Buying Guide
The Best 240Hz Curved Gaming Monitors
From the C27G4ZH to the AW3425DW: three monitors ranked on refresh rate and screen size, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
A 240Hz panel only pays off when your GPU can hold frame rates near that figure. Every monitor here refreshes at 240Hz or more, is curved and refreshes at 120Hz or more, ordered from the lowest price.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: refresh rate, resolution and size come from each maker's published specs; nothing here was tested in-house, and a missing panel is flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
AOC C27G4ZH Curved
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Our take Check price for AOC C27G4ZH Curved (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASUS ROG Strix XG27WCMS Curved
A curved 1440p panel overclocked to 280Hz.
Best for: Buyers who want curved 1440p panel overclocked to 280Hz.
Our take Check price for ASUS ROG Strix XG27WCMS Curved (opens in a new tab)
Largest Screen Size
Alienware 34 QD-OLED AW3425DW
The largest screen size here (34.2 inches).
Best for: Buyers who put screen size first.
Our take Check price for Alienware 34 QD-OLED AW3425DW (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price of the group at our last check. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build. | Check price for AOC C27G4ZH Curved (opens in a new tab) |
| A curved 1440p panel overclocked to 280Hz. | Buyers who want curved 1440p panel overclocked to 280Hz. | Check price for ASUS ROG Strix XG27WCMS Curved (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest screen size here (34.2 inches). | Buyers who put screen size first. | Check price for Alienware 34 QD-OLED AW3425DW (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
AOC C27G4ZH Curved on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
AOC's C27G4ZH curves a 27-inch 1080p VA panel and runs it at 280Hz on a height, tilt and swivel stand.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: a VA panel that can smear dark transitions.
Why we like it
It trades resolution for speed. It refreshes at 280Hz with a 0.3ms response time. The 1500R curve wraps the image around your view.
The 1500R curve keeps the corners of the 27-inch panel in view. It matches the XG27WCMS on refresh rate (280Hz). On screen size it ties with the XG27WCMS at 27 inches.
No other pick in this guide offers a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution; compare the XG27WCMS, which has a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution. It also comes with VESA mounting. At 1080p, 280Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older.
It undercut the XG27WCMS and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The main gap: screen size of 27 inches, behind the AW3425DW (34.2 inches). If that matters, the AW3425DW comes in at 34.2 inches.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 280Hz
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size: 27 inches
- Panel: VA
- Response: 0.3ms
- HDR: HDR
- Stand: height, tilt and swivel
Pros
- a 280Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- a stand with height, tilt and swivel
- 280Hz on a 1500R curve
- Height-adjustable stand
Cons
- a VA panel that can smear dark transitions
- Screen size of 27 inches, behind the AW3425DW (34.2 inches)
Also Consider2 of 3
ASUS ROG Strix XG27WCMS Curved on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASUS's XG27WCMS curves a 27-inch 1440p panel and overclocks it to 280Hz.
Best for
- Buyers who want curved 1440p panel overclocked to 280Hz.
Skip if
- Skip it if screen size matters most to you; the AW3425DW offers 34.2 inches.
Why we like it
USB-C input and a three-year warranty are listed. It matches the C27G4ZH on refresh rate (280Hz). On screen size it ties with the C27G4ZH at 27 inches.
It is the only pick here with a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution; the C27G4ZH has a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution instead. To see 280Hz at 1440p, connect over DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1; older HDMI 2.0 ports cap the refresh rate lower. G-SYNC Compatible works on NVIDIA cards over DisplayPort, and FreeSync covers AMD cards.
Its price falls between the C27G4ZH and the AW3425DW, based on our last check. If screen size is your priority, the AW3425DW (34.2 inches) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 280Hz
- Resolution: 2560x1440 (1440p)
- Size: 27 inches
- HDR: HDR
- Color gamut: 95% DCI-P3
- Adaptive sync: G-SYNC Compatible
- USB-C: Yes
- Warranty: 3-year
Pros
- a 280Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- 1440p resolution, sharper than 1080p at 27 inches
- 95% DCI-P3 colour coverage
- G-SYNC Compatible to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- Screen size trails the AW3425DW (34.2 inches)
- Costs more than the C27G4ZH at the time of writing
Largest Screen Size3 of 3
Alienware 34 QD-OLED AW3425DW on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Alienware's AW3425DW puts a 34.2-inch QD-OLED ultrawide at 240Hz with 99% DCI-P3 coverage.
Best for
- Buyers who put screen size first.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when oLED burn-in risk with static desktop element is a problem.
Why we like it
It pairs OLED contrast with a wide field of view. Its 240Hz refresh rate is the lowest in this group; the C27G4ZH leads at 280Hz. Its 34.2 inches screen size is the largest here; the C27G4ZH comes next at 27 inches.
No other pick in this guide offers a 3440x1440 resolution; compare the C27G4ZH, which has a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution. No other pick in this guide offers a DisplayHDR True Black 400; compare the C27G4ZH, which has an HDR. You also get 1000 nits peak HDR brightness.
Leave the maker's pixel-refresh routines enabled and hide static taskbars to limit burn-in risk. It was the highest-priced of the 3 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the XG27WCMS and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 240Hz
- Resolution: 3440x1440
- Size: 34.2 inches
- Panel: QD-OLED
- Response: 0.03ms
- HDR: DisplayHDR True Black 400
- Color gamut: 99% DCI-P3
Pros
- a 240Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- a QD-OLED panel with per-pixel contrast
- DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification
- 99% DCI-P3 colour coverage
Cons
- OLED burn-in risk with static desktop elements
- Refresh rate trails the C27G4ZH (280Hz)
- Costs more than the C27G4ZH at the time of writing
How We Chose These 240Hz Curved Gaming Monitors
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up three monitors on refresh rate, resolution, screen size and panel from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the C27G4ZH to the AW3425DW, state refresh rate, resolution and screen size.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The XG27WCMS gives no panel; the XG27WCMS gives no response.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the C27G4ZH ($150 to $250) to the AW3425DW ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a 240Hz Curved Gaming Monitor
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Refresh rate across these picks
Here refresh rate runs from 240Hz on the AW3425DW to 280Hz on the C27G4ZH. The C27G4ZH is the pick for refresh rate.
Screen size
Here screen size runs from 27 inches on the XG27WCMS to 34.2 inches on the AW3425DW. Start with the AW3425DW if screen size decides it.
Panel
The C27G4ZH lists VA; the AW3425DW lists QD-OLED.
Response
The C27G4ZH lists 0.3ms; the AW3425DW lists 0.03ms.
Features beyond the spec table
The C27G4ZH: a height-adjustable stand. The XG27WCMS: USB-C input. The AW3425DW: 1000 nits peak HDR brightness.
How to Choose a 240Hz Curved Gaming Monitor
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build | C27G4ZH | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want curved 1440p panel overclocked to 280Hz | XG27WCMS | A curved 1440p panel overclocked to 280Hz |
| Buyers who put screen size first | AW3425DW | The largest screen size here (34.2 inches) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The C27G4ZH leads on refresh rate at 280Hz, ahead of the XG27WCMS at 280Hz. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Monitor | Refresh rate | Resolution | Size | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C27G4ZH | 280Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 27 inches | VA |
| XG27WCMS | 280Hz | 2560x1440 (1440p) | 27 inches | Not listed |
| AW3425DW | 240Hz | 3440x1440 | 34.2 inches | QD-OLED |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The C27G4ZH was the lowest-priced pick and the AW3425DW the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Monitors |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | C27G4ZH |
| About $250 to $500 | XG27WCMS |
| About $500 to $1000 | AW3425DW |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the largest screen size: the AW3425DW or the C27G4ZH?
The AW3425DW leads at 34.2 inches, with the C27G4ZH at 27 inches.
Is the AW3425DW worth paying more than the C27G4ZH?
On paper it adds screen size (34.2 inches against 27 inches). It does not win everywhere: the C27G4ZH still leads on refresh rate (280Hz). The C27G4ZH was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
What makes the AW3425DW the Largest Screen Size?
It earns the label for the largest screen size here (34.2 inches). It suits anyone who put screen size first.
Do the C27G4ZH and the XG27WCMS differ on resolution?
The C27G4ZH uses 1920x1080 (1080p); the XG27WCMS uses 2560x1440 (1440p); the AW3425DW uses 3440x1440.
Beyond the specs, what sets the C27G4ZH and the XG27WCMS apart?
The C27G4ZH: 280Hz on a 1500R curve. The XG27WCMS: a curved 1440p panel overclocked to 280Hz. The AW3425DW: an 1800R QD-OLED ultrawide.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the C27G4ZH, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the XG27WCMS for a curved 1440p panel overclocked to 280Hz and the AW3425DW for the largest screen size here (34.2 inches) if those matter more to you.
Measure desk depth before buying a larger screen.