It's no secret that a high-quality gaming monitor is essential to your gaming setup. There are several factors to consider when purchasing a gaming monitor, including resolution and screen size. A higher resolution will be more enjoyable, as it will display more vivid colours and imagery, it can also help you spot details that you would otherwise miss.
Screen size is equally important, it provides a more immersive experience and you can truly sink into the game. Gaming monitors come in a wide range of sizes, starting at 22 inches and ranging all the way up to 50-plus.
The best monitor size for gaming depends on the pixel density and how far away you're sitting from the screen. A high pixel density means the display can show more detail, this is why we don't recommend anything below 24 inches as it won't have a good enough display.
Related: Best gaming monitors | Best budget gaming monitors | Best PS5 monitors
If you're sitting relatively close to your screen, we recommend to go between 27 to 32 inches, any more and you won't be able to focus on your game as you'd be sitting too close to a very large screen with a very high resolution! This also means you're much more likely to strain your eyes.
However, if you're sitting further away from the screen, and you want one of the best resolutions a monitor can offer, a high refresh rate, as well as other top specs, opting for a larger screen is an excellent way to have a truly immersive gaming experience.
So we've rounded up a range of the best monitors for gaming from 27-inches and up. Check them out below.
The best monitor size for gaming: 27-32 inches
Best monitor size for gaming on PC overall
Aside from being one of the best monitors for gaming in general, the AOC Gaming Q27G2U is an impressive option for anyone gaming on their PC. It features an incredibly crisp display with bright and vibrant images, as well as an impressively fast response time and a wide range of customisable settings. With this monitor, you'll be able to have a very immersive gaming experience.
Read our full AOC Q27G2U 27-inch QHD Gaming Monitor review
| Screen size: | 27 inches |
| Resolution: | QHD 2560 X 1440 |
| Refresh rate: | <code>144Hz</code> |
Another excellent choice is the MSI Optix MAG272CQR. Its curved screen gives it a sleek design and also provides you with a more immersive gaming experience. It also boasts a pretty great resolution and an extremely quick refresh rate, which is particularly important for competitive gaming.
| Screen size: | 27 inches |
| Resolution: | WQHD 2560 X 1440 |
| Refresh rate: | 165Hz |
If you're looking for a feature-packed gaming monitor, then you should consider the ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q, 28 Inch. It comes with an excellent price tag and boasts a 4K resolution and HDR10, two components that produce superb imagery with bright and vivid colours, helping create a truly immersive experience. It also features low blue light which is pretty handy if you want to reduce eye strain. However, it does have a much slower refresh rate than other competitors.
| Screen size: | 28 inches |
| Resolution: | 4K 3840 X 2160 |
| Refresh rate: | 60Hz |
The best monitor size for gaming: 32-49 inches
At 34 inches, this LG ELECTRONICS monitor packs quite a punch. For starters, it's an ultrawide screen with a pretty sleek design, which comes in handy for any first person shooter games as it gives you a wider field of vision for improved peripheral sight. It also boasts a pretty great 2K resolution, a high maximum refresh rate of 160Hz and gaming features, such as VRR support. However, if ergonomics is important to you, this won't be the monitor for you as it doesn't have many adjustment options - but you could alway mount it.
| Screen Size: | 34 inches |
| Resolution: | QHD 3440 X 1440 |
| Refresh rate: | <code>160 Hz</code> |
If you're looking for a truly beastly piece of hardware, then take a look at the Samsung Odyssey G9 Curved monitor. It measures a full 49 inches and has a great aspect ratio of 32:9, as well as a refresh rate of 144Hz. The monitor works as two separate displays, having two inputs which produce one curved, sleek and long display.
| Screen Size: | 49 inches |
| Resolution: | 3840 X 1080 |
| Refresh rate: | 144 Hz |
FAQs:
Is a higher refresh rate better for gaming?
Yes, it is. The refresh rate is essentially the number of times, per second, that the monitor updates with new images. So it's ideal to have a high refresh rate for competitive and fast-paced games, as this means you'll be able to potentially see or anticipate other player's moves and catch on to what they haven't.
Refresh rates are measured in Hertz (Hz) and the average refresh rate is 60Hz, if you're looking for a very high refresh rate, then we recommend the Samsung Odyssey G9 Curved Gaming Monitor or the MSI Optix MAG272CQR.
What is VRR?
This stands for Variable Refresh Rate. This essentially allows your monitor to adjust how frequently it refreshes the image to match the frame rate from your PC or console, ensuring you have a very seamless gaming experience in terms of the imagery displayed.
Isabel Martins is a Commercial Content Writer for What's The Best, specialising in technology.
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