The 7 Best Budget Gaming Monitors - Winter 2020
Reviews

The ViewSonic XG2402 is the best budget gaming monitor we've tested so far. This 24 inch monitor covers a lot of bases despite the budget price. It has a 144Hz refresh rate, low response time, great input lag, and even supports AMD's FreeSync variable refresh rate technology for a near tear-free gaming experience.

Where the ViewSonic does cut back is in terms of picture quality. Viewing angles are quite poor, and so are the contrast ratio and black uniformity. It does redeem itself with decent peak brightness and great reflection handling, so it's suitable for use in a bright room. The 1080p resolution may be a deterrent for some, but having a lower resolution also helps to achieve higher frame rates for smoother gameplay.

Overall, this is a great budget gaming monitor that should please even the most demanding gamers, as long as picture quality isn't as important to you.

The best budget 1440p gaming monitor from the ones we've tested so far is the AOC AGON AG271QX, although it can sometimes be hard to find at the right price. It has an excellent response time that delivers crisp motion with almost no blur and supports FreeSync for nearly tear-free gaming. The input lag is remarkably low and gamers will enjoy a very responsive gaming experience. This monitor is more suitable for an average lit room, and its 27 inch screen and 1440p resolution will display more of your gaming arena, minimizing the need for excessive scrolling.

Unfortunately, just like most TN monitors, it has a few flaws; the viewing angles are poor, so the sides of the screen don't look uniform when you sit up close. Also, those who game at night will find the contrast ratio inadequate, and blacks end up looking gray in a dark room.

Overall, however, this is a good budget 1440p monitor that delivers a great gaming experience.

The Acer XF251Q is the best cheap gaming monitor we've tested so far. At its price point, we can expect some features to be omitted. Fortunately, it still retains a critical feature for gaming: FreeSync support. That said, it's only limited to FreeSync, as it lacks a DisplayPort for NVIDIA's G-SYNC. The TN panel still offers great response time and input lag; however, viewing angles and color accuracy suffer as a result. This monitor is also limited to a 1080p resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 75Hz, which may deter more serious gamers.

Ergonomics are fairly decent on the Acer, a rarity for budget monitors, so it's easy to place in an ideal viewing position. It gets decently bright and has good reflection handling, so you shouldn't have any issues with it in a bright room.

Despite the budget price, this monitor still performs admirably and is a great choice if cost is your primary concern.