“1440p mini LED monitors” is a popular topic based on the number of queries that we’ve received in recent months. The short answer is that they aren’t available, so your only choice is to go with the currently available 4K variants if you want fantastic HDR performance. These 4K monitors like the Asus PG32UQX are great, but they are prohibitively expensive and demanding.
You also have to spend on top-shelf GPUs which now cost more than the monitor if you want to get high framerates in 4K. results will vary depending on the game, but it is well-known that many so-called 4K cards falter and fail to provide a stable 60Hz in AAA titles. The whole ordeal is expensive, but that’s where the 1440p variants come in.
They are more affordable and most will only need upper midrange cards to get high and consistent framerates. It makes more sense for practical gamers to go with this route unless money or budget will not be an issue. However, we don’t have access to 1440p mini LED monitors yet at the time of this writing.
Why 1440p Mini LED Monitors are Unavailable
Mini LED technology is basically still in its infancy so it is very expensive to develop, manufacture, and integrate into existing monitor designs. Involving the special backlight will also open gateways into higher tiers and certifications such as VESA’s DisplayHDR 1000 and 1400. As such, they are reserved for flagship models with 4K panels
Prominent variants like the PG32UQX cost more or less four grand while professional variants go for as much as $5000. 1440p variants do not fit above $1000, and you’d know that if you check their top-end 240Hz models that hover around $800 to $900. It would break the current market for them if someone offered 1440p mini LED monitors that cost way below that pumped-up price range.
However, all the new technologies usually trickle down to lower-tier models in the monitor market. 144Hz 1440p IPS monitors are a great example since they used to cost almost $900 when they first arrived, but they now cost less than half of that. Mini LED tech will eventually become cheaper and more common, but the question here is when.
Will They Ever Arrive?
Thankfully, there is a part of the monitor road map which indicates that we will eventually see these displays on the retailer’s shelves. In fact, we already came across a concept model named the AOC Agon AG274QXM which was first announced in China. Pricing isn’t available yet, but we know that it’s a 1440p 170Hz variant with a mini-LED array that goes up to 1000 cd/m2.
We’re pretty sure this won’t be cheap, but it should be considerably more cost-effective than the 144Hz variants. It is also a good indication that other brands also have something up their sleeves but have yet to announce their offerings. AOC usually releases after everyone else has even if they were the first to announce this, so expect exciting news in the future.
About the Author: Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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