The 5 Best Gaming Monitors Under $300 - Winter 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 fairly well-built and has excellent ergonomics, allowing you to place the screen how you like. The picture quality is great thanks to its high peak brightness, excellent accuracy, and amazing SDR color gamut.

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, 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 feature, but it flickers within a narrow range and can't be used when VRR is enabled. Input lag is also incredibly low, and it doesn't increase with VRR enabled, which is great.

Unfortunately, the 1080p resolution may be too low for immersive gaming, but the smaller, 24 inch screen, increases pixel density, so images still look fairly sharp. It's also not a good choice for dark room gaming because it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks appear gray, but that's expected from a VA panel. Nonetheless, this is one of the best gaming monitors under $300 that we've tested.

The best 1440p gaming monitor under $300 that we've tested is the Gigabyte G27Q. Although it's a bit over $300, it's still a great gaming option and offers very good value for its cost. It's versatile enough for most uses and the 1440p resolution helps deliver an immersive gaming experience. It has good build quality, but it doesn't offer much in terms of ergonomics, so it may be a bit difficult to place in an ideal viewing position.

It has a native 144Hz refresh rate with FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility, but you can't overclock its refresh rate. Input lag is extremely low and the response time at 144Hz is excellent, resulting in minimal motion blur. However, it has a slower response time at 60Hz, so 60fps games may look like they have some blur trail with fast-moving content. It has a few extra features, like the ability to add a virtual crosshair, it has a 'Black Equalizer' to make it easier to see opponents in shadows in games, and it has built-in speakers, which is great if you don't want to spend more on a dedicated setup.

Sadly, it's not a good choice for dark room gaming because its IPS panel has a low contrast ratio, so blacks appear gray when viewed in dark environments. However, that means it has wide viewing angles, so the image remains accurate when viewed from the sides. It's also great for gaming in well-lit rooms because of its great peak brightness and good reflection handling. If you want something with a 1440p resolution, this is one of the best gaming monitors under $300 that we've tested.

The best 4k gaming monitor under $300 that we've tested is the BenQ EL2870U. Although there aren't many low-cost options with this resolution, this one offers good value for its price, and the high resolution helps delivers incredibly clear images. It's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, but that shouldn't be a problem since many 4k games don't go past 60fps.

It has VRR support in terms of native FreeSync and G-SYNC compatibility, allowing the refresh rate to go as low as 40Hz. It has a low input lag that only slightly increases with VRR enabled, and motion looks smooth thanks to its quick response time. It has excellent gray uniformity, and colors look rich and vivid thanks to its great out-of-the-box accuracy and excellent SDR color gamut. It also has good reflection handling and decent peak brightness if you want to use it in a well-lit room.

Sadly, it has a TN panel that results in both a low contrast ratio and narrow viewing angles, so it's not ideal for use in dark rooms or co-op gaming. It also has terrible ergonomics, and even though it supports HDR10, it fails to display a wide color gamut and get bright enough to make highlights stand out. Regardless of these issues, it's a decent 4k gaming monitor that should please most people.