Gaming monitor buying guide: what refresh rate, size and panel you need

Monitor spec sheets are full of numbers that sound important. Only four of them change what you see every day: size and resolution together, refresh rate, panel type and the ports on the back. Here is how to read them.

Size and resolution go together

Sharpness depends on how many pixels are packed into each inch, so choose a resolution that suits the size:

• 24 inch, 1080p (1920 × 1080): sharp enough for most people and easy on a graphics card.
• 27 inch, 1440p (2560 × 1440): the popular middle ground for gaming and work.
• 27 inch, 1080p: usable and cheap, but text looks softer because the pixels are larger.
• 4K (3840 × 2160): best for 32 inch and up, or for photo and video work. It needs a strong graphics card for games.

Refresh rate: 60, 120 or higher

Refresh rate is how many times per second the picture updates. Moving from 60 Hz to 120 or 144 Hz makes motion visibly smoother, in games and even when scrolling. Going beyond that gives smaller gains and only helps if your computer can produce that many frames per second. For most players, 120 to 165 Hz is the sweet spot for the price.

Panel type

• IPS: good colors and wide viewing angles. The safe default.
• VA: deeper blacks and higher contrast, sometimes with slower response in dark scenes.
• TN: very fast and cheap, but weaker colors and angles. Rare in new monitors.
• OLED: excellent contrast and speed at a higher price, with a risk of image retention if the same picture stays on screen for long periods.

Numbers to treat with caution

Response times such as “1 ms” are measured in the best case and are not comparable between brands. Peak brightness and “HDR” labels on budget monitors rarely deliver a real HDR picture. Read independent reviews if these matter to you.

Check the ports

To get the full refresh rate you need the right cable and port. DisplayPort or a recent HDMI port is required for high refresh rates at higher resolutions. Check your graphics card outputs and use the cable that comes in the box.

A simple way to choose

1. Pick a size that fits your desk and your viewing distance.
2. Choose the resolution from the list above.
3. Choose 120 Hz or more for gaming, 60 Hz is enough for office work.
4. Pick IPS unless you specifically want deeper blacks (VA) or the best contrast (OLED).
5. Check the stand: height and tilt adjustment matter more than most people expect.

The monitors below are listed with their Amazon rating. Prices change, so open the product on Amazon for today’s price.