The 3 Best Monitors Under $200 - Fall 2022 Reviews

The best monitor we've tested under $200 is the HP X24ih. If you're looking for a monitor in this price range, it's best to go for something smaller with a 24-inch screen size as they tend to cost less, and that's the case with this monitor. Whether you need it for gaming or office use, it's a very good choice, and despite its lower 1080p resolution, the text clarity is still decent. If you want to use it in a well-lit room, it gets bright enough to fight glare and has good reflection handling. It's well-built with okay ergonomics. However, it doesn't offer swivel adjustment. If that's what you want, the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx has better ergonomics, but it costs more than $200.

In terms of gaming performance, it has a 144Hz refresh rate that's ideal if you're just getting into PC gaming. Its motion handling is incredible, with minimal blur, and it has low input lag for a responsive feel. Although you don't get the same features as higher-end monitors, it still has a frame rate counter and a virtual crosshair that your system won't detect to give you a competitive edge while gaming.

If you want something bigger, the LG 27GL650F-B is a good alternative with a 27-inch screen size. It isn't as good as the HP for office use, and as it has the same 1080p resolution as the HP X24ih, it has a slightly lower pixel density, but the image clarity is still decent, and you get to see more of your game at once. It also has a 144Hz refresh rate, and while its motion handling is worse than the HP, it's still excellent, especially with high-refresh-rate games. There's a newer model available with even better motion handling, the LG 27GN650-B. However, it doesn't get as bright, so you have to choose whether you want a quicker response time or higher brightness.

Unlike the HP, the 27GL650F-B actually supports HDR, which is rare for a model in this price range. However, it doesn't add much because it has low HDR peak brightness and a low contrast ratio, so blacks look gray in the dark and highlights don't pop. Still, if you want to use it in SDR, like for productivity use, its out-of-the-box accuracy is great, and it displays a wide range of colors.

While the above monitors are standard desktop monitors, you can also find portable monitors for under $200. These monitors are different from typical desktop models because you're supposed to use them on the go, and they often sacrifice picture quality for their smaller size. If that's what you're interested in, consider the Lepow Z1. Although the 1080p resolution may not seem appealing, the smaller 15-inch screen provides higher pixel density, meaning that text looks sharp and legible, which is great if you need an extra screen for on-the-go work.

It has a folio case to protect the screen that doubles as a stand. One of its USB-C inputs supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, meaning you can display an image from a compatible device. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer good picture quality and can't display a wide color gamut, even in SDR, meaning it doesn't display a wide range of colors. There's a higher-end monitor that does, the Lepow Z1 Gamut, but it costs more.