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The 4 Best Monitors Under $500 - Winter 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Monitors Under $500

Plenty of monitors under $500 offer good performance. Most monitors in this price range are considered mid-range and budget options compared to the rest of the market, so they won't have the latest high-end features like QD-OLED panels or Mini LED backlighting. However, you can still find useful features with monitors for under $500, like high resolutions and USB hubs, or even gaming perks like high refresh rates.

When looking for a monitor, it's important to consider what you'll use it for, as you would need a different type of monitor for office use than you would for gaming. For example, sharp text clarity is important for work, while a fast response time is beneficial for gaming. Luckily, options are available for any type of user in this price range, and there's no perfect solution for everyone. These monitors are also available in a variety of sizes, but choosing the right size is a personal preference.

We've bought and tested more than 300 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best monitors to buy for under $500. See our recommendations for the best gaming monitors under $300, the best budget and cheap monitors, and the best work monitors.


  1. Best Monitor Under $500

    The best monitor for all-around use we've tested in the $500 price range is the LG 27GR93U-B. It's a versatile 4k display that delivers detailed images, and thanks to its high pixel density, it has sharp text clarity, too. This makes it great for any use that requires you to read text, whether it be office work, content creation, or simply browsing the web. It's also a bright monitor, and combined with its great reflection handling, you won't have issues using it in a well-lit room.

    It has extra features like a USB hub with two USB ports and controllable RGB illumination. It also has great gaming features, like a 144Hz refresh rate for smooth motion and a fast response time across its entire refresh rate range, so fast-moving objects look sharp. It's even a great choice if you need something for console gaming, as it supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth that lets it take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

    See our review

  2. Best 4k Monitor Under $500

    If you want a 4k monitor like the LG 27GR93U-B but don't need its gaming features, a 4k display like the Dell U2723QE is still an impressive choice for productivity and content creation. It often goes on sale for less than $500, and while you don't get the same high refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth as the LG, this doesn't make much of a difference if you aren't gaming. It provides great value as it has a ton of features, especially if you need something for office work or editing your latest photos and videos. This is because it has a massive USB hub with five USB-A ports and three USB-C ports, so it's very easy to connect different devices, and it also has a KVM switch.

    On top of that, it also has a dedicated sRGB picture mode that results in excellent accuracy, so you'll only need to calibrate it if you need the most accurate colors. It also gets very bright, but it has disappointing reflection handling. If you want something with better reflection handling, consider the cheaper Dell S2722QC. However, it has fewer features.

    See our review

  3. Best Gaming Monitor Under $500

    If you're a dedicated gamer and want something with excellent gaming performance for under $500, then check out the LG 27GR83Q-B. It's different from the LG 27GR93U-B and the Dell U2723QE because the screen has a lower 1440p resolution, so images are less detailed. However, the main advantage of getting this monitor for gaming is that it has a 240Hz refresh rate, giving you a smooth gaming feel. It has a very fast response time at any refresh rate. It supports any common variable refresh rate (VRR) format, including FreeSync, HDMI Forum VRR, and G-SYNC compatibility.

    Unlike many other 1440p gaming monitors, it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth that lets you take full advantage of gaming consoles and modern HDMI 2.1 graphics cards. It also delivers a good enough picture quality for gaming, as it gets bright enough to fight glare in a well-lit room, but blacks look gray in the dark. For better dark room performance, the much cheaper AOC Q27G3XMN is an excellent low-cost 1440p gaming monitor with Mini LED backlighting and a good local dimming feature. However, it has smearing with fast-moving objects. It also has a few more bugs than the LG.

    See our review

  4. Best Ultrawide Monitor Under $500

    If you don't need something for a specific use, like work or gaming, and find the 27-inch screen on the LG 27GR93U-B too small, look into an ultrawide monitor. In that case, the Gigabyte M34WQ is a great choice as it's versatile for different uses and provides extra horizontal screen space, which is ideal for multitasking or even if you want to see more of your game at once. It's great for gaming thanks to its fast 144Hz refresh rate, FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing, and excellent motion handling at higher refresh rates.

    It has several productivity features, including two USB-A ports and one USB-C port, which supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and delivers 15W of power. It's great for office or content creation in bright environments, as it gets bright enough to fight glare and has great reflection handling. It's also easy to share work with colleagues, as it swivels, and images remain consistent from the sides. However, it's not ideal for use in darker rooms, as deep blacks appear gray in darker environments. It also has mediocre HDR performance, and highlights don't pop on this monitor. If you're looking for an ultrawide monitor with better HDR performance, consider the Dell S3422DWG. However, the viewing angles on the Dell aren't as good, and fast-moving objects don't look as sharp.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Dell Alienware AW2723DF: The Dell Alienware AW2723DF is comparable to the LG 27GR83Q-B as it has similar specs and an overclock to 280Hz, but it costs a bit more most of the time. See our review
  • Dell S2721QS: The Dell S2721QS is a lower-end version of the Dell U2723QE that doesn't have a USB hub. It performs similarly, so it's still worth considering if you don't need the USB hub. See our review
  • ViewSonic XG2431: The ViewSonic XG2431 is a cheaper alternative to the LG 27GR83Q-B that's still impressive for gaming, but because it has a lower 1080p resolution, images aren't as sharp. See our review
  • Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx: The Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx is a 4k monitor that's versatile like the LG 27GR93U-B, and it delivers better picture quality thanks to its local dimming feature. That said, it usually costs more than $500. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Feb 20, 2024: Replaced the Gigabyte M27U with the LG 27GR93U-B as 'Best Monitor Under $500,' as the Gigabyte is harder to find now. Replaced the Dell S3422DWG with the Gigabyte M34WQ as 'Best Ultrawide' as the Gigabyte performs better.

  2. Dec 19, 2023: Replaced the Dell Alienware AW2724DM with the LG 27GR83Q-B because it has a higher refresh rate; replaced the Dell S2722QC with the Dell U2723QE because it has extra features, and renamed to 'Best 4k Monitor'; added the Dell Alienware AW2723DF, ViewSonic XG2431, and the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx to Notable Mentions.

  3. Oct 20, 2023: Removed the Dell U2723QE because it went up in price, and renamed the Dell S2722QC as 'Best 4k Monitor For Work'; replaced the LG 32GP850-B with the Dell Alienware AW2724DM because it's better for gaming; replaced the Gigabyte M34WQ with the Dell S3422DWG because the Gigabyte is hard to find; updated Notable Mentions based on changes.

  4. Aug 24, 2023: Added the Dell U2723QE as the 'Best Monitor For Photo Editing' to give another option, and renamed the Dell S2722QC as the 'Best Work Monitor' for consistency with other articles; added the Dell S2721QS to Notable Mentions.

  5. Jun 30, 2023: Added the Gigabyte M27U as the 'Best Monitor Under $500' and renamed the LG 32GP850-B as the 'Best Gaming Monitor Under $500'; removed the Dell Alienware AW2523HF because it has a lower resolution than the LG; updated Notable Mentions based on changes.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors for less than $500 currently available. They're adapted to be valid for most people. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price, and feedback from our visitors.

If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all our reviews of monitors under $500. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.