The CES 2023 show is just days away, and we are particularly excited about one of the standout categories: 240Hz OLED gaming monitors.
It is generally believed that OLED panels can provide higher picture quality and a faster response time than their LED or IPS counterparts, but they have historically been unable to match them in terms of high-refresh rates.
Despite some exceptions, such as the Alienware AW3423DW QD-OLED running at 175Hz, OLED gaming displays now offer the optimal 240Hz refresh rate that is prized by eSports and FPS players.
The CES 2023 conference will feature several 240Hz OLED displays (to the best of our knowledge). The Corsair Xeneon Flex is an innovative 45-inch OLED screen with a customizable curvature that sells for $1,999. It is suitable for both work and play, as you can switch between flat and 800R curved display modes by squeezing the display together.
As we were able to review a pre-release version of the Corsair Xeneon Flex, we were very impressed. In addition to AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, you’ll get a fast 0.03 millisecond response time, as well as 240Hz variable refresh rate and 1440p resolution.
In addition, LG Display will be showcasing its 45-inch ultra-wide OLED and 27-inch OLED UltraGear monitors, which are already available for pre-order for $999 and $1,699, respectively. There is a 0.03ms response time on both displays and they are both 1440p. A press release from LG Display also confirms that these OLED panels will be used in premium monitors from other brands, including Corsair and Asus.
In addition, we know that Asus will unveil a new 27-inch ROG OLED gaming monitor at CES 2023, although details are scarce at this time. According to a teaser posted earlier this month on Twitter, the ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM will run at 240Hz and feature a 1440p resolution as well, but pricing and a release date have yet to be announced.
A glossy version of the above-mentioned LG Display OLED panel will also be used by Dough in its own 27-inch Spectrum OLED monitor, which will run at 240Hz with a 1440p resolution, but we have not heard anything about its appearance at CES 2023. Preorders begin at $649, and fulfillment is expected around July 2023 if you are willing to take the plunge.
In spite of the fact that we are looking forward to seeing what these new gaming monitors have to offer, we are still going to nitpick – literally in this case. The LG UltraGear OLED displays both claims to have an average brightness level of 200 nits, while the Corsair Xeneon Flex boasts an average brightness level of 150 nits. Due to their power requirements, heat, and burn-in risks, OLED displays are typically dimmer than LCD displays, but if you’re used to something like the Samsung Odyssey G9 (which has a typical brightness of 420 nits), these displays may seem quite subdued.
For some, the lack of 4K resolution may also be a deal-breaker, although it is worth keeping in mind that an extremely powerful gaming PC is required to run most games at that resolution and at 240Hz. The current generation of consoles will also not be adequate. It is generally accepted that 1440p provides great image quality without sacrificing refresh rate and, consequently, frame rate.
In the near future, 240Hz OLED displays will be available for consumers who enjoy fast-paced competitive shooters as well as beautiful, graphics-intensive games. We are seeing some very high prices with new technology, but that is to be expected. Perhaps when the next generation of OLED gaming monitors reaches 500Hz, I will be able to afford one of the above models.