Best Gaming Monitors in 2021

How We Chose Our Selection of Gaming Monitors

We appreciate it can be difficult even to know where to start. There is a ton information out there about the best gaming monitors so you’d be forgiven if you were more than a little confused. Of course, you could just plump for one of the big, well-established brands, but are they really the best?

Yes, brand confidence is important but so is quality, positive consumer feedback, and reviews as well as the small question of the cost! When it comes to gaming monitors, you get what you pay for, and if you can afford to push the boat out, you won’t be disappointed. Technology is fast paced in this area and innovations are continuously being released.

So don’t worry right not about making a firm decision. Sit back, relax and let us do all the hard work for you. We’ve reviewed and tested an extensive range of monitors so that we can be sure that you are getting your money’s worth. We’ve also looked at a real cross-section of monitors and features as you might not all play the same games or need the same refresh rates and low latency for example. Talking of which, we’re going to quickly run through some of the critical features to be on the look-out for below.

Features To Look For In Gaming Monitors

Researching and shopping for your new gaming monitor this year, you need to take into consideration a whole host of essential features that will undoubtedly enhance your viewing pleasure and overall immersive experience. There are plenty of specifications you should be on the lookout for in your new monitor but its also just as important to make sure that you really aren’t paying for advanced features that quite frankly you will never use either. Only you know the what’s when’s how’s and where’s of your Gaming addiction! If you have a man cave that you couldn’t even swing a cat in, then be sensible about how large a display screen you need, no matter how tempting it might be just to buy the biggest one in the store!

Panel Size – We know that generally in life everyone thinks that big is better but when it comes to the size of your gaming screen, you do need to consider your actual field of vision. Yes, a bigger screen will certainly provide a more immersive experience but it will also be more expensive and might not be right for your room size. So measure up and get practical about what size you really do need.

Resolution – This is super important especially if you want to enjoy that crisp, sharp and clear gaming experience that the producer intended. The higher the numbers, the sharper the picture but its’ not just about resolution. You will also need a powerful graphics card too. Your main options are going to be Full HD (1920 x 1080), but today's mega monitors can even deliver WQHD (2560 x 1400) and 4K (3840 x 2160)

Panel Technology – Panels come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and aspect ratios too, and you’ll see terms like LCD and LED.  Most of today’s monitors are in widescreen which is referred to as 16:9 so they have that elongated letterbox style rather than the old square 4:3 picture. However, there are now Ultra-Wide panels coming onto the market that provides a 21:9 view for a seriously immersive and downright epic experience.

Refresh Rate – The higher the refresh rate, the more frames per second your monitor can support and deliver. For seriously fast paced all action games you’re not going to want to miss a single second or frame of the action. Currently, the most common refresh rate is 60Hz, but there are monitors out there today with 144Hz and even 200Hz refresh rates which lend themselves to an entirely smooth gameplay experience.

Response Time – As above, vital if you want to really enjoy your game at its best with full picture clarity. You don’t want to experience any lag time, especially if you are playing competitively. Here then you are looking for the lowest, not the highest number.

Viewing Angles – You are going to want as wide and full a viewing angle as possible even if you are sat in front of your monitor viewing. If you have an excellent 180-degree field of vision, you will enjoy the experience more but so too will any spectators stood behind you who are watching the action!

We think that those are some of the main technical features you need to be on the lookout for. Aside from that though, you will need to have the right Video Inputs and Connectors too, and of course, the design aesthetics of your monitor will be vital also.

Gaming Monitor FAQs

Q: Do I Really Need A Gaming Monitor?

A: If you are serious about your Gaming then yes, you do need a purpose designed monitor otherwise you could risk losing out against that opponent in that online battle you’re having just because your game isn’t loading or responding as quickly. With a purpose built gaming monitor, you can enjoy all the full immersive action without having to worry about blurred or flickering images and taring. By investing in a gaming monitor, you what are going to achieve is a much smoother and more immersive experience.

Q: Does Gaming Monitor Offer Better Performance Than A Regular One?

A: Gaming Monitors have been specially manufactured with your gameplay needs in mind, so they have the best and most advanced technology around when it comes to their resolution, accurate color display, and fast frame refresh rates. They also happen to make pretty spectacular screens for viewing movie’s on too so are well worth the investment if what you are looking to achieve is that full-on immersive experience.

Q: Can I Use My TV For Gaming?

A: With the increase in technology and advancement in the manufacturing of all kinds of different screens and monitors, it is more than conceivable that you will adequately be able to use your TV as your principle Gaming Monitor.  If you are short on budget and space and this is the only monitor you have in your home, then you might not have that much choice in the matter.

With the increased popularity of HDTV’s and HDMI, the distinction between and monitor and a general purpose display has really blurred and let’s face it, also being able to play your favorite game on your 40-inch widescreen television screen does have its appeal. Today’s televisions also have much better resolution than they historically had, so that makes them a better option too.

However, if you are a passionate and committed gamer and especially if you partake in games that have plenty of interaction then investing in a specific gaming monitor makes sense. Plus, it doesn’t mean endless rows with the rest of the household over when its TV versus Gaming time! If you’ve got your own Monitor, you can fill your boots and game away to your heart's content!

Q: What Is The Best Panel Technology To Get?

A: When it comes to Gaming, the bigger your panel, quite frankly, the better, as long as your room can accommodate it. If your budget will allow, then consider upgrading from HD and instead of going for one of the new breeds of panel with Wide Quad High-Definition or even better still, Ultra-High Definition which is also known as 4K.

There are several different types of Display technologies available each with their own merits and their army of loyal fans. Twisted Nematic panels (TN) are popular and affordable and provide quick refresh rates and fast response times. You could also take a look at a Vertical Alignment panel (VA) that are recognized for their robust and vibrant color display. Black isn’t even just black if you are viewing it in VA. It can be an all-together deeper and varied visual experience. The final panel style to look out for is called In-Plane Switching (IPS) giving an exceptional all-around fabulous color quality experience but unfortunately lacking a little in the pixel response rate as compared with a TN screen. On the flip-side though, a TN screen is prone to color-shifting so in the end it really will be down to you and what’s more important to your overall gaming experience.

Q: What Is Color Gamut?

A: Think of it like a rainbow on your device! The color gamut is the total range of colors that are available on your particular device, for example, a monitor or a printer. A monitor displays color in RGB whereas a printer does it in CMYK. You get a higher color gamut from a monitor than you do a printer. Always check to ensure that your monitor is displaying its full-color gamut and that nothing is lacking. If a color is “out of gamut” then it won’t display correctly.

Q: How To Fix Monitor Ghosting?

A: First up, what even is monitor ghosting you might be asking? Well, it the phenomenon you can get when you see a faint but nonetheless distracting and blurry image, that appears to move and change as elements on the screen you are viewing also change. If you are a keen Gamer, it can be a total pain and really put you off the action. The great news is that in most instances it’s really not anything serious or expensive to remedy. Typically it will just be your monitor cable that’s loose or perhaps been compromised in some way, maybe it’s physically touching one of your other, and that could be causing the interference. Remove and replace, and that should automatically do the trick. If not, you may need to buy a new monitor cable, but you certainly shouldn’t need to buy an entirely new monitor. Unless of course, you want to use that as an excuse to upgrade to one of the recommendations in our Review!

Q: What Is The Best Way To Clean A Monitor?

A: There’s plenty of conflicting information and various Do’s and Don't when it comes to the subject of how best to clean your monitor. One thing for sure, it will have been a significant investment, so you don’t want to get it wrong and end up inadvertently scratching the surface. It’s our recommendation therefore that you simply use a dry, soft and lint-free cloth. Something like one of those micro-fiber cleaning cloths will be just perfect. If there are any really stubborn stains or dirt, which is pretty unlikely, you might need to use a very mild solution of soap and water, but in most cases, a regular wipe over with a micro-cloth cleaning cloth should be all you need to do.

Sources:

1. How to Choose the Right Monitor for Gaming - PC Mag
2. Using HDTV As a Gaming Monitor: Good Idea? - MakeUseOf