Updated May 08, 2024 at 09:53 am
By Nicholas Di Giovanni
overview 10 comments
It can be difficult to decide what sized gaming monitor to getwhen there are so many options available. Ultimately, size is a personal choice, so you should get something you feel comfortable gaming with. That said, the monitor market for each size is different, meaning the specsyou tend to find on smaller 24 and 25-inchmonitors are different from ultrawide gaming monitors. So besides the size, you should also think about what type of features you want, like if you want a high refresh rate or a high resolution, as choosing the right size can depend on that.
Below is a list of some of the best monitor sizes for gaming, from smallest to largest, with info about each size and the monitors available. This list doesn't cover all the sizes available for gaming monitors, but simply the most common ones. See the links at the bottom of each size category forour recommendations for each size. You can also learn more about different sizes, aspect ratios, and resolutions on monitors and how they affect you.
We've bought and tested more than 310 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best monitor size for gaming. See our recommendations for thebest gaming monitors, the best 1440p gaming monitors, and the best 4k gaming monitors.
Note:We recently published ourTest Bench 2.0, and we're updating our reviews to this new test bench. As such, it may seem that two similar monitors have wildly different scores, but scores aren't comparable between different test benches.
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24-25 Inch Gaming Monitor
Dell Alienware AW2524H 41
Gaming
8.4
Size
25"Pixel Type
IPSMax Refresh Rate
500 HzNative Resolution
1920 x 1080See all our test results
The smallest size you can get now for modern desktop gaming monitors is 24 or 25 inches, and even though there are some smaller displays available, like portable monitors, they aren't as good for gaming. Getting a monitor this size is ideal if you don't have a ton of desk space, and the smaller screen is also helpful if you want to see everything within your field of vision without moving your eyes too much. Gaming options in this size tend to have high refresh rates with a 1080p resolution, which makes them ideal for competitive gaming, and the low resolution isn't too demanding on your graphics card either.
The best 25-inch monitor we've tested is the Dell Alienware AW2524H, which you can buy directly throughDell's website. It's impressive for gaming, with a remarkably fast 500Hz refresh rate and incredibly crisp motion handling. It has native G-SYNCVRRsupport to reduce screen tearing, and it has features that you can only get with NVIDIA graphics cards, like the NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer, which measures the latency of different sources in your setup. However, it's an expensive monitor, so if you prefer saving money, the 360Hz Dell Alienware AW2523HF and the 240Hz ViewSonic XG2431 are great alternatives, as they both offer excellent motion handling.
Also, check out our recommendations for thebest 24-25-inch monitors.
See our review
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27-Inch Gaming Monitor
Dell Alienware AW2725DF 174
PC Gaming
9.2
Performance Usages: Brightness
6.6
Response Time
9.9
HDR Picture
9.4
SDR Picture
10
Color Accuracy
9.5
Size
27"Pixel Type
QD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate
360 HzNative Resolution
2560 x 1440See all our test results
With the next size up, 27-inch monitors are some of the most popular displays, and options are available for nearly any type of gamer. You can find anything from basic 1080p displays to high-resolution 4k screens, and there are a lot of 1440p options. 27-inch monitors are also available with different refresh rates, but there aren't as many very high refresh rate options as with 24 or 25-inch monitors. This size is good if you want more screen space than a 24-inch or 25-inch monitor and find that larger screens are too big.
The Dell Alienware AW2725DFis the best 27-inch gaming monitor we've tested. It has a 1440p resolution and a 360Hz refresh rate, making it outstanding for PC gaming. Thanks to its near-instantaneous response time, it delivers extremely sharp motion, so there's no blur behind fast-moving objects. Its QD-OLED panel also provides outstanding picture quality with vivid colors and deep blacks. However, if you don't need such a high-end monitor, you can also look for a 4k option like the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx or a budget-friendly model like the Dell G2724D, which are both still great for gaming but don't deliver the same high-end performance as the AW2725DF.
Also, check out our recommendations for thebest 27-inch gaming monitors.
See our review
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32-Inch Gaming Monitor
Dell Alienware AW3225QF 257
PC Gaming
9.1
Performance Usages: Brightness
6.8
Response Time
9.7
HDR Picture
9.4
SDR Picture
10
Color Accuracy
9.6
Size
32"Pixel Type
QD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate
240 HzNative Resolution
3840 x 2160See all our test results
If you want something bigger than a 27-inch monitor for more screen space, a 32-inch display is the best gaming monitor size for your needs. This monitor size is growing in popularity, as there are plenty of options with 1440p or 4k resolutions. Those with a 4k resolution tend to be designed with console gamers in mind, as they have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. While there are plenty of great high-end 32-inch monitors coming out, there aren't as many budget-friendly options with this size, though.
If you want the best 32-inch gaming monitor, check out the Dell Alienware AW3225QF, which you can get directly throughDell's website. It's a premium display that's one of the first 4k, 240Hz QD-OLED monitors available. It's ideal both for PC and console gaming thanks to its high refresh rate and resolution, and it also delivers outstanding picture quality due to its QD-OLED panel that displays bright and vivid colors alongside deep blacks. However, QD-OLEDs like this are prone to burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time, so if that's a concern for you, you can also check out the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85. It's also a 4k, 240Hz monitor and uses Mini LED backlighting, but its picture quality isn't as good as the Dell.
Also, check out our recommendations for thebest 32-inch monitors.
See our review
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34-Inch Gaming Monitor
Dell Alienware AW3423DWF 104
PC Gaming
8.9
Performance Usages: Brightness
6.7
Response Time
9.9
HDR Picture
9.3
SDR Picture
9.9
Color Accuracy
9.4
Size
34"Pixel Type
QD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate
165 HzNative Resolution
3440 x 1440See all our test results
Although there are bigger screens than 32 inches that maintain a 16:9 aspect ratio, these monitors are less common. Instead, 34-inch displays with a 21:9 aspect ratio, known as ultrawide, are more popular. Most ultrawide displays of this size have a 3440x1440 resolution, and while 38-inch monitors are available, the market for them is limited. Ultrawide monitors are best suited for immersive games as you can see more at once than on smaller displays.
The best 34-inch gaming monitor we've tested is the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF. It's an amazing gaming monitor with a QD-OLED panel, like the Dell Alienware AW3225QF, that delivers a near-instantaneous response time, resulting in crystal-clear motion with fast-moving objects, and it also displays perfect blacks with bright and vivid colors. It has a 165Hz refresh rate, which is good enough for most gamers, but you can also check out the LG 34GS95QE-B if you want an ultrawide with an even higher 240Hz refresh rate. While it also has an OLED panel, it doesn't display the same vivid colors as the AW3423DWF, so its picture quality is worse, and you have to decide whether you want a higher refresh rate or better picture quality between the LG and the Dell.
Also, check out ourrecommendations for the best ultrawide gaming monitors.
See our review
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49-Inch Gaming Monitor
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9/G95SC S49CG95 95
PC Gaming
9.1
Performance Usages: Brightness
6.8
Response Time
9.8
HDR Picture
9.5
SDR Picture
10
Color Accuracy
8.7
Size
49"Pixel Type
QD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate
240 HzNative Resolution
5120 x 1440See all our test results
While most gaming monitors are available with 34-inch screens or smaller, a handful of models have larger screen sizes, mainly in the 40 to 49-inch range. Not all large monitors are the same, but they're great if you want an immersive gaming experience and have space for such a large screen. The market for bigger displays is more limited than for smaller ones, but it has grown in the last few years.
If you want a 49-inch super ultrawide monitor, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9/G95SC S49CG95 is the best one we've tested, as it has a fast 240Hz refresh rate. It has a super ultrawide 32:9 aspect ratio, providing even more horizontal screen space than the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF, and it also features a QD-OLED panel with outstanding picture quality and crisp motion handling. It even has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, which is beneficial if you have an HDMI 2.1 graphics card, as you can reach the monitor's max refresh rate with it. It isn't the only super ultrawide monitor available, as you can even look into the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9/G95NA S49AG95, which has the same 240Hz refresh rate, and it uses Mini LED backlighting that gets brighter, so it's better to use in a really bright room.
Also, check out our recommendations for the best 34-49-inch monitors.
See our review
Recent Updates
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May 08, 2024: Replaced the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM with the Dell Alienware AW2725DF, as it has better picture quality and a higher refresh rate.
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Mar 12, 2024: Replaced the Dell Alienware AW3423DW with the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF as 'Best 34-Inch Gaming Monitor,' as it has better performance.
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Feb 09, 2024: Replaced the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 with the Dell Alienware AW3225QF because the Dell is better and for consistency with other articles.
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Nov 30, 2023: Updated text for accuracy and ensured the recommended monitors are still available to purchase.
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Oct 06, 2023: Verified that the monitors are still available to purchase and updated text for clarity throughout.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best gaming monitor size options. They're adapted to be valid for most people. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our monitorreviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
