The Best Gaming Monitors Under 400 USD (2023 Reviews)

Got a budget of $300-$400 for a new gaming monitor?

In this guide, you will find all the available combinations of display specifications within this price range, allowing you to pick the best gaming monitor under 400 USD for you!

Now, since you have quite a diverse selection in 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.

So, for G-SYNC, you will need a compatible NVIDIA graphics card, while FreeSync works with both AMD and select NVIDIA (GTX 10-series or newer) graphics cards.

While most FreeSync monitors we’ve included aren’t officially G-SYNC compatible, some of them offer smooth VRR performance without issues. These are marked as ‘G-SYNC Stable’ for the ‘VRR’ specification in each product box.

VRR on FreeSync monitors marked as ‘Unstable’ work with compatible AMD cards, but won’t have a stable performance. Note that these monitors will otherwise work with NVIDIA cards without issues, except when using FreeSync.

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

Best 240Hz Gaming Monitors

If you’re looking for a 1080p gaming monitor, you can head over to our best gaming monitors under $200/$300 guide.

The only 1080p displays that are worth over $300 nowadays are the 240Hz+ models and the following monitors offer the best value for the money in that category.

About The Monitor

The ViewSonic XG2431 is the best 240Hz gaming monitor for serious gamers.

It’s equipped with 240Hz, 1ms GtG response time, FreeSync and the impeccable PureXP+ backlight strobing implementation with Blur Busters 2.0 Approved certification.

Moreover, it offers vivid colors and wide viewing angles!

Image Quality

Thanks to its IPS panel, the XG2431 delivers accurate and consistent colors that make the colors on TN panels look washed out in comparison.

IPS monitors also have 178° wide viewing angles both horizontally and vertically, so the image quality won’t degrade regardless of the angle you’re looking at the screen.

Further, its rapid 1ms GtG pixel response time speed eliminates any prominent trailing behind fast-moving objects.

Keep in mind that the jump from 144Hz to 240Hz isn’t as noticeable as going from 60Hz to 144Hz, but the difference is there, and it can be crucial for competitive 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 good image quality, there are better options included in this guide.

Features

The ViewSonic XG2431 supports AMD FreeSync with a 48-240Hz VRR range, and it offers stable G-SYNC Compatible performance.

Alternatively, you can use its backlight strobing technology called PureXP+ which offers exceptional motion clarity at a cost of picture brightness. Tuned by Blur Busters, this implementation allows for advanced customization and comes with well-optimized presets from 60Hz to 240Hz.

Other useful features include Black Stabilization (for better visibility in darker games), pre-calibrated picture modes (FPS, RTS, RGB, etc.) and a refresh rate tracker.

For more information, visit our ViewSonic XG2431 review.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the XG2431 monitor offers height adjustment up to 120mm, tilt by -5°/15°, +/- 90° swivel, 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 inputs, a headphone jack, two 3W built-in speakers and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.

About The Monitor

If your PC can output well over 240FPS, it’s worth considering getting a 360Hz gaming monitor, but there are a few other things to keep in mind!

Image Quality

The Acer XV252QF is the best 25″ 1080p 360Hz IPS gaming monitor available. It’s overclockable up to 390Hz and even supports backlight strobing at that refresh rate!

However, because the pixels aren’t quite fast enough on this panel to keep up with the demanding 390Hz refresh rate, the image won’t be quite as crisp and clear as it is on the ViewSonic XG2431.

In contrast, due to the higher 390Hz refresh rate, you get a lower input lag and generally smoother and more ‘connected’ feel in first-person shooters. So, choosing between the XG2431 and the XV252QF mainly comes down to personal preference.

The XV252QF has a bit larger 24.5″ screen, but other specifications are pretty much the same and include a 99% sRGB color gamut, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and a 400-nit peak brightness.

VRR and MBR are supported up to 390Hz, but you can’t use both at the same time. Other features include Black Boost, crosshair overlays, a refresh rate tracker and various picture presets.

Check out our full Acer XV252QF review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is not the sturdiest, but it offers a good range of ergonomics, including up to 120mm height adjustment, -5°/25° tilt, +/- 180° swivel, 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include Displayport 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports (max 240Hz), a headphone jack, and two 2W integrated speakers.

Alternatives

• Acer Aopen 25XV2QF – the same monitor, but with different branding
• Dell Alienware AW2521H, ASUS PG259QNR, MSI NXG253R – 25″ 1080p 360Hz 1ms IPS gaming monitors with a dedicated G-SYNC module; can sometimes be found on sale for under $400. They’re not as good as Acer/Aopen since they’re more expensive and their MBR implementation only works up to 240Hz.

Best 1440p Gaming Monitors

2560×1440 WQHD resolution provides the perfect pixel-per-inch ratio on 27″ screens. You get plenty of screen space and crystal-clear details without any scaling necessary.

1440p on a 32″ screen offers the same pixel density as 1080p on 24″ displays; you get a lot bigger display and more screen space, but the detail clarity is the same. Keep in mind that 1440p is also more taxing on your GPU/CPU.

Visit our best 1440p 144Hz gaming monitors buyer’s guide for a more diverse selection.

About The Monitor

Not a fan of narrow viewing angles and inferior color quality of TN panels, but would like a rapid response time speed as well as a high screen resolution?

The Gigabyte M27Q-Pro is the best 27″ 1440p 165Hz (170Hz factory OC) 1ms IPS gaming monitor available for under $400!

Image Quality

The Gigabyte M27Q-P features an IPS panel with a wide 98% DCI-P3 (135% sRGB) color gamut coverage for vibrant and rich colors.

Here’s the kicker: it’s also one of the fastest 1440p IPS displays with a rapid 1ms GtG response time speed, meaning that you won’t get any prominent ghosting or motion blur in fast-paced games.

Overall, the Gigabyte M27Q-P offers the perfect balance between image quality and performance. You get gorgeous colors, sharp details, a fast response time speed and a high refresh rate.

Features

Besides AMD FreeSync with stable G-SYNC Compatible performance and a VRR range of 48-170Hz, the Gigabyte M27Q-P monitor offers plenty of additional features, including Black Equalizer, Color Vibrance, crosshair overlays and various picture presets.

MBR is supported as well via Gigabyte’s Aim Stabilizer Sync which can even operate at the same time as VRR.

It also has an integrated KVM switch and supports Picture in Picture and Picture by Picture.

Be sure to check out our full Gigabyte M27Q-P review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports (max 144Hz), USB-C (DP 1.4 Alt Mode, 18W PD), a dual-USB 3.0 hub, two 3W built-in speakers and a headphone jack.

The stand of the monitor offers height adjustment up to 130mm height adjustment, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Alternatives

You can find similar 27″ 1440p high refresh rate IPS gaming monitors at a lower price, such as the HP X27q and the Acer XV272UV, but they’re not quite as good.

It’s not worth spending over $400 on a 27″ 1440p 165Hz IPS gaming monitor because you can get the Gigabyte M27Q-X with 240Hz for $450. However, if the M27Q-P is not available and you want a more premium model than the XV272UV and X27q, check out the LG 27GP850 and 27GP83B.

About The Monitor

Want a big 32″ gaming monitor?

The Gigabyte M32Q offers exceptional value for the money. Its price ranges from $400 to $500, but it’s the cheapest 32″ 1440p 144Hz IPS monitor you can find, so we highly recommend investing in it.

Image Quality

Now, because the 2560×1440 resolution is displayed on a larger screen, in this case, you won’t get as sharp details as you would on a 27″ 1440p monitor.

However, you get a bigger screen, which can make the gaming experience more immersive for some users. 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 1,000:1 contrast ratio, a 350-nit peak brightness (400-nits for HDR Content) and a wide 94% DCI-P3 color gamut (with an sRGB emulation mode provided).

Features

While you can find many 32″ 1440p 144Hz VA monitors below $400, we highly recommend the Gigabyte M32Q instead.

Its 1ms GtG pixel response time speed will ensure you get no visible smearing in fast-paced games. Further, you get stable FreeSync/G-SYNC performance, whereas VRR brightness flickering is common for the VA models.

The Gigabyte M32Q also offers plenty of useful features, including Aim Stabilizer Sync (allows for simultaneous VRR and MBR operation up to 170Hz), various picture presets, Black Equalizer and crosshair overlays.

Design & Connectivity

The Gigabyte M32Q has a sturdy stand with up to 130mm height adjustment, +/- 30° swivel, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

At the back of the monitor, you will find two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, a headphone jack, a quad-USB 3.0 hub, USB-C (DP 1.2 Alt Mode) and a built-in KVM switch.

Alternatives

If you’re not sensitive to ghosting and screen tearing and would rather have a higher contrast ratio, check out the Gigabyte M32QC (curved) and the LG 32GN650 (flat-screen) with VA panels.

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.

About The Monitor

The Sceptre E345B is the best value money ultrawide monitor under $400 as it offers both a high resolution and a fast refresh rate.

Image Quality

3440×1440 resolution hits the pixel density sweet spot on the 34″ screen of the Sceptre E345B monitor.

What does this mean for you?

With roughly 110 pixels per inch, you get plenty of screen space as well as sharp and clear details, without any scaling necessary (roughly the same PPI as 1440p on 27″ monitors).

Further, the monitor has accurate and vivid colors covering the entire sRGB color space, as well as 178° wide viewing angles, decent 300-nit peak brightness and a quick pixel response time speed for no prominent ghosting in fast-paced games.

Features

Moving on, the monitor supports AMD FreeSync with a 48-144Hz VRR range, and it works with compatible NVIDIA cards without any brightness flickering or similar visual artifacts.

Other features include Picture in Picture/Picture by Picture, various picture presets and Motion Blur Reduction.

Design & Connectivity

The Sceptre E345B has a height-adjustable stand (up to 130mm). You can also tilt the screen by -5°/15°, swivel by +/- 30° or VESA mount it via the 100x100mm VESA pattern.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports (max 100Hz), two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, a headphone jack and two 3W speakers.

Alternatives

For ~$50 extra, you can find the Gigabyte M34WQ or the HP X34 models with a wider color gamut and higher peak brightness.

If you’re looking for a curved 1440p IPS ultrawide monitor, the cheapest model goes for $800, such as the LG 34GP83A.

About The Monitor

The Gigabyte G34WQC-A is a 34″ 3440×1440 144Hz ultrawide curved gaming monitor with a VA panel, which has both its advantages and disadvantages in comparison to IPS technology.

Image Quality

To start with, the G34WQC-A has a slower pixel response time speed than the above-mentioned IPS variants, which results in noticeable ghosting behind fast-moving objects, especially in darker scenes.

However, if you’re not sensitive to this, you’ll be able to enjoy its high 3,000:1 contrast ratio for notably deeper blacks as well as a wider 90% DCI-P3 gamut coverage for more vibrant colors.

Another issue with these high refresh rate VA monitors is the VRR brightness flickering; when using VRR in games with fluctuating frame rates or when hovering around the LFC threshold (~48FPS, in in-game menus, loading screens), you might be able slight oscillations in brightness.

This doesn’t affect every unit of the monitor and varies from game to game, so you can simply disable VRR in games where it’s present, as long as you can tolerate screen tearing, which is a lot less noticeable at 144Hz in comparison to 60Hz/75Hz.

Overall, the Gigabyte G34WQCA offers a more immersive viewing experience if you don’t mind a bit of ghosting and tearing, whereas the Sceptre E345B and the Gigabyte M34WQ (if you can find it on sale for ~$400) offer more stable performance, but not as good image quality due to the lower contrast and flat screen.

The G34WQCA also offers plenty of useful features, including Black Equalizer, Color Vibrance, various picture presets, PiP/PbP, Aim Stabilizer (backlight strobing), crosshair overlays, on-screen timers, Dashboard and more.

Check out our full Gigabyte G34WQ-A review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers height adjustment up to 100mm, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two DP 1.4 inputs, two HDMI 2.0 ports (max 100Hz), a headphone jack and dual 2W built-in speakers.

Alternatives

The Gigabyte G34WQCA is only available for under $400 when on sale, but it’s on sale more often than not. In case it’s not available, check out the AOC CU34G2X, the LG 34GP63A, the Pixio PXC348C and the Lenovo G34W-10 as alternatives.

About The Monitor

The MSI MAG301RF is another excellent flat-screen IPS ultrawide gaming monitor under $400!

Image Quality

The MAG301RF is a lot faster than the Sceptre E345B, making it more suitable for competitive fast-paced games.

With a maximum refresh rate of 200Hz and a rapid 1ms GtG pixel response time speed, the monitor delivers an incredibly responsive gaming experience!

You will just have to make sure that your favorite competitive titles support the ultrawide format. Some games, such as Valorant, Overwatch, StarCraft and Diablo 2 Resurrected do not.

This 30″ ultrawide monitor is as tall as a regular ~24″ screen just ~33% wider, so at a normal viewing distance, you will be able to see the whole screen at once, without having to move your eyes or next to the sides of the monitor.

Further, the 2560×1080 resolution looks sharp on its 30″ screen size with 94 pixels per inch and it’s not very demanding on your CPU/GPU, allowing you to reach high FPS.

Other panel-related specifications are standard and include 178° wide viewing angles, a 300-nit peak brightness, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and full sRGB color gamut coverage.

Features

AMD FreeSync is supported with certified G-SYNC Compatibility for tear-free gameplay all the way up to 200FPS!

Other features include Night Vision, crosshair overlays, various picture presets, Mystic Light RGB LED at the rear of the monitor and MPRT backlight strobing technology.

Design & Connectivity

The stand is robust and offers a good range of ergonomics, including up to 130mm height adjustment, -5°/20° tilt, +/- 45° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, a headphone jack and a dual-USB 2.0 hub.

Best 4K Gaming Monitors

Here, you will find the most affordable 4K UHD monitors. For a more thorough selection, visit our best 4K monitors and best 4K 144Hz monitors 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 with decent picture settings.

About The Monitor

If you want a 4K gaming monitor with an IPS panel, the ASUS VG289Q is the best option in this price range.

Image Quality

This 28″ monitor provides striking detail clarity and sharpness thanks to its rich pixel density of 157 PPI.

As if that’s not enough, it supports 10-bit color depth (8-bit + 2-bit FRC) and a wide 90% DCI-P3 color gamut for vibrant and consistent colors. For more accurate color output, you can simply use the provided sRGB emulation mode.

As a result, its stunning colors, in addition to 4K UHD resolution, make this monitor great for content creation and consumption, including color-critical work, watching movies, gaming and other multimedia purposes.

Features

It supports AMD FreeSync over both HDMI and DisplayPort with a 40-60Hz VRR range, so it’s great for both PC and console gaming.

Additionally, VRR works with compatible NVIDIA cards without issues, but your mileage may vary here as the monitor is not certified by NVIDIA as ‘G-SYNC Compatible.’

Other features include Shadow Boost (alters the gamma curvature for better visibility of objects in shadows), customizable crosshairs, pre-calibrated picture presets and on-screen timers.

HDR is supported as well, but with a peak brightness of 350-nits, it doesn’t qualify for VESA’s entry-level HDR support.

Regardless, thanks to its wide color gamut, colors will look a bit better on some HDR content, which is actually more than what certain VESA HDR400-certified displays offer!

Design & Connectivity

You can adjust the height of the screen by up to 150mm, pivot the screen by 90°, tilt by -5°/20°, swivel by -/+ 62°  and VESA mount it (100x100mm).

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

The monitor also supports HDCP 2.2, so you’ll be able to watch copy-protected content in native 4K UHD resolution on streaming services such as Netflix.

About The Monitor

Nowadays, you can even get a 32″ 4K monitor with a VA panel under 400 USD.

Image Quality

The LG 32UL500 features a VA panel with a 3,000:1 static contrast ratio and a 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 vibrant colors and vivid black shades.

But it’s not all good news: 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

The monitor also supports HDR, and even though it has no local dimming, its wide color gamut and high contrast ratio provide a notable boost in image quality for HDR content.

AMD FreeSync is supported over both HDMI and DP with a 40-60Hz dynamic range, though some units might have flickering issues with VRR enabled. Check out our LG 32UL500 review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the LG 32UL500 monitor is tilt-only, but the screen is VESA mount compatible. Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, a headphone jack and dual 5W integrated speakers.

Alternatives

• BenQ EW3270U – Based on the same panel with a bit better-tuned response time overdrive, but it can be a lot more expensive
• LG 32UN650 – A 32″ 4K monitor with an IPS panel, but it goes for ~$450 – $500

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 Sceptre E345B-QUT168 offers the best value/money under $400 if you’re looking for a good mix between immersion and responsiveness, while the MSI MAG301RF is better if you mainly want to focus on competitive gaming (and the games you play support the ultrawide format).

If you don’t want an ultrawide or VA-panel display, the Gigabyte M27Q-P and the Gigabyte M32Q are for you.

If you’re a competitive gamer, the ViewSonic XG2431 and the Acer XV252QF offer the best performance, depending on your personal preference and PC rig.

Finally, in case 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.