The Best Gaming Monitors Under 150 USD (2024 Reviews)

Want a new monitor for gaming and everyday use that’s cheap but also good and reliable? Afraid you won’t pick the best option due to the tons of research that has to be done that you simply can’t find the time to do?

We’ve done the research for you!

In this guide, you’ll find all the best displays available for under $150  — and we’ll help you pick the perfect one for you.

Most of these monitors are only available for under $150 when they’re on sale, however, they are actually on sale more often than not.

So, in case none of them are on sale, we recommend waiting for a price drop or considering one of the alternatives we’ve included in the review summaries below.

Further, feel free to leave us a comment if you need help picking the best monitor for you and we’ll gladly help you out!

You can view our changelogs for this buying guide at the end of this article.

About The Monitor

The BenQ EX240 is the most feature-packed budget gaming monitor you can get for around $150!

Image Quality

To start with, the BenQ EX240 has a tad wider color gamut than the standard with ~80% DCI-P3 color space coverage (~115% sRGB volume), providing you with a bit more saturated colors.

The IPS panel of the monitor offers 178° wide viewing angles meaning that the image will remain flawless regardless of the angle you’re looking at the screen.

However, as expected from an IPS display, the static contrast ratio amounts to 1,100:1, so you won’t get as deep blacks as that of VA panels, which usually have a contrast ratio closer to 3,000:1, but suffer from other drawbacks.

Another thing to keep in mind about IPS monitors is IPS glow, which is characterized as visible glowing around the corners of the screen at certain viewing angles. It’s mainly visible when playing dark content in a dark room with high brightness settings, so it’s manageable.

Next, the BenQ EX240 has a peak brightness of 350-nits, so it can get more than bright enough in well-lit rooms.

While you might be able to find a 27″ 1080p high refresh rate gaming monitor on sale for under $150, 24″ sized models actually have a few advantages.

Most importantly, you get a higher pixel density of 92 PPI (pixels per inch) as opposed to 81 PPI. As a result, you get more screen real estate and sharper details on 24″ 1080p displays.

Competitive FPS players also prefer smaller screens as they allow them to see all the action happening on the screen at once without having to move their eyes/neck as much as they would on 27″ or larger monitors.

Features

The BenQ EX240 supports variable refresh rate (VRR) with a 48-165Hz range.

This technology allows your monitor to change its refresh rate dynamically according to the GPU’s frame rates. For instance, at 65FPS, you get 65Hz and 65 whole frames are displayed without any tearing, stuttering or added perceptible input latency.

Below 48FPS, the monitor uses LFC (Low Framerate Compensation) to multiply the frame rate (47FPS -> 94Hz) in order to keep tearing at bay.

VRR on this monitor works over DisplayPort for NVIDIA GPUs (GTX 10-series or newer), over HDMI and DisplayPort for AMD GPUs, and over HDMI for Xbox consoles. HDMI is limited to 144Hz though.

The BenQ EX240 also supports MBR (Motion Blur Reduction), which uses backlight strobing to reduce perceived motion blur at the cost of picture brightness, but it cannot be active at the same time as VRR.

Other features include Black eQualizer (improves visibility in dark scenes by altering the gamma curvature), Color Vibrance (saturation adjustment) and various picture presets. It also has an integrated light sensor that can adjust screen brightness according to ambient lighting.

Check out our full BenQ EX240 review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The BenQ EX240 has an excellent design considering its price. The stand is sturdy and offers height adjustment up to 100mm, -5°/15° tilt, +/- 15° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Just like all monitors included in the guide, the screen has a light matte anti-glare coating that prevents reflections without making the image too grainy.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, a dual USB 3.0 hub, two 2.5W integrated speakers and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

• LG 24GN600 / 24GN650, HP X24i / X24ih – no wide color gamut
• Gigabyte G24F-2, AOC 24G2SP – wide color gamut, but slower response time

About The Monitor

The KTC H24T09P is a bit cheaper than the BenQ EX240 yet it has just as fast response times and an even wider color gamut, but it has no USB hub or speakers and has a rather fragile stand – though this can be solved by getting a basic third-party desk clamp stand.

Image Quality

Thanks to its wide ~86% DCI-P3 gamut coverage (~125% sRGB), the KTC H24T09P offers rich and saturated colors. It also has a rapid pixel response time speed for zero ghosting behind fast-moving objects.

Other specifications include a 300-nit peak brightness and a 1000:1 contrast ratio.

Variable refresh rate is supported with a 48-165Hz range and you get other standard gaming features, such as crosshair overlays, Black Equalize, on-screen timers and a refresh rate tracker.

Check out our detailed KTC H24T09P review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is tilt-only, but the screen is VESA mount compatible via the 100x100mm pattern.

It also isn’t very sturdy, so the monitor can easily be accidentally knocked over, which is why we highly recommend pairing it with a basic ~$30 monitor desk clamp, such as this one.

Connectivity options include two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, two HDMI 2.0 ports and a headphone jack.

About The Monitor

If you want a curved gaming monitor, the AOC C24G1A is our top recommendation for under $150!

Image Quality

The VA panel of this monitor provides you with a high 3,000:1 static contrast ratio, resulting in noticeably deeper blacks than that of IPS technology.

Additionally, you don’t get any IPS glow, which further improves the viewing experience when watching dark content in a dark room.

The viewing angles aren’t as good since there are some minor gamma/saturation shifts, but unless you plan on doing professional color-critical work, this won’t be an issue.

Next, the AOC C24G1A has a wide ~90% DCI-P3 gamut coverage for more vibrant color output.

The peak brightness is a bit lower at 250-nits, but that’s still more than enough under normal lighting conditions. If you’re in a particularly bright room with no means to block the lighting, you should consider a brighter monitor instead.

Features

The main drawback of most VA gaming monitors is the slow pixel response time speed, which results in smearing behind fast-moving objects – it’s particularly noticeable in dark scenes.

Some users don’t mind this at all, some can tolerate it and some are completely repulsed by it. So, it all boils down to your own personal sensitivity to this type of visual artifact. For casual gamers, it most likely won’t be a big issue.

Another disadvantage of most VA gaming monitors is that they’re prone to VRR brightness flickering. The AOC C24G1A supports variable refresh rate with a 48-165Hz range, however, in games with fluctuating frame rates, brightness flickering can be observed.

Related:What Is VRR Brightness Flickering And Can You Fix It?

It also usually occurs in in-game menus and loading screens, and when your frame rate is around the LFC (48FPS) threshold. The intensity of this issue varies from unit to unit, as well as from game to game and from your PC rig depending on how stable your frame rate is.

This issue can also affect IPS gaming monitors, but it’s not as common and even if you get an affected unit, it’s not as noticeable.

If you are not sensitive to screen tearing (it’s a lot less noticeable at 165Hz in comparison to 60Hz), you can just disable VRR to avoid this issue. The AOC C24G1A also supports backlight strobing, so you can use that instead for better motion clarity if you don’t mind the introduced flicker and/or reduced brightness.

Other features include a refresh rate tracker, a crosshair overlay, Shadow Boost, Game Color and on-screen timers.

Design & Connectivity

The stand is sturdy and offers height adjustment up to 130mm, -4°/22° tilt, +/- 30° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

The AOC C24G1A has a moderate 1500R screen curvature, but since it has a small 24″ display, it’s not that noticeable in real use. It adds a bit of extra depth without distorting the image too much, but there are other reasons to get this monitor.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, VGA and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

• MSI G242C – same panel, tilt-only stand
• LG 24GQ50F – flat screen, but it has a tilt-only stand, no wide color gamut and slower response time
• Philips 242E1GSJ – flat screen, tilt-only stand, wide color gamut but even slower response time

You can also find 27″ and 32″ 1080p high refresh rate gaming monitors for under $150, but as we’ve already mentioned, we don’t recommend them due to low pixel density. If you don’t mind low PPI, check out the Acer ED270RM and the Aopen 32HC5QRS.

If none of the included monitors are available under $150, we’ve compiled a list of all 24″ 1080p 144Hz+ IPS gaming monitors, allowing you to quickly check if any of them are on sale. Monitors not in bold lead to our reviews for more information.

About The Monitor

If you don’t need a particularly high refresh rate, the KTC H27T13 with 100Hz is also worth considering!

Image Quality

The KTC H27T13 has a 27″ 1440p IPS panel, which provides you with a large screen with a high resolution for plenty of screen space with sharp details and text.

Additionally, its IPS panel ensures consistent colors thanks to the 178° wide viewing angles, a decent 300-nit peak brightness and a wide 123% sRGB color gamut volume for more vibrant colors.

VRR is supported up to 100Hz for tear-free gameplay and thanks to LFC support, you won’t get any tearing even below 48Hz.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is tilt-only, but it’s sturdy and can be detached so that the screen can be mounted on a third-party stand via the 100x100mm VESA pattern.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2 and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

• KTC H24T27 – 24″ 1440p 100Hz IPS version of this monitor

About The Monitor

Nowadays, you can even find 1440p gaming monitors on sale for below $150!

Image Quality

The best thing about the KTC H27T22S is that even though it’s one of the most affordable 1440p high refresh rate models, it actually offers premium performance!

To start with, it has a wide color gamut for more vibrant colors and a respectable 350-nit peak brightness.

Next, it provides you with a rapid 1ms GtG pixel response time speed for no ghosting behind fast-moving objects and even supports variable overdrive, ensuring trail-free fast-paced gameplay regardless of your frame rate.

It also has a high 180Hz refresh rate out of the box, supports variable refresh rate and Motion Blur Reduction!

The 1440p resolution results in a high pixel density of around 108 PPI on 27″ sized displays. So, besides getting a lot more screen space as opposed to 1080p, you also get notably sharper details and text, while the larger screen ensures a more immersive viewing experience.

Be sure to check out our detailed KTC H27T22S review for more details.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is tilt-only, but unlike their H24T09P model, the stand of the H27T22S is quite sturdy as it’s made of metal and has a flat base that doesn’t take up a lot of desk space. Moreover, the screen is VESA mount compatible (100x100mm).

Connectivity options include two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a headphone jack and a USB port for firmware updates only.

Conclusion

Did you find the best monitor under $150 for you?

Feel free to leave us a comment below if you need help picking the model that’s most suited for you!

Overall, the KTC H27T22S offers the best value for money thanks to its 1440p 180Hz IPS panel with a wide color gamut and fast response times. If you can catch it on sale for $150, you can’t go wrong.

If you just want the most affordable display with fast response time and vibrant colors, the KTC H24T09P is for you – however, due to its fragile stand, we recommend eventually pairing it with a desk clamp.

In case you want an all-around best display, get the BenQ EX240. It has a sturdy ergonomic stand, a USB hub, integrated speakers, fast response times and a decent color gamut.

Finally, if you’re not sensitive to smearing and screen tearing, we recommend the AOC C24G1A. It has a wide color gamut, a high contrast ratio for deep blacks and an ergonomic stand.