If you’re a gamer, finding white monitors can be quite hard. The number of people who are interested in buying them is actually quite small.
Hence manufacturers produce them in fewer numbers, and across a narrow range of models.
Special edition monitors are made in limited quantities and command a higher price tag for a simple color change. But there are also genuinely good white gaming monitors with better features compared to regular models.
I’m here to discuss these rare finds and help out people looking specifically for such monitors to complement their all-white setup.
During my research, I considered key points such as refresh rate, pixel response time, resolution, etc.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about the best white gaming monitor. So without further ado, let’s get started.
- What You Should Look For While Selecting The Best White Gaming Monitor?
- In A Hurry? Here Are My 7 Top Picks
- 1. BenQ MOBIUZ EX3210U 32” 4K Monitor
- 2. LG 27UK650-W 27” 4K Monitor
- 3. Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 G95NA 49” Curved Ultrawide Monitor
- 4. Alienware AW2721D 27” QHD Monitor
- 5. Sceptre C408B-QWN168W 40” QHD Curved Monitor
- 6. Sceptre E248B-FWN168W 24” 1080p Monitor
- 7. Z-Edge U24C 24” 1080p Curved Monitor
- All You Need To Know About Gaming Monitors | A Detailed Buying Guide
- IPS vs TN panels
- Why Are OLED Monitors So Expensive?
- Adaptive Sync Is Pretty Useful
- The Resolution and Refresh Rate
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What You Should Look For While Selecting The Best White Gaming Monitor?
White is hard to pull off in a gaming setup because peripherals like keyboards and mice aren’t usually designed around this color.
On the bright side, white monitors can blend in with just about any desk or computer case.
And they have a clean, serene look that just stands out from the rest of the crowd.
RGB lighting also works really well with white gaming monitors, so you can really pimp out your gaming desk.
While selecting a monitor in white, make sure it’s actually built around gaming and not productivity/ office use. Sure, it might look neat but that doesn’t make it any better at gaming.
Looks alone don’t make a good gaming monitor. You need to check the resolution, refresh rate, and pixel response time. A basic 1080p 60Hz monitor will work just fine for casual gaming.
But I recommend at least 1080p 144Hz if you want to take advantage of new GPUs and processors.
If possible, get a 1440p 144Hz or 165Hz monitor which offers the best of both worlds- resolution, and speed. Faster refresh rates mean smoother movement and less jittering.
You also need to consider pixel response time, which is usually measured in GtG (grey to grey).
Pixel response time is a function of how quickly each individual pixel can change its color. Some cheap monitors have high refresh rates but their pixel response time is slow, so you get a lot of smearing and blurry movement while gaming.
Monitor size is entirely dependent on what you plan to do with it.
If you’re using the monitor on a desk at a distance of around 25 to 30 inches like most people, a standard 27-inch display will be more than fine.
But if you want an ultra-wide setup with a curved display, you’re looking at 30+ inches.
The resolution also decides monitor size. If you’re using 1080p, I don’t recommend going beyond 24 inches.
For 1440p, 27 to 32 inches is the ideal range. 4K monitors can also be had in the 27 to 32-inch range, and they will offer much higher clarity compared to 1440p displays.
Panel type is also important since you’re buying an expensive gaming monitor.
TN is pretty much out of the question if you’re going beyond 1080p. So you’re looking at 3 types of panels- VA, IPS, and OLED (each with its own pros and cons).
In A Hurry? Here Are My 7 Top Picks
1. BenQ MOBIUZ EX3210U 32” 4K Monitor
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
Panel Type | IPS |
Pixel Response Time | 1ms MPRT |
Aspect Ratio | Standard Widescreen (16:9) |
Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync Premium Pro |
Overview
My top choice, and one of the few “premium” gaming monitors that are well worth the cost.
BenQ is a popular name in the esports industry for a good reason. They focus on delivering quality products that perform well and are built to last.
Instead of flashy advertising, BenQ focuses on building customer trust over time with one solid product after another.
And while they cost slightly more than comparable monitors from Acer or ViewSonic, BenQ isn’t prohibitively expensive.
This particular model even has a built-in speaker that doesn’t sound too shabby, and a mic with AI noise cancellation.
The MOBIUZ EX3210U combines a high refresh rate and 4K resolution for the complete gaming experience.
It uses an IPS panel with an extremely fast response time, so you can still hit those headshots in CS: GO and Rainbow Six Siege.
Plus, it has exceptional color depth in addition to being HDR certified (ideal for AAA cinematic games).
Things I Like
2. LG 27UK650-W 27” 4K Monitor
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
Panel Type | IPS |
Pixel Response Time | 5ms |
Aspect Ratio | Standard Widescreen (16:9) |
Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync |
Overview
Do you want an affordable 4K monitor that doesn’t cut corners in terms of color accuracy and contrast?
Well, meet the LG 27UK650-W. Despite its convoluted name and mid-tier pricing, this is a premium 4K display designed for professional content creators.
And the best part is that you can use it for gaming. Yeah, a refresh rate of 60Hz means you won’t be playing competitive FPS games on it (at least if you’re in the top 1% skill bracket).
However, it is perfect for games such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and Tomb Raider.
Things I Like
3. Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 G95NA 49” Curved Ultrawide Monitor
Resolution | 5120 x 1440 |
Refresh Rate | 240Hz |
Panel Type | QLED (Quantum Mini LED) |
Pixel Response Time | 1ms GtG |
Aspect Ratio | Ultrawide (21:9) |
Adaptive Sync | G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro |
Overview
This is the most expensive gaming monitor on my list. And you really need to set aside a huge chunk of cash in order to get your hands on one of these bad boys.
But if you can afford it, the Odyssey Neo G9 is a transcendent experience like no other.
Samsung has combined the needs of every gamer into one beautiful display with colors that match up to OLED panels.
It has a curved ultrawide design that’s ideal for immersive gaming and content creation, combined with an insanely high refresh rate of 240Hz.
And somehow manages to fit HDR2000 (one of the highest HDR standards) on top of everything else.
Things I Like
4. Alienware AW2721D 27” QHD Monitor
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 |
Refresh Rate | 240Hz |
Panel Type | IPS |
Pixel Response Time | 1ms GtG |
Aspect Ratio | Standard Widescreen (16:9) |
Adaptive Sync | NVIDIA G-Sync Ultimate |
Overview
For what seems like a “basic” 1440p flat panel display, this Alienware monitor is too pricey at first glance.
But take a deeper look, and you’ll notice what you’re missing.
Firstly, it uses a special IPS panel that delivers amazing color depth and contrast without sacrificing speed.
That’s right, this is a 240Hz IPS display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 (and HDR600).
If you ask me, that’s the perfect package right there- speed and clarity. It even supports NVIDIA’s G-Sync Ultimate for lower input lag and tear-free gaming.
Things I Like
5. Sceptre C408B-QWN168W 40” QHD Curved Monitor
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 |
Refresh Rate | 165Hz |
Panel Type | VA |
Pixel Response Time | 1ms MPRT |
Aspect Ratio | Standard Widescreen (16:9) |
Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync Premium |
Overview
You might confuse this with HP’s “Spectre” line of gaming products but Sceptre is its own brand and is completely unrelated to HP.
And they make some really underrated products, as you can see right here. Talk about good value for money.
A 40-inch curved 1440p display with a 165Hz refresh rate and HDR400 support with 1ms response time? Color me impressed.
And it seems downright affordable when you compared it to monitors from more popular brands that offer a similar feature set.
Things I Like
6. Sceptre E248B-FWN168W 24” 1080p Monitor
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
Refresh Rate | 165Hz |
Panel Type | VA |
Pixel Response Time | 1ms MPRT |
Aspect Ratio | Standard Widescreen (16:9) |
Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync |
Overview
If you want a truly budget option, here it is. You’re getting an excellent VA panel with deep blacks and rich colors, capable of competing with top-end IPS displays.
Yet it costs a fraction as much as some of the Alienware models.
The resolution is only 1080p, but then again this monitor is targeted at the budget/ low midrange market segment.
If you’re using an RTX 2060 or RX 6600, this is the ideal monitor for 1080p gaming.
Things I Like
7. Z-Edge U24C 24” 1080p Curved Monitor
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
Refresh Rate | 75Hz |
Panel Type | VA |
Pixel Response Time | 5ms |
Aspect Ratio | Standard Widescreen (16:9) |
Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync |
Overview
Want to go even cheaper than the Sceptre E248B? Well, check out the Z-Edge U24C which is a simple 1080p 75Hz monitor with AMD FreeSync.
It’s targeted at budget gamers and casual players who don’t grind ranked 24×7 in hopes of making it pro someday.
I really appreciate the use of a VA panel rather than TN, which many manufacturers still do to this day.
VA offers colors and viewing angles that are simply not possible on a TN panel. Plus, it’s curved for that extra immersion while gaming.
Things I Like
All You Need To Know About Gaming Monitors | A Detailed Buying Guide
IPS vs TN panels
IPS panels use a technology called in-plane switching that gives them better color accuracy and viewing angles when compared to TN (twisted nematic) panels.
Up until recently, TN panels had a clear advantage in pixel response times. This is why you saw TN being used in high-end gaming monitors designed for esports professionals.
However, recent advances in IPS technology has allowed for extremely high refresh rates along with much lower response times.
Today, you have IPS monitors with 200 or 240Hz refresh rates and response times as low as 1ms. TN was, and still is cheaper than IPS.
But that price gap has been narrowing. Once again, advances in production technology have created a rise in extremely affordable IPS displays. IPS has two main advantages over TN-
- More accurate, vibrant colors
- Far superior viewing angles
Why Are OLED Monitors So Expensive?
OLED technology itself has been around for a long time now, starting with phones and TVs.
But only recently has it made its way into the gaming monitor industry. It used to be difficult due to the high production cost of specialized panels.
Gaming monitors are a smaller segment of the market compared to TVs.
And manufacturing lines were set up for large 50 or 60 inch TV panels, with costs being low due to the high volume of production.
But for a gaming monitor, you need an entirely different approach to panel features.
Gaming OLED monitors have high refresh rates, low input lag, and are optimized based on the needs of gamers.
Even now, there are very few OLED options on the gaming monitor market. With notable models being from companies such as Alienware and Gigabyte.
OLED monitors have the lowest response times of any display type, even faster than TN.
They have higher color accuracy and brightness compared to IPS, with even wider viewing angles.
Plus, blacks are much deeper on OLED panels because they literally turn off the pixels (and there is no backlight like IPS).
Adaptive Sync Is Pretty Useful
Most gamers are familiar with VSYNC, a primitive display synch technology designed to minimize the effects of tearing.
Tearing is when multiple frames are displayed at the same time on your screen, resulting in a broken image. It can be quite distracting, especially during motion in a fast-paced action game.
Tearing happens when your graphics card delivers frames in a different phase from the monitor’s refresh rate.
So while the screen is refreshing, it shows part of the new frame before the previous one has been removed. VSYNC works fine as long as you’re not gaming at higher refresh rates.
At 120Hz or higher, VSYNC either stops working or caps your framerate which is even worse.
It also introduces high input lag. Meaning actions onscreen will feel delayed compared to when you click a button on the mouse/ keyboard.
Adaptive sync performs the same function as VSYNC, but across a much wider range of framerates. Both high and low.
Plus, the input lag penalty isn’t nearly as high as VSYNC.
With modern adaptive sync technology (FreeSync and G-Sync), you might even lower your input lag compared to normal operation without any sync.
And the experience is much smoother compared to just VSYNC.
However, adaptive sync requires a panel that supports variable refresh rate (the ability to dynamically shift refresh rate on the fly).
The Resolution and Refresh Rate
For gaming, you need to decide what’s more important to you- visual clarity or smoothness. Visual clarity is decided by resolution.
With a higher resolution offering more crisp imagery (especially if the image is moving slowly or static).
Smoothness is decided by refresh rate. For example- 60hz permits 60 frames per second. While 144Hz shows 144 frames per second.
This increase in the number of frames means your eye (and brain) gets more samples of data to process, linking them together into a smoother illusion of “motion”.
Naturally, the eye doesn’t see in frames- everything is continuous. But for a camera or monitor, the illusion of motion is created by rapidly displaying a sequence of still frames.
Higher framerates aren’t worth it without a monitor that is physically capable of displaying them (requires the appropriate refresh rate).
If your graphics card can output 200 frames per second in a game, it won’t matter if your monitor can only show 60 per second.
And as you bump up resolution, the load increases on a GPU, resulting in framerate drops.
Playing at 1080p 240FPS requires nearly the same amount of processing power as playing at 4K 60FPS.
A nice middle ground is 1440p 144Hz which offers both higher clarity than 1080p and much smoother animations than 60Hz.
If you play esports or competitive games, you might prefer framerate and low input lag over everything else.
Whereas cinematic games and story-focused AAA titles with excellent graphics are better experienced on a high-resolution monitor with good color accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which brands are the best for gaming monitors?
A: All the popular companies such as Samsung, Asus, AOC, BenQ, etc. make good gaming displays. Just choose one that fits your needs and budget.
Q: Do white gaming monitors have any inherent advantage over regular models?
A: No, it’s just a matter of color used for the shell. A lot of people convert black/ grey monitors into white with a custom paint job.
Q: Are adaptive sync technologies like FreeSync and G-Sync worth it?
A: Definitely. Adaptive sync allows monitors to dynamically change their refresh rate based on the frame output of your graphics card. This prevents screen tearing and results in a more consistent gaming experience.
Q: Does a larger display require a more powerful graphics card?
A: No, the resolution is what decides performance levels. Not display size. A 1080p 24” monitor has the exact same pixel count as a 1080p 27” monitor, and both require the exact same graphical horsepower to run.
Q: Do OLED panels have burn-in problems?
A: This was an issue with the early models, and has been somewhat mitigated with newer OLED displays. Nothing to worry about with normal usage.
Even if you use your OLED display 24×7, burn-in takes several years to manifest on the newer models.
Conclusion
The thing with white gaming monitors is they are no different from regular gaming monitors other than the color of the shell.
But you normally don’t see these a whole lot, simply because of lower demand. Even more so when you start talking about white OLED monitors.
Only recently has there been a trend towards simple and clean aesthetics which facilitate the use of white monitors.
Hopefully, this article gave you some perspective on which one to choose for your build.