The Best OLED Monitors For Gaming in 2023

OLED monitors are enjoying an increasing wave of attention thanks to their incredible offerings along with better pricing. Unlike their LED counterparts, OLED monitors are popular for their excellent picture quality in dark areas and their knack for low power consumption.

Related: The Best 4K OLED Gaming Monitors in 2024

Seeing that they are the rave of the moment, more and more manufacturers have jumped on the OLED monitor bandwagon. This leaves the potential buyer with an ocean of great options to choose from. Game Rant has taken a step forward to prepare a list of the best OLED monitors for gaming to help buyers simplify their search.

The tips below will help gamers make the right decision when looking for an OLED monitor to buy.

• Refresh Rate: OLED monitors typically come with a base refresh rate of 120 Hz. Nowadays, it’s very possible to find OLED models that offer 240 Hz. It’s important to know what a prospective monitor’s refresh rate is, as a high refresh monitor is more responsive and allows users to see details that lower refresh rates can’t render.
• Screen Size: 24 to 27 inches is ideal for gaming, given that some ship with higher refresh rates and HDMI 2.1 inputs. However, users with lots of desk space may want to explore larger screen sizes.
• Price: OLED monitors are considerably more expensive than their LED counterparts, and that’s a fact buyers must get accustomed to. As such, it pays to have a generous budget for OLED monitor shopping to be on the safe side. If price is a major concern, then consider the best budget OLED monitors for gaming.

Here are Game Rant’s Picks for the Best OLED Monitors for Gaming in 2024

The ROG Strix PG42UQ is Asus’s flagship OLED from 2022 and is one of the best OLED gaming monitors in the business. This is primarily due to its ability to double as both a PC and a console gaming monitor thanks to excellent audio quality, and a middle-of-the-road screen size that isn’t too large compared to most PC monitors, or too small for console gaming. The PG42UQ comes color-calibrated out of the box and delivers frames at some of the lowest response times one can ask for from a monitor at 0.1ms. While some 2023 models do offer 0.03ms response times, the difference is so minuscule that it will not be felt by anyone.

Related: The Best Budget Gaming Monitors In 2024

The two unique features ASUS does offer with the Strix PG42UQ that do not come with the LG C2 OLED that also comes in 42″ are a custom heatsink that keeps temperatures lower, allowing it to overclock the panel to 138Hz, an anti-glare coating that prevents reflections on otherwise shiny OLED TV surfaces that could be distracting for gamers and end users using this closer than a normal TV would be. At the same time, the PG42UQ does share things in common with a TV that indicate it could be considered a refined version of the LG C2 versus a complete overhaul of what an OLED monitor needed to be.

It comes with a remote control and has Harman Kardon-certified speakers that allow it an edge over most of its monitor competitors. That is, however, where the similarities end. The monitor is designed primarily for gaming and workstation use and features such as its ability to display text much more clearly than the LG OLED TVs weigh heavily in its favor. Overall, the PG42UQ is distinct enough not to be mistaken for an OLED TV while offering its advantages that change perceptions about what a high-end OLED Monitor should look like in 2023. Looking for something bigger? Check out the 48″ version of this monitor.

Beyond sporting a 45-inch OLED screen, the Corsair monitor is bendable. Interestingly, it is the world’s first-ever gaming monitor to come with this feature. Aside from reduced reflections, the screen can be adjusted to get a flat display for strategy games and curved for shooter titles respectively. Using LG OLED technology, this monitor offers an amazing refresh rate of 240 HZ along with a 0.03 response time that always helps gamers enjoy visual fluidity. Each OLED pixel can independently turn on and off, creating rich color, true black, and remarkable contrast.

Equipped with recent OLED technology, the Corsair XENEON Flex does away with motion blur during gameplay. The monitor gets NVIDIA G-Sync comparability and AMD FreeSync Premium certification, ensuring gamers always get smooth images no matter the graphics card used. To prevent eye strain after long periods in front of the display, this monitor has a protective blue light feature.

While Ultrawide and OLED were phrases one seldom heard together, that might change very soon as LG 45′ UltraGear™ OLED 45GR95QE-B leads the charge with 45″ of ultrawide goodness. It also packs the obvious advantages that an OLED monitor has thanks to its display technology. It offers excellent brightness for an OLED monitor while offering as much as 240Hz as a refresh rate, putting it neck and neck with Samsung’s older G9 monitors in terms of resolution and refresh rate while comprehensively beating them to the punch on response times with a bleeding-edge 0.03ms on offer.

Even for its price, the LG 45′ UltraGear™ OLED 45GR95QE-B is hardly flawless. Users have complained about desiring a higher resolution, issues with how the text looks on the screen, and the price point it commands. While the LG Ultragear might have buyers on the fence when it comes to productivity uses, it does shine when it comes to gaming like no other, making it a no-brainer choice for gamers who can deal with some of the productivity-centric issues listed above.

With a 34-inch QDOT-OLED curved screen, the Alienware AW3423DW promises buyers premium gameplay every time it’s used. This monitor’s 1800R curvature is sure to draw gamers into the action. Packing an amazing 3440×1440 pixel resolution along with a sharp 175 HZ refresh rate, gamers should feel every detail with precise visuals. Aside from serving the needs of gamers, the AW3423DW is also ideal for game developers and content creators. A new Creator Mode enables them to switch between the native DCI-P3 color space and the sRGB type based on their preferred needs. They can also modify gamma settings.

The monitor’s NVIDIA G-SYNC certification translates into super-low latency, cinematic color, the much-appreciated HDR, and more. An exceptional response time of 0.1 ms also increases its appeal. It also boasts user-friendly features like bright adjustment, an anti-glare screen, and swivel/tilt adjustments. All of these credentials justify this monitor’s place among the best curved OLED gaming monitors to buy in 2024.

While budget and OLED monitors might seem to be polar opposites given the price segment they trade at, given that they are highly sought after and bleeding edge technology simultaneously – shoppers can still get a bargain if they look hard enough. The Gigabyte AORUS FO48U aims to cover shoppers’ bases and costs well under $1000. It supports HDR10 & ALLM out of the box and has VRR support as well, thanks to native support for both Nvidia’s GSync and AMD’s FreeSync Premium. It also has excellent speakers and a built-in woofer that gives it an edge over some of the competition that skimps on this altogether, forcing users to use headphones or external speakers with their offerings.

While peak brightness is an issue as is a somewhat shaky HDMI 2.1 port bandwidth situation (24 Gbps effective vs 48 Gbps theoretical), the FO48U seems to still hold its own in an overall sense. The chief deciding factor in its favor is that it is a capable 48′ gaming monitor available at a price that can be called a steal.

The Corsair 27QHD240 was developed in collaboration with LG, meaning that it gets a truly rich OLED display. With an ultra-slim screen, this gaming monitor’s 27-inch display offers a fine 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio along with a very slim micro–bezel. Those who like brighter screens can get 33% more using the v103 firmware driver update. It also features an ergonomic design which makes height adjustment easier than ever.

For below $900, gamers can experience total immersion in their favorite titles with an incredible 244HH refresh rate and GtG response time of 0.03 ms. Nvidia G-Sync compatibility and AMD FreeSync certification mean players enjoy silky-smooth images. It’s easy to interact with the on-screen display (OSD) thanks to a proximity sensor. Simply place a hand near the bottom area to activate the OSD. Anti-glare and low blue light features are also available on this monitor, making it one to play with for extended periods without the concern of eye fatigue.

The LG 27″ Ultragear™ OLED (27GR95QE-B) is a 27-inch OLED monitor fresh off the press that supports a native 2K resolution with an excellent 240Hz refresh rate. These specs coupled with an excellent, bright OLED panel should give users an edge in gaming like no other thanks to its 0.03ms response time. It also happens to be much brighter than the average OLED display, clocking in at a maximum of 1000 nits, something that should keep low-brightness-centric critics of OLED monitors happier.

It does come with considerable heft in its asking price. Despite the form factor and the limited size, it is clear that LG would like to position it as a premium OLED monitor that is a cut above the competition not only in specs, but also in price. A brand-new unit should set buyers back $1000, which might put it within spitting distance of larger 2022 OLED monitors that often go on sale. And while they might not pack the latest tech, it does make them viable when one considers the lack of budget alternatives in this screen size this year. Fortunately, interested buyers can get the LG monitor for $200-$220 off the original asking price thanks to the ongoing Black Friday sales.

The Samsung 34-Inch Odyssey G85SB QD-OLED Monitor is a capable performer that does make trade-offs to bring QD-OLED to the masses along with its value proposition of high peak brightness and better vibrancy in tow. It also doubles as a very capable smart TV thanks to Samsung integrating its TV-centric Tizen OS into the Odyssey G8’s ultrawide’s offerings. With a 3440 x 1440 resolution and a 175Hz refresh rate, the G8 isn’t the fastest kid on the block, but it tends to position itself firmly in the upper tier of monitors.

It does compromise by offering a somewhat limited 1-year warranty that doesn’t reportedly cover burn-in; most competitors do offer at least 2 years with comprehensive cover for such situations. This is further exacerbated when one considers the product at hand is an OLED panel which is quite susceptible to burn-in issues. Although this issue has considerably become dampened thanks to improved manufacturing processes and software optimizations that prevent it from happening, this could be a key metric for many users buying what is an excellent but expensive QD-OLED monitor. For those concerned about these issues, Alienware also offers a QD-OLED unit based on the G8 Odyssey that comes with a much better 3-year warranty and burn-in protection for peace of mind.

The LG C2 Series is an excellent OLED TV that can also double as a gaming monitor with a few caveats (limited OSD options for gaming, no DisplayPort) and does a fairly decent job along the way. With Nvidia GSync compatibility in play in addition to supporting AMD FreeSync premium coupled with the TV’s own ALLM and VRR support, the LG C2 ticks all the boxes for PC and console gamers alike.

While this is not a gaming monitor by design, there is no reason it can’t function as one and it does so excellently for people who have used it for work and play alike. While some workarounds are required to ensure it can display text properly for PCs when used for productivity, it can still deliver an excellent gaming session thanks to its infinite contrast, support for variable refresh rates, and low response rate.

The ASUS ROG Swift PG27AQDM is arguably one of the fastest and most responsive 27” monitors for gaming today. Its speed is helped by a whopping 240 Hz refresh rate, which translates into better motion resolution, allowing gamers to see certain details that a lower resolution could not manage. Aside from being a 240Hz monitor, the PG27AQDM also features a low GtG response time of 0.03 ms. This enables the monitor to handle fast-paced scenes without motion blur or high latency.

The ASUS monitor’s OLED screen is engineered to deliver the deepest black levels and render clear images no matter the current brightness level. Despite their growing appeal, OLED displays are marred by burn-in issues. To reduce the chances of this happening, ASUS equipped this monitor with a custom heatsink and an integral component layout aimed at channeling heat from the OLED panel. Unfortunately, it comes with HDMI 2.0 ports instead of 2.1, thereby preventing next-gen console owners from experiencing optimal performance on their consoles.

More: Best 1080p Gaming Monitors

FAQ

Q: Is an OLED monitor any good?

Yes. OLED monitors are fast becoming the top choice for shoppers thanks to their excellent black levels, great picture quality, and better viewing angles.

Q: What are the disadvantages of OLED monitors?

They’re quite pricey when compared to LED monitors and this makes them hard to reach for some consumers. They’re also only popular in terms of brightness if they’re placed in a dark room. A well-lit room will do them no good.

Q: Can I use an OLED TV as a monitor?

Yes, of course. More and more gamers are becoming inclined to use their TVs as monitors. However, the TV in question should have a low input lag, and if possible, a game mode for the best possible experience. Also note that an HDMI cable will be required to connect the PC to the TV.