CES 2023 is a very, very good year for PC monitors. Both OLED and Mini-LED—the windows of the future– are on the verge of mainstream adoption, and as a result, each monitor manufacturer has released a salvo of midrange and high-end options that utilize these new display technologies. In fact, I would say the monitor space is now even more exciting than TVs.
From super ultrawide form factors to folding panels, the monitors at CES 2023 are a wild bunch. Here are the 10 best monitors we’ve come across.
Further reading: Powerful laptops are big and in charge at CES 2023
LG Ultragear 27GR95QE-B
Matt Smith/IDG
The LG Ultragear 27GR95QE-B was technically released before CES 2023, but it’s clearly the most important monitor at the show. Why? Because it’s the first monitor in LG’s new 27-inch, 1440p, 240Hz OLED panel.
This panel, also found in several other monitors on this list, will have incredibly broad appeal. 1440p resolution is high enough to look crisp, but won’t meltyourGPU the moment you dare to throw Cyberpunk 2077. The panel’s refresh rate is great for gaming and feels ultra-responsive on the Windows desktop.
But the most important specification? The price. At $999.99, the LG Ultragear 27GR95QE-B isn’t exactly affordable…but it’s a lot closer than OLED monitors of the past. This is an OLED monitor that you can buy without being ashamed to admit how much you spent on it. Most likely.
Acer Predator X27U
Matt Smith/IDG
Acer’s entry into the consumer OLED arena is the Predator X27U. It’s a 27-inch, 1440, 240Hz OLED monitor that uses the same panel found in the LG Ultragear 27GR95QE-B, and as a result, it looks just as gorgeous. The Predator X27U also quotes a maximum brightness of 1000 nits and a color gamut covering 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
This monitor even offers a feature that is all too rare among gaming monitors: USB-C. It has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode and up to 90 watts of power. This adds versatility and is especially important for content creators and professionals who see the Predator X27U as a budget alternative to expensive “pro” OLED monitors.
The Acer Predator X27U will hit retailers in the second quarter of 2023 at $1,099.99.
Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM
Asus
Asus is often among the quickest to adopt new monitor technology, and CES 2023 is no exception. The ROG Swift PG27AQDM is one of many monitors to pack LG’s new 27-inch 1440p OLED panel. It promises incredible contrast, a peak brightness of 1000 nits, and a color gamut that covers 99% of DCI-P3. There is also support for enhanced refresh rates up to 240Hz.
But it’s the design, not the display panel, that sets the ROG Swift PG27AQDM apart from its competitors. Its aggressive styling and top-notch build quality promise a premium experience worthy of the monitor’s high-end price. Asus also makes vague claims that its “custom heat sink” will provide superior thermal performance. I’ll be eager to see if that translates to an improvement in image quality.
Speaking of which, Asus has yet to reveal pricing for the PG27AQDM. Given that LG’s OLED monitor retails for $999.99, however, it’s likely to land above $1,000.
Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP
Asus
While most high-end monitors barely pass 240Hz, the esports-oriented 24-inch ROG Swift Pro PG248QP 1080p IPS display from Asus can hits a blistering 540Hz. This incredible speed puts a new image on the screen for everyone 1.85 milliseconds. Provided you’re playing a game capable of reaching 540fps, of course. The monitor also supports Nvidia G-Sync and Nvidia Reflex Analyzer to ensure smooth frame rate and the lowest possible latency.
Further reading: How Nvidia Reflex can make you a better esports player
The ROG Swift Pro PG248QP also surprises with an adjustable stand that has two retractable “claws”. They can be retracted to take up less space on your desk. According to Asus, this feature targets esports gamers who like to play as close to the monitor as possible, but it could be useful for anyone with a small desk.
Competitive PC gamers can expect to see this monitor arrive in Q2 2023. Asus has not announced pricing.
LG flexible OLED
Matt Smith/IDG
Corsair 45 inch Flexible Xenon Flex offers the best of both flat and curved screens, but it has a downside: you have to bend it yourself. Manually. Like, with your muscles. LG’s OLED Flex takes a different approach, using a built-in motor to do the flexing for you. The monitor can go from curved to flat, or in an intermediate position, by simply pressing the supplied remote control.
The LG OLED Flex is not an ultrawide monitor, which makes it less immersive than the LG OLED Flex these stretched screen alternatives, but it offers 4K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It also has several special screen-constrained modes that emulate a 32-inch or 27-inch screen, adding versatility for situations where the large display size is not desired. Personally, I find first-person shooters a bit harmful on large screens, so I’d probably use those modes for Halo and to watch.
Pricing and availability for the United States were not disclosed.
Lenovo ThinkVision P27-pz30 and P32-pz30
Lenovo
Lenovo’s professional-grade ThinkVision monitors are often unexciting, but the ThinkVision P27-pz30 and P32-pz30 are an obvious exception. These 4K IPS monitors incorporate a Mini-LED backlight with 1,152 dimming zones. This is the best shelf for modern Mini-LED monitors (aside from Samsung’s Odyssey range), delivering excellent contrast and extremely bright highlights in HDR content. Both monitors are VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certified and claim a peak brightness of 1,200 nits.
These monitors also support USB-C connections and provide up to 140 watts of USB-C power delivery, which is enough to handle most laptops that support USB-C charging and adds a little protection for the future (most laptops today don’t support USB-C charging over 100 watts, but it’s likely to become popular over the next few years).
Lenovo says the 32-inch model will be priced at $1,599 (MSRP for the 27-inch model has not been announced). That’s a big drop in price compared to previous Mini-LED monitors with 1,152 dimming zones. The only problem? It won’t be available until August.
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 49 inch
Matt Smith/IDG
Samsung’s super-ultrawide 49-inch flagship returns at CES 2023 with a big new upgrade: a QD-OLED panel. The new Odyssey OLED G9 promises all the benefits of other OLED monitors, including near-infinite contrast ratio, up to 240Hz refresh rate, low pixel response times and wide color gamut. The old Odyssey Neo G9, which had Mini-LED backlighting, was already a stunner, so it’ll be interesting to see how the new OLED model compares.
The Odyssey OLED G9 also adds Samsung’s Smart Hub functionality, including support for streaming apps, such as Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu, as well as Samsung Gaming Hub, which supports Xbox cloud gaming and Nvidia GeForce now. Hopefully, Nvidia will add soon Support for ultrawide displays to GeForce Now: not enough to make the most of the super-ultrawide format of the Odyssey OLED G9, but a step in the right direction.
Prices and availability unfortunately remain secret.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 (G95NC)
Matt Smith/IDG
Does a 49-inch super-ultrawide still feel a bit small? Well, Samsung has what you need: the new Odyssey Neo G9, a 57-inch monster which is four and a half feet wide. It’s big, it’s curved, and it’s the ultimate in monitor immersion.
Size aside, the 2023 Odyssey Neo G9 also impresses with its 7,620 x 2,160 “dual 4K” resolution. It features Mini-LED backlighting and is VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certified, meaning that it can reach a maximum brightness of 1000 nits. Despite its resolution, the monitor will still deliver a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz. The monitor’s extreme resolution and refresh rate require a ton of video bandwidth, so it includes support for the latest DisplayPort 2.1 standard.
Again, price and availability remains to be seen, but it’s sure to be very, very expensive.
Acer Predator X45
Matt Smith/IDG
The Acer Predator X45 is the company’s take on LG’s new 45-inch OLED panel, which is also found in the Corsair Xeneon Flex and LG Ultragear 45GR95QE-B. Indeed, the Predator and Ultragear monitors are extremely similar. As well as sharing the same LG OLED panel, with a 3440 x 1440 resolution and 240Hz max refresh, they also have an identical (and aggressive) 800R curvature. They’re big, beautiful displays only a few inches smaller than Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G9.
For me, however, the Predator X45 has a little extra that sets it apart. USB-C. The Predator X45, like the Predator X27U, has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode and up to 90 watts of USB power delivery. This provides increased versatility and the ability for a single port connection with modern laptops.
The Acer Predator X45 will arrive in the second quarter of 2023 at $1,699.
MSI MEG342
MSI
The MSI MEG 342 is an alternative version of the popular Alienware AW3423DW ultrawide who dominates PC World list of the best gaming monitors. It’s a 34-inch ultrawide with a QD-OLED panel, 3,440 x 1,440 resolution and up to 175Hz refresh rate. Although I didn’t get the chance From seeing this one first-hand, I expect MSI’s version to offer image quality to rival Alienware’s top-tier ultrawide.
Of course, you might be wondering: why buy the MSI instead? In truth, they are very similar and the winner can often come down to whoever ends up selling for the lowest price. Still, MSI adds an RGB light synchronization feature called Glow Sync. The Alienware also includes RGB lighting, but it’s more discreet.
Pricing and availability of the MSI MEG 342 are not announced.
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