Best HDMI 2.1 gaming monitor 2024 – OLED, 43-inch and more

These HDMI 2.1 monitors will be the sweet spot when it comes to console and PC gaming.

As the latest HDMI standard that brought us 4K gaming at 120Hz, an HDMI 2.1 is a worthy investment. It supports a variable refresh rate and ALLM, both of which help reduce screen tearing, stuttering and input lag. Below we’ve picked out the top choices – whether you’re specifically looking for the best monitor for PS5 or something more generic.

Here, we’ve selected a number of monitors for different types of usage. You’ll find premium, huge screens that are perfect for immersion, to smaller displays that will be great for the more competitive gamers out there. We update this list constantly to ensure you’re one step ahead of the game, so be sure to check back in with us!

If you’re wondering what HDMI is here, as it can be important to understand what type of display you need. Getting an HDMI 2.1 monitor can be overkill if your system can’t make the most out of it. If you’re gaming on PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, or a slightly less beefy gaming PC, you might be able to consider more budget-friendly options – unless you plan on upgrading in the future.

The ASUS TUF VG28UQL1A is one of the best gaming monitors currently on the market. It’s ideal for anyone who takes gaming seriously with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate, meaning that it updates the image it is showing up to 144 times a second. This allows for faster and more accurate reflexes.

This smooth gaming experience is helped by its having FreeSync and G-sync. Comparing FreeSync vs G Sync all comes down to which GPU you have, so it’s great to see compatibility with both here. There’s even ELMB Sync, an exclusive piece of technology by ASUS that stands for extremely low motion blur. It fully turns off the backlight between each refresh, at incredibly high speeds, and reduces eye motion blur as a result.

As for visuals, the 4K resolution on this monitor is top-bill with vibrant colours across the board and deep contrast. What’s more, you can make use of the 4K at up to 144Hz thanks to the ASUS VG28UQL1A’s HDMI 2.1 support, though you will need one of the best GPUs for 4K to access refresh rates this high.

Gaming on this monitor looks and feels great, thanks to this focus on speed as well as visuals. ASUS hasn’t sacrificed form for function either with a physical build that is strong and with very little give. The stand is also thick and sturdy.

ASUS has also made it possible for the screen to be oriented vertically. This highlights the VG28UQL1A’s utility in more professional environments too. Its image quality and colour accuracy make it great for graphic design work, and its subtle look means it will fit in fine in any office.

If you don’t need a super high-end monitor, the Acer Predator XB283K KVbmiipruzx is our top recommendation. Don’t ask us about that “KVbmiipruzx” part of the name because we’re just as confused as you are. It doesn’t matter though because this is one of the best value HDMI 2.1 monitors you’re going to find.

It uses an IPS panel which is great for color production and strong viewing angles, all while keeping a fast response time of 1ms. While the pifalls of an IPS panel means poorer contrast ratios, the Acer Predator brings it home with a 4K UHD resolution with a crystal clear image. It’s 144Hz refresh rate is great for any fast-paced actions games, while the HDMI 2.1 bandwidth helps with ghosting. You get the usual bells and whistles including FreeSync which minimizes ghosting.

It’s likely the factory settings out the box will need some adjsting, but the OSD menu is easy to navigate with lots of customizable options. All in all, this monitor should be your number on choice if you’re looking to spend under $600 for an HDMI 2.1 gaming monitor.

The Samsung Odyssey G70A got glowing reviews upon its release and it’s easy to see why. It boasts high specs across the board with a 1ms response time and that all-important 4K display, again made possible at speeds of 144Hz thanks to HDMI 2.1. What’s more despite these high specs, cost-wise it is at the lower end of HDMI 2.1 monitors.

An area the G70A really excels in is picture quality, even rivalling some of the best mini-LED monitors we’ve seen. It complements its 4K display and a wide colour gamut with HDR400, which allows for deeper blacks and more vivid whites. It also hones in on gaming performance with both G-Sync and FreeSync Premium compatibility, both technologies which avert screen tearing by accounting for sudden drops in frames per second. This monitor r

The physical build is strong and sturdy and looks great with 2 simple strips of light at the bottom of either side of the monitor, the colour of which you can customise to suit the rest of your gaming set-up. One small thing to nit-pick is the larger bottom bezel which does compromise immersion, though only because the other 3 are impressively small.

Overall this is a great monitor, that puts the 4K at 144Hz gaming experience that HDMI 2.1 makes possible to good use with impressive visuals and low latency gameplay. It then packages this all up in an affordable monitor.

The GIGABYTE AORUS FV43U is a fantastic gaming monitor geared more towards console use, though still an excellent option for PC gamers. It comes with two HDMI 2.1 inputs, even allowing the possibility to have both hooked up at once.

While in theory HDMI 2.0 can handle the maximum refresh rates that an Xbox Series X or PS5 are capable of, both have been designed with HDMI 2.1 in mind meaning that a lower bandwidth cable could have adverse effects.

What’s more, by opting for a monitor that is capped at 144Hz console gamers will avoid paying extra for frame rates they don’t have access to, and the same thing applies to PC gamers who don’t have the most powerful components. This makes this actually one of the best monitors for Xbox Series X out there, especially for those on a budget,

The GIGABYTE AORUS meets these needs and does so in style. Its huge and immersive 43-inch display is supported by an image quality that is high resolution and well-optimised with great contrast and colour recreation. While we’re a fan of this TV-like monitor, you might prefer the best ultrawide gaming monitors if you’re looking for a more immersive gaming experience.

The on-screen display is another strong point, as GIGABYTE has made it simpler and more intuitive than ever to navigate through settings and menus, as the screen comes with a built-in joystick as well as a remote. Read WePC’s full Gigabyte Aorus FV43U review by monitor expert Charlie Noon for more.

The ASUS ROG OLED PG42UQ is truly a cutting-edge monitor. It makes use of HDMI 2.1 with a staggeringly fast 0.1ms response time. While its 138Hz refresh is not amongst the top we’ve seen, it does come with Free-sync compatibility to help with smooth gameplay.

What’s more, ASUS has plenty of lighting-fast monitors and instead has focussed its effort on the picture quality and contrast that this monitor brings thanks to the OLED panel type. OLED means that each LED is lit individually rather than by a universal backlight. This allows for far more local dimming which in turn brings truer blacks and brighter whites.

If you like the sound of an HDMI 2.1 monitor, then you’ll love our selection of the best OLED gaming monitors.

To add to that ASUS has incorporated a new feature that focuses on brightness uniformity. This brings higher levels of consistency in regard to brightness and is exclusive to monitors in the ROG range. For an even deeper dive, check out WePC’s full ASUS ROG OLED PG42UQ review.

Gaming at 4K and 144Hz is one of the main benefits that comes with HDMI 2.1 and the Gigabyte M32U allows for just that. While the image settings that come out of the box are a bit washed out, this can easily and intuitively be adjusted. With the right settings, you can get an incredibly high level of accuracy over a huge pallet of colours. Charlie Noon breaks down exactly how to do this in his review of the Gigabyte M32U for WePC.

An area where this monitor excels, especially compared to the other Gigabyte screen on this list, is its understated look, which makes it perfect for both work and play. With a simple sleek black design and robust but understated support stand it won’t look out of place in any office, while its incredibly thin bezels allow for increased focus both at work tasks as well as when gaming. If you’re looking for thin bezels, head over to our top picks for the best thin bezel gaming monitors.

It pairs this with a fast 144Hz refresh and a 1ms response, the exact kind of specs we’ve come to expect with HDMI 2.1 monitors. Overall this is a great 4K screen perfect for both gaming and other computing tasks. Its high colour accuracy makes it more than feasible for content creation or video editing as well.

If you’d like to see a wider selection of 32-inch gaming monitors, check out the best 32 inch gaming monitors, and don’t forget to check out WePC’s full Gigabyte M32U review.

Does LG make good HDMI 2.1 monitors?

Yes, LG makes a range of great HDMI 2.1 monitors such as the LG 27GR95QE-B. This is a premium screen armed to the teeth with great gaming features. The screen is NVIDIA G-Sync compatible and works with AMD FreeSync too. These VRR features ensure that pesky screen tearing is kept at bay. On top of that’s there a tine response time and huge 240Hz refresh rate. The display itself is OLED which is great for contrast levels and clarity.

This is just one monitor in LG’s huge range. While many do tend to be more budget-friendly there are also a load of brilliant ones with more powerful gaming features, such as HDMI 2.1 compatibility.

LG 27GR95QE-B

Screen Size

27-inch

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Resolution

1440p

Refresh Rate

240Hz

Response Time

0.03ms

Inputs

2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB

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Do HDMI 2.1 monitors have variable refresh rates?

Yes, almost all HDMI 2.1 monitors will have a variable refresh rate, provided that they are geared towards gaming. A variable refresh rate is vital for gaming. It forces the monitor the adapt and match its refresh rate to the speed your computer is generating frames.

The two main VRR technologies are FreeSync vs G sync. Each of these is geared towards AMD and Nvidia GPUs respectively but largely function in the same underlying manner. That said, the best G-Sync gaming monitor do undergo a more rigorous testing process.

Does the Acer Nitro 28-inch have HDMI 2.1?

Yes. There are many variations of the Acer Nitro and many of them, such as XV282K have HDMI 2.1 compatibility. HDMI 2.1 is brilliant for console gaming and allows for higher pixel counts at higer refresh rates. The Acer Nitro has both is buckets, with a 4K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate.

Acer Nitro XV282K

Screen size

28-inch

Resolution

4K

Response time

1ms

Refresh rate

144Hz

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What is the difference between gigabyte M32U and M32UC?

The Gigabyte M32UC, apart from being the marginally cheaper monitor of the two, boasts a higher contrast ratio and is more suited to dimmer rooms. We still prefer the M32U though – the ergonomic design is superior and performs better when it comes to fast-paced games.

Frequently asked questions

Is an HDMI 2.1 monitor worth it?

HDMI 2.1 is a must-have if you want to play on a console at above 60FPS in 4K. It is simply not possible without it. However if you don’t have the right monitor for 4K, or are gaming on PC with DisplayPort 1.4, then it is not a necessity.

Do I need HDMI 2.1 monitor for PS5?

While technically only a necessity at high framerates in 4K, it is still better to have HDMI 2.1 when playing on the PS5.

Do I need an HDMI 2.1 cable for an HDMI 2.1 monitor?

If you’re planning to make use of HDMI 2.1 on a monitor, you will need a HDMI 2.1 cable first. You can see our best picks here:

• Belkin HDMI 2.1 Ultra High Speed
• Highwings 8K HDMI Cable 2.1
• LINKUP Ultra High-Speed HDMI 2.1