The State of Gaming Monitors in 2025
If you are putting together a gaming setup in 2025, your monitor might actually be the best value part of your build. While graphics cards, RAM and SSDs keep creeping up in price, gaming displays have been quietly getting better, faster and cheaper.
This year has been especially strong for PC gamers who want high refresh rates and sharp resolutions without spending a fortune. From 4K powerhouses to budget friendly 1440p panels, there are now genuinely exciting options at almost every price point.
PC Gamer’s Hardware Awards 2025 highlight three standout monitors that deserve a place on your shortlist. Whether you care most about esports level speed, cinematic image quality or pure value for money, one of these will likely fit your rig.
Philips Evnia 27M2N3800A: Affordable 4K With Dual Resolution Magic
The Philips Evnia 27M2N3800A is arguably one of the best priced 4K gaming monitors around right now. It packs a 27 inch IPS panel with a 4K resolution and a 160 Hz refresh rate, which is already impressive. But the real trick is its dual resolution mode.
You can quickly switch between:
- 4K at 160 Hz for sharp visuals and detailed single player games
- 1080p at 320 Hz for ultra fast competitive shooters
This flexibility makes the Evnia a smart choice for a wide range of PC builds. If your GPU struggles with 4K in some titles, you can flip to 1080p and still enjoy a super high refresh rate. For newer games or fast paced multiplayer, that 320 Hz mode is a big advantage.
The monitor also features a very quick 0.5 ms response time, which helps keep motion blur and ghosting to a minimum. For the price, it punches above its weight compared with many other 4K screens.
Of course there are some trade offs. The HDR performance is limited, so if you are chasing top tier HDR you will want to look elsewhere. The chassis feels a bit cheap compared to premium models, and there is no USB Type C port so you cannot use it as a connectivity hub for your desk.
Another thing to keep in mind is the mismatch between how affordable good 4K monitors have become and how expensive it still is to build a rig that can truly push high frame rates at 4K. The Evnia shows how far display prices have dropped, but you will still need serious GPU power to fully exploit it at native resolution.
Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD OLED: Luxury Speed And Image Quality
Alienware and budget are not words you normally pair together, but the Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD OLED actually undercuts many of its competitors while still delivering very high end performance.
This 27 inch QD OLED panel offers a stunning combination of deep blacks, vibrant colors and strong HDR performance. It runs at 240 Hz with a quoted 0.03 ms response time which puts it firmly in the competitive gaming tier for speed.
Key highlights include:
- 4th generation QD OLED technology for rich contrast and color
- 240 Hz refresh rate for smooth high FPS gameplay
- Extremely fast response for minimal blur and smearing
There are a couple of limitations. Full screen brightness sits around 250 nits which is fine for many rooms but not incredible if you play in a very bright environment. At 27 inches, some players also question whether 4K is necessary at this size, since the higher DPI is not always as noticeable as on a larger panel.
Still, if you want a monitor that blends esports friendly speed with gorgeous HDR visuals, this Alienware is a serious contender. For gamers who play a mix of competitive shooters and cinematic single player titles, it hits a very sweet spot.
KTC H27T22C 3: Killer Value 1440p For Budget Conscious Gamers
Not everyone needs 4K or OLED. If you want a responsive and good looking display that does not destroy your budget, the KTC H27T22C 3 is one of the most interesting options this year.
This 27 inch 1440p IPS monitor is priced close to many 1080p models, yet it delivers a sharper resolution and a seriously quick 210 Hz refresh rate. Response time is rated at around 1 ms which is perfectly acceptable for fast games.
There is one important detail when shopping for this model. You need to make sure you get the version with the 3 at the end of the name. Other variants lose both brightness and refresh rate, so the exact model number really matters here.
Out of the box the KTC impressed reviewers with:
- Solid brightness levels for most setups
- Strong viewing angles
- Accurate and pleasing colors without calibration
To hit such an aggressive price, KTC does cut a few corners. HDR support is limited to DisplayHDR 400, which is fairly basic. There are no USB ports, which is common on more affordable monitors, and the stand only offers tilt adjustment which can make ergonomic positioning tricky without a separate arm.
What makes this monitor stand out is that it avoids the usual pitfalls of cheap displays. You are not fighting bad color, poor contrast or weird artifacts. Instead you get a responsive, sharp 1440p panel that competes with or even beats many 1080p options in the same price range. For a lot of PC gamers, this is the most sensible upgrade path.
Which Monitor Should You Pick?
These three nominees cover very different use cases:
- Pick the Philips Evnia 27M2N3800A if you want an affordable 4K screen with the flexibility to drop to 1080p at a massive 320 Hz.
- Pick the Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD OLED if you want a premium experience with amazing HDR visuals and esports ready responsiveness.
- Pick the KTC H27T22C 3 if you want the best bang for your buck and a fast 1440p monitor that outclasses many 1080p budget panels.
All three prove that 2025 is a fantastic year to upgrade your display. Even if you are waiting on your next GPU, a better monitor can transform how your games look and feel right now. PC Gamer will announce the final winner on New Year’s Eve, but for PC players these are already some of the easiest recommendations of the year.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-monitors/pc-gamer-hardware-awards-the-best-gaming-monitor-of-2025/
