The Biggest Gaming Monitor Trends of CES 2025

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 was a treasure trove for gaming enthusiasts, with a plethora of new gaming monitors unveiled by top vendors. My tour of the show revealed a landscape brimming with innovation and advanced features, making this year a standout for gaming monitor technology.

QD-OLED Isn’t Going Anywhere and Should Become More Accessible

The dominant trend at CES 2025 was the continued rise of QD-OLED technology. Major brands like MSI, Gigabyte, and LG showcased their latest offerings, emphasizing their burn-in warranties and protection features. This year promises a significant push in display technology, building on the momentum from 2024.

The new QD-OLED monitors are more impressive than ever. Several companies introduced 4K 240Hz QD-OLEDs with high-bandwidth DisplayPort 2.1 connections. MSI unveiled the MPG 272QR QD-OLED X50, a 1440p QD-OLED that boasts a staggering 500Hz refresh rate. Other brands presented their unique takes on these panels, signaling a future filled with fast and visually stunning monitors.

Protection features have also advanced, with Asus introducing the Neo Proximity Sensor in their upcoming ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM and ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDPG models. This sensor, part of the OLED Care suite, automatically displays a black screen when you're away from your PC, preventing burn-in and pixel wear. As QD-OLED technology matures, we can expect prices to become more accessible. While launch prices remain high, looking at previous generations could offer significant discounts throughout the year.

Mini-LED Isn’t Dead, But It *Is* Tech To Keep an Eye Out For

Although Mini-LED technology didn't dominate the show, it was still present. MSI plans to market its dual-mode AI mini-LED, the MPG 274URDFW E16M, as a more affordable alternative to QD-OLED. This monitor features 1,152 local dimming zones and a peak brightness of around 1,000 nits, delivering impressive contrast, especially in bright environments. It supports 4K at 160Hz and can switch to 320Hz at 1080p, though the AI-driven "dual-mode AI" feature remains a point of skepticism for me.

Despite fewer options at the show, Mini-LED technology is poised for growth. It offers high brightness, excellent contrast with the right settings, and no risk of burn-in. With enough dimming zones, blooming is minimized, making it a compelling choice for those wary of the high costs and maintenance of OLED displays. Pricing for the MPG 274URDFW E16M is yet to be announced, but it's expected to be more affordable than its QD-OLED counterparts.

Refresh Rates and Resolutions Continue to Climb

As QD-OLED technology and graphics cards advance, refresh rates are reaching new heights. 4K at 240Hz is now a reality, and 500Hz at 1440p is also available. Gigabyte's Aorus FO27Q5P impressed with its sleek design and vibrant display, aiming for VESA TrueBlack 500 certification, which promises brighter highlights for enhanced HDR. Other brands, like MSI with the MPG 272QR QD-OLED X50, offer similar high-performance options.

MSI also revived TN panels with the MSI MPG 242R X60N, which boasts a 600Hz refresh rate. While TN panels have trade-offs in color and viewing angles, their speed is undeniable. Whether the average gamer will notice the improvements in clarity and latency remains to be seen.

CES 2025 also marked the rise of 5K monitors. Acer showcased the Predator XB323QX, a 5K, 144Hz monitor with Nvidia’s G-Sync Pulsar tech. LG introduced two new "5K2K" gaming monitors, the Ultragear 45GX950A with an 800R curve and the Ultragear 45GX990A with a bendable display that can adjust from flat to a 900R curve. Outside gaming, Asus unveiled the ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV, a 6K mini-LED display for creators, priced at a competitive $1,249.

Smart Monitors Bring TVs and Gaming Monitors Closer Together

Smart monitors continue to blur the lines between TVs and gaming monitors. While my review of the Samsung G80SD was not overly positive, the convenience of having a display that doubles as a smart TV with streaming services is undeniable, especially for those in smaller living spaces.

This year, several new smart monitor options were unveiled. HP introduced the OMEN 32x Smart Gaming Monitor, a 32-inch 4K display pre-loaded with streaming apps and capable of streaming to up to four platforms. LG's UltraGear 39GX90SA offers an ultrawide option with similar streaming features and an 800R curve. Samsung's M9 Smart Monitor features on-device neural processing to enhance its 4K OLED panel, adjusting picture settings and upscaling content to 4K, with a 165Hz refresh rate suitable for gaming.

Wrapping Up

CES 2025 showcased a future where gaming monitors continue to push boundaries. The innovations and advancements seen this year suggest that 2025 will be even more exciting for gaming monitor enthusiasts than the already impressive 2024.