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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AOC Q27G42ZE 27" QHD 240Hz Black

AOC Q27G42ZE 27" QHD 240Hz Black

179€

(8 Vendors)
5 (1)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
AOC Q27G41ZDF 27" QHD OLED 240Hz

AOC Q27G41ZDF 27" QHD OLED 240Hz

369€

(4 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size
Dell Alienware AW2725Q 27" 4K OLED 240Hz Black

Dell Alienware AW2725Q 27" 4K OLED 240Hz Black

694€

(9 Vendors)
Brand: DELL
Top brand Quality Warning Extreme frequency Standard size Powerful GPU
Gigabyte MO27Q28G 27 inch QHD OLED 280Hz

Gigabyte MO27Q28G 27 inch QHD OLED 280Hz

529€

(13 Vendors)
Brand: Gigabyte
Good brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size
ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG Black 27 WQHD OLED

ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG Black 27 WQHD OLED

499€

(6 Vendors)
Brand: Asus
Top brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size
TCL 25G64 24.5in FHD 300Hz HDR600 Black

TCL 25G64 24.5in FHD 300Hz HDR600 Black

166€

(4 Vendors)
Refresh Rate: 300
Good brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
AOC CQ32G4VE 32" QHD 280Hz

AOC CQ32G4VE 32" QHD 280Hz

177€

(12 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Good for immersion Good frequency Ultra large
Lenovo Legion 27" 2560x1440 300Hz 27Q-11 Black

Lenovo Legion 27" 2560x1440 300Hz 27Q-11 Black

209€

(3 Vendors)
Brand: Lenovo
Good brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
Samsung Odyssey G8 32in 4K/240Hz Black

Samsung Odyssey G8 32in 4K/240Hz Black

745€

(12 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Ultra large Powerful GPU
ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQWMG 26.5in QHD 280Hz

ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQWMG 26.5in QHD 280Hz

599€

(5 Vendors)
Brand: Asus
Top brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size
Alienware AW2725D 27QHD 280Hz Black

Alienware AW2725D 27QHD 280Hz Black

553€

(7 Vendors)
Brand: DELL
Top brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size
AOC AG276QZD2 27" QHD 240Hz Black/Grey

AOC AG276QZD2 27" QHD 240Hz Black/Grey

449€

(8 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Standard size
AOC 24G42E 24in FHD 180Hz Black

AOC 24G42E 24in FHD 180Hz Black

84€

(13 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Excellent quality Good frequency Standard size
Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA 27" QHD 260Hz

Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA 27" QHD 260Hz

179€

(7 Vendors)
Brand: Philips
Good brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
LG 24G411A-B.AEU 24in FullHD 144Hz

LG 24G411A-B.AEU 24in FullHD 144Hz

80€

(8 Vendors)
Brand: LG
Top brand Excellent quality Good frequency Standard size
AOC Q27G4ZR 27" QHD VRR Black/Red

AOC Q27G4ZR 27" QHD VRR Black/Red

189€

(10 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
MSI Optix G32CQ4 E2 Black 31.5-inch WQHD 170Hz

MSI Optix G32CQ4 E2 Black 31.5-inch WQHD 170Hz

175€

(5 Vendors)
Brand: MSI
Good brand Good for immersion Good frequency Ultra large
YEYIAN YMF-FP227-M1 Avance 27in QHD 180Hz Black G-Sync

YEYIAN YMF-FP227-M1 Avance 27in QHD 180Hz Black G-Sync

130€

(2 Vendors)
Refresh Rate: 180
Good brand Excellent quality Good frequency Standard size
Acer Predator X27UX1biiphx 26.5" 2560x1440 240Hz Black

Acer Predator X27UX1biiphx 26.5" 2560x1440 240Hz Black

445€

(3 Vendors)
Brand: Acer
Good brand Incredible quality Extreme frequency Small size
Alienware AW2524H 25" 500Hz

Alienware AW2524H 25" 500Hz

393€

(7 Vendors)
Brand: DELL
Top brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
Dell Alienware AW2725DM 27 inch QHD 180Hz Black

Dell Alienware AW2725DM 27 inch QHD 180Hz Black

195€

(10 Vendors)
Color: Blue
Top brand Excellent quality Good frequency Standard size
LG UltraGear 27" QHD 200Hz IPS 27G610A-B

LG UltraGear 27" QHD 200Hz IPS 27G610A-B

168€

(8 Vendors)
Brand: LG
Top brand Excellent quality Extreme frequency Standard size
AOC Q27G42XE 27" QHD 180Hz Black/Red

AOC Q27G42XE 27" QHD 180Hz Black/Red

146€

(9 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Excellent quality Good frequency Standard size
AOC CU34G4Z 34" WQHD 240Hz Black

AOC CU34G4Z 34" WQHD 240Hz Black

330€

(9 Vendors)
Brand: AOC
Good brand Good for immersion Extreme frequency Ultra large
LG UltraGear 27GR93U-B 27in 4K 144Hz

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

416€

(7 Vendors)
Resolution: 4K (2160p)
Top brand Excellent quality Good 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.