Unveiling the Future: Top Gaming Monitor Innovations at CES 2025

CES 2025 showcased a plethora of new gaming monitors, and I examined the exhibition in search of the latest innovations presented by major brands. There were some true surprises, along with numerous features evolving to new heights as display and graphics technology progresses, making 2025 an incredibly thrilling year for gaming monitors in recent history.

QD-OLED Is Here to Stay and Should Become More Affordable

If there’s a prevailing trend among gaming monitors featured at CES, it’s the reality that QD-OLED is firmly established. Nearly all major companies – MSI, Gigabyte, LG, etc. – presented something noteworthy, and many of the representatives I engaged with eagerly emphasized their various burn-in guarantees and protective features. A significant momentum towards display technology will persist this year.

This isn’t particularly shocking considering the surge we experienced in 2024, yet these new displays seem poised to be better than ever. Several companies introduced 4K 240Hz QD-OLEDs utilizing higher-bandwidth DisplayPort 2.1 connections. MSI even unveiled a new 1440p QD-OLED that reaches 500Hz with the MPG 272QR QD-OLED X50. Other brands provided their interpretations of the panels enhancing these experiences, so it’s reasonable to conclude that we’ll witness many exceptionally fast and visually stunning monitors in the near future.

I was also delighted to observe that protective features are advancing as well. A particularly noteworthy development was the Neo Proximity Sensor integrated by Asus into the forthcoming ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM and ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDPG. This new feature in its OLED Care suite identifies when you’re away from the computer and displays a black screen to avoid burn-in and the degradation of pixels. Currently, you must manually switch off your monitor when you are away, so witnessing this advancement was very refreshing.

As this technology continues to evolve through various generations, we should also anticipate ongoing reductions in prices. The initial pricing for many of these models is still high, but if you’re inclined to consider an older generation or two, you should be able to procure an excellent monitor at a significant discount throughout the year.

Mini-LED Is Not Extinct, But It Is Worth Watching

Mini-LED technology wasn’t particularly prominent at the event, yet it made its presence known. An MSI representative mentioned they aim to position their dual-mode AI mini-LED, the MPG 274URDFW E16M, as a budget-friendly alternative to QD-OLED. It’s a sensible strategy, and as someone who has evaluated several of these models, I genuinely hope they manage to reinstate this technology to the forefront.

The MPG 274URDFW E16M boasts 1,152 local dimming zones and a peak brightness of approximately 1,000 nits, and when local dimming is engaged, it delivers remarkable contrast (especially in the bright-display showroom). Additionally, it operates at 4K resolution and 160Hz for fluid, high-resolution gameplay. Interestingly, it can also escalate to 320Hz at 1080p, although I was and remain dubious about its AI-driven “dual-mode AI” that will automatically adjust the resolution depending on what is displayed. That’s already a definite pass from me.

Though options were limited at the show, I do anticipate seeing more of this technology. Concerns regarding burn-in are legitimate—just check any of our reviews for existing OLED gaming monitors. Mini-LED can achieve astonishing brightness, can appear truly fantastic with the proper settings, and carries no risk of burn-in whatsoever. With sufficient dimming zones (1,152 or more for 27 inches), blooming is significantly minimized. If brands can maintain reasonable pricing, they could serve as a compelling alternative for those of us reluctant to spend over $1,000 on a display requiring special care.

Pricing for this model isn’t official yet, but I anticipate it will launch for less than its rival flagship QD-OLED counterparts.

Refresh Rates and Resolutions Continue to Surge

I mentioned this in the earlier section, but as QD-OLED display technology becomes refined and graphics cards grow in capability, refresh rates keep escalating. 4K at 240Hz has arrived, along with 500Hz at 1440p. Gigabyte left a strong impression with its Aorus FO27Q5P, which represents an extremely sleek and vibrantly stunning gaming monitor. It’s set to attain VESA TrueBlack 500 accreditation, while most current QD-OLED monitors with this certification are merely 400-level certified. This indicates that you can count on brighter highlights for enhanced HDR. Similar to most display technologies, other brands have their interpretations of this design (like the MPG 272QR QD-OLED X50 mentioned earlier), thus you should have various styles to select from if you decide to purchase one for yourself.

MSI even revived traditional TN panels, pushing refresh rates to new heights. The MSI MPG 242R X60N boasts an impressive refresh rate of 600Hz for gamers demanding absolute speed. I suspect the audience for this product will be smaller, as there are notable trade-offs in color and viewing angles with TN panels, but it’s hard not to be captivated by its incredible speed. Will the average gamer be able to notice the differences in clarity or latency? That’s an entirely different question.

CES 2025 will also stand out as the year when 5K monitors began to gain prominence. Acer showcased the Predator XB323QX, a 5K, 144Hz gaming monitor featuring Nvidia’s latest G-Sync Pulsar technology. LG also

introduced a set of new “5K2K” gaming displays – boasting a resolution of 5,120 x 2,160 – featuring an ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio. The Ultragear 45GX950A is equipped with a pronounced but fixed 800R curvature. Conversely, the Ultragear 45GX990A highlights a flexible screen that adjusts from completely flat to a generous 900R curve.

Beyond the gaming realm, Asus also showcased a 6K (6,016 x 3,384) monitor aimed at content creators. The ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV will feature a 31.5-inch form size and utilize a bright mini-LED panel, surprisingly priced at $1,249 (other comparable displays could exceed $2,000). Naturally, this isn’t an ideal choice for gaming due to its 60Hz refresh rate, but it serves as another solid example of the industry’s continuous advancement.

Smart Monitors Merge TVs and Gaming Displays

While I wasn’t particularly impressed during my review of the Samsung G80SD, there is an undeniable attraction to smart monitors for numerous gamers. The ability for your screen to function as a smart TV with built-in access to streaming services offers distinct advantages in certain contexts, such as if you reside in a compact apartment or dorm… or if you simply enjoy unwinding and taking a break from your daily routine.

If that resonates with you, you’ll be glad to know there are numerous new alternatives arriving this year. Although many of the smart monitors presented weren’t specifically aimed at gamers, it was evident that this trend is set to expand over time.

HP launched the OMEN 32x Smart Gaming Monitor, a 32-inch 4K model that comes pre-installed with streaming applications. Its streaming capabilities work both ways, with built-in functionality to stream to as many as four different platforms directly from the monitor. The LG UltraGear 39GX90SA offers an ultrawide option with comparable video streaming features and a deep 800R curve.

In other news, Samsung introduced the M9 Smart Monitor, equipped with on-device neural processing to enhance its 4K OLED panel. The monitor intelligently identifies the displayed content and automatically adjusts picture settings, upscaling lower resolution materials to 4K via its neural network (and it also features a 165Hz refresh rate making it a decent choice for gaming).

Conclusion

As ever, CES acts as a platform for envisioning the future. The gaming monitors I had the chance to explore all transcended boundaries in some manner and suggested potential directions the industry may take as it progresses. Last year proved to be excellent, albeit pricey, for gaming monitors, but 2025 appears poised to be even more promising.

Christopher Coke has regularly contributed to IGN since 2019 and has been focusing on games and technology since 2013. He has covered technology ranging from gaming controllers to graphics cards, gaming chairs and monitors, headphones, IEMs, and more for platforms such as MMORPG.com, Tom’s Hardware, Popular Science, USA Today’s Reviewed, and Popular Mechanics. Follow Chris on Twitter @gamebynight.