Best 360Hz Gaming Monitors

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Though for casual gaming a 144Hz monitor is great, when you want to get competitive, it is essential for your display to have as many frames per second as possible. For those situations, opting for a 360Hz gaming monitor is a greater choice. Monitors with a 360Hz refresh rate will allow for extremely smooth gameplay.

More technically, a higher 360Hz refresh rate monitor means there’s less time between each frame displayed. As a result, the action appears on the screen faster giving your a slight advantage over the competition. To help you pick the right one, below we have reviewed the best 360Hz gaming monitors.

These extremely fast monitors support Nvidia’s 360Hz G-Sync technology. This allows for the lowest latency, no screen tearing, practically no ghosting, and smoother gameplay motion for faster reaction times and staying on target. Simply put, these 360Hz monitors are the best esports monitors you can buy.

Best 360Hz Gaming Monitors

1. ASUS ROG Swift PG259QN

Specifications

Size: 24.5” | Panel: Fast IPS | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Refresh Rate: 360Hz | Response Time: 1ms (GTG)

You’ve probably come across some of ASUS’s gaming monitors before because they tend to come with advanced features, oftentimes industry-leading. That’s the case with the ROG Swift PG259QN, which is a 360Hz monitor that will bring your game to a whole different level. And while such fast refresh rates have usually required some kind of compromise, that’s not the case with the PG259QN, because ASUS didn’t cut any corners.

The first thing you should know is that this is a 24.5” panel with a resolution of 1920×1080. Ask any gamer, and they’ll tell you that this is the sweet spot for competitive gaming. You get both a decent size display and a good resolution to keep things sharp in-game, which is right where you want to be.

The common compromise with fast monitors used to be the panel, but that’s not the case. ASUS has opted for an IPS panel, which gets you truly great colors and viewing angles. If you’re the kind of person that enjoys good visuals and not just the highest refresh rate possible, this will make a massive difference.

Speaking of that refresh rate, we’re talking about 360Hz. With most gamers sticking to around 144Hz, this is a truly massive jump. You have a new frame rendered every 2.78 milliseconds, which is impressive, to say the least. The response time is at 1ms, grey to grey, which is as good as you need it to be.  

On the outside, you have a space-saving stand with integrated cable management, as well as some slim bezels. There’s both a DisplayPort v1.4 port and an HDMI port, as well as a USB 3.0 port and a headphone jack. This is a really versatile monitor and one that many gamers will love more than they think.

2. Alienware AW2521H

Specifications

Size: 24.5” | Panel: IPS | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Refresh Rate: 360Hz | Response Time: 1ms (GTG)

Dell, and especially their gaming brand, Alienware, have always been at the forefront when it comes to gaming monitors. They tend to be one of the first brands out there to come out with the highest-end monitors possible, so we aren’t surprised the AW2521H is one of the first 360Hz monitors to hit the market.

And it’s not just the fact that it’s among the first, it’s actually a great monitor even without that fact. You’re looking at a 24.5” diagonal and a 1080p resolution, which is pretty much the standard for competitive gaming. The monitor is just the right size, and you won’t have to sit too far from it to see everything. To further sweeten the pot, Alienware has made this with an IPS panel. If you’ve ever read about monitors, you’ll know that IPS is where you want to be – the best viewing angles, excellent color reproduction, and an all-around great visual experience.

While most IPS panels tend to compromise, and you won’t get fast refresh rates and quick response time, that’s not the case here. Not only did Alienware succeed in getting a 360Hz refresh rate, but they also have a 1ms response time, which is pretty much where you want to be for gaming.

On the outside, you’ve got a monitor that just screams Alienware. Slim bezels, futuristic design, lights on the back, and an adjustable stand that lets you set the monitor just right have you covered. There’s also the fact that this is a monitor that’s made together with Nvidia, which speaks volumes. Overall, the AW2521H is a great choice for a slim, modern 360Hz monitor.

3. Acer Predator X25

Specifications

Size: 24.5” | Panel: IPS | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Refresh Rate: 360Hz | Response Time: 1ms (GTG)

Acer has some really great monitors as part of their Predator series, but if you want the best possible gaming experience for competitive titles, it’s the Predator X25 you want to be looking at. It’s a monitor that gets you a combination of a great panel and size, and excellent performance, which is just where you want to be for high-level competitive gaming.

As the name may suggest, this is a 24.5” display, and it comes with a resolution of 1920×1080. This isn’t anything to write home about, because this size and resolution is pretty much standard when it comes to gaming. What is pretty great is the refresh rate – 360Hz means a new frame every 2.78 seconds, and if your reaction times are on point, you’ll love it. It gets you smooth gameplay and with a 1ms response time, the monitor will display the new frames pretty much instantly.

With monitors like this, you often have to compromise in terms of image quality and viewing angles, but that’s not the case here. Acer didn’t cut any corners here, which is why you’re looking at an IPS panel with excellent viewing angles and overall color reproduction.

A nice addition is the inclusion of Nvidia’s G-Sync because not a lot of PCs can hit 360Hz in all titles. If yours is one of those that might struggle with this, you’ll love G-Sync, because you have no tearing and no artifacts – the monitor syncs its refresh rate to your GPU’s frame rate, and you have an issue-free gaming experience.

Add to this the modern design on the outside, and the slim bezels, and there are plenty of reasons why this should be the monitor you go for. Oh, and the price is rather reasonable, too, especially when you factor in everything you’re getting.

4. MSI OCULUX NXG253R

Specifications

Size: 24.5” | Panel: Rapid IPS | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Refresh Rate: 360Hz | Response Time: 1ms (GTG)

MSI might not be the first to market with a 360Hz monitor, because there are a few options there already. However, the goal with the OCULUX NXG253R isn’t to be first but to offer the most, at a reasonable price. And oh boy do they succeed – the OCULUX performs admirably, and is more than you’d expect.

On the outside, you have a 24.5” diagonal and rather subtle design. Nothing screams expensive or premium – it’s a simple stand, a simple panel with minimal bezels, and plenty of adjustability. You get MSI’s Mystic Light on the back, too, which adds an interesting touch.

But it’s the internals that we care about, and MSI has you more than covered. The resolution is 1920×1080, which is more or less standard for a gaming monitor like this. However, the refresh rate is incredibly fast at 360Hz, and paired with a 1ms response time, the entire experience is incredibly smooth.  

And where you’d expect a compromise, the panel, there isn’t one. It’s a Rapid IPS panel, which means that you get the best possible viewing angles and color reproduction. There’s absolutely nothing to complain about.

MSI has included Nvidia’s G-Sync module, which eliminates screen tearing or any artifacts, and makes the entire experience even better. Since not a lot of builds can actually get to 360 frames per second, this is crucial. Nvidia’s Reflex Latency Analyzer also makes an appearance, which measures system latency and helps you set things up for optimal gaming performance.

As we mentioned at the start, MSI has decided to be a bit more conservative with the design to keep the price down, but that’s not something we mind at all. This will very likely be the go-to in terms of value, especially with performance being top-notch. 

Who are 360Hz monitors for?

Professional gamers

The first thing you’ll notice about 360Hz monitors is that they’re really, really expensive. Paying hundreds of dollars for a 1080p panel that’s usually around 25” in diagonal is too much for some – you can easily get a great 4K display.

But the thing is, professional gamers don’t need the high resolution – they need a high refresh rate. A high refresh rate, which means less time to render an image on the display, gives you the information faster. Whether it’s movement, or something happening in-game, the higher refresh rate will show that earlier. And that’s a major advantage.

However, one thing to note here is that your game will need to be on a whole other level if you are to take advantage of that high refresh rate. When you’re playing competitive titles like Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or Valorant, a high refresh rate doesn’t make too much of a difference if you have slow reaction times.

This is why 360Hz monitors are best for professional gamers because those few milliseconds make a massive difference. Sometimes, that’s exactly the difference between winning a tournament or going home.

Casual gamers

On the other hand, to say that 360Hz monitors are for professional gamers only would be gatekeeping. There are many casual gamers who play titles where a high refresh rate is greatly beneficial. And even if you aren’t a pro, you’ll notice a difference, and you’ll see that such a monitor will bring your game to a higher level. Of course, this is true for people who play competitive titles like the ones mentioned above.

To add to this, high refresh rates can come in very handy in racing simulations, too. In these situations, a split second is all it takes for you to make a mistake that will cost you a race. A high refresh rate monitor will significantly reduce the chances of this happening, provided your reaction times are on par.

What you should keep in mind, however, is that if you’re playing strategy titles, or ones where a quick reaction isn’t all that necessary, a 360Hz monitor might not make much of a difference. Yes, it looks smoother – you’ll notice this even when you’re scrolling social media, but in-game, it’s not something you can take advantage of.

360Hz monitors are great for casual gamers, yes, but you should keep in mind that this greatly depends on the titles you play, and your skills.

Factors to consider when looking to purchase a 360Hz monitor

Panel size and resolution

The first thing you’ll want to note with high refresh rate monitors is the panel size and resolution. While for panel size, most would say that bigger is better, that’s not the case – you have to consider the resolution as well. A large monitor with a low resolution means you’ll be seeing pixels all the time, which is not an experience you want when you’re spending this much.

The key is to find the perfect balance between the panel size and the resolution. With a 360Hz monitor, that’s usually a 24” or a 25” panel, with a 1080p resolution. This is a match made in heaven because you won’t be able to distinguish individual pixels, everything will look sharp and crisp, and it’s still a fairly large panel. You can learn more about monitor sizes here.

Panel type

The panel type is basically what impacts your experience most. There are three main types here, IPS, VA, and TN.

IPS, or In-Plane Switching panels, are the best in terms of color reproduction and viewing angles, and it’s a difference that’s extremely noticeable. If you use your monitor for single-player games with good graphics, you’ll find that an IPS panel gets you the most pleasurable experience. The tradeoff with IPS is that you have (or had, to be more accurate) lower refresh rates and slow response times.

But with things changing, now you have extremely fast IPS panels that get you high refresh rates and low response times in addition to all the other nice things you get from IPS. If you can afford it, IPS panels are where you want to be.

VA, or Vertical Alignment, is meant to be a middle ground between TN and IPS, combining a fast refresh rate with good color reproduction and better viewing angles. But, while they do all that rather well, and also get you the best contrast ratios, they also come with the worst response times – not something you want for competitive gaming.

TN, or Twisted Nematic, used to be the go-to for competitive gaming. Even though the colors and viewing angles were, quite frankly, a disaster, they’re the fastest panels out there, without motion blur or ghosting, or similar issues. You can learn more about the different types of monitor panels here.

Ergonomic adjustments

This depends on your specific computer setup, but generally, you’ll want to have as many adjustments as possible with your monitor. Swivel and tilt are two things that most, if not all modern monitors have, but some of the better ones can also rotate, and adjust by height.

If you’re going to be spending a lot of time on your PC, having a monitor that’s set up right is crucial. Otherwise, not only are you going to be uncomfortable, but you could potentially be dealing with neck pain. Therefore, try to get as many ergonomic adjustments as possible.

On the other hand, if that’s not an option, at least try to get a monitor that has VESA mounting capabilities, so you can grab a monitor arm down the line and set it up that way.

Can you take advantage of it?

We did leave this for last, but it’s the single most important thing when you’re in the market for a 360Hz monitor. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to buy it if you can’t take advantage of it, so before you go out and buy, make sure that the hardware you have can actually run games at framerates that high.

Even though most modern midrange and high-end GPUs can run competitive titles at those framerates rather comfortably, that’s not the case with some entry-level models. And as games become even more demanding, you might find yourself unable to keep up.

If you already have a system and are looking for a monitor upgrade, turn on the framerates counter on the games you play, and see whether you’re close to 360Hz. If you are over that, you should be good to go. If you’re under, but close, a 360Hz monitor is still worth it – just make sure it has adaptive sync so you don’t get tearing or other issues. If you’re getting framerates that aren’t close to 360, and don’t want to upgrade your build any time soon, you might want to save your money.

Final thoughts

When all is said and done, 360Hz monitors do have a lot to offer, especially to competitive gamers that know how to take advantage of them. And the models we chose above are all the best of the best, with great viewing angles, excellent performance, and plenty of adjustments.

If you consider yourself the type of person who can take advantage of such a monitor, the only thing that’s left is to choose one of the four options we discussed, and see which one fits your needs (and budget) best.

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