Building a gaming PC is expensive, right? But is it possible to purchase a gaming monitor for under $200 that will cover all your expectations?
Weâve spent hours researching and testing monitors you can currently purchase for under $200. But are they worthy of gaming? We made a list of the 8 best gaming monitors available right now that will make your eyes smile and wonât make your bank balance frown.
All of these monitors offer great specs and features without the hefty price tag. As we know, everyone has their preferences; thatâs why weâve created this review.
These are the Best Gaming Monitors Under $200 that have made it to our list, so let’s go through them and find out why…
Contents
- 1 Best Gaming Monitors Under $200 Reviews
- 1.1 1 Acer XFA240 – Easiest to use Best Gaming Monitor Under $200
- 1.2 2 BenQ GL2780 – Best Value for the Money Gaming Monitor Under $200
- 1.3 3 Samsung LC24F396FHNXZA – Best Small Curved Gaming Monitor Under $200
- 1.4 4 Sceptre E225W-19203R – Best Budget Gaming Monitor Under $200
- 1.5 5 AOC G2590FX – Best Premium Gaming Monitor Under $200
- 1.6 6 Samsung LC27F398FWNXZA – Best Curved Gaming Monitor Under $200
- 1.7 7 ViewSonic XG2401 – Most Adjustable Gaming Monitor Under $200
- 1.8 8 Acer ED242QR – Best Value for the Money Gaming Monitor Under $200
- 2 Best Gaming Monitors Under $200 Buyers Guide
- 3 So, what are the Best Gaming Monitors Under $200?
Best Gaming Monitors Under $200 Reviews
1
Acer XFA240 – Easiest to use Best Gaming Monitor Under $200
The Acer XFA240 straight away impresses you with its build quality, and hereâs why. Even though light in weight, thereâs a feeling of strength and sturdiness. The style maintains a simplistic approach. And the red ring around the base lets you know that this isnât a regular office monitor.
Using W-LED technology assists in providing a vibrant and color-accurate display. The standard settings out of the box are some of the best weâve seen. Having a 144hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time ensures that even the most demanding gamer will be impressed.
Handles FPS’s with ease…
Being a 24-inch display, the FHD 1920 x 1080p resolution is adequate. With this screen size, you wonât miss 4K.
Capable of providing 144fps, this means even the most demanding FPS is handled with ease. The connection options include a DisplayPort, an HDMI 1.4, and a DVI; however, it lacks USB port.
Take control…
The control buttons are easily identified and accessible, being placed at the bottom right of the display instead of being hidden away. Plus, an internal power supply means no bulky power cords messing up your nice, neat desk.
This is a great monitor for plug and play. Limited connection options may be a deal breaker for some. However, if youâre simply looking for a gaming monitor that provides great results without having to fiddle around, this might be for you.
Pros
- 144hz and 1ms response time.
- Vibrant and accurate colors.
- Ready to go out of the box.
Cons
- Limited connection options.
- 24-inch screen may be small for some.
2
BenQ GL2780 – Best Value for the Money Gaming Monitor Under $200
Another worthy contender for your gaming machine is this monitor from BenQ. While it may appear like your average office screen, itâs whatâs under the hood thatâs sure to impress.
The BenQ GL2780 represents great value. And being compatible with consoles, this piece of kit isnât restricted to just PCs. Also, as it is one of the larger screen sizes in this review at 27 inches and boasting a 1ms GTG response rate, these specs are sure to impress any gamer.
But thereâs a catch…
The panel uses older TN technology. This means if youâre not sitting directly in front, the colors can shift. However, high brightness and contrast make up for this. Having a 60/75Hz refresh rate with FHD 1920 x 1080p resolution means images can appear slightly pixelated. However, the picture quality is still impressive.
This monitor uses clever auto-brightness and blue light reduction technology, which is usually reserved for higher-end TV panels.
Superb color…
The color performance rates well. Delta E is used to measure the difference between the colors displayed and the colors in real life. Any result of two or below is very good, and the BenQ scores a very impressive 0.99.
The power adapter is housed within the monitor. There is also a handy cable tidy built into the stand. This helps keep everything clean and organized.
Older tech, but still impressive…
Despite the TN panel and slightly lower fps capability, the image on this monitor is impressive. Add that to the massive 27 inches, and we have a strong competitor.
Pros
- Massive 27-inch display.
- Accurate colors.
- Clever auto-brightness.
Cons
- Older TN technology.
- Lower fps than competitors.
- 1ms GTG response rate.
3
Samsung LC24F396FHNXZA – Best Small Curved Gaming Monitor Under $200
An affordable curved monitor from Samsung. If you want a more immersive gaming experience, this might be what youâre looking for.
Itâs hard to argue against the picture quality weâve all come to expect and love from Samsung. Their images seem to have a vibrance that competitors struggle to match.
Immersive but a little small in sizeâŠ
With 1800R screen curvature, this will make your experience more immersive. However, having 23.5 inches of viewing area makes the immersion only slightly enhanced.
This is not the only reason for choosing this monitor. Samsung uses VA (vertical alignment) instead of an IPS or TN panel.
Why does this matter?
This gives you an impressive contrast ratio of 3,000:1, with most competitors having a 1,000:1 contrast ratio. This means blacker and more vivid blacks. It also enables a viewing angle of 178 degrees, which prevents changes in color, contrast, and brightness.
Utilizing a FHD 1920 x 1080p resolution with this screen size is more than satisfactory. Offering a pixel density of 93 PPI (pixels per inch), this ensures clear, sharp details.
But, thereâs a catchâŠ
This monitor has true 8-bit color depth, and sure the images are vibrant. But if color accuracy is your thing, you may want to consider different options, such as the BenQ GL2780 we just reviewed.
The response time of 4ms is acceptable but can have some slight issues. Some minor smearing was evident with darker pixels.
Boasting an aesthetically pleasing slim design, itâs not just the screen thatâs a joy to look at. However, the screen only allows you to adjust its tilt, but you can use your own stand as the monitor uses the VESA pattern.
Pros
- High 3,000:1 contrast.
- Curved screen and slim design.
- Wide viewing angles.
Cons
- 4ms response time.
- 48-72fps refresh rate.
- Limited monitor maneuverability.
4
Sceptre E225W-19203R – Best Budget Gaming Monitor Under $200
This monitor boasts some impressive specs and features for the budget-conscious gamer. Well designed with built-in speakers, here are the reasons the Sceptre made our list…
Being one of the smaller monitors in our line-up at only 22 inches isnât an issue. After all, itâs not the size; itâs how you use it, right? With itâs sleek, metallic design, narrow bezels, and easy to access ports, this screen can give those who don’t want to spend a fortune everything they need.
Sharp and crispâŠ
Utilizing FHD 1920 x 1080p resolution looks impressive on a 22-inch screen. This provides a crisp, sharp image that can take on more expensive rivals.
Being a budget gaming monitor, Sceptre still manages to offer a 5ms response time and up to 75hz refresh rate. These are both specs that you donât often find at this level.
Plenty of connections…
Connectivity is covered with two HDMI ports and a VGA port along with a 3.5mm input and output jack for audio. Plus, VESA is supported, which may be necessary as the monitor does not allow for height, pivot, or swivel adjustment.
The on-screen menu system offers lots of picture settings. It does lack the six color adjustments found in higher-end monitors, though. However, we found the standard setting gives the best picture quality anyway.
A superb affordable option for those who are tight on space…
By offering all these features packed into a small, slim design means a clear, sharp display. If the smaller screen size isnât an issue for you, then seriously consider this gaming monitor.
Pros
- Value for money.
- Attractive metallic design.
- Impressive performance.
Cons
- Limited monitor adjustments.
- Small screen size.
- Slightly lower specs.
5
AOC G2590FX – Best Premium Gaming Monitor Under $200
At the higher end of the price range in our review, we find this excellent monitor from AOC. But you know what they say. âYou get what you pay for,â and this is a great example of that.
Starting with an eye-catching ultra-thin bezel design. The striking yet understated red accents also appeal to gamers.
But we havenât even talked specs yet…
At 24.5 inches of screen real estate, the size hits that sweet spot for the resolution of FHD 1920x1080p. And this monitor offers three customizable gaming profiles in the menu system. This is handy for those who like to play a variety of genres.
With a refresh rate of 144hz and a rapid 1ms response rate, this should satisfy all your gaming demands. These impressive refresh and response rates, this will reduce delays to unnoticeable levels. This also comes in handy for FPS and racing games as there is minimal motion blur or ghosting on fast moving objects.
Visible and vibrant…
Other gaming features include the ability to adjust gamma and color saturation. This allows you to make certain items in games more visible or vibrant.
Even competitive gamers will be pleased to know that it is possible to use four Overdrive options for the response time speeds: Off, weak, medium, and strong. It is also equipped with LFC (Low Framerate Compensation). This works by multiplying your fps if it drops below 30.
Pros
- Rich in useful gamer features.
- Ultra thin bezels.
- Fantastic refresh/response rates.
Cons
- TN Panel narrows viewing angles.
- Tilt only stand.
- Higher price than others on our list.
6
Samsung LC27F398FWNXZA – Best Curved Gaming Monitor Under $200
Not surprisingly, another gaming monitor from Samsungâs lineup has made it into our Best Gaming Monitors Under $200 review. This is also a curved display, but this time with a 27-inch display size. The reason we enjoy a curved display is that it gives a more realistic gameplay perspective. Having to action wrap around you adds an extra level of excitement.
Impressive specsâŠ
This is another Samsung VA panel with FHD 1920 x 1080p resolution. With 60hz refresh and 4ms response rates, it has respectable figures.
Once again, there is that impressive contrast ratio of 3,000:1 giving deep blacks and bright whites. Samsung really knows how to make their screens vibrant.
But thereâs a catchâŠ
Having lower fps and higher response rates than some of the other monitors can create some blurring in fast paced games. If you are more of a casual gamer and also enjoy watching movies, then this would hardly be noticeable.
The monitor also lacks in-built speakers. Although handy, not a huge loss though, as if youâre serious about gaming, in-built speakers usually just wonât cut it anyway.
Remove ghosting…
Samsung has added some features to assist with fast paced games and action movies. Such as a three-stage response time setting that can be useful in clearing ghosting and smudging.
By making some slight adjustments with the on-screen display, we were able to achieve a Delta E of 0.8, which is the kind of figure usually reserved for prosumer displays.
Pros
- Immersive experience.
- Vibrant, bright display.
- Stylish design.
Cons
- Just about acceptable for fast paced games.
- No height adjustment.
- No inbuilt speakers.
7
ViewSonic XG2401 – Most Adjustable Gaming Monitor Under $200
Another gaming monitor that lets you know what it is because of its red bits. Red goes faster, you know? With a 24-inch screen size, again that sweet spot for the FHD 1920 x 1080p resolution.
The ViewSonic is a TN panel and, as a result, can suffer from changes to colors and brightness when viewed from angles other than straight on. Donât let that put you off, though. There is more to this monitor.
Easy to position…
With impressive 144hz refresh and 1ms response rates, this all but eliminates those blurring and ghosting issues seen on other monitors.
You can also maneuver this monitor in more ways than any other we looked at here. Height, tilt, and rotation are all on offer. The rotation using a âlazy susanâ type system. You can also turn the screen to landscape orientation.
Connect awayâŠ
Thereâs also a good variety of connectivity options, including DisplayPort, two HDMI, and a USB 3.0 hub with two ports. Thereâs also a 3.5mm headphone jack. All the ports are on the rear of the monitor.
An impressive 355 nits of brightness means you can continue gaming even on those sunny days. Who wants to go outside anyway, right?
Pros
- Fantastic response time.
- Screen Maneuverability.
- 144hz at 1080p.
Cons
- Underwhelming design.
- Limited viewing angles.
8
Acer ED242QR – Best Value for the Money Gaming Monitor Under $200
Here is a gaming monitor that has a strong list of features. This Acer 24 inch curved screen with FHD 1920 x 1080p resolution covers most items on any gamers checklist.
To ensure you can enjoy important features, clever savings have been made in areas of less importance. For example, there is only a tilt function on the screen. And the monitor is powered by an external power brick.
Bright and smooth…
By making these cuts, you gain fantastic specs such as 144hz refresh and 4ms response rates. Pair this with a contrast ratio of 3,000:1, and suddenly your games are looking smooth and bright.
The other advantage is that this is a VA rather than a TN panel. This means color, contrast, and brightness is maintained through a wider range of viewing angles.
But thereâs a catchâŠ
Connection options are limited. You get your standard DisplayPort, HDMI, and DVI plus a 3.5mm audio jack. However, you are missing any USB or old school VGA.
A peak brightness of 250 nits is decent, but we have seen higher in other monitors. The color accuracy while not a deal breaker, but doesnât score as well either. With a Delta E of 2.4, it wonât really concern gamers, but if you also dabble in photography, then it might be noticeable.
Pros
- 144hz refresh rate.
- Sharp contrast.
- Wide viewing angles.
Cons
- No USB ports.
- Color accuracy.
- No height adjustment.
Best Gaming Monitors Under $200 Buyers Guide
Now that weâve introduced you to the latest and greatest in Gaming Monitors under $200 that are currently available, you are probably ready to part with your hard earned cash?
But not just yet. There are a few more things we would like to cover. As you can see, thereâs no shortage of choice when on a budget. But which is the right choice for you? Well, it depends…
So, here are a few questions you need to ask yourself before making that final decision.
Is size important?
With all these gaming monitors having a FHD 1920 x 1080p resolution, the bigger you go, the less pixel density you have, meaning you sacrifice sharpness. This also depends on how far you will be viewing your screen from. The further away you sit, the less this will have an effect.
What type of games do you play?
If you prefer playing first-person shooters and or racing games, then you will want to choose a monitor with the 144hz refresh and 1ms response rates. This will eliminate the ghosting and blurring effects. This can also make a difference if you like watching action movies or fast paced sports.
Will you use your monitor only for gaming?
If you need to perform some office work or are interested in video or photo editing, then you will need a monitor with high color accuracy and a better pixel density. We understand that gaming is the priority; we also understand that some of us need to make a living to be able to purchase all this sweet new equipment.
Where will I view my monitor from?
Being budget monitors, often the first thing to go in order to save costs, is the screen maneuverability. Most of the screens have VESA mount capability meaning you can use almost any other stand or wall bracket for your monitor. The other thing to consider is it a TN or a VA panel? VA panels will give a wider viewing angle than a TN panel.
Obviously, it would be nice if we could find a monitor that combined all of these. Those monitors do exist, but this is about saving that coin and keeping the price under $200.
Now that you know whatâs available and youâve asked yourself all these important questions, here comes the exciting part. Making a decision! Honestly, you canât go wrong with any of these gaming monitors. As mentioned, everyone has different needs and purposes.
With that being said, we need to give you a clear winner. What we think is the best gaming monitor under $200 and why we have come to that decision. We have taken all aspects into consideration and will give you a run down.
Looking for more superb Gaming options?
If you’re looking to spend a little more, then check out our reviews of the Best Gaming Monitor under 300 Dollars, or if your budget is very tight, how about our reviews of the Best Gaming Monitor under 100 Dollars currently available in 2023.
Your also going to need somewhere to put your monitor, so our Best Gaming Desk review and our Best Budget Gaming Chairs under 200 reviews could also be very useful.
So, what are the Best Gaming Monitors Under $200?
We have taken the specs, features, value, and design into consideration. This is our top pick; the monitor we feel excels in all these areas above the others is the…
It has a striking yet understated design. The 144hz refresh and 1ms response times are lightning fast. Itâs screen size of 24.5 inches also hits that sweet spot for FHD resolution displays. Even though it is a TN panel, it uses a new design with the latest technology along with an impressive 400 nits of brightness. All in all, a superb monitor, but not the cheapest.
Happy gaming.