Now that 4K/1080p dual-mode monitors are officially a thing, it's the perfect time to play a game of guessing what madcap tech monitors will next sport
I've been using 4K monitors for all my display needs since the middle of the last decade, with my main screen currently being a 32-inch MSI MPG 321URX. That's easily the best 4K gaming monitor you can buy right now, but for me, it's not just about gaming, as I use my main PC for image and video editing, as well as messing about with Unreal Engine. I'd hate to try and do all that on something smaller or with fewer pixels.
Of course, you ideally need a beefy graphics card to game at 4K and certainly for today's big releases with spangly ray-traced visuals. But what if you don't have one but still need a big, high-resolution screen for work? Well, you can just run your games at 1080p, but then it'll look all blurry.
One solution is the current in-thing in the world of displays: dual-mode monitors. These are natively 4K in resolution but, at the touch of a button, they switch to 1080p. To counter the inherent blurring this normally produces, manufacturers employ a host of clever pixel blending tricks, and our current recommendation for the best 4K dual-mode monitor, the Alienware AW2725QF, does a very good job of it all.
It does make me wonder, though, just what monitor manufacturers have got lined up in terms of nifty new tech, to keep the display market fresh and vibrant. I know we'll have brighter and better OLED screens soon enough, but we've already got ultrawide, super ultrawide, 5K, dual-4K, and now dual-mode displays. What more can possibly be done?
Well, with the advances made in upscaling and frame generation, an increased push towards 8K will be inevitable, and we already know that 1,000 Hz refresh rate monitors are on their way. But that's just more of the same as what we have now, but with bigger numbers.
What I'd love to see is something weird and wacky. Dual-mode screens are a neat idea, but they're a niche solution to a niche problem. I want to see something bizarre that becomes mainstream, but truthfully, I'm at a loss for ideas. So if you've got a neat suggestion, pop it in the comments below. You never know, a future MSI MPG 9000URRGG could be the first of its kind to sport your suggestion.
The best 4K gaming monitors
Best overall
The best overall
This MSI 4K OLED is simply the best 4K display right now, as it uses the same Samsung-sourced panel as many of the best OLED monitors I've tested. The real kicker? It's cheaper than the rest at 4K and still looks absolutely stunning
Best non-OLED
The best non-OLED
The LG 27GR93U has such an impressive panel that it had to take the top spot for the best non-OLED 4K monitor. Thanks to some excellent calibration right out of the box, gorgeously crisp 4K image quality and superb response times, this 27-inch panel is the one to beat if OLEDs are too pricey.
Best budget
The best budget
Affordable 4K might be something of a recent development, but amongst the cheaper 4K displays, the Gigabyte M28U stands out. It's a stunning IPS display with a 144 Hz refresh rate from a reputable manufacturer that knows a thing or two about good affordable monitors.
Best mid-range
The best mid-range
If you're looking for a larger 4K monitor with very few drawbacks, the Gigabyte M32UC is an excellent place to start. It's got a great performing panel, so many ports you could lose count, and a no-frills approach that makes it a very solid 4K option.
Best TV replacement
The best TV replacement
It's $2,500. Now the major caveat is out of the way, if you really want to splash your cash on something TV-sized and truly phenomenal, LG has you covered. It's got a motorised bending mechanism, for goodness sake, and the panel itself is nothing short of stunning.
Best dual-4K
The best dual-4K
Should you desire a massive ultrawide display, the Acer Predator Z57 is essentially two Mini-LED 4K monitors fused together to create a ludicrous 57-inch 7,680 x 2,160 resolution screen. It's nothing short of outrageous, in every respect—including image quality.
Best WOLED
The best WOLED
It can be easy to think that great OLEDs are much of a muchness, but this LG UltraGear manages to sit ahead of all others thanks to its WOLED panel. It's as bright, if not brighter than some of the best QD-OLED displays, without the gray shift—and with a more accurate color balance, too.
Best 27-inch
The best 27-inch
There are a lot of massive 4K displays to choose from on the market at the moment, but if a smaller screen is more your speed, this Alienware OLED beats them all. Its pixel density is truly fantastic, making it a fabulous working and gaming monitor in a desk-friendly size.
Best dual-mode
The best dual-mode
It's a niche monitor in an already niche market, but the Alienware AW2725QF is the best 4K monitor for those who want a display that can readily switch into a 1080p, ultra-high refresh rate mode for esports and competitive shooting games.