[PCM2]

The Philips 326M6VJRMB is a possibility, but difficult to get hold of currently and usually retails above above that anyway. As covered in the review (and various threads on the forum discussing it), it’s really all about the bright scene HDR performance. The dark scene HDR performance is not very compelling and actually the colour reproduction under HDR is a bit on the muted side – more so compared to the IPS-type options you’re considering.

Then again, none of these models really offer a compelling dark-scene HDR performance. The number of dimming zones is simply too limited for that and when some are pumping out very high luminance levels it’s always going to affect things in that respect. There just isn’t the precision necessary to give proper depth to dark shades and proper ‘pop’ to bright shades where there are intricate mixtures of both in a scene. It’s all about situational contrast enhancement and it can still work well for the ‘wow’ factor for the right scenes.

[Tom]

Is anyone here aware of any 1440p 144hz monitors that work with adaptive sync straight away with the Xbox Series S / X? From looking online it sees like the Dell S2721DGF does, but I can’t find this monitor in the UK anywhere. I wouldn’t mind having some better ‘dark scene’ performance compared to my LG 27GL850. Can I get a monitor with all of these requirements or is it just not possible at the moment?

[PCM2]

I mentioned the EX2780Q in my previous replies to you and this is a model I’ve recommended to many happy users on both PC and the Xbox Series X or S. I appreciate its pixel responsive is inferior to your current LG, but whether you’ll notice or care about that is another matter. If you’re looking from alternatives then some others here may come up with some, but you should probably give the BenQ a chance and there’s nothing I’d personally recommend above it currently. Either way, I hope Microsoft addresses this issue in the near future so that you can use pretty much any model that works on the PC with 120Hz and Adaptive-Sync and do the same on the Xbox consoles.

[PCM2]

Relevant to this thread – our review of the BenQ EX2710 has been published. Really this just reinforces a lot of what I said earlier in the thread about the EX2510. I view them as good options for the PS5, but also the Xbox Series X and S if you’re happy to stick with the Full HD resolution. ‘4K’ UHD downsampling is also supported, although obviously that’s no substitute for the ‘real thing’ or an actual high pixel density.

[Clayts]

Hi, I used this website before for recommendations and purchased the Samsung C27F591FD to use with the PS4. It’s a brilliant monitor and I love it. Thank You.

However, luckily I’m managed to pre order a PS5 which should come soon and not sure if this monitor will get the best out of it and be able to reach top capabilities.

Not sure if this monitor needs improving. I generally play all types of games but mainly FPS. Thanks

[PCM2]

Hi there Clayts,

I appreciate the kind words about the website. The C27F591FD would certainly work for the PS5, but you’d be restricted to 60Hz rather than 120Hz. So it may be worth an upgrade if you mainly play FPS titles as the PS5 can make use of a 120Hz refresh rate at the Full HD resolution. If you like the size and resolution combination, too, you could perhaps consider something like the BenQ EX2710 we’ve just reviewed. It sticks with that combination you’re used to and enjoyed, but works at 120Hz on the PS5. You’d also benefit from faster pixel response times and more consistent colours and gamma. On the downside you’d lose out when it came to contrast, which you might notice if you’re sitting in a dim room in particular.

If you wanted to keep the experience more similar to the Samsung in terms of the curved VA panel but with a higher refresh rate, perhaps something like the Gigabyte AORUS CV27F would be worth exploring. There are quite a few curved VA models out there that are pretty similar to this one, but I don’t really have much experience with them. And from user feedback I’ve gathered, there aren’t any I’d consider better than the Gigabyte really. The curve is slightly steeper than on your Samsung and the colour gamut a bit more generous, so it would also be a bit more vibrant. Personally I feel the BenQ gives a more well-rounded experience due to superior pixel responsiveness, superior clarity (better subpixels and screen surface) and improved colour consistency. But I know the contrast can make all the difference for some people.

[PCM2]

I’ve just received confirmation from a user via YouTube that the F02 firmware version for the Gigabyte M27Q fixes 120Hz compatibility at the native 1440p resolution for the Xbox Series X and S. FreeSync can also be enabled at the same time. Oddly the update notes make no mention of this and instead simply say: “Add notice message for new EU energy policy.”. The other caveat is that you need to apply the firmware using OSD Sidekick, using a PC and can’t update the firmware just using a games console.

[Clayts]

Thanks for the quick response and also for your recommendations for the BenQ EX2710.

Just out of curiosity, is there a decent monitor out there that can switch between 4k at 60fps and 1080p at 120fps so technically have the best of both worlds.

I understand that 1440p isn’t native on the ps5 but is it possible that some of these monitors can accept 4k and downsample? Such as Gigabyte G27qc – although I know this is a VA panel and not IPS like my current one.

[PCM2]

Yes – we cover this capability in our reviews at the end of the ‘Features and aesthetics’ section. Both the BenQ EX2780Q and Gigabyte M27Q we recommend can be run at 1080p @120Hz. Or ‘4K’ UHD @60Hz using downsampling. I appreciate it’s a nice flexibility to have, but you don’t get the same experience you would on an actual ‘4K’ monitor nor do you get the same experience as on a native Full HD monitor. It’s a bit of a compromise really, but it still works well for some people. This was the third path described in one of my earlier posts on this thread.

[Slamminsam246]

Does the m27q definitely work at 1440p 120fps on the series x? Would you recommend it over the Dell s2721dgf? cheerz

[PCM2]

Yes, it has been confirmed by multiple users now that the new firmware for the M27Q allows it to work properly at 1440p 120Hz on modern Xbox consoles. Plus with FreeSync if you want to use that. 🙂 I would recommend the Gigabyte over the Dell because of the stronger contrast and the fact the pixel overdrive works so nicely over a broad range of refresh rates. Which is useful when you’re using VRR!

[bob4369]

Since the M27q now supports 1440p 120hz on Xbox, would you recommend that over the benq ex2780q for use with the Xbox series x and ps5? Since they both support 1080p 120hz, and 1440p 120hz, plus can accept 4K 60hz, they both will do what I want with both consoles. It will only be used for gaming and maybe some YouTube videos. Thank you.

[PCM2]

Tough to say to be honest as I continue to get a good deal of positive user feedback about the EX2780Q for such uses. Some users find the backlight slightly more comfortable as well as it has a shifted blue peak (this is mentioned in the review). And some people would choose it over the Gigabyte due to the RGB subpixel layout. But really, a minority of users would take issue with either of these and especially for gaming and watching videos where the subpixel layout is as good as a non-issue. The M27Q does have a fair edge when it comes to pixel responsiveness and as a bonus offers better ergonomics. The BenQ’s remote and integrated speakers are nice additions, but may be of no interest at all to some users. So it’s really difficult to say which is the ‘better monitor’ and either can give a nice experience, it really just depends where your priorities lie.

[PCM2]

A few manufacturers now have FAQ pages which cover the resolution and refresh rate compatibility of various models on the new Sony and Microsoft consoles. I hope to see other manufacturers do the same and hopefully these lists will be expanded and kept up to date. I’ve noticed ASUS explicitly mentioning what is supported for these consoles for newer models, for example with the VG32VQR.

– Acer covers 1080p @120Hz compatibility for the PS5 in this post.

– ASUS covers PS5 and Xbox Series X compatibility for various resolutions and refresh rates in this post.

– MSI covers the 1080p @120Hz compatibility in this post.

[PCM2]

Sony has broadened their 120Hz support on monitors. Seems it no longer matters if the resolution is listed in the monitor EDID as a ‘TV’ resolution or not. So many models previously unable to run 1920 x 1080 @ 120Hz should now work. We’ve updated the guidance in reviews and our recommendations where this applies, accordingly.

Update 20/05/2021: Unfortunately it seems this isn’t a universal fix and some models which have 1920 x 1080 @120Hz listed as a ‘PC’ resolution still don’t work as you’d hope on the PS5. This has been brought to my attention on by a user who recently received the XB323U GP and was unable to get it to work at 120Hz Full HD despite trying everything reasonably possible.

[zasuhina]

Dear Pc Monitors. Thanks a lot for such a useful site and lots of info about monitors.

Unfortunately after reviewing all of the topics on this forum I still can’t make a final decision about monitor for ps5.
I’m choosing between 24 1080p and 27 1440p (with 4k downscaler) monitor that also supports 120hz gaming.
Also I’m very sensitive to interlace pattern artifacts problem. I had to sold Benq EX2510 because of its huge issues with this problem.
In conclusion it seems like there is only Benq EX2780Q that is suitable to my requirement. Although I’m a bit worried about play at 1080p 120hz games at 1440p monitor.

Are there any other good 24 and 27 inch monitors with 120hz support without any interlace pattern artifacts problems?

Thanks in advance.

[PCM2]

Hi zasuhina,

‘Interlace pattern artifacts’ are a real pain if you’re sensitive to them. To make matters worse, they sometimes vary in severity between different units of the same model. Although there are some models that should be universally free from them. The EX2710 showed them quite clearly as somebody sensitive to them, but they’re not something most will notice so are not widely reported. The XB253Q GP has this issue as well, although it was quite faint on that model. That’s based on the same panel as the EX2510, which you had an issue with – but I’m not sure if they’re perhaps more pronounced on the EX2510.

So it might be worth trying the XB253Q GP. But I agree that the EX2780Q could work it doesn’t suffer from ‘interlace pattern artifacts’, or certainly the unit I tested didn’t and I haven’t seen mention of the issue by others. The ‘interpolation and upscaling’ section of the review covers Full HD output on that model. I found its display of the resolution about as good as I’ve seen on a WQHD model and it gives you plenty of flexibility with its sharpness control to adjust according to taste. I’m afraid it won’t be quite the same as a native Full HD display like the EX2510, but you may not notice the difference or you may subjective like/prefer how it looks running the resolution. It would naturally work better for upscaled ‘4K’ operation due to the tighter pixel density, too. It’s a compromise quite a few in your situation are making and they’re generally very happy with the results and flexibility offered.

[zasuhina]

So finally, I would like to share some thoughts about my experience with Benq EX2780Q and Dell AW2521HFL specifically with PS5. This would probably help some people here trying to make the right choice.

First of all I would like to clarify that I was looking for a monitor specifically for PS5, with IPS panel either 24 or 27 inches and capable of 120hz as I mostly play FPS games like APEX, CoD and so on. Another thing is I was looking for a panel without any interlace patterns artifacts as I’m very sensible to this issues especially after my bad experience with BENQ EX2510 which to my opinion has huge vertical lines artifacts in 60hz mode (although at 120hz mode it was almost unnoticeable). I would also like to clarify that I tested both monitors with following titles: Apex Legends, Fortnite (both 60 and 120fps modes), Battlefield 5 and Sekiro.

After a number of days spent on this and other forums I decided to give a try on 1440p BENQ EX2780Q, even though PS5 doesn’t support it natively, although it has a 4k downscaler.

What I like about the EX2780Q:
1) The build quality of the monitor is very good and feels rather premium. I couldn’t find any loose parts. The monitor feels very solid in its design in general.
2) The picture quality out of the box and in general. The colors were very deep and nice looking and I didn’t really have to make any calibration as the image was already very good out of the box. I also didn’t notice any interlace pattern artifacts or any other specific screen artifacts while gaming either at 60 or 120hz.
3) The design of the monitor is not gamerish and very strict.

What I didn’t like about it:
1) 1440p and PS5. The picture quality in terms of how crisp or soapy it is. Please do not listen to those Youtubers saying there is no difference between 1440p and native 4k/1080p while playing at PS5. I found the picture quality also varies a lot depending on the specific game you play. I think that is related to the native resolution the game itself works at. While games supporting native 4K, like Fortnite, looked rather good in 4k downscale mode. The others like Battlefield 5 for example looked very bad (it seemed to me the resolution on the screen was like 720p maximum with a zero antialiasing), the game looked more like a ps3 title on this monitor. The picture also looked very unstable at APEX. While looking on close standing objects it was rather crisp, the picture quality significantly decreases looking at far away objects that looked like 480p resolution and even with some artifacts on game textures. Sekiro overall looked good on the monitor.
2) The stand of the monitor. I have absolutely no idea why BENQ decided to make such a bad unadjustable stand for such a good monitor. Though if you have a VESA or a suitable desk that probably won’t matter for you.
3) The 27 inch screen. I found it a bit large for high intense FPS games like APEX, as you mostly concentrate on the middle of the screen and your eyes don’t really use the sides of the screen. But that is also very subjective.
After 3 days with the monitor I decided to return it to the store because of the picture quality issues of 1440p and PS5. I can definitely recommend this model for XSX as it natively support 1440p and shouldn’t have such issues and for PC usage, but I do not recommend to buy it or other 1440p for PS5.

So after all I decided to go with DELL AW2521HFL as a 1080p 24in alternative.

What I like about the AW2521HFL:
1) The package of the monitor. Guys, just as soon as you open it you understand that you bought a premium product. In comparison with BENQ, this Alienware dude is packed on the next level luxury. It even has a special cut in the box so it would be convenient to connect the stand to the screen while it is still in the box and then get it out safely as whole gadget.
2) The build quality of the monitor is very good and feels very premium. I couldn’t find any loose parts. The monitor feels very solid in general.
3) The design of the monitor and how it looks. I mean, as soon as you install it on your desk you immediately understand that you are now the owner of the premium gadget. Everything about it, the materials, the lunar-light color (which I bought) and this futuristic design is just on top-level. I really can’t call it a gamerish design, it’s more like a monitor from some space ship from a distant future. Also, and that I also really like about is that in this white lunar-light color it matches very well the design of PS5, so I strictly recommend exactly this color.
4) The stand, its flexibility and all the RGB adjustments things are very good and cool.
5) The panel quality. While playing, I didn’t notice any uniformity or IPS lightning bleed problems. I also didn’t notice any interlace pattern artifacts while gaming either at 60 or 120hz.
6) 24 inch screen is definitely much more suitable for high intense FPS games as you can see the whole screen easily.

What I didn’t like about it:
1) I noticed a really slight “sand” effect of the screen that is really a bit noticeable mostly on white or light backgrounds when you are really close to the screen. I think that is caused by the antiglare matte cover of the screen but not by the panel itself. Overall I can say this is not really noticeable or annoying, but at the same time I didn’t notice such effect on BENQ EX2780Q.
2) The color presets out of the box. They are just very bad and the first thing you should do make your own settings. Most of presets have very cold calibration and an effect on white tint, and colors don’t look deep enough. I would even say it looked more like TN panel other than IPS. Also I noticed that the picture looked oversharpened in some presets. I think those issue were also described in the review on the site. Overall I got it for 1 day only and still playing with the settings. But once again, I didn’t have to make any manipulations at BENQ eX2780Q as the picture calibration was already very good out of the box.

As a conclusion, choosing between these 2 models specifically for PS5 I would definitely go with AW2521HF. I will also probably add some more information after more days with AW2521HF if I found something important. I would like to also stress upon one thing. I couldn’t see any significant difference between playing the shooter games at PS5 at 60 FPS and 120FPS. While the difference between 30 and 60 fps was huge, it is barely noticeable for me between 60 and 120. I think this is caused by playing with a gamepad as all the movements on it are more smooth in comparison to the ones you can to with mouse+KB on PC and the gamepad pretty much erases this difference between 60 and 120 fps. So, I would suggest to test it somewhere first and then to make a final decision if you really need a 120hz monitor. Probably a better solution for you will be to go with a 4K 60hz monitor.

[PCM2]

zasuhina – thank you so much for sharing your feedback on both the EX2780Q and AW2521HF from the perspective of a PS5 gamer. That’s a very useful and welcome contribution to the thread and I really appreciate how much thought you put into this comparison. You presented your points in an unbiased way and highlighted some excellent strengths and weaknesses of both approaches.

You’re quite right that running a monitor at a non-native resolution with interpolation is never the same as running a monitor with that resolution natively. It’s either too soft or oversharpened depending on the settings used. For some this isn’t noticeable, it depends on viewing distance (what was that in your case, out of interest?) and personal sensitivity. But whichever way you cut it, it’s never quite the same. How did you find the BenQ in comparison to the Alienware when you’re running ‘4K’ game content on it? The Alienware would be running at its native Full HD resolution in that comparison as it doesn’t accept a ‘4K’ signal, unlike the BenQ which has a ‘4K’ downsampling mode. But I’m still interested in how you found this.

The observations you made on the AW2521HFL are indeed related to its medium matte anti-glare screen surface. Compared to the ‘light’ matte anti-glare screen surface of the BenQ with a relatively smooth surface texture. I’m glad you were able to get used to this and didn’t find it too bothersome in the end. This is something I notice more broadly, most people will be able to adapt to this sort of thing and it doesn’t sour the experience too much. Of course some are more sensitive than others to this, I’d include myself in the ‘sensitive’ group. Which I suppose helps as a reviewer.

You bring up an interesting point about comparing 60fps and 120fps. And the differences there not being as noticeable as you were expecting. The use of a gamepad certainly limits the increase in ‘connected feel’ compared to what you’d feel interacting with the game using a mouse. The sensitivity to this kind of thing varies and some would find it more noticeable. The perceived blur decrease is certainly significant comparing 120fps to 60fps and can still be appreciated regardless of input method, but it’s again not something everyone will find dramatic. And people shouldn’t assume it’s going to be a night and day difference for them even if some others claim it is. Monitors are all too subjective, which your own sensitivities to things most wouldn’t notice or be bothered by (‘static interlace patterns’) also highlights. But either way, I’m glad you’re ultimately happy with the AW2521HFL* – and you’re quite right about the overall styling and build quality, I found it really solid and well thought-out as well. 🙂

*For those unaware, the AW2521HFL is just the ‘Lunar Light’ version of the ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ (AW2521HF) version we reviewed. The same monitor, but some dark greys replaced with much lighter shades.

[zasuhina]

As for my viewing distance, I’d say I’m sitting about 60cm away from the screen.
As for the comparison of BENQ with Alienware for 4K native content I believe the only game among the ones I tested that works in native 4K is Fortnite. And it looked better on BENQ, but not too significantly. What I mean is I don’t think it is a good idea to buy BENQ specifically for native 4K games, as there are not a lot of them currently, and most of titles work either at 1080p, 1440p or dynamic 4K.

I also think that 4K native looked better on BENQ because of color calibration from the box and I was too lazy and still didn’t have time to finilize calibration of DELL monitor. I would like to finilize the picture calibration first to have a final opinion.
I believe Sekiro might also work something close to 4K, but it looked pretty similar on both monitors.

Overall I fully agree with you that all that monitor choice story is very subjective and can very for different persons looking at the same screen.

[Author]

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