WQHD: what is it exactly and why is everyone talking about it?

WQHD screen WQHD vs 4K WQHD vs QHD

If you've been looking at PC screens for a while, you've inevitably come across this term: WQHD. And as is often the case in hardware, we love to use acronyms, to the point where you start to wonder if it's a revolution or just a new name for an old resolution. In reality, WQHD has established itself as a modern standard, especially among gamers and those looking for a versatile screen. And you'll see that understanding what it means - and especially if it's right for you - is much simpler than it seems.

What exactly is WQHD?

Let's start off easy. The WQHD, for Wide Quad High Definition, corresponds to a resolution of 2560 × 1440 pixels In common language, it is also referred to as 1440p.

Why "Wide"? Because originally, QHD (Quad HD) referred to a format used on smartphones, based on 1440p but not necessarily in 16:9. WQHD is simply the wide version adapted for PC screens.

So if you've ever wondered what wqhd is? → it's simply QHD in widescreen format, which you will see indicated as WQHD on monitors.

And between us: WQHD = QHD = 1440p, they are just different names.

QHD vs WQHD: is there really a difference?

It's THE most common confusion.

You may be wondering: wqhd vs qhd, which one is better?

The answer is simple:

👉 There is no difference.

  • QHD is the standard designation .
  • WQHD is the more "complete" designation used by manufacturers.
  • Both display 2560 × 1440 pixels.

So if you see "QHD", "Quad HD" or "WQHD" in a technical specification, you can consider that it refers exactly to the same format.

wqhd Click to enlarge

Why choose a WQHD screen today?

If this resolution has become so popular, it is no coincidence.

A WQHD screen strikes a balance that few other resolutions offer: it is significantly sharper than Full HD, but it does not require as much power as a 4K screen.

Basically, you gain in quality without blowing your budget and without putting your graphics card on its knees.

A WQHD screen will offer you:

  • a image much more detailed than 1080p ,
  • more space to work (ideal for coding, editing, or having multiple windows),
  • a much more enjoyable gaming experience ,
  • a resolution perfectly suited for a 27-inch screen .

All stocks of WQHD in real time

With DropReference, you have access to all the stocks of screens in your country at all retailers. It's ideal for finding all components and peripherals at the best price.

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LG UltraGear 27GR93U-B 27in 4K 144Hz

LG UltraGear 27GR93U-B 27in 4K 144Hz

446€

(5 Vendors)
Resolution: 4K (2160p)
Top brand Excellent quality Good frequency Standard size
Samsung Odyssey G7 27" 144Hz Black

Samsung Odyssey G7 27" 144Hz Black

303€

(13 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Excellent quality Good frequency Standard size
AOC Q27G41ZDF 27" QHD OLED 240Hz

AOC Q27G41ZDF 27" QHD OLED 240Hz

369€

(9 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size
GEESUU MG270L2Q 27" QHD 200Hz IPS Black

GEESUU MG270L2Q 27" QHD 200Hz IPS Black

178€

(2 Vendors)
Refresh Rate: 200
Top brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
AOC Q27G42ZE 27" QHD 240Hz Black

AOC Q27G42ZE 27" QHD 240Hz Black

168€

(13 Vendors)
5 (1)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
TCL 25G64 24.5in FHD 300Hz HDR600 Black

TCL 25G64 24.5in FHD 300Hz HDR600 Black

149€

(4 Vendors)
Refresh Rate: 300
Good brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
AOC U27G4R 27 FHD 144Hz Black

AOC U27G4R 27 FHD 144Hz Black

269€

(10 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Excellent quality Good frequency Standard size
Gigabyte GO27Q24 27" QHD 240Hz

Gigabyte GO27Q24 27" QHD 240Hz

369€

(10 Vendors)
Brand: Gigabyte
Good brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size
Samsung Odyssey G50SF 27" QHD 180Hz

Samsung Odyssey G50SF 27" QHD 180Hz

424€

(5 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Incredible quality Good frequency Standard size
MSI MAG274QF X24 27in QHD 240Hz

MSI MAG274QF X24 27in QHD 240Hz

189€

(6 Vendors)
Brand: MSI
Good brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG Black 27 WQHD OLED

ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG Black 27 WQHD OLED

429€

(9 Vendors)
Brand: Asus
Top brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size
AOC CU34G4 34-inch 3440x1440 180Hz

AOC CU34G4 34-inch 3440x1440 180Hz

233€

(9 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Good for immersion Good frequency Ultra large
AOC CQ32G4VE 32" QHD 280Hz

AOC CQ32G4VE 32" QHD 280Hz

177€

(14 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Good for immersion Good frequency Ultra large
AOC Q27G4ZR 27" QHD VRR Black/Red

AOC Q27G4ZR 27" QHD VRR Black/Red

186€

(11 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
Gigabyte MO27Q28G 27 inch QHD OLED 280Hz

Gigabyte MO27Q28G 27 inch QHD OLED 280Hz

499€

(14 Vendors)
Brand: Gigabyte
Good brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size
Gigabyte M27Q2 QD 27in QHD 200Hz

Gigabyte M27Q2 QD 27in QHD 200Hz

219€

(6 Vendors)
Brand: Gigabyte
Good brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
AOC Q27G42XE 27" QHD 180Hz Black/Red

AOC Q27G42XE 27" QHD 180Hz Black/Red

136€

(11 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Excellent quality Good frequency Standard size
IIYAMA G-Master Black Hawk 27" QHD 144Hz

IIYAMA G-Master Black Hawk 27" QHD 144Hz

142€

(12 Vendors)
Brand: iiyama
Good brand Excellent quality Good frequency Standard size
Gigabyte GS27U Black 27-inch UHD 160Hz HDR400

Gigabyte GS27U Black 27-inch UHD 160Hz HDR400

238€

(7 Vendors)
Brand: Gigabyte
Good brand Excellent quality Good frequency Standard size
MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV 27" QHD 2560x1440 300 Hz

MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV 27" QHD 2560x1440 300 Hz

346€

(4 Vendors)
Brand: MSI
Good brand Good for immersion Extreme frequency Standard size
AOC 27G42E 27" FHD 180Hz

AOC 27G42E 27" FHD 180Hz

90€

(11 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Excellent quality Good frequency Standard size
MSI MAG 244F 23.8in FHD 200Hz Black

MSI MAG 244F 23.8in FHD 200Hz Black

79€

(9 Vendors)
Brand: MSI
Good brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACDNG 27in Black QHD 360Hz

ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACDNG 27in Black QHD 360Hz

640€

(14 Vendors)
Brand: Asus
Top brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size
ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMES 26.5" QHD 240Hz

ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMES 26.5" QHD 240Hz

459€

(7 Vendors)
Brand: Asus
Top brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size
Gigabyte MO27Q2 27 inch OLED QHD 240Hz

Gigabyte MO27Q2 27 inch OLED QHD 240Hz

544€

(7 Vendors)
Brand: Gigabyte
Good brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size

WQHD vs 4K: which one is really made for you?

We reach the point where players hesitate the most: wqhd vs 4k , what do I choose?

The 4K (3840 × 2160) obviously offers more pixels , more finesse and a spectacular rendering on large screens. But it has two flaws:

  1. It is more expensive,
  2. She is much more greedy.

For gaming:

  • in WQHD, you play more comfortably with a mid/high-end graphics card ;
  • in 4K, you will have to aim for a strong card , style RTX 5080 or 5090, if you want to play in Ultra at more than 60 FPS.

For pure productivity or editing:

  • if you work in UHD, 4K keeps the advantage;
  • if you are looking for a balanced screen that remains smooth everywhere, the WQHD is more consistent.

It's really a matter of use:

  • Do you play a lot? → WQHD.
  • Do you want an ultra-thin image on a 32-inch screen? → 4K.
  • Do you want a good screen without overpaying? → WQHD.
double-ecran-pc Click to enlarge

Comparative table of screens

So, WQHD: a good choice for 2026?

Quite frankly, yes. This is the format that meets the needs of the majority of gamers and workers.

It gives you real comfort of use without forcing you to invest in an expensive configuration.

It is also a resolution that will age well: current GPUs are calibrated for 1440p , and the next ones will be even more so. You will be quiet for several years.