The best high refresh rate monitors give you clear and smooth images when you play games. That means not only a more enjoyable experience, but also a better chance of winning, since a fast display can show more images per second to keep up with your quick movements. This makes them great for competitive gaming.
60Hz and 120Hz monitors aren’t really old, and they’ll be fine for most of what you want to see. But there are times when you do need a higher refresh rate. The best monitors for gamers have refresh rates of 144Hz or more. If your PC’s graphics card is putting out higher frame rates, for example, or if a smoother, tear-free gaming experience is much more important than a higher resolution, then a higher refresh rate monitor is better.
Over the past few years, we’ve tested a lot of gaming monitors, so we know which ones are worth your money. We looked at size, price, and different needs to find the best high refresh rate monitors on the market right now. Here are our top picks, which range from monitors with 165Hz panels that work well for fast-paced PC games to those with a 360Hz refresh rate that will help you get to the top of the leaderboards.
Best High Refresh Rate Monitors
Dell S3222DGM
Specifications
| Screen Size & Aspect Ratio | 32 inches / 21:9 |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 |
| Panel Type | VA |
| Refresh Rate | 165 Hz |
| Response Time (GTG) | 0.2ms |
| Adaptive-Sync | FreeSync & G-Sync Compatible |
The Dell S3222DGM is a great choice for the best gaming monitor because it has great image quality, a lot of features, and a solid build quality that is typical for Dell. The main part of this screen is a curved VA panel with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and support for both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync at up to 165 Hz.
The 1800R curved VA panel on the S3222DGM gives it a great contrast ratio. In our tests, the S3222DGM’s VA panels reached 4209:1, which was much higher than the competition’s IPS panels. In our tests, the screen was able to show 122 percent of the sRGB color gamut and 85 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It was also very accurate, with a gamut error rate of only 2.07dE. Overall, this is one of the best High Refresh Rate Monitors that you can buy right now.
Pros
- Sharp image with vivid and accurate color
- Premium level contrast
- Solid video processing
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- No HDR
Gigabyte Aorus CV27Q
Specifications
| Screen Size | 27 inches |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 |
| Refresh Rate | 165Hz |
| Response Time (GTG) | 1ms |
Monitors with a high refresh rate usually cost more, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find great options that are still affordable. The Gigabyte Aorus CV27Q may be the best of these because it has a fast refresh rate, QHD, and costs less than you might think. You can depend on its 165 Hz refresh rate and adaptive sync to make gaming go smoothly.
In case that isn’t enough to convince you, Gigabyte adds 1500R curvature, 3000:1 contrast ratio, VESA-certified DisplayHDR 400 should, and 1ms response time. That’s a lot of great features for immersion in games that you won’t find on some of the higher-end panels. Even though it only supports 90% DCI-P3 colours and doesn’t have a USB-C port, we’re not too upset about the price. Especially if you want to play games and need something fast and cheap. Currently, this is one of the best High Refresh Rate Monitors.
Pros
- Excellent features for the price
- Great curved design
Cons
- Color accuracy could be better
- Middling HDR
AOC CU34G2X
Specifications
| Screen Size | 34 inches |
| Aspect Ratio | 21:9 |
| Resolution | 3440 x 1440 |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
| Response Time (GTG) | 1ms |
Like the Samsung Odyssey G7, the AOC CU34G2X has a refresh rate of 144Hz, a response time of 1ms, and a 1440p resolution. This one, on the other hand, is much cheaper than the Samsung one, which makes it a great choice for people on a budget who need something cheap. Thus, this product is one of the Best high refresh rate monitors available right now.
Even though this is a cheap monitor, that doesn’t mean it has very few features. On the other hand, you get an ultrawide 21:9 monitor that is curved and has a brightness of 300 nits. It also has two HDMI 2.0 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, and two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, which is a good selection of ports.
Pros
- Great specs
- Affordable price
- Slim bezels and sleek design
Cons
- Stand takes up a lot of desk space
- Sound quality isn’t very good
Alienware AW3423DWF
Specifications
| Screen Size & Aspect Ratio | 34 inches / 21:9 |
| Resolution | 3440 x 1440 |
| Panel Type | QD-OLED |
| Refresh Rate | 165 Hz |
| Response Time (GTG) | 0.5ms |
| Adaptive-Sync | FreeSync & G-Sync Compatible |
In the gaming monitor market, desktop-class OLEDs used to be rare, but over time, prices have gone down and more monitors have joined the fray. The AW3423DFW is the latest thing from Alienware, and it’s a jaw-dropper.
The AW3423DFW’s QD-OLED “heart” gives it unbeatable contrast and great colour saturation, so we didn’t feel the need to calibrate the panel any further out of the box. When you add in the high-end build quality we expect from Alienware and the top-notch video processing, the AW3423DFW hits all the right notes for enthusiast gamers without any flaws that are worth mentioning.
If you can afford the $1,100 price tag, the AW3423DFW would be a great match for Nvidia’s newest graphics cards, like the GeForce RTX 4090 and RTX 4080. Overall, this is one of the best High Refresh Rate Monitors you can suggest you friends.
Pros
- Stunning SDR and HDR images
- Deep contrast and color saturation
- Large color gamut
- Super smooth motion processing
- No need for calibration
Cons
- No flaws of consequence
Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165
Specifications
| Screen Size | 32 inches |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 |
| Refresh Rate | 165Hz |
| Response Time (GTG) | 1ms |
The Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 costs a lot, but you get more than just a fast refresh rate for your money. This display is great, and not just for gamers. It has a 1440p resolution, DisplayHDR 400, 100% Adobe RGB and 98% DCI-P3 colour gamuts, and all the ports you could want, including one USB-C port.
It’s also a great choice for people who make their own content or want to connect an Ultrabook to it. Even though the HDR performance isn’t as good as it could be because there’s no local dimming, there’s not much else wrong with this phone. Even better, since this display isn’t the most affordable choice. Still, it is one of the best High Refresh Rate Monitors that you can consider.
Pros
- Fantastic image quality
- Impressive feature set
Cons
- A bit too expensive
- Unimpressive HDR performance
Monoprice Dark Matter 42770
Specifications
| Screen Size & Aspect Ratio | 25 inches, 16:9 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Panel Type | IPS / W-LED, edge array |
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| Response Time (GTG) | 1ms |
| Adaptive-Sync | FreeSync & G-Sync Compatible |
The Monoprice Dark Matter 42770 is an easy-to-recommend 1080p monitor with a price tag of around $250. It has a wide colour gamut, a good contrast ratio for an IPS display, and a solid build quality. At this price, you get a pretty simple monitor, but Monoprice took the time to add the features that gamers on a budget care about most.
Even though the monitor doesn’t work with HDR, it has a great native dynamic range, a wide colour gamut, and great gamma tracking. Since this is an IPS panel, its colour and contrast are about the same as those of monitors that cost hundreds of dollars more.
The Dark Matter 42770 has a lot going for it, but we’d be doing you a disservice if we didn’t mention that it doesn’t have any USB ports or speakers. But given how well it works and how well it’s priced, we’re happy to overlook those flaws because this 25-inch monitor works so well overall. Thus, this product is one of the best High Refresh Rate Monitors available right now.
Pros
- Good contrast
- Superb overdrive
Cons
- Slightly dark gamma
- No sRGB gamut option
Samsung Odyssey G7
Specifications
| Screen Size | 32 inches |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 |
| Refresh Rate | 240Hz |
| Response Time (GTG) | 1ms |
Even though it might need to be calibrated when you first get it, the Samsung Odyssey G7 is a great panel. With a 240Hz refresh rate and 1440p resolution, you’ll forget about those 4K options because this is the sweet spot for many games. Even if you don’t notice a difference, you’ll know that if you’re getting up to 240fps in games, your monitor is keeping up. Currently, this is one of the best High Refresh Rate Monitors that you can buy right now.
It also has a 1000R curve, which is a much tighter curve than most curved monitors on the market. This makes gaming on this monitor much more immersive. It also has DisplayHDR 600 and a contrast ratio of 2,500:1 to give your favourite games more depth. The Samsung Odyssey G7, we were disappointed that it didn’t have USB-C, but a display at this price point has to save money somewhere.
Pros
- Immersive curved screen
- Solid HDR performance
Cons
- Needs calibration-Missing USB-C
How to choose the best high refresh rate monitor?
Before you buy a high refresh rate monitor, there are a few things you should know. First of all, these panels tend to be expensive, or at least more expensive than their 60Hz and 120Hz counterparts, because they cost more to make. Second, to get that high refresh rate, you’ll have to give up a high resolution.
What is the best monitor with good refresh rate?
The best 120Hz monitor we’ve tried is the Gigabyte AORUS FO48U OLED. It’s one of the few monitors with a native 120Hz refresh rate and a 4k resolution. It’s also the best 4k 120Hz monitor.
FAQs
Are high refresh rate monitors worth it?
If you play games that are competitive, you should get a 144Hz gaming monitor. Not only does it make the game more fun and responsive, but it also gives you an advantage over people who are playing on regular 60Hz displays.
Is 144Hz good for gaming?
Short answer: yes! For most people, 144Hz, which means 144 frames per second, is plenty fast and therefore good for gaming. In fact, if you regularly get 144 fps in games, you’ll have a great time playing.
Does 120Hz monitor make difference?
Theoretically, a higher refresh rate should mean a better picture because it reduces how blurry the image is. Some people might be able to see “film judder” or blurring on a 60Hz screen, but this is less noticeable on a 120Hz screen. Any improvements after a refresh rate of 120Hz are not noticeable.
