Best Gaming Monitors for Esports and Competitive Games

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When it comes to competitive gaming it is important to have every advantage possible, and the right monitor can make a big difference. Tech companies develop monitors targeted towards esports players, with all the required competitive features.

BenQ ZOWIE XL2546K – Best Esports Monitor

The BenQ Zowie XL2546k is our pick for the best esports monitor. It takes a monitor that was already a favorite amongst professional esports players and improves on it. The XL2546k boasts a 240Hz refresh rate with a 0.5ms response time, making it perfect for competitive gaming.

The addition of DyAc+ technology takes the gaming experience to a new level. DyAc+ improves the clarity of the game by reducing the ghosting effects of motion. This makes seeing details in moments of intense gameplay or rapid movement easier.

Built with gaming in mind the XL2546k features low input delay, with a great black eQualizer and color vibrance controls. While being able to adjust these might not be your top priority, it can help make it easier to see enemies in-game,

Many FPS professionals sit incredibly close to their screen, with their mouse slightly behind and to the side of the monitor. A large stand can result in less mouse room and could interfere with gameplay. Zowie chose to fit the XL2546k with a small stand base to prevent any of these movement issues.

Unlike previous Zowie monitors, the XL2546k shields have a screwless design. This means that no tools are required to remove the shields from the sides. The shields also help reduce the effects of glare from nearby lights, making them perfect for esports events.

Dell Alienware AW2521H – Best 360Hz Monitor

The first 360Hz monitor on our list is the Dell Alienware AW2521H. With an impressive refresh rate and low input lag, the AW2521H is a great choice for esports. The high refresh rate also comes with the benefit of a 1ms GtG response time suitable for fast-paced gameplay.

The AW2521H makes use of a fast IPS panel, providing great viewing angles and color accuracy. The advantage of color accuracy makes the Alienware AW2521H suitable for content creation and photo editing.

In typical Alienware fashion, the monitor has great build quality and a V-shaped stand for stability and shake prevention. The AW2521H looks and feels like a gaming monitor, with RGB lighting on the stand. The back of the monitor also features an RGB Alienware logo. All the RGB lights on the monitor can be customized through AlienFX, allowing you to change to a color of your choice.

In addition, the AW2521H also features black frame insertion, or BFI, for improving the clarity of moving objects. This makes it easier to track a target as they move across the screen. Unfortunately, BFI can only be used running at 240Hz.

Asus ROG Swift PG259QN

The Asus ROG Swift PG259QN uses a fast IPS panel allowing it to achieve a 360Hz refresh rate. The high refresh rate smooths movement in-game, allowing information to be displayed on the screen faster. The PG259QN also has a 1ms GtG response time and good input delay making it optimal for competitive gameplay.

As an added bonus the IPS panel used in the PG259QN gives the monitor great color accuracy. The addition of color accuracy in a gaming monitor can make a game look nicer with different shades of colors being used.

The base of the PG259QN is very sturdy and does a good job of reducing wobble when gaming or typing. The stand is made of plastic with a metal base that has a premium gaming look. The sturdiness of the monitor is also evident when adjusting the tilt and height.

While the PG259QN is very similar to the Alienware AW2521H, it does slightly lack in comparison. The brightness of the PG259QN falls short making it slightly darker.

Dell Alienware AW2721D – Best Multi-Purpose Monitor

Content creation has become prevalent in the world of esports. Many professional gamers choose to make content while competing at the highest level. The Alienware AW2721D is a great multi-purpose monitor that works well for competitive gaming, content creation, and media consumption.

The 27-inch QHD screen gives you more screen space for video and photo editing. The larger screen is also great for browsing content and watching shows and movies. The use of an IPS panel provides great viewing angles and color accuracy that makes games look nicer.

The AW2721D is great for competitive gaming with a refresh rate of 240Hz and a 1ms grey to grey response time.

Alienware fitted the AW2721D with a modern design and RGB lighting true to the gaming style. The RGB lights on the back can be customized through AlienFX. The lights aren’t overpowering and only emit a soft glow.

Despite the larger monitor size, the stand does a decent job at preventing movement while giving a good range of tilt and height adjustment options.

On the back of the monitor is a removable panel for cable management. The cables can then go through the routing hole in the stand to keep cables tidy and out of the way.

BenQ Zowie XL2546

Over the last few years, the BenQ Zowie XL2546 has become a staple in the esports scene. The XL2546 has been used in tournaments and at home by professionals all around the world.

DyAc technology improves on the 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time to give better clarity of moving targets.

When it comes to the XL2546, Zowie makes it clear that competitive gaming is their main priority with minor quality of life improvements. Marked adjustments on the base and stand allow you to set the monitor to the exact positioning you like to ensure consistency. Side shields help prevent interference from surrounding light, and the angled matte bezels prevent distractive reflections when gaming.

Like other XL series monitors the color vibrance and black eQualizer settings are great. Allowing you to brighten up in-game shadows, and make colors more saturated to improve visibility.

Dell Alienware AW2518H

Another monitor that has been popular in recent years is the Alienware AW2518H. With a 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, it is no surprise that many pro players and streamers have been turning to the AW2518H.

The stand on the AW2518H has a premium feel and is sturdy enough for intense gaming. However, the feet on the stand may get in the way if you like to game with your monitor close to you.

BenQ Zowie XL2411K – Best Budget Esports Monitor

The BenQ Zowie XL2411K is the newer version of the XL2411P with improved ergonomics and DyAc technology. The new stand design on the XL2411K maximizes desk space for better mousepad placement while remaining sturdy.

Both monitors are reasonably priced and a good entry choice for anyone considering competitive gaming. The 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time is a significant upgrade from a 60Hz monitor.

With DyAc enabled, the clarity of moving objects is improved, making it easier to track a target. The XL2411K also has a good black eQualizer and vibrant settings that can be tweaked to improve game visibility. Each game may require slightly different settings to ensure that visibility is optimized.

Things to Consider When Picking an Esports Monitor

Response Time

Screen response time is the speed at which a pixel can change colors. While there are many standards for measuring response time, the grey-to-grey method is typically used in gaming monitors. Grey-to-grey is also sometimes referred to as gtg.

A low response time is preferred for gaming to prevent ghosting of moving objects. Low response times are predominately noticeable in FPS games due to the amount of vigorous movement.

Refresh Rate

A screen’s refresh rate refers to how many times the image on the screen is being updated per second. When gaming, a high refresh rate is optimal so the image on your monitor is constantly being updated. To make the most of a high refresh rate your system will need to pull high in-game frame rates.

Higher refresh rates improve the overall smoothness of gameplay as there are fewer spaces between updated images. This is particularly useful when a player peaks around a corner, allowing their movement to be shown on your monitor earlier.

Inexperienced gamers may not be able to instantly notice the difference between a low and high refresh rate monitor. However, esports professionals and more experienced players will notice a significant change.

Screen Size

When it comes to competitive gaming a 24” or 24.5” monitor is preferred. The smaller size helps make it easier to scan the entire screen for information. Professional esports players will place their monitor close to them to counteract the smaller image.

Naturally, a smaller monitor will weigh less and will be easier to support. This means a smaller stand can be used to maximize desk space for mouse movement.

If you prefer to have your monitor a bit further away, or also want to use the monitor for content creation, then a larger screen is optimal. Larger monitors provide more screen real estate which is incredibly useful for video editing. More room allows you to have a decent-sized preview, while still being able to see your video and audio tracks.

Panel Types

When it comes to gaming monitors there are three-panel types that are typically used; TN, IPS, and VA.

Traditionally esports monitors use TN panels, which tend to have the lowest response times of the three. As with all panel types, there is always a trade-off. TN panels tend to have poor color accuracy and bad viewing angles.

When using a TN monitor it’s best to look at the screen from directly in front to prevent distortion. This isn’t usually an issue for competitive play, as professionals like to sit close to their screens.

In the past IPS panels haven’t been used for competitive play as they tend to have higher response times and lower refresh rates. However new fast IPS panels have competitive response times and a refresh rate of up to 360Hz. In addition IPS panels also provide great color accuracy and viewing angles.

VA panels don’t tend to be used in gaming monitors as they typically have a poor response time. However, VA panels are often used in TV screens due to their wide color gamut and contrast ratio.

Resolution

The monitor resolution refers to how many pixels make up the screen. Resolution is listed as width by height. The higher the resolution the better possible image quality. Better image quality can help make games more immersive, and is better for streaming videos and creating content.

Higher resolutions result in a lower frame rate in-game due to more pixels being rendered. To prevent any lost frames most competitive players will use a resolution of 1920×1080 or lower, depending on the game.

Most monitors designed for competitive gaming will have a maximum resolution of 1920×1080. Having a lower resolution helps keep the price down, especially when other features are included.

Monitor Tilt and Ergonomics

Monitors usually come with stands that allow adjustments to be made. Each monitor stand is different and provides a different range of height, tilt, and monitor rotation. Being able to make adjustments to your monitor can help improve your gaming experience and comfort.

Color Adjustments

Modern gaming monitors tend to have screen settings that allow you to make adjustments to the way colors look on your screen.

Increasing vibrancy and color can improve clarity in-game, making it easier to differentiate between a player and the background. Some monitors also give the ability to adjust black toning for better visibility in dark areas.

Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync

Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync aim to prevent screen tearing from showing on your monitor. Both systems are based on adaptive sync technology, however require both the monitor and graphics card you’re using to be compatible.

Motion Blur Reduction

Motion blur is inevitable when playing games with a lot of movement. Motion blur reduction helps improve clarity during vigorous gameplay so targets become easier to track and see.

Different versions of motion blur reduction exist, however, they all use some variation of adding black frames between refreshed frames. This method creates a flicker that isn’t noticeable to the eye, however it can cause headaches in some people.

With so many different names for motion blur reduction, it can be difficult to keep track. Some of the names commonly used are ULMB, BFI, and DyAc.