lcd screen refresh rate brands

Refresh rate is a number that specifies how many times per second the image on your TV changes. With most TVs it"s 60, though it"s rare you"ll ever see a TV with that number listed. Instead, manufacturers use different technologies, such as

Higher refresh rate claims with numbers like 120, 240 and higher are common, but not always accurate. In fact, no matter what number you see listed with a 4K TV, no 4K TV has a native panel refresh rate higher than 120Hz. As we"ll explain, though, a number higher than 120Hz doesn"t necessarily mean the claim is false.

Effective refresh rate means the TV refreshes its image at a lower rate, but might appear to have similar motion resolution as a TV with an actual higher refresh rate.

Let me start with the terms you"ll see on various TV makers" marketing materials and web sites. Each one calls the TVs motion handling capability something different, and many don"t even mention the term "refresh rate" or use "Hz" at all.

LG"s web site lists the panel"s native refresh rate up front. On TVs that have a 120Hz refresh rate it simply says "120Hz Native," while with 60Hz models it lists "TruMotion 120 (60Hz Native)."

Samsung is better than it used to be about this, albeit not as transparent as LG. The 4K TVs and 8K TVs on its site list a "Motion Rate." This is, generally, twice the native refresh rate. So Motion Rate 240 indicates a native refresh of 120Hz while Motion Rate 120 means a 60Hz refresh. In the least expensive of their TVs, a Motion Rate of 60 means a 60Hz refresh.

For most of its 2021 TVs Sony doesn"t list a number on its website, instead it just says "Motionflow XR." On some, however, it lists a number along with the native refresh: "Motionflow XR 240 (native 60 Hz)" and "Motionflow XR 960 (native 120 Hz)."

Vizio used to list an "Effective Refresh Rate" on its web site, which was just double the native refresh rate. For 2021, however, none of its TVs use that term as far as we could find, and most don"t list any refresh rate spec. The bottom line? All of

For the most effective increase in motion resolution, and compatibility with next-gen gaming consoles" best video output modes, you need a native 120Hz refresh television. That said, it is possible to have some improvement in motion resolution even with a 60Hz TV if it uses some other feature, like backlight scanning or black frame insertion, that improves motion resolution.

So are these higher refresh numbers just another "more is better!" marketing ploy? Not entirely. Higher refresh rates can reduce motion blur in LCDs and OLED TVs.

Interestingly, this blur is largely created by your brain. Basically, your brain notices the motion, and makes assumptions as to where that object (or overall image) is going to be in the next fraction of a second. The problem with LCD and current OLED TVs is that they hold that image there for the full 60th of a second, so your brain actually smears the motion, thinking it should be moving, when in fact it"s just a series of still images.

The motion blur we"re talking about here, despite coming from your brain, is caused by how the television works. This is separate from whatever blur the camera itself creates.

Both of these techniques are what manufacturers use to come up with their "effective refresh rate" numbers. For example, a TV with a 60Hz refresh and a scanning backlight might claim to have an effective refresh rate of 120. A TV with a more elaborate BFI mode, and frame interpolation, might have a claimed effective refresh rate of "540." There"s no transparency in how companies determine their "effective rate" numbers, but there is at least more consistency than there used to be.

It"s also possible these features, when enabled, are bothersome over time. Some people are especially sensitive to a flickering backlight, so you might need to turn these features off. If you"re concerned about that, or notice motion blur, it"s best to find a TV that actually has a 120Hz refresh rate.

The best high refresh rate monitors deliver crisp and smooth visuals during your gaming sessions. That doesn"t just mean a more enjoyable experience; it also means you"ll have a winning advantage as a fast display is able to deliver more images per second to keep up with your fast movements, making them great for competitive gaming.

60Hz and 120Hz monitors are hardly obsolete and will more than suffice for most of your viewing needs. However, some situations do call for a higher refresh rate. The best monitors that offer refresh rates 144Hz and faster are the cream of the crop, especially where gamers are concerned. If your PC’s graphics card is putting out higher frame rates, for example, or if a smoother, screen tearing-free gaming experience is much more important than higher resolution gameplay, then a higher refresh rate monitor is a better solution.

We"ve tested many gaming monitors in the last few years, so we know which ones are worth your money. To help you, we found all the best high refresh rate monitors available right now, considering size, budget, and different needs. From 165Hz panels that will serve you well when playing the latest fast-paced PC games to those monitors with a whopping 360Hz refresh rate that will help you rise to the top of the leaderboards, here are our top picks.

High refresh rate monitors may typically cost more, but that doesn’t mean that there aren"t excellent affordable options available. Out of those, the Gigabyte Aorus CV27Q may be the best, offering that fast refresh rate in a QHD package for less than you"d expect. You can count on its reliable 165 Hz refresh rate and adaptive sync to deliver a smooth gaming experience.

The AOC CU34G2X is similar to the Samsung Odyssey G7 in that you get a refresh rate of 144Hz, 1ms response time, and a 1440p resolution. Unlike the Samsung panel, however, this one is much lower in price point, which makes it a fantastic budget option for those who need something cheap.

The Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 comes at a premium, but you’re also paying for more than just its fast refresh rate. A 1440p resolution, DisplayHDR 400, 100% Adobe RGB and 98% DCI-P3 color gamuts, and all the ports you could ask for including one USB-C port — they all make this an impressive display and not just for gamers.

We found that its core image quality bright, vibrant and punchy, while also being natural looking and nicely calibrated right out of the box. Thanks to its fast refresh rate, there’s also almost no visible overshoot or inverse ghosting and very minimal blurring.

While it may need some calibrating out of the box, the Samsung Odyssey G7 is quite the panel. An incredibly fast 240Hz refresh rate paired with a 1440p resolution will make you forget all about those 4K options as this is the sweet spot for a lot of gaming. Even if you don"t notice the difference, but still you"ll have the peace of mind knowing that if you"re hitting up to 240fps in games, your monitor is keeping up.

But, none of that matters if the performance isn’t there. Luckily, the Alienware AW2721D is fast, thanks to that 240Hz refresh rate, delivering sharp, clean, and smooth picture quality. That"s certainly an advantage during fast and hectic gameplay when crisp visuals are crucial to winning.

The Asus TUF VG259QM might be the a speedy little monitor you want if you"re looking for display that can deliver exceptionally smooth performance. Not only does it boast an incredibly fast 280Hz refresh rate, but it also allows you to use G-Sync at the same time as the Asus’ own ELMB or Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync. What you"re getting, therefore, is picture quality that’s incredibly crisp and smooth no matter how fast you’re pushing it.

The MSI Oculux NXG253R is yet another affordable monitor if you"re looking for something that"s incredibly fast. Its 360Hz refresh rate at this price point, however, is especially uncommon, but it does mean don’t have to break the bank to gain access to these blazing fast speeds.

The ASUS ROG Swift PG259QNR might be light on features, but it comes with everything necessary to make the most of its lightning fast performance. That 360Hz refresh rate is already impressive. But, the inclusion of ULMB or Ultra Low Motion Blur, Nvidia G-Sync, and Nvidia’s Reflex Latency Analyzer allows you to fine-tune that speed.

The Alienware AW3423DW is a fantastic option if you"re looking to merge fast refresh rates with OLED technology, which has only recently come to computer and gaming monitors. This display delivers an almost impeccable gaming performance, thanks to its smooth motion processing, 175Hz refresh rate, and quick response time, which makes it a great proposition for gamers who love fast-paced games or do competitive gaming.

You are paying quite a sum for all of that. However, if you can afford it, rest assured you"re getting your money"s worth.How to choose the best high refresh rate monitor for youThere are a couple of caveats to know before you invest in a high refresh rate monitor, however. First, these panels tend to be pricey – or at least, more expensive than their 60Hz and 120Hz counterparts – for the simple reason that they’re more expensive to make. Second, you’ll be sacrificing high resolution to get that high refresh rate.

While there are now 4K displays with 144Hz refresh rate, there are only a few of them out there as it’s fairly new. And, if you want one with an even higher refresh rate, you’re stuck with 1080p and 1440p options. At least, for now. So, if you have a tight budget or if having a 4K screen is a priority, this might not be the best option for you.Round up of today"s best deals

The best high refresh rate monitors are as important a piece of a competitive gaming setup as a great graphics card, mouse, or keyboard. If you want to see the smooth look of a game running at a high refresh rate like 144Hz or 240Hz, a high refresh rate monitor will deliver that experience, and you probably won"t be able to go back to anything lower.

What refresh rate should you be looking for in a potential upgrade? You can feel the difference between even 60Hz and 75Hz monitors, though you start to notice the benefits in-game around 120Hz. We consider the standard for gaming monitors is 144Hz, though 165Hz is common enough with overclocked panels. Beyond that, you have 240Hz and 360Hz, targeting competitive gamers, such as twitch shooter players. These usually come alongside lower resolutions and higher price tags, so you want to be sure you"ll need that snappy response before investing in a 240/360Hz gaming monitor. Don"t even get us started on 480Hz gaming monitors(opens in new tab)that are supposedly coming pretty soon.

Refresh rate is just one element of modern gaming monitors, though, and what else you desire is up to you. Should you go for an IPS or VA panel, for instance. And what about panel, size, shape, and resolution? Is the 16:9 aspect ratio still the most versatile and compatible, or is ultrawide the way? Do curved panels add anything? And what about resolution? 4K? Or does 1440p strike a better balance? Is 1080p obsolete?

We"ve tested each of these high refresh rate gaming monitors in this list to see whether their claims stand up and make sure no compromise has been made to post those sky-high refresh rate claims.

Refresh rate, resolution, black levels, panel size: pick two. That"s been the PC monitor buyer"s dilemma for several years now, since we collectively realised that yes, playing at a higher refresh rate does actually make you better at Counter-Strike. MSI"s latest panel, bearing the catchy moniker Oculux NXG253R, aims to at least address the most common tradeoff in modern gaming panels: refresh rate for colour quality.

Whereas the majority of high refresh rate panels are VA or TN screens with limited viewing angle and shallow colours, MSI"s latest is built around an IPS panel, with all the inky blacks and rich colours that technology brings with it. Traditionally IPS has been slower to the party since it"s costlier to manufacture high refresh rate panels, but evidently enough of us are sold on 120Hz and beyond.360Hz does look and feel smoother than 120Hz.

At enthusiast level, there"s still just a sense of pure enjoyment in watching Overwatch or Quake Champions zip along. Anecdotally, I found D.Va"s out-of-suit pistol combat that bit easier with frames and refresh rate way up at 300 (the game"s capped there) since my targets were always where my screen told me they were. In similarly frenetic Quake Champions matches, I pulled off Ranger"s tricky teleport kill with a bit more ease, too.

But something to bear in mind: you still need the GPU to get your frame rate up there in the hundreds in order to feel the benefit of that 360Hz refresh.

This being an IPS panel with typically darker blacks, it definitely looks more vivid in-game than even a good TN screen, and the colours hold up at any viewing angle. You"ve got a few preset brightness and color balance modes to cycle between on the OSD, arranged by genre. FPS is super-bright and saturated, racing is a bit more subdued by contrast. Out of the box, the default colour and brightness settings are easy on the eye and really sell the IPS benefit.

The Oculux NXG253R"s mandate is sound, then, but there are still compromises made in this pricey 1080p monitor in order to optimise esports performance. The most obvious are the screen size and resolution, 24.5-inch and 1080p respectively. You could certainly argue that nobody"s getting 360 fps at 4K in… well, anything outside of CS:GO or MOBAs, and quite rightly so. But spending this much on a monitor that won"t even give you 1440p feels like a serious tradeoff, and that resolution dictates a smaller panel size. Nobody wants to see the individual pixels at 1080p on a 32-inch screen.

This monitor isn’t perfect. But it is dramatically better than any LCD-based monitor by several gaming-critical metrics. And it’s a genuine thrill to use. Of course, that’s getting ahead of ourselves. First, we need to cover off the basics.

What makes the AW3423DW far superior to your typical LCD panel on a PC gaming monitor is the near-percent color saturation and screen brightness capable of hitting a peak brightness of 1000 nits. It"s done all this while providing a ridiculously fast 175Hz refresh rate and a response time of .1ms. It might just be the best 3440 x 1440p gaming monitor we"ve ever used, and, boy, do we look at a lot of ultrawide.

Common to all OLED tech are two critical advantages over any LCD panel, namely contrast and response. Put simply, every pixel in an OLED panel is its own light source, which can be turned completely off, essentially delivering ‘true’ black levels and more or less infinite contrast. There’s no need for any of that complicated, problematic local dimming to stop the light from leaking through an LCD panel. OLED is the real HDR deal.

Not only is it OLED, it’s also Samsung’s hot new QD-LED tech, which combines the ideal RGB subpixel structure with quantum dot technology to produce both excellent color saturation and an even brighter panel. Net result? Alienware is claiming both an impressive 99.3 percent coverage of the demanding DCI-P3 color space and fully 1,000 nits brightness, albeit that brightness level can only be achieved on a small portion of the panel, not across the entire screen.

Unlike LCD monitors with claimed HDR capability, this OLED screen needs to be in HDR mode to do its thing. And that applies to SDR content, too. Alienware has provided two HDR modes, HDR 400 True Black and HDR Peak 1000. The latter enables that maximum 1,000 nit performance in small areas of the panel but actually looks less vibrant and punchy most of the time.

Why, exactly, does the AOC Agon AG273QXP run at 170Hz refresh? Is it a cynical marketing move designed to give AOC’s latest gaming panel a superficial edge over the usual 165Hz suspects? Is there some specific technical reason for the extra 5Hz?

It’s a pity to be distracted by such trivia because the AOC Agon AG273QXP has loads going for it. That 170Hz panel is a 1440p IPS item, making it a goldilocks model for modern gaming. Not too many pixels. Not too few. But just the right balance between visual detail and frame rate.

Cyberpunk 2077 looks glorious, that’s for sure. The Agon sports a pretty decent HDR implementation, too. At least it does for an HDR 400 panel that lacks local dimming. Like any other HDR 400 screen, it’s not a true HDR experience. But this is still a great high refresh rate monitor.

1080p not your bag? Better jog on as the Acer Predator XB253QGX won’t be for you. It isn’t really for most of us, either, given 1440p is a better all-around compromise for most gamers from a purely visual point. But if ultra-low latency and frames rates high enough to give you a nosebleed sounds like your thing, this 1080p 25-incher should be on your shortlist.

It’s very similar to the Alienware 25 but clocks in at a mere 240Hz to the Alienware’s outrageous 360Hz. In truth, only the most demanding esports addicts will be able to tell the difference. But if you are that sensitive to latency, the Acer’s 1080p resolution actually makes sense. After all, the fewer the pixels, the higher your frame rate.

As it happens, this Acer is slightly more vibrant than the ostensibly identical Lenovo Legion Y25-25, even if it isn’t as punchy as the much pricier Alienware. As with many screens of this type, you can fine-tune pixel response through an overdrive setting. Predictably, the most aggressive setting introduces some ghosting. But set to medium, this is a very quick IPS monitor. That said, even with a claimed MPRT response time of just 0.5ms, this is not an entirely blur-free monitor. That’s LCD technology for you.

Of course, it’s in pure visual punch where a 1080p panel like this stumbles. There’s significantly less detail on offer than a 1440p monitor, much less a 4K screen. This would not be our weapon of choice for soaking up the sheer spectacle of Cyberpunk 2077, that’s for sure.

There’s an elephant in this high refresh rate monitor round-up. And it’s the inevitable question of diminishing returns. When, exactly, do they kick in? 165Hz? 240Hz? How about 360Hz? Oh yes, this updated Alienware 25 is good for the full 360. In purely experiential and subjective terms, it’s not easy to separate it from otherwise similar 1080p IPS monitors that hum along at a comparatively pedestrian 240Hz refresh. They all feel swift.

Of course, esports aficionados with ninjascopic reflexes will appreciate the difference. And there’s certainly no penalty to pay, given this IPS panel. It’s not like you’re forced to suffer a dingy TN panel to have all those Hz. As for pixel response, it’s about as good as IPS monitors get, though once again hard to really separate from the cheaper 240Hz brigade.

But it’s actually Alienware’s other qualities that set it apart. For starters, this is the brightest and punchiest of the 25-inch bunch. The integrated Nvidia G-Sync chip also makes for a noticeably smoother low-frame-rate experience than a mere G-Sync ‘Compatible’ or FreeSync display. Ironic, given the 360Hz refresh is the main attraction.

That works out at over a billion per second at 144Hz, which just so happens to be the refresh rate of the Acer Predator XB273K, Acer’s more affordable 4K gaming panel. Compared to the pricier Acer Predator X27, it lacks local dimming, delivers lower peak brightness, and is merely G-Sync ‘Compatible’. So, there’s no Nvidia G-Sync module onboard.

None of which is to say this screen lacks appeal. No, siree. Once you’ve seen Cyberpunk 2077 running in full IPS-plus-4K glory, you won’t want to go back to 1440p, let alone crummy old 1080p. The problem is the philosophical incompatibility between maximizing image quality and frame rates at the same time. You can’t really have both. Not even with, say, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080(opens in new tab).

In other words, while this monitor is capable of 144Hz, you’re not going to get near those kinds of frame rates in the prettiest games. And if you’re not bothered about prettiness, you probably don’t need 4K if you follow. It’s a very nice screen, this Acer Predator XB273K, and better value than its Acer Predator X27 sibling, but it still doesn’t make much sense for this kind of money.

Unfortunately, the Viewsonic VX2718-2KPC-MHD is a VA screen slightly out of the old school, despite delivering a 165Hz refresh. Crank this 27-inch, 1440p curved monitor over for the first time, and it doesn’t bode well. In fact, the VX2718-2KPC-MHD is a bit of a blurry mess. It does improve with a little time and temperature. But even fully warmed up, it’s simply not as quick as the latest IPS panels. Or, for that matter, the implied performance of the 1ms MPRT response specification.

Incidentally, the VX2718-2KPC-MHD ‘1ms’ mode does little to improve response, but it does crush brightness and vibrancy pretty effectively. While we’re beating on Viewsonic’s latest, we note it lacks a refresh rate counter. It’s a small detail, but it’s also a handy feature to ensure that you’re running at the right refresh rate and confirm that adaptive sync is enabled.

Elsewhere, the stand feels a bit cheap and only offers tilt adjustment, while the external PSU adds to clutter. Meanwhile, as the 250cd/m2 brightness rating implies, this screen won’t exactly sear your retinas.

This isn’t to imply this screen has nothing to offer. The 1440p native resolution on a 27-inch panel is a sweet combo for balancing frame rates with in-game detail, while the VA panel tech delivers plenty of contrast. Of course, as 1440p 165Hz monitors go, it’s competitively priced, but the mediocre response and lack of punch might feel a bit too budget for most.

The Lenovo also has pretty sweet build quality with a lush alloy stand, full adjustability including height, tilt, rotate and swivel, plus styling that little bit slicker and more grown-up than your average, rather adolescent, gaming peripheral. The integrated, rather than external, power supply likewise soothes our collective OCD, and G-Sync compatibility is welcome if expected in this class of screen.

So what, exactly, is the problem? Basic image quality, that’s what. The Lenovo Legion Y25-25 is just a little bit dingier, a little duller than the competition. It’s unclear if it uses a different panel from the Acer and Alienware. But for sure, its colors are less vibrant, and games look less immersive. In isolation, and given the esports remit, that argument doesn’t matter. This certainly isn’t a terrible-looking screen, but when you can have all of Lenovo’s upsides, plus better basic image quality, elsewhere it is a bit of a non-starter of a monitor.

High refresh rate gaming monitor FAQWhat"s the best PC monitor panel type for gaming?If in doubt, go IPS. There are now VA screens with good response speed, like the fabulous MSI MPG ARTYMIS 343CQR. 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?If you"re asking the question, 144Hz is probably plenty. Esports fiends who will really appreciate higher refresh rates already know who they are and what they want. And that answer is likely getting on for 240Hz these days.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 (at either 16:9 or 21:9 aspect ratio) is probably the better compromise. 1080p is only of interest to those who demand the very highest frame rates for competitive shooters.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 in this context 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, HDR certification usually ensures high brightness, and HDR 600 and beyond requires wide color support.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.Round up of today"s best deals

LG is an international electronics company whose headquarters are in South Korea. Their monitors tend to focus more on gaming with the UltraGear lineup, but they have a few office-friendly options. While they have a few 4k monitors, they have more 1080p and 1440p options if your graphics card doesn"t support high-resolution, high-frame-rate games. You won"t get as many 240Hz monitors as other brands, but LG"s 1440p monitors are still reliable and excellent for gaming. They also offer screens in a variety of sizes, from 24 to 32 inches for 16:9 monitors and 34 and 38-inch ultrawide screens. LG has a few downsides because they offer limited ergonomics and don"t have many extra features.

The LG 32GQ950-B is the best LG monitor we"ve tested. It"s a 32-inch monitor with a high-resolution 4k screen, delivering a high pixel density that"s great for both gaming and multitasking. It"s an amazing gaming monitor with low input lag and a fast response time, ensuring a responsive gaming experience with very little blur behind fast-moving objects. It"s also great for office users in a bright room thanks to its high peak brightness, but direct reflections can be distracting if you have a lot of natural light. It also has a few convenience features built-in, including a built-in USB hub, so you can connect your peripherals to the monitor and have a single cable going back to your computer.

While gaming devices are becoming more powerful to deliver smooth gameplay at high frame rates, there"s still a lot of interest in 120Hz gaming. The latest Xbox Series X and PS5 consoles support 120Hz gaming at various resolutions. There are very few monitors that natively run at 120Hz, though, so most of the picks below default to a higher native refresh rate, but we"ve also tested their performance at 120Hz at their native resolution. When looking for a monitor for gaming at 120Hz, you"ll want good motion handling and low input lag for a responsive feel.

We"ve bought and tested more than 250 monitors, and below are our picks for the best monitors for gaming at 120Hz to buy. Also, check out our recommendations for the best monitors for PS5, the best monitors for Xbox Series X, and if you want a slightly higher refresh rate, the best 144Hz monitors.

The best 120Hz monitor we"ve tested is the Gigabyte AORUS FO48U. It"s a fantastic gaming monitor that delivers stunning picture quality thanks to its OLED panel. While OLEDs are more popular to use as TVs, they"re becoming more popular in the monitor market, and with a 48-inch screen size on this monitor, you get an immersive gaming experience that"s great for small spaces. OLEDs are great for dark room gaming because they have a near-infinite contrast ratio and perfect black uniformity, resulting in deep and inky blacks for dark room gaming.

The max refresh rate of this monitor is 120Hz, and it"s fantastic if you want to use it for gaming with the PS5 or Xbox Series X. With HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on its two HDMI ports, it can take full advantage of either console with 4k gaming up to 120 fps. It doesn"t support the full bandwidth of HDMI 2.1, as it"s limited to 24 Gbps, but that only affects the text clarity with the PS5 and doesn"t change anything with the Xbox. Lastly, motion looks incredibly smooth at 120Hz, and it has low input lag for a responsive feel.

If you find the Gigabyte AORUS FO48U OLED too expensive or don"t want the 48-inch screen size but still want the best 4k 120Hz monitor, look into the Gigabyte M32U. It"s different from the FO48U because it has a smaller 32-inch screen, and while it doesn"t offer the same immersive gaming experience, images look sharper due to its higher pixel density. It doesn"t have an OLED panel either, so it isn"t as good for dark room gaming, but it also gets brighter for well-lit rooms.

It still offers an excellent gaming experience with an excellent response time at 120Hz, and it also has an optional backlight strobing feature that works at 120Hz; however, it creates image duplications. Its input lag remains low with 120Hz signals for a responsive gaming experience. Like the FO48U, it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth that lets you play games from the PS5 or Xbox Series X, and if you"re also a PC gamer, it has a slightly higher 144Hz max refresh rate. If you still find the 32-inch screen size too big, there"s the Gigabyte M28U available, which is essentially a smaller monitor that costs less but has a less ergonomic stand.

If you"re looking for something cheaper and don"t need the 4k resolution of the Gigabyte M32U, then the LG 27GP850-B is a great alternative in the lower mid-range price category. Although it"s designed more with PC gamers in mind, as it has a max refresh rate of 180Hz, it still provides an excellent gaming experience with consoles. It can downscale a 4k @ 60Hz image from the PS5 and Xbox Series X, which results in a sharper image than a native 1440p signal, but without HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, you can"t play 4k @ 120Hz games, which is the sacrifice you have to make for getting something at a lower cost.

If you"re on a budget and want a monitor that"s great for 120Hz gaming, check out the ViewSonic XG2431. As you get into the budget category, it"s harder to find 1440p displays like the LG 27GP850-B, so it"s easier to find a 1080p display like this one, which also has a smaller screen size, but the image clarity is still decent. It"s also an advantage as many games only support 120Hz with 1080p signals, but it isn"t future-proof for when more games are compatible with 4k @ 120Hz signals. It works well with the consoles as it can also downscale a 4k image, and while its variable refresh rate (VRR) support works with the Xbox, it doesn"t with the PS5, so you"ll see some screen tearing.

If you want something even cheaper than the ViewSonic XG2431, the LG 24GL600F is a good cheap alternative that doesn"t cost much. It"s a step down from the ViewSonic in terms of features because it also has a lower refresh rate, but that doesn"t make a difference if you"re just gaming up to 120Hz. It"s a good monitor for gaming, but it has a slower response time than the ViewSonic, resulting in more noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects, but the motion handling is still great. It still has low input lag, ensuring you can respond quickly to the action on-screen, great for fast-paced games that rely on precise inputs.

The Gigabyte M27Q is a great monitor with the same specs as the LG 27GP850-B with a 1440p resolution and 170Hz max refresh rate and costs less, but the LG has a faster response time at 120Hz, so if you want the best performance, go for the LG.

If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our monitor reviews that support at least a 120Hz refresh rate. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.

• Perform highly diversified duties to install and maintain electrical apparatus on production machines and any other facility equipment (Screen Print, Punch Press, Steel Rule Die, Automated Machines, Turret, Laser Cutting Machines, etc.).

Philips 32M1C5200W has been officially unveiled featuring a 31.5-inch VA display with a 1500R curvature and an FHD resolution. The model has a typical brightness of 300 nits and a static contrast ratio of 3500:1. It supports 4 ms minimal GTG response time and 0.5 ms MPRT. The native refresh rate of the display is 240Hz supported via Adaptive-Sync technology. The monitor has a traditional Momentum series stand with...

LG Electronics is exhibiting its latest lineup of premium UltraGear OLED gaming monitors - LG 27GR95QE and LG 45GR95QE - at CES 2023. Equipped with the world"s first 240Hz OLED panel, which is exclusively manufactured by LG, the new 27- and 45-inch models deliver a record-breaking GTG response time of fewer than 0.03 ms, not to mention superior self-lit picture quality complete with accurate, lifelike colors and...

Asus Republic of Gamers has teased on social networks an upcoming high-end OLED monitor by Asus - the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM / Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM. This monitor will be unveiled at CES 2023 in early January next year. Obviously, the PG27AQDM features a 27-inch QHD OLED display. The teaser also mentions a 240Hz refresh rate. The rear panel is also shown to have an RGB light system as well as a logo...

ViewSonic VX2722-4K-OLED was unveiled earlier this year but it is now that it hits the stores in China. This monitor features a 27-inch 4K OLED display by JOLED - EPM269Q00V. The panel delivers native 10-bit color bit depth, 250 nits of typical and 540 nits of peak brightness, 109% Adobe RGB coverage, and a native 60Hz refresh rate. The model is VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certified. Being an OLED unit, it offers...

Philips 40B1U5601H is a new ultra-wide business monitor with a 40-inch IPS display, a resolution of 3440 x 1440 pixels, 8-bit color support, and 121% sRGB color space coverage. The typical brightness is specified as being 300 nits and the peak one - 500 nits, hence the HDR10 certification. The contrast ratio is 1200:1 and the GTG response time is 4 ms. The model has a native refresh rate is 120Hz with VRR support...

Philips has launched a new monitor from its 5000 series dubbed Philips 34B1U5600CH. The model is built around a 34-inch VA display with a 1500R curvature, WQHD resolution (3440 x 1440 pixels), 350 nits of brightness, and 3000:1 static contrast. The display covers 120% of the sRGB and 100% of the DCI-P3 color space and has a native 8-bit color bit depth. The native refresh rate is 120Hz (Adaptive-Sync) supported via...

AOC AGON AG275FS has been presented today featuring a 27-inch IPS display with an FHD+ resolution and a 360Hz refresh rate. The monitor has 350 nits of SDR brightness and 400 nits of HDR one, hence the VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification. It is also Adaptive-Sync certified (AMD FreeSync). The GTG response time is 1 ms and the MPRT is 0.5 ms. The monitor features a fully ergonomic stand with a telescopic headphone hook...

A number of 2023 LG TVs from its OLED, QNED, and LCD series have bagged certification from the NRRA in Korea. For starters, there are two models from the 2023 LG G3 OLED series: LG OLED77G3 LG OLED55G3 It is complemented by four models from the 2023 LG C3 OLED series: LG OLED77C3 LG OLED55C3 LG OLED48C3 LG OLED42C3 The 2023 LG OLED models are also complemented by two models from the LG B3 and one model from the LG...

MSI took to social media, Instagram specifically, to tease an upcoming high-end gaming monitor. Hidden behind the "Project 491C" moniker, this product will feature a curved, ultra-wide QD-OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate. Obviously, it is one of the products that has won a CES 2023 Innovation Award and will be introduced during the Las Vegas event in early January next year. Samsung offers two models from its...

Samsung Electronics" first OLED gaming monitor Samsung Odyssey OLED G8, which attracted attention from all over the world, appeared for the first time at G-Star 2022. The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 uses an OLED panel with quantum dot technology to show off the highest level of graphic quality that can be realized with an OLED panel. With specialized OLED technology, it supports a 175Hz refresh rate close to real-time...

The Acer KG251Q Zbmiipx is the latest gaming monitor from the KG1 series. Featuring a 24.5-inch VA display with an FHD resolution, it delivers up to a 250Hz refresh rate. The display has a typical brightness of 250 nits, a 3000:1 static contrast ratio, and 1 ms VRB. It covers 72% of the NTSC color reference space and is HDR10 certified. The model"s stand offers tilt adjustment only and the connectivity options...

LG Japan has launched a new desktop monitor with a 31.5" 4K Nano IPS display - the LG 32UQ850. It delivers 400 nits of typical brightness, 2000:1 static contrast ratio, 98% DCI-P3 color space coverage, 5 ms GTG response time, and supports 10-bit color bit depth. The model is VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified. The native refresh rate of this display is 60Hz with AMD FreeSync support for a range of 40-60Hz. The model"s...

Sony won a CES 2023 Innovation Award for its INZONE M9 gaming monitor. This product boasts a 4K IPS display with FALD (96 zones), a 144Hz refresh rate, and a 1 ms GTG response time. It covers 100% of the sRGB color space and has a typical brightness of 400 nits as well as a peak one of 800 nits. The unique, low-depth tripod provides total gaming comfort while optimizing desk space for peripherals. With a small...

Why we like it: The Dell P3421W has a sturdy adjustable stand, lots of ports (including a USB-C port that can handle power, display, and data over a single cable), and a three-year warranty. And it has a built-in KVM switch that allows you to easily swap your keyboard, mouse, and video between two computers. The 1440p display has a 60 Hz refresh rate, which is great for typical office work, web browsing, and casual gaming.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: If you use your display in direct sunlight, this monitor might not be bright enough for you. It can also provide 65 W of power over USB-C, but some laptops require more. If you have a laptop with an Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU or an Intel Core i7 processor, you might need to keep the laptop plugged in to a separate charger or use a Thunderbolt dock that can provide the extra power.

Most ultrawide monitors are also curved. This design helps minimize viewing-angle problems—when you’re sitting centered, things on the far edges of the screen won’t look as washed out as they would on a flat display of a similar width. But this also makes ultrawide monitors inaccurate for precision tasks requiring straight lines, such as drawing, photo editing, or similar design work.

Resolution is a key feature of any monitor. It measures the width and height of the screen in terms of pixels, or “picture elements”, the tiny points of illumination that compose an image. A 2,560 × 1,440 screen, for example, has a total of 3,686,400 pixels.

Common resolutions include 1,920 × 1,080 (sometimes called “Full HD” or FHD), 2,560 × 1,440 (“Quad HD”, QHD, or “Widescreen Quad HD”, WQHD), or 3840 × 2160 (UHD, or “4K Ultra HD”). Ultrawide monitors are also available with resolutions such as 2560 x 1080 (UW-FHD) and 3440 x 1440 (UW-QHD), 3840x1080 (DFHD), and 5120x1440 (DQHD).

The pixels being counted in these measurements are usually rendered the same way: As squares on a two-dimensional grid. To see this, you can either move closer to (or magnify) the screen until you perceive individual blocks of color, or zoom in on an image until it becomes “pixelated”, and you see a staircase of small squares instead of clean diagonal lines.

Beyond increasing the detail onscreen in games or movies, there"s another benefit to higher resolutions. They give you more desktop real estate to work with. That means you get a larger workspace on which to arrange windows and applications.

You might already know that a screen with 4K display resolution doesn"t magically make everything it displays look 4K. If you play a 1080p video stream on it, that content usually won"t look as good a 4K Blu-ray. However, it may still look closer to 4K than it used to, thanks to a process called upscaling.

Monitors can also change resolution. Modern screens have a fixed number of pixels, which defines their "native resolution" but can also be set to approximate lower resolutions. As you scale down, onscreen objects will look larger and fuzzier, screen real estate will shrink, and visible jaggedness may result from interpolation. (Note that it wasn’t always this way: older analog CRT monitors can actually switch between resolutions without interpolation, as they do not have a set number of pixels.)

Screens with 4K resolution and higher introduce another scaling concern: at ultra-high definition, text and interface elements like buttons can start to look small. This is especially true on smaller 4K screens when using programs that don’t automatically resize their text and UI.

Windows’ screen scaling settings can increase the size of text and layout elements, but at the cost of reducing screen real estate. There’s still a benefit of increased resolution, even when this scaling is used — onscreen content, like an image in an editing program, will appear at 4K resolution even if the menus around it have been rescaled.

Manufacturers measure screen size diagonally, from corner to corner. A larger screen size, in tandem with a higher resolution, means more usable screen space and more immersive gaming experiences.

Players sit or stand close to their monitors, often within 20”-24”. This means that the screen itself fills much more of your vision than an HDTV (when seated at the couch) or a smartphone/tablet. (Monitors boast the best ratio of diagonal screen size to viewing distance among common displays, with the exception of virtual reality headsets). The benefits of 1440p or 4K resolution are more immediately perceptible in this close-range situation.

Basically, you want to find a screen where you never perceive an individual pixel. You can do this using online tools that measure pixel density (in pixels per inch), which tells you the relative “sharpness” of the screen by determining how closely pixels are packed together, or the alternative pixels per degree formula, which automatically compares its measurements against the limits of human vision.

It"s also worth considering your own eyesight and desktop setup. If you have 20/20 vision and your eyes are around 20” from your screen, a 27” 4K panel will provide an immediate visual upgrade. However, if you know your eyesight is worse than 20/20, or you prefer to sit more than 24” away, a 1440p panel may look just as good to you.

A monitor"s aspect ratio is the proportion of width to height. A 1:1 screen would be completely square; the boxy monitors of the 1990s were typically 4:3, or “standard”. They have largely been replaced by widescreen (16:9) and some ultrawide (21:9, 32:9, 32:10) aspect ratios.

Most online content, such as YouTube videos, also defaults to a widescreen aspect ratio. However, you"ll still see horizontal black bars onscreen when watching movies or TV shows shot in theatrical widescreen (2.39:1, wider than 16:9), and vertical black bars when watching smartphone videos shot in thinner “portrait” mode. These black bars preserve the original proportions of the video without stretching or cropping it.

UltrawidesWhy opt for an ultrawide screen over regular widescreen? They offer a few advantages: They fill more of your vision, they can provide a movie-watching experience closer to the theater (as 21:9 screens eliminate “letterboxing” black bars for widescreen films), and they let you expand field of view (FOV) in games without creating a “fisheye” effect. Some players of first-person games prefer a wider FOV to help them spot enemies or immerse themselves in the game environment. (But note that some popular FPS games do not support high FOV settings, as they can give players an advantage).

Curved screens are another common feature on ultrawide monitors. These can correct one typical issue with larger ultrawides: Images at the distant edges of the screen look less distinct than those in the middle. A curved screen helps compensate for this and provides a clearer view of the extreme edges of the screen. However, its benefits are most noticeable on larger screens over 27”.

Contrast RatioContrast ratio, one of the most basic measures of a monitor"s performance, measures the ratio between the extremes of black and white that the screen can display. A baseline contrast ratio like 1,000:1 means that the white parts of the image are 1,000 times brighter than the dark parts.

Use caution when LCDs advertise very high “dynamic contrast ratios”, which are achieved by changing the behavior of the backlight. For gaming or everyday use, the standard “static” contrast ratio discussed above is a better marker of the monitor"s quality.

LuminanceBrightness is often measured in “luminance”, a precise measure of how much light is emitted by the screen. It"s given in candelas per square meter (cd/m2), a unit which is also called a “nit”. For HDR displays, the VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) has standardized a suite of tests for luminance using specific test patches. When comparing luminance specs, check to make sure they use this consistent test platform, rather than a proprietary metric.

Black LevelIn all LCD screens, light from the backlight inevitably leaks through the liquid crystal. This provides the basis for the contrast ratio: For example, if the screen leaks 0.1% of the illumination from the backlight in an area that"s supposed to be black, this establishes a contrast ratio of 1,000:1. An LCD screen with zero light leakage would have an infinite contrast ratio. However, this isn"t possible with current LCD technology.

“Glow” is a particular issue in dark viewing environments, which means that achieving low black levels is a major selling point for LCD monitors. However, an LCD screen can’t reach a black level of 0 nits unless it’s completely turned off.

OLEDs have incredible black levels because they don"t use backlights. When an OLED pixel isn"t activated by electricity, it creates no light at all. OLED screens may advertise black levels “below 0.0005 nits”, as taking measurements more precise is usually prohibitively expensive. However, the black level is usually much closer to 0 than 0.0005.

Color DepthMonitors need to display many subtle shades of color. If they can"t smoothly transition between slightly different hues, we see onscreen color “banding” — a stark shift between two different colors, creating visibly lighter, and darker bands where we should see a seamless gradient. This is sometimes referred to as “crushing” the colors.

A monitor"s ability to display many slightly different colors, and thus avoid banding and inaccuracy, is measured by color depth. Color depth specifies the amount of data (measured in bits) the screen can use to build the color of one pixel.

Each pixel onscreen has three color channels — red, green, and blue — illuminated at varying intensities to create (typically) millions of shades. 8-bit color means that each color channel uses eight bits. The total number of shades possible in a screen with 8-bit color depth is 28 x 28 x 28=16,777,216.

True 10-bit monitors are rare — many monitors use forms of internal color processing, such as FRC (frame rate control), to approximate a greater color depth. A “10-bit” monitor could be an 8-bit monitor with an additional FRC stage, often written as “8+2FRC”.

Some inexpensive LCD panels use 6-bit color along with “dithering” to approximate 8-bit color. In this context, dithering means the insertion of similar, alternating colors next to one another to fool the eye into seeing a different in-between color that the monitor cannot accurately display.

Frame Rate Control, or FRC, alternates different colors with each new frame to achieve this. While this can be implemented more cheaply than 8-bit True Color, color accuracy suffers, especially in low-light environments. Some screens also feature 8-bit color depth with an additional FRC stage (commonly listed as “8-bit + FRC”) to approximate 10-bit color.

Monitors sometimes feature a Look-Up Table (LUT) corresponding to a higher color depth, such as 10-bit color. This helps speed up color correction calculations that take place within the monitor as it converts color input to a color output appropriate for your screen. This intermediate step can help create smoother color transitions and more accurate output. These are usually reserved for more professional grade monitors than general consumer and gaming displays.

Monitors advertising "99% sRGB" are claiming the screen covers 99% of the sRGB color gamut, which is often considered indistinguishable from 100% when viewed with the naked eye.

In LCD screens, the backlight and color filters determine the color space. All of the light created by the backlight passes through a color filter with red, green, and blue spots. Narrowing the “band-pass” of this filter restricts the wavelengths of light that can pass through, increasing the purity of the final colors produced. Although this lessens the screen"s efficiency (as the filter now blocks more of the backlight"s output), it creates a wider color gamut.

HDR monitors display brighter images with better contrast and preserve more detail in both light and dark areas of the screen. Using an HDR monitor, you might be better able to spot something moving down a dark corridor in a horror game, or see more dramatic shafts of sunlight in an open-world title.

For LCD displays, a high-end backlight feature called local dimming is critical to HDR quality. Dimming zones for the backlight behind the screen control the brightness of groups of LEDs; more dimming zones means more precise control, less “blooming” (where light areas of the image brighten dark ones), and generally improved contrast.

Edge-lit local dimming relies on groups of LEDs clustered around the edges of the screen to brighten or dim the image in what is typically a fairly limited number of dimming zones.

Full Array Local Dimming (FALD), a more high-end option, uses far more dimming zones (typically hundreds) directly behind the panel rather than just at the edges of the screen. It can give more finite control of the HDR content and dimming of the screen as a result.

On the low end, a DisplayHDR 400 screen can have a peak brightness of 400 nits (compared to a 300-nit standard monitor), but only needs a standard 95% sRGB color gamut and 8-bit color depth. DisplayHDR 400 doesn"t require backlight local dimming.

On the higher end, a DisplayHDR 600 screen needs a brightness of 600 nits, 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut (providing a wider color space), 10-bit color depth, and some form of local dimming.

Refresh rate is the frequency at which your entire screen refreshes the image. Higher refresh rates make onscreen motion look smoother, because the screen updates the position of each object more rapidly. This can make it easier for competitive players to track moving enemies in a first-person shooter, or just make a screen feel more responsive as you scroll down a webpage or open an app on your phone.

Response rates are measured in hertz: A response rate of 120Hz, for example, means that the monitor refreshes every pixel 120 times per second. While 60Hz was once the standard for both PC monitors and smartphones, manufacturers are increasingly adopting higher refresh rates.

A higher refresh rate makes it easier to track moving objects with your eye, makes sharp camera movements feel smoother, and reduces perceived motion blur. Online communities are divided about the improvement provided by monitors over 120Hz. If interested, it"s worth checking one out in person to see how much of a difference it might make for you.

Frame rate, measured in frames per second (FPS), tracks the number of images your graphics hardware draws. This online motion test demonstrates the improvements players will see when tracking moving objects at higher frame rates and refresh rates.

However, you"ll only actually see those extra frames onscreen if you have a refresh rate that matches or exceeds them; similarly, you only benefit from a high refresh rate screen if you have a CPU and graphics card capable of high frame rates. Plan your build accordingly to get the full benefit from your hardware.

Response times must be fast enough to keep up with the refresh rate. On a 240Hz screen, for example, a new frame is sent to the screen every 4.17 milliseconds (1000/240 = 4.17).

Players sometimes confuse response time with input lag, a measurement of the delay before your actions appear onscreen, similarly measured in milliseconds. Input lag is felt rather than seen, and is often a priority for players of fighting games and first-person shooters.

Input lag is a side effect of the processing done by the monitor scaler and the screen"s internal electronics. Selecting “Game Mode” on your monitor"s adjustment menu often switches off image processing features and lessens input lag. Disabling VSync (which prevents some visual artifacts) in in-game option menus can also help reduce input lag.

Adaptive SyncScreen tears will be instantly familiar to most players: A graphical glitch that appears as a horizontal line on your screen, with slightly mismatched images above and below it.

The glitch involves both your graphics card and monitor. The GPU draws a varying number of frames per second, but the monitor refreshes its screen at a fixed rate. If the GPU is midway through overwriting the previous frame in the frame buffer when the monitor reads the frame buffer to refresh the screen, the monitor will display the mismatched image as-is. The top of the image might be a new frame, but the bottom section will still show the previous frame, creating the “tear”.

VSync (vertical sync) provides one solution to this issue. This in-game feature reduces the speed at which frames are drawn in order to match your monitor"s refresh rate. However, VSync can cause stuttering when the frame rate drops below that cap. (For example, the GPU may suddenly drop to 30fps when it can"t deliver 60fps). The increased load on the GPU can also result in input lag.

G-Sync monitors use NVIDIA"s proprietary G-Sync scaler chip to match monitor refresh rates to GPU output, as well as predict GPU output based on recent performance. It also helps prevent stutter and input lag, which can result from duplicate frames being drawn as the first one waits to be displayed.

AMD Radeon FreeSync monitors operate along similar lines, matching the display to GPU output to avoid screen tearing and stutters. Rather than using a proprietary chip, they"re built on open Adaptive Sync protocols, which have been built into DisplayPort 1.2a and all later DisplayPort revisions. Though FreeSync monitors are often cheaper, the trade-off is that they aren"t subject to standard testing before release, and vary widely in quality.

Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) is a general term for technologies that sync up your monitor and GPU. Adaptive Sync is an open protocol included in DisplayPort 1.2a and later revisions. Recent Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA graphics technologies can all work with Adaptive Sync monitors.

Both LCDs and OLEDs "sample and hold", displaying moving objects as a series of static images that are rapidly refreshed. Each sample remains onscreen until it"s replaced with the next refresh. This "persistence" causes motion blur, as the human eye expects to track objects smoothly rather than see them jump to a new position. Even at high refresh rates, which update the image more often, the underlying sample-and-hold technology causes motion blur.

Motion blur reduction features use backlight strobing to shorten the time that frame samples are displayed onscreen. The screen turns black after every sample before displaying the next, reducing the time that a static image is held onscreen.

This mimics the operation of older CRT monitors, which worked differently than current LCD technology. CRT screens were illuminated by phosphors that rapidly decayed, providing brief impulses of illumination. This meant that the screen was actually dark for most of the refresh cycle. These quick impulses actually created a smoother impression of motion than sample-and-hold, and motion blur reduction features work to replicate this effect.

Because the backlight is being rapidly turned off and on, these features also lessen the brightness of the display. If you"re planning to use motion blur reduction backlight strobing, ensure that the screen you"re buying has high peak brightness.

These backlights should only be enabled for gaming and fast-moving content, as they will deliberately cause the backlight to flicker, which may be annoying during day-to-day tasks. They also can typically only be used at a fixed refresh rate (like 120Hz), and won"t work at the same time as VRR.

CRTs used three bulky electron guns to send a beam to excite red, green, and blue phosphors on the screen. These phosphors decayed within a few milliseconds, meaning the screen was illuminated by brief impulses on each refresh. This created a smooth illusion of motion, but also visible flickering.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)In TFT LCDs (thin-film-transistor liquid crystal displays), a backlight shines light through a layer of liquid crystals that can twist, turn, or block it. The liquid crystals do not emit light themselves, which is a key difference between LCDs and OLEDs.

Older LCDs used Cold-Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFLs) as backlights. These large, energy-inefficient tubes were incapable of controlling the brightness of smaller zones of the screen, and were eventually phased out in favor of smaller, energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

LCD panels are available in a range of technologies and can vary widely in color reproduction, response time, and input lag, especially among high-end options. However, the following generalizations about panels usually hold true:

Oldest and most affordable LCD panel type. High refresh rates and response times for high-speed gaming such as first-person shooters or fighting games.

Widest viewing angles. Most stable image quality. Deeper blacks and better contrast ratios than TN panels. Most are 6-bit+2, but 8-bit and 8+2 panels exist. Often highly rated premium panels.

Pale glow, known as “IPS glow” visible when viewing screens in dark rooms from off-center angles. Response times usually worse than TN panels, but better than VA panels. Lower contrast ratio than VA panels.

Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED)OLED screens are emissive, meaning they create their own light, rather than transmissive screens that require a separate light source (like LCDs). Here, the application of electric current causes a layer of organic molecules to light up on the front of the screen.

Backlights may be imperfectly blocked by the liquid crystals in an LCD, causing black areas of an image to appear gray. Because OLEDs have no backlight, they can achieve “true black” by simply turning off a pixel (or at least 0.0005 nits, the lowest measurable brightness).

OLEDs therefore boast very high contrast ratios and vibrant color. The elimination of the backlight also makes them slimmer than LCDs. Much as LCDs were a thinner, more energy-efficient evolution of CRTs, OLEDs may prove a thinner evolution of LCDs. (They can also be more energy-efficient when displaying dark content, like movies, but less energy-efficient with white screens, such as word processing programs).

You"ll find a multitude of ports behind or beneath your monitor. Display interfaces connect your screen to graphics output from your PC, while USB and Thunderbolt™ ports provide data and power to external devices.

Dual-Link DVI: This revision doubles the bandwidth of single-link DVI. It displays up to 2560 × 1600 resolution and supports refresh rates up to 144Hz (at 1080p).

Figuring out what to look for in a gaming monitor depends heavily on the choices you"ve made about the rest of your computer. Modern monitors can generally help you avoid the dropped frames, input lag, and visual artifacts common in older technologies, but the value of increased resolution, color depth, and motion smoothing features will vary from player to player. It"s down to you to separate the must-haves from the nice-to-haves.

It’s natural for anyone shopping desktop monitors to be swayed by size, shape, resolution and color quality. But depending on your business needs, you may also want to consider a less flashy feature: the monitor’s refresh rate.

Refresh rate is the frequency at which the screen updates with new images each second, measured in hertz (cycles per second). The content may look steady on the display, but what the viewer can’t see is how fast the content is changing — up to 360 times a second. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the visual quality.

Super high monitor refresh rates aren’t all that important for office workers focused on lighter computing like word processing, spreadsheets and emails. But in more visual professions like creative production and game development, a high refresh rate for monitors is invaluable.

The standard refresh rate for desktop monitors is 60Hz. But in recent years, more specialized, high-performing monitors have been developed that support 120Hz, 144Hz and even 240Hz refresh rates, which ensure ultra-smooth content viewing, even for the most demanding visual processing needs.

Just buying a high refresh rate monitor doesn’t mean the display quality will magically improve. The monitor’s refresh rate reflects the maximum rate at which the display can change the visuals. What happens on the screen depends on the frame rate of the output — the number of video frames that are sent to the display each second.

A 120Hz monitor has obvious benefits, though, for modern gaming platforms that animate at 100 fps or higher. A high refresh rate helps the screen keep pace with the high-twitch inputs of players and translate them into super smooth actions on screen.

When refresh rate and frame rate are mismatched, it can result in something called screen tearing. If the computer’s graphic card is pushing out more frames than the monitor’s refresh rate can handle at a given moment, users may see two half-frames on the screen at once, bisected horizontally and slightly misaligned. In short, it doesn’t look good. Games are usually configured to automatically match the PC’s gr