HDR: High dynamic range isn’t a huge consideration unless you have a big budget – most gaming monitors struggle to deliver anything resembling true HDR. If you want that, however, start by looking for monitors with a DisplayHDR 600 certification and some kind of local dimming.

The panel is excellent. It’s remarkably colour-accurate and produces a wide gamut for vivid colours both in and out of HDR. Speaking of which: this monitor has an HDR 600 certification with 16-zone edge-lit local dimming, which means you can expect a slightly higher standard of HDR performance from the 279M1RV than most gaming monitors. This is a vibrant monitor capable of detailed shadows and responsive, fluid gameplay – and believe it or not, it’s usually pretty decent value, too (although the price has shot up recently for reasons unknown). The BenQ Mobiuz EX2710 is a well-equipped 1080p monitor that will suit anyone with a low-to-mid-range gaming PC, a fairly tight budget and a desire to hit 144Hz. At 27in, this is as big as you’d want a 1080p monitor to be. It’s bold, bright and colourful, with low response times and good motion handling and viewing angles courtesy of its IPS panel. It nailed our in-house colour accuracy tests and proved enjoyable to use both in work and on the virtual battlefield. Key specs – Screen size: 38in; Resolution: 3,840 x 1,600; Screen technology: IPS; Refresh rate: 144Hz; Response time: 1ms G2G; Curvature: 2300R; Video inputs: 1 x DP, 2 x HDMI, 1 x Thunderbolt USB-C; Other ports: 2 x USB-A, 1 x 3.5mmConnectivity: Additional ports beyond the usual HDMI/DP/3.5mm are useful if you have a lot of wired peripherals. Gaming PCs are usually well-equipped in this regard which makes connectivity a secondary concern for most PC gamers. If you’re on a laptop, however, you may want to consider spending extra on a monitor with a USB-A hub or even USB-C connectivity.

We’ve tried to include monitors that fit into all of the above categories on our list. How much should I spend? This is the first time HDMI has been able to work in such a high refresh. You can also opt for 1440p on HDMI 2.1. This is another sensationally vibrant monitor that produces 94% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut with great accuracy. It’s responsive and bright, with the hallmarks of an IPS panel visible in its good viewing angles (made even better by the curvature) and great motion handling. Sure, the contrast could be better, but when there’s so much else going for this monitor it’s hard to complain too much – especially as there’s no HDR certification here. The G27QC is 27in across the diagonal with a moderate 1500R curve that mitigates the poor viewing angles caused by the VA panel. It’s bright and colourful, with excellent contrast (3,100:1 out of the box) and decent colour accuracy for the price. This is a gaming monitor for casual players who enjoy a good RPG, rather than esports professionals looking for the most responsive panel around.On test, the PG32UQ performed very well indeed, producing a very wide gamut of colours with good accuracy. It’s a great monitor for gaming, with strong motion handling and good viewing angles. Vibrant to the point of excess and obnoxiously large, the PG32UQ is one of the best monitors we’ve tested for sheer immersion. Nowadays, the best 144Hz monitors aren’t what you might expect. It used to be the case that 1440p at 144Hz was widely recognised as the so-called “sweet spot” for PC gaming, the optimum output for the average gaming rig. As a result, 144Hz and 1440p walked hand-in-hand incredibly often. It’s also supremely practical, with a two-port USB-A hub joining that remarkable stand to strengthen this monitor’s productivity credentials. Only a USB-C port would have sweetened the deal.