The best 1440p gaming monitors in Canada under $400

1440p is the sweet spot for PC gaming. It's a big step up from 1080p in sharpness, and most mid-range graphics cards can still push high frame rates at this resolution. The catch in Canada is that budget 1440p stock rotates fast: models go in and out of listings, and the price you see this week might be gone next week.

Every monitor below typically sells for under CA$400, and every retailer link was verified in September 2026. Where a listing was thin or a price only shows at checkout, we say so instead of pretending otherwise.

Prices checked September 2026. Refreshed September 25: four of the five monitors in the original version of this roundup were discontinued or repriced out of contention in Canada within days of our first research pass. The Dell G2724D, our former top pick, is no longer sold at Dell.ca or any major Canadian retailer. The ranking below was rebuilt from scratch around monitors that are actually in stock at real Canadian prices right now.

How this roundup was built

This is a research roundup, not a hands-on review. Maple Gadget didn't receive or test these monitors in person. Our launch budget is $0, and we won't pretend otherwise. Instead, the rankings below are built from:

• Measurement-based reviews from outlets with real testing rigs: RTINGS, Tom's Hardware, PCWorld, PC Gamer, PCGamesN, TechSpot, and Tech Advisor
• Manufacturer spec sheets, used for specifications only and never as proof that a product performs well
• Canadian retail listings at Best Buy Canada, Amazon.ca, Newegg.ca, and Canada Computers for pricing and availability

What we did not use: Amazon customer review text, user star ratings, content-farm "top 10" listicles, AI-generated review spam, or sponsored reviews without clear disclosure. Reddit threads were consulted only as background on common complaints, never as the basis for a ranking.

The criteria, in order: measured gaming performance (response time, input lag, motion clarity), image quality (SDR first, since that's what you'll actually use), ergonomics and features, then Canadian price and availability. HDR capability was not treated as a selling point at this price, for reasons explained below.

Scores are Maple Gadget's own judgment based on the evidence above. Nobody paid for placement, and nobody can. We have no affiliate relationships, and rankings are never for sale.

The picks

1. Gigabyte M27Q2, best overall

Score: 8.4/10. Around $270–280 CAD.

The M27Q2 is the new budget 1440p benchmark. It's a 27-inch Quantum Dot SuperSpeed IPS panel running 200Hz (210Hz overclocked) with 1ms GTG response, FreeSync Premium and G-SYNC Compatible support, HDR400, and a USB-C KVM that lets one keyboard and mouse control two machines. Monitors Unboxed (Hardware Unboxed) reviewed it in late 2025, and Tom's Hardware called it "one of the better mid-range gaming monitors on the market."

At CA$271.81 on Amazon.ca, it undercuts most 165Hz competition while giving you 200Hz, and the Quantum Dot layer means wider, richer colour than the standard IPS panels it replaces. This is the closest thing to a no-compromise pick under $400 right now.

Pros: 200Hz at a 165Hz price; QD colour; USB-C KVM; reviewed by two trusted outlets.

Cons: HDR400 is badge-only, as always at this price; the Amazon.ca listing ships from the US with roughly a week of delivery time.

Best for: PC gamers who want the best-tested all-rounder under $400.

Check price: Amazon.ca

2. ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ3A, best value

Score: 8.0/10. Around $200–210 CAD.

The VG27AQ3A is the direct successor to the well-regarded VG27AQ, and it improves the formula: a native 180Hz Fast IPS panel (up from 165Hz), 1ms GTG, FreeSync Premium and G-SYNC Compatible support, and HDR10. Tom's Hardware highlighted it as a good-value QHD IPS pick.

At CA$203.99, it's the cheapest credibly reviewed 1440p high-refresh IPS in Canada right now. One caveat on the buying: the Best Buy Canada listing is sold and fulfilled by Newegg Canada Official through Best Buy's marketplace, not by Best Buy itself, so check the seller and return terms before you buy. Don't confuse it with the older VG27AQ, a different and superseded model.

Pros: Proven successor to a well-reviewed model; 180Hz; the cheapest trusted pick in the roundup.

Cons: Best Buy listing is marketplace-fulfilled; ergonomics are tilt-focused, so check the stand; HDR10 is badge-only.

Best for: Budget buyers who want a reviewed, trustworthy panel for around $200.

Check price: Best Buy Canada (sold by Newegg Canada Official)

3. Samsung Odyssey G5 27" G55C, best for dark rooms

Score: 7.7/10. Around $350 CAD.

The G55C is still the contrast king of this roundup. It's a 27-inch curved VA panel (1000R curve) running 165Hz with FreeSync Premium, and RTINGS' comparison data shows roughly triple the contrast of the IPS panels here, which means genuinely deeper blacks in a dark room. The tradeoffs are the same as ever: slower dark-scene response (some smearing in dark games), weaker brightness and reflection handling than the IPS picks, and a tilt-only stand.

The honest update: the CA$189.99 Best Buy Canada price that made this the budget pick is gone. At CA$349.99, it's no longer the value play; it's the pick for dark-room gamers willing to pay extra for VA contrast. Make sure you're buying the 165Hz G55C (model numbers like LS27CG550), not the older 144Hz G5 from 2020, which is a different and superseded monitor.

Pros: Excellent contrast for the money; very low input lag; sold and shipped by Best Buy.

Cons: No longer cheap; the aggressive 1000R curve isn't for everyone; VA smearing in dark scenes; tilt-only stand.

Best for: Dark-room gamers who prioritize contrast above everything.

Check price: Best Buy Canada

4. Gigabyte G27Q20, cheapest 200Hz

Score: 7.3/10. Around $200 CAD.

The G27Q20 is the cheapest way into 200Hz 1440p we've verified in Canada: a 27-inch SuperSpeed IPS panel at 200Hz (210Hz overclocked), 0.5ms GTG, 94% DCI-P3 colour, FreeSync Premium and G-SYNC Compatible support, plus a height-adjustable stand, which budget monitors usually skip. At CA$199.99 at Canada Computers on a limited-time offer, it's an aggressive price for this spec sheet.

The honest caveat: we couldn't find a professional lab review of this exact variant, so this pick leans on its spec sheet and its place in Gigabyte's well-measured G27Q family rather than measured test results. Buy it for the price and the specs, knowing the review pedigree is thinner than the three picks above. And treat the price as volatile: limited-time offers at this level rarely last.

Pros: Cheapest verified 200Hz 1440p in Canada; height-adjustable stand; strong spec sheet.

Cons: No professional lab review of this exact model; limited-time pricing may not last.

Best for: Bargain hunters who want maximum refresh per dollar.

Check price: Canada Computers (search G27Q20; CA$199.99 limited-time offer at time of checking)

What to look for (and what to ignore)

IPS vs VA is the real tradeoff at this price. IPS panels (Gigabyte, ASUS) give faster pixel response and wider viewing angles, but contrast around 1000:1 means blacks look grey in a dark room. VA (Samsung G5) gives roughly triple the contrast for genuinely deeper blacks, but slower dark-scene transitions can smear. Pick based on your room lighting and the games you play, not brand loyalty.

HDR badges are marketing at this price. DisplayHDR 400 means the monitor accepts an HDR signal, not that it displays real HDR. With no local dimming and 300–400 nits of brightness, HDR usually looks worse than SDR on these panels. Judge them on SDR picture quality and leave HDR off.

Use DisplayPort for full refresh rate. Most of these cap HDMI at 144Hz; the advertised 165Hz+ modes need DisplayPort. If your new monitor seems stuck at 144Hz, the cable is the first thing to check.

Check the stand before you assume. Budget 1440p monitors often ship with tilt-only stands and no height adjustment. A basic VESA monitor arm costs around CA$40–60 and fixes it permanently, but factor it into the real price.

Ignore "1ms" on the box. Manufacturer response-time claims are best-case figures measured under ideal conditions. Real response times depend on overdrive settings and vary widely, which is why the RTINGS and Tom's Hardware measured results cited above matter more than the spec sheet.

Final verdict

If you buy one monitor from this list, make it the Gigabyte M27Q2 (around $270–280 at Amazon.ca). It's the best-reviewed all-rounder under $400: 200Hz, Quantum Dot colour, and a USB-C KVM the competition doesn't offer.

If the budget is tight, the ASUS VG27AQ3A (around $200–210) is the cheapest credibly reviewed 1440p high-refresh panel in Canada. And if you game in a dark room, the Samsung Odyssey G5 G55C (around $350) still has the best contrast in the roundup; just don't expect the old $190 price to come back soon.

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The links above are plain retailer links, not affiliate links. Maple Gadget earns nothing from them. Rankings are never for sale, and no manufacturer paid for placement in this roundup.