Buying guide
1440p vs 4K for gaming monitors
How 1440p and 4K compare for gaming and desk work, what pixel density means for text, and the realistic frame-rate trade-offs, without invented FPS estimates.
Choosing between 1440p and 4K is really choosing between sharpness and speed. A 4K image has 2.25 times as many pixels as 1440p, and your graphics card has to render every one of them each frame.
Sharpness
| Size and resolution | Pixels per inch (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 24.5-inch 1080p | 90 |
| 27-inch 1440p | 109 |
| 32-inch 4K | 140 |
| 27-inch 4K | 163 |
| 27-inch 5K | 218 |
Higher density makes text crisper and hides OLED subpixel fringing. At 27-inch 4K you will use Windows scaling (125% to 150% is typical), which gives very sharp text with a workspace similar to or slightly larger than 1440p.
Frame rates
We do not publish frame-rate estimates for specific GPUs and games; results vary too much with settings, drivers, upscaling, and CPU limits. Look up benchmarks for your exact card and games. The principles are simple:
- The same GPU produces substantially fewer frames at 4K than at 1440p in GPU-bound games, because it renders far more pixels.
- Upscaling technologies such as DLSS, FSR, and XeSS render internally at a lower resolution and reconstruct a 4K image, which narrows the gap.
- Esports titles are often CPU-limited and run at very high frame rates at either resolution, while demanding single-player games may not reach even 120 fps at native 4K.
That is why 1440p monitors go up to 500Hz and beyond, while 4K OLEDs top out at 240Hz.
Which should you buy?
- Competitive shooters first: 1440p at 360Hz to 540Hz, such as the ASUS PG27AQWP-W.
- Mixed work and gaming, strong GPU: 27-inch 4K for text, such as the ASUS PG27UCDM, or 32-inch 4K for immersion, such as the ASUS PG32UCDM3.
- Mid-range GPU: 1440p is easier to drive at high refresh rates; consider a 280Hz model such as the ASUS XG27AQWMG.
- Undecided: a dual-mode monitor gives you 4K and a faster 1080p mode.
Consoles
PS5 and Xbox Series X output up to 4K at 120Hz. A 4K monitor with HDMI 2.1 uses that fully; a 1440p monitor receives 1440p at up to 120Hz where the console supports it. See DisplayPort, HDMI, DSC, and consoles.