Our Top Picks for Every Resolution and Budget
Your monitor is the window into every game you play. A GPU upgrade improves performance numbers — a monitor upgrade changes what you actually see and feel. Moving from 60Hz to 144Hz is one of the most immediately noticeable hardware upgrades in PC gaming, and stepping up to OLED in 2026 is genuinely transformative.
If you want the full breakdown of what to look for — panel types, refresh rates, resolution explained — see our Gaming Monitor Buying Guide. This article is the product roundup: specific picks at every price point and use case.
Quick Comparison: Best Gaming Monitors 2026
| Monitor | Size | Resolution | Panel | Refresh Rate | Best For | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOC Q27G3XMN | 27″ | 1440p | VA Mini LED | 180Hz | Best budget 1440p | ~£250–300 |
| Dell S2722DGM | 27″ | 1440p | VA | 165Hz | Best value 1440p | ~£280–320 |
| LG 27GS95QE | 27″ | 1440p | OLED | 240Hz | Best overall | ~£550–650 |
| Gigabyte AORUS FO32U2P | 32″ | 4K | OLED | 240Hz | Best 4K | ~£700–800 |
| Samsung Odyssey G9 | 49″ | 5120×1440 | VA | 240Hz | Best ultrawide | ~£900+ |
1. AOC Q27G3XMN — Best Budget 1440p Gaming Monitor
~£250–300 | 27″ | 1440p | VA Mini LED | 180Hz
The AOC Q27G3XMN stands out in the budget 1440p category for one significant reason: Mini LED backlighting at this price is genuinely unusual. Mini LED allows for local dimming zones — areas of the screen that can dim independently — which dramatically improves contrast and HDR performance compared to standard IPS or VA panels without it. Finding this technology in a 27″ gaming monitor under £300 is a real achievement.
The 1440p VA panel delivers strong contrast out of the box, and the 180Hz refresh rate is more than adequate for smooth gameplay in any genre. For a budget 1440p monitor that punches above its price on image quality, this is the one to look at first.
Pros: Mini LED backlighting at budget price, strong HDR performance, good contrast, 180Hz
Cons: VA panel has slower response than IPS, no HDMI 2.1, no OLED blacks
2. Dell S2722DGM — Best Value 1440p Gaming Monitor
~£280–320 | 27″ | 1440p | VA | 165Hz | Curved
The Dell S2722DGM is consistently one of the most recommended 1440p monitors for gamers on a budget, and the reason is straightforward: it delivers 1440p resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time in a curved 27″ panel at a price that makes it genuinely hard to argue against.
The slight curve (1500R) helps pull peripheral content into your field of view at a single monitor distance without the extreme curvature that can distort flat surfaces. Dell’s build quality and panel consistency are well above average for this price range. If you’re coming from a 1080p monitor and want a straightforward 1440p upgrade without complications, this is the natural recommendation.
Pros: 1440p 165Hz at competitive price, curved panel, 1ms response, solid Dell build quality, widely available
Cons: VA panel blacks not as deep as OLED, no HDR to speak of, not for competitive high-refresh gaming
3. LG 27GS95QE — Best Overall Gaming Monitor
~£550–650 | 27″ | 1440p | OLED | 240Hz
The LG 27GS95QE is the monitor most people end up buying once they’ve experienced OLED and can’t go back. The OLED panel delivers perfect blacks — genuinely zero light output from black pixels, not just “dark grey” — alongside 0.03ms response time that eliminates motion blur in a way LCD panels physically cannot match. At 240Hz the combination of OLED response and high refresh rate produces the cleanest, smoothest image available at this price.
At 27″ and 1440p the pixel density is exactly right — sharp enough to look genuinely crisp at a normal desk distance without requiring the GPU firepower that 4K demands. Paired with a mid-range GPU like the RX 9070 XT or RTX 5070, this is a setup that will hold up for years. The price is a significant step up from IPS alternatives, but the visual difference is immediately apparent and permanent — once you see OLED gaming you’ll find it very hard to look at an LCD monitor the same way.
Pros: Perfect blacks, 0.03ms OLED response, 240Hz, outstanding colour accuracy, 27″ 1440p sweet spot
Cons: Premium price, burn-in risk with static elements (though modern OLED mitigates this well), not 4K
4. Gigabyte AORUS FO32U2P — Best 4K Gaming Monitor
~£700–800 | 32″ | 4K | OLED | 240Hz
For 4K gaming, 32 inches is the right screen size — the higher pixel density of 4K becomes genuinely noticeable at this size in a way it isn’t at 27″. The AORUS FO32U2P pairs a 32″ OLED panel with 4K resolution and 240Hz refresh rate, which in 2026 represents the premium tier of gaming monitors at a price that would have been considered impossible a couple of years ago.
The OLED panel delivers the same perfect blacks and 0.03ms response as smaller OLED monitors, but the 4K resolution adds a level of detail and sharpness that makes textures, foliage, and distant objects look genuinely photographic in modern titles. You’ll want a high-end GPU to drive 4K at playable frame rates — an RTX 5080 or equivalent is the appropriate pairing. For single-player cinematic gaming in particular, this is a remarkable setup.
Pros: 4K OLED, 240Hz, 32″ sweet spot for 4K, competitive pricing for the specification
Cons: Requires high-end GPU to drive 4K, significant investment, OLED burn-in risk
5. Samsung Odyssey G9 — Best Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
~£900+ | 49″ | 5120×1440 | VA | 240Hz | 1000R Curved
The Samsung Odyssey G9 is the most immersive single-monitor gaming experience available. At 49 inches with a 5120×1440 resolution (equivalent to two 27″ 1440p monitors side by side), the extreme 1000R curve wraps around your peripheral vision in a way that feels genuinely different from a flat display. Racing games, flight simulators, strategy games, and open-world titles take on a new dimension of immersion.
It uses Samsung’s Quantum Mini LED backlight for HDR performance that genuinely impresses, and the 240Hz refresh rate handles fast-paced gaming without compromise. The footprint is significant — you need a desk wide enough and deep enough to accommodate a 49″ panel at the right viewing distance — and the GPU requirement is substantial since you’re driving roughly the same pixel count as two monitors simultaneously. But for the right setup, nothing else delivers this level of presence.
Pros: Unmatched immersion, 5120×1440 dual-monitor equivalent, excellent HDR, 240Hz, peripheral vision coverage
Cons: Very large desk required, high GPU demand, expensive, 1000R curve divides opinion
What Resolution Should You Choose in 2026?
1080p
Still the most popular gaming resolution globally, and perfectly valid on a budget. At 24″ it looks sharp; at 27″ it starts to show its limits. Best paired with budget to mid-range GPUs. If this is where your budget sits, prioritise refresh rate (144Hz minimum) over resolution.
1440p
The sweet spot for gaming in 2026. Sharp enough to look great at 27″, demanding enough to use your mid-range GPU sensibly, and the refresh rate ceiling is high enough for competitive gaming. The majority of serious PC gamers land here.
4K
Genuinely excellent at 32″ and above. Requires a high-end GPU to drive frame rates above 60fps in demanding titles. Best for single-player cinematic gaming where image quality matters more than maximum frame rates.
OLED vs IPS vs VA
OLED offers the best image quality available — perfect blacks, fastest response, best HDR — at a premium price with a small burn-in risk. IPS offers accurate colour and fast response at mid-range prices. VA offers better contrast than IPS at similar prices but slower response times. For gaming in 2026, OLED is the aspirational pick; IPS is the safe mainstream choice.
Our Verdict
For most PC gamers, the LG 27GS95QE is the monitor worth saving for — 27″ OLED at 1440p 240Hz is the best all-round gaming experience available at a justifiable price. On a tighter budget, the Dell S2722DGM delivers solid 1440p 165Hz performance that will genuinely transform any 1080p setup. For 4K, the Gigabyte AORUS FO32U2P pairs OLED quality with the right screen size. And for pure immersion, nothing touches the Samsung Odyssey G9.
Pair your monitor with a GPU capable of driving it — see our Best Gaming GPUs 2026 guide for recommendations at every budget.
Prices correct at time of writing and may vary. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.