Best 1440p 144Hz Monitors For Gaming [2023 Ultimate Guide]

Check out the best 1440p 144Hz monitors for gaming currently available and how they compare to popular and relevant alternatives.

1440p 144Hz monitors are preferred and adored among gamers, as they offer the ideal combination of detail clarity and gaming responsiveness.

But what does this mean?

It means that there are going to be a ton of different 1440p 144Hz models, and choosing the perfect one can sometimes be overwhelming and frustrating. That’s where this buyer’s guide comes in!

We’ve picked the absolute best, and most cost-efficient 1440p 144Hz monitors for gaming, all you have to do is choose which one is most suited for you!

These are the best 1440p 144Hz gaming monitors worth buying right now!

Acer XV272UV

• 27″ 1440p 170Hz 1ms
• VRR and MBR support
• Wide color gamut

See Price

Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q

• 27″ 1440p 165Hz 1ms
• VRR and MBR support
• 576-zone mini LED FALD

See Price

We also included noteworthy alternatives for each monitor in the reviews below in case our pick isn’t available or if it’s overpriced in your country. Additionally, we’ll mention if there are any similar upcoming monitors you should keep your eyes on.

Now, we will cover the most important details about each monitor in the summaries below, but you may also want to visit our comprehensive gaming monitor buyer’s guide.

This guide includes the models with refresh rates ranging from 144Hz to 170Hz. We have a dedicated best 1440p 240Hz monitors guide!

If you want to view our changelogs for this particular buying guide, you can do so at the end of this article.

AOC CQ27G3S

1440p 144Hz Under $250

Size: 27”
Panel: VA
Refresh Rate: 165Hz
VRR: FreeSync
G-SYNC: Unstable

See Price

The Pros:

• High contrast ratio, wide color gamut
• High pixel density
• Plenty of gaming features, including VRR and MBR up to 165Hz
• Ergonomic and sturdy design

The Cons:

• Minor ghosting in fast-paced games, mainly in darker scenes
• Prone to VRR brightness flickering

About the Monitor

The AOC CQ27G3S is actually one of the cheapest 1440p 165Hz gaming monitors you can buy, yet it offers an amazing gaming experience!

Image Quality

This monitor uses a VA panel, so its strongest point is the high static contrast ratio of 3,000:1. In comparison, TN and IPS panels usually have a contrast ratio of just 1,000:1.

This result in deep blacks, bright whites and a generally more pronounced relation between the darkest and the brightest colors, which makes for an immersive viewing experience — especially in dark rooms.

As if that’s not enough, VA panels also offer decent color reproduction. The colors are much more vibrant than that of TN panels, but they’re not as punchy as what you can find on IPS models. However, the AOC CQ27G3S utilizes a wide color gamut backlight with 120% sRGB gamut size for more saturated and lifelike colors.

While this closes the gap between the IPS and VA when it comes to color quality, IPS displays are still better when it comes to color accuracy and consistency.

Lastly, the peak luminance of this monitor maxes out at 250-nits, which may sound too low, but under normal viewing conditions, it will be more than enough.

The most significant disadvantage of VA panel displays is the pixel response time speed. Although manufacturers claim ‘4ms’ gray to gray pixel transition time for VA panels, it’s actually notably slower when it comes to transitioning between very dark pixels.

As a result, this creates noticeable black smearing of fast-moving objects in fast-paced games, which can be somewhat distracting if you’re a hardcore FPS gamer. For casual gaming and other game genres, it’s actually negligible, and you most likely won’t even notice it unless you’re really looking for it.

Note that pixel response time isn’t the same as input lag — input and display lag is the time it takes for the monitor to react and display your commands. All monitors in this list have low input lag (below 5ms), which makes for imperceptible delay at 165Hz.

Features

Moving on, the AOC CQ27G3S monitor is equipped with AMD FreeSync, which allows it to change its refresh rate dynamically (Hz = FPS), thus eliminating screen tearing and stuttering for good.

FreeSync works as long as your FPS is within the VRR (variable refresh rate) range of the monitor, which amounts to 48-165Hz/FPS, with LFC support for lower frame rates. You will also need a compatible graphics card, which includes most AMD and NVIDIA’s GTX 10-series or newer cards.

Although this monitor isn’t certified by NVIDIA as G-SYNC compatible, FreeSync works with NVIDIA cards. Unfortunately, some units of the AOC CQ27G3S (and most other monitors based on VA panels) are affected by the brightness flickering issue when FreeSync is enabled.

How does this affect you?

This brightness flickering is mostly visible when your FPS fluctuates a lot or when it gets below 48FPS and triggers LFC. It doesn’t affect all units of the monitor, and it’s not visible in all video games.

Other noteworthy features include Shadow Boost (improves visibility of objects in shadows), Game Color (different color saturation presets), crosshair overlays, Frame Counter to keep track of the monitor’s refresh rate with FreeSync and pre-calibrated picture presets such as ‘FPS’ and ‘RTS’.

Additionally, the AOC CQ27G3S also features Motion Blur Reduction (MBR), which via backlight strobing, further reduces the amount of visible trailing behind fast-moving objects. However, it cannot be active at the same time as FreeSync, and the monitor’s brightness will decrease as the strobing frequency becomes higher.

Luckily, you can manually alter the strobing frequency from 1 to 20 in increments of one and find the perfect trade-off between motion clarity and picture brightness for you.

Design & Connectivity

The design of the monitor is also very good considering its price! The stand is metal and sturdy while the chassis consists of textured matte black plastics and ultra-thin bezels.

You can also elevate the screen up to 130mm, swivel it by +/- 40°, tilt by -5°/23° or mount it via the 100x100mm VESA pattern. In addition, the monitor has a steep 1000R screen curvature.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2 and a headphone jack. 1440p 120Hz mode is also supported over HDMI for consoles.

Alternatives

If you’d rather have a 27″ 1440p high refresh rate gaming monitor with a more subtle screen curvature, check out the following 1500R models:

We’d also like to again bring up the issue of VRR brightness flickering and noticeable dark-level smearing that affects all these monitors. Some users might not be sensitive to it, in which case the monitors are worth considering as you get a higher contrast ratio in comparison to IPS technology.

However, if you want smooth VRR performance and no noticeable ghosting, you can nowadays find 27″ 1440p 144Hz IPS monitors at the same price range and we’ll get into the best models in this guide too.

Gigabyte M32QC

Affordable 32″ Gaming Monitor

Size: 32”
Panel: VA
Refresh Rate: 170Hz
VRR: FreeSync
G-SYNC: Unstable

See Price

The Pros:

• High contrast ratio, wide color gamut
• Plenty of gaming features, including VRR + MBR up to 170Hz
• Height-adjustable stand, USB hub, KVM switch

The Cons:

• Minor ghosting in fast-paced games, mainly in darker scenes
• Prone to VRR brightness flickering
• Design lacks swivel

About the Monitor

Next up, we have the Gigabyte M32QC, a 32″ 1440p 165Hz (170Hz OC) gaming monitor with a 1500R curved VA panel.

Image Quality

The Gigabyte M32QC features a large 31.5″ viewable screen, and while a bigger monitor can provide a more immersive gaming and viewing experience, it also has a lower pixel density.

Here’s why: with roughly 93 pixels per inch, you get the same pixel density as that of a 24″ 1080p monitor. So, you will get the same amount of screen space as you would with the 27″ 1440p models (108 PPI), but the details won’t be quite as sharp.

Regardless, at just a bit over 3 ft away from the screen, your eyes won’t be able to distinguish the individual pixels on the monitor, which is a reasonable distance given the size of the screen.

Other panel-related specifications include a wide 94% DCI-P3 color gamut (equivalent to ~125% sRGB), a high 3,000:1 contrast ratio and a decent 350-nit peak brightness (up to 400-nits for HDR content).

Sadly, as it’s the case with most VA panel monitors, there’s noticeable dark-level smearing behind fast-moving objects in dark scenes that will be tolerable to some, but repulsive to others.

So, if you want a big gaming monitor with excellent image quality and decent performance, the Gigabyte M32QC offers exceptional value for the price.

Features

The Gigabyte M32QC supports AMD FreeSync with a 48-170Hz VRR range over DisplayPort and 48-144Hz over HDMI.

Other features include the Aim Stabilizer Sync backlight strobing technology (allows VRR and MBR to be used at the sam time), PiP/PbP, Black Equalizer for better visibility in darker games, custom crosshairs and pre-calibrated picture presets.

Design & Connectivity

The Gigabyte M32QC has a height-adjustable stand (up to 100mm), and you can also tilt the screen by -5°/20° or mount it via the 100x100mm VESA pattern.

Connectivity options consist of two HDMI 2.0 inputs, DisplayPort 1.2, a USB-C port with DP 1.4 Alt Mode and 18W Power Delivery, a headphone jack and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.

It also has an integrated KVM switch, allowing you to control two PCs connected to the screen via one set of keyboard and mouse.

Alternatives

If you’d rather have a flat-screen 32″ 1440p 144Hz VA gaming monitor, check out the LG 32GN650, though it doesn’t have as wide color gamut (only 95% sRGB).

In case you want a model with an even more aggressive screen curvature, check out the Samsung Odyssey S32AG55 with a 1000R curvature, but again, no wide color gamut.

There’s also the older version of the M32QC, the Gigabyte G32QCA without the built-in KVM switch and USB-C, but it’s usually more expensive or equally priced.

Acer XV272UV

1440p 144Hz 1ms IPS On A Budget

Size: 27”
Panel: IPS
Refresh Rate: 170Hz
VRR: FreeSync
G-SYNC: Stable

See Price

The Pros:

• Vibrant colors
• High pixel density
• Plenty of gaming features, including VRR and MBR up to 170Hz
• Fully ergonomic design

The Cons:

• IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)

About the Monitor

The Acer XV272UV is the most cost-efficient 1440p 144Hz gaming monitor with an IPS panel providing you with both vibrant colors and quick response time! In fact, it’s by far the cheapest model with a rapid 1ms GtG response time speed.

Image Quality

Thanks to its IPS panel, the Acer XV272UV monitor delivers precise, consistent and vivid colors. Naturally, blacks aren’t as deep as that of VA panels, but you also don’t get the visible black smearing in fast-paced games. Instead, the pixel response time is rapid, which ensures minimal motion blur.

Further, the monitor is equipped with a wider color gamut backlight covering 95% of the DCI-P3 color gamut (equivalent to ~130% sRGB) for even more eye-catching colors.

Features

Moving on, the Acer XV272UV features AMD FreeSync support with a 48-170Hz VRR range and stable G-SYNC Compatible performance.

But that’s not all, you will also find the VRB feature, which reduces perceived motion blur by backlight strobing. Just like it’s the case with most monitors, MBR and VRR cannot work at the same time, and while VRB is enabled, the maximum brightness of the display is decreased.

Other features include pre-calibrated picture presets, custom crosshairs, a refresh rate tracker and Black Boost for better visibility in darker games.

For more information, visit our detailed Acer XV272UV review.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the Acer XV272UV offers full ergonomic support, including up to 110mm height adjustment, -5°/25° tilt, +/- 180° swivel, +/- 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 inputs (max 144Hz), DisplayPort 1.2, dual 2W integrated speakers and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

The Acer XV272UV offers the best value for money as far as high refresh rate 27″ 1440p IPS models go. In case it’s not available, check out the HP X27q, the MSI G273QF and the LG 27GL83A.

There are a few premium models also worth mentioning, such as the MSI MAG274QRF-QD with full Adobe RGB color gamut (~150% sRGB) and the Gigabyte M27Q-P with 98% DCI-P3 and KVM switch.

However, these go for ~$400, whereas the Acer XV272UV can be found for $250. If you’re willing to spend over $400, then you should consider the Gigabyte M27Q-X with a 240Hz refresh rate, which can be found for ~$450 on sale.

Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q

Best 27″ 1440p HDR Gaming Monitor

Size: 27”
Panel: IPS
Refresh Rate: 165Hz
VRR: FreeSync
G-SYNC: Stable

See Price

The Pros:

• 576-zone mini LED FALD with over 1000-nits peak brightness for true HDR image quality
• Wide Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color gamut
• Quick response time speed
• Plenty of gaming features including VRR and MBR up to 165Hz
• Fully ergonomic design and rich connectivity options, including KVM and USB-C with 90W PD

The Cons:

• Minor blooming/haloing noticeable in certain scenes
• Occasional flickering issues when using VRR and local dimming simultaneously

About the Monitor

If you want the best 27″ 1440p high refresh rate gaming monitor, we recommend the Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q!

Image Quality

To start with, the GP27Q has an exceptionally wide color gamut with 98% DCI-P3 and 99% Adobe RGB gamut coverage for amazing colors! You also get dedicated color modes for different gamuts as well as excellent Delta E < 2 factory calibration.

Moreover, it has a stellar peak brightness of 600-nits for SDR, which can get a boost up to 1200-nits for punchy highlights when watching HDR content!

Its main weapon is the 576-zone mini LED FALD (full-array local dimming) solution! These zones can individually dim parts of the screen that are supposed to be dark without greatly affecting parts of the image that are supposed to remain bright, thus significantly boosting the contrast ratio!

As a result, you can simultaneously get bright highlights and deep blacks, while the wide gamut coverage ensures gorgeous color vibrancy.

Depending on the scene, small illuminated objects can bleed into the surrounding dimmed zones and create blooming, but this mainly occurs in particularly demanding scenes (fireworks, night sky with stars, etc.), so it’s tolerable.

Features

The Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q supports VRR up to 165Hz for tear-free gameplay as well as Motion Blur Reduction, but you can’t use them at the same time.

When using VRR and local dimming simultaneously, you might detect flickering in certain scenes or games, so you might have to disable one of the two features.

Other features include Black Stabilization, crosshair overlays, on-screen timers and various picture presets.

Check out our full GP27Q review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand offers full ergonomic support with up to 110mm height adjustment, 90° pivot, -5°/15° tilt, +/- 15° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DP 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports (max 144Hz), a USB-C port with DP 1.4 Alt Mode and 90W Power Delivery, a headphone jack, dual 3W built-in speakers and integrated KVM functionality.

All in all, we find that the Tempest GP27Q is an excellent gaming monitor despite its blooming and occasional flickering issues. The 27″ 1440p 165Hz IPS panel with fast response time, VRR support, exceptional color gamut coverage, fully ergonomic stand and extensive connectivity options (KVM, USB-C) is worth $500 without even adding the 576-zone mini LED FALD backlight to the equation.

So, the fact that in some games simultaneous VRR and local dimming operation might work suboptimally is forgivable.

Alternatives

• KTC M27T20 – 27″ 1440p 165Hz VA gaming monitor with 576-zone mini LED FALD, USB-C 90W and KVM, also for $500. Its VA panel offers a higher contrast ratio for less noticeable blooming, but it doesn’t have as wide viewing angles or as wide color gamut. KTC is also yet to release a firmware update that allows VRR and local dimming to work at the same time.

Gigabyte M32Q

Best Value 32″ 1440p 144Hz Gaming Monitor

Size: 32”
Panel: IPS
Refresh Rate: 165Hz (170Hz OC)
VRR: FreeSync
G-SYNC: Stable

See Price

The Pros:

• Precise, consistent, and vibrant colors
• Quick response time speed
• Plenty of gaming features, including FreeSync and Aim Stabilizer Sync
• Ergonomic stand and rich connectivity options

The Cons:

• IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)

About the Monitor

The Gigabyte M32Q was one of the first 32″ 1440p 144Hz+ gaming monitors available with an IPS panel. It’s a long-anticipated format by those who want a big monitor with accurate colors, fast response time and smooth VRR performance. 

Image Quality

With the Gigabyte M32Q, you get incredible color quality thanks to its 94% DCI-P3 color gamut (equivalent to ~125% sRGB). There’s an sRGB emulation mode available as well.

Plus, the colors will remain flawless at basically any angle and across the entire screen due to the IPS technology with 178° wide viewing angles.

You also get a decent peak brightness of 400-nits for HDR content, but the contrast ratio is limited to 1,000:1, so blacks won’t be quite as deep as they’re on VA models.

Features

More importantly, at least as far as performance is concerned, the pixel response time speed amounts to only 1ms GtG, so there won’t be any ghosting in fast-paced games.

Further, the monitor is G-SYNC compatible (though not officially by NVIDIA), and there’s no brightness flickering associated with most VA models.

Next, it supports backlight strobing that can be active at the same time as VRR called Aim Stabilizer Sync. This minimizes strobe crosstalk and offers excellent motion clarity.

You also can overclock the Gigabyte M32Q to 170Hz from its native 165Hz refresh rate. 

Gigabyte’s standard gaming features are available too, including customizable crosshairs, a refresh rate tracker, Black Equalizer (improves visibility in darker games), and Dashboard (it can display PC parameters, such as CPU/GPU temperature, utilization, etc. on the screen).

Finally, the monitor has a KVM switch that allows you use a single set of keyboard and mouse for two PCs connected to the screen.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers height adjustment up to 130mm height adjustment, +/- 30° swivel, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, a headphone jack, two 3W built-in speakers, USB-C (with DP Alt Mode), and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.

Alternatives

The Gigabyte M32Q price ranges from $400 to $500. At $400, it offers excellent value for money, however, keep in mind that the LG 32GQ850 sometimes goes on sale for $500 – it’s a 32″ 1440p 240Hz (260Hz OC) IPS gaming monitor with a fast response time speed, a wide 98% DCI-P3 color gamut, DisplayHDR 600 and an A-TW polarizer that helps with IPS glow!

Conclusion

These are the best 1440p 144Hz monitors for gaming to get right now! If you have any questions or aren’t sure what monitor to get, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment below, and we’ll gladly help!

Overall, the Acer XV272UV offers excellent value for the price if you’re on a tighter budget. In case you can afford something pricier, go with the Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q for its amazing HDR image quality!

If you want a larger screen, the Gigabyte M32Q is a solid option, and if you don’t mind some ghosting in dark scenes and screen tearing (or VRR brightness flickering), the VA models are worth considering as well!

Updates +

• January 20, 2023:
  – Replaced the AOC CQ27G2 with CQ27G3S, the MSI G273QF with the Acer XV272UV, the MSI MAG274QRF-QD with the Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q and the Gigabyte G32QCA with the M32QC.
• November 24, 2022:
  – Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available.
• March 4, 2022:
  – Added the Cooler Master GP27-FQS as an upcoming alternative.
• December 1, 2021:
  – Added more 27″ 1440p 144Hz IPS and VA panel alternatives.
• November 26, 2021:
  – Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available.
• September 10, 2021:
  – Replaced the LG 27GP850 with the MSI MAG274QRF-QD.
• August 5, 2021:
  – Added the LG 27GP850 and the ASUS PG329Q to the table.
• June 11, 2021:
  – Removed the Dell S2719DGF and the Samsung CHG70.
  – Replaced the Acer XB323UGP with the Gigabyte M32Q.
• May 26, 2021:
  – Added the LG 27GP850 as an alternative to the LG 27GL83A.
• February 10, 2021:
  – Replaced the LG 32GK650F with the Gigabyte G32QC and added the LG 32GN650 as a flat-screen alternative.
  – Replaced the ViewSonic VX2758-2KP-MHD with the Gigabyte G27Q.