OLED monitors are some of the most premium products on the market, with most featuring similar specs across the board. Whether you have just picked up a new pre-built gaming PC, built your own PC, or are looking to take your productivity to the next level, a new OLED monitor may help tie that all together. There’s a range of different things to consider, such as refresh rate, resolution and even stand size.
We’ve filtered through a range of different OLED monitors that we have reviewed, and compiled a roundup of what we think are the best OLED monitors to buy. There are a number of factors that we’ve taken into consideration when picking the best monitor, such as resolution and screen size, which means you should be able to find a display that fits seamlessly into your gaming setup.
Best OLED Monitors to Buy in 2023: Alienware AW3423DW
Alienware’s AW3423DW stands out as the most well-rounded display in our office, and is the best OLED monitor to buy. It offers a QD-OLED 1440p panel that is provides refresh rates of up to 175Hz, and is arguably the best balance for visual fidelity and performance on the market.
The Best OLED Monitors to Buy in 2023
1. Alienware AW3423DW
The Alienware AW3423DW is our pick for the best OLED monitor to buy. We recommended this monitor in our Best Gaming Monitor to Buy article, because it’s simply just that good. This stunning 34″ 1440p display sports a QD-OLED panel, and offers gamers with a 175Hz refresh rate as well as a 0.1ms response time resulting in crisp gameplay. There is also G-Sync Ultimate support to help push gaming performance even higher.
Aesthetically, Alienware have chosen a contrasting black and white colour-scheme across the AW3423DW which looks very clean when stood on a desk, and mirrors the traditional Alienware appearance we’ve learned to expect. There are accents of RGB across the back of the monitor too, with lighting on the back panel and underside, which is controllable with Alienware’s AlienFX lighting system. We came to the conclusion that this monitor was one of the best gaming monitors ever, after testing the AW3423DW in our review, and we don’t think that will be changing any time soon either. Connectivity and IO on the AW3423DW is brilliant too, offering up five USB Type-A ports, two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort 1.4.
| Alienware AW3423DW | Specification |
|---|---|
| Max Resolution | 3440×1440 |
| Refresh Rate | 175Hz |
| Response Time | 0.1ms |
| Panel Type | QD-OLED |
| Adaptive Sync | G-SYNC® ULTIMATE |
This monitor is very clearly not tailored towards a budget-orientated user, as it is very expensive, but the money you pay determines the product you get. For those looking to spend a large chunk of money to build the ultimate gaming setup, you really can’t go wrong with the Alienware AW3423DW.
Pros
- Display panel is stunning
- Loaded with features
- Sleek design
Cons
- Very expensive
- High-performance overhead
2. ASUS ROG Swift PG49WCD
The ASUS ROG Swift PG49WCD is a super-ultrawide OLED gaming monitor, with a massive 49″ display width. The huge display size translates to a maximum resolution of 5120×1440, which is incredibly wide in physical dimensions, so you are going to need a lot of room on your desk. Performance-wise, the PG49WCD has a 144Hz refresh rate, and a 0.03ms response time, which is excellent for gaming.
The ROG Swift PG49WCD certainly follows the signature ‘ROG’ aesthetic with sharp, angular edges and LED logos across the design. There is a larger ROG logo on the back of the monitor which adds flair to the monitor, but nothing more than that. IO-wise, there is a HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 to utilise, as well as three USB ports, one of which is a Type-C. For those with a speaker setup, there is an S/PDIF out port to take advantage of too. ASUS have developed some great features to help mitigate the effects of burn-in on their OLED monitors, to ensure the lifespan of their products are exceptional for all.
| ROG Swift PG49WCD | Specification |
|---|---|
| Max Resolution | 5120×1440 |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
| Response Time | 0.03ms |
| Panel Type | OLED |
| Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync Premium Pro & G-SYNC® |
Much like most of the monitors in this roundup, price is the drawbacks of the ROG Swift PG49WCD. Priced similarly to the Alienware AW3423DW, it is not budget-friendly and is tailored towards enthusiasts and media professionals. Also, due to the dimensions of this monitor, there are some games that do not support super-ultrawide displays, so it is something that may need to be verified before buying this monitor.
Pros
- Strong Performance
- Vibrant display
- 49" screen good for workstations
Cons
- Expensive
- Ultrawide gaming not always supported
3. Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240
Corsair’s Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 is a true gaming enthusiast dream. The Xeneon Flex quashes all queries about flat or curved screens – by giving you both! Corsair have developed a huge 45″ display that can be manipulated from a flat display, up to an 800R curved display, thus altering the level of immersion experienced by the user. The specs of the Xeneon Flex are impressive too, offering buyers with a 1440p OLED display, an impressive 240Hz refresh rate, and a rapid response time of 0.03ms.
Many of the design features of the Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 are orientated around the handles, that are used to manipulate the curvature of the display. Some of these handles can be hidden when not in use, which helps make the aesthetics of the monitor less intrusive on the eye. The support stand for the Xeneon Flex is rather large in comparison to other monitors on the market, but one of the reasons for this is so that the IO can be housed within the stand itself. Speaking of IO, the Corsair Xeneon Flex comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports, and a 1.4 DisplayPort. There is also a singular Type-C USB port.
| Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 | Specification |
|---|---|
| Max Resolution | 3440 x 1440 |
| Refresh Rate | 240Hz |
| Response Time | 0.03ms |
| Panel Type | OLED |
| Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync Premium Pro & G-SYNC® |
Although price has been alluded to many times in this roundup, the Xeneon Flex is the most expensive monitor in this roundup, mainly due to the unique features it has to offer. Also, as this monitor is tied down to only 1440p, and offering a 45″ display, when compared to alternative products, there possibly a few question marks on the value for money on this monitor.
Pros
- Flexible and innovative design
- 240Hz OLED Display
- Great gaming & workstation hybrid
Cons
- Very expensive
- Limited to 1440p
4. MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED
The MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED is the second QD-OLED display choice in this best OLED monitor roundup, and it features for good reason too. The QD-OLED panel is extremely impressive, providing excellent visual fidelity and vibrancy. The display may only be 34″, but offers 1440p resolution, a 175Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms or response time putting it on par with some of the best monitors on the market.
MSI have taken a unique approach to the design of the 342C QD-OLED, by featuring gold accents across the entire monitor. This, paired with a black colour scheme is an interesting twist, that is aimed to give the aesthetic a premium feel- a choice we’re unsure about. A good feature on this monitor is the customisation options of the SpectrumBar RGB lighting, which features in many other MSI monitors. Additionally, there is a lot of thought into their OLED Care, providing protection against dreaded burn-in as well as other disadvantages of OLED displays. For IO, there is support for two HDMI ports, a single DisplayPort and a USB Type-C port too.
| MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED | Specification |
|---|---|
| Max Resolution | 3440 x 1440 |
| Refresh Rate | 175Hz |
| Response Time | 0.03ms |
| Panel Type | QD-OLED |
| Adaptive Sync | AMD FreeSync Premium Pro |
The stand on the MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED is one of the drawbacks on what is still an excellent OLED monitor, as it is rather large in comparison to other products, in order to support the weight of the display itself, and also offers little adjustability when sat on a desk. Also, the gold accents that feature throughout the design of this monitor make the monitor feel tacky and cheap, rather than the intended premium product that was intended.
Pros
- QD-OLED panel
- 1440p gaming
- Accessibility & customisation
Cons
- Lacks adjustability
- Gold accents
Suggested Article: Best Gaming Monitors to Buy in 2023
How We Test The Best OLED Monitors
The range of OLED monitors are some of the most premium products on the market, often being priced at the top-end of budgets, so it can be difficult to determine what OLED monitor is best to buy. After separating each display based on various factors, we pinpointed what we think are the best OLED monitors you can pick up. The factors used to determine the best OLED monitor included the following:
- Form Factor
- Resolution
- Refresh Rate
- Performance
- Adjustability
- Connectivity
- Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OLED Worth It?
Yes! OLED panels offer vibrancy and brightness that is unrivalled versus alternative monitors on the market.
Is Refresh Rate Important?
The higher the refresh rate of your monitor, the smoother your game will appear during intense gameplay.
FreeSync vs GSync?
FreeSync will work with any graphics card regardless of brand, while GSync is restricted to NVIDIA graphics cards only.
