I’ve spent decades gaming and working in front of all kinds of screens—from laptops to multiple monitors, to big ultrawide displays. Over time, I’ve tested countless setups, and naturally, I get asked the same question a lot:
Which monitor should I buy?
So in this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know to pick the perfect gaming monitor for your setup—whether you’re a casual gamer, a sim racer, or a competitive esports player.
1. Choosing the Right Monitor Size & Aspect Ratio
The first thing to consider is the size and aspect ratio of your monitor.
Common Aspect Ratios & Sizes:
16:9 (Standard) – Found in most monitors, TVs, and consoles.
- Sizes: 22", 24", 27", 32", 55"
21:9 (Ultrawide) – Great for immersive gaming & productivity. - Sizes: 29", 34", 38", 40"
32:9 (Super Ultrawide) – The ultimate all-in-one monitor for gaming & work. - Sizes: 49", 57"
Other less common formats include 16:18 and 32:10, but most gamers will pick one of the above.
Which One is Best for You?
Casual Gamers – Bigger screens for a cinematic experience.
Sim Racing & Flight Sims – Ultrawide or Super Ultrawide for better immersion.
Competitive Gamers (FPS, MOBA, Esports) – Smaller screens (24-27") to reduce head movement and improve reaction times.
If you're sitting closer to the screen, go smaller. If you’re playing from further away, go bigger.
2. Refresh Rate: How Smooth Do You Want Your Gameplay?
A higher refresh rate means smoother motion—which is crucial for fast-paced games.
Common Refresh Rates:
- 60Hz – Standard for office work & casual gaming.
- 120Hz – Great for PS5 & Xbox Series X (consoles don’t support higher).
- 144Hz - 165Hz – Good balance of performance & price.
- 240Hz - 480Hz – For competitive FPS & esports gamers.
Do You Need a High Refresh Rate?
Casual & Console Gamers – 120Hz is more than enough.
PC Gamers (FPS, Racing, Fighting Games) – Aim for 144Hz+.
Esports Players – 240Hz - 480Hz for the fastest response time.
Important: Make sure your PC or console is powerful enough to output high FPS. If your system can’t push 240 FPS, a 240Hz monitor is pointless.
3. Adaptive Refresh Rate: G-Sync & FreeSync
Your refresh rate and FPS don’t always match, leading to screen tearing.
To fix this, most gaming monitors support adaptive refresh rates:
G-Sync (For NVIDIA GPUs)
FreeSync (For AMD GPUs)
Some monitors are G-Sync Compatible, meaning they support both FreeSync and G-Sync.
4. Resolution & Pixel Density (PPI)
The higher the resolution, the sharper the image—but also, the harder your PC has to work.
Common Resolutions:
- 1080p (Full HD) – Good for FPS gaming, but not as sharp.
- 1440p (QHD/2K) – Perfect balance of clarity & performance.
- 4K (UHD) – Incredible detail, but needs high-end GPU.
- 5K & Beyond – Overkill for most people, unless you’re editing 8K video.
PPI Matters!
If you increase screen size but don’t increase resolution, text & images will look blurry.
Example:
A 27” 1440p monitor will look much sharper than a 32” 1440p monitor because of the higher pixel density (PPI).
Use this PPI calculator to check how sharp your monitor will be.
5. Display Technologies: TN, VA, IPS, OLED
Different monitor panels have different strengths.
TN Panels – Fastest response times, but poor colours & viewing angles.
Best for esports gaming.
VA Panels – Better contrast than TN, but slower response times.
Good for RPGs, strategy & casual gaming.
IPS Panels – Best colour accuracy & viewing angles.
Great for all-round gaming & creative work.
Mini LED – Improved brightness & contrast over IPS.
Great for HDR gaming & bright rooms.
OLED & QD-OLED – Deepest blacks, best contrast & fastest response times.
Best overall, but risk of burn-in if you leave static images on screen.
OLED Warning:
If you play only one game (e.g. Fortnite, FIFA), the HUD could burn into the screen over time. Newer OLED displays have anti-burn-in protections, but warranty coverage varies.
6. Response Time: Why It Matters for Gaming
Response time measures how quickly pixels change colour.
1ms or lower – Ideal for competitive gaming.
2-5ms – Good for most gaming & general use.
5ms+ – Best for casual gaming & office work.
OLED monitors have response times as low as 0.03ms, making them the fastest choice.
7. Other Features to Consider
Matte vs Glossy Screens
- Glossy screens = Better colours, but more reflections.
- Matte screens = Anti-glare, but slightly duller colours.
Curved vs Flat Monitors
- Curved monitors = More immersive for big screens (32”+).
- Flat monitors = More precise for FPS & competitive gaming.
- Bigger monitors = Bigger curve (e.g. 1000R for 49” screens).
Ports & Connectivity
- HDMI 2.1 – Required for 4K 120Hz gaming on PS5/Xbox.
- DisplayPort 1.4 / 2.1 – Best for high refresh rates on PC.
- USB-C / Thunderbolt – For Mac & laptop users.
KVM Switch (Multi-PC Support)
Some monitors let you connect two computers and switch between them easily.
8. My Personal Gaming Monitor Recommendations
Here are my favourite gaming monitors across different budgets:
Budget Pick (£200-£300):
Xiaomi 34” Ultrawide VA Panel (144Hz, 1440p, 1ms, FreeSync)
Mid-Range (£500-£800):
LG UltraGear 32” 4K 144Hz (IPS, HDR, FreeSync/G-Sync)
High-End (£1000+):
Samsung Odyssey G9 (49” QD-OLED, 240Hz, 1ms, 1000R curve)
LG 45” UltraGear OLED (240Hz, 1440p, HDR)
Best Overall:
Alienware AW3423DW 34” QD-OLED (165Hz, HDR, 0.1ms response time)
I keep my recommendations updated, so check the links below for the latest options!
Final Thoughts
The best gaming monitor depends on:
Your gaming style (Casual, FPS, Sim Racing, etc.)
Your PC/console specs (Make sure they match your monitor’s capabilities).
Your budget (You don’t need to spend thousands to get a great experience).
What monitor are you currently using? Let me know in the comments! 😊
