Enhance your Xbox setup: The best monitors for Xbox Series X

Xbox gamers who are hungry for some serious features, as well as plenty of fun ones, should take a long hard look at the AOC AGOG. It's a 32-inch 4K gaming monitor with an IPS panel, so you'll have great colours, contrast and all-important HDMI 2.1 connectivity for 4K / 120fps gaming. The 144hz refresh rate is variable, and FreeSync Premium will achieve the smoothest, tear-free gaming experience possible. So, with all of the major gamer boxes ticked, what else put this into our top spot?

Well, feature-wise we're only just getting started. It supports HDR, so the wider colour palette - over a billion - will elevate your visuals. The response time is 1 ms for responsiveness and motion clarity. There are plenty of other input options too, so you'll be able to connect other consoles or a PC at the same time. A KVM is even included for easy switching of keyboard and mouse between systems.

AOC's Light FX feature adds a splash of customisable colour to the back and the AGON logo is proudly projected onto the desktop from the underside. Yes, lighting is somewhat divisive as it's often used to bling up a lacklustre panel - but here it's an entertaining footnote to an exceptional gaming monitor. If the lighting isn't to your liking, then the 350-nit screen will surely be bright enough for any purpose.

KOORUI is fast becoming a go-to brand for reliable, well-priced displays. This all comes down to that ideal balance between build, affordability and above-average performance. Here you can see exactly which corners have been cut to achieve such a great budget screen - and, crucially, none of them are going to give you an unsatisfactory gaming experience.

This is a 24.5-inch LED screen that delivers Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) - in our opinion, this resolution is ideal for a sub-28-inch monitor. HDMI is here, as is DisplayPort, but the former is only the 1.4 standard - so no 120fps gaming is to be had here. None of that is much of a surprise when you consider that this is coming in at just around £130 right now, but there are some gaming goodies thrown in.

You have a few premium features, like a brilliant 1ms response time, FreeSync and 144hz refresh rate. In fact, the refresh rate has the potential to reach a stunning 170Hz for even smoother visuals. It's also an eye care screen, so no flicker and less blue light will keep you gaming for longer. The stand is tiltable - often missing on budget screens - and it has some solid colour support and brightness. As Full-HD budget gaming monitors go, this will take some beating.

We think the AOC Gaming CQ27G2SE is a fantastic option for Xbox Series X gamers looking for an immersive experience without breaking the bank. This 27-inch curved monitor offers a WQHD resolution (1440p) and a high refresh rate of 165Hz, ensuring smooth gameplay even in fast-paced titles. With Adaptive Sync and HDR10 support, it's designed to deliver vibrant visuals and reduce screen tearing, making it an excellent choice for casual and competitive gamers.

This monitor's 1500R curve enhances your gaming immersion, wrapping the visuals around your field of view for a more engaging experience. The adjustable stand and understated gaming aesthetic also make it a versatile addition to any setup.

"This monitor quickly became a favourite of mine," says Chris Duffill, our resident tech expert and avid gamer. "I tested it with several Xbox Series X titles, including Skyrim and DOOM Eternal, and was impressed by its performance. The 165Hz refresh rate kept my gameplay smooth, and I didn't experience any noticeable input lag or screen tearing. The curved screen definitely added to the immersion, pulling me into the game world in a way my flat screen just couldn't."

"The Shadow Control and Adaptive Sync were especially useful, letting me fine-tune the visuals to my liking. While it's not a 4K display, the 1440p resolution still looked crisp, and I appreciated the HDR support during PC gaming. If you're after a monitor that balances price with performance for your Xbox Series X, this one is a solid contender."

You can read their full review here.

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q is a 28-inch 4K monitor with impressive visuals and performance, making it an excellent choice for Xbox Series X gamers. With a 3840 x 2160 resolution, it provides a sharp and detailed image that enhances your gaming and media experience.

The monitor features HDR10 support, a 5ms response time, and a brightness of 350 nits, ensuring vibrant colors and smooth gameplay. It's designed with gamers in mind, offering a range of customisable settings and modes to optimise performance for different types of games.

Tried and tested by Kyle Purves, who had this to say about their experience: "This monitor's 4K resolution made a significant difference in my gaming sessions, especially on the Xbox Series X. The sharpness and clarity of the display were immediately noticeable, and the HDR10 support added a richness to the colors that made games like Demon's Souls stand out. I was initially concerned about the 60Hz refresh rate, but I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth the motion appeared during gameplay.

The monitor's build quality is also impressive, with easy-to-navigate menu controls and a range of motion that allows for comfortable viewing from various angles. My only gripe is the placement of the ports, which can be tricky to access, but this is a minor inconvenience considering the overall performance and quality of the VG289Q. This monitor has become a staple in my gaming setup, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their Xbox Series X experience."

You can check out their full review here.

If 4K is at the top of your list for Xbox gaming, this Samsung Odyssey G7 is an ultra-high-definition beast. Spec-wise, it shares almost all of the features of our pick of the best overall Xbox gaming monitor, but it's a little smaller at 28 inches. Once again you have those top-level features that serious gamers need: HDMI 2.1, 144hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. So, what takes this to the next level?

Here Samsung has crammed in a lot of display-tech know-how to make gaming even more enjoyable. The one billion colour support and 300-nit brightness ensure you always get a vivid picture. The IPS panel is stable and stutter-free thanks to AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. The Pro version of FreeSync essentially means a very low input lag, alongside the usual variable refresh rate and anti-screen-tearing wizardry. You're not short on connectivity either.

There's DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB. There's even ethernet, Bluetooth and WiFi. But why? Well, this also comes with Samsung TV Plus and Gaming Hub - so you can even watch TV and movies, and enjoy cloud gaming. Again, there's RGB lighting, but the exciting addition for gamers is the Game Bar, for checking on your FPS and more while you blast the opposition.

As great as 4K gaming is on paper, the truth is not all games support it natively. Yes, you can have 4K upscaled games, if your monitor can do it, but why not put that extra budget into other features? This MOBIUZ EX27 from BenQ is a fully loaded gamer's paradise of a monitor running at QHD (1440p) - a popular resolution for PC and console gamers.

It's important to note, that for many 4K resolution is wasted on a screen under 32 inches - at the average viewing distance, it's not going to make much difference. Also, 1400p screens tend to come with higher maximum refresh rates - this one is capable of a staggering 240hz, outperforming many TVs.

This IPS panel has a 1ms response time, FreeSync Premium Pro, and HDR600. But, back to what forgoing 4K will give you. Inside we have internal speakers alongside a subwoofer - so if you're low on desk space and don't want speakers you can rely on well above-average internal audio. The true stars here are the plethora of image optimisation features: BenQ HDRi technology, Light Tuner, and Black eQualizer. They'll optimise your visuals for the best experience possible. Stunning stuff.

Unlike our earlier pick for the best budget monitor, also a 1080p model, this is Full-HD on steroids. It's a 27-inch model with an IPS panel. But the fact it's only 1080p makes the 144hz and 1ms response time add up to seriously fast performance. As a result, this ASUS TUF Gaming VG27 has Extreme Low Motion Blur, plus FreeSync Premium. Shadow Boost pairs nicely with the brightness and does just what it says, revealing detail, adding depth and giving you the edge.

But who is this for? Well, not all Xbox gamers obsess over triple-A-list games at 4K. There are plenty of Series X gamers who have upgraded their hardware to enjoy backwards-compatible games from the previous iterations of Xbox - most of which are Full-HD or even less if you go back to the early days.

But, perhaps most importantly, if you're the sort of gamer who values response time and framerate 1080p can be a clever choice. Some titles have a performance mode that aims for 120Hz in 1080p. That means that even 4K textures and more are downscaled by the Xbox, so you still get many benefits of running a high-resolution games console on a screen like this.

Alright, we get it - curved monitors aren't every gamer's cup of tea. But for those who like the immersive wrap-around feel as they rack up their scores this 32-inch 4K curved monster from Gigabyte is going to impress - no matter what game you play.

Firstly, a 144Hz curved monitor like this is just the right size to make the most of that panel shape. It's a Gigabyte SuperSpeed VA panel, so the colours and response time of 1ms will add up to a sharp, vibrant image. Add to that FreeSync Premium Pro and HDR400, and you'll be in for a slick, judder-free, low-input lag gaming session.

HDMI 2.1 is there, of course, to serve up 4k at 120fps. Built-in speakers are there too, but as always we think you should consider an external USB soundbar or speaker setup to do justice to a screen this size. There's a KVM switch as a nice bonus for easy switching between consoles or a PC. Extra input options abound, with DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C and USB 3. Best of all when it comes to overall impact, the contrast ratio is an astonishing 3000:1 - which means deeper blacks and amazing colour accuracy. If curved is your thing, so is this monitor.

KOORUI's 34-inch ultrawide curved gaming monitor delivers scale and visual awe in spades with its stirring ultrawide QHD display. With a 1000R curved monitor screen, a 165Hz refresh rate and a head-spinning 1ms response time - KOORUI's 34-inch ultrawide display doesn't leave users short on true gaming potential and visual splendour. The HDR400 is also very dependable.

Although visually, the KOORUI ultrawide monitor is impressive, some users have found certain visual limitations with the KOORUI's backlighting. In particular, there have been some small complaints about the sheer brightness of the ultrawide monitor, leading to reduced contrast in particularly dark gaming scenes. Be that as it may, KOORUI's visuals still routinely astound, and as for performance - you genuinely cannot want for anything better.

Apart from the fact that this BenQ EW2880U delivers 28 inches of 4K goodness, it also has a seriously impressive set of internal specs. Inside that modern and stylish design, you’ll find Freesync to keep motion nice and sharp, internal speakers and eye care features, too. It also supports 1.07 billion colours, so you're never short on detail. We particularly like the thin bezel and sensible stand design – making this a brilliant option for a dual monitor setup. 

But, it's one of the smarter features that caught our eye – a Brightness Intelligence sensor will react to the amount of ambient light in the room. So, if you struggle to use your computer in a bright room, this will adjust things for you.

With a peak brightness of 300 nits, it’s not the brightest monitor on the market, but it should be able to cope with all but direct sunlight. What does let it down is the 60Hz refresh rate and the 5ms response time, which are easily outclassed by other options on this list.

It may seem like an unorthodox investment, but if you want to travel with your Xbox, a proper travel monitor like the ASUS ROG Strix XG16AHPE-W is worth having around. It has a slim, sleek design that compliments the 15.6-inch screen well. That may sound small in comparison to the rest of our list, but it's more or less equivalent to a standard laptop screen.

In terms of specs, the small size doesn't hold it back. The 144Hz refresh rate provides a very stable picture, with enough colour support and nits of brightness to keep everything clear and well-contrasted. The battery life is also great, with up to three hours of use and a quick-charging feature to bring it back. The 3ms response rate could be better, but it's still respectable for a portable monitor.