Monitors with a 1440p resolution are gaining a lot of popularity, striking the perfect balance between image quality and price. But finding the best 1440p monitor is hardly a simple task.
Judging the specs of a monitor online will only get you so far, as the image quality can differ greatly even if a monitor shares the same resolution and screen technology. That’s why we make sure that every single monitor in this list is fully tested by one of our experts.
We use professional equipment to test various metrics of the monitor, including peak brightness, contrast, black levels and colour accuracy. Those monitors that score highly – as well as seeing a stylish design, generous feature set and great-value price – are considered for this Best 1440p monitor round-up to make your buying process as simple as possible.
If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for in this list, then you can check out our round-ups of the best-curved monitors and best gaming monitors as there are plenty of other options.
For those still intent on picking up a 1440p monitor, simply read on to see which ones we picked for work, gaming and other use cases.
Best 1440p monitors at a glance
How we test
We use every monitor we test for at least a week. During that time, we’ll check it for ease of use and put it through its paces by using it for both everyday tasks and more specialist, colour-sensitive work.
We also check its colours and image quality with a colourimeter to test its coverage and the display’s quality.
AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD
Best overall 1440p monitor
Pros
- Stunning OLED display
- Excellent motion fidelity
- Compact stand
- Good value
Cons
- Speakers distort at maximum volume
- HDMI ports are v2.0 not 2.1
The best all-round 1440p monitor we’ve tested so far is undoubtedly the AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD. It has a 27-inch design that should fit on anyone’s desk thanks to the compact stand, while the picture quality is absolutely incredible.
This monitor uses a wonderful OLED panel with a blazing fast 240Hz refresh rate. This makes it an excellent choice for both gamers, and those who simply want the screen to look as good as possible when viewing images and videos.
There’s a decent array of ports here too, including HDMI 2.0 ports, two DisplayPort 1.4 and a headphone jack. Speakers are built into the monitor too, although we did find them to distort a maximum volume.
If you like the look of this monitor, it’s also worth checking out both the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM or the LG UltraGear 27GR95QE, as they share the same screens, but with different approaches to the design. We think the AOC pips the competition with its competitive price and integrated speakers, making it the overall best 1440p monitor.
Reviewer: Alun Taylor
Full Review: AOC Agon Pro AG276QZD review
Lenovo Legion R45w-30
Best value ultrawide 1440p monitor
Pros
- Excellent value
- Compact for an ultrawide
- Good speakers
- One-button KVM switch
Ultra-wide monitors are growing in popularity, so we made sure to include one in this list. Right now, we reckon the Lenovo Legion R45w-30 represents the best value.
At just £669, you get excellent screen specs such as a 49-inch screen size, 32:9 aspect ratio and 165Hz refresh rate. We found the ultra-wide screen to be incredibly useful for enhancing immersion for supported games, as well as making it easier to multitask with office work.
The use of a VA screen panel does mean the monitor misses out on the improved contrast of Mini LED and OLED offerings, although you can spend extra for the Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED (2023) if that’s a priority for you.
So if you fancy yourself an affordable ultra-wide monitor, then we think you’ll struggle to find superior value than what the Lenovo Legion R45w-30 provides.
Reviewer: Alun Taylor
Full Review: Lenovo Legion R45w-30 review
AOC Agon AG405UXC
Best TV-size 1440p monitor
Pros
- Superb value for money
- USB-B and USB-C connectivity for full KVM support
- Impressive colour accuracy
Cons
- Colour gamuts could be wider
- Some smearing and ghosting apparent in testing
Think your monitor is too small? Then, boy, you’re going to love the AOC Agon AG405UXC, which is a massive 40-inch gaming monitor that’s designed to fit on your desk – if you have the space.
Our testing showed the 1440p monitor to flaunt great colour accuracy and super picture quality. The 144Hz refresh rate should also please gamers craving smoother motion in their action-packed ventures.
There’s great port coverage here too, including HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C, USB-B and USB-A. There’s even KVM support if you want to operate two PCs with the same keyboard and mouse.
You can get even better picture quality, as well as higher resolutions, with other massive monitors such as the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG48UQ and Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 (2023). But if you’re adamant about sticking to a 1440p display to keep costs down as low as possible, then the AOC Agon AG405UXC is the pick of the bunch.
Reviewer: Alun Taylor
Full Review: AOC Agon AG405UXC review
Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED (2023)
Best premium ultrawide 1440p monitor
Pros
- Perfect blacks from OLED tech
- Crisp vivid imagery with high contrast
- High refresh rate and response time
- Easy assembly
Cons
- Low peak SDR brightness
- Awkward port placement
- Space-hogging build
If you’re looking for the ultimate ultrawide experience, then the Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED (2023) is easily one of the best out there. It features a massive 49-inch display with a 32:9 aspect ratio and of course, a 1440p resolution. The OLED technology resulted in a perfect black level of ‘zero’ in our tests, allowing for deep, inky blacks and a high level of contrast.
Colour coverage was also excellent; tests showed 100% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, and 98% DCI-P3 results. Any professional creatives are more than welcome to use the Odyssey G9 OLED for colour-sensitive work – such as video and photo editing – as it sits in line with the performance of a MacBook Pro or iMac display.
If you’re a gamer, the 1800R curve enabled our reviewer to take in the display’s edge-to-edge design without the outside elements feeling further away. If you want an even wider wrap-around experience, then make sure you take a look at the Odyssey Ark or Odyssey Neo G9.
There are two 5W stereo speakers located on the rear of the Odyssey G9 OLED, which kicked out decent audio. There is Bluetooth connectivity supported too, allowing you to hook up all of your favourite audio accessories without any hassle.
Since the Odyssey G9 OLED is 49-inches, you will need a fair amount of space to use it. Thankfully, the set-up was very simple thanks to the bespoke clip-in mechanism that locks the screen to the base – our reviewer was even able to assemble it without needing assistance.
All in all, the Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED (2023) is the perfect pick for anyone who’s after true immersion. Its high colour accuracy makes it great for gaming, streaming video content, and creative work, making it a rare all-rounder that you won’t want to miss out on.
Reviewer: Chris Smith
Full Review: Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED (2023)
AOC AGON AG274QZM
Best HDR Monitor
Pros
- Bright, bold and vibrant imagery
- Good HDR performance
- Lots of connectivity and adjustability
- Smooth, fast motion performance
Cons
- Very expensive
- OLED displays are better
- Heavy and bulky
The AOC AGON AG274QZM is an expensive monitor, but it does come with a lot of high-end features. Starting with the most notable, it has a great HDR performance. It comes with Mini-LED technology, which delivers extra depth and nuance compared to conventionally backlit IPS screens. This allowed it to achieve brighter highlights and a broader array of colours, so you can play games and watch video content with a lot of detail.
During our testing, we found the display to reach a huge 581 nits of brightness in SDR mode, with that number reaching 1041 nits in HDR mode. These scores meant that we could experience bold imagery in any gaming or media situation, with the impressive black point of 0.2 nits in HDR mode allowing for deep, inky blacks.
The refresh rate sits at 240Hz and works with both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. Combine that with the 1ms GtG response time and that’s more than enough pace for most eSports titles. If a great refresh rate is high on your list of requirements then you should take a look at the 240Hz Samsung Odyssey Neo G8, which also boasts a 4K display.
Connectivity also shines, with the inclusion of two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4 connection, four USB 3.2 inputs and a USB-C port to boot. We did note that positioning these ports on the side of the device rather than the rear would be more accessible but either way, you’ll still be able to connect up another monitor as well as any gaming consoles you desire.
All in all, the AOC AGON AG274QZM is a great choice for gamers who are looking for an accurate HDR performance. The high refresh rate makes it more than serviceable for almost any triple-A game, and the vast amount of ports opens up a ton of options in terms of connectivity.
Reviewer: Mike Jennings
Full Review: AOC AGON AG274QZM (2023)
LG UltraWide Ergo 34WN780-B
Best ergonomic 1440p monitor
Pros
- Superb ergonomic arm design
- Widescreen, high-resolution display
- Solid, accessible connectivity
- Good build quality
Cons
- Middling contrast ratio
- Mediocre colours
- No USB-C ports
Getting a monitor that’s comfortable to use for extended periods of time is going to be key, and for our money, the LG UltraWide Ergo 34WN780-B is the best 1440p monitor in terms of ergonomics that we’ve tested.
The image quality here proved to be solid enough for office working, with a measured contrast ratio of 856:1 and sRGB colour space coverage of 97.6%. With that being said, the measured brightness of 231 nits will be totally fine for office use, especially given you won’t be needing to experience any HDR content. Figures in the mid-seventies for both Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 colour spaces mean this won’t be the best monitor for more sensitive workloads.
With that being said, the 34WN780-B is quite the versatile customer, being an IPS panel with some fantastic viewing angles, and a 75Hz refresh rate that gives a little boost for smoother than usual motion. We also found the port selection here to be pretty good for most people, with HDMI, DisplayPort and USB all represented. The fact they face outwards is also especially useful.
The actual monitor itself, as well as the integrated arm, feel sturdy and robust, which is reflective of the 34WN780-B’s higher pricing. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the adjustment on offer here is exemplary with 280 degrees of swivel alongside 25 degrees of tilt and 130mm’s of height adjustment, too.
Reviewer: Mike Jennings
Full review: LG UltraWide Ergo 34WN780-B
FAQs
1440p monitors can be excellent choices for gaming, especially if you’ve only got more of a mid-range system that doesn’t quite have the oomph to reach max settings at 4K. The resolution itself is a cut above 1080p and will provide a notable boost in overall detail.
Fundamentally, the two are different things, so aren’t comparable. QHD refers to Quad HD, the resolution also referred to as 1440p, while HDR refers to High Dynamic Range, which can increase the vibrancy, brightness and detail of a displayed image.