The best 1080p gaming monitors in 2023

With TV and monitor makers focused squarely on 4K screens, it’s easy to forget 1080p gaming monitors are still the baseline displays for PC gaming. Using a monitor that maxes out at this tried-and-true resolution, players get stability and high frame rates at a more affordable price. While it may not allow for the ultimate immersive experience, the best 1080p gaming monitors are exactly what you want for playing fast-paced competitive games like Fortnite, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Apex Legends, and these are the monitors you want.

• Best overall: ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM
• Best premium: Sceptre FWD240
• Best high-refresh-rate monitor: Dell Alienware AW2521H
• Best ultrawide: Sceptre C305B-200UN1
• Best portable: ASUS ROG Strix (XG16AHPE) 
• Best budget: Acer Nitro XV1 XV241Y Xbmiiprx

How we chose the best 1080p gaming monitors

To pick the best 1080p gaming monitors, we relied on my mix of hands-on testing, user recommendations, and professional reviews. We focused on the core specifications we look for in gaming monitors, including resolution, frame rate, connection options, and price. As a critic covering games and gaming peripherals, I’ve written about computing and monitors for Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, and NBC Select. I’ve researched, tested, and reviewed dozens of gaming monitors and have a strong sense of which specs are important and which are not.

The best 1080p gaming monitors: Reviews & Recommendations

The best 1080p gaming monitors come from a wide variety of name-brand peripheral manufacturers, including Dell, ASUS, Acer, ViewSonic, Gigabyte, and more. Our elections range from 24 inches to 27 inches and produce a smooth, detailed image. Whether you’re focused on 1080p monitors to keep costs down, to push frame rate up, or simply because that’s what makes sense for your gaming PC, there’s an option on this list for you.

Best overall: ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM

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Buy it used or refurbished: Amazon

Why it made the cut: A 280Hz display combined with fast response times and a highly adjustable stand make this monitor an easy recommendation.

Specs

• Size: 27 inches
• Native resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Panel type: IPS
• Refresh rate: 280Hz
• Response time: 1ms
• Ports: HDMI 2.0 (2), DisplayPort 1.2, audio out
• Ergonomics: Height adjustable, swivel, pivot, tilt, VESA mountable
• Variable refresh rate: NVIDIA G-Sync compatible
• HDR: HDR 400

Pros

• 280Hz refresh rate
• G-Sync compatible
• Highly-adjustable stand

Cons

• Weak HDR

This ASUS TUF monitor comes in many configurations, but we found the 27-inch VG279QM to be one of the best cheap gaming monitors, whether you’re interested in playing in 1080p or 1440p.

This gaming monitor has everything you could want from a 1080p display. It supports a whopping 280Hz refresh rate, a fast 1ms response time, and NVIDIA G-Sync. Slap those specs on a large 27-inch panel, and you can enjoy a smooth, detailed image in all your favorite games.

It also has a comparatively adjustable stand, which enables around 5 inches of adjustable height alongside ample swivel, tilt, and pivot, even fully vertical portrait orientation.

While it could be a bit brighter, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM is a top choice for most gamers looking to play in 1080p. And if you’re looking to go for a smaller screen to optimize for performance, the 24.5-inch model gets the job done just as well.

Best premium: Sceptre FWD240

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Buy it used or refurbished: Amazon

Why it made the cut: The FWD240 provides stable and smooth performance at a lightning-fast refresh rate.

Specs

• Size: 27 inches
• Native resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Panel type: IPS
• Refresh rate: 240Hz
• Response time: 1ms
• Ports: HDMI 2.0 (1), HDMI 1.4 (2), DisplayPort (1.2), audio out
• Ergonomics: Height adjustable, swivel, pivot, tilt, VESA mountable
• Variable refresh rate: AMD FreeSync compatible
• HDR: N/A

Pros

• Ultra-high refresh rate
• Several high-speed ports
• Built-in speakers

Cons

• No HDR

For gamers with a cutting-edge PC, Sceptre’s FWD240 offers some premium features absent from most of the competition.

It peaks at a blazingly fast 240Hz refresh rate, overkill for most games outside of select esports titles. What’s more, you can get that level of performance from two of the monitor’s video ports—the other two top out at 144Hz, which is still impressive. The screen lacks support for HDR (high dynamic range) but covers 99% of the sRGB color gamut, so performance will still be pretty competitive with those that do.

While the screen is excellent, the build quality is what sets this monitor apart. Ergonomics are strong, with ample height, swivel, pivot, and tilt adjustability. It even has built-in speakers, a genuine rarity for monitors of any size and resolution. If you’re only using this monitor to play console games, and definitely don’t need a higher refresh rate, but PC gamers will find a lot to like with this display.

Best high-refresh-rate monitor: Dell Alienware AW2521H

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Why it made the cut: If you want the highest possible refresh rate, the Dell Alienware AW2521H is the way to go.

Specs

• Size: 24.5 inches
• Native resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Panel type: IPS
• Refresh rate: 360Hz
• Response time: 1ms
• Ports: HDMI 2.0 (2), DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.2 with upstream, USB 3.2 with battery charging, USB 3.2 (3), headphone out, audio out
• Ergonomics: Height adjustable, pivot, swivel, tilt, VESA mountable, 
• Variable refresh rate: NVIDIA G-Sync
• HDR: HDR 10 

Pros

• Incredible refresh rate
• Great colors out of the box
• Excellent connectivity

Cons

• No built-in speakers
• Expensive

Like an 8K TV, a 360Hz monitor isn’t something anyone really needs. Even jumping from 144Hz to 240Hz delivers diminishing returns. Buying a 300Hz or even 360Hz monitor is more of a flex than anything else. You buy one so you can say you have one. 360Hz is the fastest refresh rate you can find right now, so this is a top-of-the-line display in its own specific way.

In theory, displays like the Alienware AW2521H should enhance your experience in shooters like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, where having the fastest possible frame rate is essential. In our experience, the advantage may provide an imperceivable boost, but it’s overkill for most players.

That said, Alienware AW2521H has a lot going for it beyond its framerate. You’ll find plenty of bells and whistles, including G-Sync and DisplayPort 1.4 support. The build itself is sturdy, with little wobble and good adjustability. And, of course, it has a unique, sci-fi-minded sense of style like most Alienware gear.

Best ultrawide: Sceptre C305B-200UN1 

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Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: As an affordable entry point into the world of ultrawide gaming, the Sceptre C3005B-200UN1 stands out for its high refresh rate and slim design.

Specs

• Size: 30 inches
• Native resolution: 2560 x 1080
• Panel type: VA
• Refresh rate: 200Hz
• Response time: 5ms
• Ports: HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4 (2), audio out
• Ergonomics: Tilt, VESA mountable
• Variable refresh rate: AMD FreeSync
• HDR: HDR 400

Pros

• Immersive 21:9 aspect ratio
• Affordable

Cons

• Not very adjustable
• Low brightness

Most of the best ultrawide gaming monitors are very large and support resolutions well above 1080p. The 30-inch Sceptre C305-200UN1 offers a smaller, budget-conscious ultrawide option with a resolution that roughly translates to a Full HD picture.

Curved ultrawide monitors provide an immersive, encompassing experience that stretches to the outer edges of your eye line. Atmospheric games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Death Stranding make the Sceptre’s 30-inch display and wide 21:9 aspect ratio really shine.

VA panels are not known for having excellent response times when compared to TN and IPS. As such, we found utilizing AMD’s FreeSync essential to reducing any blurring or ghosting effects. Paired with the HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2 inputs, the Sceptre C305B-200UN1 is capable of a smooth, stable picture.

Best portable: ASUS ROG Strix (XG16AHPE) 

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Buy it used or refurbished here: eBay

Why it made the cut: The ASUS ROG Strix has a high refresh rate and lots of great features, making it the best choice for most people.

Specs

• Size: 15.6 inches
• Native resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Panel type: LED
• Refresh rate: 144Hz
• Response time: 3ms
• Ports: HDMI, USB, Audio jack
• Ergonomics: Adjustable stand
• Variable refresh rate: N-Vidia G-Sync
• HDR: N/A

Pros 

• Battery-powered
• Nvidia G-Sync compatible
• Relatively large display size

Cons

• 3ms refresh rate
• No HDR

ASUS makes some of the best premium gaming displays, so it’s not surprising the company has a portable monitor that can hold its own. The ASUS ROG Strix 15.6-inch portable monitor is one of only a handful with a 144Hz refresh rate, which means it offers similar performance to many of our other 1080p monitor recommendations. Its 3ms refresh rate and lack of HDR are disappointing, but those cons are outweighed by the ability to play PC and console games at their highest levels of fidelity from just about anywhere.

Even if you don’t play too often, the ROG Strix has some useful additional features, like a rotating kickstand that allows you to use it vertically or horizontally—helpful if you’re using it as a secondary display for work. It even has stereo speakers in case you forget your headset at home.

In addition to a micro-HDMI to HDMI cable, a USB Type-C cable and a USB Type-C to A adapter are also included. If you’d like to get creative, you can use this monitor’s universal tripod socket—a hole with a ¼” thread—to attach it to a tripod stand.

If you’d really like an overpowered portable gaming setup, ASUS makes an even bigger 17.3-inch version of the Strix portable monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate. Most gamers won’t really need a 240Hz display, though, which is why we recommend this model instead. That said, ASUS’ commitment to making portable 1080p monitors suited for gamers is laudable.

Best budget: Acer Nitro XV1 (XV241Y Xbmiiprx)

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Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: By paring down extraneous features, the Acer Nitro XV1 offers premium performance at a budget price point.

Specs

• Size: 23.8 inches
• Native resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Panel type: IPS
• Refresh rate: 240Hz
• Response time: 0.5ms
• Ports: HDMI 2.0 (2), DisplayPort 1.2, audio out
• Ergonomics: Height adjustable, pivot, swivel, tilt, VESA mountable
• Variable refresh rate: AMD FreeSync
• HDR: HDR 400

Pros

• Affordable
• High, overclockable refresh rate
• Unlimited swivel

Cons

• Poor color accuracy

Pared down compared to our other top picks, the Acer Nitro XV1 is focused on refresh rate, response time, and affordability. It delivers high performance, topping out at a 240Hz refresh rate, which can be overclocked to 270Hz, and a minuscule 0.5ms response time. With a sub-$250 price tag, this monitor brings impressive performance for PC players on a budget.

What to consider before buying the best 1080p gaming monitors

It’s easy to get stuck in the weeds when comparing monitors. It’s easy to get lost in a sea of intricate technical specifications. Meanwhile, poorly named models with long strings of letters and numbers make it hard to distinguish between various models. We’re narrowing things down to a single resolution, but there are still plenty of qualities that you’ll want to keep an eye on.

Resolution and size

Most people think of screen size and resolution as two unrelated monitor specs, but it makes sense to think of them as linked. Resolution indicates the number of pixels your monitor can show. All things being equal, the higher the resolution, the sharper and more detailed your image will be. As your screen gets bigger, though, you’ll need more pixels to achieve the same level of pixel density and, by extension, detail.

We’re focusing on a single resolution in this list: 1920 x 1080 pixels, more commonly called 1080p or “Full HD.” Right now, 1080p is widely considered the baseline resolution for modern monitors. That said, it’s a high floor. Unless you’re playing AAA games on a high-end gaming PC or new console, 1080p usually looks pretty good.

That said, it looks a lot better when on a smaller display. Our usual recommendation for balancing size and resolution is to avoid going over 1080p with any monitor smaller than 27 inches, upgrade to 1440p for a 27-inch monitor, and spring for 4K with a 32-inch monitor or larger. We’ve included some 27-inch panels on this list because they are still great monitors and cheaper than their high-res counterparts, but we think you should at least consider springing for a 1440p display if you have your heart set on that size.

Refresh rate

Refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), refers to the number of times your monitor can draw a new image every second. Refresh rate is especially important for gaming since your monitor’s refresh rate effectively sets your maximum frame rate. In competitive circles, a high refresh rate may take priority over resolution: In fast-paced competitive games like Fortnite or Apex Legends, having the smoothest, fastest frame rate can give you a competitive edge. 

In general, we recommend a refresh rate no lower than 144Hz for gaming monitors. That goes double for 1080p monitors since the lower resolution opens the door for esports-grade displays with 240Hz-360Hz refresh rates.

Response time

Every computer you use has a slight delay between input and output. While most of this delay has to do with processing time, some of it can be attributed to your screen. Response time measures the amount of input lag generated by your display.

Most gaming monitors advertise a very low response time, usually 1 millisecond or less. As with frame rate, competitive players will want the lowest possible response time since even a single frame can be consequential. Most of the monitors we recommend have a 1ms response time or lower.

Panel type

The physical screen of a monitor, the display panel, comes in three different types: Twisted Nematic (TN), Vertical Alignment (VA), or In-Plane Switching (IPS). Without getting too technical, each one has strengths and weaknesses, but most of our recommendations feature an IPS panel. IPS panels do not create the darkest blacks but do offer impressive colors at fast speeds.

Variable refresh rate

Variable refresh rate is a display feature that allows your monitor to sync its refresh rate with the output of the PC or console to which it is connected. Using it delivers smooth images devoid of any hiccups like screen tearing or visual artifacting.

Gaming monitors rely on one of two variable refresh rate formats: Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. These technologies, particularly G-Sync, were designed to pair with graphics cards made by Nvidia and AMD, respectively. That said, there is an increasing amount of cross-compatibility between the two.

Make sure you know whether a monitor supports variable refresh rates and, if so, whether it features G-Sync or FreeSync. We generally recommend getting a G-Sync monitor if you use an Nvidia graphics card.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best 1080p gaming monitors

• Best overall: ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM
• Best premium: Sceptre FWD240
• Best high-refresh-rate monitor: Dell Alienware AW2521H
• Best ultrawide: Sceptre C305B-200UN1
• Best portable: ASUS ROG Strix (XG16AHPE) 
• Best budget: Acer Nitro XV1 XV241Y Xbmiiprx

The best 1080p gaming monitors offer an affordable way to enjoy a smooth, responsive screen fit for fast-paced games with high frame rates. While not as richly detailed as 1440p and 4K options, 1080p monitors strike a great balance between size, cost, and performance. PC gamers who value performance over graphics should feel right at home using our recommended 1080p monitors.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.