The 5 Best Gaming Monitors Under $300 - Fall 2019
Reviews

The ViewSonic XG2402 is the best gaming monitor under $300 that we have tested so far. Despite the budget price, this 24 inch, 1080p monitor delivers an impressive gaming experience. It has an outstanding response time, resulting in crystal-clear motion, with almost no noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects. It also has a fast refresh rate and outstanding low input lag, for a responsive gaming experience.

This monitor has good peak brightness, decent gray uniformity, and great reflection handling. It also has excellent gradient handling, despite only supporting an 8-bit color depth.

Unfortunately, like most TN monitors, the ViewSonic XG2402 doesn't look great in a dark room, as it has a low contrast ratio. It's also best enjoyed from directly in front, as the image degrades when viewed at an angle, so it might not be a great choice for co-op gaming. Overall, though, it's an impressive gaming monitor that should please even the most competitive gamers.

If you want a more versatile monitor with very good gaming performance, check out the Dell U2518D. It's a good 1440p IPS monitor with wide viewing angles and a great stand. It can get very bright and has good reflection handling, as well as a great stand, so it's a good choice for almost any room.

Unfortunately, it doesn't support VRR, and some people may be disappointed by the 60Hz refresh rate. It supports HDR, which is very surprising at this price point, but it can't take full advantage of it as it can't get very bright and can't display a wide color gamut so, unfortunately, HDR doesn't add much.

This monitor has great low input lag and a fast response time. It has great versatility, as the wide viewing angles and great resolution make it great for multitasking. The price of this monitor tends to vary a bit and can go slightly above $300.

The AOC AGON AG271QX is the best 1440p gaming monitor that's available for less than $300 we've tested so far. It has an outstanding fast response time, resulting in extremely clear motion, with almost no noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects, and no noticeable overshoot artifacts. It supports AMD's FreeSync variable refresh rate technology, resulting in a nearly tear-free gaming experience.

The 2k resolution of this monitor makes it easier to see small details in your favorite games, and also makes it easier to multitask, great for watching your favorite streamer while doing something else.

Unfortunately, the image on this monitor degrades when viewed at an angle, and the low native contrast ratio isn't great for dark scenes, especially if you like gaming in a dark room. Overall, though, it's a great gaming monitor that should please even the most demanding gamers.