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So, you're fed up with using your parents' TV to play your games, and you think it's time to upgrade to a true gaming monitor. That's all fine and dandy until you realize there is a virtual sea of gaming monitor options out there, and you have no idea which one is for you.
A lot of companies manufacture gaming monitors, and each brand has numerous options to choose from. So if you're confused which one you should get, don't fear! Here are six tips to help you find the perfect gaming monitor for you.
1. Establish Your Price Range
Suffice to say; you need to know how much you're willing to spend on a gaming monitor. But truth be told, gaming monitors are a bit different from TVs and other monitors. They offer better visuals and lower latency than the monitors your bank tellers use. Hence, getting the perfect one is going to cost good money.
When buying a monitor, you first need to find the general price you're willing to pay and then start looking around for products at that range. Also, you should avoid companies that are notorious for selling overpriced products based merely on their names. Some companies inflate their prices just because of a specific make and model's popularity.
2. Pick the Resolution Right for You
A big part of picking a new gaming monitor is finding a suitable resolution for your purpose. Some people want super crisp details, while others are happy with good old 1080p, so think about what you want. Gaming monitors typically come between 1080p and 4K resolution, and the price goes up as you pack in more pixels.
If you want a larger screen, you should go for a higher resolution display. But if you don't care about sharpness and extreme detail, you can still stick to 1080p. On the other hand, if you want to maximize your immersion, you'll most likely want to know about the difference between 1440p and 4K. You can then pick between the two, finding the right balance between display quality and other features.
3. Learn About the Different Display Features and Choose Which Ones You Need
The main thing about gaming monitors is their toolbelt of features that make them optimal for gaming. It's essential to know what features you actually want.
If you don't care for the refresh rate, there's no need to pay more for a 144Hz display. If you don't care about color and contrast, you could avoid OLED displays. And if you don't care about extreme detail, don't prioritize 4K UHD resolution.
Think about the features you value most, and pick a monitor with those features instead of going all out on technical options you're not going to use anyway.
4. Think About the Right Size for Your Setup
Before buying your new gaming monitor, check it will fit in your setup. You don't want to wind up buying one that's either too big or too small. Measure how much space you have on your desk and think about what it could be blocking or taking space away from.
5. Read and Watch Reviews
If you think you've found the perfect monitor, the next step is looking up reviews. Product pages often have written reviews and customer ratings. Needless to say, if a gaming monitor has a low average rating and has a bunch of angry reviews, you wouldn't want to buy it. Also, if you see thousands of spam reviews, that means the seller could be hiding something you don't like.
Reviews give you a lot more insight than just a list of specs and features. They are the experiences of people who've tried them out in the real world and either want to recommend or reprimand them.
6. Check Store Return Policies
So, you've done the research and chosen your dream gaming monitor. Before you click to checkout on the store page, ask yourself: "What if it's not what I want?"
This is where return policies come in handy. So be sure to pick a vendor that will let you return or exchange the product if you change your mind.
A Little Research Can Go a Long Way
Finding the right gaming monitor can be a pain, but it won't be if you do just a bit of research. Getting the right one should be no sweat if you know what you want in a gaming monitor. Having the correct information before adding the item to your online cart can mean the difference between spending and wasting money.