You’ve spent a good portion of your PC build budget on a powerful CPU, stunning graphics card, and beefy RAM, and now a gaming monitor is the final piece of your battle station. However, monitors can get pretty pricey, so you’re looking to save a little and snag a more affordable option. Or maybe, you’ve got a gaming laptop but found you’d like some additional screen real estate while playing at home. Competitive and immersive games look and play better on a standalone monitor. Even a modest 24-inch monitor is a big upgrade over a laptop display.
Gaming monitors have an expensive reputation, but there are plenty of options for gamers on a tight budget. You can easily grab a display with a high pixel density and refresh rate for a few hundred dollars. 4K gaming monitors or a 360Hz refresh rate are even within reach. All of our picks are sure to tote VRR technology to keep you fully immersed in your game's action as well. You really aren’t missing much by saving a whole lot. Check out our favorites below – and click here to see them in the UK.
TL;DR – These are the Best Budget Gaming Monitors:
- HP X27q
- Asus TUF Gaming VG259QR
- LG 27GN800-B
- Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q
- Asus ROG Swift PG329Q
- Dell S3422DWG
- Alienware AW2523HF
- Dell S3222DGM
HP X27q
Best Budget Gaming Monitor
Combining affordability and quality features, the HP X27q is a monitor that might make you wonder why you ever paid more. It totes an IPS panel with a 400 nit peak brightness, making it possible to take advantage of HDR. Whatever you’re viewing will look rich and vibrant, while the 1440p resolution hits the sweet spot with the 27-inch display, ensuring crisp, clean graphics in every frame. Just be aware, the contrast ratio isn’t the best out there, and it does lack wide color gamut support, but it’s no worse than other monitors of this type. Still, at a typical retail price below $270, those flaws can be forgiven.
If you’re into fast-paced games, you’ll welcome the screen’s 165Hz refresh rate and adaptive sync technology. That, along with the 1ms response time, means games should remain silky smooth and tear-free, no matter how graphically heavy they become. HP throws in a sturdy, height-adjustable stand and a VESA mount option. The monitor doesn’t pack ample inputs, but a DisplayPort makes it easy to connect to your PC, while the HDMI 2.0 port lets you play games on console at 144Hz.
Asus TUF Gaming VG259QR
Best Budget 1080p Gaming Monitor
The Asus TUF Gaming VG259QR has an IPS panel over a VA panel, so you’re in for some incredible motion performance. With a refresh rate up to 165Hz and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, games will be smooth and stutter-free. A shadow boost feature also helps to expose enemies lurking in the shadows. Clearly, it’s great for gamers who want a budget display for competitive titles.
The VG259QR offers up a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees, so you can see the screen whether you’re sitting or standing. Plus, an anti-flicker feature and ultra-low blue light prevent eye fatigue, making you good to game for hours. It does have a less than stellar contrast ratio, though, so it might not look as appealing as the Dell S2721HGF.
The VG259QR ticks off the required quality-of-life boxes with a height-adjustable, pivoting stand. Plus, there are two HDMI ports, and one DisplayPort for ample connectivity opportunities.
LG UltraGear 27GN800-B
Best Budget 1440p Gaming Monitor
The LG Ultragear 27GN800-B is a great upgrade for gamers on a budget. For well under $400, you get a boost in resolution to 2,560 x 1,440, which brings a serious increase in sharpness compared to a 1080p monitor. Those crisp visuals will pop even more thanks to great color accuracy on a 27-inch screen, though the contrast ratio is a bit disappointing in dark scenes. And, even if you’re gaming in a sunny room, the display is plenty bright to still enjoy your content.
This monitor excels in other areas, too. It has a 144Hz refresh rate and is compatible with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync for smooth, tear-free HDR gaming. The LG Ultragear 27GN800-B also manages to be virtually bezel-less on three sides, helping keep you further immersed in the action.
There’s just one major flaw worth noting, and that’s the lack of a height-adjustable stand. The monitor has a 100mm x 100mm VESA mount, however, so you can add a third-party stand or monitor arm if needed.
Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q
Best Budget 4K Gaming Monitor
4K resolution is not easy to find on a tight budget, but the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q makes it possible. It has a 4K IPS panel with support for AMD FreeSync. The 28-inch display provides a sharp, smooth look that will blow a 1080p budget gaming monitor out of the water. With good color performance and reasonable contrast for an IPS display, there’s really no comparison after you see the under $350 price tag.
The impressive resolution does mean you sacrifice refresh rate, as this monitor is limited to 60Hz. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find a 4K gaming monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate available for less than $500. There is, however, a stunning HDR gaming mode as well as a shadow boost feature, helping you to get the most enjoyment out of your games.
The TUF Gaming VG289Q includes an ergonomic stand that’s height-adjustable, swivels, and tilts, so you can find your ideal viewing angle. It’s rich in connectivity, as well, with two HDMI ports, and one DisplayPort. Asus has an alternative model, the VG289Q1A, which ditches one HDMI port and the height-adjustable stand to reach an even lower price.
Asus ROG Swift PG329Q
Best Budget HDR Gaming Monitor
By admission, the Asus ROG Swift PG329Q is much more expensive than other monitors on this list. Despite that, it’s here for good reason. This is the least expensive HDR-capable monitor we recommend buying on the merits of its HDR performance.
The PG329Q has a maximum brightness of up to 600 cd/m2, which is almost twice that of other budget monitors on this list, but it’s necessary to make HDR matter. It delivers a punchy, vivid experience that will make you want to turn on HDR in every game that supports it.
Overall image quality is excellent. This is a large 32-inch monitor with 1440p resolution, a maximum refresh rate of 175Hz, and Nvidia G-Sync support. It’s smooth, colorful, and eye-catching, though the contrast ratio is low, as typical of monitors with an IPS panel.
Dell S3422DWG
Best Budget Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
An ultrawide monitor is a great choice if you want an immersive gaming experience, and the Dell S3422DWG stands out as the best budget ultrawide. It has a contrast-rich VA panel with a resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 that provides a vibrant, sharp image that looks great in any genre of game. The 21:9 aspect ratio and slight curvature of the screen wrap around your field of vision, so you can focus on the action occurring in your games rather than outside distractions.
The monitor features a solid 144Hz refresh rate and supports AMD FreeSync. This means your games should play butter smooth. Like the Dell S2721HGF, which also has a VA panel, the S3422DWG can suffer motion blur behind dark objects. Motion clarity is otherwise 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
Best Budget 360Hz Gaming Monitor
For a gaming monitor with a blazing-fast refresh rate, the Alienware AW2523HF delivers. You’ll get insanely speedy frames up to 360Hz, while AMD FreeSync support and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility ensure your screen and graphics card play nicely for some next-level silky smooth gaming in 1080p. It’s a fantastic monitor for competitive E-sports players, as you experience virtually no motion blur and will also enjoy super low input lag.
The Alienware AW2523HF doesn’t stop there, delivering decent color accuracy and better-than-average contrast performance for an IPS monitor. The 1080p resolution is not the sharpest, but that’s an acceptable trade-off given the monitor’s high refresh rate and an easily attainable price under $400. The solid display also lives on a robust adjustable stand offering great ergonomics and a subdued look to fit perfectly in any environment.
Dell S3222DGM
Best Budget 32-inch Gaming Monitor
Sometimes you want to go bigger to see all of the action of the game a bit closer, and the Dell S3222DGM has you covered. It’s essentially a bigger, upgraded version of our top pick, the Dell 2721HGF. The 32-inch display with a 1440p resolution offers up a 165Hz refresh rate and support for AMD FreeSync. Screen tearing and stuttering will be a thing of the past when gaming on this display.
This monitor uses a VA panel with a solid contrast ratio and good color performance, all of which lead to a deep, attractive image that outpaces what you’d expect from a budget gaming monitor. The panel also has a subtle curve for a slightly more immersive experience. Like other VA panel monitors, you may see motion blur behind dark objects. Otherwise, you get strong-motion clarity.
It supports two HDMI inputs, one DisplayPort, and has a height-adjustable stand. It’s also a bit more attractive and sturdy than other budget 32-inch monitors, which adds to its overall value.
Where to Get the Best Budget Gaming Monitors in the UK
You don't always need to go above and beyond with your budget to ensure you're getting a decent gaming monitor. There are plenty of brilliant, and affordable, options available to those in the UK, with all the big brands set and ready to take your orders.
What to look for in a Cheap Gaming Monitor
Gamers on a budget don’t have to make as many sacrifices as they once did, but there’s still a need for some compromise. In general, you can go for a higher resolution, or you can go for a higher refresh rate, but you won’t be able to snag both in a budget gaming monitor.
1080p remains the standard go-to resolution in budget displays. It certainly lacks the clarity of modern 4K TVs, but on the plus side, the low display resolution means you won’t need high-end hardware to play new games. That’s likely important if you are on the hunt for a budget gaming monitor.
1440p resolution is a nice upgrade, and a better overall value if you can stretch your budget. A 1440p monitor with a 27-inch screen actually has a higher pixel density than a 48-inch 4K television. However, this means a 240Hz refresh rate will no longer be affordable.
4K is available on a budget but only at a 60Hz refresh rate. Some gamers might contend a 4K 60Hz display doesn’t truly qualify as a gaming monitor. In any case, this is the compromise you must make if you want to play at 4K for as little cash as possible.
The refresh rate of budget gaming monitors is generally 60 to 240Hz, with most landing at 144Hz or 165Hz. A refresh rate of 144Hz is a great all-around choice that can handle most games with ease, but 240Hz is a noticeable upgrade for players who only care about competitive titles. For now, 360Hz remains out of reach for budget gaming monitors.
It’s important to note a monitor’s maximum refresh rate may not be supported by every input. For example, many monitors that reach up to 165Hz will only support 144Hz over HDMI. DisplayPort is the best bet if you want to use a high refresh rate.
A monitor’s display panel technology is an important and often overlooked factor. All the monitors we recommend use either an IPS or VA panel. IPS panels are prized for motion clarity, vibrance, and responsiveness, all of which makes them great for competitive gaming. VA panels have a much better contrast ratio and far superior dark scene performance, so they’re better for games with immersive, high-end graphics.
Screen size is less of a limitation than it used to be. Our budget gaming monitor guide includes options for 24-inch, 27-inch, and 32-inch monitors, and for the first time includes a 34-inch ultrawide.
Smaller monitors tend to be less expensive and are also preferred by competitive gamers, who want the entire display to be firmly within their focus. Larger monitors are more immersive and a better choice for immersive gaming. With that said, it is possible to buy a monitor that’s too large for your desk, so measure if you’re unsure. If in doubt, a 27-inch monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio is a safe bet.
It’s wise to buy a monitor with Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync support, depending on whether you have an Nvidia or AMD video card. Many budget gaming monitors support both. Our picks all list the standards they support.
Finally, a note about HDR. We only recommend one HDR monitor on this list, and while it’s a great value, it’s also by far the most expensive recommended here. While HDR is available on other budget monitors, it unfortunately remains unimpressive on most as they only get up to a maximum 400-nits of screen brightness. We suggest looking for a monitor that’s at least VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified if HDR matters to you.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
