The 5 Best Gaming Monitors Under $300 - Summer 2021 Reviews

The best 1080p gaming monitor under $300 that we've tested is the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx. It's an excellent gaming model that rivals some more expensive options. It's decently well-built and has excellent ergonomics, allowing you to place the screen how you like. It has wide viewing angles, and it provides good visibility in well-lit environments. While its small screen size isn't the most immersive, it does make the pixel density higher, which results in sharper images and text.

It's packed with features that most people expect to find in a gaming monitor. Its native 144Hz refresh rate can be overclocked to 165Hz, and it has native FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support and G-SYNC compatibility. The response time is simply incredible, whether you're gaming at its max refresh rate or 60Hz, resulting in minimal motion blur. It has a Black Frame Insertion (BFI) feature, but it flickers within a narrow frequency range and can't be used when VRR is enabled.

Unfortunately, it isn't a good choice for dark room gaming because it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks appear gray. Also, even though it supports HDR, it can't display a wide color gamut and lacks local dimming. Nonetheless, this is one of the best gaming monitors under $300 that we've tested.

The best gaming monitor under $300 that we've tested with a 1440p resolution is the Gigabyte G27Q. With a large 27 inch screen and 1440p resolution, it delivers a crisp image and has plenty of space for multitasking or gaming. It feels well-built, without any flex or wobble, but it has limited ergonomic adjustment options, so it may be harder to place it in your ideal viewing position.

In terms of performance, it's a great gaming monitor. Its 144Hz refresh rate provides a smooth gaming experience, and it has an amazing response time at its max refresh rate, resulting in very little blur trail or motion artifacts. Unfortunately, it's significantly slower at 60Hz, so it may not be the best option for console gaming, but it has very little input lag. It supports FreeSync natively and is compatible with G-SYNC to reduce screen tearing. It even comes with extra gaming features like virtual crosshairs and a frame rate counter.

Like most IPS monitors, it has a mediocre contrast ratio, making blacks look more like gray, particularly when viewed in a dark room. On the upside, it gets quite bright, so glare shouldn't be an issue in brighter rooms. It also has decent HDR brightness, so it can bring out some highlights, and has a wide HDR color gamut. Its SDR color gamut is also exceptional. Overall, this is among the best gaming monitors under $300, particularly if you want a 1440p resolution.

The best 4k gaming monitor under $300 that we've tested is the BenQ EL2870U. It sports a 28 inch screen, and combined with its 4k resolution, it delivers an incredibly immersive gaming experience. It's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, but it shouldn't be an issue for most people, as getting over 60fps at 4k is still very demanding and requires expensive high-end hardware. It's better suited for a dark to moderately-lit room because it has a VA panel with a high contrast ratio but doesn't get very bright.

Its response time is good overall, but it's a bit slow, so fast motion can look somewhat blurry. It has low input lag to provide a responsive gaming experience, as well as native FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. It supports HDR, but like most budget monitors, it can't display a wide color gamut and lacks local dimming. The backlight is entirely flicker-free, which helps eliminate image duplication and reduce eye strain.

Sadly, it has a TN panel with narrow viewing angles, and the ergonomics are terrible, so it's not the best option for sharing content or playing co-op games. On the upside, it has speakers built-in, which is great if you don't have space or the budget to get dedicated ones. It also has an upscaling feature to make lower-resolution content look sharper. Overall, it's a decent, wallet-friendly 4k gaming monitor that should please most people.