The 8 Best Monitors - Fall 2023 Reviews

The best monitor we've tested for all-around use is the Gigabyte M32U. It's a great, versatile display for many uses, including gaming and productivity. Its KVM switch makes it easy to control two devices with the same keyboard and mouse connected to the monitor, like if you need to connect your work laptop and gaming PC. It also has a USB-C port, but with only 15W of power delivery, it isn't enough to charge your laptop while using it.

On top of its productivity features, it also has gaming perks like a 144Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth that lets it take full advantage of current-gen gaming consoles and high-end graphics cards. It's also a great choice if you want to use it in a well-lit room as it has decent reflection handling and gets very bright, enough to combat glare. However, it doesn't perform as well in dark rooms because of its low contrast ratio and terrible local dimming feature. If that's important to you, the INNOCN 27M2V is a good alternative as it displays deeper blacks, but it can sometimes be harder to find. You can also consider the Gigabyte M27U if you want something cheaper or smaller, as it performs very similarly to the M32U.

If you don't need a premium monitor for all-around use, plenty of lower-cost displays offer good value. One of those monitors is the Gigabyte M27Q P, which is a lower-end model than the Gigabyte M32U. There are some trade-offs for getting cheaper monitors, with the main difference being that the M27Q P has a lower 1440p resolution. It means that the text clarity isn't as good due to its lower pixel density, but on the plus side, it has many of the same features as the M32U, like a USB-C port with 18W of power delivery.

Besides its good office performance, it's also versatile for gaming. While it doesn't have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth like the M32U and can't take full advantage of gaming consoles, it at least has a 170Hz refresh rate and a fast response time across its entire refresh rate range. It also delivers good picture quality thanks to its accurate colors before any sort of calibration. This monitor is a newer version of the popular Gigabyte M27Q, which has many of the same features, but some versions have a BGR subpixel layout, which negatively impacts text clarity, so if that's important to you, the M27Q P is the better choice.

The ASUS VG246H is a good alternative to the Gigabyte M27Q P if you want the best computer monitor for cheap. As you go down in price categories, you'll have to sacrifice the size and resolution, which is the case with the ASUS. It has a smaller 24-inch screen and a lower 1080p resolution than the Gigabyte, but it still offers good office performance with decent text clarity. Despite its low cost, it also has an sRGB mode that results in great accuracy before calibration.

Another advantage this monitor has over other cheap models is its remarkable ergonomics. You can adjust the screen in various ways, including rotating it into portrait mode. It also has wide viewing angles that keep the image consistent from the sides, which is important if you need to share your screen with someone else. Unfortunately, it's limited in gaming features as it has a 75Hz refresh rate, so if you're a gamer and want a cheap monitor for productivity and gaming, the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx is a good alternative, but it costs a bit more.

If you don't need gaming features and want a monitor that you'll only use for office work, you can get plenty of monitors with dedicated productivity features. One of those is the Dell U2723QE, which has many extra perks, but it's different than other monitors like the Gigabyte M32U because it's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and doesn't have gaming features. Its 4k resolution and high pixel density produce extremely sharp text, and the 27-inch screen is big enough to open two windows side-by-side. Even if you want something bigger, the Dell U3223QE is another great option, but it costs more for minimal difference in performance.

You can connect a bunch of different devices to the U2723QE thanks to its massive USB hub with five USB-A ports and three USB-C ports. One of the USB-C inputs supports DisplayPort Alt Mode with 90W of power, so you can display an image from your laptop and charge it with a single cable. Another USB-C port is used for the KVM switch to control two devices with the same keyboard and mouse. Even if you don't need these features, you can get other great low-cost office monitors, like the Dell S2722QC, which has a smaller USB hub and no KVM switch, but the same 27-inch size and 4k resolution.

If you don't need something for office work and want a gaming monitor, there are plenty of options you can look for, and the best computer monitor for gaming that we've tested is the Dell Alienware AW3423DW. It has a 175Hz refresh rate with a near-instantaneous response time, so motion is incredibly clear. It also has native G-SYNC variable refresh rate (VRR) support, which is great if you have an NVIDIA graphics card.

Its QD-OLED panel delivers incredibly deep blacks in dark rooms without distracting blooming. Other QD-OLED monitors are very similar and are also great options for dark room gaming, like the MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED and the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF, or even the super ultrawide Samsung Odyssey OLED G9/G95SC S49CG95. However, they have G-SYNC compatibility instead of native G-SYNC support like on the AW3423DW, so if you have an NVIDIA graphics card, the AW3423DW is still the better choice.

Unfortunately, there are a few drawbacks because OLEDs risk permanent burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time. The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 is a good alternative if that's a concern for you, as its 4k, 32-inch monitor gets much brighter thanks to its Mini LED backlighting, but it doesn't deliver the same perfect black levels as the Dell. Luckily, it's even better for console gaming as it supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, which the Dell doesn't have. This means it's fully compatible with the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, so if you're a console gamer or even have an HDMI 2.1 graphics card, consider this monitor instead.

If you want a high-end gaming monitor but aren't necessarily a fan of ultrawide screens like the Dell Alienware AW3423DW, look into the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM. While it uses an OLED panel to display perfect blacks, it isn't a QD-OLED, so it doesn't display the same vivid colors as the Dell, but this doesn't make a difference unless you want the best picture quality. With a smaller 27-inch screen, you won't see as much of your game at once either, but luckily, it offers an even higher 240Hz refresh rate than the Dell.

Motion looks smooth thanks to its fast response time, and its VRR support also works without issue with AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards, giving you a nearly tear-free gaming experience. It's important to remember that this monitor has some issues if you update it to the latest firmware, which affects its input lag and HDR performance. If that concerns you, the LG 27GR95QE-B is another excellent choice that performs well out of the box, uses the same panel, and even supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, but it doesn't get as bright as the ASUS, so the ASUS still delivers better picture quality.

If you don't need excellent picture quality, you can save money by getting a lower mid-range model like the LG 27GP850-B, which is also available at other retailers as the 27GP83B-B, and both perform similarly. It's a step down from the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM in a few ways, which is what you have to expect for a cheaper monitor. It can't display the same deep blacks as it doesn't have an OLED panel, and this model has a lower 180Hz refresh rate, but it's still an excellent gaming monitor.

It has incredible motion handling without much blur or visible overshoot with fast-moving objects. It also has FreeSync VRR support to reduce screen tearing, and it's G-SYNC compatible if you want to use it with an NVIDIA graphics card. At the same time, its 27-inch screen size and 1440p resolution offer good pixel density and sharp image clarity. If you want something bigger, consider the similarly-performing LG 32GP850-B, but images aren't as sharp due to the lower pixel density. You can also look into 1440p gaming monitors with a 240Hz refresh rate, like the Gigabyte M27Q X and Dell Alienware AW2723DF, which are even better for gaming but cost more.

If you're getting into PC gaming and want the best PC monitor at a low cost, check out the ViewSonic XG2431. It's different from the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B because it has a smaller screen and lower resolution, which is what you must expect for a budget-friendly display. However, it has a higher 240Hz refresh rate, which is great if you're a competitive gamer. The smaller screen size is also beneficial if you have limited desk space or want a multi-monitor gaming setup.

What makes this monitor better than other budget-friendly displays for gaming is its remarkable motion handling across its entire refresh rate range. It has a customizable backlight strobing feature where you can adjust the flicker to your liking, which is a neat feature that even more expensive options don't have, and this helps improve the appearance of motion by reducing persistence blur. Like most gaming monitors, it has native FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing.