Best Budget Gaming Monitor 2025: Top Picks Under $300
High refresh rate gaming without breaking the bank
Quick Navigation
Quick Picks by Budget
AOC 24G2E
24" 1080p 165Hz IPS
LG 24GN650-B
24" 1080p 144Hz IPS
Gigabyte M27Q
27" 1440p 170Hz IPS
The bottom line: You don't need to spend $500+ for great gaming. Budget monitors in 2025 offer excellent performance - 144Hz+ is standard even under $150. Focus on reputable brands and the right specs for your GPU.
Best Gaming Monitors Under $150
At this price, expect solid 1080p 144Hz+ performance. You'll sacrifice adjustable stands and premium features, but gaming performance is excellent.
AOC 24G2E
Resolution: 1920x1080
Refresh Rate: 165Hz
Panel: IPS, 1ms MPRT
Size: 24 inches
Adaptive Sync: FreeSync Premium
Price: $120-140
The AOC 24G2E is the budget king. IPS colors at this price are rare, and 165Hz exceeds what most budget GPUs can push. Frameless design looks modern. Stand is tilt-only but the value is unbeatable.
Sceptre E255B-FWD168
Resolution: 1920x1080
Refresh Rate: 165Hz
Panel: IPS, 1ms
Size: 25 inches
Built-in Speakers: Yes
Price: $130-150
Sceptre offers great specs at aggressive pricing. The 25" size is slightly larger than standard. Built-in speakers save desk space. Good choice if AOC is unavailable.
ASUS VG248QG
Resolution: 1920x1080
Refresh Rate: 165Hz
Panel: TN, 0.5ms
Size: 24 inches
Features: ELMB, Height Adjust
Price: $140-160
TN panel means worse colors and viewing angles, but fastest response times in budget category. ELMB (motion blur reduction) is a rare feature at this price. Height-adjustable stand included.
Best Gaming Monitors Under $200
The sweet spot for budget gaming. Expect quality IPS panels, better stands, and some premium features.
LG 24GN650-B
Resolution: 1920x1080
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Panel: IPS, 1ms GtG
Size: 24 inches
Stand: Height, Tilt, Pivot
Price: $150-180
LG's gaming pedigree shows here. Excellent IPS panel with wide color gamut (sRGB 99%). Fully adjustable stand is rare under $200. HDR10 support. The best overall choice in this bracket.
ASUS VG27AQ1A
Resolution: 1920x1080
Refresh Rate: 170Hz
Panel: IPS, 1ms MPRT
Size: 27 inches
Features: ELMB Sync
Price: $180-200
If you want 27" under $200, this is the pick. ELMB Sync allows motion blur reduction with VRR simultaneously. 1080p at 27" isn't super sharp but fine for gaming. Great input lag.
MSI G274F
Resolution: 1920x1080
Refresh Rate: 180Hz
Panel: Rapid IPS, 1ms GtG
Size: 27 inches
Color: Wide Color Gamut
Price: $170-190
MSI's "Rapid IPS" delivers fast response times with IPS color quality. 180Hz is great for competitive gaming. Night Vision mode helps in dark games. Solid all-around performer.
Best Gaming Monitors Under $300
At this price, 1440p becomes viable. You're getting near mid-range quality with excellent gaming performance.
Gigabyte M27Q
Resolution: 2560x1440
Refresh Rate: 170Hz
Panel: IPS, 1ms MPRT
Size: 27 inches
Features: KVM Switch, USB-C
Price: $270-300
The best value 1440p gaming monitor. Built-in KVM switch for multi-device setups. 92% DCI-P3 color coverage rivals monitors twice the price. USB-C connectivity with 15W charging. A no-brainer at this price.
Dell S2722DGM
Resolution: 2560x1440
Refresh Rate: 165Hz
Panel: VA Curved, 1ms MPRT
Size: 27 inches
Curve: 1500R
Price: $250-280
If you prefer VA contrast (3000:1) over IPS colors, this is your pick. Deep blacks for immersive gaming. The 1500R curve adds immersion. Some dark smearing but acceptable at this price. Dell quality and support.
Pixio PX277 Prime
Resolution: 2560x1440
Refresh Rate: 165Hz
Panel: IPS, 1ms
Size: 27 inches
Adaptive Sync: FreeSync Premium
Price: $220-260
Pixio specializes in value gaming monitors. This 1440p IPS panel punches above its price. Great color accuracy out of the box. The brand is less known but quality is solid.
AOC 27G2SP
Resolution: 1920x1080
Refresh Rate: 165Hz
Panel: IPS, 1ms GtG
Size: 27 inches
Features: Height Adjust, Speakers
Price: $180-220
If your GPU can't handle 1440p, get a premium 1080p monitor instead. This AOC offers excellent response times and a fully adjustable stand. Better to have 1080p at high FPS than 1440p at low FPS.
What to Prioritize on a Budget
1. Refresh Rate (144Hz+)
The biggest upgrade over 60Hz. 144Hz should be your minimum. The difference is immediately noticeable. Don't sacrifice this for other features.
2. Panel Type (IPS preferred)
IPS offers better colors and viewing angles than TN. VA is also good (better contrast). Budget IPS panels have gotten excellent - no longer a premium-only feature.
3. Response Time (<5ms GtG)
Most gaming monitors achieve this. Avoid panels with 8ms+ response times. Don't trust marketing "1ms" claims - check reviews for real-world performance.
4. Adaptive Sync (FreeSync)
FreeSync is free to implement - almost all budget monitors include it. Works with both AMD and NVIDIA GPUs. Eliminates tearing when FPS fluctuates.
What to Skip on a Budget
HDR (at this price)
Budget "HDR" monitors (HDR400) aren't bright enough for real HDR. It's a checkbox feature. Don't pay extra for it - save for a proper HDR monitor later.
RGB Lighting
Monitor RGB adds $20-50 to the price for a feature you'll rarely see (it's behind the monitor). Skip it and get better core specs instead.
Fancy Stands
Height adjustment is nice but not essential. Tilt-only stands work fine - use a book or monitor arm later if needed. Don't pay $50 extra for stand features.
Built-in Speakers (usually)
Monitor speakers are almost always bad. You're better off with $20 desktop speakers or headphones. Exception: if you have zero audio setup, convenience matters.
GPU Pairing Guide
Match your monitor to your GPU capabilities. A 1440p 165Hz monitor is wasted on a GTX 1650.
Recommended Monitor by GPU
| Your GPU | Recommended Monitor | Expected Performance |
|---|---|---|
| GTX 1650 / RX 5500 XT | 1080p 144Hz | 60-100fps high settings |
| GTX 1660 / RX 5600 XT | 1080p 144Hz | 100-144fps high settings |
| RTX 3060 / RX 6600 | 1080p 165Hz or 1440p 144Hz | 1080p: 144fps+ / 1440p: 60-100fps |
| RTX 3070 / RX 6700 XT | 1440p 144Hz+ | 100-144fps high settings |
| RTX 4070 / RX 7800 XT | 1440p 165Hz+ | 144fps+ high/ultra settings |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good budget for a gaming monitor?
$150-200 gets you solid 1080p 144Hz. $200-300 opens up 1440p options. The sweet spot for most budget gamers is $150-250 - you get excellent gaming performance without overpaying for features you don't need.
Is 144Hz worth it on a budget monitor?
Absolutely. 144Hz is the single biggest upgrade over 60Hz and many budget monitors now include it. The smoothness difference is immediately noticeable. Prioritize 144Hz over other features.
Should I get 1080p or 1440p on a budget?
Under $200: stick with 1080p for better panels and higher refresh rates. At $200-300: 1440p becomes viable. Also match to your GPU - 1440p 144Hz needs at least an RTX 3060 or equivalent.
What's the best budget gaming monitor brand?
AOC, Pixio, and Sceptre offer excellent budget options. ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte have good entry-level gaming lines too. Avoid unknown Amazon brands - poor quality control and fake specs are common.
Are cheap gaming monitors worth it?
Budget monitors from reputable brands are absolutely worth it. You sacrifice premium features like USB hubs or HDR, but core gaming performance (refresh rate, response time, input lag) can be excellent.