Late 2020 Gaming Monitor Buyers Guide
So you want a new gaming monitor? I’ve got some recommendations for you. I’m covering a load of different resolutions and refresh rates from 1080p to 4K, and ultrawides, and 60 – 240hz + so hopefully your next monitor will be one of these. I should note that these are almost all from my experience with them or similar models, or glowing reviews I’ve seen, which does mean I might miss one you think should be included, so if I do leave it in a comment so anyone else who’s watching can check that one out too. Oh and all the prices I’m quoting here are in £, so if you want to see pricing when and where you watch this, check out the affiliate links in the description below! Right, lets get started – but first, if you haven’t already, consider subscribing for more videos every Monday, Wednesday and Friday!
Starting with 1080p, I’m jumping right in at 144Hz, and with one main, solid recommendation. The AOC 24G2U. It’s a 1080p, 144Hz, IPS, Freesync (and therefore GSync) display that blew me away with it’s quality, it’s gaming experience, and it’s price tag. This thing, if you can find it in stock, costs just £180. That is an insane value for an excellent experience and well worth checking out if this resolution is for you.
If you want a faster 1080p monitor, there are a few options, all around £300. I’ve checked out a few, although the ones that are selling the most right now are the Alienware AW2521HF, something I believe has been around for a fair while now, although has had some great reviews. Or there is a newer Asus one, the VG279QM. This is a 27” monitor which I’m not a massive fan of, but it does list up to 280Hz support which is pretty rare. There is the PG259QN and QNR coming soon with 360Hz, but as of filming you can’t get one yet as they are on pre-order with OverclockersUK for a cool £650.
Moving up in the world, we have what I really think is the perfect sweet spot for size, refresh rate and resolution, 27” 1440p and 144Hz or higher. My solid recommendation here goes to the Acer VG271UP, an excellent IPS model that is easily 95% as good as the Aorus FI27Q-P, but almost half the price, at anywhere from £300 to 360 depending on where you can find it. Incidentally, if money is no object, the FI is the better monitor so I’d point you in that direction instead.
There is also a large collection of curved VA monitors around the £300-400 mark, if you can’t find that Acer one, like the AOC CQ27G2U, that might take your fancy, but honestly head for the Acer where possible. Oh and LG’s Ultragear lineup is meant to be amazing, although I’m yet to test any myself.
If you’d rather go ultrawide, there are a few good, reasonably priced options. The AOC CU34G2X are a great shout, it’s currently around £500, uses a VA panel, runs at 3440×1440 at 144Hz, and while it’s not the perfect display, it is a great value. A similar model from Gigabyte, the G34WQC might also be too, since it’s a little cheaper at around £450, although I’ve not tested that one myself.
There are some more high end options, of course the daddy of them all, the Samsung Odyssey G9 at £1000 is a super ultrawide, 5120×1440 at 120Hz, mental bit of kit.
Moving up to 4K, some might want a 4K 60 Monitor so here’s a few, although none I’ve tested recently. LG make some amazing panels, I think the 27UL850 might be a good one as it’s IPS, or the Asus VP28UQGL as it’s TN, a bit cheaper, and likely a faster panel.
And finally, 4K 144Hz. The Asus XG27UQ is the OG of this panel, it might even be due for a refresh by now, but man is it pretty. Maybe if you’ve got a 3090 it might actually make sense to play on this, if you’ve got deep pockets.
