The 6 Best 4K Gaming Monitors – Winter 2020
Both PC and console gamers have come to expect an elevated level of gaming experience thanks to gear like 4k gaming monitors. While it is true that some of the best 4k gaming monitors might be a little pricey, the fact of the matter is that they are well worth the price. Frankly, with the entrance of more and more brands into this arena, that price is quickly becoming a non-issue as the market starts to see a great number of reasonably priced 4k gaming monitors of excellent quality.
If, however, the decision to buy a 4k gaming monitor is still up in the air for you, here are some reasons that might help sway it in a positive direction:
- 4k monitors come in bigger screens: Before 4k came about, a Full HD screen could go up to 24-inches, which was the sweet spot. Any bigger than that, and you could see the individual pixels which kind of ruined the experience for gamers who liked to view their monitor’s up close. 4k produces much sharper images on bigger screens.
- 4k monitors offer better in-game visuals: The simple truth is that 4k monitors offer you incredible picture depth. These images are so good they are almost in 3D.
- 4k is the way of the future: Since 4k came into the scene just a few years ago, it is very unlikely that it will be replaced by something better in the next few years. It’s more likely the 4k technology will get some kind of improvement. Either way, if you have a 4k monitor, you are pretty much future-proof for now.
Unfortunately, like almost everything good, 4k gaming monitors come with a few disadvantages as well. Namely:
- They are quite expensive
- There are a lot of compatibility issues as not all games are created to support 4k gaming, which means that all the advantages that come with owning a 4k gaming monitor will be lost
- They need powerful hardware such as GTX 1070 or GTX 1080 graphics cards which kind of drive up the pricing even higher
Now that you know the advantages that come with 4k gaming monitors, here is a list of some of the best 4k gaming monitors in the market for you to consider buying:
Acer Nitro XV273K
The Acer Nitro XV273K is the kind of 4k monitor that would suit any typical gamer looking to improve their gaming experience. With a 144Hz refresh rate, this monitor performs better than most in its price range.
Since it benefits from added color by using the DCI-P3 color gamut, combined with the panel’s high pixel density that stands at an impressive 163 pixels per inch, the image quality you will get from this 4k monitor is simply striking.
Being much cheaper than other 4k monitors in its space, some trade-offs come with that price reduction. The most notable of which is the fact that its display doesn’t feature a full-array local dimming backlight meaning that the HDR won’t have a huge impact, if any, at all.
It comes with two speakers (4W each), 2 DisplayPorts, HDMI, and 4 USB 3.0 ports. The DisplayPort and USB cables are included in the package.
Pros:
- It is extremely bright at over 500 nits
- It has a 144Hz refresh rate
- Very accurate DCI-P3 color gamut
- It is well constructed
Cons:
- It doesn’t feature dynamic contrast, which means that HDR doesn’t make that much of a difference
Verdict: If you are looking for an affordable, well-constructed 27-inch 4k monitor that will offer you sharp images without bankrupting you, then this is the one.
Acer Predator X27
The Acer Predator X27 is pretty much royalty in this 4k gaming monitor space. When you think of premium quality 4k gaming monitors, think of the Acer Predator X27. Unlike many other 4k gaming monitors that choose to trade-off between technology and giving you can truly excellent piece of equipment, this monitor has a found a way to marry the two worlds without needing to trade off anything. It is an HDR-enabled, 4k-resolution monitor that offers you extremely high refresh rates of 144Hz (overlocked) as well as G-Sync.
With 10bit color supported by Quantum Dot Technology and a 99% Adobe RGB color gamut, you get vividly bright images. Still, you are fully protected by the VisionCare technology that keeps your eyes safe even after long hours of gameplay.
If you are worried about ghosting, this monitor syncs the high refresh rate to your game’s framerate, which means there will be no stuttering or even tearing when you are playing. That, however, isn’t all this monitor has to offer. You get a wide range of connectivity options with 4 USB 3.0 ports, DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0 on the back as well as the left side of the monitor.
Pros:
- It offers amazing HDR graphics
- Gives you wonderfully brilliant images
- Has a high refresh rate
Cons:
- As high as the response time is, it isn’t the best in the world
Verdict: It is often best to go with a brand as well as a product model that has been trusted and touted by thousands of gamers before you. The Acer Predator X27 is still one of the favorite 4k gaming monitors on the planet. There are very good reasons for that fact.
Acer Predator XB273K
It seems as though Acer, as a brand, is looking to dominate the 4k gaming monitor space. In yet another excellent addition to the market, this Acer Predator XB273K is one of the brand’s best offering at a reasonable price. Closely related to Acer’s iconic X27, this particular model is not only cheaper but is also in a better shell.
You might be wondering why it’s cheaper than its predecessor; what did it trade-off? To be honest, the only real difference you will feel will be that this version has a lower quality HDR…very slightly.
Other than that, you still get excellently vivid pictures, impossibly good color quality, depth, contrast, and a wonderful all-around monitor that greatly improves your gaming experience.
It features G-Sync, which means that you get to enjoy the best adaptive sync technology, which makes this monitor a good choice for both online gamers as well as fast shooters. It also has a wide range of connectivity ports including DisplayPort, HDMI as well as USB 3.0. This monitor will give you mesmerizing brightness at 300 nits.
Pros:
- It offers you brilliantly detailed images
- Excellent value for money
- The refresh and response times are fast enough
- It is well-constructed
Cons:
- The HDR isn’t the most impressive in the world
Verdict: If you loved the Acer Predator X27, then you will absolutely adore this one at a much more affordable price.
BenQ EL2870U
At 28 inches and 1ms response time, the BenQ EL2870U is a truly marvelous 4k gaming monitor. Apart from being an outstanding piece of gaming equipment, it’s one of those 4k monitors that won’t cost you your life saving all the while delivering excellent value for money just as well as the most expensive monitors.
The picture quality you get on this TN monitor is brilliant. It is crisp, well contrasted, and with a 60Hz refresh rate, the images you get will be just stunning even though 60Hz isn’t the highest rate in the world.
Even though this monitor doesn’t feature G-Sync, it makes up for it by having FreeSync, which goes a long way in smoothing your gaming experience. Thanks to the 1ms response time, this monitor is not just beautiful, it’s speedy too.
Furthermore, it features BenQ’s eye care technology that allows you to play for long hours without putting your eyesight at risk thanks to the Low Blue Light Technology. This technology also has Brightness Intelligence plus, which automatically changes the brightness and color on your screen depending on your surroundings. As far as connectivity is concerned, you get 2 HDMI ports as well as a DisplayPort.
Pros:
- It features HDR technology
- It gives you an impressive 4k resolution
- It is very affordable
- Features Brightness Intelligence + and BenQ’s eye-care technology for your protection
- It’s FreeSync compatible
Cons:
- It doesn’t feature G-Sync
Verdict: Despite having a refresh rate of only 60Hz, this 4k monitor delivers pretty impressive images and performance for avid gaming.
Acer Predator CG437K
As mentioned earlier, Acer is very big in this niche. This Acer Predator CG437K is yet another stellar entry from the brand. Just like the previous entries from Acer, this 4K gaming monitor can hold its own under any kind of scrutiny. At 43 inches, it’s considerably bigger than most monitors, but it still fits well on your desk and delivers excellent picture quality without you being able to see the individual pixels. Additionally, the fact that it’s so big means that it fills out the peripheral space, thus keeping you from getting distracted when gaming.
It features G-Sync compatibility and offers a 144Hz (overclocked) refresh rate. The huge screen operates VA panel and offers 4000:1 contrast, meaning that you will be receiving images that are as lifelike as they come. This is, by far, one of the best 4k gaming monitors to choose if you want to improve your gaming experience.
Pros:
- Huge but still the perfect size for your desktop
- It offers wonderful contrast
- Features HDR at brightness of 1000 nits
- Has wonderful speakers
Cons:
- To get that 144Hz refresh rate you need to connect two DisplayPort cables thus sacrificing your HDR support and G-Sync compatibility
Verdict: Have you been looking for a 43-inch 4k gaming monitor that offers you excellent picture quality, G-Sync, and HDR? This is it!
Acer ConceptD CP7271K
As technology advances, people are quickly finding ways to multipurpose their gadgets. The Acer ConceptD CP7271K is one of those 4k gaming monitors that are not only designed for an extremely enjoyable gaming experience as well as work. Now gamers have something that they can use on their day to day jobs and put in a wicked session of gaming while on break.
This 4k gaming monitor comes to you with some impressive features. For starters, it’s very well entrenched in the DCI-P3 color space. That is a lot of color by any standard. Although, if that proves to be too much, you can simply reduce the color through a software look-up table.
It’s fully equipped with FALD backlighting and an HDR output that gives you 1000 nits of brightness. Couple that with 96.3% sRGB coverage, 144Hz refresh rate, and you have yourself a gaming monitor that will completely change your gaming experience for the better.
Pros:
- It has an awesome color gamut
- Features 144Hz refresh rate
- Offers you tremendous contrast
- It has both HDR and FALD with 1000 nits of brightness
Cons:
- It doesn’t have portrait mode
Verdict: This is one of those 4k gaming monitors that go above and beyond to deliver the best gaming experience for the money. It is definitely worth a second look.
Granted, there are just too many options out there when it comes to the best 4k gaming monitors from which to choose. For the most part, you should be guided by the specs as well as the kind of gaming you do.
Other than that, a huge chunk of your decision will come from how much money you have to spend. What you should know, however, is that buying a 4k gaming monitor is by far one of the best decisions you will make as a gamer. Whether you play professionally or not, a 4k gaming monitor will bring worlds of difference to your gaming experience. They are worth the money you spend on them.