/OLED Monitor Rant

I've been using my 240Hz 1080p Dell S2522HG monitor for over three years now, and I've been itching for an upgrade. Ever since LG stormed the market with their 240Hz 1440p OLED monitors in January 2023, I've been tempted to shell out the insane $1,000 price. However, I've held off, hoping the technology would mature a bit more.

But let's be real - that’s not the full story. I really wanted that upgrade, but there was one glaring issue: 27 inches is just too big. My primary use for a monitor is playing Counter-Strike 2, and in the world of competitive gaming, 24.5" screens reign supreme. There’s a reason every professional tournament uses 24.5" monitors - they offer a superior field of view. With a smaller screen, you can see everything without having to dart your eyes around or rely on peripheral vision for quick glances, like checking the mini-map or your utility. It’s all about maximizing focus on the game.

Sure, some might say this is all personal preference, but it still baffles me that, three years later, no company has released a 24.5" OLED monitor. Maybe it's a sign I should just move on and settle for a larger panel, but I’m not quite ready to do that. Last month, ASUS launched the ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDP, a 27" 1440p 480Hz OLED display priced at $1,000. Perhaps waiting for OLED to improve was the right call, but it's still not the size I want. That said, the specs are so enticing that this might be the product that finally pressures me to switch.

I can guess a few reasons why manufacturers have moved away from the 24.5" size. Larger monitors are increasingly popular, and the trend doesn’t seem to be fading. Moreover, production costs decrease as panel sizes increase, making larger OLED panels more cost-effective. Manufacturers respond accordingly. Interestingly, 27" QHD, 34" WQHD, and 42" 4K OLED panels share the same PPI, suggesting they’re likely made using the same manufacturing process - either cut from a larger 42" 4K panel or produced using similar lines. For a 24-25 inch QHD OLED panel to exist, we would need a ~37-38" 4K panel as a base, which simply isn’t available right now. It looks like the market won’t shift back to smaller sizes anytime soon.

In my research, I came across this Reddit comment from an official ASUS representative, /u/ASUS_MKTLeeM:

"... the trend towards larger monitors follows the pattern of higher performing GPUs and PC hardware, combined with resolution and refresh rates increasing every year ... nobody would seriously consider high-refresh rate 4K for gaming until we hit the likes of the current and previous generations of NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards." – /u/ASUS_MKTLeeM

Higher resolutions definitely benefit those playing AAA titles like Red Dead Redemption II or The Last of Us. But for competitive Counter-Strike players, 1440p isn’t the priority. Most are running at 1280x960 stretched, maximizing FPS. Interestingly, OLED technology could benefit both worlds: it offers infinite contrast and stunning colors for single-player games and movies, while its instant response times eliminate ghosting for fast-paced competitive play.

One concern I have is how 1280x960 stretched would look on a 1440p panel. Would the scaling work the same as on a 1080p display? I could opt for 1440x1080, but there’s something about seeing the movement of individual pixels that makes the gameplay feel more precise.

So, maybe I'll stick with my trusty Dell for another year - or perhaps I’ll cave and finally switch to that new ASUS.