Gaming monitor brands ranked

ASUS ROG is the best gaming monitor brand in the UK for 2026, and the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMES at £339.00 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026) is the pick behind that ranking. MSI, Alienware, LG UltraGear and Samsung Odyssey follow on OLED, and AOC, Gigabyte and BenQ ZOWIE lead on price and esports. These are the best gaming monitors of 2026 by brand, with one pick each; the full buying method is in How to choose a gaming monitor.

What are the best gaming monitors tips for choosing a brand?

Choose on the panel and the warranty first and the badge second. Four checks separate brands:

• Burn-in cover: an OLED monitor needs a written burn-in warranty. ASUS, MSI, Dell and Gigabyte state 3 years; LG states 2 years. See Do OLED monitors burn in?.
• Refresh rate you can use: consoles cap at 120 Hz, so 240 Hz and above pay off on a gaming PC only. See What refresh rate do I need for gaming?.
• Resolution: 1440p at 27 inches is the default for 2026. 1080p vs 1440p covers when 1080p still wins.
• Pixel policy:a monitor with one bright pixel is a keep-or-return decision inside the retailer window, so check the return terms before the brand's marketing.

1. ASUS ROG - best overall gaming monitor brand

The ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMES is the cheapest 240 Hz OLED in this ranking, at £339.00. ASUS words its cover as "3 years (including panel burn-in)", which works out at £113.00 per year of burn-in cover. It suits mixed-use players who want an OLED without paying the flagship premium.

2. MSI - 1,000-nit peak at a similar price

The MSI MAG 273QP QD-OLED X24 costs £349.00, £10.00 more than the ASUS pick, and lists a 1,000-nit peak against 400 nits. MSI's OLED Care 2.0 adds pixel shift, static-element dimming and a Panel Protect refresh that MSI has moved to a 24-hour reminder. It suits players who game in a bright room or care about HDR.

3. Alienware - strongest UK support terms

The Alienware AW2725D costs £400.00 and runs at 280 Hz, the highest refresh rate among the OLED picks other than the Gigabyte flagship. Dell's UK pixel guidelines list Alienware AW monitors under Premium Panel Exchange, which replaces a monitor for a single bright pixel or bright subpixel for the whole warranty. It is the brand to choose for after-sales confidence, at £133.33 per year of burn-in cover.

4. LG UltraGear - WOLED with a 2-year burn-in warranty

The LG UltraGear OLED 27GX704A costs £389.00 and is the WOLED option in this ranking, with the highest peak brightness listed by any brand here. LG states a 2-year burn-in warranty, one year shorter than ASUS, MSI and Dell, which puts burn-in cover at £194.50 per year. LG also says burn-in from its brightness-boost settings may not be covered. It suits buyers who prefer the WOLED panel's text rendering and peak brightness.

5. Samsung Odyssey - cheapest QD-OLED

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G5 LS27FG502SUXXU is the cheapest QD-OLED here at £318.00, £21.00 under the ASUS pick. The trade is a 180 Hz ceiling, 144 Hz over HDMI and no stated burn-in term in years. Samsung says burn-in at normal usage is covered and excludes commercial use, abuse and misuse. It suits buyers who want an OLED for the lowest outlay.

6. AOC - best IPS value

The AOC Q27G42ZE costs £197.00 for 260 Hz at 1440p, 76p per hertz of refresh rate, and has no burn-in question to ask. It suits players who want speed on a budget; the field is in Best budget gaming monitor UK 2026.

7. Gigabyte - cheapest 1440p pick

The Gigabyte G27Q2 costs £149.00, the cheapest 1440p monitor in the ranking and 75p per hertz. Gigabyte's OLED line is the AORUS FO27Q5P, a 500 Hz QD-OLED at £695.00 with 3 years including panel burn-in. It suits first-time 1440p buyers.

8. BenQ ZOWIE - esports specialist

The BenQ ZOWIE XL2540X+ costs £289.99 for a 24.1-inch 1080p panel, £1.04 per hertz. It gives up resolution and contrast for the tournament-standard format and a stand built for LAN events, so it suits competitive Counter-Strike and Valorant players.

What are the UK warranty and dead pixel policies by brand?

Dell is the only brand here whose UK page promises a replacement for one bright pixel. Every buyer also holds statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which give a 30-day short-term right to reject faulty goods and a repair or replacement after that.

Other makers publish pixel limits by ISO 9241-307 class on their support pages, and the limits differ by model. Buyers should read the page for the exact model and keep Amazon UK's return window in mind for a first-week fault.

How do the eight gaming monitor brands compare on specs?

Seven of the eight picks are 1440p panels at 180 Hz or more, and the ASUS ROG and MSI picks match on size, resolution and refresh rate. Brightness is the typical figure from each maker's spec.

What do the best gaming monitor brands cost per hertz?

IPS monitors cost 75p to 76p per hertz of refresh rate and OLED monitors £1.41 to £1.77, so the OLED premium over the cheapest pick runs from £169.00 to £251.00. The table divides each Amazon UK price by the maker's refresh rate.

The ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMES has the lowest OLED cost per hertz at £1.41, and the Alienware AW2725D is next at £1.43 because its 280 Hz offsets the higher price. The Samsung is cheapest in pounds among the QD-OLED picks but dearest per hertz at £1.77, because of its 180 Hz ceiling.

Burn-in cover adds a second measure. Dividing the price by the years of stated burn-in cover gives the cost per covered year:

What the extra money buys: £48.00 takes the Gigabyte G27Q2 to the AOC Q27G42ZE and adds 60 Hz. A further £142.00 takes the AOC to the ASUS pick and swaps IPS for a 0.03 ms QD-OLED with 3 years of burn-in cover. The full OLED case is in Is an OLED monitor worth it for gaming?

Who should skip each brand?

• OLED brands (ASUS, MSI, Alienware, LG, Samsung): skip them for eight hours a day of static office work. A matte IPS such as the Gigabyte G27Q2 carries no burn-in risk.
• Samsung: buyers who want a stated burn-in term in years should choose ASUS, MSI or Dell.
• BenQ ZOWIE: buyers who play single-player games and watch films should skip the 1080p TN panel.
• Gigabyte and AOC: buyers who want OLED contrast should step up to an OLED above, or to the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q5P at £695.00 for 500 Hz.

The ranked monitor field is in Best gaming monitor for PC 2026 and the OLED shortlist in Best OLED gaming monitor UK 2026. Sync badges are explained in What is AMD FreeSync?

Verdict

ASUS ROG is the best gaming monitor brand for UK buyers in 2026: the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMES at £339.00 is the cheapest 240 Hz OLED in this ranking, and it carries a 3-year warranty that includes panel burn-in. The Alienware AW2725D at £400.00 wins on support terms, and the AOC Q27G42ZE at £197.00 wins on IPS value. Buyers still deciding on panel type or size should read How to choose a gaming monitor.