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Best HDMI 2.1 monitor in 2026: our top picks tested for console gamers and beyond

We pick a range of monitors with this latest connectivity tech, covering different sizes, resolutions, and price points
Aaron Ritchie
Last Updated on

Reviewed By: Sebastian Kozlowski

Best HDMI 2.1 monitor in 2026: our top picks tested for console gamers and beyond
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Table of Contents

If you’re looking for a gaming monitor or productivity display for your needs that has HDMI 2.1 connectivity, then we’ve got a range of selections for you. This guide covers 1440p, 4K, ultrawide, and super ultrawide monitors from a range of brands and price points.

HDMI 2.1 is primarily useful for high-resolution monitors, as it supports 8K at 60Hz, 4K at 120Hz, and 240Hz for QHD. Although DisplayPort 2.1 supports higher refresh rates at 4K and other resolutions, not every device has DisplayPort functionality. Console users, in particular, only have the option of using HDMI. HDMI 2.1 is fully supported by the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, so if you want to play games at the higher resolutions and refresh rates on a console, the monitors on this list are what you’re looking for.

We’ve listed the pros and cons of each of these displays and discussed the features of each that you need to be aware of. Whilst these picks are all solid monitors, the reality is that there’s often a trade-off somewhere that you have to make—it’s our job to help you find the one that makes the most sense for you!

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Prices correct as of September 21st, 2026.

Products at a glance

How we pick the best HDMI 2.1 monitors

Our selection process for the best HDMI 2.1 monitors is rooted in a number of technical specifications, hands-on reviews, and performance tests. We examine factors such as resolution, refresh rate, color accuracy, and input connectivity to ensure each monitor is suited for gaming and/or professional use. Practical, real-world testing is just as important as the technical data; we look at how each device performs across different scenarios, from productivity to gaming.

HDMI 2.1 monitors can range in price fairly dramatically, so we have included a nice range of picks to suit all our readers’ budgets—you’re sure to find one that suits your needs from the list below. 

Best Ultrawide
01
Excellent

Innocn 49Q1S

Hands-on Review
4.5 /5
Editor’s Rating
How We Review
Reasons to Buy
  • More affordable than the competition
  • A huge amount of screen real estate
  • 240Hz refresh rate at super ultrawide resolution
  • OLED panel has fantastic contrast ratio
  • Excellent response time & motion clarity
  • 100% sRGB coverage is achievable with high color accuracy
  • 90W USB-C Power Delivery, KVM switch, ethernet port & integrated mic
Reasons to Avoid
  • Lots of screen wobble
  • Cheap build quality
  • Limited brightness, as with most OLEDs
  • DisplayPort 1.4 only
  • This size & aspect ratio isn’t for everybody

If you’re looking for a monitor with an HDMI 2.1 port that is perfect for gaming and productivity, we recommend the INNOCN 49Q1S. We’ve put this monitor through its paces in-house during our review, and it showcased excellent performance and value, earning it a 4.5/5 rating from us. This beast features a massive 49″ QD-OLED panel with an 1800R curvature, which should deliver an exceptional immersive experience.

Keep in mind that it has a 5120×1440 resolution, which is like having two 27″ 1440p monitors side by side, and the 32:9 aspect ratio should reveal hidden areain the battlefield and enable you to open multiple apps side by side to enhance your efficiency and productivity. Another reason this is great is that 1440p is generally easier for GPUs to handle than 4K on such a massive screen. With a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time, competitive gaming should be easy, especially given the AI upscaling modern GPUs offer.

Packing the same superb 240Hz QD-OLED panel as the more widely known 5120×1440 monitors out there, plus a solid amount of features and an array of ports which is actually superior.

PC Guide

That being said, let’s see how it performed during our in-house testing. While the manufacturer boasts 99% DCI-P3 coverage, we could only see it reach 96.8% DCI-P3, while sRGB soared to 99.7%. However, to our surprise, the sRGB preset mode reduced this percentage to 92.7%, so we recommend experimenting with the settings to see which works best for you and your requirements.

When it came to panel uniformity, the 49Q1S passed with flying colors, with no zones out of sync, making it the best ultrawide monitor we’ve seen here at PC Guide. Since this is an OLED monitor, the black point and contrast were amazing, which isn’t a surprise, but the best color accuracy we saw was when we switched over to the sRGB preset. This mode also managed an average deltaE*00 score of 1.12, which should allow it to be used for professional content creation, editing, and designing due to the color accuracy.

Overall, this monitor offers plenty of screen real estate to fuel your work without a hitch, and you can seamlessly switch to gaming given its specifications. The gameplay should be smooth, and the response time should ensure that there is virtually no input lag, making it suitable for competitive gaming.

Best 4K OLED
02
Excellent

MSI MPG 32″ QD-OLED 4K Gaming Monitor (321URX)

Hands-on Review
4.5 /5
Editor’s Rating
How We Review
Specifications
  • Panel type: QD-OLED
  • Resolution: 3840 x 2160
  • Refresh rate: 240Hz
  • Response time: 0.03ms
  • Panel size: 32″
  • I/O ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C (DP & 90W Power Delivery), 2x USB-A 2.0, 1x USB-B 2.0 upstream, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
Reasons to Buy
  • 4K resolution at 32” gives high pixel density
  • 240Hz with excellent response time
  • OLED panel has fantastic contrast ratio
  • 99% DCI-P3 coverage & high color accuracy
  • KVM switch, USB hub & 9
  • Good value for money
Reasons to Avoid
  • Not very bright
  • Utilitarian appearance

The top pick for the 4K category is a superb MSI OLED display, the MPG 321URX. This monitor strikes a solid balance between cutting-edge performance and practical features, and comes at a surprisingly reasonable price for what it offers. When we reviewed the MSI MPG 321URX, it had a very well-balanced output, but something you’d expect from a premium 4K OLED offering.

When it comes to gaming, the MPG 321URX doesn’t disappoint. Its 240Hz refresh rate, combined with ultra-fast response times thanks to QD-OLED technology, ensures fluid motion and responsive play with virtually no blur. It’s more than enough for serious gamers; the reality is you’ll struggle to play most titles at above 240 FPS at 4K anyway, even with an extremely powerful PC. On top of that, if you’re using an HDMI 2.1 connection, you’ll be limited to 120Hz at 4K anyway, and you’ll need to switch to DisplayPort to push past that limit.

The color accuracy of this monitor is impressive, achieving 99%, 94.1%, and 97.4% in the sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 color spaces, respectively. This means you should be able to handle professional color grading tasks in sRGB and even use DCI-P3 for amateur work, but we won’t recommend using Adobe RGB for content creation and other creative workflows.

The MSI MPG 321URX is very nearly the perfect monitor for 4K gaming, as long as you don’t mind the low peak SDR brightness that affects basically all OLED displays, the DisplayPort 1.4 limitations, or the lack of native VRR support.

PC Guide

As an OLED gaming monitor, the contrast and black levels were exceptional across all presets, but the preset with the best overall performance was sRGB. This mode had an average deltaE*00 score of 1.03, with a peak brightness of 170.3cd/m2. However, the whites were a bit high at 6767K, but that shouldn’t stop you from doing color grading at a professional level.

Regarding panel uniformity, most zones had a variance of 1-3, which highlights the yellow zones; of the 25 zones, 18 were yellow. That being said, this difference isn’t something that you can catch with the naked eye, but when it comes to creative workflows, this might cause an issue, and we won’t recommend this monitor for that.

This 32-inch display is equipped with several quality-of-life enhancements that make it more than just a gaming monitor: with built-in USB ports, 90W USB-C power delivery, and an integrated KVM switch, it’s well-suited for productivity tasks or creative projects. So, considering everything that it has to offer and the performance it showcased, we think this is a great gaming monitor, but due to the panel uniformity, another option will be better suited for editing, etc.

Best super fast refresh rate
03
  • The INNOCN GA27M1Q monitor standing on a white table with the box to its side, with a background of PC components on a bookshelf.
  • The INNOCN GA27M1Q monitor standing on a white table with a background of a bookshelf with PC component boxes on it.
  • The INNOCN GA27M1Q monitor standing on a white table with a background of a bookshelf with PC component boxes on it.
  • The INNOCN GA27M1Q monitor standing on white table, turned vertical, with a background of PC component boxes on a bookshelf.
  • The INNOCN GA27M1Q standing on the white table, with its back towards the camera, with a bookshelf in the background with PC component boxes on it.
  • The back of the INNOCN GA27M1Q monitor on the left showing the control joystick, with the power button underneath.
  • The back of the INNOCN GA27M1Q showing the bottom port, with the 3.5mm audio port and DC power port.
  • The back of the INNOCN GA27M1Q and the ports at the bottom, it shows two USB-A, one USB-B, two HDMI, and two DisplayPort ports.
  • The back of the INNOCN GA27M1Q showing the halo of lights in blue surrounding the stand attachment.
  • The INNOCN GA27M1Q stand on a white table with a background of PC components on a bookshelf.
  • The bottom of the INNOCN GA27M1Q stand, lying on a white table.
  • The rear of the INNOCN GA27M1Q laying flat on the table on a cover. With the ports at the bottom, buttons on the left and halo in the mid wiht the stand opening.
  • The back of the INNOCN GA27M1Q showing the halo of lights in blue surrounding the stand attachment.
  • The back of the INNOCN GA27M1Q showing the power button backlit in white, and a joystick above it.
  • The accessories for the INNOCN GA27M1Q monitor laid out on a white table. There is a manual and booklets, a power cable, and display cables.
Highly Recommended

INNOCN GA27M1Q

Hands-on Review
4 /5
Editor’s Rating
How We Review
Specifications
  • Panel type: QD-OLED
  • Resolution: 2560 x 1440 (QHD)
  • Refresh rate: 500Hz
  • Response time: 0.03ms (GtG)
  • Panel size: 27-inch
  • I/O ports: 1x 3.5mm Audio Out, USB 3.1 Gen 1 (1x Type-B Upstream, 2x Type-A Downstream), 2x HDMI 2.1, 2x DP 1.4

Now, if you are after getting the competitive advantage, you want a monitor that has a high refresh rate. As well as having the hardware to run it, achieving those fast frame rates means being able to see everything happening in-game and on-screen sooner.

It also keeps the clarity of the visuals as they move across your screen, so if you have an enemy running across and peeking at you, you’ll be able to flick to them even quicker. So a monitor with HDMI 2.1 and a 500Hz refresh rate is the INNOCN GA27M1Q. Made with a QD-OLED panel and a 1440p resolution at 27 inches, the monitor has a lot to offer in its design.

Crucially, in our review, we also found the monitor to have a fast response time, with the average initial time and perceived time around 0.66 and 0.77ms. Plus, those tests show it also has a fairly robust panel uniformity across the whole screen, keeping the brightness and color accuracy in each of the squares we tested.

The INNOCN GA27M1Q is a strong-performing OLED monitor. Featuring a 1440p resolution and a 500Hz refresh rate, it delivers a noticeable improvement that results in a display that both looks and feels excellent.

PC Guide

As for the color reproduction on the monitor, it does have a good gamut and coverage. With 100% of the sRGB, 94.8% of Adobe RGB, and 98% of DCI-P3, it’s even a decent option for color accuracy. It also has presets that give it solid color accuracy with sRGB mode, keeping it in 1.26 average deltaE, with a max below 3.

While gaming, the 500Hz combined with VRR does create an excellent feeling experience. Which, alongside the QD-OLED panel, does make for a top gaming experience in everything you do. Plus, with the 1440p quality, it offers great visuals; you just have to be sure to have the hardware to run that.

Best 27″
04
Excellent

MSI MPG 272URX 4K QD-OLED

Hands-on Review
4.5 /5
Editor’s Rating
How We Review
Specifications
  • Panel type: QD-OLED
  • Resolution: 3840 x 2160
  • Refresh rate: 240Hz
  • Response time: 0.03ms
  • Panel size: 27″
  • I/O ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 2.1, 1x USB-C (DP & 98W Power Delivery), 2x USB-A, 1x USB-B, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
Reasons to Buy
  • 240Hz refresh rate at 4K resolution
  • High 166ppi means good text clarity
  • OLED panel has fantastic contrast ratio
  • Excellent response time & motion clarity
  • 100% sRGB & 98% DCI-P3 coverage & very high color accuracy
  • DisplayPort 2.1 & HDMI 2.1
  • 98W USB-C Power Delivery & KVM switch
  • A good array of ports
Reasons to Avoid
  • Very expensive
  • Peak SDR brightness low as with other OLEDs
  • Full native G-Sync integration would have been nice
  • Aesthetics are not quite premium

One of the best gaming monitor sizes for competitive gaming is considered to be 27″ and if you were looking for such an option, we’ve reviewed the MSI MPG 272URX gaming monitor and would highly recommend it. The graphics quality with this monitor should be out of this world, as it has a 4K resolution on a 27″ QD-OLED panel, meaning the pixel density is high, and the overall picture quality should be like nothing you’ve seen before.

With a 240Hz refresh rate and an inhumanly low response time of 0.03ms, this gaming monitor is made for the grand stage and should ensure that, regardless of the title you’re playing, you get a smooth and visually exceptional experience. That being said, with the HDMI 2.1 connection, you’ll be limited to 120Hz at 4K, and to experience the glory of 240Hz, you’ll need to switch over to DP 2.1.

If you can justify paying such a high asking price for a 27-inch monitor and desire such high resolution on this size of screen, there’s really not much to criticise with the MSI MPG 272URX

PC Guide

However, if you’re on a gaming console, that shouldn’t be an issue, as the PS5 is rated for 4K 120 FPS. The color accuracy of this gaming monitor is amazing, as it boasts a 99.6% sRGB coverage, which is effectively 100%, and a 96.7% DCI-P3 coverage. So, we’d recommend sticking to sRGB primarily and then the DCI-P3 color space for creative tasks, as they also had an average deltaE*00 score of 1.08 and 2.53, respectively.

It comes with two HDR modes: TrueBlack 400 and Peak 1000 nits. We only measured 10% of the screen size for the first mode and got a brightness of around 370 cd/m², which is close to 400. On the other hand, the screen size was further reduced to 2%, and we got 1,006 cd/m², which is even better than the 1000 nits peak brightness.

So, as far as that is concerned, this gaming monitor is offering the complete bang for your buck, and the best part is that it should be a great fit in a high-end gaming PC setup. There was minimal variation when it came to panel uniformity, which makes it the best 240Hz gaming monitor that we’ve tested, as it is perfect for pretty much anything you can imagine.

Best super ultrawide
05
Excellent

Acer Predator Z57 monitor

Hands-on Review
4.5 /5
Editor’s Rating
How We Review
Specifications
  • Refresh rate: 120Hz
  • Screen Size: 57″
  • Resolution : 7,680 x 2,160
  • Panel type: VA with MiniLED backlighting
  • Curve: 1000R
  • I/O ports: 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-C (90W power delivery), 2x USB-A (KVM Switch), 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
Reasons to Buy
  • Hugely immersive for games and video
  • Enormous screen real estate for productivity
  • Crisp, high-resolution image
  • Respectable SDR brightness
  • 100% sRGB coverage & high color accuracy
  • 90W USB-C Power Delivery & KVM switch
  • HDMI 2.1
  • FreeSync Premium
  • Cheaper than the Samsung alternative
Reasons to Avoid
  • Limited to 120Hz (compared to the 240Hz Samsung G9)
  • Dimming zone issues with HDR as with other Mini-LED monitors
  • Only a 2 year warranty
  • You’ll struggle to run most games at the native resolution
  • Huge desktop footprint
  • Still pricey

If a 49″ curved monitor isn’t cutting it for you and you’re looking for something that offers even more screen real estate, then the Acer Predator Z57 is perfect for you. This behemoth has a whopping 57″ VA panel with mini-LED backlighting, making it the largest mini-LED monitor we’ve reviewed, and the precision-controlled zones should deliver exceptional picture quality. It has a very aggressive 1000R curvature, which should encompass you when you’re gaming or working, and should allow you to easily open multiple tabs and windows for enhanced productivity.

It has a 7,680 x 2,160 resolution, which basically means dual 4K or having two 32″ 4K monitors side by side. So, this monitor isn’t holding back its punches, but due to its massive size, the refresh rate is limited to 120Hz. That being said, to make the most out of it, you’ll need a very powerful graphics card like the RTX 5090 to have a smooth gaming experience.

A truly colossal display, the Acer Predator Z57 is a fantastically immersive viewing experience for games in particular, although you’ll struggle to find many that can run at the native resolution.

PC Guide

There are some versatility options as well, such as a 90W USB-C port and the option to reduce the in-game resolution to 5120 x 1440, making it easy for the GPU. On top of that, it has a very big footprint, meaning you’ll need a large desk and its own dedicated space. The color gamut coverage is effectively 100% with the sRGB setting, and for creative tasks, we’d recommend sticking to the standard preset as it has the best deltaE*00 score of 1.13.

However, the panel uniformity came out with some high degrees of variation, meaning that the entire monitor isn’t the best for color grading and similar tasks. That being said, when you’ve got 57″ of screen, you don’t have to use the entire monitor. What this means is that you can run a similar task yourself and figure out the weak areas of the screen and simply avoid them.

This should allow you to handle graphical applications without worrying about the color being messed up. The experience of using this monitor is in a league of its own because when you’re almost wrapped in the display, whether you’re watching a movie or playing a game, you should feel like you’re in the middle of all the action. You can take this experience to the next level with a surround-sound system or a gaming headset with spatial audio.

Best value
06

Acer Nitro 27″ WQHD Gaming monitor XV272U F3bmiiprx

Specifications
  • Refresh rate: 300Hz
  • Resolution : 2560×1440
  • Panel type: IPS
  • I/O ports: 1 x DP 1.4 & 2 x HDMI 2.1
Reasons to Buy
  • Great option on a budget
  • 300Hz refresh rate
  • Up to 0.5ms response time
  • IPS panel has great color accuracy
  • It has two HDMI 2.1 ports
Reasons to Avoid
  • Not a premium offering
  • Limited to a 27″ display
  • Screen tearing, ghosting, and dead pixels have been reported

If you’re operating on a budget and want to grab a gaming monitor with HDMI 2.1 for less, we recommend checking out the Acer Nitro 27″ gaming monitor. At the time of writing, it is currently on sale on Amazon for only $199.99, while the original price tag is $299.99. So, this is a great option to consider, as it also has a 1440p resolution with a 300Hz refresh rate.

What this means is that you should be able to play any title with it as long as your gaming PC or console can push such high framerates. However, if you have a gaming PC, opting for DLSS 4 and other AI upscaling technologies should also net you amazing results. While it does have a DP 1.4 connection, the HDMI 2.1 has a better bandwidth and is more advanced, so it should allow you to make use of the full 300Hz limit.

The 0.5ms response time should ensure that you see the actions you’re performing with no lag because we can’t detect such minute reaction times with our naked eye, and the human response time isn’t this quick. So, you’ll have the hardware advantage in a firefight. The ZeroFrame design removes thick bezels from the sizes for maximum screen ratio, making this the best thin bezel monitor we’ve seen.

Why you can trust us

Here at PC Guide, we have a long history of testing monitors and TVs, including superwide monitors, IPS displays, and OLED gaming monitors. The process of testing these products involves a hands-on approach, real-world performance testing, in-depth evaluation, and other key factors such as build quality, response time, panel uniformity, brightness, and more. Our goal is to test and review every product we recommend, but in instances where we cannot do this, we still conduct in-depth research based on data provided by trusted third parties.

We do not have any bias toward any brands and judge the products solely on their performance, and showcase the output as it is to the reader. We believe in complete transparency and expect the same standard for our readers that we demand for ourselves.

The INNOCN GA27M1Q on a desk with a person at it with a mouse and keyboard playing Counter-Strike 2 on it.
INNOCN GA27M1Q CS2 3, Image by PC Guide

Things to Consider before you buy an HDMI 2.1 monitor

HDMI 2.1 vs HDMI 2.0 differences explained

HDMI 2.1 supports features that offer greater benefits to gamers, particularly compared to older standards. The main improvements are as follows:

Higher resolution & refresh rate support: HDMI 2.0, with its 18 Gbps bandwidth, is limited to 4K at 60Hz, whereas HDMI 2.1, with its higher 48 Gbps bandwidth, can do so at 120Hz. Furthermore, 2.0 cannot display 8K footage at all, whereas 2.1 can at 60Hz and even supports 10K at this refresh rate (though this is extremely rare, so it isn’t really much of a benefit at the moment).

Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support: HDMI 2.0 does not support VRR technology like AMD’s FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync, which are designed to reduce screen tearing when gaming. As a result, HDMI 2.1 is the superior option for gamers, particularly for those playing fast-paced first-person shooters, when this visual artifact becomes most apparent.

Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC): This is a feature within HDMI 2.1 that lets you transmit audio at a higher quality. The standard ARC in HDMI 2.0 isn’t capable of transmitting higher-quality audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

FAQs

Are HDMI 2.1 monitors worth it?

If you’ve got an Xbox Series X or a PS5 that you wish to connect to your display, then HDMI 2.1 monitors are definitely worth it. Similarly, if you have more than one monitor you want to connect to your PC, but only one DisplayPort output, HDMI 2.1 is a good alternative, even if it won’t quite reach the same maximum refresh rates.

Are HDMI 2.1 monitors good for gaming?

HDMI 2.1 monitors are usually later-gen models with a good refresh rate; in cases where this is true, they usually are good for gaming, but it depends on the specs of the specific model. The HDMI 2.1 connection is also good for gaming, as long as you don’t mind being limited to the refresh rate cap they impose.

At 1440p, you will be limited to a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz, and at 4K, a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, so if this is the most your monitor is capable of anyway, and/or if your PC can’t generate FPS higher than this, then this should be quite sufficient for your needs. If you need a greater refresh rate than this, we recommend using the DisplayPort connection instead, which supports higher refresh rates at both resolutions.

Are HDMI 2.1 and 2.0 backward compatible?

HDMI 2.1 and HDMI 2.0 are backward compatible; however, there is a catch. The faster port will throttle its bandwidth down to HDMI 2.0 speeds, meaning you won’t get the 4K 120Hz output even if you’re connected with the 2.1 port. You’ll be limited to 4K at 60Hz. This is the same concept as PCIe 5.0 devices working on PCIe 4.0 slots, but at 4.0 speeds.

Can an HDMI 2.0 cable work with an HDMI 2.1 port?

You can use an HDMI 2.0 cable with a 2.1 port or a 2.1 cable with a 2.0 port, as they share the same 19-pin connector. However, the performance will be limited, as to get the full potential of HDMI 2.1, like 48Gbps speeds, the cable and port should be certified for ultra-high speed HDMI.

About the Author

Aaron Ritchie

Aaron's laptop knowledge makes him the go-to guy on PC Guide. But he still finds time for features, deals and much more.