Shopping for one of the best gaming monitors? These are our top 3 picks across multiple price points

Choosing a new gaming monitor is not a decision you want to rush. You're going to be spending a long time looking at this screen, and it needs to be one that matches your requirements exactly – and that's where this buying guide comes in.

I've reviewed many a gaming monitor down the years, so I know the sort of features to look out for, and what the difference between refresh rate and response time is. And here, I've picked out three excellent models that should definitely be on your radar.

The best gaming monitor for you will depend on your own particular tastes and preferences, but this should give you a good starting point to work from – and at least one of these models is likely to make its way onto your shortlist.

Best compact

Alienware AW2725Q

Alienware has a solid heritage when it comes to gaming monitors – to go with its gaming laptops and desktops – and the Alienware AW2725Q lives up to the reputation that the brand has built up. With a 3,840 x 2,160 (4K) pixel resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 0.03 millisecond response time, it offers some gorgeous-looking visuals.

As we put it in our Alienware AW2725Q review, this "does plenty to stand out from the pack" and is an "excellent choice" for those who want games to look their best. As well as showing off PC and console games really well, it's also great at everything else you might want to do with a connected computer (including watching movies and shows).

Add in two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, three USB-A ports, one (non-input) USB-C port, and one USB-B upstream port, and you've got plenty of connection options as well. With the 27-inch size of this model – accompanied by some nice stand and back casing styling, by the way – it's our current pick for the best compact gaming monitor.

Best for most people

Samsung Odyssey OLED G8

When we say a product is the "best for most people", we mean it scores highly across all the categories that matter – performance, price, design, connectivity, and everything else. With that in mind, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is a leading contender for the title, as it's proved to be a brilliant gaming monitor and also very good at everything else as well.

Our Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 review will give you the details: this is a monitor that's "one of the best [gaming monitors] out there", with a "superb OLED display" and a "subtly stylish aesthetic". Measuring 32 inches corner to corner, it also hits something of a sweet spot when it comes to giving you lots of screen space without being overly large.

As for the key specs, you get a 3,840 x 2,160 (4K) pixels resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 0.03 millisecond response time. When it comes to connectivity, there are two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4 port, plus a USB-B port and two USB-A ports which you can use as a hub – adding to the appeal of the Odyssey OLED G8 as a superb all-rounder.

Best curved

LG UltraGear 45GX950

Curved, ultra-wide monitors, of course, take up a lot of space on (and above) your desk, but they also offer the ultimate in immersive experiences. With something like the 45-inch LG UltraGear 45GX950 in front of your eyes, you really are going to be right in the action, whether you're flying through space or shooting your way through a bunker.

Our LG UltraGear 45GX950 review has lots more on this monitor, detailing the 5,120 x 2,160 pixel resolution, the 0.03 millisecond response time, and the maximum 330Hz refresh rate. When it comes to ports around the back of the screen, there are two HDMI 2.1 ports, a single DisplayPort 2.1 port, and a USB-C port with display and power delivery.

In the review, we described the monitor as offering "rock-solid" OLED performance across all titles, with "all the vibrancy and deep colours that you'd expect" from a panel like this. Oh, and the built-in sound is fantastic too. In short, "there's no other curved monitor that can touch this" and "it's genuinely unbelievable – in the best of ways".

Verdict

I've tried my best to pick out something for everyone in this top 3 list, and even with a small selection like this, you can see how many options you've got in the gaming monitor department. Need a relatively compact screen? Try the Alienware AW2725Q. Need a giant screen that wraps around you? Consider the LG UltraGear 45GX950.

I'm happy to recommend all of the monitors you can see above, but if you want an overall pick, then the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 would be it. The entire Samsung Odyssey OLED series is worth a look if you're a gamer, and you won't be in any way disappointed by the way the Odyssey OLED G8 renders your games on screen.