The 5 Best Budget Gaming Monitors - Spring 2020
Reviews

The best budget gaming monitor we've tested so far is the ViewSonic XG2402. It's a great monitor for fast-paced games thanks to its outstanding motion handling. It has a 144Hz refresh rate and low response time, and it even supports FreeSync variable refresh rate to reduce screen tearing.

If you have a recent 10- or 20- series NVIDIA graphics card, it's compatible with G-SYNC as well, though it will require a driver update. Despite its budget price, this monitor has a good build quality that feels solid. If you play in a well-lit room, this monitor can get bright enough to overcome glare and it has great reflection handling. It also has a flicker-free backlight to help reduce eye strain for those long gaming sessions.

Unfortunately, it uses a TN panel that has a low contrast ratio and poor black uniformity, which is less ideal for dark room gaming, as blacks tend to look more like gray. Its viewing angles aren't great, but surprisingly, it has impressive color accuracy right out of the box. This monitor should please most gamers, making this the best budget gaming monitor we've tested so far.

The best budget 1440p gaming monitor we've tested so far is the AOC AGON AG271QX. With its 27 inch screen and high resolution, this is a great monitor for an immersive gaming experience.

This monitor has nearly everything that we've come to expect from a gaming monitor: a fast response time for a clear picture with minimal motion blur, and low input lag for amazing responsiveness, and a 144Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay. In addition, it supports FreeSync to reduce screen tearing, and it's compatible with recent NVIDIA graphics cards. This monitor is well-suited for bright rooms thanks to its high peak brightness and good reflection handling. It comes equipped with integrated speakers and it has a USB 3.0 hub as well. The monitor feels well-built and the stand has good ergonomics, allowing you to adjust the screen however you like.

Unfortunately, its dark room performance is disappointing. Like most TN panels, its low contrast ratio and mediocre black uniformity result in blacks that look like gray when viewed in the dark. Also, it has sub-par viewing angles, so it's not ideal for co-op gaming or for sharing content. On the whole, this is the best budget 1440p gaming monitor we've tested so far.

The best cheap gaming monitor we've tested so far is the AOC CG27G1. It's a decent overall monitor with a very good contrast ratio and good out-of-box color accuracy that offers great gaming performance.

This monitor offers anything you would want in a gaming monitor. It has an incredibly low input lag, great response time, and a black frame insertion feature to reduce any motion blur. Its 144Hz refresh rate can go as low as 20Hz thanks to its support for FreeSync VRR technology, but sadly it's not compatible with NVIDIA graphics cards. It also includes extra features like a shadow boost and on-screen crosshair for FPS games.

Unfortunately, it doesn't perform very well as an office monitor or for watching movies due to its mediocre brightness, disappointing viewing angles, poor black uniformity, and lack of HDR support. Regardless, for a monitor that won't break your wallet, this one is the best cheap gaming monitor we've tested so far.