Gaming monitors have been one of the best upgrades you could make to your gaming PC this year. In anticipation of the graphics card market finally evening itself out, and actual stock being available where it hasn’t been all year, a gaming monitor has been a prime way to prepare your setup for the ultimate power to come. Especially since they’re one of the few products hardly affected by all that’s going on in the world.

We’ve seen plenty of worthy contenders for the best gaming monitor popping up over the past year, but we’ve somehow managed to narrow it down to just three of the best to vie for the crown. Each of these is a top-tier example of a gaming monitor, with ultra-low latency, high refresh rates, glorious image quality, and some kind of silky frame sync tech to reduce screen tear—but which of the three will tear the others a new one?

Perhaps it’ll be the curved and sumptuous Dell S2722DGM VA panel, which hits the 1440p/165Hz sweet spot for current-gen graphics cards, but which is actually affordable;  the vast, and ever so uncomplicated Asus TUF Gaming VG32VQ; or the illuminated and overclockable Gigabyte Aorus FI32Q.

Stay tuned for when we make the winners announcements on New Year’s Eve, you may even be surprised about which one comes out on top… but which would take your fancy?

Best gaming monitor 2021: the nominees 

The winner of the PC Gamer Hardware Award for the best gaming monitor will be announced on New Year’s Eve. It’s all to play for, and any one of these three is completely deserving of the crown.