Best Gaming Monitors Under $200 – Buying Guide 2020
Paolo Reva
Best Gaming Monitors Under $200
The monitor is one of the important computer parts but receives the least attention when builders or buyers make decisions. People usually reserve the biggest chunks of the budget to the system’s internals, since a lightning fast GPU or a godly CPU is more important for gaming and productivity.
In today’s market, there are a plethora of options available, but a lot of products, especially the gamer-centric offerings, have insurmountable costs that do not compute with the thrifty majority. Most would go with entry levels, but often, we see comments and recommendations pointing towards models which cost over $500.
These cream of the crop offerings are usually worth their price tag, but a lot of us would be hard-pressed to cough out the dough required for ownership.
But there are magically affordable products which still provide decent performance for most needs, so not everyone is pressured into spending a small fortune to get the enjoyment or practicality everyone deserves. A lot of us fall for the hype given off by professional leagues, reviews, and marketing gimmicks, but no matter what these things say, you can still enjoy your fragging sessions even if you have a budget-friendly display.
Of course, there will be caveats and limitations, such as slower pixel response, lower resolution, or slightly higher but reasonably unnoticed input lag, or less bling and accessories. The products in this guide have a lot of omitted features we love on some of the best gaming monitors we have reviewed, but by any means, they are not inferior if you look at the cost to performance ratio.
Of course, when browsing for an excellent for the price display product, you have to manage your expectations. By today’s standards, $200 does not offer a lot of extra features, cutting edge specs or beautiful accessories. Size and resolution are also limited, but thankfully, this bracket already offers products which fit into the current professional gaming standard which sits at 24 inches and a 1080p resolution.
Bigger may be better, but for most applications, this form factor big enough. 1080p is also easy on your system specs, so you don’t need to spend a load of cash to get a graphics card which can push enough frames at 2K or 4K. But surprisingly, some bigger models can fit in this category, so if having a larger screen appeals to you more than pixel density, then there is an option in this buying guide for you.
The AOC 24G2 is the best 144Hz budget gaming monitor you can buy this year thanks to its excellent price to performance ratio. The device features a 144Hz 1080p IPS panel that offers excellent image quality thanks to good contrast and an accurate color profile. The display is also responsive, so blurring or ghosting will not be an issue in competitive gaming scenarios.
It also helps that the AOC 24G2 is compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync, so you don’t have to be stuck with one GPU brand. Its also one of the best-designed when it comes to functionality, making it even harder to argue with the value per dollar that it presents.
The Acer XFA240 is one of the fastest 144Hz 1080p gaming monitors you can buy at this price range. It features an agile TN panel that doesn’t offer the best color coverage, but remains unbeaten when it comes to pixel response times. But despite that handicap, its still one of the better products out there when it comes to color accuracy to help it produce life-like shades and colors.
The Acer XFA240 is still wearing the old Predator monitor design, but it offers excellent functionality for an aging platform. The stand offers a complete range of ergonomics while the construction quality is simply robust and reliable. You can’t get a gaming monitor like this under two hundred a few years back, making this refreshed model an absolute steal.
The ViewSonic XG2401 is closely regarded by gaming communities as the best 144Hz TN monitor when it comes to color quality. The panel tech doesn’t get a lot of accolades in that department, but this model has shown excellent color rendering in its category. It also sports a 144Hz refresh rate and a low pixel response time, ensuring that you get a blur and stutter-free performance.
The ViewSonic XG2401 is also one of the older gaming monitors under $200 that works with G-Sync compatibility. This feature along with the superb gaming performance extends the value of every dollar you spend. It ain’t the prettiest monitor available now, but its got a solid build with great functionality which is honestly all you need for longevity.
The Acer Nitro VG240Y is one of the best gaming monitors under $200 that was recently released. But what makes this model truly exciting is it offers a 1080p IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate which used to be unvailable, so gamers were stuck with either TN or VA. IPS combines better pixel response times with excellent color quality, and that much is what you can expect with this model.
Its worth noting that the Nitro series is the affordable range from the brand, but that doesn’t mean the Acer Nitro VG240Y lags in quality. The device features a clean-looking chassis that lacks a few creature comforts, but makes up for it with excellent build quality.
The Pixio PXC243 is the cheapest gaming monitor under $200 you can buy that’s based on VA technology for better color and contrast. This affordable model has a curved 144Hz screen which makes it a perfect option for triple monitor setups used in racing or flight sim games. The model offers punchy colors and comprehensive cotnrast ratios, ensuring that colors are eye-popping while blacks are inky and convincing.
Pixio is one of the lesser known brands in the market, but its latest line of gaming displays which include the PXC243 have been selling like hotcakes. The brand managed to combine attractive design with great value performance which is what most of us are hunting for.
The AOC G2590PX is another popular underdog in the premium gaming monitor segment for its excellent price and fantastic image quality. This model features a newer TN module that offers substantially improved image quality compared to its predecessors. You also get excellent responsiveness from the product, making it a worthy choice for competitive gaming.
Another aspect that makest the AOC G2590PX is its unique design which makes it more attractive to the gamer’s taste. The black and red scheme is tastefully done, while the slim chassis with a bezel-free face makes it look modern and chic. The package, is of course, fully functional, so you set it up the in the way that is best for your needs.
The AOC C27G1 is the most affordable 27-inch offering that we could recommend thanks to its great performance and value. This gaming monitor under $200 offers a larger screen that’s ideal if you want to increase visibility in competitive titles. It also offers a 144Hz refresh rate and G-Sync/FreeSync compatibility, making it one of the top value options in the market today.
We like the fact that AOC doesn’t slow down when it comes to gamer-centric designs, but their offerings still manage to look understated. The chassis has excellent functionality and a bezel-free design which usually isn’t completely available at this size and price range. The G1 series is also available in three sizes, giving you more choices without spoiling your spending limit.
The Samsung C24RG50 is the most affordable CRG5 variant that offers substantially improved gaming performance for a VA monitor. This curved 144Hz 1080p display offers excellent color coverage and contrast ratio that will enable it to render stunning visuals. This new model is made to be faster than its predecessors, so you can expect improved blur reduction capabilities and lower latencies.
Samsung also steers clear of garish gamer designs, so you get a more subdued-looking display with sleeker proportions and a timeless appeal. This model is one of the variants in this lineup that has lesser creature comforts, but it does have excellent build quality and reliability.
The LG 24GL600F is designed to offer fast and unhindered gaming performance at a very competitive price point. What makes this model unique in the UltraGear line up is it uses a TN panel which has a handicap in image quality, but is considerably faster when it comes to pixel response times. This means that the monitor focuses on motion handling more than eye-candy, helping you gain that competitive edge in E-Sports titles.
The LG 24GL600F does have thicker bezels compared to its high-end siblings, but you get the ageless LG gaming design. The distinct stand instantly identifies the branding, while the solid footing it provides will keep the display upright at all times. This model is one of the few that doesn’t shed the brand’s premium identity without unnecessarily pumping up its price point.
The Acer KG241P is the cheapest 144Hz gaming monitor under $200 that is guaranteed to be G-Sync compatible. The minimalist display offers excellent responsiveness thanks to its fast TN panel while its dual adaptive sync compatibility makes sure that games are smooth and tear-free. it also helps that the model offers decent image quality, so you don’t feel left out when comparing against the IPS and VA variants in the market.
The Acer KG241P was built with simplicity in mind, so you don’t get a lot of valuable extras. The money you pay goes to performance, but that doesn’t mean this variant is less attractive. Some enthusiasts even prefer the looks of Acer’s budget line compared to the Predator offerings which have very aggressive designs and decorations.
Conclusion
There are nine choices in this buying guide, and all of them are some of the best products you can grab without spending over two hundred bucks. Our choice: The AOC 24G2 with its excellent balance of performance, features and build quality. For its affordable cost of ownership, you get a vibrant IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, low input lag, and excellent color accuracy.
A budget of $200 means you have to spend your money wisely. It can be hard to separate fact from fancy in the sub-$200 gaming monitor market. But if your expectations are manageable and your determination in seeking for the best deal is absolute, then there is always an excellent product like any of these we have included waiting for you and your hard-earned bucks.
The money saved can be spent on a gaming desk or other accessories. Any gadget related to gaming includes a ton of hype in both the marketing and opinions you can research out there, but even if these things pertain to actual features or advantages, you can always go for the affordable option and still experience what your PC and selected title have to offer.
Companies are flexing their design and manufacturing muscle to compete in every price bracket, so we can continue to expect cost-effective products with fantastic capabilities as the industry continues to grow in 2020. Remember, expensive isn’t always the best. Instead, you should look for the performance per dollar aspect of any product, including monitors.
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.
