Written By:
Table Of Contents_
To help you find the best 120Hz gaming monitor, we have thoroughly researched a multitude of top displays, looking for feature-packed models that are ready to enhance your gaming setup. We liked monitors with stable 120Hz refresh rates that could occasionally overclock to become a 144Hz gaming monitor and those with rapid response times, in addition to offering full integration with modern graphics cards that employ Nvidia G-Sync or AMD Radeon FreeSync technology.
The best 120Hz gaming monitor we researched was easily the Asus ROG Swift PG279Q. This high-grade display comes packed with a bunch of features to enhance gaming applications, such as a smooth refresh rate that can be overclocked to 144Hz and 165Hz, plenty of usable ports, and a full sRGB gamut for immersive and life-like color. Keep reading to learn more about other great monitors available for purchase.
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Fantastic display with a variable refresh rate that can go as high as 165Hz, in addition to a suite of useful ports and an ergonomically designed stand that can be adjusted by 4 separate metrics. Besides with such a high refresh rate, the response time isn’t as fast as it could be. If that term is unfamiliar to you, be sure to learn about what response time is on a monitor plus the difference between refresh rate vs response time.
Read Full Review: Asus ROG PG279Q
Similar to the ROG Swift PG35VQ, the Asus ROG Swift PG279Q is the best 27-inch gaming monitor with plenty of bells and whistles, including a stable 120Hz refresh rate that can overclock to 144Hz and 165Hz, making this double as a 144Hz monitor. There are plenty of useful ports along the rear of this monitor, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB 3.0, the latter being perfect for connecting gaming accessories. The ergonomically designed stand is also highly adjustable, with options for adjusting height, pivot, tilt, and swivel.
Related: Compare this device with other top-rated 27-inch monitors.
Though this display does include built-in speakers, they are on the weaker side, at 2-watts each. Additionally, the response time here is just 4ms, which is somewhat slow given the high-grade variable refresh rate. But you will be glad to know that faster response times will be found on the best 240Hz gaming monitors.
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Immersive curved design with some fantastic specs, including a stable 120Hz refresh rate, a 2ms response time with overdrive, and full integration with Nvidia G-Sync.
Read Full Review: Alienware AW3420DW
The Alienware AW3420DW is a great all-around monitor with an immersive ultrawide curved screen for gamers and a design that offers plenty of gaming-centric specs. There is a 2ms response time with overdrive, a high refresh rate of 120Hz, and full compatibility with Nvidia G-Sync but not FreeSync, if you already know what FreeSync is. The colors here are also extremely vivid, with a color spectrum that except the sRGB standard and 98% DCI-P3 color coverage. This display also boasts a simple yet effective integrated cable management system, which is a nice bonus.
There are plenty of ports here, including HDMI and USB 3.0, though there are no built-in speakers, which may be an issue for some. Also, the stand isn’t that adjustable, offering just some minor height adjustment. This is one of the top-rated gaming monitors on this list.
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: High-quality display with a fantastic feature set, including AMD FreeSync compatibility, robust 10-watt speakers, and HDR 600 certification with a 90% DCI-P3 color spectrum.
Read Full Review: Asus ROG Strix XG438Q
The Asus ROG Strix XG438Q is made with durable and high-quality components while offering some serious gaming-centric features. The 4K UHD resolution is stunning, as is the proprietary shadow boost technology, which works to clarify dark areas during gameplay. This best ASUS display comes with two built-in 10-watt stereo speakers, which are much stronger than most speakers that are generally found with other monitors. If you’re a gamer who also streams, consider adding a vertical monitor to your setup to help display your chat better.
The stand that accompanies this 43-inch display is not that adjustable, though the monitor itself does support picture-in-picture for added convenience. Additionally, this display is on the pricier side, largely in part to the high-end specs on offer. For more gaming monitors with high-end specs, check out our list of the top-rated 24-inch gaming monitors. If you’re after a large monitor similar to this one or even more massive like a TV, then you might as well consider a TV and read about the best TV gaming monitor.
Award: BEST IMMERSION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Immersive ultrawide design with a bold curvature and plenty of high-end specs, including a rapid 1ms response time and adaptive sync capabilities, so it can accommodate both G-Sync and FreeSync.
Read Full Review: AOC AGON AG493UCX 49″ Curved Immersive Gaming Monitor
The AOC AGON AG493UCX offers a whole lot of immersion during gameplay, thanks to an ultrawide 1800R curved design and plenty of great gaming-centric specs. The response time is 1ms and this display boasts adaptive sync, so it can integrate with graphics cards that use AMD FreeSync or those that use Nvidia G-Sync. The 121% sRBG wide color gamut is impressive, as is the contrast ratio.
Though the stand here is aesthetically pleasing, it can only adjust via height which may not suit all consumers. Also, this monitor is on the heavier side, clocking in at around 50 pounds, which could be an issue if you plan on using VESA mounts to hang it on the wall. You should compare this curved monitor with the best ultrawide gaming monitors that feature large curved displays, and have high resolutions and refresh rates.
Award: BEST AESTHETICS
WHY WE LIKE IT: Gorgeous display with plenty of customization options, thanks to external LED lighting, with an ultrawide and curved design that offers full compatibility with Nvidia G-Sync.
Read Full Review: Alienware AW3418DW
The Alienware AW3418DW makes for an impressive centerpiece to your gaming room, thanks to an aesthetically pleasing design and the company’s proprietary exterior lighting options, which can be fully personalized. The gaming-related specs here are decent, with a stable 120Hz refresh rate, full G-Sync compatibility, and an immersive 1900R curved ultrawide design. This display also has a nifty integrated cable management system and plenty of ports along the rear, including USB 3.0.
Though this display can easily be hung on a wall via the integrated VESA mounts, the stand it ships with isn’t that adjustable, offering some height adjustment. Additionally, the response time here is just 4ms, which is on the slower side, though certainly still capable. If you’d be interested in a slightly smaller monitor, check out the best gaming monitor 27 inch.
Award: BEST CORD MANAGEMENT
WHY WE LIKE IT: Integrated cable management system, complete with clutter-free flat cables, and plenty of impressive specs, including a 1ms response time and a variable refresh rate that can go as high as 144Hz.
Read Full Review: Razer Raptor 27
The Razer Raptor features a best-in-class cable management system built into the stand, complete with custom-made flat cables for serious reduction of clutter. This is an incredibly durable display, with a stand made from solid aluminum. The gaming-centric specs are also on point, with a variable refresh rate, 95% DCI-P3 color gamut, a 1ms response time, adaptive sync, and plenty of useful ports, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C.
Though the stand is aesthetically pleasing and can be titled up, for the purposes of offering easy access to the ports, there are not too many other adjustability options, aside from some simple height adjustment. Also, there are no integrated speakers with this display, though there is a headphone jack and an audio in/out. But if you love having an edge in high-speed gaming, you’ll also find similar feature sets on the best 144Hz gaming monitors.
Award: BEST FOR MULTITASKING
WHY WE LIKE IT: Curved ultrawide (43”) form factor with a 32:10 aspect ratio, making it shine for screen-in-screen applications, with a 3000:1 contrast ratio and VESA HDR 400 certification.
Read Full Review: Deco Gear 43″ Curved Ultrawide E-LED Gaming Monitor
The Deco Gear DGVIEW430 is a fantastic choice for multitaskers, as it fully supports picture in picture technology so you can have your favorite game and a browser running next to one another without having to invest in a dual-monitor setup. The gaming-centric specs here are decent, with a 3000:1 contrast ratio, a stable 120Hz refresh rate, and full integration with AMD FreeSync. This display also received an HDR 400 rating from VESA, so it supplies plenty of gorgeous colors.
This is one of the best HDR gaming monitors. But although most of the specs are fantastic, the response time is slightly slower-than-average, at 4ms. Additionally, there are no USB ports here, be they USB 3.0 or USB-C, though there are three HDMI ports and a DisplayPort.
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-conscious display with some great features for dedicated gamers, such as a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, a 1ms response time, and low motion blur reduction technology.
Read Full Review: LG 24ML600M-B
The LG 24ML600M-B arrives at a budget-friendly price while offering a serious feature set, including a stable 120Hz refresh rate, full integration with AMD Radeon FreeSync, a rapid 1ms response time, and ample blur reduction technology. The bezels here are ultra-thin on three sides, making for a near frameless experience as you play your favorite console or PC games. There is also an integrated VESA mount, for the purposes of hanging this monitor on a wall.
This monitor is 24-inches wide, which may not suit all gamers though is a good size for competitive play, which you can learn more about in our guide to the best size for gaming monitor models. Also, there are no built-in speakers here, though there is a headphone jack and an audio in/out. It is also one of the best FreeSync gaming monitors.
Award: BEST VALUE
WHY WE LIKE IT: Value-conscious display with plenty of high-end features, including a variable refresh rate that overclocks at 144Hz, a 1ms response time, and some proprietary tech designed to enhance color vibrancy. While this is fast, you’ll want to compare 144Hz vs 75Hz gaming monitors first to see which one works best for you.
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2411P comes in at a value-friendly cost point while offering features in line with higher-priced competitors, such as a variable refresh rate, a 1ms response time, and non-reflective bezels, which can help with accuracy while competing in esports. This monitor can create some gorgeous colors, thanks to some proprietary equalization and vibrancy technology. The stand here is also highly adjustable along with a number of metrics, including height, tilt, and swivel.
There is no compatibility here for G-Sync or FreeSync, so this may not be a great choice if you are looking to play newer games on a modern graphics card. Additionally, the 24-inch display size may not suit all consumers, though it is the preferred size for most professional gamers.
Award: BEST COMPACT DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: Compact form factor that excels as a portable display, with dual USB-C ports for connecting accessories and an ultra-crisp QHD 2K resolution.
This 120Hz monitor from Corkea comes in a supremely compact form factor, making it ideal for portable gaming sessions. The specs are fairly decent, offering full compatibility with AMD Radeon FreeSync-enabled graphics cards and a gorgeous QHD 2560 x 1440p display. There are also several highly useful ports here, including HDMI and a pair of USB-C ports, for the purposes of connecting gaming accessories.
Though the 120Hz refresh rate is stable and smooth, the response time here is 5ms, which is certainly on the slower side. Additionally, the 17.3-inch display size makes it great as a secondary display, but not as the centerpiece of your main gaming rig. For a cheaper option, you may compare this to the best 1080P gaming monitor.
To help narrow down to the above list, we conducted thorough research to ensure that each of the above displays truly shines while your computer or console runs graphically intensive video games. We liked displays with stable 120Hz refresh rates, many offering variable refresh rates to suit the demands of different graphic cards, and speedy response times of around 1ms or 2ms.
We also looked for high-definition screens with fantastic resolutions, as high as 4K, and those with gorgeous color spectrums that meet or exceed sRBG recommendations. HDR-enabled monitors were also preferred, as were displays that boasted high contrast ratios and immersive aspect ratios. On the topic of immersion, we tended to prefer curved displays with bold curvatures and ultrawide displays with plenty of screen real estate for picture-in-picture and other tasks. It goes without saying that we also liked each monitor we chose to integrate nicely with Nvidia G-Sync or AMD Radeon Freesync.
Ports and connections were an important part of our decision process. We liked monitors with plenty of useful ports, such as HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB 3.0, the latter being great for connecting gaming-related accessories and gadgets. Finally, we liked aesthetically pleasing stands that were highly adjustable, VESA-mountable, and those that included built-in cable management systems.
Each of the above displays is a great option for those looking for a 120Hz gaming monitor. If you are shopping for one and want to be sure you are making the right choice, look for a display with high-end specs, such as rapid response times of around 1ms. You’ll also want to make sure that the display offers full integration with modern graphics cards and, as such, plays nice with FreeSync and G-Sync. Immersion is also important, so you may want to look for ultra wide displays with resolutions as high as 3440 x 1440 or 4K.
Yes, especially in regard to screen-tearing. The higher the refresh rate, the less screen tearing, and stuttering as you play graphically intensive games. With that metric in mind, a 120Hz monitor should feature half as much screen tearing as a 60Hz gaming monitor. This depends, also, on what type of panel your monitor features, it is an IPS panel, a TN panel or a VA panel. Panel type can impact gaming performance and input lag.
Higher refresh rates don’t always mean a high-end gaming experience. To that end, many experts agree that 120Hz gaming monitors offer the best performance for console and PC gaming. 120Hz displays ensure proper optimization with modern games, as they typically run at a 30 to 60 fps frame rate.
There are a great number of renowned technology companies that manufacture high-grade 120Hz gaming monitors. These include Samsung, Acer, Asus, and LG. The Acer Predator is a particularly renowned display.
