The Best Gaming Monitors Under 500 USD (2024 Reviews)

For under $500, you can get one of the best displays for competitive eSports gaming, an excellent ultrawide monitor, a 32″ 4K 144Hz or 1440p 240Hz display, and even a proper HDR screen if you catch it on sale.

Deciding which one is the best for you depends on what type of games you mostly play as well as on your PC configuration.

In this guide, we’ll help you decide which is the best gaming monitor under 500 USD for you!

All of the gaming monitors in this guide can be purchased for between $400 and $500. Depending on your budget, you may want to visit our other gaming monitor buyer’s guides.

Now, in order to ensure you’re getting the perfect monitor for your needs and preference, stick to our guidelines and tips in the monitor reviews below.

Additionally, you can visit our comprehensive gaming monitor buyer’s guide, where you can learn more about what’s the best panel type, refresh rate, screen size and resolution for you, as well as what other features you should look out for.

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 Monitors Under $500

You can find great 240Hz gaming monitors for around $250 – $350, but if you’re really serious about competitive gaming, the following displays are worth the extra cost.

About the Monitor

The Acer Nitro XV252QF can be found for ~$350 yet it’s better than the $500+ G-SYNC models thanks to its excellent backlight strobing implementation and 390Hz OC.

Image Quality

The monitor is based on an IPS panel, which means that you’ll get 178° wide viewing angles that prevent image quality degradation when viewed at an angle.

Further, you get accurate and consistent colors covering the standard sRGB color space in its entirety.

It has a strong peak brightness of 400-nits, so it can get more than bright enough even in well-lit rooms, while the contrast ratio is 1,000:1 as expected from IPS technology.

Another thing to keep in mind about IPS monitors is IPS glow, which is the expected drawback of this panel type.

Finally, the IPS panel of the XV252QF boasts a rapid pixel response time speed, which ensures that there’s no prominent trailing behind fast-moving objects, allowing you to focus on your targets without distractions.

Features

Moving on, AMD’s FreeSync technology allows you to synchronize the monitor’s refresh rate to your GPU’s frame rate, which will eliminate screen tearing and stuttering up to 360Hz/FPS (Frames Per Second) – or up to 390Hz/FPS if overclocked.

Alternatively, you can use the Visual Response Boost (VRB) technology, which uses backlight strobing to reduce perceived motion blur at the cost of image brightness.

Besides the overclockable refresh rate, another advantage the XV252QF has over the more expensive 360Hz G-SYNC variants is that its backlight strobing implementation can operate up to 390Hz, whereas the other models are limited to 240Hz.

Other useful gaming features include Black Boost for better visibility in darker games, customizable crosshairs, and pre-calibrated picture presets.

Design & Connectivity

The Acer XV252QF monitor has a robust and versatile design with full ergonomic support including up to 120mm height adjustment, -5°/25° tilt, +/- 180° swivel, 90° pivot and VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a headphone jack and two basic built-in speakers.

Alternatives

• Acer Aopen 25XV2QF – the same monitor, but with different branding (Micro Center exclusive)
• Dell Alienware AW2523HF – a cheaper 25″ 1080p 360Hz 1ms IPS gaming monitor, but no MBR support

About the Monitor

The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X has a lower 240Hz refresh rate than the Acer XV252QF, but there are several reasons why it’s worth considering too!

Image Quality

To start with, the XL2546X uses a TN panel. Now, this means that it has narrower viewing angles that cause the image to shift in gamma and saturation at skewed angles, but as long as you’re sitting directly in front of the display, it won’t be an issue.

The main advantage is that this TN panel has a faster pixel response time speed, so while the XV252QF might have minor trailing artifacts behind fast-moving objects, the XL2546X has absolutely none!

In addition, its DyAc 2 implementation works all the way up to 240Hz and it’s perfectly tuned to have no strobe crosstalk or brightness penalty, allowing you to maintain stunning CRT-like motion clarity at full 320-nits.

So, if you cannot achieve over 240FPS in your games, the XL2546X will actually provide you with smoother clarity than the XV252QF.

BenQ also boasts plenty of Zowie-exclusive features, such as XL Setting To Share (apply game-specified settings created by professional players), Black eQualizer and Color Vibrance.

Design & Connectivity

The stand is designed with professional gaming in mind as it doesn’t take up a lot of desk space yet it’s sturdy and allows you to place your keyboard close to the screen.

You also get extensive ergonomic support with up to 155mm height adjustment (with precise positioning), -5°/35° tilt, +/- 45° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Along with the monitor, you also get the S. Switch device for quick and remote OSD-related tweaks and shading flaps to minimize distractions.

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

Alternatives

• BenQ XL2566K – 24.5″ 1080p 360Hz fast TN panel with DyAc+, though it goes for $550

Overall, we find that most FPS gamers will be completely satisfied with the Acer XV252QF thanks to its decent response times and IPS panel with vibrant colors and wide viewing angles.

If you’re an aspiring professional player or particularly competitive, the XL2566K and XL2546X will suit you better in this price range – they don’t have as good image quality, but they have faster response time and better MBR implementation.

Best 1440p Gaming Monitor Under $500

The combination of 1440p resolution and 144Hz+ refresh rate is the favorite among most gamers. Here, you’ll find the best models available under $500.

About the Monitor

If you want a 1440p high refresh rate IPS gaming monitor with a 32″ sized screen, check out the Gigabyte Aorus FI32Q-X!

Image Quality

1440p resolution won’t look quite as crisp on the 31.5″ viewable screen of the Gigabyte Aorus FI32Q-X (93 PPI) as it does on 27″ monitors (108 PPI).

In fact, you get the same detail clarity as you would with a 24″ 1080p monitor, just a much bigger screen and more screen space due to the higher 1440p resolution.

A lot of people, especially FPS gamers, also find 32″ monitors to be too big as they have to move their head/eyes more, putting them at a competitive disadvantage.

However, the image still looks quite crisp and since you’ll be sitting a bit further away from a 32″ screen (in comparison to 24″), individual pixels won’t be noticeable and you’ll get a more immersive gaming experience.

The monitor has an exceptional 99% Adobe RGB gamut (~150% sRGB) with a provided sRGB emulation mode; the contrast ratio is 1,000:1 as expected from IPS technology, while the peak brightness is very good at 400-nits for SDR content and 600-nits for HDR.

Finally, it boasts a fast 1ms GtG pixel response time speed that eliminates visible trailing behind fast-moving objects.

The Aorus FI32Q-X supports VRR up to 270Hz for tear-free gameplay and Gigabyte’s Aim Stabilizer-Sync technology allows you to use VRR and MBR at the same time!

Other features include custom crosshair overlays, on-screen timers, a refresh rate tracker, Color Vibrance and Black Equalizer.

Design & Connectivity

The Gigabyte Aorus FI32Q-X has a sturdy stand with up to 130mm height adjustment, +/- 20° swivel, -5°/21° tilt, 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

At the back of the monitor, you will find two HDMI 2.1 ports with 24 Gbps and DSC, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 18W PD, a dual-USB 3.0 hub, built-in KVM, a headphone jack (with ESS Sabre HiFi support), a microphone jack with active noise canceling and an audio line-out port.

Best UltraWide Gaming Monitor

Ultrawide monitors allow you to experience compatible games on another level by increasing your field of view for extra immersion!

About the Monitor

The Acer XR343CKP is the only 34″ 3440×1440 high refresh rate curved IPS gaming monitor available for under $500 – luckily, it offers excellent image quality, smooth performance and plenty of useful features.

Image Quality

To start with, the IPS panel of the monitor ensures accurate and rich colors with 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, while the contrast ratio sits at ~1,000:1 as expected.

Additionally, the Acer XR343CKP is a great gaming monitor with a fast pixel response time speed for minimal ghosting in fast-paced games.

While not officially certified by NVIDIA as G-SYNC Compatible, VRR works well with both Radeon and GeForce graphics cards up to 180FPS.

The monitor also supports backlight strobing (VRB) and offers gaming features such as Black Boost, custom crosshair overlays, and a refresh rate tracker.

Visit our Acer XR343CKP review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers height adjustment up to 130mm, tilt by -5°/35°, +/- 30° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility. The screen has a moderate 1900R curvature for added immersion.

Connectivity options include two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, two HDMI 2.0 ports (max 100Hz), USB-C (DP 1.4 Alt Mode, 85W PD), a headphone jack, a quad-USB 3.0 hub and dual 7W integrated speakers.

Alternatives

In case it’s not available, check out the LG 34GN850 / 34GP83A based on the same panel, but without USB-C and KVM.

Best 4K Gaming Monitor

While you can regularly find 27″ 4K high refresh rate gaming monitors for under $400, the 32″ models can only be found under $500 when they’re on sale.

About the Monitor

The MSI MAG 322UPF is an excellent 32″ 4K 144Hz IPS gaming monitor with quick response time and a wide color gamut!

Image Quality

Based on a fast IPS panel with 95% DCI-P3 gamut coverage (sRGB mode available too), the MSI MAG 322UPF offers a smooth gaming experience with accurate and vibrant colors, while the high pixel density of 140 PPI ensures crisp details.

Other specifications include a strong 400-nit peak brightness and a standard IPS-like contrast ratio of 1,000:1. It also supports HDR10.

Additionally, it supports VRR and MPRT-Sync up to 160FPS for tear-free gameplay and offers additional features, including PiP/PbP support, Night Vision, a refresh rate tracker and crosshair overlays.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor offers height adjustment up to 100mm, tilt by -5°/20°, +/-45° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 90W PD, a USB 3.0 hub (one upstream and three downstream ports) and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

• MSI MAG 323UPF – similar model with DisplayHDR 600, usually a bit over $500
• LG 32GR93U – LG’s model with similar specs, can sometimes be found on sale for $500. It doesn’t have USB-C or KVM though.

Overall, unless you can find the 323UPF at a lower or same price as the 322UPF, we recommend going with the 323UPF model since the DisplayHDR 600 support of the 323UPF model isn’t proper HDR anyway.

You can also find a 32″ 4K 160Hz gaming monitor with a curved VA panel for under $500 (or under $400 if on sale), the MSI MAG 321CUP. While it offers a higher contrast ratio for deeper blacks, it suffers from slow response time and VRR brightness flickering. It also doesn’t have as wide viewing angles. So, if you don’t mind these drawbacks, it’s worth considering.

Best HDR Gaming Monitors

Here, you’ll find the best HDR models. Note that they’re only available for under $500 when they’re on sale.

About the Monitor

The Innocn 27M2V can often be found on sale for $480, down from its regular $750 price. For Amazon Prime members, it regularly goes for $500.

Image Quality

For proper HDR support, you will need a monitor with either an OLED panel or a full-array local dimming solution with hundreds of thousands of dimming zones.

The Innocn 27M2V has 1152 dimming zones and a stellar 1200-nit peak brightness, which allows it to simultaneously produce deep blacks and vivid highlights for a true HDR viewing experience.

In addition, the monitor has an exceptional 99% Adobe RGB and 99% DCI-P3 gamut coverage for vibrant colors with dedicated modes for each color space, while the 4K UHD resolution ensures stunning detail clarity with 163 PPI.

You also get a fast 1ms GtG pixel response time speed and smooth VRR performance up to 144FPS. Other features include PiP/PbP support, crosshair overlays, a refresh rate tracker and Shadow Balance.

Check out our full Innocn 27M2V review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

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

Connectivity options are abundant and include two HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 1.4 with DSC, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 90W Power Delivery (65W in HDR), dual 5W built-in speakers, integrated KVM functionality, a headphone jack and a dual-USB 3.0 hub.

Alternatives

If you’re looking for a cheaper mini LED display, check out the AOC Q27G3XMN with a 27″ 1440p 180Hz 336-zone VA panel or the Xiaomi G Pro 27i with a 27″ 1440p 180Hz 1152-zone IPS panel.

About the Monitor

Nowadays, you can even find an OLED gaming display for under $500 on sale, the MSI MAG 271QPX E2!

Image Quality

Unlike LED-backlit panels, OLED displays produce their own light with each individual pixel. This means that they can simply turn off and deliver true blacks with an infinite contrast ratio and no FALD blooming, glowing, bleeding or other visual artifacts!

Further, they have instantaneous pixel response time speed, which is perfect for fast-paced games as there’s zero ghosting behind fast-moving objects.

The MSI MAG 271QPX E2 also has a high 240Hz refresh rate, smooth VRR performance and plenty of useful features, such as crosshair overlays, Night Vision, on-screen timers, etc.

The main downside of OLED displays is the risk of burn-in. If an image with bright static elements remains on the screen for too long, those bright elements may burn in and become permanently visible as an afterimage.

However, MSI offers plenty of burn-in prevention features (Pixel Shift, Panel and Pixel Refresh, Screen Saver, etc.), so as long as you’re using the monitor sensibly, it shouldn’t be an issue. There’s even a 3-year warranty that covers burn-in.

Another downside is that the brightness is not as high as that of mini LED displays with 250-nits peak for 100% APL (Average Picture Level, white window test size) and in HDR, up to 450-nits for 10% and 1000-nits for < 3% APL.

Regardless, this is enough for an eye-catching HDR viewing experience with punchy highlights, true blacks and vibrant colors thanks to the 99.3% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and true 10-bit color depth. Viewing angles are also impeccable.

Check out our review of the MSI MPG 271QPX, which is the more expensive 360Hz version of this monitor.

Design & Connectivity

The MSI MAG 271QPX E2 has a sturdy stand with up to 110mm height adjustment, +/- 90° pivot, +/- 30° swivel, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Like most QD-OLED monitors, it has a semi-glossy coating that makes the image more vivid, but it’s also more reflective and causes raised blacks under direct lighting, so you have to mind the lighting in your room.

Connectivity options include DP 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 ports, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 15W PD, and a headphone jack.

Alternatives

The only other OLED gaming monitor that goes on sale for $500 is the AOC AG276QZD2, but it doesn’t have as good HDR image quality as it’s under-saturated.

About the Monitor

If you want an ultrawide display with proper HDR support, the Innocn 34M1R is the only mini LED model available for under $500. OLED alternatives start at around $650 with the Dell AW3423DWF.

Image Quality

The Innocn 34M1R has a 34″ 3440×1440 165Hz curved VA panel with a high 3,000:1 native contrast ratio, a stellar 1000-nit peak brightness and exceptional 99% DCI-P3 / Adobe RGB color gamut coverage.

Further, it boasts a 2304-zone mini LED FALD backlight for an immersive HDR viewing experience with deep blacks and bright highlights, and minimum blooming.

It’s also factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2 and has plenty of useful features, including PiP/PbP support.

Sadly, as it’s the case with all VA monitors, there’s VRR brightness flickering in some games. Additionally, while it has a decent pixel response time speed for a VA panel, there’s some noticeable ghosting in darker scenes – some users might be able to tolerate this, but some might find it repulsive.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers a good range of ergonomics with up to 120mm height adjustment, -5°/20° tilt, +/- 25° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

The screen has a light matte anti-glare coating and a 1500R curvature for added immersion.

Connectivity options include USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 90W PD, DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a dual-USB 3.0 hub, integrated speakers (the soundbar below the bottom bezel) and a headphone jack.

Conclusion

Still not sure what monitor to get?

Leave us a comment below, and we’ll gladly help you out.

Overall, we find that the MSI MAG 271QPX E2 offers the best value for the money if you can find it on sale for $500 and want a proper HDR display. If you’re too worried about burn-in and want a brighter display with a matte anti-glare coating, the Innocn 27M2V is for you.

As for the other displays, it mainly comes down to your preference.

For competitive gaming, the Acer XV252QF and the BenQ XL2546X are both excellent. Choose according to the games you play and what frame rate you can maintain.

If you want a 32″ display, the choice between the Gigabyte FI32Q-X and the MSI MAG 323UPF comes down to whether you want a higher refresh rate or higher resolution.

Finally, the Acer XR343CKP is an excellent ultrawide display, though if you’d rather have proper HDR support and don’t mind screen tearing and some ghosting, the Innocn 34M1R is a better option.