Black Friday 2026 Gaming Monitors: What to Check Before You Buy

Before buying a gaming monitor, check the refresh rate, the resolution and the panel type, then confirm that your graphics card and ports can take advantage of them. Screen size matters too, because resolution looks different at different sizes. A balanced match beats one headline number. More in the laptops department.

Screen size and resolution together

Size and resolution work as a pair. A 24 inch screen at 1920 by 1080 looks sharp at a desk. Stretch the same resolution to 32 inches and the pixels become easy to see. For larger screens, 2560 by 1440 is a common step up, and 3840 by 2160 (often called 4K) gives the finest detail.

Higher resolution also asks more of your computer. A graphics card that runs a game smoothly at 1080p may struggle at 4K, so choose a resolution your hardware can drive at the frame rates you want.

Refresh rate and response time

Refresh rate is how many times per second the screen redraws, measured in hertz. A standard office monitor runs at 60 Hz. Gaming monitors commonly offer 144 Hz and above, which makes fast motion look smoother.

Response time, listed in milliseconds, describes how quickly pixels change color. Lower numbers reduce blur behind moving objects. Makers measure it in different ways, so use it as a rough guide rather than a strict ranking.

Adaptive sync is worth looking for. It lets the monitor follow the frame rate your graphics card produces, which cuts screen tearing. Match the monitor’s supported type to your card.

Panel types compared

Pick by how you use the screen. Fast competitive games reward speed. Single-player adventures and movies reward contrast and color.

Gaming Monitors to compare

Check the size, resolution and refresh rate together, and the inputs your setup needs. Listings by monitor type are below.

Shop gaming Monitors→

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• 24 inchBrowse →
• 27 inchBrowse →
• 32 inchBrowse →
• CurvedBrowse →
• UltrawideBrowse →
• OLEDBrowse →

Flat, curved and ultrawide shapes

Most monitors use a 16:9 shape. Ultrawide models, around 21:9, add extra width that suits racing and open-world games and lets you place two windows side by side. Curved screens wrap slightly around your view, which some people find more comfortable on wide panels.

Check your desk depth before you order. A big or ultrawide screen needs room to sit at a comfortable distance.

Ports, cables and stands

Look at the connections on the back. DisplayPort and HDMI are the usual choices, but versions matter: older HDMI versions may not carry the highest resolution and refresh rate together. Check the version your graphics card outputs and the version the monitor accepts.

A stand that adjusts height and tilt is easier on your neck. If the stand is basic, look for a VESA mounting pattern so you can use a separate arm. A common pattern is 100 by 100 millimeters. Built-in speakers, USB hubs and headphone jacks are bonuses, not requirements.

Adaptive sync and HDR

Adaptive sync matches the monitor’s refresh rate to the frames your graphics card sends, which reduces tearing and stutter. It goes by names such as FreeSync and G-SYNC, so check which one the monitor supports and whether your graphics card or console works with it. HDR support widens the range between bright and dark, though results vary a lot by panel, so read the listing closely.

Buying online

On marketplace listings, look for photos of the actual monitor turned on, ideally showing a plain bright screen so you can spot dead pixels or bright patches. Confirm the full model number, because makers often sell similar names with different panels. Check that the stand, power cable and video cable are listed as included.

If the monitor is sold as new, look for sealed packaging. For used units, ask about scratches, backlight bleed and any burned-in images. Review the seller’s feedback and the return policy before you pay.