What are the features that make for the best 27-inch gaming monitors? Before everything else, your gaming monitor should offer superb image quality. With a high native resolution, fast response times, and excellent color accuracy, the best gaming monitors create an immersive experience for fast-paced games. If you’re a gamer that’s new to the idea of monitor resolutions, we have a guide on the best resolution for gaming.
The top 27-inch gaming monitors also feature adaptive sync technology like Nvidia G-Sync compatibility and AMD FreeSync compatibility. This functionality syncs the refresh rate on the monitor to your computer’s graphics card for a seamless gaming experience without motion blur or screen tearing. Want these same functionalities, but on a bigger monitor? If yes, then check out the top-rated 32-inch gaming monitors available now.
Many of the best 27-inch gaming displays also offer unique ultrawide configurations with 21:9 aspect ratios or curved screens for more immersion. These sleek design choices not only increase functionality and immersion, but they create an edgy aesthetic that appeals to most gamers today. For more models that are great for gaming and work, check out our guide to the top-rated computer monitors.
Keep reading to learn more about the top 27-inch monitors for gaming, how they elevate your gaming setup, and how you can choose the right one for your needs.
Top 27 Inch Gaming Monitors
#1 AOC C27G2Z Curved FHD Gaming Monitor
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This display is curved to provide an immersive viewing experience. It also handles fast motion scenes very well and has a stand that is very easy to adjust.
- Rapid response time
- Good ergonomics
- Good port selection
- No support for HDR content
The AOC C27G2Z is a curved 27-inch Full HD display with a rapid 0.5ms response time for smooth visuals and a 240Hz refresh rate for great motion clarity. The display has a curvature of about 1500R, creating an immersive gaming experience. It has a decent port selection, including one DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0, and an audio line-out for private listening. However, its lack of support for HDR content may drive some away. But, if you’re more concerned about motion clarity, then have a look at this highly-rated 240hz gaming monitor.
The display also comes with FreeSync Premium Technology to eliminate screen tearing and a stand that is height, tilt and swivel adjustable to tailor it to a user’s preferred viewing angle. Marathon gamers will also appreciate that this best FreeSync monitor has Flicker-Free and Low Blue Light technology to prevent eye irritation during long gaming hours. It’s a useful feature you can also find on some of the best computer monitors for work to reduce fatigue. Its contrast is also good enough to allow for good visibility in dark scenes. This is a feature you’ll also find on some of the leading 23-inch monitors.
#2 Dell 144Hz 27-inch Curved Full HD Monitor
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This display is an excellent option for casual gamers thanks to its high refresh rate and rapid response time. It also has an easy-to-adjust stand.
- Good picture quality
- High refresh rate
- Easily adjustable stand
- No support for HDR content
The Dell S2721HGF is a 27-inch gaming monitor with a Full HD resolution and a 1500R curvature for comfortable viewing. The display’s stand allows for both height and tilt adjustability, and thanks to a 1ms response time, pictures are smooth and clear even during fast-moving scenes. The display also boasts a 144Hz refresh rate for good motion clarity and AMD FreeSync Premium compatibility to eliminate screen tearing. However, its lack of support for HDR content may discourage some users from buying.
The display is also Flicker-Free for a more comfortable viewing experience and filters out harmful blue light to allow for marathon gaming sessions. The display is also VESA compatible for easy wall mounting, but for those who opt to have the display on their desk, its stand has a pretty small footprint, so it won’t take up too much space.
#3 Sceptre Curved 27-inch Edge-Less Gaming Monitor
Award: BEST FOR IMMERSIVE GAMING
WHY WE LIKE IT: This display has excellent color reproduction, so players will enjoy vivid visuals. Its curvature is also deep to create an immersive viewing experience.
- Exceptional color reproduction
- Thin bezels for great design
- Deep curvature for immersive viewing
- Stand has poor ergonomics
The 27-inch Sceptre C275B is an ideal pick for anyone that needs a curved gaming monitor that’s got built-in speakers and very thin top and side bezels. The monitor boasts a deep 1800R curvature for an immersive viewing experience and a high 165Hz refresh rate to ensure that fast motion scenes have good clarity. Its 3ms response time also keeps visuals nice and smooth, and with the ability to reproduce up to 16.5 million colors, users will enjoy vivid imagery. However, its stand’s poor ergonomics may discourage some.
Despite that, the display has features such as Blue Light Shift that reduce blue light to allow for marathon gaming sessions and an Anti Flicker technology for a more comfortable viewing experience. It has built-in speakers for users that wouldn’t want to purchase more as an accessory, as well as a 3.5mm Audio In/Out to allow for private listening.
#4 ASUS TUF 27-inch HDR Gaming Monitor
Award: BEST FOR FAST MOTION GAMING
WHY WE LIKE IT: This display has technology that optimizes it for fast action gaming scenes, as well as in-game enhancements for more competitive gameplay.
- Good detail in dark scenes
- High refresh rate
- Eye care technology for long gaming sessions
- No support for HDR content
The Asus VG279Q1A is a 27-inch Full HD gaming monitor that has an impressive 165Hz refresh rate to accurately process fast-motion scenes and Asus’s Extreme Low Motion Blur technology that keeps its response time at 1ms. The display also has a Shadow Boost feature that enhances image details in dark areas and is compatible with Nvidia GeForce and AMD Radeon graphics cards thanks to Adaptive-Sync and FreeSync technology. It’s only issue is a lack of support for HDR content.
The 27-inch gaming monitor also features Low Blue Light technology to significantly reduce the amount of blue light produced, and as a result, allow for long gaming sessions without causing eye irritation. Players will also enjoy the in-game enhancements offered by its GamePlus feature and the seven different display modes that players can opt to use to optimize visuals depending on the type of content on-screen.
#5 Samsung Odyssey G7 Series 27-inch Gaming Monitor
Award: BEST FOR PROFESSIONAL GAMERS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This display offers a vivid color, excellent ergonomics, and a high refresh rate for smooth motion scenes. Its screen is curved for an immersive view, and picture quality is great, thanks to a high resolution.
- Excellent ergonomics
- Exceptional color
- High refresh rate
- Narrow viewing angles
Made for gamers, the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G7 is a curved gaming monitor with impressive picture quality thanks to its WQHD resolution and a rapid 240Hz refresh rate for super-smooth visuals. With a response time that averages 1ms, pro gamers will have the opportunity to react as fast as they can to enemy attacks, and thanks to its use of Quantum Dot Technology, the display produces vivid colors for an enriching experience during gameplay. However, its narrow viewing angles may be too much of a compromise for some.
The display’s compatibility with both Nvidia G-Sync and FreeSync Premium eliminates screen stuttering, and its HDR600 standard means that HDR content will be rendered very well. On its back, the monitor features Infinity Core Lighting to create a fantastic ambiance, and with a stand that supports height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustability, users will be able to easily tailor their viewing experience to their own needs.
#6 ViewSonic Elite XG270QG Gaming Monitor
Award: BEST FOR MULTI-SCREEN SETUP
WHY WE LIKE IT: This display has very thin top and side bezels, making it ideal for a multi-screen setup. Its stand is also easily adjustable, and its color production is very accurate.
- Easily adjustable stand
- Great color production
- Ambient lighting on its rear
- No support for HDR content
The ViewSonic Elite XG270QG is a 27-inch gaming monitor with a 1440p resolution for good picture quality and a rapid 1ms response time that allows for quick reactions during gaming. This is important, especially for users who tend to engage in competitive gaming, and with Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, users will be able to enjoy reduced screen tearing. The display’s stand can easily be height, tilt, pivot and swivel adjusted, but its lack of support for HDR content may turn away some prospective buyers.
With a maximum 144Hz refresh rate, the ViewSonic Elite delivers smooth motion during fast-action scenes, and with a 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, the display boasts impressive color accuracy for a deeper, vivid display. The display’s bezels are also quite thin, allowing for a multi-monitor setup for those who want to have secondary displays. Consider reading our guide to the best 1440p monitors if you’re interested in models with the same resolution as the XG270QG.
Beginner’s Guide to 27-Inch Gaming Monitors
What Are 27-Inch Gaming Monitors?
A 27-inch gaming monitor is a computer display that connects directly to your gaming PC or gaming laptop via a display cable like an HDMI or DisplayPort cable. Once connected, your monitor will display your video games and other programs as you use them.
A gaming monitor not only displays information from your computer or gaming console but also features a wide variety of functionality specifically to enhance your gaming experience. Features like variable refresh rates, fast response times, adaptive sync technology, and high native resolution all make playing your favorite games better than ever before.
27-Inch Gaming Monitors vs. Traditional Monitors
In the simplest sense, 27-inch gaming monitors don’t operate any differently than traditional computer displays. They both connect to a computer to display information.
However, gaming monitors tend to focus on specific features and functionalities over traditional monitors. Monitors made specifically for gaming tend to offer a higher native resolution, fast response times, and better response times.
27-inch monitors for gamers also usually offer better color accuracy, which results in more vivid colors and more immersion into your video games.
How 27-Inch Gaming Monitors Work
Gaming monitors work in the same general way as traditional computer monitors. You simply plug the monitor into your computer or laptop and let the two devices communicate with each other.
In a more technical sense, a gaming monitor utilizes either LCD or LED display technology to reproduce images and color for you to see:
- LCD: This stands for liquid crystal display and is the most common type of display technology available today. It features a liquid crystal material housed between two pieces of glass. The liquid crystal reacts to electric current and light to create images. LCD displays usually feature cold cathode fluorescent lights (CCFLs) for backlighting purposes.
- LED: This stands for light-emitting diodes and is a type of LCD display. LED displays are favored amongst gamers because they typically create a more consistent and brighter backlighting experience.
Do You Really Need a 27-Inch Gaming Monitor?
Whether you’re a casual gamer or a competitive gamer, a 27-inch monitor really hits the sweet spot in terms of screen real estate, color accuracy, image quality, and native resolution. This is the perfect size to play any game you want with full immersion.
Is a 27-Inch Gaming Monitor Worth Buying?
- You Use Your Monitor for Work and Gaming: 27-inch monitors aren’t just good for video games, they’re also big enough to do professional work. If you use your monitor for both gaming and work, you can’t go wrong with the 27-inch screen size.
- You’re a Creative Professional: Large gaming monitors share a lot of the same features and qualities a professional in the creative field needs. With accurate colors, good peak brightness, and fast response times, you’ll be able to use a 27-inch gaming monitor for video editing, art, and graphic design.
- You Watch Movies and TV Shows on Your Computer: For the same reasons a 27-inch monitor for gaming is good for fast-paced games and creative work, it can also work for visual entertainment purposes. If you use your computer to watch movies and TV shows, then an option in this category will work great. The fast refresh rates, high static contrast ratio, and vivid colors are good features for visual entertainment like movies.
Why a 27-Inch Gaming Monitor May Not Be For You
- You Want to Save Money: 27-inch gaming monitors tend to be on the expensive side of the general price range. If you’re looking for a cheap gaming monitor, you may want to look in the 20-inch to 24-inch range.
- You Have a Small Desk: 27-inch monitors take up a lot of desk real estate. If you’re already in a tight space, then adding a massive gaming monitor may not be the best choice for you.
How Long Will a 27-Inch Gaming Monitor Last?
Depending on the type of display technology you purchase for your 27-inch gaming monitor, you can get varying lifespan estimates. In general, most gaming monitors are LED panels, meaning you’ll get up to 120,000 hours of usage, according to pros like TechiExpert.
However, if you go with a standard LCD monitor, you can expect anywhere from 30,000 to 60,000 usage hours.
Like other electronic devices, the way you treat your gaming monitor can either decrease or prolong its lifespan. For example, if you constantly use it on the highest peak brightness, you’ll get less total lifespan.
The same goes for the environment in which you use your computer display. If your desk space is dirty and dusty, you can expect less lifespan out of your monitor, since debris is more likely to make its way into the monitor’s internals.
How to Choose the Best 27-Inch Gaming Monitor
Choosing the best 27-inch gaming for all of your gaming needs can be an intimidating process if you don’t know what features to consider. This is why it’s important to take some time to figure those things out before you start shopping.
27-Inch Gaming Monitor Key Factors to Consider
Read through the following questions to learn more about the specific features and options you should consider on a gaming monitor. Your answers to these questions can help you sort through the wide variety of different gaming monitor choices so you can find the best model for your gaming habits and use-case needs:
1. What panel type is best for a 27-inch gaming monitor?
The type of panel your 27-inch monitor for gaming uses has a drastic impact on a wide variety of different performance-related issues. For gaming, a general rule of thumb to follow is TN < IPS < VA.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these panel technologies and their specific pros and cons:
- TN: TN panels are the most affordable panel type. They also offer the best fastest response times, which is one positive for gamers. However, TN displays tend to offer lower color accuracy and a more narrow viewing angle, especially when compared to IPS and VA panels.
- IPS: IPS panels are the most expensive panel type. However, an IPS display also offers the best when it comes to color accuracy and wide viewing angles. If you prefer better visuals over fast response times, then an IPS panel is your best bet.
- VA: VA panels are good all-around displays. They offer a good mix of fast response times and solid image quality, although they don’t stand up to IPS panels when it comes to color reproduction. As such, VA panels tend to be a gamer’s preferred choice.
2. What screen resolution and image quality features should you consider?
When it comes to your 27-inch gaming monitor’s visual performance, there are two specific things to consider: screen resolution and image quality.
Screen resolution refers to the number of pixels present in your monitor, measured in width by height. At a bare minimum, a monitor for gaming should offer at least full HD resolution. This is also called 1920×1080 or 1080p.
For hardcore gamers, though, a higher native resolution is better. In the 27-inch category, you should look for a 2160×1440 pixel resolution, also known as 1440p. This resolution tends to give you the best combination of affordability and detailed images.
The image quality specifications to consider include:
- Color accuracy: A monitor’s color accuracy refers to how well it can reproduce colors as real as possible. Monitors with a wide color gamut offer more vivid colors, which is better for gaming overall. You may also want to consider an HDR monitor, which produces even richer and more vivid colors.
- Aspect ratio: Aspect ratio refers to the specific ratio between your monitor’s width and height. For the most part, you’ll see a 16:9 aspect ratio, also called widescreen. If you want an ultrawide monitor, you’ll get a 21:9 aspect ratio. Ultrawide displays offer wide viewing angles, tons of real estate, and excellent picture quality.
- Brightness: This refers to the level of brightness your monitor can output. The more nits of brightness your monitor offers, the brighter it will get overall. More important than the nits of brightness, though, is the range of brightness levels you get on your monitor. With a broader range, you’ll be more able to customize your monitor’s settings to your likeness.
3. What level of performance do you need for your 27-inch gaming monitor?
- Refresh rate: Your monitor’s refresh rate is a measurement of how fast it can update itself with a new image each second. This is also sometimes called frame rate. While most monitors offer a 60Hz refresh rate, a gaming monitor should offer at least a 120Hz refresh rate for the best experience.
- Response time: Your monitor’s response time is a measurement of how fast it can switch between different colors. Lower numbers are better here, and you should consider an option with either a 1ms response time or a 5ms response time.
- Input lag: Your monitor’s input lag is a measurement of how fast it responds to the buttons you press on your controller, keyboard, or mouse. Lower numbers are better here, as well, and you should consider a monitor with at most a 5ms. For competitive gaming, you should get an input lag of 1ms.
4. Should you purchase a monitor with adaptive sync technology?
Adaptive sync technology allows your 27-inch gaming monitor to sync its refresh rate to your computer’s graphics card’s frame rate. The two most popular options are Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync.
If you purchase an Nvidia G-Sync compatible monitor, you should have a computer with a compatible Nvidia graphics card. Likewise, if you purchase a monitor with an AMD FreeSync monitor or an AMD FreeSync Premium monitor, you should have a computer with a compatible AMD graphics card.
5. What other features should you consider for your 27-inch gaming monitor?
There are a variety of other features and functionalities to consider for your new gaming monitor. Take a look at the following options to see what you might want or need:
- Various connectivity options: Purchase a gaming monitor with rich connectivity options. This way, you’ll be able to connect to whatever device you want with ease. At a minimum, consider a product with HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C ports.
- Curved screen: A curved gaming monitor can increase immersion and create an edgy aesthetic that most gamers like. With a curved monitor, you won’t need to turn your head very far to see everything on the display.
