We buy our own products and put them under the same testing methodology so that you can easily compare them. Unlike most websites, we do not get our products directly from the manufacturers, which means our units aren’t handpicked and actually represent what you would buy yourself. We spend a lot of time comparing the products side-by-side to validate our results and we keep them until they are discontinued so we can continually go back and make sure our reviews are always accurate.
1440p monitors are becoming very popular. They strike a great balance between cost and performance, as they look better than simple 1080p monitors, but don’t require the powerful computers necessary for a decent 4k gaming experience. 1440p monitors are a great choice, whether you are looking for your next gaming monitor or to equip an entire office.
We’ve reviewed 26 1440p monitors, and below are our top 5 picks for the best ones available for purchase in the spring of 2019.
Aorus AD27QD: The best 1440p monitor we’ve tested so far
Type: IPS
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Variable Refresh Rate: FreeSync
Size: 27”
The Aorus AD27QD is the best 1440p monitor that we’ve tested so far. It is a versatile monitor that should fit most needs, and it delivers excellent gaming performance overall. It has wide viewing angles and very good ergonomics, making it a great choice for almost any room. It also supports FreeSync, great for Xbox One owners or PC gamers with an AMD graphics card, and it even works with recent NVIDIA 10- or 20- series graphics cards.
Gamers will appreciate the outstanding motion handling, low input lag, and fast 144Hz refresh rate. It also has some great additional features, including RGB bias lighting and a unique active noise cancellation feature that can help improve microphone performance when you connect a headset or desktop microphone to the monitor.
Unfortunately, like the majority of IPS monitors, the Aorus AD27QD doesn’t look as good when displaying dark scenes in a dark room. Overall, though, it is a great 1440p monitor that should please most users.
ASUS PG279QZ: The best 1440p G-SYNC monitor
Type: IPS
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Variable Refresh Rate: G-SYNC
Size: 27”
If you like the excellent gaming performance of the Aorus AD27QD but would prefer a monitor that natively supports G-SYNC, check out the ASUS ROG PG279QZ instead. Like the AD27QD, the PG279QZ delivers excellent gaming performance and is a versatile choice for any room.
The PG279QZ has an outstanding response time, flicker-free backlight, and excellent 144Hz refresh rate that can be easily overclocked to 165Hz. It also has an RGB bias lighting feature, which is great, and it has additional features useful for gamers, including support for NVIDIA’s ULMB feature, also known as Black Frame Insertion.
Unfortunately, the PG279QZ doesn’t have as many inputs as the Aorus AD27QD and is limited to a single DisplayPort and a single HDMI connection. Overall, though, the PG279QZ is a very good monitor that should please most people.
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Dell Alienware AW3418DW: Best Ultrawide 1440p Monitor
Type: IPS
Refresh Rate: 100Hz
Variable Refresh Rate: G-SYNC
Size: 34”
If you are looking for a more immersive gaming experience or want a better monitor for multitasking, check out the Dell Alienware AW3418DW instead. The AW3418DW is a very good 34”, 3440×1440 monitor with wide viewing angles and a great design, and the wide-format screen is great for multitasking.
Like the PG279QZ, the Dell AW3418DW supports G-SYNC but is limited to a 100Hz refresh rate. It has a fast response time, albeit a bit slower than the PG279QZ and AD27QD, and it doesn’t have an optional black frame insertion feature.
Unfortunately, unlike the AD27QD and PG279QZ, it doesn’t support HDR, which is a bit disappointing. Like the majority of IPS monitors, it doesn’t look as good when displaying dark scenes in a dark room. Overall, though, it is a great 1440p monitor that should please most people.
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Dell U3417W: Best Budget Ultrawide 1440p Monitor
Type: TN
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Variable Refresh Rate: No
Size: 34”
If you like the wide-format aspect ratio of the Dell AW3418DW, but would prefer something cheaper, check out the Dell U3417W instead. Like the AW3418DW, the U3417W is a 34”, 3440×1440 monitor, which is great for multitasking and office work. It has a DisplayPort Out connection, useful for daisy-chaining multiple displays, and it supports both Picture-In-Picture and Picture-Beside-Picture modes.
The U3417W isn’t as well suited for gaming as the AW3418DW, as it is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, and doesn’t support any variable refresh rate technologies like FreeSync or G-SYNC. It also has above average input lag, which may disappoint competitive gamers.
Like the AW3418DW, the U3417W doesn’t support HDR, and blacks are non-uniform, which can be distracting in dark scenes. Overall, though, it is a decent 1440p monitor with very good office performance.
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Dell U2518D: The Best Budget 1440p Monitor
Type: IPS
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Variable Refresh Rate: No
Size: 25”
If you just want a decent 1440p monitor on a budget, check out the Dell U2518D. The U2518D is a basic 1440p monitor with few additional features, but very good overall performance. Like most Dell monitors, it has a simple design and a great stand with great ergonomics, making it very easy to place it in an ideal viewing position.
The Dell U2518D delivers decent overall picture quality, with great peak brightness, outstanding gradient performance, and excellent gray uniformity. It also has decent viewing angles and great connectivity, with two DisplayPort connections and a DisplayPort out port, similar to the AW3418DW.
Unfortunately, it has only decent motion handling, despite the excellent response time, it is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and has no variable refresh rate support. Overall, the Dell U2518D is a versatile 1440p that performs well for most uses.
This guide may have been updated. To see all measurements and the current recommendations for 1440p monitors, please go here.
