Best of · Monitors
Best cheap OLED monitors in 2026: real OLED from $350
OLED gaming monitors now start at $350. Five picks from Alienware, Samsung, LG, and ASUS, with the compromises each one makes to hit its price.
Our pick: Alienware AW2726DM for most budgets; ASUS XG32UQWMS when it is on sale for a 4K OLED
Dell
Alienware AW2726DM
8.3~$350
The cheapest OLED worth buying: 1440p QD-OLED at 240Hz with Dell's three-year burn-in coverage.
Pros
- • 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED, 240Hz over DisplayPort
- • Dell covers OLED burn-in for 3 years
- • PCWorld called it an 'absolute steal' for PC gaming
Cons
- • Dim in SDR and HDR
- • HDMI limited to 120Hz; no USB ports or speakers
- • Noticeable text fringing
Samsung
Odyssey OLED G5 (G50SF)
7.5$349.99 sale ($549.99 list)
Matches the Alienware's price when on sale, but slower at 180Hz and with older ports.
Pros
- • 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED
- • 180Hz, 0.03 ms response
- • 99% DCI-P3
Cons
- • 200 nits typical; HDR10 only
- • DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 2.0 (144Hz)
- • No USB hub
LG
UltraGear 27GX790B
8.6$799.99 sale ($999.99 list)
When discounted, the brightest and fastest 1440p OLED for the money: 540Hz and a 720Hz mode.
Pros
- • 540Hz native, 720Hz at 720p
- • 1,500 nits peak HDR, 335 nits full-screen
- • DisplayPort 2.1 and USB-C
Cons
- • Two-year burn-in warranty
- • Still expensive at list price
Samsung
Odyssey OLED G6 (G60SF)
8.5$699.99
500Hz QD-OLED with a full stand, a Tom's Hardware Editor's Choice, at $300 under launch price.
Pros
- • 500Hz
- • Height, tilt, swivel, pivot
- • Two HDMI 2.1 ports
Cons
- • DisplayPort 1.4, no USB-C
ASUS
ROG Strix OLED XG32UQWMS
8.7$899.99 list ($699.99 on sale)
The cheapest 4K tandem OLED: 4K 240Hz or 1080p 480Hz, glossy, three-year warranty.
Pros
- • 31.5-inch 4K tandem WOLED, 240Hz / 480Hz dual mode
- • 330 nits full-screen, 1,500 nits peak HDR
- • Three-year warranty
Cons
- • No USB-C
- • Glossy coating reflects in bright rooms
In March 2026, PC Gamer reported Samsung's 27-inch Odyssey OLED G5 at $349.99, the cheapest OLED gaming monitor it had seen. Dell followed with the $350 Alienware AW2726DM. OLED is no longer a $1,000 purchase, but the cheapest models cut corners on brightness and ports. These picks are based on manufacturer specs, published reviews, and US prices; we have not tested them.
Cheap OLED monitors compared
| Monitor | Size and resolution | Refresh | Ports | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alienware AW2726DM | 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED | 240Hz (DP); 120Hz (HDMI) | DP 1.4, 2 x HDMI | 3-year burn-in (Dell) | ~$350 |
| Samsung Odyssey OLED G5 | 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED | 180Hz (DP); 144Hz (HDMI 2.0) | DP 1.2, HDMI 2.0 | Check Samsung | $349.99 sale |
| Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 | 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED | 500Hz | DP 1.4, 2 x HDMI 2.1 | 3 years | $699.99 |
| LG UltraGear 27GX790B | 27-inch 1440p tandem WOLED | 540Hz; 720Hz at 720p | DP 2.1, 2 x HDMI 2.1, USB-C | 2-year burn-in (LG) | $799.99 sale |
| ASUS ROG Strix XG32UQWMS | 31.5-inch 4K tandem WOLED | 240Hz; 480Hz at 1080p | DP 1.4, 2 x HDMI 2.1 | 3 years | $699.99 sale |
Best cheap OLED: Alienware AW2726DM
Dell's AW2726DM is a 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED that runs at 240Hz over DisplayPort 1.4 and 120Hz over its two HDMI ports. PCWorld's October 2026 review called it an absolute steal for PC gamers while flagging underwhelming SDR and HDR brightness, noticeable text fringing, and no USB ports or speakers. Dell covers burn-in on all its OLED monitors for three years, which no other $350 OLED matches.
Also cheap: Samsung Odyssey OLED G5
The G50SF uses a 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED at up to 180Hz with 99% DCI-P3. Its ports are a step back: DisplayPort 1.2 (180Hz needs DSC or reduced color depth) and HDMI 2.0, which caps at 144Hz. It is rated at 200 nits typical with HDR10 only. Buy it only on sale; at its $549.99 list price, the AW2726DM is better.
Best cheap 4K OLED: ASUS ROG Strix XG32UQWMS
At its $699.99 sale price (list $899.99), the XG32UQWMS is the cheapest 4K tandem OLED we found. It runs 4K at 240Hz or 1080p at 480Hz, rates 330 nits full-screen and 1,500 nits peak, and carries a three-year warranty. The glossy coating makes blacks pop in a dim room and reflects lamps in a bright one, and there is no USB-C.
Best fast 1440p OLEDs on sale: LG 27GX790B and Samsung Odyssey OLED G6
If you play competitive shooters, the 500Hz Odyssey OLED G6 at $699.99 and the 540Hz LG 27GX790B at $799.99 on sale are the step up. The LG is brighter and has better ports; the Samsung has a fully adjustable stand. TweakTown also points to MSI's MAG 272QP QD-OLED X50, another 500Hz model, as a cheaper alternative; check current pricing.
Questions we get
What is the cheapest OLED monitor?
The Alienware AW2726DM at about $350 and Samsung's Odyssey OLED G5 at $349.99 on sale are the cheapest 27-inch OLED gaming monitors we found from major brands. The Alienware is the better buy at the same price: 240Hz versus 180Hz, and Dell's three-year burn-in coverage.
Are cheap OLED monitors worth it?
For gaming and movies, yes. Even budget OLEDs have per-pixel contrast and near-instant response times that LCDs at the same price cannot match. The compromises are brightness, ports, and text clarity, so if you mostly read and type in a bright room, a good IPS monitor may serve you better.
Do budget OLED monitors burn in faster?
There is no evidence that cheaper models burn in faster than expensive ones with the same panel generation. The difference is the warranty: Dell, MSI, Acer, and Corsair cover burn-in for three years, LG for two. Check the policy before you buy.