The 5 Highest Hz Monitors of 2023
Covering the highest quality options for serious gamers
I updated this article in June to cover the latest monitor releases of 2023. The most notable update in the market is a new Alienware monitor that runs up to 500hz! This replaces my previous top 360hz pick; review below.
144hz? Sounds kind of slow!
If you’re into competitive gaming or looking for the best monitor possible for immersive titles, you’ll know how wonderful playing on a high hertz gaming monitor can be.
Thankfully, there have recently been a few exceptional products to take high Hz displays well beyond the usual 60-144hz + 1080p specs.
In today’s feature, we’ve reviewed the highest refresh rate monitors worth buying for different resolutions and budgets.
3
Highest Hz 1440p Monitor
Acer Nitro XV272U Xbmiipruzx 27″
Our Rating: 9/10
Alienware AW2524H
Highest Hz Monitor
SPECIFICATIONS*
Screen Size: 24.5″ | Panel/Pixel Type: IPS | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Response Time: 0.5ms GTG | Refresh Rate: 500Hz (OC, 480Hz Native)
REASONS TO BUY
+ Fastest refresh rate on the market by far, with onboard software to minimize response time.
+ Well built & ergonomic
+ Decent secondary picture specs (particularly color accuracy)
REASONS TO AVOID
Usually, on our top monitor features, there is a close battle for the top choice.
But in this category? There is a clear winner.
With an incredible 500hz, this Alienware display is unrivaled by every other option.
Not only is this the highest Hz 1080p monitor available on the market, but it’s as good an offering as we could hope for with plenty of other decent specs elevating the screen’s quality.
To start, the AW2524H runs on an IPS panel. This is great to see when many of the other highest refresh rate displays have chosen TN/VA. Alienware has also negated the usual main downside of IPS with a 0.5ms GTG response time. With the refresh rate and the incredibly low latency, I easily rank this as one of the best monitors for esports & competitive gaming.
Working alongside the IPS panel is a 390 nits rating, G-sync, Nvidia Latency Analyser, and DisplayHDR 400 capability. We love that this gaming monitor hasn’t sacrificed picture quality for the highest refresh rate (you’re getting the best of both worlds).
Finally, with decent, sturdy adjustment options, thin bezels, and a beautiful design, the AW2524H feels like a premium gaming monitor should. I have no notable complaints on its build quality.
Source: Alienware
500hz vs 360hz vs 240hz Monitors
But let’s talk about 500hz for a moment.
A refresh rate 40% higher than the next common high refresh rate option (360hz), 500Hz is a huge technical achievement by Alienware.
With that said, this jump isn’t going to feel like a 40% improvement to the human eye. We’re reaching the point now where high refresh rates are becoming largely a vanity factor.
I’ve seen firsthand the 240hz, 360hz, and 500hz side-by-side; there is a difference between 240hz vs 360hz, but it isn’t huge (even professional gamers are happy on 240hz, even 144hz screens).
When it comes to 360hz vs 500hz, I honestly couldn’t tell the difference, and many people online seem to share the same experience.
This is why I’ve recommended many other types of picks below, I think gamers would often prefer a lower refresh rate at either a cheaper price, higher resolution, and/or larger screen size.
The Acer Predator X25 bmiiprzxm, for example, is around half the price of our 500hz pick for a 360hz monitor.
So really, your pick in this area comes down to your personal preference over resolution/size/refresh rate/budget, which is why I’ve highlighted some other recommendations further below.
We’re a long way away from ever seeing 1000hz monitors and beyond, so expect 500hz to be the king for a long time.
If none of this comparison deters you and you still want the smoothest experience possible, then know this isn’t just the highest refresh rate monitor ever, but a display that excels in the other important factors of what makes a great gaming display.
2023 update: The AW2524H replaces our previous top pick, the ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG259QN. It’s a very impressive technical jump, and I doubt we will see anything higher than 500hz for a long time. So if your singular goal is the highest refresh rate, this is perfect for you. But as my review goes into, I think the other picks in our list around the 144hz – 360hz mark will be the better choice unless you are a proffesional gamer.
LG 27GN950-B 27 Inch UHD
Highest Hz 4K Monitor
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen Size: 27″ | Panel/Pixel Type: IPS | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Response Time: 1ms | Refresh Rate: 144hz
REASONS TO BUY
+ 4K, Nano IPS panel, 1ms latency & 144hz create a fantastic picture.
+ Beautiful, extremely thin bezel build
REASONS TO AVOID
Now, as much as we rate our top 360hz choice, if you’re focussed on immersive titles as much as you are on competitive gaming, then you will likely want to consider our next 2 choices.
This LG monitor offers an incredible UHD + 144hz combo. While nowhere near as smooth as 360hz, running games at 2160p with a high refresh rate is an entirely wonderful experience in itself.
Similar to our top pick, we love that LG has managed to base this model on an IPS panel with a 1ms response time. Taking the display further, this display also has an impressive DCI-P3 98% color gamut & VESA DisplayHDR 600. Between all these specs, you can expect fantastic blacks & colors, and when tied with the resolution and refresh rate? Well, few monitors are going to produce better output, especially at its respectable price point.
Source: LG
There’s G-sync / AMD FreeSync compatibility included, with a striking design and beautiful build quality. Two design areas specifically stood out to me:
- The incredible screen-to-body ratio, with some of the thinnest bezels of a premium display I’ve seen. This choice would make a fantastic high refresh rate monitor for a dual display setup.
- The RGB Sphere Lighting 2.0 is included on the back of the unit. This will output colorful lighting onto the wall behind your monitor which can be customized to blend into what you’re seeing on screen. It sounds gimmicky, but combined with its thin bezels, it’s a really nice effect to view in person.
Ranking at the top of our 4k 144hz display feature, there’s so much to love about this LG model. At its decent price point, it’s easily the best choice for someone after the highest refresh rate 4k monitor for gaming.
2023 update: Samsung has recently released a 4k 240hz monitor with some absolutely mind-blowing specs (its Odyssey series is known for the utmost quality amongst high-end choices). That said, we sti