For those after the ultimate 1440p gaming monitor, we currently recommend the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. This is their new glossy WOLED monitor offering a 27-inch panel size, 1440p resolution, and 240Hz refresh rate with adaptive sync. For most gamers after a high-end, brilliant gaming display, the XG27AQDMG offers an excellent range of features and performance at a solid, though high-end price.
There are a few reasons why we recommend this specific model. First, it’s an OLED, so it features individual pixel control and elite response times, making it particularly well-suited to HDR gaming. Its transition speed at 240Hz results in motion clarity that’s roughly equivalent to 360Hz LCDs, and these benefits are seen at lower refresh rates as well, making it highly versatile for all sorts of gaming, whether we’re talking singleplayer or multiplayer.
The HDR performance on offer is very good, leading to excellent image quality particularly for single player experiences. We get deep zero-level blacks and tight control over highlights, which produces clean HDR imagery free of zone artifacts. This particular WOLED has decent brightness too for both high and low APL content, in addition to a glossy coating that preserves good black levels and is free from coating grain.
The XG27AQDMG is relatively affordable as far as OLEDs are concerned, slotting in at $650 to $700. Yes, that’s still an expensive price tag overall, but this Asus model is better than its competitors, which start around $600, particularly for brightness.
Alternative Choices
Some alternate choices to consider are as follows. Get the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP if you want a 1440p 480Hz OLED with the best motion clarity on the market and are willing to pay $1,000 for the privilege. It’s expensive, but truly stunning for multiplayer gaming.
Get a 360Hz QD-OLED like the MSI MPG 271QRX, Dell Alienware AW2725DF, or Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 if you want a slightly higher refresh rate than the XG27AQDMG but don’t want to go all the way up to 480Hz. Typically, they cost about $50 to $100 more than the Asus model, and this group of QD-OLEDs all offer similar performance.
Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP
With that said, we would generally only recommend OLED for content consumption, such as gaming or watching videos. There is a risk of permanent burn-in with OLEDs, exacerbated by static content like you would see when using productivity apps and web browsers. For mixed use cases, or situations where you primarily use your display for work, it’s difficult to recommend an OLED right now.
On a Budget
For budget 1440p gamers, there are two paths we would consider at the moment. The first path is HDR gaming, and for that, we recommend the AOC Q27G3XMN. It’s a 27-inch 1440p 180Hz VA LCD with 336-zone local dimming, and at just $280, it’s one of the cheapest and best entry points to HDR gaming on the market right now.
It absolutely destroys most monitors advertised to support HDR, which mostly only have pathetic, useless edge-lit dimming. While below an OLED in terms of HDR performance, the Q27G3XMN offers reasonable full-array dimming capable of producing deeper blacks and a higher-than-standard contrast ratio.
AOC Q27G3XMN
Peak brightness is in the 1,300-nit range too. However, for gamers after the best motion clarity, this VA LCD isn’t the best in that area, so it’s a trade-off between contrast capabilities and speed. We also had some concerns over backlight zone flickering. But generally, if you have just $300 to spend and want a true HDR gaming monitor, this AOC display is the way to go.
The second path to consider is if you just want a budget, bang-for-buck 1440p monitor and don’t care too much about HDR. The golden price zone for these displays right now is between $180 and $230 – we just wouldn’t pay much more than that for a 1440p mid-refresh non-HDR monitor right now.
Dell G2724D
Our go-to option that we think generally offers the best value is the Dell G2724D, which can be purchased for a little under $200 most of the time. It’s a 27-inch 1440p 165Hz IPS that typically performs as well as more premium offerings.
Buy the Dell if you want a balanced experience between all areas, well-optimized response times on average, and good viewing angles. It won’t blow you away with its capabilities, but it’s an excellent entry point to 1440p at an astonishing price.
Other products to consider depending on the price include the MSI G274QPF-QD, Gigabyte M27Q series, LG 27GP850 and 27GP83B, and even the Asrock PG27QFT2A if you want to get a cheap, somewhat compromised yet still functional display. All of these products, we think, are good in various ways and have received positive reviews or recommendations.
