Best 1440P 144Hz Monitors for 2021: The Top G-Sync & Freesync High Refresh Rate Displays

ASUS PG278QR 27″ Review

If you’ve got an unlimited budget and you want the best-of-the-best, the first option you’ll want to check out is the ASUS ROG PG278QR 27″ monitor. The PG278QR is a 2560×1440 monitor that has a 165Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time.

It’s a WQHD TN panel monitor that has a slim bevel design and is G-Sync compatible.

It also comes with 16.7 million display colors and a 1,000:1 contrast ratio. It offers one DisplayPort and HDMI port, as well as two USB 3.0 ports.

The high price tag on this ASUS 1440P 165Hz monitor will scare a lot of gamers away. However, if you have the budget and a high-resolution monitor that performs incredibly well is at the top of your list, the PG278QR might be worth the cost for you.

Overall, this monitor is a serious financial committment. Not only do you need a big budget in order to accommodate it, but you also need a high-end PC to run it.

So, if you don’t quite have the money to spend on the PG278QR, or the hardware necessary to utilize it to its fullest, you might want to go with another option. (Some of the budget-friendly 1440P 144Hz monitors below will give you extra to spend on hardware upgrades if necessary.)

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Acer Predator XB271HU 27″ Review

Acer’s Predator XB271HU 27″ gaming monitor is a nice alternative to ASUS’ PG278QR. Like the PG278QR, the Acer XB271HU is a 1440P 27-inch monitor that comes with G-Sync technology and a high refresh rate.

The Acer Predator 1440P 144Hz IPS gaming monitor also has a conrast ratio of 1,000:1.

The only realy differences between the PG278QR and the XB271HU (spec-wise) are the XB271HU’s 144Hz refresh rate versus the PG278QR’s 165Hz refresh rate and the XB271HU’s IPS panel versus the PG278QR’s TN panel. However, the XB271HU can be overclocked to reach 165Hz.

What the XB271HU has over the PG278QR, though, is a much lower price tag (~$80 difference). And, ultimately, there probably aren’t a whole lot of gamers who will notice the difference between 144Hz and 165Hz.

So, if you want to save some money without seeing a sizable performance drop and you don’t mind going for a slightly lower response time, the Acer Predator is probably your best bet.

Either way you choose, though, you’re going to land yourself a high-end monitor.

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ASUS PG27VQ 27” Review

Two of the most interesting monitors on this list are the ASUS PG27VQ and the VIOTEK GN32DR. Both are 2560×1440 monitors with curved panels. However, there are some key differences.

First, ASUS’ PG27VQ sports a 165Hz refresh rate whereash VIOTEK’s GN32DR only has a 144Hz refresh rate. VIOTEK has the larger panel, though, at 32″. The PG27VQ is a 27″ monitor.

The ASUS PG27VQ comes with a TN panel, whereas the GN32DR has a VA panel. The TN panel gives the PG27VQ a faster response time (1ms), but the GN32DR brings wider viewing angles.

Also, the two monitors have different adaptive sync technologies. The PG27VQ is a G-Sync monitor, whereas the VIOTEK GN32DR is a Freesync monitor. So, if you want a 2560×1440 curved monitor with a high refresh rate, it be your GPU (AMD or NVIDIA) that determines which of these options you can get.

And, finally, perhaps the biggest difference is in price. The ASUS PG27VQ is over $200 more experience than the GN32DR at the moment.

However, part of that is that VIOTEK is a relatively unknown monitor manufacturer. And, ASUS’ brand recognition likely contributes to the higher cost.

Overall, the TN panel on the ASUS PG27VQ makes it a better option if the fastest possible response time is important to you. If it were up to me, I likely would want a little better panel for nearly $800. However, the low response time that TN panels offer will likely make the PG27VQ an option that pro gamers consider. And, the PG27VQ is definitely one of the best curved gaming monitors currently on the market.

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ViewSonic XG2760 27” Review

The ViewSonic XG2760 27-inch 1440P monitor is another solid option for competitive gamers. The main standout feature on the XG2760 is the fact that it comes with a 165Hz refresh rate instead of a 144Hz refresh rate. However, unlike the other 165Hz refresh rate option on this list (the Acer XB271HU), the XG2760 comes with a 1ms response time. That is due to the fact that it comes with a TN panel instead of an IPS panel.

And, while the TN panel might not offer as good of viewing angles as an IPS panel, it will deliver a faster response time. As a comparison, the Acer XB271HU comes with an IPS panel and a 4ms response time (gray-to-gray), whereas the XG2760’s TN panel is able to deliver a 1ms response time.

The real-world difference between 1ms and 4ms isn’t significant for the average user, but for ultra-competitive gamers, that small of a difference in response time can have an impact.

So, the bottom line is that, if you’re a serious esports gamer that needs as much performance as possible, the faster response time on the XG2760 might make it a better option for you than the Acer XB271HU. Although, even if you play esports games—but not at the upper levels of competition—the XB271HU will still work just fine.

The only downside of the XG2760 right now is the fact that the ASUS PG278QR offers essentially the same specs and features while costing about $20 less. So, unless the XG2760 goes on sale, you’d probably be better offer saving a bit of cash and opting for the PG278QR instead.

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Dell Gaming S2716DG 27″ Review

Dell’s S2716DG is the most budget friendly G-Sync 1440P 144Hz monitor currently available (at least, for 27″ versions). In fact, the difference between the S2716DG and the next closest in price on this list (the Acer Predator XB271HU) is nearly ~$140.

If you have a big budget to spend, that’s not a big deal. But, if you’re building/buying a new gaming computer along with getting a new monitor, that $140 could be put to better use on other hardware/peripherals.

And, in that case, the S2716DG is a worthy option for gamers who have a decent-sized budget—but not an unlimited one—and who also want to go with a G-Sync monitor (or an NVIDIA GPU).

The S2716DG does come with a cheaper TN panel, which helps contribute to its lower cost. However, that also means that it comes with a faster 1ms response time. So, if you’re a competitive gamer who needs the fastest response time possible, there may be no reason for you to spend up to get the IPS panel G-Sync monitors listed above.

Ultimately, Dell’s S2716DG offers a nice middle ground between performance and price for 144Hz 2K gaming monitors.

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Samsung C32HG70 32″ Review

If you’re looking for a large display that comes with a 1440P resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate and you don’t mind paying a premium for some nice additional features, then the Samsung C32HG70 might be an option you’ll want to consider.

The C32HG70 sports a 32-inch curved VA panel, a 144Hz refresh rate, a 2560 x 1440 resolution, and a 1ms response time. And, while there are plenty of other 1440P 144Hz FreeSync monitors out there, the C32HG70 stands out with its curved display, it’s sharp VA panel, and it’s 1ms response time.

With the VA panel you get better viewing angles and a sharper pictures without having to sacrifice on the response time (which is the case for monitors that opt for a TN panel).

The one downside, though, is that at a little over $500, the C32HG70 is significantly more expensive than most of the other 1440P 144Hz FreeSync monitors currently on the market. But, if you have large budget and you don’t want to sacrifice on either your response time or your viewing angles, the C32HG70 makes for a compelling option when compared to the other monitors on this list.

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ViewSonic VX3258 32″ Review

BenQ’s ZOWIE XL2730 Freesync monitor is another worthy option to consider. While it does come in at a bit higher of a price than Nixeus’ 144Hz 1440P monitor despite offering a cheaper TN panel, BenQ has a better reputation and is known for building high-end gaming-specific monitors.

With a 144Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, the XL2730 is a great option for eSports gamers who play highly competitive games (like CS:GO, PUBG, Fortnite, or Overwatch.)

Its Black eQualizer feature helps increase visibility in darker in-game settings, which can help give you an edge in spotting hidden competitors.

You also get a better stand and tilt features than what the Nixeus NX-EDG27S offers as well. So, while the price is quite a bit higher (~$100) than the EDG27S, if you’re looking for a more complete offering, the XL2730 might be worth looking into.

Again, though, just note that if you want to utilize the Freesync feature on the XL2730, you will need an AMD GPU in order to do so.

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VIOTEK GN32DR 32″ Review

VIOTEK is another lesser-known monitor manufacturer that has jumped onto this list due to having a unique offering. The VIOTEK GN32DR is one of only two curved 2560×1440 144Hz+ gaming monitors on the market.

The other is, of course, the ASUS PG27VQ listed above.

While both are curved 1440P 144Hz+ monitors, there are some notable differences.

First, the GN32DR is a bigger monitor (32″) than the ASUS PG27VQ (27″). The PG27VQ does have a higher refresh rate (165Hz to 144Hz) and lower response time (1ms to 3ms) than the GN32DR, but the GN32DR has the better panel technology (VA vs TN) in terms of viewing angles and visuals.

They also both sport different adaptive sync technology. The GN32DR is a Freesync (AMD) monitor and the PG27VQ is a G-Sync (NVIDIA) monitor.

So, if you like the idea of a high-end curved gaming monitor and you are debating between these two options, make sure you take your video card into consideration.

Finally, one of the biggest differences between the two monitors is that the ASUS PG27VQ costs over $200 more than the GN32DR.

A lot of that is likely to do with that fact that ASUS is more well-known and established than VIOTEK. However, I’d have to imagine that the $200+ difference is enough to make some consider going with the lesser-known VIOTEK.

Ultimately, though, if you want a curved 144Hz+ 1440P monitor, you really only have two options. And, the GN32DR is one of them.

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ASUS MG279Q 27″ Review

The MG279Q is yet another 1440P 144Hz gaming monitor from ASUS. This one sports an IPS panel that has a 4ms response rate, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, and 16.7 million colors.

It also comes with built-in speakers, which drives its price up a little bit. However, from the reviews the speakers range from as low as “not good” to as high as “the speakers are good in a pinch.”

So, while these monitors do come with speakers, they probably aren’t long-term options… especially if you’re planning on gaming with them. And, since this is a 144Hz monitor, you probably won’t be considering it unless you are a gamer.

Overall, this is a solid monitor. But, it’s downfall in comparison to the other Freesync 1440P 144Hz monitors on this list is its price. The monitor runs in the mid $500s (which is the same as the VIOTEK curved monitor listed above).

Unfortunately, that kind of puts it as a tough sell, because for ~$150 or so less you can get the similarly-specced Nixeus EDG27S.

Of course, the EDG27S doesn’t have as good of a stand or as many adustability options (and doesn’t come with speakers). But, if it’s all about performance and picture quality, the EDG27S is going to provide a similar experience at a fraction of the cost.

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AOC AGON AG271QX 27” Review

AOC doesn’t quite pack the brand name that ASUS, Acer, and BenQ do among gamers, but they have become more well known in the past few years.

And, they have done so in part by offering high quality monitors at lower prices than the bigger brands.

The AOC AGON AG271QX is no different. At a bit under $400, the AG271QX is nearly the cheapest 1440P 144Hz 27″ gaming monitor available. (The Acer Acer XG270HU listed below is ~$10 cheaper.)

The AG271QX has a TN panel and a 1ms response time, so it is a nice budget-friendly option for gamers who prefer the faster response time over the better viewing angles of an IPS panel monitor.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for an affordable 2560×1440 144Hz monitor with a 1ms response time, either this AOC monitor or the Acer monitor below are good options.

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