The Best Gaming Monitors Under 250 USD (2024 Reviews)

While new monitors with higher resolutions and faster refresh rates are continuously being released and announced left and right, their prices are jumping up accordingly as well.

Luckily, this also signifies that older technology is becoming more affordable!

As a result, for just $200 – $250, you can nowadays get a fast 240Hz monitor for competitive gaming, a 4K display for amazing detail clarity, an ultrawide screen for extra immersion, or a 1440p 144Hz gaming monitor for mixed-use.

Note that some of these monitors are under $250 only when they’re on sale, but these sales are frequent. So, if the monitor you’re interested in goes for over $250, consider waiting for it to go on sale, check out our recommended alternatives, or visit our best monitors under $200 guide.

As you can see, you can get a pretty awesome gaming monitor at this price range!

If you’re looking for something more modest such as a 1080p 144Hz gaming monitor, make sure to visit our best gaming monitor under 200 USD buyer’s guide.

In case you can afford something pricier, check out our ultimate best gaming monitor guide.

If you want to view our changelogs for this particular buying guide, you can do so at the end of this article.

Best 1080p Gaming Monitor

If you have an entry-level GPU or just want to achieve the highest frame rate possible, you should get a 1080p gaming monitor!

About The Monitor

Want a gaming monitor with the highest refresh rate, lowest input lag, and fastest pixel response time under $250? Look no further than the ASUS VG259QM!

Image Quality

This display is based on a 24.5″ IPS panel with a rapid 1ms GtG response time speed that’s needed to eliminate motion blur and trailing behind fast-moving objects.

What’s more, it’s capable of doing that without sacrificing color accuracy or viewing angles as the TN panels do!

So, you’ll get precise, consistent and rich colors, while the image remains perfect regardless of the angle you’re looking at the screen!

Further, the monitor has a 400-nit peak brightness, which is more than enough even in rooms with strong lighting. The contrast ratio amounts to 1,000:1, which is standard for both IPS and TN panels.

Black depth isn’t quite as good as it’s on VA panels with a ~3,000:1 contrast ratio, but VA monitors at this price range have other issues, such as narrower viewing angles and notably slower response time that causes smearing in fast-paced games, at least at this price range.

Features

Moving on, the ASUS VG259QM offers plenty of additional gaming features.

It supports variable refresh rate (VRR), which can entirely remove screen tearing and stuttering within the 48-280Hz/FPS (Frames Per Second) variable refresh rate (VRR) range of the monitor.

Other useful features include ‘Shadow Boost’ for better visibility in shadows in video games, various picture presets, crosshair overlays, a refresh rate tracker, on-screen timers and ELMB-Sync (Extreme Low Motion Blur) backlight strobing technology that can work at the same time as VRR.

Design & Connectivity

The design of the monitor is also very good considering its price.

You get full ergonomic support including up to 130mm of height adjustment, -5°/33° tilt, +/- 90° swivel, +/- 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, dual 2W integrated speakers and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

• Pixio PX259 Prime – tilt-only stand
• Lenovo Legion Y25-30 – USB hub and integrated speakers

If you plan on using backlight strobing, we highly recommend investing $30 more in the ViewSonic XG2431 with Blur Busters Approved MBR performance.

Best 1440p Gaming Monitors

Want a higher resolution? Check out the best 1440p models available!

About The Monitor

If you’d rather have a higher resolution than 240Hz, the Koorui GP01 is an excellent pick!

Image Quality

The 2560×1440 screen resolution provides you with a high pixel density of 123 PPI on the 24″ viewable screen of the Koorui GP01. As a result, you get plenty of screen space as well as sharp details and text.

Next, the monitor has a decent 350-nit peak brightness and covers the entire sRGB color space for accurate color output without over-saturation.

It also boasts a rapid 1ms GtG pixel response time speed for no ghosting and smooth VRR performance up to 144FPS.

Check out our Koorui GP01 review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers full ergonomic support, including up to 110mm height adjustment, -5°/15° tilt, +/- 30° swivel, 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0 ports (limited to 144Hz at 2560×1440) and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

There are two more displays based on the same panel, but they’re not available in the US.

• AOC Q24G2A
• Philips 24M1N5500Z

Note that you can find a 24.5″ 1440p 240Hz IPS gaming monitor for $260, the Titan Army P2510S.

About The Monitor

In case you want both a 2560×1440 resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate, you can find the Gigabyte GS27Q-X on sale for $250!

Image Quality

The Gigabyte GS27Q-X is cheaper than some 1440p 144Hz displays yet it boasts a rapid 240Hz refresh rate and a fast pixel response time speed.

It has a decent 300-nit peak brightness, a wide 110% sRGB color gamut and a static contrast ratio of 1,000:1.

The monitor is even overclockable to 250Hz and supports MBR in addition to VRR and the usual gaming features (crosshairs, Black Equalizer, etc.).

Design & Connectivity

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

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports (limited to 144Hz at 2560×1440) and a headphone jack.

About The Monitor

Would you rather have a higher contrast ratio without IPS glow? The KTC H27E22 is for you!

Image Quality

The KTC H27E22 is based on a VA panel with a high 2,500:1 contrast ratio, resulting in notably deeper blacks than that of IPS panels.

Additionally, there’s no IPS glow, which makes for a more immersive viewing experience in dark rooms, especially when watching darker content.

The viewing angles aren’t quite as wide as that of IPS panels as there are minor gamma/saturation shifts at certain angles, but it’s not an issue for everyday use and gaming.

The main downside is that VRR performance is not as smooth since in some games (mainly those with fluctuating frame rates, or in in-game menus and loading screens), there’s sometimes VRR brightness flickering.

Since screen tearing is not that noticeable at 240Hz, we recommend simply disabling VRR in affected games or using V-Sync to prevent tearing instead.

The KTC H27E22 is also one of the faster VA panels, so smearing in dark scenes is not an issue. Other specs include a strong 400-nit peak brightness and a wide 130% sRGB color gamut volume.

You’ll also find the usual gaming features, such as Black Equalize, crosshair overlays and on-screen timers.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers full ergonomic support with up to 130mm height adjustment, +/- 90° pivot, +/- 45° swivel, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a USB-C port with DP Alt Mode, three downstream USB-A ports and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

• KTC H27E22S – the same monitor but without an ergonomic stand or as extensive connectivity options for a lower price.

About The Monitor

If you want a monitor with a higher 1440p resolution, you can even find 32″ models for less than $250 thanks to the Sceptre E325B-QPN168!

Image Quality

The Sceptre E325B-QPN168 is based on an IPS panel with a wide 92% DCI-P3 color gamut, which results in vibrant and saturated colors for a more lifelike picture.

Further, it has a strong peak brightness of 400-nits, while the contrast ratio is 1,000:1, as expected from IPS technology.

Moreover, it has a fast pixel response time speed for virtually no ghosting in fast-paced games.

Finally, you get buttery-smooth VRR performance with stable G-SYNC performance and MBR for less motion blur.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor offers up to 95mm height adjustment, +/- 15° swivel, -5°/15° tilt, 90° pivot and 75x75mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 1.4 ports, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, a headphone jack, and dual 2W integrated speakers.

Alternatives

In case the Sceptre E325B is not available, check out the Gigabyte GS32Q as an alternative. It doesn’t have quite as wide color gamut and it has a tilt-only stand, but it’s the only other 32″ 1440p high refresh rate IPS display available under $250.

If you’d rather have a 32″ 1440p high refresh rate gaming monitor with a curved VA panel, check out the Gigabyte M32QC for ~$255.

Best UltraWide Gaming Monitor

Looking for a monitor with a wider aspect ratio? We recommend the following model!

About The Monitor

The KTC H34S18S is the best budget 34″ 3440×1440 high refresh rate curved VA gaming monitor!

Image Quality

Thanks to its ultrawide aspect ratio, the KTC H34S18S provides you with an immersive viewing experience with a wider field of view in compatible games!

On top of that, it has a VA panel with a high 4,000:1 contrast ratio, a decent 350-nit peak brightness and a wide ~90% DCI-P3 gamut coverage for vibrant colors.

It doesn’t have quite as fast response time as the KTC H27E22, so some minor ghosting will be noticeable behind fast-moving objects in darker scenes, but this won’t bother most gamers.

Check out our detailed KTC H34S18S review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor offers a good range of ergonomics, including up to 90mm height adjustment, +/- 20° swivel, +/- 5° pivot, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility. The screen has a moderate 1500R curvature for added immersion.

Connectivity options include 2x HDMI 2.0 ports, 2x DisplayPort 1.4 ports, a headphone jack and a USB port for service/firmware updates.

Best 4K Monitor

Want a 4K UHD display? Here’s what we recommend if your budget is $200 – $250!

About The Monitor

If you want a basic 27″ 4K IPS display, you can actually find one for less than $200, the Sceptre U275W-UPT. For ~$250, you can get the KTC A32Q8 with a 32″ 4K VA display.

In case you’re interested in 4K displays with a higher refresh rate, you’ll need to invest at least around $400 in something like the MSI MAG274UPF.

Image Quality

The KTC A32Q8 is one of the most affordable 32″ 4K VA displays yet it features built-in Google TV smart OS and comes with a remote controller!

It has a VA panel with a high 3,000:1 contrast ratio, a 250-nit peak brightness and a bit wider color gamut than standard with ~83% DCI-P3 coverage.

Check out our in-depth KTC A32Q8 review for more details.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is tilt-only, but it’s VESA mount compatible. The monitor also has WiFi and Bluetooth support.

Connectivity options include HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4, a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 65W Power Delivery, allowing you to charge a compatible laptop, four downstream USB-A ports, a headphone jack and integrated speakers.

Best HDR Monitors

Nowadays, you can even find proper HDR displays for under $250!

About The Monitor

The Innocn 27M2U-D usually goes for $300, but it can be found with a $100 coupon for just $200, which makes it the cheapest monitor with proper HDR support!

Image Quality

While there are many LED-backlit displays that can accept the HDR10 signal and display it, for a true HDR viewing experience, you’ll need either full-array local dimming or an OLED panel.

The Innocn 27M2U-D has 384 dimming zones spread across the panel that can dim areas of the image that are supposed to be dark without affecting the areas that should remain bright, thus significantly increasing the contrast ratio!

On top of that, the monitor can reach a stellar 1,000-nit peak brightness for vivid highlights and has an exceptional color gamut with 99% DCI-P3 and 99% Adobe RGB coverage. There’s also a dedicated sRGB mode and Delta E < 2 factory calibration.

Even without its HDR capabilities, this monitor is worth $300 (let alone its $200 sale price) for its amazing color coverage and accuracy.

The only downside is the low 60Hz refresh rate and lack of VRR support, which will repulse most gamers. However, if you’re not that into fast-paced gaming, you might be okay with a lower refresh rate.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor offers height adjustment up to 120mm, 90° pivot, -5°/20° tilt, +/- 25° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DP 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 65W Power Delivery and a headphone jack.

About The Monitor

If you want a proper HDR display with a high refresh rate, the Acer XV275U can actually be found on sale for under $200!

Image Quality

Just like the Innocn 27M2U-D, the Acer XV275U has a high 1000-nit peak brightness, an exceptional 99% Adobe RGB / DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and a 384-zone mini LED FALD backlight.

However, since it uses a VA panel with a higher native contrast ratio, it will have less blooming artifacts and even deeper blacks!

Sadly, this also means that it’s prone to VRR brightness flickering and that it will have noticeable ghosting behind fast-moving objects in darker scenes. Still, considering the image quality and high 170Hz refresh rate you get for the price, most users will be able to tolerate some screen tearing and ghosting!

Check out our full Acer XV275U review for more details.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor offers full ergonomic support, including up to 150mm height adjustment, +/- 25° swivel, 90° pivot, -5°/25° tilt and 75x75mm VESA mount compatibility.

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

Alternatives

We recommend investing $280 in the AOC Q27G3XMN. It has a bit better HDR accuracy and overdrive implementation for less ghosting.

If you don’t want to deal with slow response times and VRR brightness flickering of VA panels, you’ll need to invest ~$350 in the Xiaomi G Pro 27i.

Conclusion

And that’s that! These are the best monitors for gaming under 250 USD that you can get your hands on right now!

We will update this article as soon as any better deals come up. In the meantime, feel free to leave us a comment below if you need any help picking your next monitor.

Overall, you can’t go wrong with the ASUS VG259QM if you have a budget GPU and mostly play competitive titles.

In case you have a bit stronger PC rig, we recommend the Acer XV275U if you play a lot of HDR games, the KTC H34S18S for fans of the ultrawide format and the KTC H27E22 or the Gigabyte GS27Q-X if you want a good 16:9 widescreen display!

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