The 5 Best Monitors Under $200 - Winter 2019
Reviews

The best monitor under $200 that we've tested so far is the Dell P2417H. It's a versatile 1080p IPS monitor that has wide viewing angles and a flicker-free backlight. It has a simple and professional design that shouldn't look out of place in any setup, and the stand has a small footprint that still supports the screen well. The ergonomics are great as well, with full height and swivel adjustments and it sports thin bezels, making it great for multi-monitor setups.

This monitor has a ton of connectivity options, including DisplayPort, which is a nice addition for a monitor in this price range. It also still has a VGA port which is great if you have an older setup without digital outputs. The monitor has a 4-port USB hub, which is still active even when the monitor is in standby, which is a nice feature to have and should help keep your desktop tidy. While it doesn't have some more advanced gaming features like FreeSync or a 144Hz refresh rate, its low input lag and fast response time mean it should be fine for most casual gaming.

Unfortunately, its picture quality is only satisfactory and it doesn't support more premium features like HDR or local dimming. Dell uses an IPS panel for this monitor which gives it great viewing angles, but means that its black uniformity and contrast are both only mediocre, making this monitor better suited for use in a bright room like an office. Overall, it's a good monitor for its price, and should be versatile enough for most people.

If you want better gaming performance on a budget, the Acer XF251Q is the best monitor under $200 for gaming that we've tested so far. Although this TN monitor doesn't deliver the best picture quality, it makes up for it with its great motion handling and low input lag. It has a fast response time, flicker-free backlight, and a good 75Hz refresh rate. It even supports FreeSync, but as it lacks a DisplayPort connection, it isn't compatible with NVIDIA's new drivers.

This monitor has a few additional gaming-oriented features, including the ability to add virtual cross-hairs to any game. It doesn't support HDR, but this doesn't add much for most monitors anyway. It has decent peak brightness, so there shouldn't be any issues using it in a bright room. The image degrades when viewed at an angle, so it's best enjoyed from directly in front.

Unfortunately, this monitor isn't very accurate out of the box, and some color errors may be noticeable. Overall, though, it's a very good gaming monitor, great for budget shoppers.