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One of the best cheap gaming monitors could be just the ticket if you want a wallet-friendly way to instantly improve your gaming setup. Nowadays, the reality is that manufacturers are probably catering to the bargain and entry-level screen market better than you expect, and even those budget, entry-level models will perform better than you might originally expect. Yes, of course, there might be some reduction in features or flashiness, panel tech, but you can still expect stellar screens for Full HD, 1440p, and even 4K at different form factors.
It’s now no longer the case that you need to splash out in excess to get something that looks and runs great. The best cheap gaming monitors aren’t just reserved for 1080p resolution at 60 FPS, either. We’ve started to observe an uptick in affordability of the best gaming monitors as well as other monitor models that utilize high refresh rates and high resolutions to make gaming a joy all well under the $300 mark.
Below you’ll find our top picks for the best cheap gaming monitors by resolution, refresh rate, and form factor to give you as many choices as possible. If you’re interested in casting a wider net, however, then we recommend checking out our best 4K monitors for gaming and best curved gaming monitors buying guides, too.
The best cheap gaming monitors in 2022
1. AOC G2490VX
The best cheap gaming monitor for Full HD 144Hz
Specifications
Size: 24-inchResolution: Full HD (1920×1080) Refresh Rate: 144Hz Response Time: 1ms Display Type: LEDNotable Inclusions: AMD FreeSync Premium support
Reasons to buy
+Thin bezels +Low response time +Sleek design
Reasons to avoid
-Only has HDMI and DisplayPort
For its price point, this monitor features all the essentials needed for effective PC gaming in Full HD. This is due in part to the inclusion of support for AMD FreeSync Premium – which prevents screen tearing at low response latency for a smooth overall gaming experience.
At the same time, it’s got a 144Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response rate – essential for competitive and fast gaming where every millisecond of delay matters. Due to its inexpensive nature and thin bezels, this monitor would be ideal as part of a dual – or even triple – monitor setup stretched out across your desk.
2. ASUS VG245H
The best cheap gaming monitor for Full HD on console
Specifications
Size: 24-inchResolution: Full HD (1920×1080)Refresh Rate: 75HzResponse Time: 1msDisplay Type: LEDNotable inclusions: AMD FreeSync support
Reasons to buy
+Clear, bright display +Good colors +Affordable for what it is
Reasons to avoid
-Fairly basic
If all you’re interested in is 1080p gaming at 60 fps then this ASUS monitor has all the essentials to provide a pleasant, no-frills experience with its 1ms response time and inclusion of AMD FreeSync support to rid the visuals of any screen-tearing when the action on-screen gets a little crazy.
If you’re interested in picking this panel up for use on PC, it’s important to note that there is no DisplayPort – just a pair of HDMI ports and VGA; something that seems like an oversight for a unit released in 2016. With that said, if you’re still gaming on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or Xbox Series S and you want something cheap that looks the part – it’s a good option for those systems.
3. ASUS VP28UQG
The best cheap 4K gaming monitor
Specifications
Size: 28-inchResolution: 4K (3840×2160)Refresh Rate: 60HzResponse Time: 1ms
Reasons to buy
+Great picture quality in 4K +Low Blue Light mode for long sessions+On the fly GamePlus settings
Reasons to avoid
-Limited to 60Hz
Spend a bit more and you can bump the screen size and resolution up with all the same low latency, anti-screen-tearing technology, dual HDMI 2.0 ports, and – fortunately – a DisplayPort to make the most of Ultra HD gaming at 60FPS.
28-inch is a somewhat unconventional size for a monitor of this quality – not that we’re complaining – as it’s a fair amount of real estate to take advantage of the HDR technology and stellar colors that this panel can pump out. The only concession is in the refresh rate – you won’t be able to get above 60 fps – if you’re content to have higher fidelity visuals at the cost of a capped frame rate, this may be what you’re been after; ideal for a dual monitor setup too.
4. Viotek GNV29CB Curved Ultrawide
The best cheap ultrawide gaming monitor
Specifications
Size: 29-inch Resolution: Full HD (2560×1080) Refresh Rate : 120Hz Response Time: 5msNotable Inclusions: Nvidia G-Sync support
Reasons to buy
+Competitively priced for the form factor +Full 120Hz refresh rate +A great size for work and gaming
Reasons to avoid
-Relatively high response time
Viotek has seemingly done something that’s lesser seen from other monitor brands: built a competitively priced curved ultrawide with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s worth enforcing just how promising the form factor is – even if it’s only limited to Full HD – for both gaming and working on with the added screen real estate.
That’s normally the trade-off for having just a twitch-happy level of snappiness when considering the MSRP compared to similar offerings from Samsung and LG in their gaming ranges. If high frame rates and a wider screen are worth it for you, then this is difficult to beat.
5. Z-Edge UG24 Curved
The best cheap curved high refresh rate gaming monitor
Specifications
Size: 24-inchResolution: Full HD (1920×1080)Refresh Rate: 165HzResponse Time: 1msNotable Inclusions: AMD FreeSync Premium
Reasons to buy
+165Hz refresh rate+Curved +Well priced for the size and features
Reasons to avoid
-Limited to 1080p
The star of the show with this curved gaming monitor from Z-Edge is its 165Hz refresh rate. That’s not to say that this panel’s a slouch when it comes to other gaming-specific functions and specs: there’s a 1ms response time, and support for the premium version of FreeSync which adds support for 120Hz and HDR while also reducing ghosting and screen tearing.
The form factor of the display is something to note as well; yes, it’s curved but it also features very minimal bezels which means it’s ideal for a dual monitor battle station setup too.
6. Dell SE2-417HGX
A great budget gaming monitor in Full HD
Specifications
Size: 24-inchResolution: Full HD (1920×1080)Refresh Rate : 75HzResponse Time: 5ms Notable inclusions: AMD FreeSync
Reasons to buy
+Cheap price +75Hz refresh rate +Great at 1080p 60
Reasons to avoid
-High response time
If you’ve been searching for something that’s affordable and does the job for casual gaming, web surfing, and watching movies then this could be the right display for you. Or for a spare bedroom or as part of a dual/triple monitor setup.
With its 75Hz refresh rate, you can be sure that the screen won’t ghost or cloud up under intense conditions – that’s afforded by FreeSync as with some other panels in this roundup. For its size and price tag, the bevels are relatively thin, with the stand being adjustable as well.
7. Sceptre 25 Edgeless 165Hz
A great super high refresh rate monitor
Specifications
Size: 25-inchResolution: Full HD (1080p)Display Type: LED (TN)Notable Inclusions: AMD FreeSync Premium support
Reasons to buy
+Ultra high refresh rates +Sleek form factor +Thin bezels
Reasons to avoid
-Built-in speakers are small
For less than $200, there’s an awful lot that this gaming monitor gets right. Offering a 1ms response time and a 165Hz refresh rate, there’s also AMD FreeSync Premium support as well as built-in speakers.
It’s worth noting that this is in fact a TN display, as opposed to the brighter IPS tech, but that’s the trade-off with entry-level, budget monitors, and particularly those that offer a high refresh rate. That’s not to count out the colors on this thing, unlike some other 165Hz monitors, there are virtually no reports of ghosting or greying (where blacks aren’t dark enough resulting in mediocre contrast) to speak of.
If you’re looking for an affordable screen to add to, or build, a multi-monitor HD gaming setup with then this could be what you’ve been searching for, especially given those ultra-slender bezels which make up the ‘edgeless design’. Two or three of these things on a desk would be unbeatable.
Note: You rarely find Sceptre monitors available outside the US, so if you’re not a US resident, you may want to check out the others on this page.
8. ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM
A cheap 280Hz refresh rate gaming monitor
Specifications
Size: 24.5-inchResolution: Full HD (1920×1080) Refresh Rate: 280HzResponse Time: 0.5msDisplay Type: Fast-IPSNotable Inclusions: Nvidia G-Sync support
Reasons to buy
+Perfect for professional gamers +Fast IPS technology +HDR support
Reasons to avoid
-No HDMI 2.1 support
We’re stretching the definition of the word ‘cheap’ with this Asus high refresh model, but given that it features a 280Hz fast IPS-panel for just over the $300 mark, it very much is affordable given what similar brands are asking for at that kind of display speed.
For those of you interested in competitive gaming, with its display rate being twice that of 144Hz, you’re sure to have the best frame advantages possible in games such as Valorent and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and still benefit from HDR and a rich color gamut thanks to the IPS panel, something which is rarely seen on 240Hz+ monitors even double the price of this one.
Best cheap gaming monitors: buying advice
We’ve been PC and console gamers for many years and like to think that we know a thing or two when it comes to what makes the best cheap gaming monitors worth it. With that said, we’ve applied our knowledge to answer some of the more frequently asked questions online right now.
Is a 23-inch monitor good for gaming?
While there’s an argument to say that all sizes of monitor are ‘good enough’ for gaming, we would probably put 23-inches just outside the ideal range and minimum bottom line. 24-inches and above are perfect for gaming and at that size still don’t take up too much room even in the smallest of city apartments. (Though, this is all subject to each particular scenario of course.)
We prefer bigger screens but there’s a case for 24-inches as a particularly good size as it offers enough space for gaming, and everything on-screen is neatly in your vision by default, meaning you don’t have to move your head as much. This size isn’t brilliant for immersion, but if speed is your thing then a smaller monitor can be great.
Is 75Hz good for gaming?
The perennial number-throwing of refresh rates is one of the most consistent points of discussion when it comes to the best cheap gaming monitors. (As you can see from this FAQ and buying advice section!)
However, with a broad brush, we would say that, yes, 75Hz absolutely works and is good for gaming! Unless you’re really chasing the slightest of advantages in super competitive play, then 1080p or 1440p particularly at 75Hz will do you just fine and provide you with a great, solid gaming experience.
Are Hz and fps the same?
Yes, but also no. While ‘Hz’ refers to a monitor’s refresh rate – how fast it can refresh an image every second – ‘fps’ refers to how fast your machine and graphics card can produce images and frames on the screen each second. They are directly and intimately related – having a graphics card powerful enough to pump 100 frames per second is easily compatible with a 75Hz monitor, for example, even though there’s extra headroom not being capitalised on – but are separate in their own rights, for sure.
Is 165Hz better than 144Hz?
There did seem to be a brief time when everyone thought that 165Hz would be the new 144Hz – but it hasn’t stuck around, and certainly didn’t replace or budget the 144Hz standard mark. Anyway, that’s because, for us, there’s basically no difference (apart from the literal one) between the two, and if it means you can save a bit more money and go for a cheap gaming monitor that has 144Hz instead of 165Hz then that’s definitely worth it in our eyes.
Have you been looking for that perfect gaming companion for your new console? If so, our guides to the best 120Hz 4K TV, the best gaming TV, and the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X may help you find the right choice to make the most out of the current generation’s full capabilities.
