When looking for a new PC monitor, deciding exactly where to start searching can be difficult. Many different types of monitors are available with various sizes, resolutions, panel types, and refresh rates, so buying a new monitor isn't a straightforward process, and there's no perfect solution for everyone. While most people would be happy with basic monitors that are good enough for everyday use, there are plenty of options that offer extra perks for different uses.
The best PC monitors are usually focused on gaming but also provide high-end picture quality, so they're versatile, and you can use them for anything from gaming to simply browsing the web. You can also consider well-rounded budget monitors if you don't want to spend a lot, but those tend to have worse picture quality and fewer features than higher-end models. On top of that, some monitors are designed for specific uses, like those for gaming, office work, or content creation, so it's important to think about how you'll use it. If you aren't sure what to look for in a monitor, or if the marketing terms confuse you, check out our monitor guides.
We've bought and tested over 310 monitors, and below, you'll find our picks for the best computer monitors available to buy. If you have a more specific usage in mind, check out our recommendations for the best photo editing monitors, the best 4k HDR monitors, and the best displays for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. You can also see all our monitor recommendations.
Note: We recently published our Test Bench 2.0, and we're updating our reviews to this new test bench. As such, it may seem that two similar monitors have wildly different scores, but scores aren't comparable between different test benches.
Best Monitor
Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx Monitor Review
The best computer monitor we've tested is the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx. It's an excellent monitor that isn't the absolute best at one specific usage, but rather, it's versatile and great for many different usages, making it a jack-of-all-trades monitor. It has features for gaming and productivity, meaning you can easily use it for your at-home work setup and then game with it once you're done working. You can easily adjust the stand in many different ways, and its wide viewing angles keep the image consistent from the sides, which is ideal if you need to share your screen with others. It also has a 4k, 27-inch screen with sharp text clarity, and there's enough space for you to open two windows side by side.
The Acer delivers excellent picture quality thanks to its Mini LED backlighting and decent local dimming feature that helps it display deep blacks in dark rooms. It also gets bright enough to make highlights pop in HDR, which is ideal for watching content or gaming. Speaking of which, it provides a good overall gaming experience as fast-moving objects look sharp, and it also has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Best Budget Monitor
Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 2.0) Monitor Review
If you don't want to spend a lot of money on a high-end monitor, you can still get some versatile options for a budget-friendly price. One of those is the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 2.0), which is the newer version of the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0) and is the model that's sold and available. It's fairly different from the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx because it has a lower resolution, so the text isn't as sharp, but a bigger difference is with its picture quality. It doesn't have Mini LED backlighting or even a local dimming feature like the Acer, so it can't display the same deep blacks with bright highlights. Most budget monitors have limited picture quality, but the AOC Q27G3XMN is another good option if that's what you care about; however, it's hard to find.
As for the Gigabyte, it's still a versatile monitor as it has features for both productivity and gaming. It has a KVM switch that makes it easy to use the same keyboard and mouse with two different computers connected to the monitor. It also has a 170Hz refresh rate, but without HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, it can't take full advantage of gaming consoles like the Acer.
Best Cheap Monitor
ASUS VG246H Monitor Review
If you need something cheap, check out the ASUS VG246H. It's a rather simple and straightforward monitor that doesn't have a high refresh rate for gaming like the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 2.0), but this is the trade-off for getting something cheaper. It also has a smaller screen and lower resolution than the Gigabyte, but it still delivers decent enough text clarity for everyday use.
Unlike many entry-level monitors, it has a handful of features, like an extremely ergonomic stand that makes it easy to adjust. It also has a dedicated sRGB mode, which the higher-end monitors also have, and this helps provide accurate colors without paying more for a full calibration. However, as mentioned, it has limited gaming performance as it has a slow response time, leading to blurry motion. If you want a cheap monitor that's also versatile for gaming, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A has a faster response time but has much worse ergonomics than the VG246H, so it's harder to place in an ideal position.
Best Gaming Monitor
Dell Alienware AW3225QF Monitor Review
While a high-end monitor like the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx is good for gaming, if you want the best performance, the Dell Alienware AW3225QF is even better. It's a unique monitor with premium specs, and you can get it directly through Dell's website. It's a 4k, 240Hz QD-OLED monitor that combines its outstanding gaming performance with exceptional picture quality. Its high 240Hz refresh rate is ideal for competitive gaming, and it can also take full advantage of modern graphics cards and consoles thanks to its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. On top of that, it has a near-instantaneous response time at any refresh rate, leading to sharp motion.
The QD-OLED panel is ideal for dark room gaming, especially if you play HDR games. It displays deep and inky blacks without any blooming and gets bright enough for highlights to pop. It isn't the only QD-OLED gaming monitor you can get, as the Dell Alienware AW2725DF is another option with an even higher 360Hz refresh rate and 1440p resolution, but it has a few less features like the lack of HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, so the AW3225QF is the better option for most gamers.
Best Budget Gaming Monitor
ViewSonic XG2431 Monitor Review
Although premium monitors offer the best gaming performance, you can get plenty of models for less. The gaming monitor market is vast, so you can either go for mid-range options like the 4k LG 27GR93U-B or the 1440p Dell Alienware AW2724DM, which are both great if you care about detailed images, but if you're on a budget, then a model like the ViewSonic XG2431 is a good choice. It has a lower 1080p resolution and a smaller screen than the Dell Alienware AW3225QF, so images aren't as detailed. Another trade-off is that it has much worse picture quality than the Dell, as it can't display the same deep blacks, so if you want the best picture quality, you'd have to spend more.
While it doesn't have a near-instantaneous response time like the Dell either, it still has better motion handling than other budget gaming monitors. It even has a customizable backlight strobing feature where you can adjust the flicker to your liking. This is a neat feature and helps improve the appearance of motion by reducing persistence blur, but like many other monitors, you can't use this feature at the same time as its VRR support.
Best Office Monitor
Dell U2723QE Monitor Review
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