Discover the Top Budget Gaming Monitors for Every Gamer's Needs
In today’s gaming landscape, the cost of high-quality gaming monitors has soared, especially when you’re eyeing those with OLED panels, expansive screens, and a combination of high refresh rates and sharp resolutions. But fear not, budget-conscious gamers! There remains a wealth of affordable monitors that manage to deliver impressive image quality and features without breaking the bank. Take the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS, for instance. It offers outstanding motion handling and a sharp resolution, and we’ve scoured the market to find six other remarkable gaming monitors, all priced under $500, ensuring you can stay within your budget while still enjoying an immersive gaming experience.
Even though the best budget gaming monitors might not come loaded with all the latest bells and whistles, they still provide a display that can truly showcase the capabilities of your gaming PC. You don’t need to shell out a fortune on top-of-the-line graphics cards and CPUs to get a great gaming experience. In fact, mid-range components can be pushed to their limits with these budget-friendly displays. For under $300, the Alienware AW2523HF can hit a staggering 360Hz refresh rate at 1080p, while the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q offers a crisp 4K picture. And if you’re yearning for a massive ultrawide curved display to fully immerse yourself in the latest PC games, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how affordable it can be. Now, it’s important to note that not all budget gaming monitors are cut from the same cloth. A monitor that seems like a steal at $100 might end up being more trouble than it’s worth. It could have a short lifespan or cause eye strain during long gaming sessions. Our recommended monitors might cost a bit more than $100, but their sturdy builds, excellent displays, and gaming-centric features make for a far superior experience. Of course, if you’re willing to splurge, even more premium options are available.
Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS: Budget-Friendly Powerhouse Combining affordability with a top-notch panel for under $300, the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS is a standout in the budget monitor category. While its design might be on the plain side and the I/O options nothing to rave about, it truly shines when it comes to image quality and gaming performance.
This monitor features a sharp 1440p resolution that pairs harmoniously with its 27-inch size. The Fast IPS panel, although edge-lit and not offering the best contrast, still manages to deliver excellent color performance for the price. It covers up to 100% of the sRGB color space and 91% of the DCI-P3 gamut, ensuring games look vibrant and realistic. With 406 nits of SDR brightness and a matte screen coating, it’s well-suited for well-lit gaming environments. However, don’t expect it to dazzle you with its HDR performance. The real star of the show is its motion performance. Asus has incorporated a proprietary backlight strobing technology called Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB). This technology significantly reduces motion blur, making the 180Hz refresh rate feel more like 240Hz. Games with small text and constant movement, like League of Legends, benefit immensely from this feature. Additionally, with support for both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, screen tearing becomes a thing of the past, guaranteeing silky smooth frames in almost any game. The monitor’s design might lack a bit of pizzazz, with a thick plastic frame and no flashy RGB lighting. But its stand is adjustable, allowing you to find the perfect viewing angle. It also offers three video inputs, including a USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode, providing ample connectivity options for your gaming PC and consoles.
Asus TUF Gaming VG259QR: Ideal for Competitive Gamers The Asus TUF Gaming VG259QR is a great choice for gamers seeking a budget display for competitive titles. It features an IPS panel, which is known for its excellent motion performance. With a refresh rate of up to 165Hz and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, games run smoothly and without stuttering. The shadow boost feature is a handy addition, helping to reveal hidden enemies lurking in the shadows.
This 1080p gaming monitor offers a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees, ensuring you can see the screen clearly whether you’re sitting or standing. It also incorporates anti-flicker and ultra-low blue light technologies to prevent eye fatigue, allowing you to game for hours on end. However, it does have a less than stellar contrast ratio. The VG259QR ticks all the necessary boxes when it comes to quality-of-life features. It has a height-adjustable, pivoting stand and two HDMI ports, along with one DisplayPort, providing plenty of connectivity opportunities.
LG Ultragear 27GN800-B: A Worthy Upgrade For gamers on a budget looking to upgrade their display, the LG Ultragear 27GN800-B is an excellent option. For under $300, you get a significant boost in resolution to 2,560 x 1,440, which brings a noticeable increase in sharpness compared to a 1080p monitor. The 27-inch screen showcases great color accuracy, making visuals pop. However, the contrast ratio in dark scenes leaves something to be desired. And even in a sunny room, the display is bright enough to enjoy your games.
This 27-inch gaming monitor excels in other areas too. It has a 144Hz refresh rate and is compatible with both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, enabling smooth, tear-free HDR gaming. The LG Ultragear 27GN800-B also features a virtually bezel-less design on three sides, further enhancing immersion.
The only major drawback is the lack of a height-adjustable stand. But it does have a 100mm x 100mm VESA mount, so you can easily attach a third-party stand or monitor arm if needed.
Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q: 4K on a Budget Finding a 4K resolution monitor on a tight budget can be a challenge, but the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q makes it possible. It has a 4K IPS panel with support for AMD FreeSync. The 28-inch display offers a sharp, smooth look that blows a 1080p budget gaming monitor out of the water. With good color performance and reasonable contrast for an IPS display, it’s an unbeatable value at under $300.
The impressive resolution does mean sacrificing refresh rate, as this monitor is limited to 60Hz. But most graphics cards would struggle to handle anything higher anyway. It does feature a stunning HDR gaming mode and a shadow boost feature, helping you get the most enjoyment out of your games.
The TUF Gaming VG289Q includes an ergonomic stand that’s height-adjustable, swivels, and tilts, allowing you to find your ideal viewing angle. It’s also rich in connectivity, with two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort. Asus offers an alternative model, the VG289Q1A, which drops one HDMI port and the height-adjustable stand to achieve an even lower price.
Dell S3422DWG: Best Budget Ultrawide If you’re after an immersive gaming experience, an ultrawide curved monitor is the way to go, and the Dell S3422DWG stands out as the top budget option. It has a contrast-rich VA panel with a resolution of 3,440 x 1,440, providing a vibrant, sharp image that looks great in any game genre. The 21:9 aspect ratio and slight curvature of the screen wrap around your field of vision, allowing you to focus on the action and block out distractions. The monitor features a solid 144Hz refresh rate and supports AMD FreeSync. This means your games will run butter-smooth. While it can suffer from motion blur behind dark objects, overall motion clarity is strong.
Despite its competitive price, the S3422DWG is an attractive monitor. It has a height-adjustable stand, two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, and can even be used as a USB hub. Alienware AW2523HF: Blazing-Fast Refresh Rate
For competitive E-sports players, the Alienware AW2523HF is a dream come true. It delivers insanely speedy frames up to 360Hz, while AMD FreeSync support and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility ensure seamless cooperation between your screen and graphics card for next-level silky smooth action in 1080p when playing the best PC games. You’ll experience virtually no motion blur and enjoy super low input lag.
The Alienware AW2523HF doesn’t stop there. It also offers decent color accuracy and better-than-average contrast performance for an IPS monitor. The 1080p resolution might not be the sharpest, but it’s a fair trade-off given the monitor’s high refresh rate and affordable price under $400. The solid display sits on a robust adjustable stand that provides great ergonomics and has a subdued look to fit any environment.
HP Omen 32q: Bigger and Better on a Budget Sometimes you just want a bigger screen to get closer to all the action in your games, and the HP Omen 32q has you covered at a budget price. The 31.5-inch display features a 1440p resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate and supports AMD FreeSync for supreme motion clarity. This monitor uses an IPS panel that delivers great color performance, though its contrast is not the best. Darker games might look flat or dull. HP claims there’s HDR support with a maximum brightness of 400 nits, though it’s not VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified. Like other similarly priced monitors, it’s not recommended to buy it for the HDR experience. The HP Omen 32q has one DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 ports but lacks USB connectivity. It rests on a sturdy, compact square stand that’s adjustable to find the ideal viewing angle.
What to Consider When Choosing a Budget Gaming Monitor When shopping for a budget gaming monitor, there are several factors to keep in mind. A good price range to aim for is around $300-$400. You can find cheaper options, but quality issues often arise. In general, a gaming monitor should last 3-5 years, and a $100 monitor is unlikely to meet that lifespan.
Resolution is a key consideration. 1080p remains the standard for budget displays. It lacks the clarity of modern 4K TVs, but on the plus side, it doesn’t require high-end hardware to run new games. 1440p is a nice upgrade and offers better overall value if you can stretch your budget. A 27-inch 1440p monitor has a higher pixel density than a 48-inch 4K television. However, opting for 1440p might mean sacrificing a 240Hz refresh rate. 4K is available on a budget but usually only at a 60Hz refresh rate. Some gamers might argue that a 4K 60Hz display doesn’t truly qualify as a gaming monitor. But if you want to play at 4K on a tight budget, this is the compromise you’ll have to make.
The refresh rate of budget gaming monitors generally ranges from 60 to 240Hz, with most falling between 144Hz and 165Hz. A 144Hz refresh rate is a great all-round choice that can handle most games. But 240Hz is a significant upgrade for competitive gamers. 360Hz is now also within reach for cheaper monitors.
It’s important to note that a monitor’s maximum refresh rate might not be supported by every input. For example, many monitors that can reach 144Hz might only support 144Hz over HDMI and require DisplayPort for higher rates.
Display panel technology is crucial. Our recommended monitors use either IPS or VA panels. IPS panels are prized for motion clarity, vibrance, and responsiveness, making them great for competitive gaming. VA panels have a better contrast ratio and superior dark scene performance, ideal for immersive, high-end graphics.
Screen size is less of a limitation than it used to be. Our guide includes options for 24-inch, 27-inch, and 32-inch monitors, as well as a 34-inch ultrawide. Smaller monitors are often less expensive and preferred by competitive gamers who want to keep the entire display in focus. Larger monitors are more immersive and better for gamers who want to lose themselves in the game. But make sure to measure your desk if you’re unsure. A 27-inch monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio is a safe bet.
It’s wise to choose a monitor with Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync support, depending on your video card. Many budget gaming monitors support both.
Finally, when it comes to HDR, only one of our recommended monitors is HDR-enabled, and it’s the most expensive. While some affordable monitors claim HDR support, they often only reach a maximum of 400-nits of screen brightness, which is underwhelming. If HDR is important to you, look for a monitor that’s at least VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified. In the past, TN panels were popular for high refresh displays, but they’ve fallen out of favor due to poor color reproduction and viewing angles. However, if you’re simply looking for the cheapest option, a TN display might be worth considering, though you won’t get the richest visual experience.
The best times to buy a gaming monitor at a reasonable price, especially a budget one, are during shopping events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday. Deals also pop up during Back to School sales, and major retailers often lower the price of older models to make room for new releases.
In conclusion, choosing the best budget gaming monitor depends on your personal preferences and gaming needs. Whether you prioritize resolution, refresh rate, or a combination of both, there’s a monitor out there that’s perfect for you. So, don’t let a tight budget hold you back from enjoying an immersive gaming experience.