How to choose a gaming monitor: refresh rate, response time and HDR explained
The numbers on a monitor box, what they actually change in games, and which ones to care about first.
Monitor boxes are covered in numbers. Some of them change how games feel; others mostly change the price. Here is what each one means and where to spend.
Resolution and size
Resolution is how many pixels the screen has. 1080p suits 24-inch screens, 1440p is the sweet spot for 27 inches, and 4K shines at 27 inches and above when your PC or console can drive it. A higher resolution only helps if the graphics card can keep the frame rate up.
Refresh rate
The refresh rate, in hertz, is how many times per second the screen can show a new image. 60 Hz is the baseline; 144 Hz and above make motion visibly smoother and controls feel more responsive. For competitive shooters it is the most important number on the box. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S output up to 120 Hz, so a 120 Hz or 144 Hz screen covers them.
Variable refresh rate
Variable refresh rate (FreeSync, G-Sync Compatible or HDMI VRR) lets the monitor wait for each frame instead of refreshing on a fixed clock. It removes screen tearing and makes uneven frame rates feel smooth. Treat it as essential.
Response time
Response time measures how fast a pixel changes colour. Slow pixels leave smears behind moving objects. Ignore the "1 ms" marketing figure and read independent reviews instead: real-world measurements vary a lot between models with the same number on the box.
Panel type
- IPS: accurate colours and wide viewing angles, a good all-rounder.
- VA: deep blacks and high contrast, sometimes slower in dark scenes.
- OLED: perfect blacks and near-instant response, at a higher price, with some care needed for static images.
HDR
HDR needs real brightness and contrast to work. A monitor labelled HDR400 usually looks little better than standard. Look for HDR1000 on LCD screens, or an OLED, if HDR matters to you.
Where to start
Pick the resolution your hardware can drive, then the highest refresh rate your budget allows, with variable refresh rate. Everything else is refinement.
Platforms: PCPlayStationXbox