One of the biggest differences between how you use a TV and a gaming monitor is how close you sit to them. At the distance you sit from a gaming monitor, a Full HD or even a 1440p image can start seeing the individual pixels on a display especially when going for bigger screens. If you’ve already paid to get a high-end gaming PC, the last thing you need is an image that doesn’t feel as sharp as your rig should be able to offer. That’s when a 4K gaming monitor can shine.With most 4K gaming monitors, you’ll be looking at a seamless image in your games. Even on 27- and 30-inch displays, the pixels are packed together tight enough that you don’t have to worry about jagged edges. Many of the best 4K gaming monitors don’t just offer an increase in resolution but also include some of the latest display technologies like HDR, higher peak brightness levels, and local dimming.Of course, it takes a hell of a machine to run demanding games at 4K, but that doesn’t mean you need to shy away. All of the best 4K gaming monitors also feature adaptive sync technologies (like FreeSync and G-Sync), which means you can still get clear visuals even when your computer can’t keep a stable frame rate at 4K. Plus, with a 4K gaming monitor, you’ll be all ready to enjoy future hardware like the Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5 and whatever AMD has in store with upcoming Navi graphics. For those of you in the UK, click here to see where you can find each and every one the monitors mentioned below.
TL;DR These are the Best 4K Gaming Monitors:
1. Acer Predator XB273K
Best 4K Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 Panel type: IPS G-Sync Brightness: 400cd/m2 Refresh rate: 144Hz Response time: 4ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 90% DCI-P3, 87% ARGB, 100% sRGB Inputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 x Weight: 15.85 pounds Size: 24.76″ x 21.3 x 12.09″
This premium 27-inch 4K IPS panel (see our review) boasts a bright picture with gorgeous colors along with gaming goodies such as a 4ms response time, 144Hz refresh rate, and G-Sync. With 400-nit brightness, it meets the HDR400 specification for a more dynamic image. For gamers, this primarily means greater details in shadows. This spendy panel pairs well with a spendy GPU that can power games a 4K and 144Hz.2. Viotek GFI27QXA
Best Budget 4K Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 Panel type: IPS FreeSync Brightness: 350cd/m2 Refresh Rate: 144Hz Response time: 5ms (GTG) / 1ms (OD) Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 8-bit, 16.7M colors, 110% sRGB Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 x Weight: 13.45 pounds Size: 24.37″ x 20.25″ x 9.07″
If you’re not looking for too many frills but want a 4K monitor that can still game like a pro, then the Viotek GFI27QXA is a utilitarian champ. Its 27-inch display won’t disappoint when it comes to sharpness, as 4K is incredibly pixel-dense at this size. It even uses an IPS panel, so you’ll get great viewing angles and decent colors.What makes this affordable 4K monitor stand out is its fast refresh rate. You can hit up to 144Hz with this monitor if you have the graphics card to muster that at 4K. It does require using two DisplayPort 1.4 connections simultaneously to achieve 4K/144Hz though, as a single DisplayPort 1.4 connection will slightly limit you to 4K/120Hz. Still, this monitor has a high-quality feature set for the price, and it even tops it off with FreeSync.
3. LG UltraFine 27UL650-W
Best Ultra Cheap 4K Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 Panel type: IPS FreeSync Brightness: 400cd/m2 Refresh Rate: 60Hz Response time: 5ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 10-bit (8-bit + FRC), 1.07b colors, 99% sRGB Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 x Weight: 13.89 pounds Size: 24.13″ x 18 x 9.06″
The LG Ultrafine 27UL650-W is one of the cheapest ways to game at 4K. You’re getting that sweet combination of a 27-inch display packed with pixels at 4K, so you never have to worry about a game not looking sharp enough. But, it goes beyond that by delivering some base-level HDR as well. Thanks to its 400-nit peak brightness, it meets the VESA DisplayHDR400 standard. And, with a bit of technological prowess, it pulls off a wider color gamut.At this budget-barrel price, it’s understable that you’re limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, but that still makes it game-worthy. It’s low response time and inclusion of FreeSync will also help keep your gaming experience solid. It’s definitely a strong option for the price.
4. Acer Predator X27
The Best 4K G-Sync Monitor
Screen size: 27″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 Panel type: IPS G-Sync HDR Brightness: 1,000cd/m2 Refresh rate: 144Hz Response time: 4ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 97% DCI-P3, 99% sRGB Inputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 Weight: 17.42 pounds Size: 24.8″ x 17.5 x 14.75″
4K G-Sync gaming monitors are few and far in between but this tiny category includes some of the most amazing displays you’ll ever see. The Acer Predator X27 is a G-Sync Ultimate gaming monitor that offers a 4K resolution, breathtaking HDR colors, an 1,000-nit peak brightness, and local dimming across the entire screen. Oh, and a 144Hz refresh rate to top all of that off.In a nutshell, G-Sync Ultimate gaming monitors are all about giving you everything that makes modern 4K Gaming TVs amazing, but in a much smaller size without any of the input lag issues. Of course, all this greatness comes at a hefty price of at least $1,500significantly less than its initial $2,000 launch price. The only other thing to keep in mind about this gaming monitor is the fact that Asus has announced an even better Asus ROG Swift PG27UQX monitor that also features mini LED technology.
5. ViewSonic XG3220
Best 4K FreeSync Monitor
Screen size: 32″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 Panel type: VA Freesync Brightness: 300cd/m2 Refresh Rate: 60Hz Response time: 5ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 Color support: 99% sRGB Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 Weight: 18.3 pounds Size: 28.6″ x 18.1″ x 10.3″
Are you ready for some pleasant sticker shock? You can get a 32-inch, 4K monitor with FreeSync for just $465, much cheaper than what a 4K G-Sync display will cost you. The ViewSonic XG3220 (read our review) monitor uses a VA panel that offers great color accuracy, wide viewing anglesthough with a fairly pedestrian 60Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time. It also comes with a pair of HDMI 2.0 ports that support 4K at 60Hz, so you can also plug in a pair of game consoles and still have a DisplayPort 1.2 leftover for your gaming PC.There are some caveats with this reasonably priced 4K gaming monitor though, namely HDR is underwhelming due to a lack of true 10-bit color. High-speed, action-packed scenes also don’t do so well on this display with some obvious blurring and ghosting. But for a large 4K monitor, the ViewSonic XG3220 Gaming Monitor is a great starting point for users who just bought a powerful enough gaming PC on a budget or one of the latest consoles.
6. BenQ EW3280U
Best 4K G-Sync Compatible Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 32″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 Panel type: IPS FreeSync Brightness: 400cd/m2 Refresh Rate: 60Hz Response time: 5ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1000:1 Color support: 10-bit, 1.07b Colors, 95% DCI-P3 Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, USB-C (DP Alt Mode) Weight: 17.86 pounds Size: 28.6″ x 20.5″ x 8.03″
BenQ is here to let you go big. This 32-inch gaming monitor even goes bigger on sound with a pair of 2W speakers and a 5W woofer for 2.1-channel audio. That lets it do double duty as a small TV when you’re not gaming. Of course, when you are gaming, it’s still ready to hold up.The BenQ EW3280U supports FreeSync, and though it isn’t officially certified as a G-Sync Compatible monitor, it can still smoothly run on G-Sync when paired with an Nvidia graphics card. While you don’t get a fast refresh rate on this monitor, you do get a 10-bit color depth and a 400-nit peak brightness, making for some great looking imagery. So, if you want some pretty-looking games and the option to skip headphones and external speakers in your setup, this monitor can deliver.
7. ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ
Best 4K HDR Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 Panel type: IPS G-Sync HDR Brightness: 1,000cd/m2 Refresh rate: 144Hz Response time: 4ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 97% DCI-P3, 99% sRGB Inputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 Weight: 20.28 pounds Size: 24.96″ x 17.2 x 10.55″
If you’re looking for a feature-packed gaming monitor, one that also costs a whole lot of money, then the ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ is for you. This display actually preceded Nvidia’s 20-series cards, so before they released, it didn’t make a whole lot of sense to try and squeeze 144 fps out of your 4K games. With all the 20-series and 16-series cards out now, and powerful, the world is your oyster when it comes to frame rates. No matter which graphics card you end up using, the ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ is an incredible monitor and a true sight to behold. If you have the money and the hardware, it’s worth a look.8. Acer Nitro XV273K
Best Budget 4K HDR Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 Panel type: IPS FreeSync2 HDR Brightness: 400cd/m2 Refresh rate: 144Hz Response time: 4ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 100% sRGB, 90% DCI P3 Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 Weight: 8.8 pounds Size: 21.8″ x 16.6″ x 8.0″
4K HDR monitors usually break the bank, but the Acer Nitro XV273K (read our review) is the one good display we’ve seen going for under a grand. Not only does this screen render sharp details at a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution, but it’s also HDR 400 certified, so it hits a 400-nit peak brightness and displays 10-bit color too.That’s all pretty spectacular for $900 and beyond looking great on paper, this 4K monitor wows with the ability to show the tiniest details like individual grains of sand in Assassin’s Creed Origins. There are some unfortunate shortcomings like oversaturated colors outside and cloudy black levels outside of HDR mode, but I’d happily overlook these small issues for all the resolution you’re getting.
9. Acer Predator CG437K
Best Big Screen 4K Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 43″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 Panel type: VA FreeSync Premium Pro, G-Sync Compatible Brightness: 1,000cd/m2 Refresh Rate: 144Hz Response time: 4ms (1ms with VRB) Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 4,000:1 Color support: 1.07B, 10-bit (8-bit + FRC) Inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB-C Weight: 41.12 pounds Size: 38.5″ x 26.5″ x 10.4″
The 3,840 x 2,160 resolution on 4K gaming monitors pretty much demands that you get a big screen as it’s pretty much wasted on anything smaller than 27-inches. Well, what about a 43-inch gaming monitor that’s big enough to replace the TV in your living room? That’s exactly what the Acer Predator CG437K is and it arguably offers better picture quality than your TV anyway.Aside from giving you an Ultra HD picture on a large display, the Acer Predator CG437K delivers 1,000-nits in peak brightness. It also sports a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time with Virtual Response Boost engaged. On the back of this monitor, you’ll find enough HDMI ports for all your consoles, plus a pair of DisplayPorts and a USB-C port to plug in multiple computers. Lastly, the Acer Predator CG437K supports both AMD and Nvidia’s respective versions of variable refresh rate.
10. Alienware 55 OLED Gaming
Best 4K OLED Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 55″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 Panel type: OLED FreeSync Premium Pro, G-Sync Compatible Brightness: 350cd/m2 Refresh Rate: 120Hz Response time: 0.5ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 130,000:1 Color support: 10-bit 1.07B Inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 Weight: 57.54 pounds Size: 48.26″ x 10.39″ x 30.34″
The Alienware 55 OLED Gaming is more akin to a 4K OLED gaming TV, but this display is an indisputably a gaming monitor and what a screen it is. This giant 55-inch display gives you pitch blacks and the sort of per-pixel accuracy only and OLED screen can. However, unlike a television, this OLED screen doesn’t have to deal with layers of image processing, bloated software, or anything getting in the way of a simply incredible gaming experience.As for some more gaming-specific features and specs, the Alienware 55 OLED Gaming offers up a 120Hz refresh rate and 0.5ms response time. What’s more, this display supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and is Nvidia G-Sync Compatible so you’ll get variable refresh rate support no matter which platforms you plug into it. And with three HDMI ports and a DisplayPort, you can hook up all the consoles and your gaming PC at the same time.
Where to Get the Best 4K Gaming Monitor in the UK
Even the Brits want to get their 4K gaming monitors sorted in time for the next generation of gaming. Thankfully, the vast majoirty of monitors listed in our article are also available to pick up across the pond, with only one exceptions. This exception is the ViewSonic XG3220, it’s listed on Amazon, but orders can not be placed at this time. Other than the ViewSonic, however, you can take your pick. Stick to a budget and try out the LG UltraFine 27, or go all out with the massive 55-inch OLED Gaming set from Alienware. Here’s all the links for those looking to navigate the web promptly.What you need to look for in a 4K Gaming Monitor
Below I highlight the benefits of a 4K Gaming Monitor and what’s the difference between the two types of Variable Frame Rate technology available today.4K monitors display four times the pixel count of a 1080p or Full HD display, which allows them to render a high-fidelity graphics and more realistic textures. However, you’re probably going to want a large 4K gaming monitor as it’s hard to discern the difference in sharpness between Ultra HD and Full HD on a 24-inch screen. The pixel density (measured in pixels-per-inch) on a smaller screen is so tight that it’s almost impossible to clearly see the individual pixels of your display.
As you move up in screen sizemostly 27 inches and upthe gaps between the pixels become more apparent and this mesh-like appearance is called the screen door effect. Once you move up to a screen large enough 1080p (or even 1440p) panels to pack enough pixels into an area to present a crisp, detailed image and you’ll want to start looking at a 2160p resolution display.
Don’t expect to see particularly high frame rates when playing at Ultra HD resolutions. For one thing, even the most powerful graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti can only manage to render some 4K games at 30-45 fps at best on its own. To really achieve 4K 60 and beyond, you may need to invest in two of the most powerful Nvidia Turing GPUs running in SLI.
Also be aware that most 4K monitors come with a 60Hz refresh rate, except for a few pricey 144Hz models. In the end, a 4K monitor is a pricey addition to your rig that usually prioritizes pixel count over speed and smooth gameplay.
G-Sync vs. FreeSync
Normally, your graphics card draws a frame and then has to wait until the monitors refresh cycle before it can display it. When the timing of these two events isn’t in sync, you would see partially-drawn frames on the screen (called tearing). If you have a monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate, and your GPU just barely missed drawing the frame in 1/60th of a second, it momentarily drops down to 30fps instead of something like 57fps, as it waits for the next 60Hz monitor refresh.Variable refresh rate monitors reverse this relationship to refresh the monitor’s display just as the graphics card has drawn a frame. If the game finished drawing that last frame in 1/57th of a second, the monitor will run at 57Hz and the frame will be immediately displayed. VRR makes your games look a lot smoother and gives you more freedom to adjust the visual quality in games without worrying about causing about a jumpy frame rate, or else turning off V-sync and suffering from tearing. This is especially important if you’re an early adopter of 4K gaming since 4k / 60 FPS is still hard for even high-end rigs to achieve.
There are two such technologies right now, and theyre not compatible with each other… sort of. At CES 2019, Nvidia announced it’s testing existing FreeSync monitors for compatibility with G-Sync drivers released after January 15, 2019. So far, just a handful of FreeSync displays are compatible with the G-Sync driver, but with FreeSync almost always being a cheaper option, it might be worth looking into it.
For recommendations on pushing your PC into the 4K era, check out our guide to the best graphics cards. I also have guides to the best desks for gaming, the best gaming chairs, and if 4K is too expensive or your PC can’t handle it, I also have guides for the best cheap gaming monitors, too.
Home>>U.S.>>Looking for the next level gaming? We’ve picked out the best 4K gaming monitors that will give you the sharpest picture you’ve ever experienced.
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