In the fast-paced world of gaming, a 165Hz monitor can give you the edge you need without blowing a hole in your wallet. Going from a 60Hz to a 165Hz display is a night and day difference, making everything feel smooth and responsive, whether playing the latest shooter or tackling intense productivity tasks.
Best 165Hz Monitor Overall: LG 27GP850-B
A 165Hz monitor is worthless if your gaming rig can’t consistently push 165 frames per second (FPS). This 27-inch 1440p IPS display offers the optimal screen size and resolution for a 165Hz gaming monitor. It allows you to easily hit the maximum refresh rates with a mid-range PC build without sacrificing image quality, making it the best option for most people.
The 27GP850-B’s gaming performance is up there with the best. It boasts a lightning-fast 1ms pixel response time and low input lag, on top of the 165Hz refresh rate, which makes everything feel fast and responsive. But what really sets this monitor apart is that it can be overclocked to 180Hz and supports both FreeSync and G-SYNC, making it the fastest, smoothest 165Hz monitor you can get.
The Nano IPS panel also produces gorgeous colors with wide viewing angles, which are handy if you want to share the display with a friend. The 27-inch 1440p resolution also delivers sharp images and text.
Best Overall
LG 27GP850-B
$297 $380 Save $83
The LG 27GP850-B is a 1440p 165Hz monitor that can be further overclocked to 180Hz for smoother gameplay. It strikes a nice balance between great performance and solid visuals without being too heavy on your graphics cards, unlike 4K alternatives.
- Overclockable to 180Hz
- Excellent motion clarity
- Excellent display
- Officially certified G-SYNC and FreeSync monitor
The ASUS VG248QG is a perfect option if you want an inexpensive 165Hz gaming monitor for competitive gaming. It combines the higher refresh rate with an impressive 0.5ms response time and a powerful backlight strobing feature to eliminate persistent blur, resulting in one of the clearest monitors in motion you can get without breaking the bank.
The VG248QG also has native support for FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility, so you can expect a smooth and tear-free gaming experience, whether using an AMD or NVIDIA graphics card. In addition, you can tap into the ASUS GamePlus and GameVisual features for improved visibility and accuracy to get that extra advantage in fast-paced games.
There’s a compromise to keep the price low, though. It uses a TN panel with noticeably poor viewing angles and washed-out colors compared to an IPS or VA panel. However, that will only be a dealbreaker if you also want to use the monitor for productivity tasks—it performs exceptionally well for gaming.
Best Value
ASUS VG248QG Gaming Monitor
The ASUS VG248QG is an affordable 165Hz gaming monitor with a class-leading 0.5ms response time, making it ideal for competitive gaming. It packs many advanced gaming features, including backlight strobing and G-SYNC, but its TN panel doesn’t have the best viewing angles.
- Outstanding motion handling
- Supports FreeSync and G-SYNC
- Ergonomic design
- Rich connectivity
The Odyssey Neo G7 from Samsung may come at a higher price, but it delivers stunning visuals and an immersive gaming experience unmatched by other 165Hz gaming monitors. Its biggest highlight is the bright and vibrant mini-LED display with 1,196 dimming zones and up to 2,000 nits of brightness that produces deeper blacks and much brighter highlights, making it perfect for HDR gaming. Non-HDR games also look absolutely stunning, thanks to the improved contrast and vibrant colors.
It also supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to maintain 4K 120Hz compatibility with the PS5 and Xbox Series X. A fast 1ms response time and native support for Freesync Premium Pro ensure a smooth HDR gaming experience with little blur around fast-moving objects for improved clarity.
Best 4K
Samsung Odyssey Neo G7
$654 $1100 Save $446
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 is a high-end 4K gaming monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, ideal for gaming PCs and next-gen consoles. Its mini-LED display with 1,196 local dimming zones significantly improves contrast and color, providing an immersive and captivating viewing experience in games and movies.
- Brilliant contrast and HDR experience
- Quick response time
- AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support
- HDMI 2.1 ports for PS5 and Xbox Series X
Dell’s Alienware AW3423DWF is one of the best ultrawide gaming monitors available right now. It combines a 165Hz refresh rate with QD-OLED technology to deliver a fast and immersive experience. This monitor undercuts Dell’s own Alienware AW3423DW and the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 while offering all the benefits of the enhanced QD-OLED panel, like improved brightness, a true HDR picture, oversaturated colors, and an infinite contrast ratio that results in deep, inky black.
Modern HDR-capable games look gorgeous here. The fast refresh rate and nearly instantaneous response time deliver a silky smooth gaming experience with excellent motion clarity, which is perfect for highly intense FPS games.
While the panel is only certified FreeSync Premium Pro, VRR works on both AMD and NVIDIA GPUs, so you don’t have to worry about screen tearing or choppy frames. In addition, the 1800R curvature and 3440×1440 resolution combine to add more immersion and detail to games and movies.
Best Ultrawide
Alienware AW3423DWF Gaming Monitor
Between its 34-inch curved screen, vivid QD-OLED panel, enhanced brightness, solid Adaptive Sync support, and near-instant response times, Dell’s Alienware AW3423DWF delivers one of the most immersive and responsive gaming experiences, making it the best 165Hz ultrawide monitor you can buy right now.
- Brilliant OLED display
- Stunning SDR and HDR images
- Ultra-quick response time
- FreeSync and G-SYNC Compatible
For less than half the price of the Alienware AW3423DWF, you can get the Samsung Odyssey G55T, an excellent entry-level ultrawide monitor for work and gaming. It’s a solid alternative if you want something affordable without sacrificing gaming performance or picture quality. While it can’t match the contrast and black levels of an OLED display, this monitor is still miles better than some premium IPS options, so you’re still in for an immersive and stunning viewing experience without breaking the bank.
Designed for gaming first, the Odyssey G55T boasts a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, FreeSync Premium VRR, and plenty of in-game enhancements to give you an advantage in competitive games with smooth transitions and excellent clarity in fast-paced scenes. In addition, the 3440×1440 resolution produces sharp and detailed images, which, combined with the 1000R curve and decent HDR performance, help breathe life into your games and movies.
Best Budget Ultrawide
Samsung Odyssey G55T
$369 $550 Save $181
The Samsung Odyssey G55T has many advantages, including a 165Hz refresh rate, a 1ms response time, FreeSync Premium, and a sharp, vibrant display packed into a relatively affordable 34-inch curved panel.
- Sharp and immersive display
- Good response time performance
- FreeSync support
FAQ
Q: What does Hz stand for?
In computer monitors, Hz (Hertz) refers to the refresh rate. It measures how many times per second the monitor updates the screen with a new image. Therefore, a 165Hz monitor can display 165 images every second.
Q: Why are refresh rates important for gaming?
A higher refresh rate translates to smoother visuals with less stuttering or tearing, especially in fast-paced games. Compared to 60Hz monitors, the faster image updates on a 165Hz monitor allow gamers to see and react to in-game actions quicker, offering a competitive edge.
Q: Why a 165Hz monitor?
A 165Hz monitor strikes a good balance between competitive gaming and affordability. It offers smoother gameplay than 60Hz displays while remaining more affordable than higher refresh rate options like 240Hz monitors. Additionally, unlike 240Hz monitors, 165Hz models put less strain on the graphics card, so gamers don’t need a super expensive PC to take advantage of the higher refresh rate.
Q: Can a 165Hz monitor run 200 fps (frames per second)?
Yes, a 165Hz monitor can run games at 200 fps (frames per second), but the monitor can only display a maximum of 165 frames per second. While running games at 200fps on a 165Hz monitor is possible, it can lead to screen tearing, which can be visually distracting.
