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(Image credit: Sony | MSI)

For the gamer than values speed above all else there's nothing better than a high refresh rate gaming monitor. Providing exceptionally high refresh rates often upwards of 240 Hz, these panels ensure you're never left wanting in competitive games like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant.Right now, the best high refresh rate gaming monitor is the Sony Inzone M10S, provided you want the fastest and snappiest experience possible at 480 Hz. If you're happy with just very fast rather than incredibly fast, the 360 Hz and 0.03 ms MSI MPG 271QRX is where it's at.You can still score a refresh rate of over 144 Hz even on a tighter budget, too. The BenQ Mobiuz EX240 comes with a 165 Hz refresh rate and snappy response time from a good-looking IPS panel. It's a fraction of the cost of the 360 Hz MSI, too.Curated by...Jacob has been testing gaming monitors for over half a decade. In that time he's come to appreciate the smaller details that make a monitor great. With the rest of the PC Gamer team, Jacob has compiled the following list of the best high refresh rate monitors to help you pick one that's best suited to your gaming style.The quick List
Best 480+ Hz


The best 480+ HzThis monitor is targeted squarely at competitive gamers, and it was even designed with the help of esports professionals.Read more below


Best 360 Hz


The best 360HzCombining OLED technology with a need for speed, the MSI MPG 271QRX delivers a frighteningly fast refresh rate and response time for competitive gaming.Read more below


Best 280 Hz


The best 280 HzAlienware offers a speedy and impressive IPS panel in the AW2723DF. It's a strong all-round gaming monitor with a penchant for speed.Read more below


Best 165 Hz


4. Alienware 34 AW3423DWF




The best 165 HzOur favorite gaming monitor isn't the fastest, but it's still a speedy panel with all the benefits of an OLED, including that rapid response time.Read more below




Best budget


The best budgetYou don't have to settle for slow with a budget panel, as this BenQ proves. It's capable of running up to 165Hz, which is speedy if you have the GPU to drive it.Read more below


Best 4K


The best 4KIt can be difficult to drive a 4K, high refresh rate gaming monitor, but if you're rocking an RTX 4090 or similar you can make it work in some games. The MSI is the best pairing with that sort of high-end setup.Read more below

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Best dual-mode


The best dual-modeThis monitor can do either 1080p 480 Hz or 4K 240 Hz, so you get the best of both worlds, for both competitive and casual gaming.Read more below


Recent updatesThis guide was updated on December 18, 2024 to add our 480+ Hz and dual-mode sections and picks, change our best 4K pick, add a bunch of monitors to our Also Tested section, and add to our high refresh rate gaming monitor FAQ.The best 480+ Hz gaming monitor(Image credit: Future)The best 480+ Hz gaming monitorSpecificationsRefresh rate: 480 HzResolution: 2560 x 1440Response time: 0.03 msScreen size: 27-inchVRR: Adaptive SyncReasons to buy+Stunning WOLED panel+Outrageously fast+Lovely design and engineeringReasons to avoid-Merely 1440p-No USB-C-All the money in the worldBuy if...✅ You live and breathe esports: This monitor is designed with one purpose in mind: competitive gaming. And on that front it's leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.Don't buy if...❌ You want general value for money: Unless you're looking to break into the esports scene, this monitor costs a heck of a lot for a 1440p resolution. And most gamers will be fine with less than 480 Hz.The Sony Inzone M10S is the best 480+ Hz gaming monitor, and that's quite the statement, isn't it? Not because it's the M10S in this spot but rather because it's incredible to think that monitor tech can now have us at these ridiculously high refresh rates.Monitor tech improves quickly, eh? And it's not as if our hardware can't keep up these days, either—though of course that depends massively on the game in question. Frame generation in particular helps in casual titles, and a lot of competitive titles don't need any of that for high-end graphics cards to churn out high frame rates in them.Still, 480 Hz? that's impressive. And the Inzone M10S sacrifices surprisingly little to achieve that. We're talking an OLED panel with super-low response time, great-looking HDR, and tons of connections, including DP 2.1You are paying for all this, though, because this monitor costs more than many high-quality 4K ones. That's a lot of money for 1440p.But it's not just 1440p, is it? The M10S is aimed squarely at the competitive gamer who favours snappy, responsive gameplay above all else.This isn't all cooked up from Sony's imagination, either. The Inzone M10S, Sony says, was developed in collaboration with Fnatic Valorant and Apex Legends pros, who obviously focus on optimising for performance in online shooters. The monitor even comes with a "tournament-compliant" 24.5-inch mode, which can be good for practicing under tournament-like conditions.Little expense has been spared on design, either. It's sleek, minimalist, and by some magic is very sturdy despite the small base under the stand.It has its downsides, though. For instance, its anti-glare coating might be good for esports but does very slightly dampen the lovely HDR experience, and it's not a 4K monitor. Plus, as previously stated, it does cost a ridiculous amount of money.But you're getting top-tier, tournament-tailored tech here in this panel. Our Jeremy said it best in his review: "In terms of pixel response and latency, the Sony Inzone M10S must represent something of an end-game, a point beyond which the returns are diminishing to the point of non-existence." That's why it's the best 480+ Hz high refresh rate monitor, without a doubt.Read our full Sony Inzone M10S review.The best 360 Hz gaming monitor(Image credit: Future)The best 360 Hz gaming monitorSpecificationsRefresh rate: 360 HzResolution: 2,560 x 1,440Response time: 0.03 msScreen size: 27-inchVRR: Adaptive SyncReasons to buy+Incredibly fast+Gorgeous, glossy QD-OLED panel+Spectacular HDR performanceReasons to avoid-So expensive for a 1440p panel-Font rendering is poorBuy if...✅ You want the best of both worlds: Refresh rate and picture quality are not often shared qualities in most gaming monitors, but the MPG 271QRX manages to deliver both in swathes.Don't buy if...❌ You don't have a high-end GPU: You'll need a powerful graphics card to drive 1440p anywhere close to 360 Hz.The MSI MPG 271QRX is awarded our pick for the best 360 Hz gaming monitor. It combines two things we love: an extremely quick refresh rate and an OLED panel.The exact panel used here is Samsung's QD-OLED, which we've seen many times before, including the excellent Alienware 34 AW3423DWF, but never with such a high refresh rate as this. MSI is really pushing the panel to new heights here, though this is also using a newer generation QD-OLED panel that Samsung has itself pushed to 240 Hz in the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9.A snappy response time of 0.03 ms is also made possible by the inclusion of an OLED. That's far and away above what even the faster IPS panels can muster.Beyond speed, OLED offers a rich and vibrant picture that can't be beaten by your standard LCD screen. It's rare that a monitor can claim both picture quality and speed, but this MSI also comes with decent HDR ratings, too. The generally high picture quality comes in handy for single-player games or times when you're happy to game at a slower pace in exchange for a higher graphics preset.You will have to be considerate of burn-in on any OLED panel, and this MSI is no different. Luckily, MSI does include some OLED protection measures as standard, and there's a three-year burn-in protection warranty for peace of mind.You will need a powerful graphics card to get the most out of this monitor. Even with an RTX 4090 under the hood, you'll struggle to maximise the 360 Hz panel without turning down the graphics settings and maybe even the resolution. That's the one major downside to this screen's 1440p resolution: competitive players may prefer 1080p for the performance gain.Otherwise, there's no escaping that price premium here, but that's come to be expected from an OLED. The technology is becoming more prevalent but it remains a premium technology. In many ways, an OLED is worth the extra dosh, and the MSI MPG 271QRX still gets my vote as the best high refresh rate gaming monitor. You'll find a budget option below if you want to save some cash.Read our full MSI MPG 271QRX review.The best 280 Hz gaming monitor(Image credit: Future)The best 280 Hz gaming monitorSpecificationsRefresh rate: 280 HzResolution: 2,560 x 1,440Response time: 1 msScreen size: 27-inchVRR: Freesync Premium Pro, Nvidia G-sync CompatibleReasons to buy+Very nice IPS panel+280Hz refresh+Good pixel responseReasons to avoid-Pricey for a 1440p panel-Only 16 dimming zonesBuy if...✅ You don't want to worry about burn-in: Rather than the newer OLED technology, Alienware has opted for a snappy IPS panel. Good news is you don't have to worry about burn-in (within reason) and you still score a snappy refresh rate.Don't buy if...❌ You want the full HDR experience: This IPS panel comes with an impressive 600 nits peak brightness, but its black levels and contrast are lacking compared to an OLED.The Alienware AW2723DF is the best 280 Hz gaming monitor, and much like the MSI, it somehow delivers both speed and quality in a single package.This Alienware offers an IPS panel that's capable of screeching speed and a surprisingly little ghosting. The final 40 Hz is accessed through overclocking, which we'd usually expect to introduce some spectres into the system, but surprisingly few show up. There are three overdrive options available on this monitor, and even the most aggressive is very good at keeping ghosting to a minimum.The punchy backlight helps produce a vibrant and colorful image on this IPS screen. Rated to 600 nits, HDR is very much a thing this monitor can do. It's not the best HDR panel around, namely for a lack of depth to the black levels, and that's where an OLED stands out. Still, it's good to know you're not only scoring a fast panel here—it's also of a high picture quality.Alienware's stands are some of the best around and there's also a generous four-port USB hub on the rear of this monitor. No USB Type-C connectivity, but that's not a deal breaker.Inclusive of both FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility, this monitor should pair well with just about any graphics card on the market today capable of pushing 280 Hz at 1440p. That's something to bear in mind: a high refresh monitor requires a high-end graphics card to fully utilize it in all but the best performing, low-rent games.Read our full Alienware AW2723DF review.The best 165 Hz gaming monitor(Image credit: Future)The best 165 Hz gaming monitorSpecificationsRefresh rate: 165 HzResolution: 3440 x 1440Response time: 0.1 msScreen size: 34-inchVRR: Freesync Premium ProReasons to buy+Glossy coating makes all the difference+Ultra-quick response+Good full-screen brightnessReasons to avoid-Still fairly pricey-Mediocre pixel densityBuy if...✅ You want a more generalist gaming monitor: It's not the quickest but the Alienware 34 AW3423DWF is the best gaming monitor.Don't buy if...❌ You want truly world-beating speed: 165 Hz is rather pedestrian next to the 240 Hz+ monitors on this list.The Alienware 34 AW3423DWF offers 165 Hz of OLED goodness. That's a more pedestrian speed than some on this list, but it's faster than most monitors around today. The Alienware has a few other enviable characteristics, too.You can expect awesomely quick response times in the region of 0.1 ms on this OLED monitor, or a tenth of the time it takes for a speedy LCD panel to change a pixel's value. That's paired with FreeSync Premium Pro support, which will work to keep your graphics card and monitor singing the same tune at the same time.HDR is a strong point for the AW3423DWF. It's not often that we're praising a PC monitor for HDR performance, but the combination of an OLED panel with practically infinite contrast and a glossy finish helps to produce a vibrant picture that brings out the best bits of HDR games.Epic color reproduction, contrast and black levels make the Alienware a wonderful all-round monitor for gaming. That's why we also rate it as the best gaming monitor. Funny that. But with some impressive refresh rate and response time stats, it'll also make a good stand-in for competitive gaming if you can't quite stretch your setup to 360 Hz.Read our full Alienware 34 AW3423DWF review.The best budget high refresh rate gaming monitor(Image credit: Future)The best budget high refresh rate gaming monitorSpecificationsRefresh rate: 165 HzResolution: 1,920 x 1,080Response time: 1 msScreen size: 24-inchVRR: Adaptive SyncReasons to buy+Zippy IPS panel+165 refresh and good latency+Slick, well-built chassisReasons to avoid-Very limited HDR support-'Only' 1080p-Silly OSD menu and optionsBuy if...✅ You want a well-provisioned 1080p panel: The EX240 brings a swift response time and 165 Hz refresh rate to the table for not a huge amount of money.Don't buy if...❌ You want a HDR capable monitor: With a peak brightness of only 350 nits, you can forget about genuine HDR.There are few genuinely affordable 1080p gaming monitors as good as this, but it's our pick for the best budget high refresh rate gaming monitor because it rocks an above average 165 Hz refresh rate.It can be beneficial for some competitive games to reduce the load on your graphics card to the absolute minimum and keep any extraneous graphics options disabled. Within reason, anyways—no one should be gaming at 480p for a 'competitive edge'. 1080p is sacrifice enough. The EX240 is a 1080p panel, which makes reaching a full 165 Hz refresh rate that much easier on cheaper graphics cards.The EX240 is also a 24-inch monitor, which usually would be seen as a touch on the small side but is surprisingly often seen as preferable for gamers hoping to keep everything in their vision while sat close to the screen.You won't find any of the premium features of an OLED panel or even a high-end IPS here: peak brightness is 350 nits and HDR is basically a no-go. Though this is still an IPS panel, and that means the picture quality and color reproduction is generally very good.The EX240 is a great example of how far your money can go when it comes to a gaming monitor in 2024. It's a great all-rounder with lots to offer all kinds of gamer.Read our full BenQ Mobiuz EX240 review.The best high refresh rate 4K gaming monitor(Image credit: Future)The best high refresh rate 4K gaming monitorSpecificationsRefresh rate: 240 HzResolution: 3840 x 2160Response time: 0.03 msScreen size: 32-inchVRR: AMD FreeSync Premium ProReasons to buy+Stunning QD-OLED panel+4K pixel density+240Hz refreshReasons to avoid-Usual HDR complications-ABL is not configurableBuy if...✅ You demand 4K: High refresh rates and 4K go together like chalk and cheese, but if you can't stand to sacrifice resolution then you'll score a superb 240 Hz here.Don't buy if...❌ You're worried about burn-in: While this monitor comes with mitigations and a nice warranty, OLED panels can still suffer from burn-in over a long period of time.The best high refresh rate 4K gaming monitor is the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED. And yes, being able to utter "4K" and "high refresh rate" in the same sentence does feel a little strange.But that's where we're at, now: You can get your hands on a fair few 4K monitors that are capable of refreshing quicker than you can bat an eyelid (significantly quicker, at that). And with new tech—DLSS especially—helping boost those frame rates, 240 Hz at 4K isn't even beyond the realms of possibility for many games on some hardware.This MSI one in particular is our current pick for the very best gaming monitor, full-stop. So of course, given its 240 Hz refresh rate, it was going to appear on this list.Why's it so great? Well, it all boils down to the combination of a stunning OLED panel and a very reasonable (but still expensive) cost. OLED panels in general are gorgeous as they offer deep blacks and vibrant colours, and this one in particular is stunning, thanks in part to its glossy coating.OLED panels also have great response times, so you're benefitting on the competitive gaming front, too—something that will no doubt be important to many of you considering a high refresh rate monitor. The only real downside is burn-in, which is currently unavoidable over long periods of time for all OLED monitors, this one included. But thankfully MSI's giving you a three-year burn-in warranty and some helpful built-in mitigations.OLEDs can also suffer from text fringing, but at 4K resolution on a 32-inch screen you're golden. That's a pixel density that means little problem at all with displaying crisp text.Throw in the fact that it costs less than a lot of other similarly high-end monitors and it's a no-brainer: the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED is truly the best 4K high refresh rate gaming monitor you can get right now. When it's in stock, that is.Read our full MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED review.The best dual-mode high refresh rate gaming monitor(Image credit: Future)The best dual-mode high refresh rate gaming monitorSpecificationsRefresh rate: 240 Hz (480 Hz 1080p)Resolution: 3840 x 2160Response time: 0.03 msScreen size: 32-inchVRR: AMD FreeSync Premium ProReasons to buy+Improved WOLED brightness+HDR sizzle+240 Hz refreshReasons to avoid-Huge price tag-Matte panel coating-No USB-CBuy if...✅ You play competitively and casually: If you have one foot planted in esports and one in casual gaming, nothing will beat being able to toggle between the monitor's two modes.Don't buy if...❌ You're on a budget: High refresh rate monitors don't come cheap. Neither do OLED ones. Throw the two together as with this monitor and you have a very expensive proposition.The best dual-mode high refresh rate gaming monitor is the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE. Being dual-mode, it supports up to a 240 Hz refresh rate at 4K or up to 480 Hz at 1080p. With a simple toggle, the monitor uses pixel doubling to offer up a crisp 1080p image at double the already high refresh rate.It's perfect for casual gaming at 4K and then dropping down to 1080p 480 Hz when you want to get competitive.One of the reasons this is the best dual-mode monitor—apart from this market segment being a very small one to begin with—is that it's also the best high-end OLED monitor in general. It just pips its competition in quality, but not without a cost, this being its price tag.Yes, it's expensive, but for the price you're getting a whole lot of monitor. While you're getting the same 32-inch, 4K, 240 Hz basic spec sheet that you'll find on a lot of new OLEDs, it surpasses these other monitors in a few ways.For starters, it's a little brighter. It also has a more neutral colour balance and maintains its dark colours (the fabled deep blacks of OLEDs) even in bright ambient lighting. It even looks good under its matte coating, probably because this is a little less "matte" than other matte coatings we've seen. SDR content looks great under HDR, too, thanks to stellar calibration from LG, so you won't be ruining anything to just leave it turned on.It is incredibly expensive, though—far more expensive than even many high-end 4K OLED monitors. But those aren't dual-mode ones that look as good as this one does.If you want the versatility of being able to flip between competitive gaming at 480 Hz and casual gaming at 4K, this is where it's at.Read our full LG UltraGear 32GS95UE review.Also testedWhere to buy a gaming monitorWhere are best gaming monitor deals?In the US:Amazon - Money off high refresh rate gaming monitorsWalmart - Save on quick gaming monitors B&H Photo - Gaming monitors for as little as $64Best Buy - Often Samsung gaming monitors going for lessTarget - LG and Asus gaming monitors on saleStaples - Regular sales on selected HP gaming monitorsNewegg - Lots of cheap gaming monitors to choose fromDell - Money off Alienware gaming monitorsIn the UK:Amazon - Save on big-name monitor brandsOverclockers - 1440p LG gaming monitors from £150Scan - Gaming monitors from as low as £49CCL - deals on the best screens aroundBox - discounts and refurbished monitors aboundHigh refresh rate gaming monitor FAQWhat's the best PC monitor panel type for gaming?OLED is the newest and most impressive panel technology today, though Mini-LED is a popular alternative. If in doubt, however, you can't go wrong with an IPS. There are now VA screens with good response speed, but IPS more consistently delivers the goods and is now sufficiently fast in terms of refresh rate that you absolutely needn't settle for TN anymore.What refresh rate do you really need for PC gaming?144 Hz is probably plenty, but PC gamers are not known for modesty. We're starting to see 165 Hz as the more popular refresh rate for gaming monitors, and esports fiends who will really appreciate higher refresh rates are eyeing up 240 Hz+ speeds.What's the best resolution for a gaming monitor?With the latest unobtainable graphics cards, 4K gaming at high triple-digit refresh rates is a stretch in the most demanding games. So, 1440p is probably the better compromise. 1080p is only of interest to those who demand the very highest frame rates for competitive shooters.Are OLED monitors faster than IPS and VA?Yes, OLED monitors are faster than IPS and VA ones. Not only do they look stunning, but they have ultra-low response times. These days, that usually means 0.03 ms. You do risk burn-in over time when using an OLED, though, and they can be expensive.Should I buy a curved gaming monitor?For our money, curved panels make the most sense in larger formats and with super-wide 21:9 or wider panels. A curved panel on, say, a smaller 27-inch 16:9 panel isn't necessarily a bad thing. But, nor does it really add much to the experience. Does HDR matter for PC gaming monitors?The problem with HDR is that few LCD monitors offer a true HDR experience. What's more, monitors with HDR-boosting local dimming remain painfully pricey and for what is really only marginal benefit. That said, the best OLED gaming monitors look absolutely superb with HDR enabled.G-Sync or FreeSync: which adaptive screen tech is best?We think screens with Nvidia's G-Sync module built-in have the edge when it comes to smooth performance at lower frame rates. At higher frame rates, mere G-Sync compatibility is fine, and AMD's FreeSync is likewise much of a muchness.

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Jacob earned his first byline writing for his own tech blog. From there, he graduated to professionally breaking things as hardware writer at PCGamesN, and would go on to run the team as hardware editor. He joined PC Gamer's top staff as senior hardware editor before becoming managing editor of the hardware team, and you'll now find him reporting on the latest developments in the technology and gaming industries and testing the newest PC components.

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