Choosing the Best Gaming Monitor in 2024

Gaming monitors have come a long way in recent years, with new technologies like high refresh rates, curved screens, and ultra HD resolutions now becoming mainstream. As we enter 2024, there are some key factors to consider when choosing a new gaming monitor to get the best experience.

Resolution

One of the most important choices is the monitor’s resolution. This determines how sharp and detailed the image quality will be. For gaming, the most popular options are:

• 1080p – The minimum you need for a good experience. It offers decent sharpness at an affordable price. Games will run fast on mid-range graphics cards.
• 1440p – The new sweet spot for PC gaming. Offering a big jump in image quality over 1080p without costing too much. Ideal resolution for mid-range and high-end GPUs.
• 4K – The highest mainstream resolution right now. It offers incredible image detail but requires an expensive high-end graphics card to run games smoothly. Mostly recommended for console gaming.

The video explains that you can never display a higher resolution than what your monitor supports. So if you buy a 1440p monitor, it won’t be possible to run games at 4K on it[1].

Refresh Rate

The second key factor is the monitor’s refresh rate. This determines how smoothly motion and gameplay will appear on your screen. It’s measured in Hz (hertz) and directly relates to the frames per second (fps) shown in games.

Some key refresh rates for gaming monitors:

• 60Hz – The standard for most monitors. It can display up to 60 fps smoothly. Fine for casual gaming.
• 144Hz – A big upgrade over 60Hz, it allows up to 144fps for noticeably smoother motion. Great for fast-paced competitive gaming.
• 240Hz – The new high-end standard in 2024. It can display up to 240fps, which is incredibly smooth and responsive. Ideal for esports gaming.

The video points out that your monitor’s refresh rate determines the maximum fps it can display[1]. So if your system can output 200fps in a game but your monitor is 144Hz, you’ll still only see 144 of those frames.

Panel Type

There are different display panel technologies used in gaming monitors, each with their pros and cons:

• IPS – Offers the best colors and viewing angles. Response times are improving, making IPS a good all-rounder panel type.
• VA – Provides better contrast compared to IPS. Viewing angles are more limited. Response times are typically slower than IPS.
• TN – The fastest response times for ultra-smooth motion clarity. But color and contrast are lower compared to IPS and VA.

For most gamers, a modern fast IPS gaming monitor is recommended as the best option for 2024. But competitive esports players may still prefer TN panels.

New Gaming Monitor Technologies

There are also some exciting new technologies starting to emerge in 2024 gaming monitors:

• Curved Screens – Curving the display around your field of view can increase immersion. Ultrawide models are especially suited to a curve.
• Higher Brightness – New monitor panels in 2024 are pushing past 500 or even 1000 nits for stunning HDR performance.
• OLED – Early OLED gaming monitors are offering the best image quality thanks to perfect blacks and ultra-fast response. But they remain very expensive.

So while these new technologies show promise, they come at a premium. For most gamers, upgrading resolution, refresh rate or panel type will make more impact on your overall gaming experience.

Putting it All Together

With so many gaming monitors to choose from in 2024, it can get confusing. My recommendation would be:

• Casual gamers should target 1080p resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate monitor. This offers a great experience without costing too much.
• Enthusiast or competitive gamers will see big benefits upgrading to a 1440p resolution and 240Hz refresh rate monitor. This allows you to take full advantage of mid and high-end gaming PCs.
• Console gamers will enjoy spectacular 4K visuals. So if you have a PS5, Xbox Series X or high-end gaming PC, a 4K 60Hz IPS panel monitor is a good fit.

I hope this gaming monitor buyer’s guide for 2024 summarizes the key points from the YouTube video and helps explain what to look for when purchasing your next monitor. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!