Getting the best gaming experience possible isn't just about your computer's specs or your console anymore. It is equally important to have a great monitor designed for gaming. One of the most important aspects of a good gaming monitor is the refresh rate. One of the most popular refresh rates currently is 144 Hz; much higher, and many computers won't be able to take full advantage of it.
We've tested 60 monitors and below are our picks for the best 144 Hz monitors that are available for purchase in 2019. See our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best PC gaming monitors, and the best gaming monitors under $200.
The best 144 Hz monitor we've tested so far is the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QZ. It is a 27-inch 1440p IPS monitor that performs very well in almost any usage and excels in gaming. It has great ergonomics and wide viewing angles that allow you to easily set it up for co-op gaming sessions.
The ASUS PG279QZ has a very fast response time and displays fast moving objects with very little blur trail. It feels very responsive, thanks to the low input lag, and the support of NVIDIA's G-SYNC VRR, albeit only over DisplayPort, ensures a tear-free gaming experience. If you find that 144 Hz refresh rate is not enough for your competitive gaming, it can be easily overclocked to 165 Hz for even better motion handling.
Unfortunately, blacks tend to look gray in a dark room due to the inherent limitations of the PG279QZ's IPS panel. Overall, it is a great monitor with excellent gaming features that even serious gamers will appreciate. The PG279QZ is the newer version of the ASUS ROG PG279Q. The two monitors have a very similar performance.
If the ASUS ROG PG279QZ is too expensive for you, check out the Acer Predator XB271HU instead. It has a very similar 27-inch screen and 1440p resolution, and it handles motion almost as well as the PG279QZ and is just as responsive. Unfortunately, it doesn't handle reflections quite as well, so it isn't well suited for a very bright room, and out of the box, it is very inaccurate. Overall, the XB271HU is a great gaming monitor that should please most people.
If you want the best 144 Hz monitor compatible with FreeSync, check out the Samsung CHG70. It has a great contrast ratio and wide color gamut, great for HDR. Gamers will appreciate the low input lag and fast response time that deliver a responsive and clear gaming experience. It has a fast 144 Hz native refresh rate, but unlike the ASUS ROG PG279QZ and Acer Predator XB271HU, it can't be easily overclocked.
It also supports FreeSync over HDMI and DisplayPort, so it works great with an Xbox One S/X or on a PC with an AMD graphics card. The backlight is free of PWM flicker, which is great, and it has the option to introduce flicker to improve motion clarity.
Unfortunately, despite the very good contrast ratio, it has poor black uniformity and a poor local dimming feature, so it isn't that great in a dark room. Unlike most gaming monitors, it has a VA panel, so it has poor viewing angles. Overall, it is a very good monitor for most uses, and it is an excellent gaming monitor that should please most people.
If you want a cheaper alternative to the Samsung CHG70, then check out the AOC AGON AG271QX. It is not as versatile as the CHG70 but will perform very well for gaming. The picture quality suffers from the usual downsides of TN panels like low-contrast ratio and poor viewing angles, but it has great motion handling and is flicker free. It is very responsive to your actions as the input lag is very low, even at non-native resolutions, and the fast refresh rate displays the new frame almost instantaneously. You will not find many additional gaming features, but nonetheless, you will enjoy gaming on this monitor.
The ViewSonic XG2402 is the best budget 144 Hz monitor that we've tested so far. It is a decent 24-inch 1080p with great gaming performance. Although the XG2402 has a somewhat simpler design than most gaming monitors, it has a good stand that can be easily adjusted to an ideal viewing position.
Despite the budget price, this monitor has excellent motion handling. It has one of the fastest response times we've measured on a monitor, resulting in a crystal clear image with next to no motion blur. It also supports FreeSync, with an extremely wide VRR range, great for Xbox One gamers or if you have a PC with an AMD graphics card. It has excellent low input lag, ensuring a responsive gaming experience.
Unfortunately, the ViewSonic XG2402 doesn't look as good in a dark room, as blacks aren't completely black and aren't uniform. The image also degrades when viewed at an angle, so it isn't great for sharing your work with someone or for a quick co-op gaming session. Overall, it is a decent monitor that should please most budget shoppers.
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best 144 Hz monitors currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people, in each price range. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our 144 Hz monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.