Buying guide

Best gaming monitor UK 2026

The best gaming monitor in the UK is the Samsung Odyssey OLED G5 27-inch QHD gaming monitor. It has a QD-OLED screen for vivid colour, a 0.03ms response time and a refresh rate of up to 180Hz. For competitive shooters, the Alienware 27 QD-OLED gaming monitor offers a 360Hz refresh rate instead.

See the top pick on Amazon Compare all 6 picks

By Bez, Editor-in-Chief · SuggestedTechUpdated 25 October 2026

Images: Samsung, ASUS

The 6 picks compared

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Our picks compared: who each one is for and why
Pick	Best for	Why it wins	Where to buy
Samsung Odyssey OLED G5 27-inch QHD gaming monitor (LS27FG502SUXXU)Samsung	the richest picture	Vivid OLED colour and a fast 0.03ms response time	See it on Amazon
Alienware 27 QD-OLED gaming monitor (AW2725DF)Alienware	competitive shooters	Tear-free 360Hz speed for competitive shooters	See it on Amazon
Samsung Odyssey G5 27-inch QHD 200Hz gaming monitor (LS27FG530EUXXU)Samsung	a sharp QHD all-rounder	Sharp QHD picture and smooth 200Hz play for all-round gaming	See it on Amazon
Dell 27 gaming monitor (SE2726HG)Dell	a big screen for consoles and PC	Big 27-inch screen with 240Hz speed for console and PC gaming	See it on Amazon
ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q5R 24-inch Full HD 200Hz monitorASUS	esports on a small desk	Fast 200Hz smoothness and quick response for esports on a small desk	See it on Amazon
AOC 24G4XED 24-inch Full HD 180Hz gaming monitorAOC	a first gaming monitor	Fast 180Hz gaming screen that makes a great first monitor	See it on Amazon

This guide is for UK PC and console gamers who want a better screen, and for anyone buying a gaming monitor as a Christmas or birthday present. Choose by how you play: refresh rate (how many times a second the picture updates) matters most for fast shooters, while screen type and size decide how rich and sharp the picture looks. Every pick is sold by Amazon UK today.

Our picks in detail

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Top pickBest for the richest picture

Samsung Odyssey OLED G5 27-inch QHD gaming monitor (LS27FG502SUXXU)

A 27-inch QD-OLED gaming screen at QHD for bright, vivid colour. It runs at QHD (2560x1440) with a refresh rate of up to 180Hz.

The facts that matter

A 27-inch QD-OLED screen at QHD (2560x1440) for bright, vivid colour.
A 0.03ms (GtG) response time and a refresh rate of up to 180Hz.
Samsung's Glare Free film is 54% less glossy than conventional anti-reflection film, and OLED Safeguard helps protect the screen.

Perfect for: Gamers who want the richest picture, or anyone buying a PC or console gaming gift for someone who loves colourful, fast-moving games.

Why we picked it: Samsung's Glare Free film is 54% less glossy than conventional anti-reflection film. OLED Safeguard helps protect the screen. Together, that's rich colour and a screen that helps protect itself.

The catch: Its refresh rate tops out at 180Hz, below the 360Hz of the Alienware AW2725DF.

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Alienware

Best for competitive shooters

Alienware 27 QD-OLED gaming monitor (AW2725DF)

A 27-inch QD-OLED gaming screen with QHD sharpness and a 360Hz refresh rate. It keeps fast action smooth and free of tearing, with a 0.03ms response time.

The facts that matter

A 27-inch QD-OLED screen at QHD (2560x1440) with a 360Hz refresh rate.
A 0.03ms grey-to-grey response time, with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and VESA AdaptiveSync for tear-free play.
99.3% DCI-P3 colour coverage, plus built-in Dark Stabilizer, Console Mode and a frame rate counter.

Perfect for: Buy it for the competitive shooter fan with a powerful gaming PC, who wants every frame sharp and smooth.

Why we picked it: Its 0.03ms grey-to-grey response time and 360Hz refresh rate keep fast movement crisp on screen. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and VESA AdaptiveSync stop tearing, and 99.3% DCI-P3 colour coverage adds rich, vivid colour. Built-in Dark Stabilizer, Console Mode and a frame rate counter round it out.

The catch: To see all 360 frames a second at QHD, your PC needs a powerful graphics card.

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Best for a sharp QHD all-rounder

Samsung Odyssey G5 27-inch QHD 200Hz gaming monitor (LS27FG530EUXXU)

A 27-inch QHD screen with a 200Hz refresh rate, so the picture stays sharp and motion stays smooth when the action gets fast. It also has a 1ms (MPRT) response time, which keeps moving objects clear.

The facts that matter

A 27-inch QHD (2560x1440) screen with a 200Hz refresh rate.
A 1ms (MPRT) response time, HDR10 and AMD FreeSync Premium for smooth, tear-free play.
Virtual Aim Point puts a crosshair on screen to help your aim.

Perfect for: Buy it for the gamer who wants one screen that does everything well, from detailed games to fast shooters.

Why we picked it: HDR10 and AMD FreeSync Premium keep play smooth and tear-free, and Virtual Aim Point adds an on-screen crosshair to help your aim. It isn't an OLED, so the OLED picks win on deep blacks.

The catch: It is not an OLED, so it can't match the deep blacks and 0.03ms response of the two OLED picks.

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Dell

Best for a big screen for consoles and PC

Dell 27 gaming monitor (SE2726HG)

A 27-inch Full HD Fast IPS screen that refreshes 240 times a second, so fast action looks fluid. It works with consoles and computers alike.

The facts that matter

A 27-inch Full HD Fast IPS screen with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.5ms response time.
AMD FreeSync Premium and HDMI Variable Refresh Rate for smooth PC and console gaming.
99% sRGB colour, TÜV Rheinland 3-star Eye Comfort and a 3-year limited hardware warranty.

Perfect for: Console and PC gamers who want a big, fast screen, and anyone shopping a gift for one.

Why we picked it: AMD FreeSync Premium and HDMI Variable Refresh Rate keep play smooth on PC and console. You also get 99% sRGB colour, TÜV Rheinland 3-star Eye Comfort and a 3-year limited hardware warranty.

The catch: It is Full HD (1920x1080), so text and detail look less sharp on a 27-inch screen than on the QHD picks.

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Best for esports on a small desk

ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q5R 24-inch Full HD 200Hz monitor

A 23.8-inch Full HD gaming monitor with a 200Hz refresh rate, so fast on-screen action looks smooth. ASUS ELMB helps cut ghosting and motion blur when things move quickly.

The facts that matter

A 23.8-inch Full HD Fast IPS screen with a 200Hz refresh rate.
A 0.3ms (GtG, min.) response time with ASUS ELMB to cut ghosting and motion blur.
FreeSync Premium turns on variable refresh rate by default.

Perfect for: Buy it for the esports fan with a small desk who wants smooth, fast action without a big screen.

Why we picked it: ASUS ELMB cuts ghosting and motion blur, so moving targets stay clearer. FreeSync Premium turns on variable refresh rate by default, so the picture stays smooth with no setup. A 0.3ms (GtG, min.) response time keeps up with quick play.

The catch: A 23.8-inch Full HD screen is smaller and less detailed than the 27-inch QHD picks.

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Best for a first gaming monitor

AOC 24G4XED 24-inch Full HD 180Hz gaming monitor

A 24-inch Full HD gaming monitor with a 180Hz refresh rate, so fast-moving action updates quickly on screen. It has built-in presets for FPS, racing and RTS games, plus Flicker-Free and Low Blue modes.

The facts that matter

A 24-inch Full HD IPS screen with a 180Hz refresh rate and a 1ms (GtG) response time.
Built-in presets for FPS, racing and RTS games, plus Flicker-Free and Low Blue modes.
Two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 and two 2-watt speakers built in.

Perfect for: Buy this for someone starting out in PC gaming who wants a fast screen without fuss.

Why we picked it: The 1ms (GtG) response time keeps fast motion sharp, and the FPS, racing and RTS presets set the screen up for the game you play. Two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 and two built-in 2-watt speakers give you plenty of ways to connect. It is built for speed, not the bright, deep picture of the OLED picks.

The catch: Its 300 cd/m² brightness and 1,000:1 contrast are modest next to the OLED picks.

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How we chose

UK gamers search for the best gaming monitor, so we shortlisted six screens to match how you play, from rich OLED pictures to fast Full HD screens for a small desk or a console.

We judged each pick on refresh rate (frames a second, so motion looks smooth), response time (how fast pixels change, so action doesn't smear) and sharpness (how much detail a 27-inch screen shows). We read the makers' and Amazon UK listings on 25 October 2026 and kept only products sold by Amazon UK. Each pick has one honest catch: the Samsung Odyssey OLED G5 tops out at 180Hz; the Alienware needs a powerful graphics card for 360 frames at QHD; the Samsung Odyssey G5 is not an OLED; the Dell is Full HD; the ASUS TUF is a smaller 23.8-inch screen; the AOC has modest 300 cd/m² brightness.

Refresh rate: match the Hz to your game and graphics card, since 360Hz at QHD needs a powerful card.
Resolution and size: QHD is sharper than Full HD on a 27-inch screen.
Panel type: OLED gives deep blacks, but the Samsung Odyssey G5 is not an OLED.
Connections and sync: check your console or PC has the listed ports, such as HDMI or DisplayPort, and AMD FreeSync where named.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best gaming monitor UK shoppers can buy for the richest picture?

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G5 27-inch QHD gaming monitor is built for the richest picture. It has a QD-OLED screen, which gives bright, vivid colour, plus a 0.03ms response time and a refresh rate of up to 180Hz. Samsung's Glare Free film is 54% less glossy than conventional anti-reflection film.

What is the best gaming monitor UK players can buy for competitive shooters?

The Alienware 27 QD-OLED gaming monitor is made for competitive shooters. Its 360Hz refresh rate can show up to 360 frames a second, and its 0.03ms grey-to-grey response time keeps motion sharp. To see all 360 frames a second at QHD, your PC needs a powerful graphics card.

Which gaming monitor is a sharp QHD all-rounder in the UK?

The Samsung Odyssey G5 27-inch QHD 200Hz gaming monitor is a sharp all-rounder. It has a 27-inch QHD screen, a 200Hz refresh rate, and HDR10 with AMD FreeSync Premium for smooth, tear-free play. It is not an OLED, so it can't match the deep blacks and 0.03ms response of the two OLED picks.

What is the best gaming monitor UK buyers can get for a console or a small desk?

The Dell 27 gaming monitor gives you a big 27-inch screen with a 240Hz refresh rate and HDMI Variable Refresh Rate for console and PC play. For a small desk, the ASUS TUF Gaming 24-inch Full HD 200Hz monitor is the esports pick. Its 23.8-inch Full HD screen is smaller and less detailed than the 27-inch QHD picks, so check your space first.

What is a good first gaming monitor to buy as a Christmas present for a gamer in the UK?

The AOC 24G4XED 24-inch Full HD 180Hz gaming monitor is a strong first gaming monitor. It has built-in presets for FPS, racing and RTS games, plus two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 and two 2-watt speakers. Its 300 cd/m² brightness and 1,000:1 contrast are modest next to the OLED picks.

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