From budget LCDs to ultra-premium QD-OLED models.

Getting the best gaming monitor can be pretty difficult.

Colour accuracy is also excellent, with this panel well-suited for both productivity and potentially even more colour-sensitive workloads.

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM monitor sitting on a desk with some cool stuff on the screen

On consoles, you are limited to 120Hz, though.

That gives displayed images some real punch and great dynamic range.

We like theAOC Q27G4XDin the UK, while theAsus VG27AQ3Afits the bill in the US.

Dell Alienware AW3225QF seen from the front

These designs are reasonably modern too, with height-adjustable stands, thin bezels and FreeSync/G-Sync Compatibility.

To learn more, read our guide toessential monitor terms here.

The current sweet spot between price and performance are monitors with a 1440p resolution and 144Hz+ refresh rate.

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That’s why we’ve selected a monitor that fits this specification as thebest cheap gaming monitor.

Of course, there are plenty of alternatives too!

For consoles, things are a little simpler.

AOC Agon AG276QZD gaming monitor

Essential terms for monitor buyers

Picking up your first monitor?

Here are some common specs and what they actually mean.

Resolution:How many pixels are on screen, given as horizontal x vertical.

AOC Gaming Q27G4XD

1920x1080 (1080p) and 3840x2160 (4K) are the most common resolutions for both TVs and monitors.

The higher the resolution, the crisper and more detailed a game tends to look.

Refresh rate:How many times the screen updates per second, given in Hz.

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The higher the refresh rate, the more fluid a game will feel.

Low response times help to eliminate distracting smears in fast-paced scenes.

Another potential issue is ‘IPS glow’, where the monitor’s backlight is visible in dark scenes.

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However, modern TN panels do well to minimise these drawbacks.

These panels generally offer the best contrast, backed with good response times and colour reproduction.

Still, on the whole this is a fantastic panel choice if your budget allows.