We’re a long, long way from those days when we’d be fiddling behind the family TV set to connect the console for a game of Pong. In an age of 4K and Ultrawide, gaming has never looked so good, and by good, we’re talking lifelike, good.
TV Computer games have been around for the best part of fifty years. But the games we play now are a far cry from batting a pixel back and forward in the early days of the business.
That’s not all, it’s impossible to imagine that Atari, the creators of Pong, would have predicted the huge figures flying around the contemporary games industry.
In 2019, the global online gaming market size was valued at whopping 152.1 billion dollars. This was predicted to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 9.3% up until at least 2027, and so far it’s on track.
There are now hundreds of companies that contribute to this ever-growing sector, but the most visible to the consumer is literally that. What we see when we’re playing.
Unsurprisingly, a lot of time, effort and money has gone into creating the last word in graphics for gaming. And it’s not a one size fits all consideration either.
The best screen for playing Call of Duty won’t necessarily be optimum for Slingo, say. So how do you decide which is best for what?
The first thing you do is to take some advice from the experts. So, join us on a user-friendly guide to the best screens for graphics while gaming.
Table Of Contents
1. Dell Alienware AW3423DW
As it stands, it probably doesn’t get better than this. Just the name ‘Alienware’ should be enough to beg Dell to take your money.
Here we’ve got a 34-inch screen shoving 3440 x 1440 of native resolution via QD-OLED pixels into your face. Sure, it’s not the highest resolution on this page, but the picture quality is outstanding.
But buyer beware. This is for fast-moving games, slower or static games might result in burn-in (basically, discolouration) so maybe save those slot games for another monitor.
2. LG Ultragear 27GN950-B
It’s not the widest option on this page at 27 inches. But it’s got an aspect ratio of 16:9, it’s 4K with a native resolution of 2560 x 1440, which is more than enough for most gamers.
The only downside is that it could be brighter. Or, putting it another way, if you’re up for games that demand eye-melting illumination, this might not be for you.
In the same vein, the blacks are deep and rich, and it’s got a 240 Hz refresh rate. If that’s more important than brilliance, you know what to do.
3. Gigabyte M27U
One of the best things about technology is that not only does it move fast, there are always plenty of budget options. These usually come from lesser-known brands that can’t trade off a high-flying name, like Dell or LG.
This means that you, the consumer, are free to wait until the inevitable next model makes the model you’re presently eying more affordable. Or go budget and take home the Gigabyte M27U.
It doesn’t have OLED and, like the LG, isn’t the widest. But it’s 4K with excellent resolution (3840 x 2160) and certainly more than you’ll need for regular console gaming.
The only obvious downside is that the blacks won’t be the inkiest on this page. But not all games involve creeping around some deserted alien spaceship with a dying torch, right?
4. ViewSonic XG2431
It’s a similar tale with the ViewSonic (who) and their XG2431, or a bunch of random numbers which probably means something to someone.
This is a great, albeit small (at 24 inches) budget option that’s relatively low on resolution (1920 x 1080) but with a super-fast 240 Hz refresh rate.
5. Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx
Last on the list (and the winner for the oddest collection of arbitrary letters to its name) is the super-low-budget Acer Nitro.
Acer flies in the face of convention because they’re both a household name and synonymous with low-budget, quality electronics. In essence, you get what you pay for, they’re a relatively safe bet delivering the sort of experience you expect.
The specs are almost identical to the ViewSonic, save the lower 165 Hz refresh rate, which might not sit well with hardcore gamers. But for those who like to pop in and out of their games, or just like a little online casino, it’s just fine.
That just about sums it up. The more you’re spending on your game system, the more you’ll probably need to spend on your monitor.
And as we’ve already implied, if you’re patient you’ll be able to get the Dell or LG next year for a lot less. Of course, by then there will be something else to tempt you…