Gaming Monitors

Gaming Monitor Buying Guide 2026

Gaming Monitor Buying Guide 2026: 27 inches, Hz and Sync

Decide quickly – which gaming monitor is right for you?

• 24 inches, 240 Hz and more: for competitive shooters, keep everything in view
• Gaming monitor in 27 inches, 144 to 240 Hz: the most popular choice, usually in WQHD
• 32 inches, 4K: for racing simulations, strategy and open-world games
• 34 inches in widescreen: wider field of view in simulations

Why 27 inches is the most popular choice

Around half of our devices measure 27 inches, the vast majority of which have at least 144 Hz – and for good reason. At 27 inches, two requirements that would otherwise contradict each other come together. The screen is large enough that the minimap, health bar and center of the image remain readable at the same time. And it is compact enough that you can still see the edges with your eyes at a normal viewing distance without moving your head. That is exactly what counts in games where reactions decide the outcome.

The resolution is also a good fit: WQHD with 2560 × 1440 is the ideal combination for 27 inches. It is noticeably sharper than Full HD, but demands significantly less from the graphics card than 4K – and thus leaves room for high frame rates.

Frame rate: what 144, 240 and 360 Hz mean in gaming

The refresh rate indicates how many times per second the screen generates a new image. The higher it is, the more fluid movements appear instead of in individual steps, and the more readable fast turns remain. A 144-Hz monitor is considered the point today where this becomes clearly noticeable in games.

• 144 Hz is considered the standard entry point for gaming today and fully covers most titles
• 165 to 180 Hz are the popular middle ground, often at no extra cost compared to 144 Hz
• A 240-Hz monitor is aimed at competitive gaming, where individual frames make the difference
• 360 Hz and above is the field for tournament players; we carry individual models up to 500 Hz

To be honest about the upper limit: The jump from 60 to 144 Hz is usually much more noticeable than any further increase. Between 144 and 240 Hz, the difference is still noticeable for many, beyond that it becomes minor outside of competitive gaming. If you do not play competitively at a tournament level, it makes more sense to invest the money in resolution or panel quality than in the last few hertz.

The interplay is important anyway: The frame rate is only visible if the graphics card delivers correspondingly many frames per second in the selected game. In a graphically demanding title in 4K, even powerful cards rarely achieve 240 frames per second. In competitive shooters with reduced details, however, they do.

Dual-Mode: two monitors in one device

A development that resolves the conflict between resolution and speed. Devices with Dual-Mode can be switched with the press of a button: high resolution with a high frame rate for demanding single-player titles, or reduced resolution with a significantly higher frame rate for competitive matches. Instead of choosing between "sharp" and "fast", you get both in the same device.

This is especially useful if you play both seriously. If you know clearly that you are either playing competitively or in 4K, you get a device for the same budget that serves exactly this one discipline to the maximum: an even higher frame rate or even more resolution instead of headroom for both. We currently carry individual devices with Dual-Mode; we are happy to tell you which ones they are in conversation.

Response time and input lag are two different things

Both values are given in milliseconds and are regularly confused.

The response time describes how quickly a pixel changes its color. It determines whether moving objects leave a trail. In modern devices, it is between 1 ms and 5 ms; OLED panels achieve values around 0.03 ms.

The input lag describes the delay between a mouse click and the visible reaction on the screen. It is the value you actually feel, but it is less often listed in the data sheet. A low input lag is created by fast signal processing in the monitor – that is why gaming models come with their own image mode that reduces post-processing.

G-Sync and FreeSync: why the image otherwise tears<a id="sync"></a>

If the graphics card and screen operate at different rates, the monitor displays the next image in the middle of generating the current one. This becomes visible as a horizontal offset that runs across the image during fast camera pans – called tearing in the gaming scene.

Adaptive Sync solves this by having the screen adjust its rate to the graphics card instead of the other way around. Two versions are common: FreeSync comes from AMD and is on board most devices in this category, G-Sync comes from NVIDIA. Many current monitors support both methods. We are happy to clarify beforehand which combination suits your graphics card.

Which monitor suits which game

The most honest way to decide is through what you actually play:

If you work with three screens in a racing or flight simulator, you should consider the frame width and mount from the beginning: identical models next to each other, plus a mount that holds all three and can be angled towards the cockpit. You can find suitable VESA mounts in the TV and display mounts – we are happy to plan with you which combination works in your setup.

Console: the most expensive mistake when connecting

If you want to play the console in 4K, one feature decides the purchase: HDMI 2.1. The current generations deliver 4K with up to 120 frames per second, but only via this connection. On a monitor with HDMI 2.0, the same console stays at 60 Hz in 4K, and half of what you bought the screen for never arrives. In lower resolutions, high frame rates are also possible over HDMI 2.0 depending on the console and monitor; we clarify beforehand which combination suits you. You can find suitable devices in the 4K monitors.

Two other functions are related to this: The variable refresh rate compensates for fluctuations in the console output, so the image does not tear. The automatic game mode switches the screen to low latency automatically when starting the game, without you having to go into the menu.

Therefore, pay attention not only to whether HDMI is present, but to the version. We will tell you beforehand which of our devices come with HDMI 2.1 and what you get with it on your console.

The successor HDMI 2.2 is already announced and increases the bandwidth significantly again; it has not yet arrived in monitors and consoles. For a purchase today, HDMI 2.1 remains the decisive connection.

OLED in gaming: the fastest image reproduction

The most noticeable progress in recent years comes from the panel itself. OLED monitors and QD-OLED devices control each pixel individually and also switch it off completely. This results in two things that are immediately noticeable in games: true black in dark scenes and switching times around 0.03 ms, where moving objects retain their edges.

These devices are currently the smallest group in the range and at the same time the fastest growing.

Regarding the burn-in question, because it almost always comes up. This means that permanently identical image content like a status bar burns weakly into the image over time. Modern devices counteract this: they shift the image minimally, compensate for pixel aging during operating breaks and darken unchanged areas. These protection functions significantly reduce the risk, but do not eliminate it completely. If your device shows the same application with a fixed toolbar for eight hours a day, an IPS panel is still the worry-free choice.

What the warranty covers in this case varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and is not regulated the same everywhere. If this point is decisive for you, we will check the conditions of the specific model for you beforehand.

If you also work: Older OLED screens occasionally showed color fringes at the edges of text because the pixels are arranged differently than in an LCD. Newer devices solve this through a changed arrangement or simply through a high pixel density. If the monitor is supposed to show tables during the day and games in the evening, it is worth looking at; a high pixel density like 4K on 27 inches is experienced here as least noticeable.

Format: 16:9, widescreen or curved

Most gaming monitors operate in the classic 16:9. Two alternatives are worth a look:

Widescreen formats deliver more field of view to the sides, which has an immediate effect in racing simulations and cockpit views. Details on this can be found at the 21:9 Ultrawide Monitors and at the 32:9 Monitors.

Curved screens bring the outer image areas closer into the field of view. From 32 inches, the effect is clearly noticeable, below that rather subtle.

If immersion is the goal. At a certain point, it is no longer the frame rate that decides the gaming experience, but the image size: A projector projects 100 inches and more on the wall and thus fills a field of view that no desktop device can reach. Individual models deliver 4K with 120 Hz, in Full HD up to 240 Hz is possible depending on the device. What matters there, above all input lag, is listed at the Gaming Projectors.

What else you need

For high frame rates in high resolution, the connection counts: DisplayPort 1.4 supports WQHD with 144 Hz and more, HDMI 2.1 is the right connection for consoles with 4K and 120 Hz. Older cables limit the frame rate, even if the monitor and graphics card could do more. You can find suitable cables in the HDMI Cables and the DisplayPort Cables.

For the setup: The top edge of the screen should be roughly at eye level. Which type of mount is an option for this and what you should pay attention to with VESA mounting and load capacity is explained in the Monitor Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which size is the best for gaming?

27 inches is the most popular choice and for most game types the most balanced. If you play competitive shooters and want to keep everything in view without moving your head, 24 inches works well. For simulations and strategy, 32 inches and more make sense.

Which 27-inch monitor is suitable for competitive gaming?

Pay attention to at least 144 Hz, preferably 240 Hz, a response time of 1 ms or below and Adaptive Sync suitable for your graphics card. WQHD is the balanced resolution at this size, because it draws finer than Full HD and still leaves room for the graphics card for high frame rates.

Are 144 Hz enough or do I need 240 Hz?

144 Hz fully covers most games, and the jump from 60 to 144 Hz is by far the most noticeable. 240 Hz is worth it if you play competitively and your graphics card delivers correspondingly many frames in the selected title.

Does the image burn in on an OLED monitor?

Modern devices shift the image minimally, compensate for pixel aging during operating breaks and darken unchanged areas. These protection functions significantly reduce the risk, but do not eliminate it completely. If the screen shows the same application for hours every day with a fixed toolbar, an IPS panel is the worry-free choice. What the warranty covers in the individual case, we are happy to check beforehand.

What is better for gaming: IPS, VA or OLED?

IPS delivers stable colors and viewing angles and is the safe choice. VA offers the higher contrast and is often found in curved models. OLED is the strongest choice in terms of speed and black level.

Which resolution suits which graphics card?

Full HD and WQHD can achieve high frame rates even with mid-range cards. 4K with more than 120 frames per second requires a powerful card. In case of doubt, WQHD with a high frame rate is the more balanced choice compared to 4K with a low one.

Do I need HDMI 2.1?

For the console yes, if you want to use 4K with 120 Hz. On the PC, DisplayPort 1.4 delivers the same and higher frame rates and is the usual way there.

Gaming Projector or Gaming Monitor?

That depends on the room and the game type. The monitor wins in terms of speed and precision: short response times, high frame rates and the lowest input lag, the choice for competitive titles. The projector wins in terms of image size: 100 inches and more fill the field of view in a way that a desktop device cannot, which makes the difference in racing simulations, open-world titles and playing with two people. Many players have both: monitor at the desk, projector in the living room. What suits your room is listed at the Gaming Projectors.

What does a curved screen bring when gaming?

It brings the image edges closer into the field of view, which in racing simulations and wide landscapes creates a more comprehensive image. From 32 inches, the effect is clearly noticeable, below that rather subtle.

Tell us which graphics card or console is in use and what you mainly play. We will tell you which frame rate you get there and which device suits it.

Helpful for the conversation are: graphics card or console model, your favorite games, width and depth of your desk and an existing screen for comparison.

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