A monitor might not always seem like the most necessary thing. If you're working on a laptop, you might already feel like you've got a good enough display, and maybe you spend most of your time gaming on a 4K TV. With those two displays already available, a monitor can come across as pointless, but there's actually a fair bit of value to get out of a decent monitor, and you won't have to spend too much either.
There's a wide variety of affordable monitors, and our top picks all offer at least a Full HD picture to ensure clarity for your work or games. The big perk is that most also deliver much more screen real estate than a laptop display to spread out multiple windows without shrinking text to illegible levels. It's also helpful to use a monitor as a second screen to get work done more efficiently. They also can have an edge over TVs, with a tendency toward fast response times and better handling of fine print (think all the black text on white backgrounds). If you've got a lot of work to do, these perks can make a computer monitor absolutely worth having around, and our budget picks will make it easy to find one that gets the job done affordably - and click here to see them in the UK.
TL;DR – These are the Best Budget Monitors:
- Dell UltraSharp U2422H
- Asus VA24DQ
- Philips 288E2E
- Asus ProArt Display PA278CV
- HP X27q
- Gigabyte G34WQC
- Dell C1422H
Dell UltraSharp U2422H
Best Budget Monitor
Dell’s UltraSharp U2422H provides a quality and affordable starting point for kitting out your desk with a monitor that does a bit more than the basics. The monitor provides a 23.8-inch display that’ll be a considerable jump over the laptop display you might be used to working on. That’ll provide a bunch more space for multitasking, getting a close look at fine details, or seeing more of large spreadsheets at once.
The display has a 1080p resolution that’s fairly basic at the budget-side of the market, but it actually has a variable refresh rate that can go up to 76Hz for slightly smoother visuals. While the display doesn’t offer much more visual excitement, Dell does provide some added convenience. The monitor can connect to the computer over HDMI and DisplayPort, but it also has a USB-C hub with display support, so you can connect a laptop to it and keep your desktop accessories plugged into the monitor for easy plug-and-play capabilities. That USB-C connection can also see it connect simply with phones that have a desktop experience, like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Dex mode.
Asus VA24DQ
Ultra Cheap Monitor
Are you on the hunt for a super cheap display that gives you loads of extra workspace for your laptop or completes a desktop setup? Enter in the Asus VA24DQ. For under $150, you get a 23.8-inch monitor with a Full HD resolution. Its IPS panel offers a 178-degree viewing angle to ensure you have an easy time seeing the screen from just about anywhere. That’s essential as this pick only comes with a simple stand that only tilts and can be otherwise wall mounted.
The Asus VA24DQ comes packing a few extra smarts as well. You get support of Adaptive-Sync and FreeSync technology for smooth, tear-free visuals. And the refresh rate of 75Hz is decent for the price, so it should also be able to handle some graphically intensive activities like gaming or video editing. Plus, with anti-flicker and low blue light features, you'll find you have less eye strain after looking at the screen for hours. The monitor itself connects newer hardware over HDMI or DisplayPort, while older hardware can connect over VGA. It even includes a 3.5mm audio port to conveniently connect headphones or computer speakers.
Philips 288E2E
Best Budget 4K Monitor
If you're after a 4K picture, you should make sure it's a good-looking picture and not just a sharp one. The Philips 288E2E can help with that, and it doesn't break the budget. This monitor comes in at just over $300, and it's packing all of its 8+ million pixels into a 28-inch panel for incredible sharpness. It may not blow you away with its brightness at 300 nits, but in most indoor settings, that'll be plenty bright as long as the sun is shining right onto the screen.
Where the Philips 288E2E steps things up is with its color. Using FRC, it's able to reproduce 1.07 billion colors for a rich color palette that covers 120% of the sRGB space. This monitor even has a variable refresh rate from 40Hz to 60Hz, giving it a bit more flexibility in how you use it. And with two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort connection, you can set it up at the center of a multi-system setup.
Asus ProArt Display PA278CV
Best Budget 1440p Monitor
If you want a better resolution from a budget monitor, then grab the Asus ProArt Display PA278CV. For slightly over $350, this monitor delivers a 1440p picture across a sizable 27-inch screen. It hits the perfect sweet spot between 1080p and 4K, giving you 109 pixels per inch for pleasant viewing. While the larger screen size means you can open up several windows side by side. It not only delivers quality picture in terms of resolution and size but also through speed. The display can run up to 75Hz, giving you a 25% uptick in smoothness compared to standard 60Hz monitors and supports VRR to reduce screen tearing.
Beyond the crispness and responsiveness of the IPS display, it also offers 100% coverage of the sRGB color space, supports DCI-P3, comes factory calibrated, and is verified by Calman to have a Delta E below 2. All of these features ensure you get vibrant, accurate colors every time, making the Asus ProArt Display PA278CV especially useful for graphic designers or video and photo editors. The monitor has a few extra work-friendly features as well, including wide viewing angles, a flexible stand, and ample connectivity options like two DisplayPorts, an HDMI, USB-C, and a USB-A hub.
HP X27q
Best Budget Gaming Monitor
A lot of gaming equipment can be on the expensive side, but there are the occasional gems like the HP X27q. This budget gaming monitor offers up crisp 1440p resolution with an impressive 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time for some silky smooth frames in even your fastest-paced games. Adding to the display’s gaming prowess is adaptive sync technology with both FreeSync Premium and G-Sync compatibility, so your games look great even if you're not always hitting 165 frames per second.
That 1440p resolution is a perfect match for the 27 inches of screen real estate the HP X27q delivers, ensuring crisp, clean graphics in every frame. Its IPS panel also totes a 400-nit peak brightness ready for HDR, albeit basic. However, similar to other monitors of this type, its contrast ratio isn’t the best and lacks wide color gamut support. But at a typical retail price of a little over $200, those flaws can be forgiven.
Gigabyte G34WQC
Best Budget Ultrawide Monitor
Gigabyte knew what it was doing when creating the G34WQC with its 34 inches of 21:9 ultrawide screen space for under $400. You’ll have ample room to keep multiple windows open while a 1500R curvature wraps everything nicely around your field of vision. That massive screen also pairs perfectly with its QHD resolution, making your work, games, or other media come across as sharp and crisp.
That’s just the start, as the Gigabyte G34WQC sports some impressive gaming specs with a 144Hz refresh, adaptive sync technology, and 1ms response time for butter-smooth, tear-free graphics. It also totes a high contrast ratio for deep blacks, letting details—like enemies lurking in the shadows—shine through. The only major place we can fault this monitor is in color accuracy,
Dell C1422H
Best Budget Portable Monitor
For a monitor that’s not only affordable but also portable, you want to snag the Dell C1422H. This 14-inch display gives you some extra screen real estate, so it’s great for mobile use or as an additional monitor for your permanent workstation. Most importantly, it’s compact enough to go with you anywhere. However, to keep it lightweight, there is no built-in battery. Instead, a USB-C cable connected to your computer will transmit both power and image to the screen.
Offering up a Full HD 1080p resolution with crisp, vibrant visuals, the Dell C1422H also totes an anti-glare IPS panel featuring a 300-nit peak brightness. You won’t have to fuss over finding the right angle to get good visibility, though a built-in tilt stand that goes from 10 degrees to 90 degrees will ensure you get the best view possible. This makes it an especially handy device for presentations. The display also offers a 60Hz refresh rate, which is great for getting work done, but it’s not the best for heavy gaming, especially with no G-sync or FreeSync support.
Where to Get the Best Budget Monitor in the UK
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
