Best 1440p Monitor: Our favourite mid-range displays

If you’re looking for an ultrawide experience then the Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED (2023) is easily one of the best out there. It features a massive 49-inch display with a 32:9 aspect ratio and of course, a Quad HD (1440p) resolution. The OLED technology resulted in a perfect black level of ‘zero’ in our tests, allowing for deep, inky blacks and a high level of contrast. 

Colour coverage was also excellent; tests showed 100% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, and 98% DCI-P3 results. Any professional creatives are more than welcome to use the Odyssey G9 OLED for colour-sensitive work – such as video and photo editing – as it sits in line with the performance of a MacBook Pro or iMac display. 

If you’re a gamer, the 1800R curve enabled our reviewer to take in the display’s edge-to-edge design without the outside elements feeling further away. If you want an even wider wrap-around experience, then make sure you take a look at the Odyssey Ark or Odyssey Neo G9.

There are two 5W stereo speakers located on the rear of the Odyssey G9 OLED, which kicked out decent audio. There is Bluetooth connectivity supported too, allowing you to hook up all of your favourite audio accessories without any hassle. 

Since the Odyssey G9 OLED is 49-inches, you will need a fair amount of space to use it. Thankfully, the set-up was very simple thanks to the bespoke clip-in mechanism that locks the screen to the base – our reviewer was even able to assemble it without needing assistance. 

All in all, the Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED (2023) is the perfect pick for anyone who’s after true immersion. Its high colour accuracy makes it great for gaming, streaming video content, and creative work, making it a rare all-rounder that you won’t want to miss out on. 

Reviewer: Chris Smith
Full Review: Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED (2023)

The LG UltraGear 27GR95QE may not be the cheapest monitor on the market, but it is a tremendously good piece of gaming hardware. It comes with the perfect combination of speed, size and picture quality, packing a 27-inch Quad HD resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. 

The picture quality is very good; it produced 99.7% sRGB, 94.3% DCI-P3 and 87% Adobe RGB results and hit a peak brightness of 652 nits when we put it to the test. Both SDR and HDR content looked stunning and the inclusion of LG’s Calibration Studio means that you can improve the colour accuracy even further, although you will need a colourimeter.  

Motion handling is also fantastic; the 0.03ms GtG response time and 240Hz refresh rate worked wonderfully together, with no ghosting in any test scenario. Moreover, the support for both Nvidia’s G-Sync and AMD’s FreeSync Premium meant that there was no screen tearing, so you can enjoy your favourite games without any loss of quality. 

The UltraGear 27GR95QE comes with Dynamic Action Sync software, which helps to reduce input lag. LG also installed a frame counter, a selection of cross-hairs, and a black stabiliser that makes it easier to see what’s lurking in the darkness. In terms of long-term usage, LG has bundled in a range of settings to prevent burn-in, all of which can be accessed from a dedicated menu that can be found on the included remote control. Speaking of which, having a dedicated remote means that you can access the entire menu system at the touch of a button, giving it wider capabilities than most PC monitors. 

There is nothing to really dislike about the LG UltraGear 27GR95QE; it ticks all the boxes as a multifunction monitor but is clearly aimed towards gamers, with incredible image quality when playing triple-A games. If you’re willing to pay the premium price then you’ll be treated to a truly high-end experience. 

Reviewer: Alun Taylor
Full Review: LG UltraGear 27GR95QE

Unless you’re an eSports fan, the MSI MPG Artymis 273CQRX-QD is a well-balanced option, offering vibrant and punchy imagery. It comes with Quantum Dot LED technology, which emits pure blue, red and green light to create bolder, stronger colours. Our tests showed that it covered 98.7% of the sRGB gamut, allowing for every colour and shade in mainstream games to be rendered with high accuracy.

Moreover, it comes with a 240Hz refresh rate and 1440p resolution. Fast-moving games looked crisp and smooth, however, we did notice some ghosting when objects moved on darker backgrounds. This makes the Artymis 273CQRX-QD better suited to single-player games and lighter titles, where pushing the refresh rate isn’t the most important aspect. 

Beyond the typical gaming features, there is a lot more to like here; the Artymis offers 100mm of height adjustment – with tilt and swivel movement included – and supports 100mm VESA mounting so you can attach it to your wall. The front of the monitor houses a mouse bungee and on the side is a headphone hook, with a cable-routing cavity located on the rear. This results in a clean-looking display and gives you the chance to organise all your peripherals once you’re done with a hefty gaming session. Additionally, the inclusion of HDMI Consumer Electronics Control means you can wake up the display with your PS5 or Nintendo Switch controller. 

If you’re after a bold, feature-packed panel that’s best suited for mainstream gaming then the MSI MPG Artymis 273CQRX-QD is one of the best monitors out there. The Quantum Dot LEDs deliver fantastic colours and contrast and its multitude of features make it a very versatile device. Unless you’re looking for a 360Hz refresh rate, you can’t go wrong here. 

Reviewer: Mike Jennings
Full Review: MSI MPG Artymis 273CQRX-QD

For those after an excellent 1440p monitor for office duties, we recommend the HP E27d G4.

During testing, we found the image quality here to be good for everyday working, as backed up by the 281 nits of measured brightness, alongside a decent contrast ratio of 1003:1. 99% sRGB coverage also means this HP panel will render everyday colours well, although the 73% Adobe RGB and 78% DCI-P3 colour coverage we measured means this isn’t the best panel for more sensitive work.

On the point of office work, the E27d features a 60Hz refresh rate, as well a 8-bit colour depth and a response time of 5ms. This HP monitor isn’t designed for gaming applications, so those figures are perfectly alright for a monitor of this stature, given it’s an office workhorse.

In line with this, the port selection here is particularly great, with HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, DisplayPort, Ethernet and audio jack connections all featuring. Such vast connectivity provides the chance to connect up plenty of devices, as well as the ability to charge a laptop if you so wish.

We also thought the design here was sleek and purposeful with slim bezels around the front, as well as there being some great options for adjustment around the back, including tilt, swivel and 150mm of height adjustment. With that being said, the plastic frame used here means build quality is only mediocre.

Reviewer: Mike Jennings
Full review: HP E27d G4 review

The Dell S3220DGF is a favourite 1440p monitor of ours, especially for those after some great value for money.

For the asking price, you’re getting a smooth 165Hz refresh rate, complete with a 4ms response time that we found to work well for more competitive gaming. You can, of course, get better than this, but expect to pay an awful lot more. Alongside this comes a larger 32-inch panel, which, with that 1440p resolution, will be especially good for more cinematic gaming experiences.

During testing, Dell’s great value 1440p panel also offered some excellent contrast, which we measured to be 4616:1, and alongside this came some great black levels, too. This is also backed up by some fantastic peak brightness, which we measured to be 462 nits with our trusty colorimeter in hand. In addition, the colour accuracy for mainstream coverage proved to be stellar with 95.5% sRGB present here.

We also thought the S3220DGDF was a good-looking monitor with some great build quality thanks to its plastic frame and especially sturdy metal stand, alongside a gunmetal colour scheme. Adjustment here also proved to be rather good with pivot, height and tilt available, although unlike on some other monitors, you can’t put it into portrait mode.

Reviewer: Mike Jennings
Full review: Dell S3220DGF Gaming Monitor review 

The AOC AGON AG274QZM is an expensive monitor, but it does come with a lot of high-end features. Starting with the most notable, it has a great HDR performance. It comes with Mini-LED technology, which delivered extra depth and nuance compared to conventionally backlit IPS screens. This allowed it to achieve brighter highlights and a broader array of colours, so you can play games and watch video content with a lot of detail. 

During our testing, we found the display to reach a huge 581 nits of brightness in SDR mode, with that number reaching 1041 nits in HDR mode. These scores meant that we could experience bold imagery in any gaming or media situation, with the impressive black point of 0.2 nits in HDR mode allowing for deep, inky blacks. 

The refresh rate sits at 240Hz and works with both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. Combine that with the 1ms GtG response time and that’s more than enough pace for most eSports titles. If a great refresh rate is high on your list of requirements then you should take a look at the 240Hz Samsung Odyssey Neo G8, which also boasts a 4K display. 

Connectivity also shines, with the inclusion of two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4 connection, four USB 3.2 inputs and a USB-C port to boot. We did note that positioning these ports on the side of the device rather than the rear would be more accessible but either way, you’ll still be able to connect up another monitor as well as any gaming consoles you desire. 

All in all, the AOC AGON AG274QZM is a great choice for gamers who are looking for an accurate HDR performance. The high refresh rate makes it more than serviceable for almost any triple-A game, and the vast amount of ports opens up a ton of options in terms of connectivity. 

Reviewer: Mike Jennings
Full Review: AOC AGON AG274QZM (2023)

Getting a monitor that’s comfortable to use for extended periods of time is going to be key, and for our money, the LG UltraWide Ergo 34WN780-B is the best 1440p monitor in terms of ergonomics that we’ve tested.

The image quality here proved to be solid enough for office working, with a measured contrast ratio of 856:1 and sRGB colour space coverage of 97.6%. With that being said, the measured brightness of 231 nits will be totally fine for office use, especially given you won’t be needing to experience any HDR content. Figures in the mid-seventies for both Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 colour spaces mean this won’t be the best monitor for more sensitive workloads.

With that being said, the 34WN780-B is quite the versatile customer, being an IPS panel with some fantastic viewing angles, and a 75Hz refresh rate that gives a little boost for smoother than usual motion. We also found the port selection here to be pretty good for most people, with HDMI, DisplayPort and USB all represented. The fact they face outwards is also especially useful.

The actual monitor itself, as well as the integrated arm, feel sturdy and robust, which is reflective of the 34WN780-B’s higher pricing. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the adjustment on offer here is exemplary with 280 degrees of swivel alongside 25 degrees of tilt and 130mm’s of height adjustment, too.

Reviewer: Mike Jennings
Full review: LG UltraWide Ergo 34WN780-B