We’re always trying our best to highlight the cream of the crop monitors, and we’ve written several guides about which ones you could pick.
But let’s make this simple. Let’s start with your budget and work backwards.
$150 Budget:
$200 Budget:
$300 Budget:
$400 Budget:
$500 Budget:
$750 Budget:
$1000 Budget:
$1500 Budget:
$2000+ Budget:
Start with the Budget.
Any kind of shopping can be dictated mostly by two things; your wants or needs, and how much you are willing to spend. There are few select individuals who don’t have to worry about money, but for the majority, every dollar will count. Sure, you can splurge or scrooge up from time to time, but in instances where the amount you are willing to spend also needs to go to other items, such as when you are building a new battlestation.
That’s where it gets tricky since pricing always fluctuates, and you might need to change up a few parts on your list to something more expensive if the original item is unavailable. It’s easy to get a wrench thrown into your perfectly planned gaming build budget, especially when you are looking at gaming monitors. There’s a lot to choose from and they are more complicated than simply reading about how many frames you can get or what kind of benching scores you can achieve.
We’re trying to make it easier to pick a gaming monitor if you already have a set amount or budget for this peripheral. The hunt is part of the fun, but we reckon many of you would want to spend less time picking and more time gaming.
Best Gaming Monitor for Every Budget
If you have $200 to Spend on a Gaming Monitor:
The Acer Nitro XFA243Y S and Jlink E24FP1K are our top picks for budget gamers who want great performance under $150. The former uses a VA panel while the Jlink uses IPS, but both offer a 165Hz output along with FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility. They don’t offer premium features, but they are built to last using durable materials and no-frills design.
If You Have $200 to Spend on a Gaming Monitor:
The Gigabyte G27F2 and AOC C27G2Z are clear upgrades to the options above. The former offers fantastic imaging quality while the AOC model goes up to 240Hz. They give you the option to acquire a monitor that’s usable for editing work or something that’s way faster than similarly-priced competitors.
If You Have $300 to Spend on a Gaming Monitor:
You can, again, pick up your choices with higher-end models at the $350 price point since you get to pick between extra high-refresh rates or a sharper resolution. The Asus VG259QM is the cheapest E-Sports monitor with a 280Hz refresh rate, while the Gigabyte M27Q offers a vibrant IPS panel with a 1440p resolution and KVM functionality.
If You Have $400 to Spend on a Gaming Monitor:
The BenQ EX270QM and Asus VG27AQML1A are both 240Hz robust options at the $400 price limit. One offers fantastic quality and premium characteristics, while the Asus option offers a 240Hz 1440p output that usually belongs to the next bracket. Both are fantastic for gaming and mixed-use, although E-Sports fantastic might want to consider the VG27AQML1A instead.
If You Have $500 to Spend on a Gaming Monitor:
The Acer XB283K KV and AOC U34G3X will stretch every bit of that $500 you are willing to spend. You can get an entry-level 4K 144Hz monitor or a 34-inch ultrawide which usually cost way more than $500. Either way, you are getting fantastic performance and visual experiences with either of the two models.
If You Have $750 to Spend on a Gaming Monitor
The LG 27GP950-B has been the top choice for 4K 144Hz monitors with HDMI 2.1 connectivity. The INNOCN 27M2V on the other hand, is a market-breaking option that has an HDR 1000 mini-LED backlight which usually costs way more. These two are fantastic options if you want top-shelf performance without spending a small fortune.
If You Have $1000 to Spend on a Gaming Monitor:
The Acer X32 FP represents what a high-quality 4K 144Hz+ monitor with HDMI 2.1 and HDR capabilities should be. The LG 27GR95QE only has 1440p, but it has an OLED panel that offers true blacks, deep colors, and near-instantaneous response times. $1000 used to mean 4K 144Hz instantly, but 1440p OLEDs like this LG model and identical picks such as the Corsair 27QHD240 or the Asus PG27AQDM are taking it by storm.
If You Have $1500 to Spend on a Gaming Monitor:
The $1500 price bracket is once again dominated by OLED with outstanding picks like the TV-sized LG48GQ900-B or the AW3423DW with a unique QD-OLED ultrawide. Both monitors offer unbeatable HDR performance and true black rendering, so they will be great for any kind of entertainment. Not a lot of options can compete in this category, except if we consider prosumer variants.
If you Have $2000 or More to Spend on a Gaming Monitor:
The $2000+ is probably the most difficult price category since there aren’t a lot of gaming variants in it. However, we picked out the PG32UCX for extreme mini-LED HDR performance and the Neo OLED G9 which features a 49-inch super ultrawide OLED panel. Not a lot of products out there can compete with these two, so they are no-brainers if you have this much to spend.
Editor’s Note: There are tons of available options in the market, and we’d like to help you out in getting the best possible gaming monitor for your budget. We’re always ready to answer your monitor queries, so shoot us an email or a comment if you want to know which monitor will suit you best. You can also share your monitor shopping experience and tell us if the price you paid was worth it. Cheers!
About the Author: Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since his junior high years. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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