The Best 1440p Gaming Monitor Under 400

Welcome to this in-depth article in which we will be reviewing the best 1440p monitor under 400 that are currently available on the market for you to choose from. In the world of screen technology, super-high-resolution monitors have quietly become a new obsession for gamers and digital enthusiasts. If you remember the days when we were stuck with 720p HD and perhaps a few 1080p LCDs, then you can be forgiven for thinking that these new 1440p monitors and 4K displays are just excess. However, if you do think this way then you should consider looking at one of this QHD (Quad High Definition) screens before you make your next monitor purchase.

Features of 1440p Gaming Monitor

The thing is, the higher the resolution on a screen, the more computing power you need to drive it.  At 1920 x 1080p (Full HD), most mid-range graphics cards will handle gaming needs just fine.  Moving up to 2560 x 1440p though, that's where you will start needing some serious graphics horsepower to drive the latest and greatest games at decent framerates.  If you're thinking of buying one of these top 1440p gaming monitors though, you'll need something more powerful than your run-of-the-mill mid-range card (more on this below).

When we recently looked at 4K monitors, we made the point that these need even more gaming grunt than you would require for a 1440p monitor.  Regardless of this though, 4K screens are still very much the next step in screen technology and will likely become commonplace (at least at high-end price points) over the coming years - particularly as graphics cards get more powerful.  When this happens, you can expect gamers to move onto pixel-dense displays in their droves - which is where the fun begins.

Why You Should Buy 1440p Gaming Monitor

What is the best monitor on the market? It's a question we get asked all the time by gamers, people considering buying a new display, and friends who have seen me lugging boxes of assembled screens to and from our test lab. The answer isn't cut-and-dry, but I try my best to provide a balanced perspective in the monthly "Best Monitors" guide - a buyer's guide where we round up all the latest and greatest displays for PC gamers, professionals, editors, and anyone else who wants their eyeballs to thank them later.

One 1440p monitor is equal to having two 720p screens put together, giving you a total of 2880*1620 pixels which fills up your field of vision more than any other gaming monitor currently on the market. The graphics quality is second to none, making the step up from 1080p a welcome breath of fresh air for your eyes.

For those of you who are not familiar with what 1440p is, it simply means that the monitor has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels which results in an aspect ratio of 16:9. It provides more screen real-estate than 1080p without compromising on pixel density or speed as 4K gaming does.

Different Categories of Gaming Monitor

The monitors that we will be reviewing are split into different categories such as UltraWide (21:9), IPS, G-Sync/FreeSync, and finally the best value 1440p monitor if you're on a budget. We've also reviewed other kinds of monitors in our Best Monitor series:

Best 4K Gaming Monitor

Best 144Hz Gaming Monitor

Best 240Hz Gaming Monitor

Top Picks for the Best 1440p Gaming Monitor (March 2018) QHD (1440p) monitors provide the best balance in terms of pixel density and performance. It's faster than 4K gaming but not as demanding on your hardware like 4K gaming.

UltraWide (21:9) 1440P Monitors Though they are not specifically designed for gamers, they are still the best option when looking for ultra-wide monitors that have a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. It's just enough to provide excellent visuals without compromising on speed or quality.

The monitor that earned the top honors in our latest efforts was a smaller-sized display, but one packed with cutting-edge technology, plenty of screen real estate, and a high refresh rate to boot. I'm talking about Asus' ROG Swift PG27UQ - a 27-inch monitor with 4K UHD resolution (3,840 x 2,160) and a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. This combination of features makes it one of the best-of-the-best displays on the market right now.

However, that's not to say that you couldn't be just as happy with any number of other top-quality monitors in 2019 - whether they're 4K, 1440p, or even 1080p. For instance, the Acer Predator XB271HU is a fine next-best option to the PG27UQ, and it costs $100 less (albeit without G-Sync).

If your budget can't quite stretch that far, or you're looking for other options in the same general price range, check out our list of the best cheap 144Hz gaming monitors. By spending $200-$300 on a monitor, you'll be able to get yourself one of these 3K (2,560 x 1,440) beauties that are super-fast, has brilliant contrast ratios, and some even come with adaptive-sync technology to fight to tear.

Benefits 1440p Gaming Monitor

Since technology is changing, we don't only want to play our games in 1080p anymore; we want them in 1440p because it provides a bigger, better, and wider screen (like sitting in front row seats at an IMAX movie theater).  Having a 1440p resolution is one of the best things to happen to the game for players who want the ultimate experience.

With 1440p, you can play games at an UltraWide aspect ratio which gives more screen space than regular 16:9 or 16:10 screens.  This is excellent for gamers who have a hard time with multitasking. 1440p GAMING MONITOR.

You can play games in a surrounding environment setting with ease.  Playing FPS games will give players an advantage by being able to easily identify where their enemies are located when playing in Surround mode thanks to the higher resolution.  In RPG games, the environment will feel richer and lusher in detail with 1440p graphics.

If you are a gamer that likes to sit close to their screen, 1440p is perfect!  There's no up-scaling going on so if you have a 144Hz monitor, you can have a butter smooth experience with no visible screen tearing.  Games will look amazing and playing them at such a close range won't make your eyes hurt like they would if you were playing in 1080p. Playing games with higher resolutions requires more graphics power; this is why gamers who purchase 1440p monitors don't need to worry about upgrading their graphics card as much as they would have to if they were still playing in 1080p.  The higher resolution allows games to run smoothly with the graphics power that is already being provided by most modern gaming PCs today.

With 1440p monitors, players will be able to see more on their screen without having to strain their eyes or sit super close to their screen.  This will allow other things to be present on the screen too like chat boxes, inventory screens, squad status bars, and more! 1440p monitors are popular because of the resolution bump but there is so much more that they have to offer players who want not only a great viewing experience but also amazing gaming experiences.

One other thing is the frameless design which ensures a seamless viewing experience and also bringing more realism in to the picture, I mean who likes those thick bezels? It's like you are watching a mini theater kind of feeling.

And not only that, AOC CQ27G2 27" Super Curved Frameless Gaming Monitor also comes with the AOC Flicker free technology which makes your viewing experience more comfortable; no more annoying screen flickering.

All of these features are packed in to an elegant design that perfectly matches any home decoration. And last but not least, AOC CQ27G2 27" Super Curved Frameless Gaming Monitor is also equipped with exclusive gaming technologies to make sure the picture looks perfect on every move.

So, what are you waiting for? Let's take a look at some more detailed features of AOC CQ27G2 27" Super Curved Frameless Gaming Monitor.

The first tech that I will talk about is the Low Input Lag tech. Basically, it ensures you get less delay between your controller / mouse movements and what appears on the screen. This tech comes in handy when playing fast paced games like First Person Shooter (FPS) or any game that requires quick reaction times.

Another tech that enhances your performance is the Shadow Control. It can lighten overly dark areas of the image without affecting other parts which will allow you to spot your enemies hiding in the shadows easier.

There are also other gaming features that included like the Flicker free technology, AOC Game Mode preset modes, AMD FreeSync and much more. So, you have nothing to worry about if you are a hardcore gamer.

#2 LG 27GL83A-B Ultragear QHD IPS Gaming Monitor

LG Korea announced the release of their new monitor, the LG 27GL83A-B. The monitor will be available in other countries as well, but for now it seems to only be offered in South Korea. This is not really surprising though since they also announced two monitors in South Korea that we haven't heard about anywhere else.

The highlight of the monitor is it's 27" Quad HD (QHD) IPS panel with a refresh rate of 144Hz and G-SYNC support, to top it all off. It has a resolution of 2560x1440 to give you 78 PPI. The panel type is IPS so viewing angles are great, but color reproduction and accuracy suffer a little bit compared to other panel types (especially sRGB). As always you should consider the pros and cons of each panel type for your own needs.

The stand is fully adjustable (tilt, height, swivel and pivot) and there's even LED strips on the back (which you can turn off if you want), like with other high end LG monitors. The OSD is controlled by joystick at the bottom of the monitor, which is a little more inconvenient compared to toggle switches most have. The connectivity ports are on the back of the monitor with a small indentation between them for cable management.

The LG UltraGear lineup is engineered to provide optimal gaming experiences by integrating premium hardware with unique, advanced software. The LG UltraGear 27GL850G (with G-Sync) and 27GN750 (without G-Sync), will be LG's newest additions to the series boasting extraordinary image quality, resolution and refresh rate while also incorporating special features gamers demand most.

The LG UltraGear 27GL850G with NVIDIA G-SYNC delivers a smooth, action-packed experience in the latest full HD IPS display. NVIDIA G-Sync is a groundbreaking new approach to display technology that delivers the smoothest and fastest gaming imaginable by eliminating screen tearing and minimizing display stutter and input lag. This results in fluid, responsive gameplay with objects looking sharper, scenes appearing instantly and more vibrant in visual quality than on any other monitors, even when playing the most graphic-intensive games.

The LG UltraGear 27GL850G challenges lag in gaming in milliseconds by minimizing response time in graphics rendering to display images in real time. This effectively eliminates tearing and broken frames during gaming sessions, even when playing action-driven games with quick and dramatic cuts.

LG 27GL850G has an overdrive function that increases the displayed refresh rate up to 120Hz for smooth gameplay free from motion blur and tearing. Tearing will be a thing of the past as LG's advanced one millisecond response time enables clear images without smearing or ghosting effects.

The LG UltraGear 27GL850G is equipped with AMD FreeSync™ technology that eliminates screen tearing without all the usual lag and latency for a seamless, smooth gaming experience. This results in highly responsive gameplay, allowing gamers to quickly catch every opportunity presented in real time. What's more, its vast compatibility with almost any GPU also makes it a perfect monitor for enthusiasts looking to upgrade their current system.

"When it comes to gaming, speed is everything. Introducing a 1ms gray-to-gray response time and a blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate. With instant screen swaps, competition never has to wait. Quickly change from one game mode to another with the touch of a hotkey.

ASUS-exclusive GamePlus technology enhances your gaming experience with additional in-game crosshair, timer functions and FPS counter. ASUS GameVisual technology provides six preset display modes tailored to suit different types of scenarios. This unique feature can be easily accessed through a hotkey or the On Screen Display (OSD) settings menu.

The TUF Gaming 32-inch Curved Monitor features ASUS Aura Sync lighting on the back and a red light signature projection for dynamic gaming mood. It offers gamers crosshair overlays and timer functions so you can practice and improve your gaming skills."

The TUF Gaming 32-inch Curved Monitor (C32G1) features a VA panel capable of 1200:1 static contrast and supports the DCI-P3 Wide Color Gamut. This makes it especially suitable for color critical work or for gamers that are looking for accurate colors. The monitor has an extremely quick response time thanks to a TN panel and features NVIDIA G-SYNC to reduce stuttering and tearing. The refresh rate is boosted to an incredible 240Hz thanks to ASUS' Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) strobing backlight. Finally the monitor includes support for VESA's DisplayHDR 400 specification, delivering up to 400 cd/m² peak

BenQ is a leader in the professional gaming monitor market. They have been helping gamers to improve their skills for over a decade. The company is famous for its first-class quality and high-performance monitors for both casual and professional gamers. MOBIUZ EX2780Q 27" 1440P 144Hz IPS Gaming Monitor attracts the attention of players with a high refresh rate, an adjustable stand, and three LED lights with three colors of different brightness.

The fastest speed in the world for a gaming monitor BenQ is famous for its best quality gaming monitors, high performance, and tournament-grade visual fidelity. BenQ MOBIUZ EX2780Q 27" 1440P 144Hz IPS Gaming Monitor belongs to this category of products as well.

Game monitors from BenQ have a number of important features which make them the top gaming monitors on the market. One of these features is a high refresh rate with extreme overclocking potential. In this section, we will tell you about the main features of the BenQ MOBIUZ EX2780Q 27" 1440P 144Hz IPS Gaming Monitor.

The monitor includes DVI, HDMI, and Display ports. DVI is a digital interface that provides lossless connectivity to high-definition devices such as HDTVs and digital cameras. It delivers crystal-clear images at a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels through the monitor.

HDMI delivers superior, uncompressed digital video and audio, including the highest quality Blu-ray movies. The display port is designed to transmit uncompressed digital data from display devices to PCs or other electronic devices with compatible connectors.

The official product page lists the monitor as having a flicker-free backlight with four dimming levels, but there are no further details. This monitor supports VESA DisplayHDR 400 and has an AHVA panel which is essentially the same thing. The stand offers tilt and height adjustment.

The monitor comes with a 3 year Acer warranty along with the option of extending to 5 years using Acer's Upgrade Insurance service.The reason this monitor costs slightly more than some other 144Hz 1440p monitors is because it features AMD FreeSync technology, which allows for smoother gameplay and no tearing; perfect for those wanting high performance. The FreeSync range for this monitor is 48-144Hz/FPS.

This monitor has received positive reviews with users praising its value, image quality and AMD FreeSync support. There are some complaints about the menu buttons being difficult to use, but overall it seems that Acer is offering a great product at a reasonable price point.

Conclusion