The list in brief
1. Best Overall
2. Best Mini LED
3. Best OLED
4. Best Premium
5. Best 155Hz
6. Best 144Hz
7. Best Value
8. Best for HDR
9. Best Budget
10. Best for Consoles
11. Shopping Tips
As mainstream graphics cards become even more powerful, it's not surprising that PC gamers are taking more of an interest in monitors with a 4K resolution. A panel packing 8.3 million pixels (3840 x 2160) makes your favorite games look sharp and realistic. However, that 4K resolution requires a graphics cards that it is capable of delivering high enough frame rates to make games playable.
In addition to being one of the most popular resolutions available in a good gaming monitor today, going 4K also offers the ability to expand to larger displays while retaining a sharp image. With a packed pixel army, you can stretch your screen size well past 30 inches without having pixels so large that you can see them.
But that image quality can often come at a steep price. Anyone looking for a 4K monitor knows they're not cheap. Yes, 4K is about high-res gaming (and other media), but you'll still need solid gaming specs, like a 120 Hz-plus refresh rate, low response time, and your choice of Adaptive-Sync (Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync, depending on your system's graphics card). And you can't forget the cost of the powerful graphics card you'll need to game properly in 4K. See our Best Gaming Monitors page for lower-resolution recommendations if you're not ready to fully embrace 4K.
The Quick List
Best 4K Gaming Monitor
The Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P is a monitor that aces nearly every test you throw at it, thanks to its high-quality, accurate, and colorful OLED panel. It not only performs great at 200+ Hz while gaming, but it also has excellent build quality and an expansive array of ports.
Best Mini LED 4K Gaming Monitor
Mini LED technology is increasingly emerging in the gaming monitor segment, and the Cooler Master Tempest GP27U is among the best available. The monitor features 576 dimming zones to improve contrast and contribute to a sharp and colorful image. And while 144Hz is the segment average for refresh rates at 144Hz, the Tempest GP27U bumps that to 160Hz (although you do lose Adaptive-Sync if you cross the 144Hz barrier).
Best OLED 4K Gaming Monitor
The Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ hits the ground running with a stacked deck when it comes to performance, thanks to its OLED panel. Not only did Asus deliver a monitor that is accurate fresh from the factory, but it also delivers a bright and colorful picture with low input lag and class-leading input lag. A bonus is the inclusion of speakers that actually sound good (which is a rarity for gaming monitors).
Best Premium 4K Gaming Monitor
If you want speed, look no further than the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8. Most 4K monitors hit 144Hz or overclock to a maximum of around 170Hz. The Odyssey Neo G8, however, has a native refresh rate of 240Hz. Combined with smooth motion processing and low input lag, the Odyssey Neo G8 is "next-level" for gamers looking to pair with a GeForce RTX 4090 or Radeon RX 6900 XTX.
Best 155Hz 4K Gaming Monitor
The Asus ROG Swift PG32UQ impressed with a zone-dimming edge-lit backlight. This boosts contrast and contributes to a picture with excellent HDR contrast. Color reproduction is also impeccable, as is the accuracy of the images.
Best 144Hz 4K Gaming Monitor
Philips continues to impress with its latest gaming monitors, particularly with the Momentum 279M1RV. While 144Hz at 4K might seem run-of-the-mill, Philips pushes the limits with excellent video processing, perfect color and a bright picture. The icing on the cake is Philips' Ambiglow technology, which provides bias lighting for a more immersive gaming experience.
Best 144Hz 4K Gaming Monitor Value
While many high-end 4K gaming monitors can run $800 or more, the 27-inch Acer Predator XB273K regularly sells for less than $600. That price gets you professional-level color accuracy, excellent gaming performance, and factory-fresh color accuracy.
Best 4K Gaming Monitor for HDR
The Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX is an interesting selection, thanks to its use of a Mini LED panel with excellent contrast and a bright screen (1,627 nits in our testing). Asus even includes a small OLED screen called "Live Dash" that displays refresh rate, picture mode, and CPU/GPU temps.
Best Budget 4K Gaming Monitor
The Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q represents an excellent value for gamers, with a 4K resolution at 60Hz backed by AMD FreeSync compatibility. You won't find 144Hz refresh rates here, but you do get accurate color and a low price of just $289 (even less when on sale).
Best 4K Gaming Monitor for Consoles
The Alienware AW3225QF has a 240Hz refresh rate, 4K resolution, Dolby Vision support, and a 32-inch QD-OLED panel. The monitor bathes you in inky blacks and brilliant colors, which is par for the course for OLED panels, and features a large color gamut.
Best 4K Gaming Monitors You Can Buy Today
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Best 4K Gaming Monitor
The Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P is one of those rare monitors that does just about everything right with minimal downsides. Sure, it’s hard to find a “bad” monitor these days, but the FO32U2P does so much right that it stands head and shoulders above similar 4K monitors available on the market.
Part of what makes the FO32U2P so stellar is its use of a high-quality OLED panel, which is becoming standard issue in high-end gaming monitors. The panel refreshes at 240 Hz and supports AMD FreeSync and Nvidia FreeSync technologies. It also supports a healthy number of ports, including two HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 2.1, Mini DisplayPort 2.1 (which you don't often see), and DisplayPort 1.4. Although the monitor needs calibration out of the box, once your settings are dialed in, you'll be blown away by the excellent overall image quality and increased contrast. Throw in class-leading video processing and configurable HDR settings, and you have a real winner on your hands (which, taken together, is why we gave it our Editor's Choice award).
If we must ding the FO32U2P for anything, we could quibble that gamma is a tad light in SDR mode. In addition, the $1,299 price isn’t for the faint of heart.
Read: Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P Review
Best Mini LED 4K Gaming Monitor
Cooler Master is ramping up its gaming monitor portfolio, and the latest from the company is the impressive Tempest GP27U. The is on the smaller side for a 4K gaming monitor at 27 inches, but it brings a lot of features to the table along with excellent performance.
The headlining feature of the monitor is its Mini LED panel with a Quantum Dot film and 576 dimming zones. The result is an expansive color gamut and excellent image quality across the board. Of course, you’ll need to calibrate the Tempest GP27U to get the best performance, but once everything is dialed in, it impresses with deep blacks and overall color performance compared to its peers. On top of that, Cooler Master has thrown in support for up to 160 Hz refresh rates, although you can’t use Adaptive-Sync above 144 Hz.
The Cooler Master Tempest GP27U has loads of accolades on its plate and very few demerits of consequence. Throw in a relatively affordable price of $849, and you have a winning combination for gamers.
Read: Cooler Master Tempest GP27U 160 Hz Mini LED Review
Best OLED 4K Gaming Monitor
Asus is a formidable name in the gaming monitor space, offering entries for both mainstream and enthusiast customers. The company’s latest 4K gaming monitor, the ROG Swift PG42UQ, is a premium offering aimed at gaming enthusiasts that want excellent pictured quality backed by good motion resolution.
What makes the ROG Swift PG42UQ special is that it offers a vibrant OLED panel measuring 42 inches in size. You get 4K resolution (3840 x 2160), a 0.1 ms response time, and a native refresh rate of 120Hz (which jumps to 138Hz with overclocking). The ROG Swift PG42UQ excels in nearly every category, offering excellent color calibration out-of-the-box, top-notch video processing, low input lag, and hard-to-beat contrast (as afforded by its OLED panel).
As you would expect from Asus, the ROG Swift PG42UQ comes well-packaged and has premium construction throughout. Asus even includes a remote control for accessing the OSD and controlling the volume on the built-in speakers. In addition, a full allotment of ports is on deck, including two HDMI 2.0, one DisplayPort 1.4, and multiple USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports for connecting peripherals.
Read: Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ 4K OLED Gaming Monitor
Best Premium 4K Gaming Monitor
One thing you can expect regarding the vast category of 4K gaming monitors is that they all feature a 144Hz refresh rate (or slightly higher with overclocking). Well, Samsung bucks that trend with the Odyssey Neo G8, which offers a maximum refresh rate that is more fitting of a lower resolution 1440p monitor: 240Hz.
Not only does the 240Hz refresh rate put the Odyssey Neo G8 on a higher plane than its counterparts, but Samsung has infused the monitor with a 32-inch 1000R VA panel and Mini-LED lighting with 1,196 dimming zones. The superlatives didn’t end there; we were floored by the accuracy of the monitor fresh from the factory and image quality in both SDR and HDR modes were superb.
We only had a few reservations about the Odyssey Neo G8, namely its color gamut volume, which was mid-pack compared to its competitors. There’s also the issue of price. The Odyssey Neo G8 isn’t cheap, with an MSRP of $1,400. However, that price is a relative bargain compared to its Mini LED competitors from ViewSonic and Asus that retail for over $2,000 at this writing.
Read: Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 4K Monitor Review
Best 155Hz 4K Gaming Monitor
The 32-inch 4K gaming monitor segment is becoming very crowded, but the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQ looks to stand out with some trick features. For starters, the PG32UQ boasts a maximum refresh rate of 155 Hz, which pushes it slightly ahead of the class standard of 144 Hz.
While that 155 Hz rating didn't show much of an advantage in our testing, we can't ignore the rich and vibrant colors provided by the IPS panel and the excellent HDR contrast afforded by its HDR 600 rating. Throw in features like a large color gamut, 1ms response time, FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility and top-notch video processing, and we have a real winner on our hands.
The PG32UQ performed well across our test suite and comes in at a price that squeaks just below $1,000.
More: Asus ROG Swift PG32UQ review
Best 144Hz 4K Gaming Monitor
We have dozens of gaming monitors that pass through our lab yearly, but few monitors impress as much as the Philips Momentum 279M1RV. The 279M1RV packs in 4K resolution into a 27-inch IPS panel that impresses at every turn. You’ll find the usual 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time and Adaptive-Sync support expected from this class, but Philips goes above and beyond on the details.
The 279M1RV first impresses with its excellent picture quality. Not only is the display bright (hitting 458 nits in our testing), but it also performed well (for an IPS monitor) in the contrast test at 1,018:1. Color accuracy was at the head of the class, as was its HDR brightness and contrast. No calibration was needed out of the box with the 279M1RV.
Gaming performance is exemplary with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. In addition, RGB fans will be delighted to know that Philips’ excellent Ambiglow system is present, which provides bias light to further enhance contrast/color saturation and gaming immersion.
Read: Philips Momentum 279M1RV 4K Gaming Monitor Review
Best 144Hz 4K Gaming Monitor Value
A little more affordable than the other 144Hz options on this page, the Acer Predator XB273K is the best 4K gaming monitor at that ideal refresh rate for value-seekers. During fast-paced games with settings maxed, there was no blur. G-Sync worked successfully--with both standard and HDR content-- to fight screen tearing when paired with an Nvidia graphics card. The monitor kept up well with other 144 Hz displays during our testing and even beat the Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ and Acer Predator X27, which are about $2,000 monitors when it came to input lag.
Regarding image quality, the Predator XB273K delivers pro-level color accuracy and contrast, reaching over 4,000:1, according to our testing, and over 2,000:1 after our calibration. HDR doesn't look as good as on monitors with FALD backlights, but we consider the Predator XB273K the next best thing.
For cheaper 4K displayers, see Best Budget 4K Monitors.
Read: Acer Predator XB273K review
Best 4K Gaming Monitor for HDR
If you want the best 4K gaming monitor for HDR movies and games, the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX is an expensive but impressive buy. This is the first gaming-focused monitor with Mini LED. Thanks to that advanced backlight, we recorded a fantastic HDR contrast ratio of 180,820.8:1. And while an OLED screen like the Alienware on this page can offer deeper, purer blacks, the PG32UQX can get much brighter. It hit 1,627 nits with HDR during testing.
We loved watching HDR films on the screen, but there’s no Dolby Vision support. This won’t affect many games, but 4K Blu-ray discs and content from Netflix often use Dolby Vision. On the other hand, you do get support for 24p film cadences.
And as a gaming monitor, the PG32UQX is no slouch either. It performed admirably against other 144 Hz screens in our response time and input lag tests, even besting some, including the HP Omen on this page, in the latter. And the nifty OLED screen on the bottom uniquely relays helpful information, like refresh rate and CPU and GPU temperatures.
More: Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX review
Best Budget 4K Gaming Monitor
The Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q offers tremendous value for gamers looking to step up to 4K resolution without going bonkers on price. The VG289Q has a competent overdrive function, which helps reduce motion blur, and we didn't notice ghosting on the panel.
AMD FreeSync is supported here, although take note that the maximum refresh rate is just 60Hz (FreeSync will work down to 48Hz on this monitor). We can happily say that SDR content looked rich and colorful on the VG289Q, but shifting to HDR didn't really show any improvement.
But if you're just looking to dip your toes in the 4K gaming monitor market, it's hard to find any serious faults with the VG289Q. Be sure to check out our Best Budget 4K Monitors list for more value-priced offerings in this category.
Read: Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q review
Best 4K Gaming Monitor for Consoles
For hardcore console gamers who want to have the best display performance available, there are plenty of options available. However, one that really stands out from the crowd is the Alienware AW3225QF, which is a 32-inch monitor with a 4K resolution, 240 Hz refresh rate, and a brilliant QD-OLED panel. If you own an Xbox Series S/X or PlayStation 5 console, it doesn’t get much better than this.
The monitor supports Dolby Vision on the Xbox Series X and ranks near the top of its class in most categories. Throw in excellent motion resolution and low input lag, and the Alienware AW3225QF is a boon not only to console gamers but also to those of us who prefer PC gaming. $1,200 is not a small sum, but the Alienware AW3225QF is well worth the price of entry.
Read: Alienware AW3225QF Review
Quick Shopping Tips
When seeking the best 4K gaming monitor for you, consider the following:
- 4K gaming requires a high-end graphics card. If you're not using a GeForce RTX 4090 or Radeon RX 7900 XTX, you'll want at least a GeForce RTX 3080 or Radeon RX 6900 XT to game at high-quality settings. Visit our Graphics Card Buying Guide for help.
- G-Sync or FreeSync? A monitor's G-Sync feature will only work with PCs using an Nvidia graphics card, and FreeSync will only run with PCs carrying an AMD card. You can technically run G-Sync on a monitor that's only FreeSync-certified, but performance may vary. We've seen negligible differences in mainstream gaming capabilities for fighting screen tearing between the two. Our Nvidia G-Sync vs. AMD FreeSync article offers an in-depth performance comparison.
- 4K and HDR go hand-in-hand. 4K displays often support HDR content for extra bright and colorful images. But for Adaptive-Sync optimized for HDR media, you'll want a G-Sync Ultimate or FreeSync Premium Pro (formerly FreeSync 2 HDR) monitor. For a noticeable upgrade from an SDR monitor, opt for at least 600 nits brightness. You can learn more from our glossary page on HDR and our buying guide for picking the best HDR monitor.
So you've made it this far and still haven't found something that seems like the right fit for your gaming desires? Well, we've recently looked at a couple of other 4K monitors that, while they don't quite make our best 4K gaming monitor list, are still worth considering.
Acer's Nitro XV282K is a compact 28-inch 4K gamer with 144Hz refresh, vibrant, accurate colors, plus other premium features. Its primary downsides are average contrast, light gamma and its $900 price.
And while not strictly a gaming screen, Asus' ProArt PA32UCG delivers a phenomenal, accurate image, excellent HDR (thanks to a Full-Array Mini-LED backlight and 1700-nit peak brightness) and 144 Hz refresh over its DisplayPort. The 5ms response time, though, will disqualify it from consideration for many gamers. And the $5,000 price also means it's likely to be a niche display for professionals who want to game on the side.
For more guidance picking a monitor of any resolution--gaming or otherwise--check out our PC Monitor Buying Guide and list of the Best Computer Monitors.
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