Yahoo Movies The Best 4K Gaming Monitors for Maximum Graphical Fidelity
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With the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X standardizing 4K gaming, you’re going to need to beef up your PC’s graphics card and monitor. That is if you want to enjoy the latest titles at their maximum fidelity. From the slick neon streets of Cyberpunk 2077 to the bustling cities of Hitman 3, a 4K gaming monitor helps bring every detail of your favorite virtual worlds to life for a more immersive gaming experience.
Read quick reviews on our top 5 recommendations, then keep scrolling for buying advice and in-depth reviews of these and other great models.
Refresh Rate vs. Resolution
When it comes to gaming monitors, enthusiasts prioritize the two foundational pillars of a gaming display: refresh rate and resolution. Refresh rate is how fast a monitor receives video signals over time and is measured in hertz (Hz). Higher refresh rates translate to smoother-looking motion because your eyes receives more information faster. Most gamers use 60 Hz as the minimum acceptable rate but prefer 120 Hz or higher to stay competitive in online games. The lower lag time gives you a competitive advantage over online rivals by lowering the amount of time between input and response for actions like aiming down sights in first-person shooters.
Resolution is the measure of an image’s detail in pixels. As a true upgrade to the standard high-definition resolution of 1920 x 1080, 4K doubles the horizontal and vertical pixels to 3840 x 2160, or 8.3 million pixels, for quadruple the level of detail. At this higher resolution, your games display every detail at maximum fidelity. Blades of grass, clothing textures, and in-game text spring to life with greater clarity. Rendering every moving part requires tons of processing power—power that needs to be shared for higher refresh rates—which is where you’re hardware comes into play.
If you’ve got the latest hardware, you should be able to maintain titles at 4K on ultra-settings with 60 frames per second or higher. Even if you haven’t been lucky enough to upgrade your setup, a 4K gaming monitor can provide better detail at lower refresh rates. As a graphics purist who mainly plays single-player titles, I prefer a monitor with a higher resolution over high refresh rates any day of the week. On the other hand, if you’re someone who plays online games or prefers the smoother look of more frames, invest in a monitor capable of higher refresh rates.
1080p to 4K: Slowly Shifting to the Next Generation
According to the latest Steam hardware survey, nearly 70 percent of PC gamers use a 1080p monitor, while only 2.14 percent utilize a 4K display. There’s a few factors at play here: shortages of 4K-capable GPUs, an expensive barrier of entry for a 4K-capable setup, and a lack of 4K monitors with high refresh rates. With next-generation graphics cards like NVIDIA’s 3000 series and AMD’s 6000 series as well as new consoles in low supply, there’s little rush for casual gamers to buy a 4K gaming monitor.
But chances are, if you’re looking for a 4K monitor now, you’re not a casual gamer. No, you have the latest and greatest components with an affinity for maximizing your game settings to see each title the way its manufacturer intended. Despite inventory issues, the lower demand for 4K monitors can work in your favor. As more people upgrade to next-generation graphics, however, the buying process will be a much different story. If you see a monitor that meets your requirements, you should pull the trigger now.
More Features To Consider
Display Type
Display types have various impacts on a monitor’s overall image and color quality. In-plane switching (IPS) screens offers accurate colors and wider viewing angles. However, they suffer from limited contrast and occasional leakage of backlighting that affects image quality. OLED panels offer darker blacks, less screen glow, and better local dimming through individual pixel control. But their limited brightness holds them back in rooms with ambient light. Lastly, vertical alignment (VA) panels offer deep uniform dark colors with minimal light bleed at the cost of narrower viewing angles. Consider your daily tasks and the lighting of your room to choose one best for you.
Anti-Skip Technology
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) frame syncing technology locks your refresh rate to your rig or console’s frame rates on the fly. This means if your system drops from 60 frames to 57, your display will refresh at that rate to match the dip and avoid a stutter in your image, which is called a screen tear. VRR is standard over HDMI 2.1 ports and used by both of the next-generation consoles. PC gamers have benefitted from a similar adaptive technology for a while under AMD’s FreeSync or NVIDIA’s G-Sync name banners. However, VRR can produce a faster refresh rate and resolution over a HDMI connection that the other two technologies.
Screen Size
Screen size affects the distance you can sit from your gaming monitor to truly benefit from a 4K display. A rule of thumb is you should sit no more than 3 feet away from a 27-inch screen, but you will still notice things like clothing and environment details even on a smaller screen from that distance. This size is the cutoff point where most people consider the screen large enough to show all the pixels and details from a distance.
How We Selected And Rated
I’ve had the chance to use and review the latest consumer tech gear from outlets such as Laptop Magazine, CNN Underscored, and now Popular Mechanics. Paired with the fact that I’m an avid gamer who looks to play my games with the best possible visuals, these are the 4K gaming monitors I would buy for myself. While researching models, I considered refresh rates, peak brightness, color levels, and features. I referenced seven expert sources, including IGN, RTings, and Tom’s Hardware, as well as more than 17,700 consumer reviews to select the best 4K gaming monitors. Our consumer score represents the percentage of customers who rated the product at least four out of five stars on retail and review sites like Amazon, Best Buy, and the manufacturers’ own webpages.
—BEST OVERALL—
Acer Nitro XV282K
Consumer Score: 95% rated 4 stars or more
Display Size: 28 in. | Display Type: Nano IPS | Refresh Rate: 144 Hz | Anti-Skip Technology: HDMI 2.1, FreeSync
Assuming your system can meet the performance demands of high-resolution, high–refresh rate gaming, Acer’s Nitro XV282K blends the best of both worlds. The display supports up to a lightning-fast 144-Hz refresh rate. Plus, the inclusion of HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K 120-Hz gaming and VRR technology for optimizing frames ensure console gamers can maximize graphics settings as well. This monitor’s impressive specs should be future-proof for years to come and improve day-to-day activity with clearer details.
Color volume and gamut coverage fall on the higher-end of most 4K gaming monitors thanks to the Nano IPS screen’s ability to churn out more vivid colors. Things get a little dicey with bright, vibrant High Dynamic Range (HDR) content because edge-lit local dimming is automatic, which creates some blooming and color issues. As for the overall image, the XV282K’s direct rival is the LG 27GP950-B. Often regarded as the top pick in most expert roundups, the LG is a bit brighter and can overclock 4K refresh rates up to 160 Hz. Its 1-millisecond response time is also a faster than the Acer’s respectable 3.9 ms. However, LG’s HDMI 2.0 ports limit HDMI speeds to 60 Hz, and there’s issues with game and software performance when overclocked.
Although 28 inches is on the cusp of being too small to notice the difference between 4K and 1080p, it’s the perfect size for switching between portrait and landscape orientations with ease. The IPS panel provides wide viewing angles that benefit from a full 360-degree swivel. There’s plenty of connectivity options thanks to four USB-A inputs and a USB-C port that’s DisplayPort Alt Mode-friendly and supports 65-watt power delivery. This makes it easy to charge a device while displaying an image from it.
For competitive players, the Nitro is a versatile 4K gaming monitor that’s capable of maintaining the highest refresh rates needed for esports, while rendering finer details at the highest level possible.
—MASSIVE OLED SCREEN—
LG 48-inch CX Series OLED TV
Consumer Score: 92% rated 4 stars or more
Display Size: 48 in. | Display Type: OLED | Refresh Rate: 120 Hz | Anti-Skip Technology: HDMI 2.1 VRR, FreeSync, and G-SYNC compatible
LG’s 48-inch CX Series TV is virtually indistinguishable from a monitor with its gaming-centric 120-Hz refresh rate with VRR support, 1-ms response time, and gorgeous display. The OLED panel’s individual control over each pixel produces an infinite contrast ratio and unmatched black levels. Even the HDR performance is of a higher tier but constrained by an automatic brightness limiter. Compared to a 48-inch PC gaming monitor, you’re getting serious bang for your buck with higher picture quality, a lower price, and capable built-in speakers.
It was difficult to decide between this and Acer’s XV282K for our top pick. With a screen nearly twice the size and boasting better contrast, the CX nearly won out. But OLED displays are prone to burn-in of static objects on the screen. With PC games, that means worrying about a taskbar or in-game HUD damaging the screen. Although there are built-in protective features on the LG, this burn-in risk, a lower maximum refresh rate, and a lack of ergonomic adjustability pushed the TV to a close, but highly recommended, second choice.
—BEST ON A BUDGET—
Acer Nitro VG280K
Consumer Score: 93% rated 4 stars or more
Display Size: 28 in. | Display Type: IPS | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz | Anti-Skip Technology: FreeSync
If you don’t mind sacrificing a high refresh rate for impeccable detail, you’ll save a few hundred (or thousand) dollars. This little sibling to our top pick has trimmed down specs but derives from the same Acer product line. Although the Nitro VG280K is trapped at a 60-Hz refresh rate, its 4-ms response time combines with FreeSync technology to create a fluid gameplay experience free of artifacts or ghosting. A minimal input lag ensures each button press or keystroke results in immediate on-screen action.
Zero-frame bezels encapsulate the 28-inch panel for an immersive window into your games. The IPS screen offers wide angles and vibrant color, just not to the extent of the models above. You also won’t get the extensive connectivity of a more expensive monitor like multiple USB 3.0 ports or USB-C power pass-through. This doesn’t take away from the crisp images and vast details that the VG280K can produce. A picture-in-picture mode, normally found on pricier monitors, allows you to see two inputs side-by-side or with one maximized.
Dual 2-watt built-in speakers provide a mediocre audio experience, so you’ll want to look into a gaming headset. Adjustments are limited to a tilt of -5 to 20 degrees; keep this in mind if you tend to be fussy with your viewing angles. Other than these non-visual concessions, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a 4K gaming monitor as fully featured with HDR10 support for this price.
—FOR WORK AND PLAY—
BenQ EW3270U
Consumer Score: 87% rated 4 stars or more
Display Size: 32 in. | Display Type: VA | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz | Anti-Skip Technology: FreeSync and G-SYNC compatible
BenQ’s 32-inch EW3270U toes the fine line between a gaming and work monitor. The inoffensive matte black design eschews a loud colorway and RGB lighting to help the monitor blend into any home office. It supports FreeSync and G-SYNC technology for smoother 4K gaming, but you won’t be able to exceed a speed of 60 Hz.
If your day job requires reading and design elements, the larger screen shows off a wider SDR color gamut and volume than competitors, in addition to displaying clearer text. If you often work in Photoshop, the 95 percent DCI-P3 coverage ensures authentic color accuracy. And if you’re just working on spreadsheets, your experience will remain flicker-free with low blue light preset options to reduce eye fatigue. To maximize your concentration, BenQ offers a Smart Focus feature that highlights your work window and drowns out background noise.
When it’s time to load up your Steam library, the bigger screen is more immersive. Peak brightness is below average but looks amazing in a dark room. If you can live with the limited brightness, you get a display that excels in both gaming and productivity settings. USB-C power pass-through means all monitor operation, including power and data transfers, are condensed into a single cable for a tidy workstation that’s not overrun by wires.
—PORTABLE POWERHOUSE—
Desklab 4K Touchscreen Portable Monitor
Consumer Score: 96% rated 4 stars or more
Display Size: 15.6 in. | Display Type: IPS | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz | Anti-Skip Technology: N/A
Next-gen consoles and powerful gaming rigs aren’t the most travel-friendly bunch, but that doesn’t stop dedicated gamers from taking them on a trip. I speak from experience. This Desklab monitor leads the pack of portable models with its higher peak brightness, vibrant high color range IPS screen, and full 4K Ultra-HD resolution. All of these factors combine to create an immersive lightweight gaming display that easily slips into your backpack.
Because this is a portable monitor, I went hands-on with it before making this recommendation to confirm the specifications were consistent both at home and on the move. After plugging in my PlayStation 5, the console immediately recognized the monitor’s HDR support and allowed me to calibrate levels. Shifting into the video output information tab confirmed that the display received a full 3840 x 2160 resolution at 60 Hz.
I compared the display to the highest quality 1080p 15.6-inch portable monitor I had available: a Lepow Gamut Z1. Upon loading Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, the difference in visuals were night and day. Desklab’s 4K monitor revealed dust particle effects, vibrant purple fauna, and textures on concrete that I didn’t notice on the Lepow monitor. On top of that, the colors looked much better on the Desklab, despite the Lepow models focus on a wide color gamut and brightness.
In addition to more pronounced levels of detail, you won’t notice any lag with the 10-ms response time. Outside of gaming, the second screen makes it easy to multitask when connected to a laptop for more real estate and clearer text. The mobile productivity boost continues with plenty of built-in ports for connecting peripherals like your mouse and keyboard without an adapter. Desklab’s 4K monitor is the only portable display I would recommend for gaming because it’s truly able to deliver high-resolution, high–refresh rate gaming with HDR capabilities.
—LIFELIKE COLORS AND HIGHLIGHTS—
Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ
Consumer Score: 86% rated 4 stars or more
Display Size: 27 in. | Display Type: IPS QLED | Refresh Rate: 144 Hz | Anti-Skip Technology: FreeSync and G-Sync compatible
Asus’s ROG Strix XG27UQ offers some of the best HDR performance available with a rich range of color and high contrast ratio, producing the brightest whites and darkest blacks for an unrivaled amount of detail. Thanks to the more vibrant image, games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider spring to life with lush green fields and turquoise water. Highlights such as light-rays pop more brightly, and shadows are darker.
Without HDMI 2.1 ports, you’re unable to reach more than 60 Hz with a HDMI cable. If your graphics card is equipped with Display Stream Compression, you can reach a 144-Hz refresh rate over a DisplayPort 1.4 connection. However, the low input lag and fast response times at 144 and 60 Hz make it easier to forget about the lack of HDMI 2.1. Plus, the screen offers exclusive features, such as Shadow Boost, for improved object definition in the dark, and Extreme Low Motion Blur, which eliminates smearing and clarifies dark areas for sharper visuals. If you care about aesthetics, the customizable RGB lighting allows you to personalize the underside and back of your display with a wide variety of color options.
—MAXIMUM IMMERSION—
Acer Predator XB273K
Consumer Score: 84% rated 4 stars or more
Display Size: 27 in. | Display Type: Quantum Dot IPS | Refresh Rate: 144 Hz | Anti-Skip Technology: G-Sync
Acer’s 4K Predator XB273K uses a light-blocking hood to create a personal gaming environment that reduces screen glare and reflection. This simple addition makes a world of a difference for making the DCI-P3 90 percent wide color gamut pop while also minimizing off-screen distractions. Professional-level color accuracy allows for precise design work for creatives straight out of the box. SDR content is strikingly saturated for a vibrant look, but the HDR400 offers a low peak brightness. Complemented by G-Sync, the punchy colors create a consistently stunning in-game image quality at a smooth 144-Hz refresh rate. This monitor’s look and immersive body are best suited to cinematic games like RPGs. If you truly want to lose yourself in your next Skyrim playthrough, look no further than the Predator.
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