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The 3 Best Gaming Monitors Under $300 - Spring 2023 Reviews

Updated
Best Gaming Monitors Under $300

For people on a tight budget just getting into PC gaming, getting a low-cost monitor still has its benefits. There are great options available if you want to buy a gaming monitor for under $300, and these monitors are also great if you have limited space, as they're typically smaller. Cheaper and budget-friendly monitors can offer impressive gaming performance, but you won't get the same features as higher-end displays, like higher resolution and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for console gaming. However, as monitor prices drop over time, you can easily find high-refresh-rate displays for under $300, which are helpful for any PC gamer.

We've bought and tested more than 270 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best gaming monitors that are available to buy for under $300. See our recommendations for the best monitors under $200, the best budget gaming monitors, and, if you want to spend a bit more, the best monitors under $500.


  1. Best Gaming Monitor Under $300

    The best gaming monitor under $300 we've tested is the ViewSonic XG2431. It's an impressive gaming display with a fast 240Hz refresh rate, ideal for gaming at a high frame rate. It has a 1080p resolution, which is what you have to expect for a budget-friendly display, and this allows you to achieve that high frame rate without being too taxing on your graphics card. This monitor natively supports FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) technology to reduce screen tearing, and if you have an NVIDIA graphics card, G-SYNC compatibility also works with it.

    It offers great value because it has an incredible response time across its entire refresh rate range, so the motion handling is incredible. That means minimal motion blur with fast-moving objects, plus a customizable backlight strobing feature that most monitors don't have, which is a nice touch for a budget-friendly model. You can customize its flicker frequency and intensity, meaning you can fine-tune the backlight-strobing settings until you get something you enjoy gaming with.

    If you don't think you'll take advantage of the 240Hz refresh rate, you can get something cheaper, like the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx, which has a 165Hz refresh rate. You'll save some money, but there are a few trade-offs, as it has worse motion handling. If you want the best gaming performance and don't mind spending a bit more, stick with the ViewSonic.

    See our review

  2. Best 27-Inch Gaming Monitor Under $300

    If you find the screen on the ViewSonic XG2431 too small, check out the 27-inch Gigabyte M27Q. If you're looking for something in this price range, there are some trade-offs you need to make to get a larger size. The Gigabyte has a lower 170Hz refresh rate than the 240Hz refresh rate on the ViewSonic. It isn't ideal for high-frame-rate gaming, but at least its 1440p resolution helps deliver a sharper image.

    Even though its motion handling isn't as good, it's still quick with minimal blur trail behind fast-moving objects, and there isn't any overshoot that results in inverse ghosting. It also has FreeSync VRR support with G-SYNC compatibility and has low input lag, so you get a nearly tear-free and responsive gaming experience. It has a few extra features, like the ability to add a timer, an FPS counter, and a virtual crosshair to give you a competitive advantage while gaming.

    If you don't need extra features like the USB hub that it offers, the HP X27q is another 1440p alternative that's slightly cheaper and offers great gaming performance. However, it has more motion blur than the Gigabyte and has limited compatibility with current-gen gaming consoles. This means that if you want something versatile for PC and console gaming, the Gigabyte is the better choice.

    See our review

  3. Best 32-Inch Gaming Monitor Under $300

    While most monitors under $300 are usually smaller, there are a few out there with a 32-inch screen size, but these often have worse performance than the smaller models. The LG 32GN600-B is a very good gaming monitor with a 1440p resolution like the Gigabyte M27Q; the main trade-off is that the LG has worse motion handling, so you'll see more smearing with fast-moving objects. If that doesn't bother you, it does have a fast 165Hz refresh rate with FreeSync VRR support to reduce screen tearing, and it's also G-SYNC compatible.

    This monitor uses a different panel type than the Gigabyte, with a higher contrast ratio, making it the better choice for dark rooms because it displays deeper blacks. It even has decent peak brightness and reflection handling if you want to use it in a dim or moderately-lit room. Because it has a larger screen than the Gigabyte, but the resolution is the same, it has a lower pixel density. It means that images don't look as sharp, but that's the trade-off you'll make if you want to get something bigger in the same price range.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • ASUS VG279QM: The ASUS VG279QM is a 27-inch monitor with a higher 280Hz refresh rate than the Gigabyte M27Q. It's a good alternative if you want something for high-frame-rate gaming, but it also has some input lag issues, and the Gigabyte has a higher resolution and more features. See our review
  • HP X24ih: The HP X24ih is cheaper than the ViewSonic XG2431 and offers great gaming performance. However, it's limited to a 144Hz refresh rate, so if you want the best performance, stick with the ViewSonic. See our review
  • Dell AW2523HF: The Dell Alienware AW2523HF has an even higher 360Hz refresh rate compared to the ViewSonic XG2431, but while you can find it on sale for $300, it's often more expensive, meaning it may be outside your price range. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Apr 12, 2023: Added the Dell Alienware AW2523HF to Notable Mentions because it tends to go on sale for $300; replaced the LG 32GN650-B with the cheaper LG 32GN600-B; updated text for clarity throughout.

  2. Feb 07, 2023: Replaced the MSI Optix G32CQ4 with the LG 32GN650-B because the MSI went up in price; removed the HP X24ih because it also went up in price and is no longer considered a cheap monitor; added the ASUS VG279QM to Notable Mentions.

  3. Dec 14, 2022: Removed the Acer Nitro XV272U KVbmiiprzx because it's hard to find; added the MSI Optix G32CQ4 and the HP X24ih to their respective categories; updated the Notable Mentions based on changes.

  4. Oct 18, 2022: Restructured article for consistency and to reflect current prices and availability; replaced the LG 27GL850-B with the ViewSonic XG2431 as the 'Best Gaming Monitor Under $300'; removed the Acer Nitro XF243Y, ASUS TUF Gaming VG258QM, LG 32GN600-B, and the Gigabyte G27Q; added the Gigabyte M27Q and the Acer Nitro XV272U in their respective categories; updated Notable Mentions based on changes.

  5. Jun 15, 2022: Completely restructured with new categories, and refreshed the text throughout. Removed some out-of-date Notable Mentions.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best gaming monitors that are currently available for under or around $300. They are 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 of our monitor reviews, sorted by price from low to high. 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.