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Just got your first Microsoft Xbox, an Xbox Series X, sometime in the past year or so? Or still playing on one of the older Xbox One consoles? Either way, you might not be getting the most out of it by playing games on your TV. While accessories such as customized controllers or external storage are always useful, one of the best upgrades you can make to your console arsenal could be a different kind of display altogether: a new gaming monitor for your Xbox. If you want to jump in and play immediately, we recommend the ViewSonic VX2418-p-mhd as our top pick for most people, but we've got several other tested and vetted picks up and down the price and resolution spectrum. Read on for our recommendations, backed by years of experience reviewing gaming monitors, followed by advice on buying the right one for the games you enjoy.
Our Top Tested Picks
ViewSonic VX2418-p-mhd
LG 27 UltraGear Gaming Monitor (27GR83Q)
MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD
Alienware AW3225QF 4K QD-OLED
Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM
HP Omen 32q
Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF)
ViewSonic VX1655-4K-OLED
Best Gaming Monitor for Everyday Xbox Play (1080p)
ViewSonic VX2418-p-mhd
- Great picture quality for both gaming and content watching
- Low input lag
- Supports VESA mounting
- Very high contrast for a low price
- Limited OSD with no gaming features
- No frame sync tech (FreeSync, G-Sync) onboard
- Considerable ghosting in games testing
- Minimal stand adjustability
If you know exactly what you want from a modest-size gaming monitor—and those things are affordability and picture quality—the ViewSonic VX2418-p-mhd should fit the bill nicely.
Best Gaming Monitor for Everyday Xbox Play (1440p)
LG 27 UltraGear Gaming Monitor (27GR83Q)
- Extremely low input lag
- Wide color range
- Excellent color accuracy
- Good SDR and HDR brightness
- Simple, familiar design
- Could be cheaper
The LG 27 UltraGear Gaming Monitor (27GR83Q) is a great pick for users who own midrange PCs and favor performance and panel quality over an abundance of features.
Best Gaming Monitor for Everyday Xbox Play (4K)
MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD
- One of the most feature-packed monitors we've ever seen
- QD-IPS panel is highly responsive in all modes, including HDR
- Exceptional gaming performance in all scenarios
- Thoughtful design and port layout, including HDMI 2.1
- Integrated KVM
- Square-shaped stand may not be ergonomically friendly for all gamers
- Oversaturated color out of the box
- Slightly higher dE values than average
With features geared to casual gaming, paired with the high resolution, large screen, and color coverage of a productivity monitor, MSI's Optix MAG321CURV is a price-aggressive fit for two worlds: working by day, playing by night.
Best Curved Gaming Monitor for Xbox
Alienware AW3225QF 4K QD-OLED
- Excellent color accuracy and color gamut
- Low input lag
- High HDR brightness
- Distinctive aesthetics
- Expensive
The Alienware AW3225QF QD-OLED gaming monitor delivers fantastic performance and visuals, offering a unique combination of 4K resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate in a 32-inch panel.
Best Big-Screen Gaming Monitor for Xbox (30 to 40 inches)
Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM
- Excellent color coverage
- Unique RGB lighting
- Solid OLED panel care options
- High peak HDR brightness
- Virtual KVM feature
- More expensive than main Alienware competitor
- Unsightly power brick
The Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM is another near-perfect 4K OLED gaming display. Unique RGB lighting and a built-in KVM differentiate it from its excellent competition.
Best Budget Big-Screen Gaming Monitor for Xbox (30 to 40 inches)
HP Omen 32q
- Aggressively priced for a big 1440p panel
- Super-low input lag
- Solid brightness and HDR measurements for the money
- No built-in speakers
- No HDMI 2.1 port or additional USB ports
The HP Omen 32q cuts back on the frills and gaming niceties to achieve an even nicer retail price, making it a solid buy for budget shoppers.
Best HDMI 2.1 Gaming Monitor for Xbox and PC Esports Play
Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF)
- Low input lag
- Built-in headphone hanger
- Exceptionally high refresh rate
- Two DisplayPort inputs
- No headphone jack
- Still a pricey prospect
The Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF) trims some of the fat from its build and price to deliver super-high refresh rates to the most hardcore of gamers.
Best Portable Monitor for Xbox
ViewSonic VX1655-4K-OLED
- OLED screen with superb brightness, contrast, color coverage
- High pixel density makes for sharp images
- Sturdy hinged stand enables screen tilt
- Two USB-C ports, each with 60-watt power delivery
- A bit pricey
- Joystick and ports inconvenient to access
Although the ViewSonic VX1655-4K-OLED is pricey for a portable monitor, its 4K OLED screen offers outsize performance, with exceptional brilliance, contrast, and color coverage.
What to consider in an ideal monitor an Xbox? First up, there's the issue of resolution. At this writing, the Xbox One (plus variants within the Xbox One family) and the Xbox Series S and X are the models that support all three major monitor resolutions: 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (a.k.a. full HD or 1080p), 2,560 by 1,440 pixels (1440p), and 3,840 by 2,160 pixels (4K or UHD).
Here's a quick breakdown:
The Sony PlayStation 5 originally supported only 1080p and 4K resolutions but has since been updated to support high-performance 1440p gaming monitors.
Indeed, 1440p is seen as a native-resolution sweet spot by many competitive PC and console gamers. Considering that certain key titles such as Fortnite have been optimized to run at up to 120 frames per second (fps) on Xbox consoles at either 1080p or 1440p, players of titles like those may want to consider a 1440p display rather than a 4K monitor if getting high frame rates is their main concern. Speaking of high fps, that ties into the next factor, refresh rate.
Refresh Rate: Why Screen Speed Matters
Different Xbox consoles support different combinations of resolution and refresh rate. For example, the Xbox One and its variants are limited to a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz when the console is displaying in either 1080p or 1440p.
The Xbox Series X, however, supports a 120Hz refresh rate at resolutions as high as 4K. That said, we recommend checking to see if any of the games you plan to play actually support higher refresh in the first place. The support is game-dependent.
Most gaming monitors slot into one of the following maximum-refresh-rate tiers: 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, 200Hz, 240Hz, or 360Hz. If you're buying a monitor solely for use with your Xbox (with no PC gaming planned in the near future), we recommend choosing a model that peaks at 120Hz or 144Hz, so you're not paying for extra frames you'll never see on screen.
Why the Cables Matter in a Monitor for Xbox
Next, a word about cables. While all consoles included in the Xbox One lineup support only HDMI 2.0, the newest Xbox Series X can connect to your preferred TV set or gaming monitor via HDMI 2.1. On the Series X, HDMI 2.1 allows up to 120fps refresh at either 1080p or 1440p resolution. However, if you want to play your Xbox Series X at 120fps in 4K, you'll need a 4K monitor that's both compatible with the HDMI 2.1 spec and that supports that refresh rate specifically at 4K over HDMI. You'll also need an HDMI 2.1-compatible cable, dubbed an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
Monitors with HDMI 2.1 support, 4K resolution, and a 120Hz or higher refresh rate were still scarce at this writing. Gamers should expect any high-refresh-rate 4K displays released going forward to support HDMI 2.1, but you'd do well to verify before buying. High-refresh 4K, HDMI 2.1-capable gaming monitors are finally becoming commonplace. But support for the spec is by no means guaranteed, so be sure to check.
Newer cables are also enabling new panel-boosting tech for many emerging monitors, allowing compatibility with both VRR (variable refresh rate) and ALLM (auto low-latency mode). These technologies keep consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 in relative pace with the PC when it comes to reducing input latency and screen-tearing artifacts.
Another thing worth noting: If your Xbox and PC will share the same monitor, you won't be able to reach those beyond 120Hz-refresh rates at 4K from your PC with just an HDMI connection; you'll need to use a DisplayPort, as well as ensure you have a GPU and CPU that's up to the task.
HDR: The Bright Icing on the Cake
Finally, let's take a second to talk about HDR, or high dynamic range. HDR is a feature that gives your games their best opportunity to shine, displaying color palettes and levels of brightness and clarity that far exceed what you'd see on a non-HDR monitor or TV.
The feature is more common on TV sets than gaming monitors at present, but monitor manufacturers are catching up. As more PC players and console owners upgrade their gaming hardware, the demand for gaming displays that support HDR has risen.
While Xbox 360 and specific Xbox One model owners can't access the feature, the Xbox One X and Xbox Series X are compatible with what Microsoft calls its Auto HDR feature. This adds an API-level layer that simulates the HDR effect on games where either the game or the hardware can't support a native HDR implementation. (See the full list of games supported under Microsoft's Xbox Enhanced HDR program.)
HDR monitors are rated at different levels that correspond to the peak brightness level you should expect. Currently, you can find gaming monitors rated from HDR10 (the lowest brightness) up to HDR 1000. In between, you'll find displays rated at HDR 400 and HDR 600. (For all of these except HDR10, the number indicates the peak HDR brightness in nits or candelas per square meter.)
Which level you choose should ultimately be determined by how vivid you want your content to be—HDR 400 often doesn't cut the mustard in this department—as well as how much dynamic range you want available to play with while tuning settings in multiplayer games. (One strategy, for example, could be pushing greater levels of contrast to see enemies in darker scenes during a multiplayer match, something a high HDR rating can help with.)
Ready to Buy the Right Monitor to Use With Your Xbox?
Ready to make your pick? We've sketched out here some of the best gaming monitors we've tested that are a good fit for your Xbox. (Also, be sure to check out our favorite Xbox Series S and X games to buy straightaway.) Our spec breakout table, as well, should help you pinpoint the one at the price and resolution level that makes sense for your situation.
