When you want to have a smooth gaming experience, having a monitor that will deliver what the game has to offer best is a must. You might spend lots of money enhancing your games, but what is the use if you don’t invest in a monitor that can execute it? Owning a monitor with a low response time and high refresh rate is imperative if you want to play League of Legends like how you should play it! And since we know the market is flooding with options, we prepared this review to help you find the best monitor for LoL.
League of Legends is one of the games that are on the top of the list and has a massive community, and I’m pretty sure you are an LoL player, too, if you are reading this! League is an addictive game that is hard to leave once you start playing. And you deserve to have a monitor that matches and fulfills your enthusiasm.
If you need to upgrade your monitor so that you can enjoy your gaming sessions more, then continue reading. In this article, we have a list of monitors hand-picked for gamers. But before heading to the product reviews, here are some common questions answered you might want to check out.
In a hurry? Here are our top gaming monitor picks for League of Legends!
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What are the benefits of having a good monitor?
Monitors are an essential part of the equipment you need to play online competitive games or ace at them! With several improvements made in monitors these days, you will have a better gaming experience with a good monitor. Some of these improvements include low input delay, high refresh rates, high resolutions, and low response time. Your monitor can make a considerable difference in how enjoyable your game is when you play competitive games like League of Legends.
What is the best monitor size for League of Legends?
For League of Legends and pretty much any other multiplayer battle game, the monitor size depends mainly on the player’s preference. Although larger-sized ones are most preferred these days by gamers, small monitors have their advantages too. Monitors come in 24-25″, 27″, 28-32″, 34″, and super-ultra wide sizes. For most people, 24″ and 27″ gaming monitors are the best ones as they provide ample screen space for an immersive gaming experience without being too large and space-consuming.
What monitors are used in the LCS?
Although people use a variety of monitors of different brands at the LCS, one of the most popular ones is the Acer Predator XB241H 24″ monitor. Luckily, we have this monitor on our review list, and it has earned its place in the best-overall position. It is a monitor recommended and acclaimed not only by professional gamers but also by Riot Games.
How do I choose the perfect monitor for League of Legends?
Here are some important aspects to consider while choosing the perfect monitor for League of Legends:
– Screen resolution and size
This is one of the most important factors that will determine your visual and the whole gaming experience. You will make the sole decision of whether you want your game to have a clear visual up to the last detail or settle with a regular resolution. But without a good screen resolution and size, your gaming experience will not be as enjoyable. Therefore, we recommend that you select a monitor of a minimum of 24-inches and 1080 pixels resolution.
– Response time
When you are buying a monitor for gaming, response time will matter a lot. The shorter the response time, the more fluid your gaming experience will be. It will also reduce blurry images and motion blurring significantly.
– Refresh rate
If the monitor you are planning to buy has a high refresh rate (minimum 100Hz), you will enjoy lag-free gameplay. And if you go for one that has a low refresh rate, your gameplay will not be smooth. We recommend you to buy a monitor that has a refresh rate of at least 100 Hz.
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1. Best Overall: Acer Predator XB241H 24″ Monitor
There is a reason why the first product on our list, the Acer Predator XB241H 24″ Monitor, is our top choice and the best overall product for this review. This high-quality monitor gives the ultimate performance during gaming and is acclaimed by both casual gamers and pros alike. When you come across the words “TN display,” your initial reaction might be “cheap and fast.” However, we must tell you that only the latter applies to this product.
If you are looking for a high-quality monitor to ace at all your League of Legends sessions, we highly recommend this one by Acer – it is the one product that will fulfill all your visual needs! Compared to other monitors with TN panels, the Acer Predator XB241H 24″ is on another level. But what makes it so desirable?
Firstly, let’s talk about the design- it has an incredible matte black finish with an angular stand that screams out the word ‘gaming’! Red highlights on the stand, thin bezels, and height adjustability are some of the other features this monitor boasts having. You can also keep it on any 100×100 VESA mount.
As far as the display of the Acer Predator XB241H 24″ monitor goes, it has a 144Hz panel, which you can overclock to 180Hz with a response time of 1ms. It makes playing League of Legends fluid-like and much more responsive than playing on your usual monitors with a 60Hz/4ms display. While we all know that a TN panel has some weaknesses compared with VA and IPS ones, this monitor is quite good at alleviating them.
The color range of this monitor is impressive for a TN panel and has decent contrast. Also, if you have any problems with the viewing angles or color distortions, you know you can easily fix it by just adjusting the stand.
Did you know? The Acer Predator XB241H 24″ Monitor is one of the most used monitors in the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS). And we can say it is the perfect way to justify the quality of this monitor’s features. Some of its additional features are Nvidia G-Sync and built-in speakers. All in all, the XB241H does an impressive job and can be as good as any monitor of a higher range.
2. Runner Up: Alienware NEW AW2720HF 27″ Monitor
The Alienware NEW AW2720HF has an attractive matte design backed by a list of features that makes it one of the most desirable gaming monitors. You could say it is one of the best-looking monitors with a 27-inch display and IPS system. But is the performance and quality equally impressive as its design? Read on to find out.
Even though it’s made mostly of plastic, the chassis has an excellent build quality, so you don’t have to worry about it being fragile. This monitor’s on-screen display controls are very user-friendly due to the four hotkeys and a joystick included in it. The stand allows you to adjust the monitor’s height, tilt, pivot, and swivel. It has a Y-shaped bottom that drops the need for VESA mounts, but you can still use a 100 x 100 VESA mount if you prefer to.
When it comes to the display of the Alienware NEW AW2720HF, it has a 1920×1080 resolution 27-inch panel with a refresh rate of 240Hz and 1ms response time. Although the 1920×1080 resolution is not ideal for its 27″ size, it shouldn’t be a big issue for gamers unless they intend to view it from afar.
One of the strongest features of the Alienware NEW AW2720HF is its high motion handling capability, which is beneficial when gaming. It is a FreeSync monitor but also compatible with G-Sync. Overall, this monitor is arguably the best-looking one with its RGB execution. Its ports are placed thoughtfully, and the proportions are reasonable.
3. Budget Pick: Dell Curved Gaming S2721HGF 27″ Monitor
If you are looking for a relatively fair priced monitor that still performs and executes features like a high-end one, the Dell Curved Gaming S2721HGF 27″ Monitor might be for you. Boasting a stylish curved monitor of 27 inches, this product is an ideal choice for vivid gamers who require a monitor with a strong display. You get an FHD 1080p resolution with a 1ms response time and 144Hz refresh rate. You also don’t have to worry about screen tearing and other display distortions due to its AMD FreeSync Premium features.
The chassis may not be something very unique, but it has an all-black body and minimalistic design. If you don’t want an overly extravagant monitor, you will find this model aesthetically pleasing. The monitor’s stand requires only 9 inches of your desk space, giving you ample room to place other gaming equipment. Since the stand’s base is thick and sturdy, you don’t have to worry about a shaky and unstable monitor.
The monitor has thin bezels; however, the bottom bezel is thicker than the other sides. You can tilt the monitor 21 degrees upwards and a slight -5 degrees downwards. The height is also adjustable up to 4 inches, but it cannot pivot or swivel.
Setting up the Dell S2721HGF Monitor is quite easy, where all you need to do is attach the monitor and the stand and tighten it by turning the knob. It comes with four buttons and a joystick at the back, which you can easily access to launch the menu and change brightness/contrast, display, audio, and personalization settings.
The bottom line is that the Dell Curved Gaming S2721HGF 27″ Monitor is an excellent option for those looking for a reasonably priced one. It performs incredibly, has a minimalistic design, and is very easy to install. The game-optimized options in the menu enhance gamers’ experience while playing games like League of Legends.
4. Used by Cloud9: BenQ ZOWIE XL2430 24″ 144Hz Gaming Monitor
Known for producing excellent equipment for the most dedicated gamers, BenQ has given us yet another product- the ZOWIE XL2430 24″ 144Hz Gaming Monitor. When you know that organizations like Team Liquid, Immortals, and Cloud9 extensively use BenQ products, it means that BenQ Zowie exhibits high-quality monitors.
If you are searching for 144Hz monitors for gaming, then the BenQ ZOWIE XL2430 24″ 144Hz Gaming Monitor might be your best option. The monitor offers gamers the ultimate gaming experience with its unparalleled performance and innovative technology. During intense play in the League of Legends, speed can be a huge factor to determine win or loss. This monitor offers lightning-fast speed with a 144Hz refresh rate and a response time of 1ms. It also has excellent contrast and vivid colors that make detailing great.
The hardware has a matte black coat that prevents glare and also gives a smooth look, while the almost-invisible bezels make it a great-looking monitor. There are audio jacks, two 3.0 USB slots, and a headset hanger located behind the left bezel. And on the right bezel, you will find five OSD buttons that you can access to adjust the aspect ratios, Blur Reduction, picture modes, and other OSD options. There are a plethora of connectivity options to meet your input requirements on this monitor. So you wouldn’t have any connectivity problems with this unit.
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2430 24″ 144Hz Gaming Monitor does an impressive job of giving a robust gaming experience for people wanting to upgrade from their older monitors. It has incredible contrast and color performances, and the overall features of this unit are worth the price.
However, like every other monitor in the market, there are some minor drawbacks to this item too. The factory presets lack accuracy and picture output, but thankfully that can be customized in the standard model. It just might not be very user-friendly for beginners who have no technical knowledge and experience.
5. Used by TSM: Asus VG248QE 24″ Gaming Monitor
One of the most popular 24″ gaming monitors in the market, the Asus VG248QE 24″ monitor is a durable, versatile monitor that you can rely on for pretty much all of your needs. It can pivot in many directions and has immense flexibility, making it easy for you to set it up on any desktop.
With a response time of only 1ms, it is one of the fastest monitors you can find today. And with speed as the one determining factor for games like League of Legends, this product is popular among many gaming enthusiasts. The only issue might be its price and its extra features like GamePlus, which is unnecessary for League of Legends.
The Asus VG248QE 24″ Monitor has super thin, black bezels with a glossy finish and a black cabinet with a rounded-base stand. The base of the stand sports a Lazy Susan swivel function and a height-adjustable mounting arm which you can pivot and tilt. You will find six function buttons under the bottom bezel. These buttons are for adjusting your picture presets, adjusting the aiming scope, and game timer using the GamePlus feature.
Performance-wise, the Asus VG248QE 24″ Monitor is impressive. It features a Twisted Nematic Film (TN) panel with a 1ms response time that prevents trailing and ghosting visibility in the game. At 144Hz, the input lag time goes only up to ˜5ms, making it perfect for gaming, even at professional levels. When it comes to viewing angles, the performance of Asus VG248QE is lacking and not ideal for 3D games, but if what you require is fluid-like motion handling, this monitor will deliver it.
6. IIYAMA GB2560HSU Gaming Monitor
Iiyama is a brand known to cater to professional markets and manufacture high-end products. But recently, they have also been developing gaming screens, such as the IIYAMA GB2560HSU Gaming Monitor. This unit has premium features, offering adaptive sync and a high refresh rate, but is reasonably priced.
The IIYAMA GB2560HSU Gaming Monitor features TN paneling and has a fast 1ms response rate, which is great for gaming as you will not experience ghosting. However, color and contrast in the TN panel are relatively poorer compared to VA and IPS technology. Nevertheless, it has a 1000:1 contrast rating and brightness up to 400cd/m2, which is quite impressive. It offers AMD FreeSync support, which is essential for a monitor designed for gaming.
This model has an almost-frameless design with thin bezels on the sides. There are buttons on the bottom bezel base, which is different from the other Iiyama screens, which have touch-sensitive controls. The stand is quite large and takes up a little more space on the desk than we would like. You can adjust the monitor’s height up to 130mm; pivot, swivel, and tilt it to the position you like. As far as the outputs go, there is a display port, an HDMI port, and two USB ports. The monitor has outstanding speed performance and graphics.
Conclusion
For the wrap-up, we would say that the products reviewed above are some of the best ones for gaming. Each one is unique in at least one feature. Hopefully, you have found your ideal gaming monitor. We are certain that buying any one of these products will be worth it. Happy gaming!
Check out our article on using a FreeSync monitor with an Nvidia graphic card.