Got a budget of $300-$400 for a new gaming monitor?
In this guide, you will find all the available combinations of display specifications you can find in this price range as well as the best monitors currently available.
Top 9 Gaming Monitors Under $400 In 2019
| Type | Monitor | Size | Resolution | Panel | Refresh Rate | VRR | G-SYNC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best 1080p Gaming Monitor | ASUS XG248Q | 24” | 1920×1080 | TN | 240Hz | FreeSync | Compatible | |
| Best 1440p Gaming Monitors | Dell S2719DGF | 27” | 2560×1440 | TN | 155Hz | FreeSync | Stable | |
| Nixeus EDG27S V2 (Editor’s Pick) | 27” | 2560×1440 | IPS | 144Hz | FreeSync | Stable | ||
| AOC CQ32G1 (Editor’s Pick) | 32” | 2560×1440 | VA | 144Hz | FreeSync | Stable | ||
| Best UltraWide Gaming Monitors | LG 34WK650 | 34” | 2560×1080 | IPS | 75Hz | FreeSync | Stable | |
| Samsung S34J55W (Editor’s Pick) | 34″ | 3440×1440 | VA | 75Hz | FreeSync | Stable | ||
| Best 4K Gaming Monitors | ASUS VP28UQG | 28” | 3840×2160 | TN | 60Hz | FreeSync | Stable | |
| LG 27UL550 | 27” | 3840×2160 | IPS | 60Hz | FreeSync | Unstable | ||
| LG 32UD59 | 32” | 3840×2160 | VA | 60Hz | FreeSync | Unstable |
If you’re on a different budget, you may want to visit our other buyer’s guides:
- Best Gaming Monitor Under 100 USD
- Best Gaming Monitor Under 150 USD
- Best Gaming Monitor Under 200 USD
- Best Gaming Monitor Under 300 USD
- Best Gaming Monitors Overall
Since you have quite a diverse selection at this price range, it’s important that you pick the right panel type, screen size, resolution, and refresh rate according to your preference. Visit our dedicated monitor buyer’s guide for more information.
We’ll cover everything in the monitor summaries below, so as long as you stick to our guidelines and tips, we guarantee that you’ll be satisfied with your new gaming monitor. However, ensure that your PC system will be able to properly run video games at the resolution and refresh rate you want.
A variable refresh rate (VRR) technology such as AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-SYNC can greatly improve performance by synchronizing monitor’s refresh rates to GPU’s frame rates thus eliminating screen tearing and stuttering with virtually no input lag penalty.
For G-SYNC, you will need a compatible NVIDIA graphics card while FreeSync works with both AMD and select NVIDIA (GTX 10-series, GTX 16-series, RTX-20 series, or newer) graphics cards.
While the FreeSync monitors we’ve included aren’t officially G-SYNC compatible (except for the ASUS XG248Q), most of them offer a smooth VRR performance without issues. These are marked as ‘Stable’ under the ‘G-SYNC’ column in the table.
VRR on FreeSync monitors marked as ‘Unstable’ work with compatible AMD cards, but won’t have a stable performance with NVIDIA GPUs out of the box, though you will likely be able to get them to work by tinkering with the drivers and using third-party software. Note that these monitors will work with NVIDIA cards without issues, except when using FreeSync.
Best 1080p Gaming Monitor
If you’re looking for a 1080p gaming monitor, you can head over to our best gaming monitors under $300 guide. The only 1080p displays that are worth over $300 are the 240Hz models and the following monitor offers the best value for the money in that category.
ASUS XG248Q – 240Hz Gaming Monitor With All The Bells And Whistles
About the Monitor
The ASUS XG248Q is the best 240Hz gaming monitor for the money. It’s equipped with 240Hz, 1ms, FreeSync (certified by NVIDIA as G-SYNC compatible), and a backlight strobing technology with up to 240Hz strobing frequency.
Image Quality
Based on a TN panel, the ASUS XG248Q offers a rapid 1ms response time speed for zero ghosting and trailing of fast-moving objects. However, you won’t get as vibrant colors as that of IPS panels nor as high contrast ratio as that of VA panels.
TN panels also have narrow viewing angles meaning that the picture will shift in color, contrast, and brightness when you look at it from skewed angles. As long as you’re sitting directly in front of the screen though, this won’t be an issue.
But the ASUS XG248Q is not about image quality, it’s all about the performance and thanks to its 240Hz refresh rate paired with a 1ms response time speed, you will get the most responsive gaming experience possible!
Keep in mind that the jump from 144Hz to 240Hz isn’t as noticeable as going from 60Hz to 144Hz, but the difference is definitely there and it is crucial for professional fast-paced gaming.
So, if you’re a hardcore FPS gamer, this is the monitor for you. However, if you’d rather have a smooth performance as well as a good image quality, there are better options included in this guide.
Features
There are two main things that make the ASUS XG248Q 240Hz 1ms monitor better than the other 240Hz alternatives.
First of all, it’s officially G-SYNC compatible (certified by NVIDIA) for a flawless VRR performance with compatible NVIDIA cards.
Secondly, it has a backlight strobing capacity which can operate at 120Hz, 144Hz, 200Hz, and 240Hz whereas most 240Hz models with MBR can only strobe at 144Hz max.
In addition, the monitor offers six response time overdrive options, RGB lighting, and the ASUS GamePlus (custom crosshairs and on-screen timers) and GameVisual (pre-calibrated picture presets such as FPS, RTS, Racing, RPG, MOBA, sRGB, Cinema, etc) features.
Design & Connectivity
The ASUS XG248Q features a fully ergonomic design (tilt, swivel, height, pivot, and VESA mount compatibility) while its connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, a dual-USB 3.0 hub (two downstream ports plus one upstream port), and a headphones jack.
Alternatives
For more alternatives, visit our dedicated buyer’s guide on best monitors for FPS games, though the ASUS XG248Q offers the best value/price by far.
The Pros
- Good value for the price
- G-SYNC compatible
- MBR up to 240Hz
- Ergonomic design and rich connectivity options
The Cons
- Narrow viewing angles
- Inferior image quality to IPS and VA panels
Best 1440p Gaming Monitors
2560×1440 WQHD resolution provides you with the perfect pixel-per-inch ratio on 27″ screens. You get plenty of screen space and crystal-clear details without any scaling necessary whereas 1440p on a 32″ screen offers the same pixel density as 1080p on a 24″ display. Keep in mind that 1440p is also more taxing on your GPU/CPU.
Dell S2719DGF – Crisp Graphics With Smooth Motion
About the Monitor
If you want a non-144Hz 1440p model, you can find the best options in our best 1440p monitor buyer’s guide, or in our best gaming monitors under $300 guide.
The Dell S2719DGF is the best 27″ 1440p 144Hz 1ms gaming monitor under $400.
Image Quality
Out of all 1440p 144Hz TN panel models, the Dell S2719DGF offers the best value for the price. First of all, it’s overclockable up to 155Hz and it supports FreeSync with a 40-155Hz variable refresh rate range.
Since it’s a TN panel display, you get the narrow 160°/170° viewing angles and mediocre color reproduction, but 1440p makes everything look crisp and sharp while the 1ms response time speed eliminates all trailing and motion blur in first-person shooters and racing games.
Features
Besides FreeSync, you’ll find pre-calibrated picture presets (FPS, RTS, RPG) and Dark Stabilizer for better visibility of objects in dark parts in video games.
Design & Connectivity
Moving on, the design is robust and versatile with full ergonomic support (tilt, pivot, swivel, height adjustment, and VESA mount compatibility) while connectivity options are abundant and include HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, and a quad-USB 3.0 hub (one USB port also offers fast-charging).
Alternatives
In case the Dell S2719DGF is not available, the Acer XG270HU is a good alternative. It’s officially G-SYNC compatible, but it’s not overclockable to 155Hz (at least not automatically via an option in OSD).
The Pros
- Affordable 1440p 144Hz display
- Overclockable to 155Hz
- Fully ergonomic design and plenty of connectivity options
The Cons
- Narrow viewing angles
- Inferior image quality to IPS and VA panels
Nixeus EDG27S V2 – Smooth Motion And Striking Colors
About the Monitor
Not a fan of narrow viewing angles and inferior color quality of TN panels? The Nixeus EDG27S v2 is an affordable 27″ 1440p 144Hz model with an IPS panel!
Image Quality
The Nixeus EDG27S v2 is similar to the Dell S2719DGF except that it features an IPS panel, so the colors are a lot more vibrant, precise, and consistent.
It’s also the only FreeSync monitor that supports adaptive overdrive which will minimize the amount of ghosting and inverse ghosting with AMD FreeSync enabled.
When you set its response time overdrive setting to ‘Off’, the monitor will automatically change the best response time preset according to the current frame rate.
This way, there’s no pixel overshoot at lower frame rates and no motion blur at high frame rates. It’s not as effective as NVIDIA’s G-SYNC variable overdrive, but it’s a very useful feature nonetheless.
While the response time of IPS panels isn’t as fast as that of TN displays, it’s still fast enough to eliminate any prominent ghosting; and unlike VA panels, you won’t get any black smearing or noticeable motion blur of fast-moving objects.
Overall, the Nixeus EDG27S v2 offers the perfect balance between image quality and performance. You get vibrant colors, sharp details, a fast response time, and a high refresh rate.
Features
Besides AMD FreeSync with adaptive overdrive and a wide dynamic range (30-144Hz), the Nixeus doesn’t offer any gaming features such as pre-calibrated picture presets for different gaming genres, customizable crosshairs, and the like.
More importantly though, it has the best FreeSync implementation and it’s G-SYNC compatible which we prefer over the gimmicky gaming features anyway.
Design & Connectivity
Connectivity options include two DisplayPort 1.2 ports, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a headphones jack, and two integrated speakers while the stand is tilt-only but VESA mount compatible. FreeSync works over both HDMI and DP with a 30-144Hz VRR range.
Alternatives
The Nixeus EDG27S V2 is the only 1440p 144Hz IPS monitor available under $400. For $100-$200 more, you can get the Acer XV272U or Aorus AD27QD with entry-level HDR support, 10-bit color depth, and motion blur reduction, but not as good response time performance.
The Pros
- Affordable 1440p 144Hz monitor
- Vibrant colors
- AMD FreeSync with variable overdrive and wide dynamic range
The Cons
- Tilt-only design
AOC CQ32G1 – Curved Gaming Monitor With Stellar Contrast
About the Monitor
The AOC CQ32G1 is the best 32″ 1440p 144Hz gaming monitor you can get under $400. If you want a similar monitor but with a flat screen instead, check out the LG 32GK650F.
Image Quality
As we’ve mentioned earlier, VA panels have the worst response time, but they also have the highest contrast ratio.
The result is deep and vivid black shades, however, when pixels need to change from one color to another, they can’t quite keep up with the monitor’s refresh rate which leads to visible trailing of fast-moving objects that’s particularly noticeable in dark scenes where dark pixels are involved.
Some people can tolerable this as in return you get a great image quality, but others who play fast-paced games competitively won’t be able to stand it. So, if you’re a casual gamer, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Further, because 1440p is displayed on a larger screen in this case, you won’t get as much screen space and details as you would on a 27″ 1440p monitor.
However, you get a bigger screen which makes the gaming experience more immersive. Keep in mind that a 32″ monitor is quite big and that you will have to sit a bit further from the screen.
Other panel-related specifications include a 3,000:1 contrast ratio and ~125% sRGB color gamut.
Features
The AOC CQ32G1 monitor also has a motion blur reduction technology that can be enabled by setting the Overdrive setting to ‘Boost’. You can also adjust the frequency of the backlight strobing via the ‘MBR’ setting. This can greatly help clear up the motion blur, but this feature cannot be active at the same time as FreeSync.
FreeSync is supported over both HDMI and DP with a 48-144Hz dynamic refresh rate range.
In addition, you will find pre-calibrated picture presets (FPS, RTS, Racing, and three customizable Gamer profiles) and Shadow Control and Game Control for gamma/saturation adjustments.
Design & Connectivity
The AOC CQ32G1 has a tilt-only design but it can be mounted to a third-party stand via 100 x 100mm VESA pattern. At the back of the monitor, you will find HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0, and DisplayPort 1.2 ports as well as an audio jack. The HDMI 1.4 port is limited to 75Hz at 1440p.
Alternatives
If you want a 27″ version of this type of monitor, check out the following 27″ 1440p 144Hz VA-panel curved gaming monitors:
- MSI Optix MPG27CQ – with MBR, FreeSync, premium RGB lighting
- MSI Optix MAG271CQR – with MBR and FreeSync
- MSI Optix MAG271R – with a flat panel and 165Hz
- Viotek GN27D – with a more budget-friendly price but no MBR
- Samsung C27JG50 – the cheapest 27″ 1440p 144Hz VA monitor but it has no AMD FreeSync support
The Pros
- Big 32″ curved screen
- 1440p at 144Hz
- High contrast ratio
- AMD FreeSync & MBR
The Cons
- Tilt-only stand
- Moderate ghosting in fast-paced games, mostly in darker scenes
Best UltraWide Gaming Monitors
Ultrawide displays have an aspect ratio of 21:9 as opposed to the 16:9 ratio of standard widescreen monitors. This provides you with extra horizontal space that (in games that support 21:9 natively) widens your field of view for a more immersive gaming experience.
LG 34WK650 – UltraWide Monitor With Vivid Colors
About the Monitor
The LG 34WK650 is a 34″ 2560×1080 21:9 ultrawide monitor. Basically, it’s as tall as a regular 27″ monitor but wider, so it’s a bit more practical than the above-mentioned 32″ monitor.
Image Quality
The monitor has an IPS panel and it’s factory-calibrated for 99% sRGB color gamut which means you will get accurate, consistent, and vibrant colors.
Now, its 2560×1080 resolution is fairly low for its 34″ size. 3440×1440 would better suit a monitor of this size, but such monitors are more expensive and more taxing on your GPU.
With a pixel-per-inch ratio of 81, you get the same detail clarity and sharpness as you would on a 27″ 1080p monitor. So, everything (desktop icons, text, etc) will be big and take a lot of screen space.
However, since the ultrawide format also offers extra horizontal screen space, the LG 34WK650 is actually a decent monitor for basic content creation, productivity, spreadsheets, and other related tasks.
It also supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), but it’s software-enabled only which means that the monitor can accept the HDR10 signal, but lacks display capabilities for a noteworthy HDR viewing experience.
Features
Moving on, some of the more interesting features include Black Stabilizer, pre-calibrated picture presets, custom crosshairs, and On-Screen Control which allows you to adjust monitor’s settings in a desktop application.
Additionally, the LG 34WK650 supports AMD FreeSync with a 40-75Hz dynamic range over both HDMI and DP.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor can be elevated up to 110m, tilted, and mounted via the 100x100mm VESA mount pattern. Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, a headphones jack, and two 5W integrated speakers.
The Pros
- Immersive viewing experience
- AMD FreeSync
- Height-adjustable stand
The Cons
- Low pixel density
- HDR is only software-emulated
Samsung S34J55W - Captivating Viewing Experience
About the Monitor
Just like the LG 34WK650, the Samsung S34J55W is a flat-screen ultrawide monitor but with a higher 3440×1440 UWQHD resolution and a VA panel.
Image Quality
3440×1440 resolution hits the pixel density sweet spot on the 34″ screen of the Samsung SJ55W. With roughly 110 pixels per inch, you get plenty of screen space as well as sharp and clear details, without any scaling necessary.
Further, the superior 3,000:1 contrast ratio ensures vivid black tones for an immersive viewing experience, especially in dark or dim-lit environments.
The color reproduction is not as precise as that of the LG 34WK650, but it’s good nonetheless; the higher contrast and resolution easily make up for the slightly less vibrant colors.
The response time speed is also a bit slower on the Samsung S34J55W monitor, but for 75Hz, it’s fast enough for an enjoyable gaming experience.
Features
Moving on, the monitor supports AMD FreeSync with a 48-75Hz VRR range and it works without any issues with compatible NVIDIA cards.
Certain Samsung SJ55W models can even be overclocked up to ~90Hz for a notable boost in fast-paced motion clarity, but this will vary between units.
You can find more about the monitor’s features and performance in our Samsung S34J55W review.
Design & Connectivity
The Samsung S34J55W has a tilt-only stand with reasonably thick matte black bezels. You can mount the screen on a third-party stand via the 100x100mm VESA pattern.
Connectivity options include HDMI 2.0, HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2, and a headphones jack. FreeSync is supported over both HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2 connectors with a 48-75Hz range.
Alternatives
Note that the Samsung S34J55W is sometimes priced at ~$430 though it’s often on sale for under $400. Either way, it’s worth the extra $30. In case you can invest a bit more, check out the MSI MAG341CQ which is also a 34″ 3440×1440 VA gaming monitor, but with a curved screen and a 100Hz refresh rate.
If you want a 34″ 3440×1440 IPS monitor for better color accuracy and faster response time, you’ll have to invest at least another ~$150 for the LG 34UC80 with FreeSync up to 75Hz. So, you can see why the Samsung SJ55W offers such good value for the price.
The Pros
- Excellent value for the price
- High resolution and contrast ratio
- AMD FreeSync
The Cons
- Tilt-only stand
Best 4K Gaming Monitors
Here, you will find the most affordable 4K monitors. For a more thorough selection, visit our best 4K monitors and best 4K gaming monitors for Xbox One X and PS4 Pro buyer’s guides.
Keep in mind that if you’re interested in a 4K monitor for PC gaming, you will need a high-end GPU in order to run newer games at steady ~60FPS at 4K UHD with decent picture settings.
ASUS VP28UQG – Fast 4K Monitor For Competitive Console Gaming
About the Monitor
The ASUS VP28UQG is an affordable 4K monitor which is perfect for Xbox One X thanks to its FreeSync over HDMI support.
Image Quality
This 28″ monitor provides striking detail clarity and sharpness thanks to its rich pixel density of 157 PPI. Further, it supports 10-bit color depth (8-bit + 2-bit FRC), so you get 1.07 billion colors! However, the colors aren’t as accurate as vibrant as they are on IPS and VA panels.
Overall, you get a decent picture quality as well as a rapid 1ms response time speed for minimal ghosting in fast-paced games. Note that the monitor has narrow viewing angles of 160° vertically and 170° horizontally meaning that the picture will shift in color, contrast, and brightness when you’re looking at the screen from skewed angles.
Features
Gaming features include ASUS GamePlus (crosshairs, timers, etc) and the GameVisual pre-calibrated picture presets. The ASUS VP28UQG is the cheapest 4K monitor that supports FreeSync over HDMI making it ideal for Xbox One. The VRR range is only 40-60FPS, so you won’t benefit from it in games that are limited to 30FPS.
Regardless, since FreeSync doesn’t increase the monitor’s price, you don’t lose anything. FreeSync works over DisplayPort as well. Lastly, the monitor supports HDCP 2.2 which allows you to stream copy-protected content in native 4K UHD resolution from services such as Netflix.
Design & Connectivity
While the design is tilt-only, you can effortlessly mount the screen since it’s VESA compatible. Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, and a headphones jack. So, you can connect two consoles and a PC simultaneously and just change the input source on the monitor depending on the device you’re using.
The Pros
- Affordable 4K UHD monitor
- FreeSync over HDMI
The Cons
- Tilt-only design
- Narrow viewing angles
- Not as good colors as on IPS and VA panels
LG 27UL550 – Best 4K Monitor For Mixed Use
About the Monitor
If you want a 4K gaming monitor with an IPS panel, the LG 27UL550 is the best option in this price range.
Image Quality
While it has a slightly smaller screen and slower response time (5ms) than the ASUS VP28UQG, the LG 27UL550 offers significantly better and more accurate colors with factory-calibrated 98% sRGB gamut.
It also supports AMD FreeSync over both HDMI and DisplayPort, so it’s great for both PC and console gaming.
Note that the difference in the response time speed between the LG 27UL550 and the ASUS VP28UQG is barely noticeable. So, unless you’re a really hardcore FPS gamer and want the least amount of motion blur in fast-paced games, you’d be better off with LG’s 4K monitor.
Its stunning colors in addition to 4K UHD resolution make this monitor great for content creation including color-critical work, watching movies, gaming, and other multimedia purposes.
Other features include On-Screen Control, Screen Split, Black Stabilizer, and picture presets. FreeSync works with compatible NVIDIA cards as well, but only within the Basic mode which has a very narrow 48-60Hz range. For AMD cards and Xbox One, the VRR range is 40-60Hz.
Features
The LG 27UL550 also supports HDR, but it’s software-emulated only meaning that you won’t get a big improvement in the picture quality. It’s just a ‘pseudo’ HDR marketing gimmick which doesn’t even affect the monitor’s price.
Design & Connectivity
You can adjust the height of the screen by up to 110mm, pivot the screen by 90°, tilt by -5°/15°, and VESA mount it (100x100mm), but you cannot swivel the stand to the left/right.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, a single DisplayPort 1.2 input, and a headphones jack. The monitor also supports HDCP 2.2.
Alternatives
Alternatively, you may want to check out the LG 27UL500 which is the same monitor but without the ergonomic stand. If you want to save even more money, check out the Philips 276E8VJSB though it has no FreeSync nor VESA mount compatibility.
The Pros
- Vibrant and rich colors
- Affordable 4K IPS monitor
The Cons
- HDR is software-emulated only
LG 32UD59 – 32" 4K Monitor With Superior Contrast
About the Monitor
Nowadays, you can even get a 32″ 4K monitor under 400 USD, but with a VA panel, not IPS – which has both its advantages and disadvantages.
Image Quality
The LG 32UD59 features a VA panel with a 3,000:1 static contrast ratio and wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut. So, its colors may not be accurate and consistent as that of the IPS models, but you still get an immersive picture quality with rich colors and vivid black shades.
The bad thing is that you get a slower response time speed which means there’ll be more trailing and motion blur in fast-paced video games. However, unless you’re playing competitive first-person shooters, the amount of ghosting is tolerable.
Features
As far as the features are concerned, you will find all the standard LG features such as Black Stabilizer, Screen Split, On-Screen Control, etc.
AMD FreeSync is supported as well over both HDMI and DP with a 40-60Hz dynamic range, but VRR with NVIDIA cards will work only in the Basic mode (48-60Hz range).
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the LG 32UD59 monitor can be elevated up to 120mm, tilted, and VESA mounted. Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, and a headphones jack.
Alternatives
Depending on the region, availability, and pricing, you may want to check the following two 32″ 4K models as well.
- LG 32UD60 – Essentially the same monitor but with built-in speakers (2x5W)
- Samsung U32J590 – A more affordable 32″ 4K monitor without the wide color gamut
The Pros
- Affordable 32″ 4K monitor
- High contrast ratio and wide color gamut
- AMD FreeSync over HDMI
- Height-adjustable stand
The Cons
- Moderate ghosting in fast-paced games
Conclusion
Did you find the best gaming monitor under 400 USD for you? Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below if you need further assistance.
On balance, the AOC CQ32G1 offers the best value/money under $400 though not everyone wants a huge 32″ screen on their desk which is why the Nixeus EDG27S v2 may be a better alternative for most people. Plus, the Nixeus has a lot better performance in fast-paced games.
If you’re a competitive gamer, the ASUS XG248Q offers the best performance whereas the Samsung S34J55W provides the most immersive picture quality.
In case you got a bit weaker PC rig, the LG 34WK650 will make sure that video games look awesome and run smoothly even on budget builds.
Finally, if you have a 4K capable console or PC, you can simply pick one of the included 4K monitors according to your panel type and screen size preference.
Rob is a software engineer with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver. He now works full-time managing DisplayNinja while coding his own projects on the side.
