Finding a good 4K gaming monitor is getting easier all the time, with a range of high refresh rate options now available. Some even have refresh rates going up to 240Hz. But if you are looking for something that delivers the best visual performance for your PC as well as the latest consoles, the Xbox Series X and Sony PlayStation 5, then you need a monitor that can deliver 4K resolution at 120Hz. This can be tricky as there aren't a lot of monitors that support HDMI 2.1, which has the right bandwidth to deliver a smooth, high-resolution gaming experience.
Here are five of the best 4K 120Hz gaming monitors that you should be buying in 2022.
Best 27-inch gaming monitor with support for 4K 120Hz
LG Ultragear 27GP950-B
- Support for HDMI 2.1
- Good HDR performance
- Fast response time
- Rich and accurate colors
- Low contrast
- Reflection issues
Why you should buy this: It is one of the best 4K gaming monitors with a 27-inch form factor.
Who's it for: Gamers who primarily need a solid 27-inch 4K monitor for their gaming PC.
Why we chose the LG Ultragear 27GP950-B:
The LG Ultragear 27GP950-B is a clear recommendation for those looking for a reliable 27-inch monitor. It features a nano-IPS panel with 4K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate that can override up to 160Hz. There is HDMI 2.1 connectivity as well, which means that apart from a gaming PC it is also a great fit for the latest-generation Xbox Series X or Sony PS5 consoles. There is also support for Nvidia G-Sync and FreeSync Premium variable refresh rate technologies, and you get a smooth and responsive gaming experience thanks to the low input lag and fast response time.
For its price, the monitor also delivers a good HDR experience with 16 local-dimming zones, HDR10, and Vesa DisplayHDR 600 certification. Essentially, it can go up to 600 nits of peak HDR brightness and 400 nits of typical SDR brightness. It also produces great color with up to 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut and over 100% of sRGB. Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4, a headphone jack, and two USB 3.0 ports, and you also get some RGB lighting at the back.
Best value-for-money 4K 120Hz gaming monitor
Gigabyte M32U
- One of the only 32-inch 4K monitors with a high refresh rate
- Excellent post-calibration color accuracy
- Two HDMI 2.1 ports
- Built-in KVM switch
- Inexpensive
- Poor HDR performance
- Subpar stand
- Bad pre-calibration color accuracy
Why you should buy this: It is a great value-for-money 32-inch gaming monitor that supports 4K 120hz.
Who's it for: Suitable for all types of gamers who want a solid 32-inch screen for their PC or console.
Why we chose the Gigabyte M32U:
If you've settled for a 32-inch screen size, then the Gigabyte M32U is a good choice for you. It is one of the few 32-inch gaming monitors that supports 4K resolution with a high refresh rate, but it is currently the most affordable one at $700. The reduced price does mean you lose out on HDR performance and peak brightness, but at that price, there is no other monitor that matches the M32U.
It is rated to cover 123% of sRGB and 90% of DCI-P3 color spaces with a contrast ratio of 1000:1, which means you should experience good color details. With a brightness rating of 350 nits, it isn't the best in class but should be ample for most gaming titles. HDR performance is questionable as it comes with Vesa’s DisplayHDR 400 certification, which is not as good as the DisplayHDR 600 that you can find on the LG Ultragear 27GP950-B or the Eve Spectrum. Also, the limited local dimming zones don't help that much, so if you are looking forward to a solid HDR experience, this isn't the best one.
However, at its price, you do get features like AMD Freesync Premium, a built-in KVM switch, 1ms panel response time, a fully-loaded OSD menu with six-axis color control, built-in speakers, and a robust stand. Notably, the curved version of this monitor is selling even cheaper at $580.
Best large-format 4K monitor for gaming at 120Hz refresh rate
Asus ROG Strix XG43UQ
- Great contrast ratio
- Stylish aesthetics
- Bright and sharp picture
- Support for 24p
- Ghosting issues
- Uneven blacks
Why you should buy this: It is a great large-format 4K monitor with ample brightness and contrast.
Who's it for: Gamers looking for a high-refresh 4K monitor for console games that can also double as a television.
Why we chose the ASUS ROG Strix XG43UQ:
When it comes to flashy gaming equipment, ASUS is a brand that definitely knows how to leave an impression. Priced at $1,000, the ROG Strix XG43UQ is a superb 43-inch gaming monitor. Like the Aorus FO48U, this one is also a large format monitor, but it makes use of a VA panel with an edge-lit backlight, which has its own pros and cons. While you get a great contrast ratio of 4000:1, you are not going to get deep-inky blacks like an OLED. Additionally, VA panels are also susceptible to smearing and ghosting issues while gaming.
Having said that, the panel is actually pretty good with Vesa HDR 1000 certification for 1,000 nits of HDR brightness and 750 nits of SDR brightness with 90% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It also supports FreeSync Premium Pro, a 4ms response time, and Asus' Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync (ELMB Sync) technology to reduce ghosting and tearing issues at high refresh rates.
The monitor also comes with a unique gamer-y design featuring an etched white finish on the back with the ROG logo, built-in 10W stereo speakers, and a solid metal stand. As for the ports, there are two HDMI 2.1 ports, two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, two USB 3.0 ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
The most color accurate 4K 120Hz monitor
ASUS ProArt Display PA32UCG-K
- Impressive image quality
- Pro-grade color
- Bundled light hood and color meter
- Support for Dolby Vision
- Solid build quality
- Expensive
- Very heavy
Why you should buy this: It is the most feature-packed 4K monitor that can be used for gaming and professional studio work.
Who's it for: Content editors and video game developers who are looking for a color-accurate 4K 120hz monitor.
Why we chose the ASUS ProArt Display PA32UCG-K:
The ASUS ProArt Display PA32UCG-K is meant for professional studios, but considering the amount of tech crammed into this monitor, it's great for almost any purpose. The 32-inch panel comes with mini-LED backlighting with 1,152 local dimming zones, Vesa DisplayHDR 1400 certification, up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness along with 1,000 nits of sustained brightness, making it one of the brightest monitors out there. It is a 10-bit panel and is rated to cover 100% of sRGB, 99.5% of Adobe RGB, 98% of DCI-P3, and 85% of Rec. 2020 color spaces. There is also support for HDR, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG as well as variable-refresh-rate support (48~120Hz) with FreeSync Premium Pro.
Now it isn't really targeted at gamers, but the sheer amount of vibrancy and color accuracy makes for an excellent visual experience. It even manages a good pixel response rate, though you might notice minor halo issues. As for the I/O, the monitor comes with two Thunderbolt 3 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, one HDMI 2.1, two HDMI 2.0, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The best gaming features
Samsung Odyssey G70A
- Unique accent lighting and CoreSync
- 1ms response time
- Auto-connect feature
- So-so contrast ratio
Why you should buy this: It's a unique gaming monitor with lots of features tailored for gamers.
Who's it for: Gamers who want an immersive experience.
Why we chose the Samsung Odyssey G70A:
The Samsung Odyssey G70A checks all the boxes when it comes to a great gaming monitor: 4K resolution, a high 144Hz refresh rate, and decent HDR support. The Odyssey G70A also has that classic gamer aesthetic to fit seamlessly into your setup. There are two speakers on the front of the monitor accented by LED lights, as well as a circular light on the back of the monitor.
Those lights aren’t just for show, though. Using Samsung’s CoreSync technology, the front LEDs and the backlight will actually change color to match your game, creating a more immersive gaming experience. The monitor also has an instant auto-connect feature that will automatically switch the input to any device that is turned on and connected. It’s a convenient feature that makes jumping into the game that much faster.
Combined with the other gaming-centric features like 1ms input lag and G-Sync support, the Odyssey G70A is a monitor designed with gamers in mind. That's why it is one of the best 4K 120Hz gaming monitors on the market.
Best affordable HDR experience for gamers
Sony InZone M9
- Excellent HDR for $900
- Auto tone mapping with PS5
- Works with G-Sync and FreeSync
- Easy to use OSD and software
- KVM switch with two USB ports
- DisplayPort over USB-C and HDMI 2.1
- Vignetting around the edges
- Stand doesn't get high enough
- SDR is lacking behind VA panels
- Poor color and brightness uniformity
Why you should buy this: It's an HDR monitor with local dimming that's less than $1,000.
Who's it for: Gamers who want to utilize HDR without shelling out thousands of dollars.
Why we chose the Sony InZone M9:
HDR isn’t necessary to get a great gaming experience, but it certainly can enhance it. If you’re looking for solid HDR experience but still want the standard gaming features, then the Sony InZone M9 is the best option for you.
The InZone M9 has everything you would expect in a premium gaming monitor. That includes a 4K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time. There’s also an eye-catching RGB bar on the back of the monitor and a unique angular stand.
However, it’s the color accuracy and dimming technology that make this a great HDR monitor. The Inzone M9 has 95% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut, gets up to 600 nits peak brightness, and is certified for DisplayHDR 600. The Inzone M9, unlike other sub-$1,000 monitors, has full-array local dimming (which is all but necessary to get a true HDR experience).
The HDR isn’t as robust as what other more expensive monitors offer, but it’s an excellent experience at this price point. Combine that with the other great features, and the InZone M9 makes for a great entry-level HDR gaming monitor. Thanks to its solid design and affordable HDR features, the InZone M9 is one of the best 4K 120Hz gaming monitors you can get.
Frequently Asked Questions
The short answer is yes.
Televisions have come a long way in the past few years in improving refresh rate and response time. TVs normally could not compete with a monitor's 1ms response time and were often capped at 60Hz. However, there are plenty of 120Hz and even 240Hz televisions on the market now, and some of them even boast low response times.
However, monitors also have adaptive sync technologies like G-Sync and FreeSync to prevent screen tearing. The vast majority of TVs do not have this feature, unless you're willing to spend $2,000 on something like the LG C2 OLED TV. However, for the price, TVs absolutely trounce monitors in the HDR department.
In short, if you're playing single-player games and want the best image quality, a TV will more than deliver for you. If you're playing competitive shooters and want a buttery smooth play experience, a gaming monitor is still the way to go.
Whether you would want a higher resolution or higher refresh rate depends on what types of games you're going to play. Higher resolutions allow you to pack more detail into the game, creating sharper and more realistic images. A higher refresh rate means the image on your display will update faster and look smoother during fast-paced action.
A higher resolution will benefit graphics-intensive single-player games more, and anything beyond 60 frames per second in these games is tricky for even the best graphics cards to handle. However, online shooters like Fortnite or CS:GO won't necessarily benefit from the higher resolution, but a higher frame rate can give you a competitive edge.
For the longest time, 4K monitors were locked at 60Hz, but now there are a plethora of 4K 120Hz gaming monitors on the market. Not only does that mean 4K 60Hz monitors a lot more affordable, but it means you can get a 4K 120Hz monitor for well under $1,000. If you've got the cash to spare, it is absolutely worth investing in. A monitor with both a 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate will allow you to enjoy any type of game and will future-proof your gaming setup for the foreseeable future. Just make sure your PC can handle games at that resolution and frame rate.
Which monitor is best really depends on what you are after. If you're looking for the best HDR experience, the Sony InZone M9 is an excellent option. The best overall 120Hz gaming monitor is probably the Acer Predator X28 (if you can get ahold of one).
