
A larger gaming monitor allows for a greater sense of immersion, which is what gamers crave. Be sure to consider how far you’ll need to be sitting from the monitor. If you invest in a massive 57-inch monitor, you’ll need to position yourself between 2.5 and 3 feet away from it, plus have a desk that’s more than 4.35 feet long. Of course, consider your overall budget and what equipment you’ll be using the monitor with.
The following are 12 additional features and functions to seek out:
- Display size: Measured diagonally in inches, this is the size of the actual screen (not including the bezel). While the physical size of the display is important, also consider a gaming monitor’s pixel density, which is measured in pixels per inch. A higher PPI allows the monitor to display sharper graphics because the individual pixels are located closer together.
- Resolution: The monitor’s resolution impacts the level of detail it can display. It’s measured based on horizontal and vertical pixels. A monitor offering 4K resolution monitor utilizes 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. The higher the resolution, the better.
- Display type: The most common gaming display types are IPS (in-plane switching) which rely on LCD technology. Other common types of gaming monitors rely on LED or OLED technology. The latest OLED displays are often preferred by gamers, because they can produce truer blacks, brighter whites and often have a faster response time. They tend to cost more.
- Refresh rate: This is the speed at which a monitor refreshes images. It’s measured in Hertz (Hz). So if a gaming monitor has a refresh rate of 144Hz, that display refreshes the screen 144 times per second. The higher the refresh rate the better — it’s crucial for smoother animations, especially for high action games or fast moving content (like live sports or an action movie).
- Contrast ratio: Most game graphics are comprised of thousands or millions of colors. The contrast ratio relates to the difference between the least bright and brightest part of whatever is onscreen. A 1,000:1 aspect ratio means that a white pixel would be 1,000 times brighter than a black pixel. A higher contrast ratio is better.
- Adaptive sync support: This tech adjusts a monitor’s refresh rate to match the rate rendered by a computer’s GPU. You’ll experience smoother animations that are flicker-free — with no screen tearing or stuttering. AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync are two companies that offer adaptive sync.
- Maximum brightness: Simple: This is how bright a monitor can get. In brighter spaces, you want the highest brightness possible, especially if there’s sunlight coming through a nearby window or harsh overhead lighting that could wash out a display.
- HDR support: High Dynamic Range (HDR) enhances color gamut. When a gaming monitor supports HDR, you’ll see brighter, more vivid and more accurate content. Also pay attention to color depth and color gamut (or color space).
- Curvature: The latest curved monitors offer a more immersive gaming experience. What’s being displayed is also seen using your peripheral vision, so it feels more like the content is surrounding your head. You also get better depth perception and a wider field of view. A number, followed by the letter “R” for radius, determines the curvature. The lower the number, the bigger the curve. Most gaming monitors have a curvature between 1800R and 4000R. A monitor’s curvature also impacts its ideal viewing distance.
- Response time: How long it takes a monitor to change the color of a pixel. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms). For everyday computing use, a response time of under 10ms is fine. For gaming, you want a response time of 1ms or less.
- Dimensions: This refers to the physical size of the monitor itself, with its stand or base connected. Especially if you’ll be using the monitor in a smaller gaming space, pay attention to the size of the monitor to make sure it’ll fit.
- Speakers: Some gaming monitors include built-in speakers. If you’ll be using headphones, earbuds or a gaming headset, the quality of the speakers is not too important. Stereo speakers with spatial audio are ideal if you’ll be watching TV or movies on the monitor.
Despite losing his boxing match to Jake Paul, Mike Tyson in a social media post Saturday said he had “no regrets” to getting “in ring one last time.”
The boxing legend was defeated by social media star Jake Paul in a highly anticipated fight on Friday night with an age difference of over three decades between the two contenders.
Netflix said Saturday that 60 million households worldwide tuned in to watch the match. The two fighters went eight full rounds, with each round two minutes long. Paul defeated Tyson by unanimous decision and the 27-year-old upset boxer and 58-year-old former heavyweight champion hugged afterward.
Paul was expected to earn about $40 million from the fight, and Tyson was expected to take around $20 million for the fight, according to DraftKings and other online reports.
Getty Images
Tyson said on his social media that “this is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night.”
The fight almost didn’t happen after Tyson experienced an ulcer flare-up while on a plane in March. He addressed his illness Saturday, writing that he “almost died in June.” He said he had eight blood transfusions and “lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won.”
Tyson retired from boxing in 2005 after a 20-year career. He last fought in a 2020 exhibition match against former four-division world champ Roy Jones Jr.
“To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for. Thank you,” he said.
Alex Sundby and
contributed to this report.
In their final meeting, China’s leader Xi Jinping told U.S. President Biden that his nation was “ready to work with a new administration,” as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take over.
The two leaders gathered Saturday on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Mr. Biden was expected to urge Xi to dissuade North Korea from further deepening its support for Russia’s war on Ukraine. It marked their first in-person meeting since they met in Northern California last November.
Without mentioning Trump’s name, Xi appeared to signal his concern that the incoming president’s protectionist rhetoric on the campaign trail could send the U.S.-China relationship into another valley.
“China is ready to work with a new U.S. administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage differences so as to strive for a steady transition of the China-U.S. relationship for the benefit of the two peoples,” Xi said through an interpreter.
LEAH MILLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Mr. Biden, meanwhile, spoke in broader brushstrokes about where the relationship has gone and reflected not just on the past four years, but on their long relationship.
“Over the past four years, China-U.S. relations have experienced ups and downs, but with the two of us at the helm, we have also engaged in fruitful dialogues and cooperation, and generally achieved stability,” he said.
Mr. Biden and Xi, with top aides surrounding them, gathered around a long rectangle of tables in an expansive conference room at Lima’s Defines Hotel and Conference Center.
There’s much uncertainty about what lies ahead in the U.S.-China relationship under Trump, who campaigned promising to levy 60% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Bobby Djavaheri, president of Los Angeles-based Yedi Houseware Appliances — which manufactures its products in China — told CBS News in an interview this week that such tariffs “would decimate our business, but not only our business. It would decimate all small businesses that rely on importing.”
Trump has also proposed revoking China’s Most Favored Nation trade status, phasing out all imports of essential goods from China and banning China from buying U.S. farmland.
Already, many American companies, including Nike and eyewear retailer Warby Parker, have been diversifying their sourcing away from China. Shoe brand Steve Madden says it plans to cut imports from China by as much as 45% next year.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden administration officials will advise the Trump team that managing the intense competition with Beijing will likely be the most significant foreign policy challenge they will face.
It’s a big moment for Mr. Biden as he wraps up more than 50 years in politics. He saw his relationship with Xi as among the most consequential on the international stage and put much effort into cultivating that relationship.
Mr. Biden and Xi first got to know each other on travels across the U.S. and China when both were vice presidents, interactions that both have said left a lasting impression.
“For over a decade, you and I have spent many hours together, both here and in China and in between. And I think we’ve spent a long time dealing with these issues,” Mr. Biden said Saturday.
But the last four years have presented a steady stream of difficult moments.
The FBI this week offered new details of a federal investigation into Chinese government efforts to hack into U.S. telecommunications networks. The initial findings have revealed a “broad and significant” cyberespionage campaign aimed at stealing information from Americans who work in government and politics.
U.S. intelligence officials also have assessed China has surged sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology that Moscow is using to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weaponry for use in its war against Ukraine.
And tensions flared last year after Mr. Biden ordered the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon that traversed the United States.
President-elect Donald Trump has selected Chris Wright, a campaign donor and fossil fuel executive, to serve as energy secretary in his upcoming, second administration.
CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Wright is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking, a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market.
Trump also said in a statement Saturday that Wright will serve on the newly-created National Energy Council, which will be chaired by North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s selection for secretary of the Interior.
Burgum will oversee a panel that crosses all executive branch agencies involved in energy permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation and transportation, Trump said in a previous statement.
Wright has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change and could give fossil fuels a boost, including quick action to end a year-long pause on natural gas export approvals by the Biden administration.
Wright also has criticized what he calls a “top-down” approach to climate by liberal and left-wing groups and said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.”
Consideration of Wright to head the administration’s energy department won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm.
Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term.
Hamm helped organize an event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in April where Trump reportedly asked industry leaders and lobbyists to donate $1 billion to Trump’s campaign, with the expectation that Trump would curtail environmental regulations if re-elected.
The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. The agency is in charge of maintaining the country’s nuclear weapons, oversees 17 national research laboratories and approves natural gas exports, as well as ensuring environmental cleanup of the nation’s nuclear weapons complex. It also promotes scientific and technological research.
Republican Sen. John Barrasso, who is expected to become chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said Trump promised bold choices for his Cabinet, and Wright’s nomination delivers.
“He’s s an energy innovator who laid the foundation for America’s fracking boom. After four years of America last energy policy, our country is desperate for a secretary (of energy) who understands how important American energy is to our economy and our national security,″ Barrasso said of Wright, adding: “Wright will help ensure America remains committed to an all-of-the-above energy policy that puts American families first.”
Thomas Pyle, president of the American Energy Alliance, a conservative group that supports fossil fuels, said Wright would be “an excellent choice” for Energy secretary. Pyle led Trump’s Energy Department’s transition team in 2016.
Liberty is a major energy industry service provider, with a focus on technology. Wright, who grew up in Colorado, earned undergraduate degree at MIT and did graduate work in electrical engineering at the University of California-Berkeley and MIT. In 1992, he founded Pinnacle Technologies, which helped launch commercial shale gas production through hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
He later served as chairman of Stroud Energy, an early shale gas producer, before founding Liberty Resources in 2010.
