1440p vs. 1080p: Should You Make the Switch?

I was a proud 1080p stan for nearly a decade. It was the sweet spot for me at the time: clean enough to enjoy games, easy to push high framerates, and, most importantly, affordable. But somewhere along the way, I transitioned from competitive shooters to slower, story-driven games. Add in the fact that I can barely recognize a friend from across the room, and I figured it was time to give 1440p a shot.

Yep, so I made the leap and grabbed myself an upgrade. And my oh my, was there a huge improvement. Textures looked great, UI was clear, and characters were beautiful! It wasn’t just an upgrade; it was clarity I didn’t know I needed. 

From REEkon Tools Official GIPHY

But what makes 1440p objectively better? A lot of it boils down to PPI, or pixels per inch. On a 27-inch monitor, 1080p gives you around 81 PPI, while 1440p gives you about 108. That means more pixels are packed into the same space, making everything crisper. It’s not just about seeing the wrinkles on a character’s face—it’s about reading text more easily, enjoying better-looking environments, and just having your eyeballs thank you at the end of a long session. 

Another big factor is GPU headroom. In the past, 1440p meant your rig had to work overtime. But modern GPUs handle 1440p surprisingly well, especially if you’re okay with tweaking a few settings. And if you’re coming from high refresh 1080p, there are now 144Hz and 165Hz 1440p monitors that don’t compromise much on responsiveness.

From Law & Order Official GIPHY

So, is 1080p obsolete? Well, I can still say it is very much viable, especially for competitive gamers who prioritize high FPS over visuals. But if your use case is starting to shift like mine did—towards chill story games—1440p should naturally come to you. Just know, it won’t make you better at games. But it might just make you appreciate them more, and that’s a win for all gamers.

If you are quite content with your monitor now but seek a second monitor instead, check out the Adreamer LIBRA 15M Gaming Monitor. Why settle for one when you can have two?! Grab your next upgrade today at the Next Upgrade Shop!