While 4K monitors offer exceptional visuals and detail, 1080p monitors remain the top choice for budget and competitive gaming. A high refresh rate monitor can make a significant difference in gaming, and 1080p monitors let you achieve those super high refresh rates without placing excessive strain on your graphics card. In addition, 1080p monitors come at a much lower price and are the best option if you’re looking for an affordable option for gaming or work.
Dell Alienware AW2523HF
HP 24mh 23.8-inch Display
ASUS TUF VG249Q1A
ASUS ProArt Display PA247CV
MSI Optix MAG301CR2
Best 1080p Monitor Overall:Alienware AW2523HF
Instead of getting separate monitors for work and gaming, why not have a single monitor for both? TheAlienware AW2523HF Monitoris what peak gaming performance looks like and comes with several amenities that make it equally suitable for work.
With a refresh rate of 360Hz, the monitor provides the smoothest experience you’ll ever have. And with support for both G-Sync and Free Sync, the refresh rate adjusts on the fly to avoid screen tearing.
With the wealth of USB ports available acting as a competentUSB docking station, it is incredibly easy to turn the Alienware AW2523HF into a workstation. Not to mention, you may adjust the height, tilt, swivel, and pivot the monitor, giving it excellent ergonomics.
With excellent ergonomics, ports galore, and a 360Hz refresh rate, the Alienware AW2523HF is the crown jewel for both gaming and work. And since it has wide viewing angles, your screen retains its pictures no matter what position you adopt.
Best Budget 1080p Monitor:HP 24mh 23.8-inch Monitor
If you work from home, versatility in a monitor is key. Having HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA, it’s incredibly easy to string together a couple ofHP 24mh 23.8-inch monitors. In fact, the ultra-thin bezels blend the monitors together with as little friction as possible.
What’s most surprising is the HP 24mh’s above-average refresh rate of 75Hz. It isn’t a massive jump from 60Hz, but it’s a welcome improvement for further smoothing out your gaming experience. Just be sure to have a powerful GPU and CPU that can handle the extra frames.
The HP 24mh 23.8-inch Monitor offers a surprising mix of features that make it perfectly suited for work and gaming. And with its 23.8-inch screen size, 1080p looks exceptionally sharp, though you can always opt for the 27-inch model if you want extra screen space.
Best 1080p Monitor for Gaming:ASUS TUF VG249Q1A Gaming Monitor
1080p is still a fantastic resolution to game on, fitting right in that niche of providing a sharp image without pushing your hardware to the limit like 4K or even 1440p would. If gaming is your main use, then look no further than theASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A.
At 24 inches, 1080p looks great on the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A. The pixels aren’t stretched beyond their limit, but if you want a larger screen, there’s a 27-inch option that offers an equally sharp image.
More importantly, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A has a very low response time and a high native refresh rate of 144Hz. You can even overclock it to 165Hz, and with VRR (variable refresh rate), you’ll avoid any potential screen tearing.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A is the perfect package for 1080p gaming, from its fast response time to its high refresh rate. And with a 24-inch screen, pixel density is right in that sweet spot—not too small and not so large that the pixels look blurry.
Best 1080p Monitor for Photo Editing:ASUS ProArt PA247CV Display
When it comes to finding a monitor for photo editing, your choices are slim unless you jump up to 4K or, at the very least, 1440p. Luckily, theASUS ProArt Display PA247CVcomes with oodles of features for your creative endeavors.
For starters, the ASUS ProArt Display PA247CV comes with its color accuracy calibrated and Calman Verified to boot. However, the ProArt Palette lets you make further adjustments to the hue, temp, and gamma.
There are also plenty of connectivity options. HDMI is a given, but it also has DisplayPort, which can be used to string together a second monitor, power delivery, and data. In other words, you can turn the ASUS ProArt Display PA247CV into your very own studio.
With both 100% RGB and 100% Rec. 709 color gamut coverage, the ASUS ProArt Display PA247CV is built for creative professionals, from photo to video editing. The ProArt Palette is also great to have if you feel the need to make adjustments to the color hue, temp, or gamma.
Best Ultrawide 1080p Monitor:MSI Optix MAG301CR2
If you love the idea of adding a layer of immersion to your gaming, you go with a curved, ultrawide monitor like theMSI Optix MAG301CR2. Having that extra room on both sides offers a tantalizing edge in games, especially in a competitive setting. And the fact that you can benefit from a high refresh rate no matter what video port you use is a massive win to boot.
What’s particularly great is the resolution and screen size. At 30 inches, 2560x1080 looks excellent as it doesn’t stretch the pixels too far, which tends to be a problem with this resolution if you extend it to a 34-inch display. More importantly, the resolution isn’t as taxing as jumping to 1440p would be on your machine.
Whether you love the idea of an immersive gaming experience or need a monitor wide enough to multitask, the MSI Optix MAG301CR2 is the best of both worlds. It features a very high refresh rate over DisplayPort and HDMI, as well as a resolution and screen size that complement one another incredibly well.
Q: What is the difference between a 1080p and a 4K monitor?
Between 1080p and 4K, the only difference is pixel count, with the latter having four times as many pixels. In other words, a 4K image is much sharper than 1080p.
Q: What monitor sizes begin to be too big for the 1080p resolution?
Anything past 27 or 28 inches and you’ll start to notice blurry image quality, especially if you try to stretch the image to 30 inches. If you can’t live with anything less than 30 inches, try a1440p monitorinstead.
Q: Should I use a 1080p monitor for gaming?
Of course! The beauty of a 1080p monitor is that it provides a sharp image without being incredibly taxing to your system. It leaves more resources on the table for you to use towards better textures, shadows, and eye candy.
Furthermore, jumping from 1080p to, say, 1440p isn’t as noticeable as the jump from 720p to 1080p was back in the day.
