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For fast-paced games, IPS is usually the safer LCD starting point—but a fast VA monitor can outperform a slow IPS one. VA panels more often show dark-transition “black smearing”; the panel label alone cannot tell you how clearly a specific monitor handles motion. Compare independent tests for the exact model, including its slowest transitions and overdrive artifacts.
Why IPS is usually the safer starting point
IPS monitors generally handle motion more consistently, while VA monitors more often struggle with transitions out of dark shades. When those dark pixels change slowly, moving objects can leave dark trails, especially against dim backgrounds. RTINGS describes black smearing as the biggest downside of gaming with VA panels, while also noting that performance varies by monitor. That makes it a common risk to check for—not a defect every VA monitor shares.
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IPS is not a guarantee of sharp motion, either. A slow IPS monitor can blur, and a well-performing VA model can be quicker overall than a particular IPS model. RTINGS’ comparison illustrates the point with these model-specific measurements:
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| Monitor example | Panel | Average Total Response Time | Worst 10% Total Response Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| AOC Q27G3XMN | VA | 4.5 ms | 10.3 ms |
| LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B | IPS | 5.5 ms | 9.7 ms |
| Samsung Odyssey G50D S27DG50 | IPS | 7.2 ms | 12.5 ms |
These are RTINGS’ example results, accessed in 2026—not panel-wide averages. The AOC VA has the better average of these examples, but its worst 10% of transitions are slower than the LG IPS’s. The Samsung result also shows why “IPS” by itself is not enough to predict motion clarity. RTINGS does not provide an overall population average for IPS versus VA monitors.
#1 Best Overall
- Samsung’s 32” Odyssey G5 QHD Gaming Monitor delivers brilliant visuals for exhilarating gameplay that’s more immersive than ever before.
- QHD resolution (2560 x 1440) boasts incredibly detailed, pin-sharp images.
- With a wide 178° viewing angle, the IPS panel consistently delivers crisp, clear hues from various viewpoints.
- 180Hz Refresh Rate and 1ms response time (GtG) allow fast reactions for ultra-smooth gaming, plus G-Sync compatibility syncs the GPU and panel to reduce choppiness, screen lag, and image tearing.
- HDR10 provides brighter highlights and nuanced shadows for added depth.
What causes blur, smearing, and ghost trails?
Pixel response time
Pixel response time is how long a pixel takes to transition between colors. If it cannot complete a transition quickly enough, the previous shade can linger as the image changes, producing blur or a trail. RTINGS notes that a quick response time is especially helpful for gaming and other fast-moving content.
Dark-transition smearing
Black smearing is a form of ghosting associated with slow transitions at dark levels. It can be particularly noticeable when a dark object moves across a shadowy scene, or when bright elements move against a dark background. Because VA panels more often have slow dark transitions, check the worst dark-transition results rather than relying only on an overall average.
Rank #2
- Smooth motion: 240Hz refresh rate and fast 0.5ms response time provide crisp visuals and fluid movement with less input lag.
- Seamless gaming: FreeSync Premium and HDMI VRR eliminate tearing for smooth, responsive PC and console gameplay.
- Fast IPS: Faster 0.5ms response with excellent color accuracy across wide IPS viewing angles.
- Rich color: 99% sRGB color coverage delivers vivid, detailed imagery with strong accuracy.
- Eye comfort: TÜV Rheinland 3‑star certified display lowers blue light while preserving color quality.
Refresh rate and persistence blur
Refresh rate and pixel response time are separate contributors to motion clarity. A higher refresh rate can reduce persistence blur by showing each frame for less time, but it does not make a slow pixel transition finish faster. A high-Hz specification alone therefore cannot prove that a monitor will look clear in motion.
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Overdrive pushes pixels harder to speed up transitions. Set too aggressively, it can drive pixels past their intended shade; the resulting bright or colored trail is called overshoot or inverse ghosting. The strongest overdrive setting is not automatically the best one. Look for tests that report response and overshoot together at the monitor’s recommended setting and at the refresh rates you plan to use.
Rank #3
- Vivid Color, Fast Response, Total Control - The 24" UltraGear FHD gaming monitor delivers vivid HDR10 color, ultra-smooth 120Hz speed, and 1ms MBR clarity. G-SYNC compatibility & FreeSync keep gameplay tear-free. The sleek, slim design keep you focused and in control.
- Vivid Color That Puts You in the Action - Step onto the battlefield with HDR10 visuals and up to 99% sRGB color gamut coverage. The IPS display delivers rich, vivid tones, so every explosion, shadow, and landscape appears exactly as the developers intended.
- 120Hz Native Speed (144Hz Overclock) - Enjoy fluid, crystal-clear gameplay with a 120Hz native refresh rate, boosted to 144Hz when overclocked. Minimized motion blur keeps every frame sharp, so you can stay locked in on the action.
- 1ms MBR: Fast-Paced Speed to Victory - 1ms Motion Blur Reduction (MBR) keeps gameplay smooth and sharp, cutting blur and ghosting so fast-moving action stays clear—helping you stay competitive when every millisecond counts.
- NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible & AMD FreeSync - NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible and AMD FreeSync deliver smooth, tear-free, low-latency gaming with high refresh rates—so every frame stays sharp.
How to compare two specific gaming monitors
Use model-level measurements rather than the IPS or VA label, and compare like with like. RTINGS’ newer Cumulative Absolute Deviation (CAD) testing combines response time and overshoot, measuring 72 gray-to-gray transitions at maximum refresh rate, 120 Hz, and 60 Hz across overdrive settings. Older RTINGS test benches used different methods, so their results should not be treated as directly comparable to Test Bench 2.0-and-newer scores.
- Match the test conditions to your use. Compare response behavior at the refresh rate you expect to play at. If you also play at 120 Hz or 60 Hz, check those results where available rather than assuming maximum-refresh performance applies at every setting.
- Inspect the slow transitions. Check the worst or slowest transitions, especially dark-to-brighter changes on a VA monitor. An average can hide a small group of transitions that leave visible trails.
- Check overshoot at a usable overdrive setting. Compare the recommended setting, not just the most aggressive option, and see whether it improves transitions without creating distracting inverse ghosting.
- Check behavior with VRR enabled if you use it. Adaptive sync can affect how overdrive behaves; some monitors restrict overdrive with VRR. RTINGS also notes that large frame-rate changes with VRR can cause flicker, often most visible in dark scenes, and found it more common or worse in its VA examples than its IPS examples. Treat that as a model-dependent possibility, not a universal VA problem.
- Confirm the test method and date. Ensure the results are from the same testing methodology before comparing numbers. A response-time figure without its conditions, transition coverage, and overdrive setting may tell you little about real motion performance.
Do not confuse input lag with response time
Input lag is the delay associated with processing a control input before it appears on screen. Pixel response time measures how quickly pixels change once the display begins updating. They are different measurements: RTINGS says input lag does not depend on whether the monitor uses an IPS or VA panel. A monitor can have low input lag yet still show motion blur from slow transitions.
Rank #4
- Quality Visuals: The KG271U 27" IPS monitor with 2560 x 1440 QHD resolution in a 16:9 aspect ratio presents stunning, high-quality images with excellent detail. The zero-frame design does away with the thick frames found on conventional monitors freeing up precious screen space.
- AMD FreeSync Technology: Say “goodbye” to stuttering and tearing. With AMD FreeSync, the monitor’s frames are synced with the graphics card’s frames, which eliminates screen tearing and provide the smoothest gaming experience.
- Up to 180Hz: The 180Hz refresh rate speeds up the frames per second to deliver an ultra-smooth 2D motion scene. With a rapid refresh rate of up to 180Hz, Acer Gaming Monitors shorten the time it takes for frame rendering, lower input lag and provide gamers an excellent in-game experience.
- Responsive!!: Up to 0.5ms GTG (Gray to Gray) response time enhanced gamers’ in-game experience. No matter the fast-moving action or any dramatic transitions will be all rendered smoothly without the annoying effects of smearing or ghosting with KG271U Gaming Monitor.
- New Depths of Color Accuracy: is monitor is ideal for color-critical projects producing accurate colors, supporting DCI-P3 95%. An amazing monitor for graphic designers, photographers, and film editors.
What “1 ms” claims do—and do not—tell you
A manufacturer’s advertised response-time number is not enough to establish motion clarity. Results depend on test conditions, which transitions are measured, and the overdrive setting; an aggressive setting may trade faster transitions for visible overshoot. Prefer independent model tests that show transition behavior and artifacts at relevant refresh rates over a single headline number.
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Best Value
- up to 180Hz Refresh Rate: Pushing beyond the standard 144Hz, 165Hz gives gamers an edge in visibility as frames transition instantly, leaving behind no blurred images.
- IPS Panel: The IPS (In-Plane Switching) panel cannot be beat when it comes to consistently delivering top color performance and sharp visibility from multiple viewing angles.
- AMD FreeSync: With FreeSync, gamers now enjoy smooth video and seamless on the spot movement through their fast paced games. FreeSync is an AMD technology that nearly eliminates tearing and stuttering due to differences between a graphics card's frame rate and a monitor's refresh rate.
- Edgeless Design: Edgeless Design completely immerses you in all the captivating action and wondrous scenery that 1080P resolution and 165Hz refresh rate have to offer.
- Multiple Digital Ports: While three HDMI ports each deliver an impressive 144Hz refresh rate, one DisplayPort produces a stunning 165Hz refresh rate, all in FHD resolution.
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