The Best Budget Gaming Monitors for All Gamer Types

The price of high-end gaming monitors, especially those with OLED panels, large screens, high refresh rates, and sharp resolutions, has skyrocketed. Fortunately, many excellent affordable options deliver surprisingly good image quality and features. The Xiaomi G Pro 27i, with its impressive mini-LED, quantum dot screen, priced well under $400, is a prime example. It rivals monitors costing hundreds more, showcasing the quality achievable on a budget.

TL;DR – Best Budget Gaming Monitors:

1. Xiaomi G Pro 27i Mini-LED Gaming Monitor: See it at Amazon

2. Asus TUF Gaming VG277Q1A (Best 1080p): See it at Amazon

3. LG UltraGear 27GN800-B (Best 1440p): See it at Amazon See it at Target

4. KTC H27P22S (Best 4K): See it at Amazon

5. Dell S3422DWG (Best Ultrawide): See it at Amazon See it at Dell

Budget monitors may lack some advanced features, but they still offer excellent displays for gaming PCs. Even mid-range graphics cards and CPUs can perform well. Trade-offs exist (e.g., adjustable stands, KVM switches), but prioritizing performance and essential features yields great value.

Beware of overly cheap monitors; a $100 monitor might be short-lived and eye-straining. Our selections, while costing more, offer superior build quality, panels, and gaming features. Higher-priced options are available for those with larger budgets.

Contributions by Danielle Abraham, Matthew S. Smith

For deals, check the best gaming monitor deals.

1. Xiaomi G Pro 27i Mini-LED Gaming Monitor (Best Overall)

• Exceptional picture quality at a great price. See it at Amazon
• Specifications: 27”, 16:9, 2560 x 1440, IPS, 1000 cd/m², 180Hz, 1ms
• Pros: High brightness, deep contrast, accurate colors, excellent picture quality and HDR, robust local dimming zones.
• Cons: Bloom on dark backgrounds, no USB hub.

The Xiaomi G Pro 27i, around $330, surpasses expectations for affordable monitors. Its mini-LED backlight with full-array local dimming (FALD) and 1152 local dimming zones (usually found in $700+ monitors) significantly reduce blooming, resulting in superior HDR. Its picture quality rivals OLEDs without burn-in risks. It boasts a 180Hz refresh rate, accurate colors, and compatibility with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. The lack of a USB hub and HDMI 2.0 limitation are minor drawbacks.

2. Asus TUF Gaming VG277Q1A (Best Budget 1080p)

• Excellent gaming performance at around $150. See it at Amazon
• Specifications: 27”, 16:9, 1920 x 1080, VA, FreeSync Premium, G-Sync Compatible, 350 cd/m², 165Hz, 1ms
• Pros: Great colors and contrast, ELMB support, VESA mount.
• Cons: Non-adjustable height, lower pixel density.

The Asus TUF Gaming VG277Q1A offers strong value. Its VA panel provides deep blacks and wide dynamic range. Features like an on-screen reticle, Shadow Boost, and ELMB enhance gameplay. The non-adjustable stand and lower pixel density due to 1080p resolution are its main drawbacks.

3. LG UltraGear 27GN800-B (Best 1440p)

• 1440p resolution, adaptive sync, and excellent color accuracy for under $300. See it at Amazon See it at Target
• Specifications: 27”, 16:9, 2560 x 1440, IPS, FreeSync, G-Sync, 1ms, 144Hz
• Pros: Solid HDR gaming, accurate colors.
• Cons: Non-adjustable height.

The LG UltraGear 27GN800-B offers a resolution upgrade with sharp visuals, accurate colors, and a 144Hz refresh rate with FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility. Its non-adjustable stand is a limitation.

4. KTC H27P22S (Best 4K)

• Fast, fantastic 4K picture on a budget. See it at Amazon
• Specifications: 27”, 16:9, 3840 x 2160, IPS, FreeSync Premium, G-Sync Compatible, 400 cd/m², 160Hz, 1ms
• Pros: Sharp 4K screen, HDMI 2.1 for consoles, fast refresh rate.
• Cons: No USB connectivity, not factory calibrated.

The KTC H27P22D offers a 4K experience at a reasonable price, with a 160Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 support. It lacks USB connectivity and factory calibration.

5. Dell S3422DWG (Best Ultrawide)

• Immersive ultrawide curved monitor with 1440p/144Hz. See it at Amazon See it at Dell
• Specifications: 34”, 21:9, 3440 x 1440, VA, FreeSync, 400 cd/m², 144Hz, 1ms
• Pros: Great contrast, immersive curved display.
• Cons: Minor ghosting.

The Dell S3422DWG provides an immersive ultrawide experience with a 1440p resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. Minor ghosting is noted.

Spending on a Gaming Monitor:

The $200-$300 range offers good value. Consider resolution, refresh rate, panel type, and screen size. Higher resolution often means lower refresh rate, and vice versa, on budget monitors. 1080p is standard for budget displays, 1440p offers better value, and 4K requires a higher budget and more powerful hardware. Refresh rates typically range from 60Hz to 240Hz; 144Hz is a good all-around choice. IPS panels excel in motion clarity and color, while VA panels offer better contrast. 27" is a common size; smaller monitors are better for competitive gaming, and larger ones are more immersive. G-Sync or FreeSync compatibility is recommended. HDR is often marketed but may be limited on budget monitors due to lower brightness.

FAQs:

• Best panel type: IPS for color and response time, VA for contrast (unless mini-LED is used).
• Most affordable times: Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, Back to School sales.
• Monitor size: Consider available space, resolution, and pixel density. 24" for 1080p, 27-32" for 1440p, 27"+ for 4K. Avoid 1080p monitors larger than 27".