Best Gaming Monitors of 2025

When buying a gaming monitor, there are several important features to consider. This buying guide will discuss the main features of gaming monitors, and provide an overview of the different types of gaming monitors available, so you can make an informed decision when you purchase a monitor.

The type of panel a gaming monitor uses will determine its performance. TN (Twisted Nematic) panels are the least expensive, but offer the lowest image quality. IPS (In-Plane Switching) and VA (Vertical Alignment) panels are more expensive, but offer better image quality. VA panels provide the best contrast, while IPS panels offer the best viewing angles.

The resolution of a gaming monitor determines how detailed the image will appear. Monitors with higher resolutions will display sharper images. The most common resolutions are 1920 x 1080 (Full HD), 2560 x 1440 (QHD), and 3840 x 2160 (4K).

The refresh rate of a gaming monitor determines how quickly the image is displayed. Higher refresh rates provide smoother, more responsive gameplay. Monitors with higher refresh rates will also have less motion blur. The most common refresh rates are 60Hz, 144Hz, and 240Hz.

The response time of a gaming monitor determines how quickly the pixels can change from one color to another. Lower response times provide better performance in fast-paced games. Monitors with lower response times will also have less ghosting and motion blur.

Adaptive Sync is a technology that helps to reduce tearing and stuttering in games. This is done by synchronizing the refresh rate of the monitor with the frame rate of the graphics card. AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-SYNC are the two most popular types of Adaptive Sync technology.