The 4 Best Monitors Under $500 - Spring 2023 Reviews

The best monitor we've tested for under $500 for all-around use is the LG 32GP850-B. It's a very good overall display that's versatile for different uses. It has a large 32-inch screen and 1440p resolution with decent text clarity, meaning you won't have issues opening multiple windows at once and reading text. It delivers great picture quality thanks to its dedicated sRGB picture mode that locks colors to the sRGB color space used in most web content, resulting in fantastic accuracy, but this mode also locks many of the gaming settings, so it isn't ideal to use when gaming.

It offers excellent gaming performance with a 165Hz refresh rate that you can overclock to 180Hz with a DisplayPort connection. It has native FreeSync (VRR) support with G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing, and it has low input lag for a responsive feel. Additionally, motion looks incredibly smooth thanks to its quick response time, and it also has a backlight-strobing feature that aims to reduce persistence blur, but like many monitors, it doesn't work at the same time as VRR.

If you're a competitive gamer and want a monitor with a high refresh rate, then check out the Gigabyte M27Q X. It has a smaller screen than the LG 32GP850-B with the same 1440p resolution resulting in higher pixel density and slightly sharper images, but there's less screen space to view more of your game at once. However, what makes this a slightly better gaming monitor is that it has a higher 240Hz refresh rate, which is great for competitive gaming, and it offers an excellent gaming performance with FreeSync VRR support and G-SYNC compatibility.

It has a fantastic response time at its max refresh rate, and while it's slower with 120Hz and 60Hz signals, it's still great, and there's minimal motion blur. Its backlight strobing feature is more versatile than that of the LG as it works within a wide range, and you can use it at the same time as VRR to reduce persistence blur. If you don't want to use the backlight-strobing feature, the backlight remains flicker-free to help reduce eye strain during long gaming sessions.

If you don't need the gaming features of the Gigabyte M27Q X and want something with a high-resolution screen for productivity, whether you need it for work or media creation, then the best monitor in this price range is the Dell S2722QC. The 4k resolution is great for productivity because it delivers clear text, and the 27-inch screen is also big enough to open two windows side-by-side. It's a great monitor for a well-lit room because it gets bright enough to fight glare and has good reflection handling.

There are a few extra features like Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes to let you view images from two sources at once. It also has a USB-C input that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode with 65W of power delivery, meaning you can charge your laptop and display an image from it at the same time. If you want an even bigger USB hub with more features like a KVM switch, the Dell U2723QE is better overall, but it costs a bit more than $500.

If you find the 27-inch screen size on the Dell S2722QC too small, look into getting an ultrawide monitor. These monitors provide extra horizontal screen space compared to 27-inch displays, ideal for multitasking if you want multiple windows open or an immersive gaming experience. In that case, the Gigabyte M34WQ is a great choice for under $500 as it's versatile and has features for both productivity users and gamers. It has a high 144Hz refresh rate, making it great for gaming, and its motion handling is excellent with high-frame-rate signals, resulting in minimal motion blur.

If you want to use it for work, it has a USB hub that easily lets you connect your devices. It has a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, letting you display an image from a compatible device like a laptop and charge it at the same time, but it only supports 15W of power delivery. It also has a KVM switch that lets you control two devices with the same keyboard and mouse, which is great for multitasking with different devices.