Best gaming monitor for Xbox Series S 2024 – top picks reviewed for April
Scouring the web & taking a look at some of the best displays for Xbox Series S gamers
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Our expert team has been busy testing and reviewing some of the best gaming monitors for Xbox Series S and have concluded that the GIGABYTE M27Q is the best available currently, it’s certainly one of the best 1440p monitors for this budget console, sitting at its natively supported QHD resolution. Something like the LG UltraGear 27GP950-B is also a top pick if you don’t mind upscaling to 4K.
Over the years, console gamers have often chosen the humble TV for their console gaming needs. However, thanks to improvements made in next-gen consoles, many are starting to opt for the more responsive gaming monitor instead. Especially if they can double it up as their PC monitor too. The Xbox Series S maxes out at 1440p in terms of native resolution – which is not found on TVs, meaning some upscaling will be involved on a 4K TV or monitor. Don’t worry if you don’t know what to choose though, as we talk you through the pros and cons and update this guide regularly with the latest displays.
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Best monitor for Xbox Series S in 2024
Choosing the best gaming monitor for Xbox Series S is a tough decision – mainly because there is a ton of high-performance, value-oriented monitors in today’s market. If you aren’t up to speed with the latest monitor tech, you’ll likely struggle choosing the right monitor for your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for a monitor that provides high levels of immersion or something more tailored toward competitive gaming, we recommend a panel for everyone’s needs. So, with plenty to get through, let’s dive into the best gaming monitors for Xbox Series S.
GIGABYTE M27Q
GIGABYTE M27Q
Refresh rate
170Hz
Response time
0.5ms
Screen size
27″
Resolution
2560 x 1440
- High 170Hz refresh rate
- IPS color accuracy and viewing angles
- Super low 0.5ms response time
- Native 1440p resolution and large 27″ screen
- Underwhelming HDR performance
As far as aesthetics go, this monitor certainly leans more towards a classic design compared to some other GIGABYTE displays characterized by flashy RGB, sharp angles, and armor-like plating. However, the real beauty of this monitor lies under the hood, offering up quick response and stunning image clarity.
At the heart of this monitor lies an impressive IPS panel that boasts a 170Hz refresh rate and low 0.5ms (MPRT) response time – a good balance for smooth, tear-free gameplay. Response aside, the M27Q also offers excellent color accuracy and great wide viewing angles thanks to the IPS panel it comes equipped with. Users can expect a wide color gamut that covers 92% of the DCI-P3 spectrum – with good color accuracy right out of the box.
The M27Q isn’t the best as far as peak brightness goes, capped at 350 nits – making it not ideal for bright room gaming. Furthermore, the entry-level DisplayHDR 400 certification doesn’t really provide a true HDR experience.
Overall, however, you can’t argue with the speed this monitor provides. For a 1440p panel, it’s easily one of the best there is – providing you with a smooth gaming experience from start to finish.
LG UltraGear 27GP950-B
LG UltraGear 27GP950-B
Refresh Rate
144Hz
Response time
1ms GTG
Screen size
27″
Resolution
3840 x 2160
- Immersive 4K visuals at up to 144Hz
- Excellent color accuracy
- VESA DisplayHDR 600 rating
- 1ms response time with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
- Pricey
- Xbox Series S needs to upscale to reach 4K
For players that enjoy a 4K screen resolution, the LG UltraGear 27GP950-B offers up a fantastic experience. With its ideal 27″ screen size, image quality really does benefit hugely, especially since you’ll be upscaling on Series S.
The 27GP950-B is a fantastic arrival to the UltraGear line-up, equipped with all the performance-tailored specs you could want for both competitive and casual gameplay. At the heart of this monitor, users will find a 4K screen resolution alongside a 144hz refresh rate and low 1ms response time – the perfect balance of specs for console gamers. It also offers G-Sync compatibility, but more importantly for the Series S, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, great for users that want a monitor for both console and PC gaming.
Looking at responsiveness, the 27GP950-B is a top-tier 4K monitor which aims to eliminate screen tear or ghosting. Whilst the Xbox Series S doesn’t support every game in 4K, it does offer some form of upscaling that can be utilized with this great monitor. It’s also a future-proof option for the next generation of consoles, or the perfect choice if you’ll be using it with your gaming PC as well.
This LG monitor even has a solid HDR 600 rating, which unlocks great potential for HDR content. Combine that with the 98% DCI-P3 color gamut and you get accurate colors, making this monitor a delight to use. It does come at a pretty high price, but we’ve seen the cost plummet during sales events in the past.
Samsung Odyssey G7
Samsung Odyssey G7 (C27G75T)
Refresh Rate
240Hz
Response time
1ms MPRT
Screen size
27″
Resolution
2560 x 1440
- Esports level refresh rate
- Immersive 1000R Curvature
- Extremely accurate colors and stunning picture clarity
- Excellent VA panel contrast ratio
- Build quality could be better
The Samsung G7 is part of the hugely popular Odyssey gaming monitor line-up, released a few years ago and quickly climbed to fan-favourite status. It features all the performance-tailored specs you could want for an immersive gaming experience, including a rapid refresh rate and 1000R curvature. We got to talk all about it in our Samsung Odyssey G7 review.
Starting off with performance, the Odyssey G7 really does seem to tick all the right boxes – equipped with a 1440p screen resolution, fast 240hz refresh rate, and low 1ms GTG response time. The great thing about this monitor, apart from the performance, is how users get to choose between 27 and 32″ sizes. Whilst this might sound like an obvious feature, not many monitors in today’s market offer identical specs at two different sizes – giving you the option to prioritize immersion.
The 1000R curvature is said to match the curve of your eyeball, reducing the overall strain you feel during long gaming sessions. Further to this, the VA panel inside this monitor doesn’t suffer from nearly as much backlight bleed and smearing as you might expect. It performs to an incredibly high standard and is deemed one of the best VA panels in today’s market.
ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ
ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ
Screen size
27”
Refresh rate
144Hz (165Hz OC)
Response time
1ms
Resolution
2560 x 1440
- fast response time
- very low input lag
- 1440p resolution
- can be overclocked to 165Hz
- respectable peak brightness
- respectable reflection handling
- great viewing angles
- great ergonomics
- supports HDR gaming
- weak contrast ratio
- color gamut could be wider
For gamers that prioritize speed, response, and general gameplay, the ASUS TUF VG27AQ should definitely be on your short list of considerations.
The design of this monitor is pretty much what we expect from all ASUS TUF gaming monitors. It offers up a subtle design that is attractive without being flashy or over the top. Like all TUF monitors, it features a boxy design that is incredibly stable and robust.
Design aside, users can expect a 165Hz refresh rate, low 1ms MPRT response time, and 1440p screen resolution – a decent mix of specifications that should see screen artifacts like tearing and ghosting reduced to a minimum. The color accuracy of this monitor is far from ideal, with most game presets offering an oversaturated color profile. That said, the OSD offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to alter the colors with relative ease, which look fantastic with the HDR support.
On a plus, the stand of this monitor provides excellent versatility and functionality. You can easily use this monitor in both landscape and portrait mode thanks to 90 degrees pivot functionality.
ASUS ROG Swift PG42UQ OLED
ASUS ROG Swift PG42UQ OLED
Refresh Rate
138Hz (overclockable)
Response time
0.1ms GTG
Screen size
41.5″ display
Resolution
3840 x 2160
- Large 42″ screen size
- Stunning OLED panel
- 0.1ms response time
- Amazing image quality
- Expensive 4K option; can be overkill for Series S
If you’re really looking for an impressive monitor at a larger scale, then the ASUS ROG Swift PG42UQ OLED could be an option for you. While this does feature a high 4K resolution that you’ll need to upscale to on the Series S, it features a large 42″ screen to rival the best gaming TVs out there, while offering impressive gaming-focused features and an OLED panel. It can be seen as a little overkill for a budget console like the Series S, but will be a mainstay for many years to come if you plan to upgrade to something like the Series X or are eagerly awaiting the next generation of consoles.
We reviewed the PG42UQ and found it to be a joy for gaming. While the 42″ model may be a little big for some desktop setups, it will work wonders in an environment where you can sit back and relax while playing your favorite games. That’s especially the case with the larger 48″ model ASUS offer as well. The OLED panel offers infinite contrast ratio for deep blacks and bright whites, with a wide color gamut to ensure that realistic and accurate colors pop.
There’s no doubt that the image quality on this display is hard to beat. We can compare it with some of the best gaming TVs on the market thanks to its size, but super quick response time and higher refresh rate give it an edge, especially if you’re going to be using this with your PC too. It features two HDMI 2.1 ports for further future-proofing if you later upgrade from the Series S.
ASUS TUF VG279Q
ASUS VG279Q Gaming Monitor
Size
27″
Refresh Rate
144Hz
Response Time
1ms
Panel Type
IPS
Resolution
1920 x 1080
- Versatile stand
- Excellent value for money
- Highly responsive
- Great gaming performance
- Supports AMD FreeSync Technology
- Poor Speaker Quality
Our budget pick comes in the shape of the ASUS VG279Q – a 27-inch monitor that has become a fan-favorite over the years. It provides all the essential features and specifications you need for a decent gaming experience, without breaking the bank too much. Of course, for ASUS to retail this monitor at its current pricing, it must fall short in some departments – with build quality, features, and color accuracy lacking considerably. We reviewed the higher-spec ASUS VG279QM, though as this a much quicker 280Hz refresh rate, we think that it’s a bit overkill for the Series S, so this more budget variant is our pick here.
Let’s look at the positives though. This monitor provides an adequate 144Hz refresh rate that offers smooth gameplay in both competitive and casual scenarios – pairing nicely with adaptive sync technology to reduce all screen tear possibilities. Keeping with response, the VG279Q also offers a quick 1ms MPRT response time, helping to reduce most ghosting and blurring issues. Having said that, we did notice some haloing and light blurring when playing games with fast-moving images.
As we said in the intro, color accuracy isn’t great on this monitor – but that’s to be expected from a monitor of this price point. Ultimately, if you want a budget 144Hz gaming monitor for your Xbox Series S, you can’t go wrong with ASUS’ VG279Q.
One thing we mustn’t forget, however, is that the Xbox Series S doesn’t offer that much support for 4K gaming performance. It is tailored more towards the 1440p panels out there – making gaming monitors a more attractive prospect for when it comes to performance.
How we test & choose the best monitor for Xbox Series S
Physically testing the products we recommend here at WePC is one of the fundamental factors that has helped us secure your trust in recent years. For the best gaming monitors for Xbox Series S article, we spent hours testing each monitor we recommended, using high-end equipment and testing methodology to conclude which are the best for your gaming needs.
We have a comprehensive article and how to test and choose our monitors, explaining many of the testing processes that occur during our selection process. You can check out how we test monitors here.
What to look for when buying the best gaming monitor for Xbox Series S
If you aren’t up to speed with the latest monitor technology, chances are, you’ll struggle to pick a great gaming monitor that suits your Xbox Series S needs. For that reason, we’re going to go over some of the main things to consider when purchasing a monitor for Microsoft’s next-gen consoles.
We’ll also be going over some realistic expectations and what to look out for. So, let’s jump straight into it!
Xbox Series S doesn’t offer 4K gameplay @ 120Hz
The first thing you should be aware of when purchasing a monitor for the Xbox Series S is, unlike the Series X, this console doesn’t support 4K gameplay @ 120Hz. Whilst this is detrimental to picture quality, it does mean you can buy a lower resolution panel and save yourself a bunch of cash in the process. Granted, the Xbox Series S does offer 4K upscaling – however, as upscaling isn’t true 4K, buying a 4K monitor/TV could be wasteful.
The good news however is that it does support up to 120Hz at 1440p, which is the native resolution of the console. Any monitor with at least a 120Hz or higher refresh rate is good to go.
Does HDMI 2.1 support matter?
So, does HDMI 2.1 matter for Xbox Series S gamers? Well, in short, not really. HDMI 2.1 support is hugely important for the Xbox Series X as it supports 120Hz gameplay at 4K screen resolution – only supported by HDMI 2.1. That being said, and as we’ve just covered, the Xbox Series S doesn’t support these specifications. That means an ordinary HDMI 2.0 port will be more than enough for Xbox Series S players.
Xbox Series S targets 1440p market
As Microsoft states, the Xbox Series S was designed to target the 1440p market – offering up good performance at lower resolutions. Whilst this may be a dampener on your dreams, it shouldn’t be, as smaller monitors with 1440p screen resolutions often offer similar levels of picture clarity to larger 4K alternatives.
Furthermore, 1440p monitors are much cheaper than 4K alternatives – allowing you spend a little less whilst getting a similar gaming experience.
Should you buy a monitor for your Xbox Series S?
A monitor is a great choice if you take your gaming seriously. It will provide you with a much more fluid gaming experience, especially if it comes equipped with high-end features such as overdrive and a high refresh rate. Even though the Xbox Series S doesn’t have native support for 4K, the 1440p resolution featured on many excellent monitors is a good sweetspot. Since it’s a less common resolution for TVs, so you may opt for a gaming monitor instead. Monitors usually benefit from better height adjustment, tilt, or swivel.
If you’re using a 4K TV for the Series S, this would mean upscaling would take place to compensate for the higher resolution. Though upscaling tech is impressive, it can result in a loss in quality compared to a native resolution. You can always stick with a 1080p full HD monitor for the Xbox Series S too, as many games will perform better on a lower resolution like this, especially if you want to focus on higher frame rates rather than maximum fidelity.
Many gaming monitors have a variable refresh rate (VRR), which will allow your refresh rate to adjust without worrying about screen tearing – especially if you can make the most of a 120Hz (at least) refresh rate monitor. Unfortunately, the Xbox Series S is not G-Sync compatible as it doesn’t haven’t an Nvidia GPU. However, the AMD hardware means you can look out for support from FreeSync Premium instead due to the AMD compatibility.
Gaming monitor vs gaming TV for Xbox Series S
One of the big questions we get asked around here is, gaming monitor or gaming TV – which one is better for my next-gen console? Well, that all comes down to what you prioritize.
Let’s start with some of the positives for gaming TVs – or TVs in general. Size is obviously is a huge factor – gaming TVs offer bigger screens that provide greater levels of immersion when playing AAA titles. Furthermore, they often come equipped with 4K screen resolutions, great colors, and are versatile in that you get a TV as well as a console display. That being said, they are still much slower than gaming monitors, falling victim to screen artifacts like blurring, smearing, ghosting, and tearing.
FAQs
Is VRR important for Xbox Series S players?
If you’re looking for a tear-free visual experience, then the answer is yes – absolutely.
VRR helps sync your monitor’s refresh rate to the output of your games console – meaning the console won’t be feeding the monitor more frames than it can handle.
Do you need HDMI 2.1 for 120Hz on Xbox Series S?
No, this is not necessary, HDMI 2.0 will do. For PC gamers, getting a 120Hz output is fairly light work – covered nicely by both DisplayPort and HDMI 2.1. The same can actually be said for console players too, as HDMI 2.0 can effectively reach 1080p @ 240Hz and 1440p @ 144Hz.
To achieve 4K 120Hz gameplay through a next-gen console, you will indeed need an HDMI 2.1 TV or monitor, but this is only really relevant for the flagship Series X.
Final word
So, there you have it, our comprehensive guide to the best gaming monitors for Xbox Series S consoles in 2024. Hopefully, this guide has made choosing a new gaming monitor for Microsoft’s current-gen console a little easier – taking away most of the stigmas that comes attached with a new display purchase.
We’ve chosen the GIGABYTE M27Q as the best gaming monitor for Xbox Series S, offering up a good combination of specs that helps create immersion for both casual and competitive gaming. It is capable of displaying the Series S at its native 1440p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate target.
