5 Best 1440p Monitors with 165Hz Refresh Rate

Gaming monitors can be snagged in various configurations, and you can choose to outfit your next display with an extremely snappy refresh rate or a pixel-dense panel. But what if you want the best of both worlds? Well, that’s where QHD monitors come into the picture. In particular, the best 1440p monitors with 165Hz refresh rate will bowl you over. 

A QHD monitor is significantly sharper than its FHD counterpart. As such, you can enjoy visually striking games to the fullest on said screen. What’s more, thanks to a snappy 165Hz refresh rate, you’ll revel in playing fast-paced games as well. Of course, with options aplenty, it can be a chore to narrow down the best QHD monitors with 165Hz refresh rates. Well, fret not. Below, you’ll find five enticing options for your perusal. 

But first, you might also want to read about- 

Now, let’s take a look at the monitors.

1. HP OMEN 27q

HP OMEN 27q QHD 165Hz Monitor

HP’s OMEN lineup comprises powerful gaming notebooks and high-end peripherals. Consequently, it made sense for the company to outfit an OMEN-branded monitor with superb specs too. We are, of course, talking about the OMEN 27q, which ships with a 27-inch QHD display. 

That’s not all, as the monitor is backed by an IPS panel too. For the uninitiated, an IPS panel offers wider viewing angles and exhibits truer colors than its VA or TN counterparts. That’s not all, as the OMEN 27q’s display covers 99% and 95% of the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces, respectively. 

Consequently, you can deploy the monitor in a creative workflow too. More importantly, the unit ships with a 1ms response time. Additionally, the monitor is compliant with AMD’s FreeSync technology too, thereby ensuring you don’t have to contend with screen-tearing when playing your favorite games. Lastly, we should add that the monitor comes with tilt, pivot, and height adjustments, so you can orient it as you deem fit. 

What We Like

  • Affordable
  • Color-accurate IPS screen
  • 1ms MPRT response time

What We Don’t Like

  • No USB ports

2. Dell S2722DGM

Dell S2722DGM QHD 165Hz Monitor

The Dell S2722DGM draws a lot of parallels to HP’s offering. In fact, the company has outfitted its contender with a 27-inch, QHD display that refreshes at 165Hz as well. With that said, the monitor costs a fair bit more. So, what gives?

Well, unlike the OMEN 27q, the Dell S2722DGM ships with a curved display. In particular, the monitor’s 1500R curved screen provides a more immersive gaming experience.

At the same time, the display is more comfortable to view over extended periods, as it lets your eyes take in a lot more information at a glance. More notably, the screen offers a 1ms MPRT response time, making it plenty snappy for high-octane games like Apex Legends and Valorant. 

The display is compliant with AMD’s FreeSync Premium tech, too, so it should keep latency and screen-tearing at bay. If anything, the device ships with a VA panel, which may not sit well with some buyers. We say this, as VA displays are not as color-accurate as IPS screens. That said, VA panels offer slightly better dark levels and contrast ratio, so you win and lose some. 

What We Like

  • 1500R curved display
  • Color-accurate IPS screen
  • 1ms MPRT response time

What We Don’t Like

  • No USB Ports
  • VA panel might not be to everyone’s liking

3. Samsung Odyssey G55A

Samsung Odyssey G55A QHD 165Hz Monitor

If a 27-inch monitor doesn’t fit the bill and you’re eyeing something bigger, you might want to give the Samsung Odyssey G55A a second look. On that note, the unit is backed by a 32-inch WQHD panel. As is the case with all other monitors on the list, the G55A’s display refreshes at 165Hz too. 

If you are tired of squishing a handful of windows in split screen, you should consider upgrading to a monitor with a 32-inch screen. The added screen real estate will undoubtedly elevate your end-user experience. More to the point, the Odyssey G55A’s display can relay media encoded in HDR10 too. So, if you want to take a break from gaming and watch a movie, the device has got you covered.

We should also add that the monitor comes with a VA panel. Additionally, the unit touts a 1ms response time, making it suitable for gamers hooked to high-octane games like CoD Warzone and the works. Add to that; the G55A sports a futuristic design and is backed by a 1000R screen curvature. Needless to say, the device will accentuate the looks of your gaming setup too. 

What We Like

  • 1000R curved display
  • Ginormous 32-inch display
  • Supports HDR10

What We Don’t Like

  • VA panel might not be to everyone’s liking

4. ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ

ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ QHD 165Hz Monitor

Up next is the ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ, which sports a 27-inch QHD display. Now, on paper, the monitor’s display refreshes at 144Hz. However, you can overclock the panel to refresh at 165Hz as well. Do note that you’ll need a compatible GPU to achieve the advertised refresh rate. 

Moving on, the VG27AQ sports an IPS panel, and as such, the unit should overturn more accurate colors compared to a competing monitor with a VA or a TN panel. We should also add that the display is compliant with Nvidia’s G-SYNC tech, which should minimize screen-tearing and system latency. Additionally, the unit supports the company’s ELMB sync tech. For the uninitiated, ELMB or Extreme Low Motion Blur sync can keep ghosting at bay. 

As such, fast-moving objects will appear smoother on the VG27AQ’s panel. More notably, the monitor is quite swift, too, thanks to its 1ms MPRT response time. So, the unit should be quick to pick up on your inputs, which can come in clutch when you’re playing games of the FPS variety.

You can also leverage ASUS’ Shadow Boost feature with the device, which improves the details in dark areas of a game. Add to that support for HDR10, and the VG27AQ is right up there with the best QHD monitors for gaming. 

What We Like

  • Supports ELMB and Nvidia G-SYNC
  • Compliant with HDR10 format

What We Don’t Like

  • Refresh rate needs to be overclocked to 165Hz 

5. MSI G273QF

MSI G273QF QHD 165Hz Monitor

MSI is revered in the gaming biz, and for good reason. Take the company’s G273QF gaming monitor, for instance, which is only the second G-SYNC-compatible monitor on the list. What’s more, the device ships with a 27-inch IPS panel that covers a wide color gamut. To put it in numbers, the unit canvases 93% of the DCI-P3 and 125% of the sRGB color spaces.

As you may have guessed by now, the monitor rocks a WQHD display that refreshes at 165Hz. Do note that you can only achieve the aforementioned refresh rate by plugging in the device via a DisplayPort connector. Buyers utilizing the monitor’s HDMI 2.0 port, on the other hand, will be locked to a 144Hz refresh rate. Moving on, the monitor’s screen is layered with an anti-glare coating, which should keep unnecessary reflections at bay. 

We should also add that the unit supports a slew of gaming-oriented features. To name a few, the G273QF is compliant with Nvidia’s G-SYNC tech. Additionally, the monitor also gets a Night Vision mode, which is similar to ASUS’ Shadow Boost feature. To wit, with the feature enabled, the monitor should bring out more details from the darkened bits in a game.

The display can finetune the picture quality basis the genre of the game too. You can sift through a bunch of handy presets, the likes of which include FPS, Racing, RPG, and more, to get a more immersive and visually-pleasing gaming experience. 

What We Like

  • Superbly color-accurate display
  • Nvidia G-SYNC compatibility

What We Don’t Like

  • At 300 nits, the display is not as bright as some other alternatives on the list

Take the Lead 

A high-performance gaming monitor can go a long way in making your gaming experience more enjoyable. At the same time, the aforementioned devices should give you a competitive edge, too, thanks to their snappy response times and swift refresh rates. Off the lot, the HP OMEN 27q is a stellar deal, especially for gamers on a budget. That said, buyers looking to splurge will find the MSI Optix G273QF to their liking too. Do let us know which monitor you opted for in the comments below. 

Last updated on 21 July, 2023

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