ASUS ROG Strix 34 inch Ultrawide 34"

A blazing fast 34-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor with a full Google TV built right in. The 240Hz panel is best-in-class for motion clarity, and the smart features are a legit perk, not a gimmick. Just know it's not very bright, and you need to hunt for a price near $999 to make it a good deal.

This thing flies. A 240Hz refresh rate on an ultrawide QD-OLED puts it in the absolute best tier of gaming displays right now. The near-instant 0.03ms response time means zero ghosting, and it's both G-Sync Compatible and FreeSync Premium Pro ready, so you're covered no matter your GPU. Input lag is non-existent. The only real knock is the brightness. At 250 nits, HDR highlights don't slam you in the face like they do on a mini-LED panel, but the per-pixel dimming keeps dark scenes looking incredibly rich.

Stacked against the LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B, the ASUS gives up some size and raw brightness but fights back with that Google TV integration and a tighter pixel density on the 34-inch panel. The MSI MAG 271QPX is a flat 27-inch 1440p speed demon that's purely for esports, while this ASUS is more of a do-it-all lifestyle monitor. The Samsung Odyssey G60SD is a closer rival with a similar QD-OLED panel, but it lacks the smart platform. If you want a monitor that doubles as a TV without dongles or external boxes, the ASUS is in a league of its own.

Pricing is a mess right now. We're seeing a spread from $999 all the way up to a laughable $38,690 across vendors, so you absolutely need to shop around. At the low end near a grand, this monitor is a steal for the panel quality and the built-in smart features. At anything above MSRP, you're getting hosed. Amazon currently has the best listed deal, so start there if you're hunting.

ASUS crammed a full smart TV into a gaming monitor, and honestly, it's kind of brilliant. The ROG Strix XG34WCDMTG is a 34-inch ultrawide QD-OLED with a 240Hz refresh rate, but the real party trick is built-in Google TV. You can kick back and stream Netflix or fire up GeForce NOW without touching your PC. It's a weird hybrid that shouldn't work, but for a dorm room or a bedroom setup, it makes a ton of sense.

Image quality is what you'd expect from a QD-OLED panel. Colors pop, blacks are perfect, and the 1800R curve pulls you in. The 0.03ms response time means motion clarity is ridiculous. It's not the brightest panel out there at 250 nits, but in a dim room, the HDR400 True Black certification does the heavy lifting. Just don't expect it to fight off harsh window glare.

Skip this if you work in a bright, sun-drenched office. The 250-nit brightness just isn't enough to fight glare, and you'll be squinting at spreadsheets. Also, if you just want a pure, no-frills gaming panel and already have a streaming setup, the smart TV guts are just extra cost and complexity you don't need.

This is for the gamer who also wants a clean, all-in-one entertainment setup. If your PC is in your bedroom or a small apartment, ditching the separate streaming box and just using your monitor for everything is genuinely convenient. Hardcore competitive players will love the speed, and single-player fans will love the contrast. Just make sure you can control the light in your room.