The 3 Best Gaming Monitors Under $300 - Spring 2024 Reviews

The best gaming monitor under $300 that we've tested is the Dell G2724D. It has almost everything you'd want in a gaming monitor, like support for all common variable refresh rate (VRR) formats, including FreeSync, G-SYNC compatibility, and even HDMI Forum VRR. It has a 1440p resolution that delivers good detail in your games without being too taxing on your graphics card, and it has a 165Hz refresh rate, which is great for most gamers on a budget.

This monitor is better than most budget options because it has fantastic motion handling at any refresh rate. While it doesn't have a backlight strobing feature to further reduce persistence blur, motion looks crisp without it. It's also a good choice if you want to connect a gaming console because it supports VRR with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and besides not supporting 4k @ 120Hz signals, there aren't any compatibility issues. It isn't perfect, though, as it isn't ideal for gaming in dark rooms, like when playing HDR games, due to its low contrast ratio and terrible local dimming feature.

If you find the 27-inch screen of the Dell G2724D too big and prefer something smaller, the market for 24-inch monitors tends to be different than that for bigger displays. These usually have higher refresh rates and lower resolutions, which make them ideal for competitive esports gaming. If you're interested in that, check out the ViewSonic XG2431, an impressive gaming monitor with a 1080p resolution and 240Hz refresh rate. You don't get the same detailed images as you do with the Dell, but it still has a fantastic response time for crisp motion handling.

It's unique for a low-cost monitor because it has a customizable backlight strobing feature to improve motion handling. You can fine-tune its settings, like the intensity and frequency of the backlight flicker, until you find something you enjoy gaming with. It's a nice addition to a budget-friendly model, offering good value versus similarly-priced displays. It also supports FreeSync VRR to reduce screen tearing, and if you have an NVIDIA graphics card, G-SYNC compatibility also works with it.

If you're looking for something cheaper than $300, there are many options you can choose from, but only a few offer great gaming performance. Regardless, some still do, like the Gigabyte GS27QC, which is a reliable choice if you need a simple and low-cost gaming monitor. It has a 27-inch, 1440p screen like the Dell G2724D, but it doesn't have the same fantastic motion handling and has a lower refresh rate than the ViewSonic XG2431. That said, its response time at high refresh rates is still good enough for most gamers, but it has overshoot at lower refresh rates. It has a backlight strobing feature like the ViewSonic, but it isn't as versatile and creates some image duplication.

Besides that, it performs well for dark room gaming as it has an excellent native contrast ratio, so blacks look deep, but it doesn't have a local dimming feature to further improve it. It has some clear downsides due to it being a cheap monitor, though, as it has terrible ergonomics and narrow viewing angles, so it isn't ideal for co-op gaming.