Best 4K HDR Monitor In 2022 (Mini-LED, gaming, OLED)
With 4K monitors becoming more popular - and affordable - we take a look at the market's leading 4K HDR monitors for both gaming and everyday usage
In recent years, TVs and gaming monitors have started to support 4K resolutions on a much wider scale. Alongside higher resolutions, manufacturers have also started to implement HDR (high dynamic range) in the same panels – providing greater levels of realism and immersion. Whilst this has been the general trend for the past few years, 4K HDR monitors are still a little sparse in today’s market – with few actually supporting HDR to what many class as ‘decent’ standards.
For that reason, we’ve scoured the web to find only the best 4K HDR monitors on offer. We’ll be running down our favourite 4K HDR monitors of 2021, choosing each based on price, performance, aesthetics, and overall build quality.
So, with a tonne of stuff to get through, let’s dive straight into it!
Our Top Picks
Best 4K HDR Monitors In 2021
In-depth Review
LG 27GN950-B 27 Inch
LG 27GN950-B 27 Inch
As we said before, this isn’t the first time the LG 27GN950-B has topped one of our best-of guides, and it probably won’t be the last. Thing monitor is hugely impressive, ticking all the right boxes when it comes to both gaming and productivity workflows.
Overall, the 27GN950-B is a fantastic 4K gaming monitor. It offers up a high 160Hz (overclockable) refresh rate and low response time, pairing together to achieve excellent gameplay with very little ghosting or tearing. Enabling the 160Hz refresh rate is only achievable via DisplayPort 1.4, but that isn’t too much of an issue. This monitor does not come with HDMI 2.1 support, nor does it offer full G-Sync support either. That said, it does provide FreeSync variable refresh rate and is compatible with G-sync GPUs – helping to reduce screen tear to an absolute minimum. Remember, to get the most out of this monitor, and all the panels in this guide, you will need a fairly beefy PC/GPU. This is mainly thanks to the 4K resolution that really does push your components to the limit.
The monitor delivers an excellent gaming performance overall, with the displayHDR600 certification providing a decent uplift in detail when it comes to extremely bright and dark spaces. HDR600 is a step up from the base-level 400 and you can see that when comparing two monitors with varying technologies. The 27GN950-B also promotes a very low input lag, with not perceived delay between peripheral movement and screen response. With excellent build quality, great viewing angles, and a wide colour gamut, the LG 27GN950-B is a brilliant all-round gaming monitor that really doesn’t put a foot wrong.
ASUS ROG SWIFT PG32UQX
ASUS ROG SWIFT PG32UQX
When it comes to gaming monitors, ASUS are one of the best manufacturers out there – providing the market with a whole slew of options to choose from. The PG32UQX is from the higher-end of this list, offering up all the performance-enhancing specifications you could want from a 4K HDR monitor.
On the surface, the ROG SWIFT PG32UQX is a stunning 4K gaming monitor that offers a smooth, responsive gaming experience. With a 144Hz refresh rate and low 4ms response time, the IPS panel in this monitor delivers stunning gameplay in crystal clear clarity. The low input lag this monitor showcases ensures that a connected feel is experienced when playing games, making general gameplay feel a whole lot more immersive. The IPS panel is 32-inches and offers a large color gamut and great accuracy right out of the box. Whilst this won’t be accurate enough for professional editors, it certainly offers more accurate color recreation than lesser alternatives.
Like most ASUS monitors, the build quality of this monitor is absolutely fantastic. Furthermore, with great stand ergonomics, users will be able to reposition the panel to their exact requirements. The HDR quality of this monitor is driven by the DisplayHDR 1400 standard – offering up a wide color gamut that covers 98% of the DCI-P3 space. Whilst the color gamut on this monitor is extensive, it still falls a little short in the darker shades – a common characteristic of an IPS panel.
With a tonne of performance-enhancing features to explore, users will be able to tailor their gaming experience to their needs – saving any custom settings to one of the profiles in the OSD. Unfortunately, this monitor does not offer HDMI 2.1 support, meaning full 4K 144Hz support will require a DisplayPort connection.
LG 48CXPUB OLED
LG 48CXPUB OLED
Whilst the LG48CXPUB isn’t strictly a gaming monitor, it definitely excels when paired alongside a gaming monitor. It got our best gaming TV award, so there’s no reason it shouldn’t feature in this specific HDR-related monitor page.
LG have produced a fantastic gaming TV in the OLED 48CXPUB – offering up all the performance you could want for both console and PC gaming. The 48inch TV delivers a simply breathtaking HDR experience thanks to the OLED technology this TV comes equipped with. Like all OLED products, this monitor has the ability to turn off pixels individually – resulting in perfect blacks and stunning HDR reproduction. The LG 48inch TV comes equipped with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, FreeSync VRR, and a bunch of display features that help tailor the TV to exact requirements. We recorded excellent panel uniformity from this TV, alongside a huge color gamut that helped with immersion and realism.
The overall gaming experience was fantastic on this TV, providing rich, vibrant colors that didn’t deteriorate because of slow response times. The OLED technology in this TV offers up an almost instantaneous pixel response time that will likely outperform many of today’s monitors. Furthermore, with HDMI 2.1 support, the 48CXPUB also becomes a fantastic TV for any console gamer looking to achieve 120Hz gameplay in 4K screen clarity.
One downside to this display is that the risk of permanent burn-in is quite high. Unfortunately, there’s no way around this – it’s one of the main flaws in OLED’s technology. That said, if you’re careful and watch varied content, you shouldn’t experience any permanent damage.
Acer Nitro XV282K
Acer Nitro XV282K
The wait for a decent 4K gaming monitor that comes equipped with HDMI 2.1 support is finally over. Console gamers can finally rejoice, knowing that 120Hz gameplay in 4K is finally available in monitor format. The Acer Nitro XV282K is one of the first monitors to come equipped with said support, providing a 144Hz refresh rate alongside a high 4K screen resolution. The monitor from Acer is part of the new Nitro lineup, offering up great performance at what Acer considers as good value for money – a statement we struggle to argue with.
The Acer Nitro XV282K comes with a sleek design that is characterized by thin bezels and a circular base. The monitor offers good panel adjustments, including height, tilt, and swivel functionality. The build quality of this monitor certainly feels robust, stepping up from the flimsiness that was often attributed to the Nitro lineup.
From a specifications standpoint, the Acer Nitro XV282K provides you with a whole host of exciting specifications; including 4k screen resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms (VRB) response time, and HDR400 certification. Whilst the HDR on this monitor isn’t the best we’ve ever seen, it’s certainly worth a mention due to the HDMI 2.1 support it offers. Running an HDR signal through the monitor does yield some decent results, with greater detail being seen in extreme bright (and dark) areas. Like some of the other monitors in this guide, however, peak brightness isn’t the best – making HDR a little lackluster in bright rooms.
ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q
ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q
Lastly, we have our best 4K hdr gaming monitor, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q. Despite the flaws which we’ll touch upon later, this monitor still offers a decent gaming experience for those that prioritize image clarity and color accuracy.
The VG289Q comes equipped with a 3840 x 2160 maximum screen resolution, 60hz refresh rate, and 5ms response time. Whilst this isn’t the best for competitive games such as CS:GO and COD Modern Warfare, it’ll hardly make a difference to single-player titles – where FPS can be capped to 60 frames per second with no real knock-0n effect to gameplay. The IPS panel at the heart of this monitor is the standout specification it offers, providing great colors that over 90% of the DCI-P3 color space. HDR10 is supported on this monitor, with bright areas resulting in a slight improvement in detail. Like other ASUS monitors, the VG289Q offers impressive build quality and superb stand ergonomics, allowing you to create the perfect viewing angle for your needs.
Speaking of viewing angles, the IPS panel also provides excellent viewing angles, making this monitor a great choice for multiperson usage. The 28-inch screen results in an immersive experience that is only heightened by the thin bezels that wrap around its edges.
Final Word
So, there you have it, our complete rundown of the best 4K HDR monitors in 2021. Despite HDR not being fully incorporated in today’s monitors, there are still a flurry of monitors that offer the immersion-boosting feature.
The list of monitors we’ve chosen all offer a unique set of pros and cons – some tailored towards gaming, others towards value and budget. Ultimately, these are the best 4K HDR monitors on offer right now.
If you have any questions regarding the monitors in this guide, feel free to drop us a comment in the section below.