These are the best 27-inch monitors money can buy

27-inch monitors are favored for their expansive screen real estate and high resolutions, while still being able to be placed side-by-side for a multi-panel setup. You may need one if you're working from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19) self-isolation or quarantine The Razer Raptor 27 is an incredible piece of kit. Rocking a 1440p resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, it demands to be used by gamers and creators alike.

Best Overall: Razer Raptor 27

Razer's Raptor 27 comes with a resolution of 2560 x 1440, a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, and HDR 400 certification. There's also the choice between NVIDIA or AMD synchronization technologies, and this panel can go bright with a max brightness of around 420 cd/m².

Razer has managed to strike a remarkable balance between gaming, pro graphics, and a stylish design.

These specifications make the Raptor 27 not only ideal for playing PC games but also doing some work too. There are plenty of ports, including DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0b, USB Type-A 3.2 passthrough, and a single USB Type-C PD (DP1.4 in Alt-mode). Being friendly with DCI-P3, sporting a non-glare finish on the panel itself, high AdobeRGB color accuracy, and the WQHD resolution make this a suitable choice for photo and video editing.

Using the Raptor with other Razer Chroma hardware makes for quite the visual experience too, allowing you to synchronize all the RGBs to work together and create some unique looking environments. The design of the Raptor 27 breaks the mold a little, including RGB lighting and fresh-looking cable management.

This is one gorgeous monitor, both on and off-screen, but it doesn't come cheap. Razer has managed to strike a remarkable balance between gaming, pro graphics, and a stylish design that has been absent from this category.

Pros:

• Non-Glare IPS WQHD
• Outstanding color accuracy
• HDR + 144Hz
• Cable management and design
• NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync

Cons:

• Expensive
• Proprietary cables

Best Overall

Razer Raptor 27

• $700 from Razer

Perfect for gaming or graphics work

Razer created the perfect display for both work and play, allowing you to get more done during work hours and enjoy a little downtime, too.

Best Value: Dell UltraSharp U2719D

Dell's UltraSharp U2719D is a fantastic monitor. The ultra-thin bezel means more screen and less distraction so that you can stay focused on the task at hand, and its 8ms response time means you shouldn't notice ghosting or judder too frequently in games. There's a fast mode, which brings down the response time to just 5ms, makes everything considerably better, but it still falls short of other gaming displays.

Dell offers some excellent value with this display.

One highlight of the U2719D is the plethora of media connections, so you won't have to compromise on what peripherals get to stay plugged in and which ones you have to switch out all the time. We've got DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 1.4, five USB 3.0 ports, and a 3.5mm jack. This is more than enough to hook up various devices on the desk.

And should you grow tired of the included stand, the available VESA support allows the use of a third-party stand or mount, making it an ideal option for multi-display setups.

Pros:

• Sleek design
• VESA
• Color reproduction
• IPS panel
• Great value

Cons:

• Not the best for gaming
• No G-Sync or FreeSync
• 60Hz refresh rate

Best Value

Dell UltraSharp U2719D

• $380 from Dell

A solid monitor with everything you need

Dell makes some excellent monitors, and the U2719D is a fine example. It has everything you need, including HDMI and DisplayPort, IPS panel, VESA support, and a resolution of 2560x1440, so you can get anything you want done.

Best 4K: HP Z27

The HP Z27 is a spectacular all-round pick for those who want an UHD display. It's slim, is beautifully designed, has an adjustable stand, wide viewing angles thanks to the IPS panel, USB-C connectivity, and even a few USB-A 3.0 ports for all your accessories. HP build this thing with productivity in mind.

For picture quality, this is one sleek screen. It has everything a work station would need, 4K resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and an 8ms response time. These aren't amazing specs for gamers, but if you're planning to use your workstation for... well, work, it's a gorgeous screen to gaze at. For some peace of mind, the Z27 comes with HP's Zero Bright Dots warranty, which allows you to get a replacement if a single full pixel is defective.

Pros

• Thin bezel
• Sleek design
• USB-C connectivity
• Adjustable stand
• Strong warranty

Cons

• No FreeSync or G-Sync
• Relatively costly

Best 4K

HP Z27

$539 at HP

Best monitor for more people

With USB-C connectivity, slim bezel, and a beautiful 4K picture, HP's Z27 is no doubt the best pick for most people.

Best Budget: Philips 276E9QDSB

When you're on the hunt for an affordable display, you could do much worse than the Philips 276E9QDSB. It's not the friendliest of names out there for a monitor, but this is a pretty solid option, considering the price. It's a 1080p display with a refresh rate of 75Hz, has FreeSync support, which is ideal if you have an AMD GPU, and comes with pretty good colors thanks to the IPS panel.

Some downsides to this display are the lack of DisplayPort - you only get HDMI, DVI-D, and VGA - and there's no option for G-Sync so that NVIDIA GPU owners will be out of luck for gaming. Lastly, the stand isn't that adjustable, but as a budget option, this monitor has a lot going for it where it matters most.

Pros

• Thin bezel
• IPS panel
• Good color reproduction
• 4-year warranty

Cons

• No G-Sync
• Stand barely adjustable

Best Budget

Philips 276E9QDSB

$130 at Amazon

Great for saving money

Not everyone requires the best monitors out there. If you infrequently work from home or play games on the weekend, a budget-friendly display is all you need.

Best G-SYNC Gaming: ASUS ROG Swift PG278QR

Partnering up your NVIDIA GPU with a G-SYNC monitor, like in this ASUS example, results in some super-smooth gaming. There's the option of DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB, as well as VESA, if you desire a multi-screen setup using a monitor arm. And it's not just good for gaming.

The 1440p resolution, 1ms response time, and an overclocked refresh rate of up to 165Hz makes this a solid all-round display. Factor in some impressive colors for the price, and you've got yourself a winner for work and play. So long as you don't need super-accurate colors, this TN monitor will be a good fit.

Pros

• 1440p resolution
• NVIDIA G-SYNC
• 1ms response time
• 165Hz refresh rate
• Solid stand

Cons

• Colors slightly washed out

Best G-SYNC Gaming

ASUS ROG Swift PG278QR

$464 at Amazon

For NVIDIA PC gamers

ASUS packs everything gamers need into the PG278QR display, including 1440p, a 1ms response time, and an overclocked refresh rate of up to 165Hz.

Best FreeSync Gaming: AOC Agon AG273QCX

This curved entry from AOC is ideal for AMD FreeSync gamers who also happen to be fans of curved panels. The AOC Agon AG273QCX rocks a 1440p resolution, HDR, 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and comes with support for either NVIDIA G-Sync or FreeSync from AMD.

There's plenty to like here, including the excellent stand and exceptional gaming performance, but you'll likely find the HDR implementation a little on the weak side. The RGB lighting on the rear of the display is a strange design element too. Still, it's a great FreeSync panel.

Pros

• Affordable curved design
• Solid build
• Excellent refresh and response times
• Full swivel, tilt, and height adjustment

Cons

• Weak HDR
• RGB light placement makes no sense

Best FreeSync Gaming

AOC Agon AG273QCX

$380 at Amazon

For AMD PC gamers

The curvaceous AOC Agon AG273QCX offers incredible performance for a great, affordable price, but the HDR is a little weak.

Bottom line

Our favorite 27-inch monitor is the Razer Raptor 27. It's an incredible piece of kit that deserves a spot on your desk. Not only is it great for gaming with either NVIDIA G-Sync or AMD FreeSync, but it's also good for work with accurate color reproduction, decent HDR, and anti-glare panel.

Not everyone has $700 to shell out for a new monitor (or two), which is where the Dell UltraSharp U2719D comes into play. It also rocks a 1440p resolution and some solid colors, like the Raptor, but there's no sync support for gaming.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Rich Edmonds is a staff reviewer at Windows Central, which means he tests out more software and hardware than he cares to remember. Joining Mobile Nations in 2010, you can usually find him inside a PC case tinkering around when not at a screen fighting with Grammarly to use British words. Hit him up on Twitter: @RichEdmonds.

Cale Hunt is a full-time writer for Windows Central, focusing mainly on PC hardware and VR. He is an avid PC gamer and multi-platform user, and when he has some free time, you can usually find him practicing guitar or reorganizing his ever-growing library. If you hear him say, "Sorry!" it's only because he's Canadian.

Richard Devine Richard Devine is an Editor at Windows Central. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him covering all manner of PC hardware and gaming.