When it comes to PC gaming, 4K is the question of the future. You nary longer request an ultra-powerful PC to bask it acknowledgment to features similar Nvidia DLSS and AMD Fluid Motion Frames. Monitors similar the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM, my fig 1 pick, tin show highly elaborate images, unthinkable colors, and precocious framework rates each portion inactive offering fantabulous responsiveness. And if you look and find that the terms oregon PC requirements are excessively high, determination are a ton of large gaming monitors retired there.
TL;DR – These Are the Best 4K Gaming Monitors:
A 4K gaming show is the eventual mode to acquisition your favourite PC games, providing unthinkable sharpness with 4 times the solution of a 1080p gaming monitor. I've been reviewing much and much displays featuring this precocious resolution, and much graphics cards are capable to tally it well, making it much accessible than ever. They besides marque for immoderate of the champion monitors for PS5. To assistance constrictive your search, we’ve tested and researched dozens of options, bringing you our apical 5 4K gaming monitors.
Additional contributions by Danielle Abraham and Matthew S. Smith.

1. Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP
Best 4K Gaming Monitor
Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP
WOLED gaming show with 480Hz refresh complaint and 4K@240Hz
Resolution
3840x2160 / 1920x1080
HDR compatibility
DisplayHDR 400 True Black
Refresh rate
240Hz / 480Hz
Inputs
2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB-C (DisplayPort mode), 3 x USB-A, 1 x USB-B
Fast refresh complaint with large question clarity
Plentiful gaming features
May beryllium excessively ample for immoderate gaming spaces
If you're looking for the champion of the champion and don't caput paying for it, the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP is the show for you. At 32 inches, it's the cleanable size to instrumentality successful each of the details of its crisp 4K resolution. Its WOLED – that's achromatic OLED, not to beryllium confused with QD, oregon Quantum Dot OLED – sheet is exceptionally agleam and offers unthinkable colors that are mill calibrated, making it a large prime for originative enactment arsenic good arsenic top-tier gaming. And due to the fact that it has a dedicated achromatic LED, it's much powerfulness businesslike and should past longer than competing QD-OLED monitors.
As I noted successful my reappraisal of this Asus ROG Swift monitor, what genuinely sets this show isolated is its versatility. You're capable to crippled successful 4K successful exquisite item up to 240Hz, but it besides offers a peculiar 480Hz mode for adjacent level clarity and responsiveness. This mode drops the solution to 1080p, allowing much graphics cards to execute that framework complaint and bask its benefits. It besides offers Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) that improves question blur adjacent further. It's 1 of the lone monitors connected this database that offers a measureable betterment to question blur and clarity truthful overmuch that you'll beryllium capable to archer the quality close distant adjacent if you're a casual gamer. I've been a longtime Battlefield subordinate but acold from a pro and the quality was instantly noticeable, adjacent without pixel-peeping.
There's besides a monolithic suite of gaming features that tin besides connection an vantage successful competitory matches. Some adjacent propulsion the enactment connected what's ethical to use, similar the Sniper Mode, which gives you a reticle and a zoomed successful window, close successful the halfway of your screen. We'll permission that up to you, but the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP is easy the champion 4K show close now.
2. Arzopa M3RC - 32" 4K 144Hz Gaming Monitor
Best Budget 4K Gaming Monitor
Arzopa 32" 4K 144Hz Gaming Monitor
This show is Arzopa's effort to found itself successful the gaming show abstraction and succeeds. It's a fantastic value.
Panel type
AMD FreeSync, G-Sync compatible
Inputs
2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB Type-C, 2x USB 2.0, 1x audio out
IPS sheet with bully colour calibration
Product enactment is questionable
Remember the days erstwhile 4K precocious refresh complaint monitors outgo hundreds, if not good implicit $1,000? Well, with the Arzopa M3RC, I deliberation it's harmless to accidental that little costly 4K monitors person yet arrived. Coming successful close astir $300, this show offers a full batch astatine an affordable price, and yet makes this gaming acquisition accessible to the masses.
If the marque sanction sounds familiar, that's due to the fact that it has been 1 of the up-and-coming manufacturers of prime portable monitors. It has received rather a spot of attraction for balancing features with affordability and is intelligibly applying those aforesaid principles present successful its task into the full-size gaming show market. Looking astatine the specs, it seems designed to marque a splash and beryllium it has what it takes to level up to the current, much demanding requirements of PC gaming.
This show offers a autochthonal 4K solution with a 144Hz refresh rate. Games look crisp and tally smoothly, enhanced by its enactment for AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility. It uses a color-rich IPS sheet that's amazingly close accurate retired of the box, which isn't thing I tin typically accidental astir lower-priced monitors successful traditionally much costly categories.
In my experience, monitors that participate a abstraction and situation accepted pricing typically chopped corners. While this show isn't without trade-offs, it does connection much than what I would different expect to see. For example, it includes a USB Type-C video input, arsenic good arsenic a two-port USB hub, some of which are usually the archetypal features near connected the cutting country floor.
So, what precisely do you sacrifice for this accessible pricing? Brightness, though not arsenic overmuch arsenic you mightiness expect. Arzopa rates this astatine 350 nits, which is mediate of the roadworthy alternatively of outright low. More concerning is however good the marque volition proceed to enactment the show should thing spell wrong. While it comes with a 1-year constricted warranty and determination aren't wide reports of enactment being a problem, it's worthy keeping successful caput with immoderate smaller marque establishing itself successful a market.
For it's asking price, it's worthy considering either way. Especially considering however galore aboriginal adopters look to emotion it.
3. Gigabyte M27U
Best 4K Gaming Monitor Under $500
Gigabyte M27U
Fast, bright, and affordable, this is the 4K gaming show to bushed successful this terms range. With a highest brightness of astir 700 nits, it offers 1 of the champion HDR gaming experiences you tin find nether $500.
HDR compatibility
DisplayHDR 400 True Black
Brightness
400 cd/m2 (~700 cd/m2 peak)
Inputs
2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB Type-C, 3x USB 3.2 Downstream ports, 1x USB 3.2 Upstream port, 1x Earphone Jack
Plentiful connectivity options
Reliably smooth, reliably large looking gaming experience
The Gigabyte M27U whitethorn agelong the explanation of "budget," but not by much. Compared to astir 4K gaming monitors astir this price, it offers a amended representation and large HDR acquisition acknowledgment to its precocious highest brightness and edge-lit section dimming.
Picture prime is what you're aft with a 4K gaming show and the Gigabyte M27U is champion successful people astatine this terms point. In SDR, it tops retired close astir 400 nits, but crook connected HDR and that jumps to conscionable nether 700 nits. That means brighter highlights and colors that leap disconnected the surface for a much enjoyable gaming experience. It besides features an array of section dimming zones which assistance amended opposition beyond what emblematic IPS panels are susceptible of.
The show besides has a delightful scope of gaming features. You tin crook connected an on-screen reticle for games that deficiency them, peek into the shadows with Shadow Boost, and more. It's impressively casual to entree these features, and each of its representation settings, utilizing Gigabyte's OSD Sidekick software, redeeming you from fumbling done menus with its carnal controls. It's besides a large prime if you program to usage it with much than 1 strategy oregon bask swapping to a console, arsenic a built-in KVM allows you to power inputs and instrumentality your rodent and keyboard with you with a propulsion of a button. I often usage this diagnostic to rapidly alteration betwixt my laptop and desktop, enactment and play.
The lone downside is that you'll person to take betwixt those section dimming zones and highest brightness. With the section dimming diagnostic enabled, afloat surface brightness is reduced and you'll lone spot those precocious figures successful highlights. Turning disconnected section dimming unlocks it for the full screen. In my opinion, it's a just trade-off but you tin number connected a large gaming acquisition either way.
4. LG UltraGear GX9 (45GX950A-B)
Best Ultrawide 4K Gaming Monitor
LG Ultragear GX9
Large and in-charge, this is simply a existent 4K ultrawide with features to spare.
Panel type
OLED, G-Sync Compatible, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
Inputs
2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 2.1, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB Type-C
Dual solution and refresh complaint options
High highest brightness with per-pixel section dimming (OLED)
Deep curvature isn't for everyone
If you can't unrecorded without an ultrawide gaming show but besides privation the champion solution you tin find for the 21:9 facet ratio, look nary further than the LG UltraGear GX9. It's a monolithic 45-inch show with a heavy 800R curvature, large brightness, and adjacent offers dual resolutions and refresh rates truthful you tin tailor precisely the benignant of gaming acquisition you privation to receive.
Apart from its stunning 5120x2160 resolution, this monitor's 45-inch diagonal width is wide capable to scope into your peripheral imaginativeness and make the effect of drafting you into the mediate of the screen. It's a look for immersion, particularly with the fluidity afforded by its precocious autochthonal refresh complaint of 165Hz.
While that mightiness beryllium perfectly good for astir games, if you are a competitory esports player, 165Hz conscionable won't chopped it. LG has an answer. Like my No. 1 prime connected this list, gamers tin toggle an FHD mode that lowers the solution but allows you to crook the refresh complaint each the mode up to 330Hz. Paired with the people debased latency of its OLED panel, it's capable to connection top-tier responsiveness and question clarity erstwhile you request it most.
If you've ne'er gamed connected an OLED gaming show before, you're successful for a treat. This sheet exertion allows each pixel to beryllium independently controlled for brightness, close down to turning it off. In practice, this gives you infinite contrast, truthful adjacent without turning HDR mode connected wrong Windows, you tin bask a stellar precocious contrast, vivid colors, and a wider dynamic scope than different sheet types are capable to provide. Turn connected HDR, and it gets adjacent better. This besides applies to movies and different types of content, truthful adjacent your amusement extracurricular of gaming volition get a bully boost successful representation quality.
Moving to a show of this caliber does transportation a mates of trade-offs. The biggest is that you're going to request a almighty GPU to tally games anyplace adjacent its refresh rate. Remember, 4K astatine an ultrawide solution is really importantly higher than autochthonal 4K and harder to run. Its heavy curve besides isn't for everyone and tin beryllium distracting extracurricular of gaming for immoderate users.
If you tin judge those caveats, this is an fantabulous prime and 1 of the fewer choices for a premium 4K ultrawide offering a precocious refresh complaint disposable today.
5. Dell Alienware AW3225QF
Best Curved 4K Monitor
Alienware AW3225QF
A ample 32” curved show with looks and specs to lucifer its size. 4k UHD, super-powered 0.3ms effect times, and 240hz; this is what a premium gaming show looks like.
Panel type
QD-OLED, Adaptive-Sync, G-Sync Compatible
HDR compatibility
DisplayHDR 400, HDR10, Dolby Vision
Brightness
250 cd/m2 (1,000 cd/m2 peak)
Inputs
2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4
Reliably fantabulous gaming experience
240Hz refresh complaint for competitory gaming
Flat panels person been successful vogue, but the Alienware AW3225QF steps successful arsenic the champion prime for gamers who can't unrecorded without the curve. Its 32-inch size and 240Hz solution guarantee a gameplay acquisition that is immersive and smooth. With its quantum dot panel, colors are arsenic affluent arsenic they are accurate. Its curve is gentle but works to gully you into your crippled without distorting substance similar deeper curves might. It's well-rounded and excellent.
The show features a 240Hz refresh complaint which, erstwhile paired with its 0.3ms effect time, makes it a large prime for competitory gamers. When I tested it, I recovered perfectly nary ghosting, some successful synthetic tests and existent satellite games, truthful that won't beryllium a interest arsenic you frag enemies to propulsion successful a last-minute win. And acknowledgment to its wide VRR enactment and framework complaint range, you tin confidently leap into games knowing that your acquisition volition beryllium creaseless and tear-free.
The supra is existent for astir caller flagship OLEDs, but what sets the AW3225QF is its HDR experience. In SDR, brightness usually hovers astir 250 nits, but highlights tin popular each the mode to 1,000 nits successful HDR. Unlike astir competing monitors, it besides supports Dolby Vision for streaming movies and TV shows, and besides supports eARC for connecting a soundbar.
Whether you're a dedicated PC gamer oregon a console gamer looking to level up your acquisition with a gentle but noticeable curve, the Alienware AW3225QF is simply a slayer choice.
What to Look for successful a 4K Gaming Monitor
If you're successful the marketplace for a caller 4K gaming monitor, see the features and benignant of representation you anticipation to bask and comparison that with your budget. Over the past mates of years, 4K gaming monitors person truly travel into their own. Ultra HD displays with precocious refresh rates are casual to find erstwhile they utilized to beryllium rarities. Today, you tin find options good beneath $400 and inactive bask refresh rates up to 144Hz with enactment for gaming features similar Nvidia G-Sync and HDR support. While each decent 4K gaming monitors should present a crisp image, if you're consenting to wage more, you tin expect amended representation quality, brightness, features and settings, and sheet types. Depending connected what you're looking for, it tin beryllium omniscient to hold and prevention conscionable a small longer than you planned to get the champion show for your peculiar needs.
- Size: Generally speaking, thing beneath 27 inches volition spot little of a payment from jumping to 4K for astir users. While it's existent that smaller sizes effect successful higher pixel densities, retrieve that 4K solution equates to much than 8 cardinal pixels and beyond a definite point, improvements to representation clarity go overmuch little perceptible. As a rule, 27-to-32 inches is simply a saccharine spot for Ultra HD, but determination are options up to 48 inches if you similar a "big screen" gaming experience. The larger the screen, the softer the image, however, truthful support that successful caput if you're the benignant to spell large oregon spell home.
- Panel: What benignant of sheet does the show use? Many usage IPS panels, which are known for their close colors and wide viewing angles but comparatively debased contrast. VA panels are different option, which connection amended opposition but tin amusement ghosts (image trails) if they're not accelerated enough. OLED panels are an progressively fashionable choice, arsenic are Mini-LED backlights, and some person their pros and cons.
- OLED (organic light-emitting diode) panels connection infinite opposition and affluent colors. They're besides incredibly fast, offering effect times arsenic debased arsenic 0.03ms, compared to the 1ms emblematic of IPS oregon VA panels. They tin connection a stunning representation but besides tally the hazard of representation retention, different known arsenic burn-in. While galore displays connection information features to forestall this and warranties that screen burn-in should the worst happen, it's an ever-present hazard and thing you'll request to instrumentality attraction to avoid.
- Mini-LED isn't a sheet benignant by itself and is alternatively a backlight technology. Gamers often notation to gaming monitors utilizing this tech arsenic "Mini-LED monitors," however, truthful it's worthy knowing what it has to offer. Unlike accepted backlights, which are placed astir the edges of the show oregon straight down it, Mini-LED backlights are tiny LEDs placed successful an array down the full viewing area. The show tin crook these connected oregon disconnected successful acceptable zones, allowing them to connection overmuch amended opposition and brightness astatine the disbursal of "blooming" oregon a glow astir airy objects connected acheronian backgrounds. The magnitude of zones tin marque a tremendous quality successful however noticeable this is, but beyond 1,100 it tends to beryllium overmuch little noticeable. As an added bonus, Mini-LED displays usually connection amended sustained brightness than OLED panels and don't transportation the aforesaid hazard of burn-in.
- Refresh rate: For gaming, we urge a minimum of 120Hz with 144Hz oregon much being preferred. Higher refresh rates let the show to show much frames per 2nd and little its input latency and question blur. This is particularly beneficial for competitory shooters wherever milliseconds tin marque the quality betwixt a triumph and a loss. For competitory shooters, 240Hz monitors are a bully choice, though determination are options that spell adjacent higher than that.
- Connectivity and supporting features: If you program to crippled connected a console, you'll request to guarantee that the show supports astatine slightest HDMI 2.1 for afloat 4K 144Hz resolution. Other features, similar Dolby Vision support, Nvidia G-Sync oregon AMD FreeSync support, built-in KVMs, USB hubs, speakers, and gaming features are each things to see earlier pulling the trigger.
4K Gaming Monitor FAQ
Are 4K gaming monitors worthy it?
While 4K gaming monitors tin present stunning visuals and volition beryllium a bully prime for galore gamers, they're not the champion prime for everyone by default. If your PC is aging and has an entry-level graphics card, trying to play successful 4K volition apt effect successful games with unplayably debased framework rates. There's nary mode astir the higher request specified a precocious solution places connected your PC.
If your strategy is moving a mid-range GPU from this procreation oregon a high-end GPU from past generation, there's a bully accidental that upgrading to 4K could marque a important quality for the amended successful your gaming experience. Upscaling exertion has precocious a large woody implicit the past respective years, allowing a overmuch wider scope of hardware to play good with it. You nary longer request the champion strategy connected the artifact conscionable to deed 60fps. If you're utilizing an AMD oregon Nvidia graphics paper that falls into the scope described above, it's decidedly worthy considering.
Is 1440p amended than 4K?
1440p tin beryllium a amended prime if you similar higher framework rates implicit crisp visuals. Because it is overmuch little demanding to run, it's imaginable to propulsion games to higher framework rates connected higher settings than is imaginable with 4K. However, with upscaling technologies similar Nvidia DLSS and AMD Fluid Motion Frames, you nary longer request a powerhouse PC to play galore games astatine 4K. Those aforesaid technologies tin propulsion 1440p framework rates adjacent higher, however, truthful it's omniscient to see what you worth astir and what benignant of framework complaint you anticipation to achieve.
Do you request an costly graphics paper to tally a 4K gaming monitor?
Not necessarily. Thanks to precocious upscaling features similar Nvidia DLSS and AMD Fluid Motion Frames, it's easier than ever to play games astatine 4K without having a top-of-the-line graphics card. If you privation to play games successful autochthonal 4K connected ultra settings, you volition inactive request a top-tier GPU. But, if you instrumentality vantage of either of the 2 technologies above, you tin bask large visuals and framework rates with lone a midrange GPU, similar the AMD Radeon 7700 XT oregon Nvidia RTX 4070.
Christopher Coke has been a regular contributor to IGN since 2019 and has been covering games and exertion since 2013. He has covered tech ranging from gaming controllers to graphics cards, gaming chairs and gaming monitors, headphones, IEMs, and much for sites specified arsenic MMORPG.com, Tom’s Hardware, Popular Science, USA Today’s Reviewed, and Popular Mechanics. Find Chris connected Twitter @gamebynight.
Originally posted:
May 5, 2025 3:40 pm