Buying Guide

The Best 200Hz Gaming Monitors

Five monitors compared, from the KG251Q X3 to the SE2726HG, with the trade-offs of each named.

By The PC Journal editorial team

12 min read5 products evaluated

A 200Hz panel only pays off when your GPU can hold frame rates near that figure. Every monitor here refreshes at 200Hz or more and refreshes at 120Hz or more, ordered from the lowest price.

This is a research roundup, not a lab test: refresh rate, resolution and size come from each maker's published specs; a missing panel is flagged, not filled in, and no figure here comes from our own testing.

Quick Picks

Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.

  1. Lowest Price Here

    Acer Nitro KG251Q X3

    The lowest price of the group at our last check.

    Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.

    Our take Check price for Acer Nitro KG251Q X3 (opens in a new tab)

  2. IPS Panel

    Acer Nitro KG241Y X1

    An IPS panel.

    Best for: Buyers who want an IPS panel.

    Our take Check price for Acer Nitro KG241Y X1 (opens in a new tab)

  3. Also Consider

    Dell 24 SE2426HG 240Hz

    240Hz at a budget price tier.

    Best for: Buyers who want 240Hz at a budget price tier.

    Our take Check price for Dell 24 SE2426HG 240Hz (opens in a new tab)

  4. FreeSync Adaptive Sync

    CRUA 24.5-inch 200Hz Vertical Monitor

    A freeSync.

    Best for: Buyers who want a freeSync.

    Our take Check price for CRUA 24.5-inch 200Hz Vertical Monitor (opens in a new tab)

  5. Largest Screen Size

    Dell 27 SE2726HG 240Hz

    The largest screen size here (27 inches).

    Best for: Buyers who put screen size first.

    Our take Check price for Dell 27 SE2726HG 240Hz (opens in a new tab)

Our Picks

Acer Nitro KG251Q X3

Lowest Price Here1 of 5

Acer Nitro KG251Q X3 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

The Nitro KG251Q X3 runs 200Hz with FreeSync Premium on a 24.5-inch screen for under $90.

Best for

Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.

Skip if

Pass on it if refresh rate of 200Hz, behind the SE2426HG (240Hz rules it out for your setup.

Why we like it

It is the best gaming screen at this price. Its 24.5-inch 1080p panel supports AMD FreeSync Premium to stop tearing. It suits competitive games at high frame rates.

It matches the KG241Y X1 and the CRUA 24.5 Pivot on refresh rate (200Hz). On screen size it ties with the CRUA 24.5 Pivot at 24.5 inches. It shares a FreeSync Premium with the KG241Y X1; the CRUA 24.5 Pivot goes with a FreeSync.

It also comes with a 200Hz refresh rate under $90 at the time of writing. At 1080p, 200Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the KG241Y X1 was the next step up. The main gap: refresh rate of 200Hz, behind the SE2426HG (240Hz). If that matters, the SE2426HG offers 240Hz.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Refresh rate: 200Hz
  • Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
  • Size: 24.5 inches
  • Response: 0.5ms
  • Adaptive sync: FreeSync Premium

Pros

  • 200Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
  • FreeSync Premium to reduce screen tearing
  • 200Hz refresh rate under $90 at the time of writing
  • Screen size of 24.5 inches, ahead of the KG241Y X1

Cons

  • Refresh rate of 200Hz, behind the SE2426HG (240Hz)
Acer Nitro KG241Y X1

IPS Panel2 of 5

Acer Nitro KG241Y X1 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

The Nitro KG241Y X1 gives 200Hz on IPS for well under $100.

Best for

Buyers who want an IPS panel.

Skip if

Skip it if price comes first: the KG251Q X3 cost less when we checked.

Why we like it

It is a solid first gaming monitor. On refresh rate it ties with the KG251Q X3 and the CRUA 24.5 Pivot at 200Hz. It matches the SE2426HG on screen size (23.8 inches).

You get an IPS panel here, which sets it apart from the SE2726HG and its a fast IPS panel. Like the KG251Q X3, it has a FreeSync Premium, while the CRUA 24.5 Pivot uses a FreeSync. You also get a 200Hz refresh rate under $100 at the time of writing.

At 1080p, 200Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. It was priced above the KG251Q X3 and below the SE2426HG at the time of writing.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Refresh rate: 200Hz
  • Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
  • Size: 23.8 inches
  • Panel: IPS
  • Response: 0.5ms
  • Adaptive sync: FreeSync Premium

Pros

  • 200Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
  • an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
  • FreeSync Premium to reduce screen tearing
  • 200Hz refresh rate under $100 at the time of writing

Cons

  • Costs more than the KG251Q X3 at the time of writing
Dell 24 SE2426HG 240Hz

Also Consider3 of 5

Dell 24 SE2426HG 240Hz on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

The SE2426HG is Dell's 23.8-inch 240Hz Fast IPS model with 99% sRGB coverage.

Best for

Buyers who want 240Hz at a budget price tier.

Skip if

Skip it if screen size matters most to you; the SE2726HG offers 27 inches.

Why we like it

It costs about $100 at the time of writing. It matches the SE2726HG on refresh rate (240Hz). On screen size it ties with the KG241Y X1 at 23.8 inches.

Like the SE2726HG, it has a fast IPS panel, while the KG241Y X1 uses an IPS panel. Like the SE2726HG, it has a 99% sRGB color gamut, while the CRUA 24.5 Pivot uses a 120% sRGB color gamut. You also get 240Hz at a budget price tier and a 23.8-inch size for close desks.

At 1080p, 240Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper KG241Y X1 and the pricier CRUA 24.5 Pivot, at the time of writing. The trade-off is screen size; for more, the SE2726HG comes in at 27 inches.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Refresh rate: 240Hz
  • Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
  • Size: 23.8 inches
  • Panel: Fast IPS
  • Color gamut: 99% sRGB

Pros

  • a 240Hz refresh rate for fast motion
  • a Fast IPS panel with wide viewing angles
  • 99% sRGB colour coverage
  • 240Hz at a budget price tier

Cons

  • Screen size trails the SE2726HG (27 inches)
  • Costs more than the KG251Q X3 at the time of writing
CRUA 24.5-inch 200Hz Vertical Monitor

FreeSync Adaptive Sync4 of 5

CRUA 24.5-inch 200Hz Vertical Monitor on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

CRUA's 24.5-inch 1080p screen pivots 90 degrees and runs at 200Hz over DisplayPort.

Best for

Buyers who want a freeSync.

Skip if

Skip it if refresh rate matters most to you; the SE2426HG offers 240Hz.

Why we like it

It has 120mm of height adjustment. On refresh rate it ties with the KG251Q X3 and the KG241Y X1 at 200Hz. It matches the KG251Q X3 on screen size (24.5 inches).

You get a 120% sRGB color gamut here, which sets it apart from the SE2726HG and its a 99% sRGB color gamut. It is the only pick here with a FreeSync; the KG251Q X3 has a FreeSync Premium instead. You also get a 90-degree pivot for portrait mode.

At 1080p, 200Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. It was priced above the SE2426HG and below the SE2726HG at the time of writing. It gives ground on refresh rate, where the SE2426HG offers 240Hz.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Refresh rate: 200Hz
  • Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
  • Size: 24.5 inches
  • Response: 3ms
  • Color gamut: 120% sRGB
  • Adaptive sync: FreeSync
  • Stand: height, pivot, swivel and tilt

Pros

  • 200Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
  • 120% sRGB colour coverage
  • FreeSync to reduce screen tearing
  • a stand with height, pivot, swivel and tilt

Cons

  • Refresh rate trails the SE2426HG (240Hz)
  • Costs more than the KG251Q X3 at the time of writing
Dell 27 SE2726HG 240Hz

Largest Screen Size5 of 5

Dell 27 SE2726HG 240Hz on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Dell's SE2726HG runs a 27-inch 1080p Fast IPS panel at 240Hz with 99% sRGB coverage.

Best for

Buyers who put screen size first.

Skip if

Price-first buyers should look at the KG251Q X3, which cost less when we checked.

Why we like it

It is a big-screen route to 240Hz for less. FreeSync Premium and HDMI VRR cover both PC and console play. On refresh rate it ties with the SE2426HG at 240Hz.

Its 27 inches screen size is the largest here; the KG251Q X3 comes next at 24.5 inches. It shares a fast IPS panel with the SE2426HG; the KG241Y X1 goes with an IPS panel. It shares a 99% sRGB color gamut with the SE2426HG; the CRUA 24.5 Pivot goes with a 120% sRGB color gamut.

At 1080p, 240Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. At our last price check it topped the group, with the CRUA 24.5 Pivot the nearest cheaper option.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Refresh rate: 240Hz
  • Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
  • Size: 27 inches
  • Panel: Fast IPS
  • Color gamut: 99% sRGB

Pros

  • a 240Hz refresh rate for fast motion
  • a Fast IPS panel with wide viewing angles
  • 99% sRGB colour coverage
  • 240Hz on a 27-inch 1080p panel

Cons

  • Costs more than the KG251Q X3 at the time of writing

How We Chose These 200Hz Gaming Monitors

Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.

What we compared
We set side by side five monitors on refresh rate, resolution, screen size and panel from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house.
The shared baseline
All 5, from the KG251Q X3 to the SE2726HG, state refresh rate, resolution and screen size and share 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution.
Where the specs have gaps
The KG251Q X3 and the CRUA 24.5 Pivot give no panel; the SE2426HG and the SE2726HG give no response.
Price range
At our last check the picks ran from the KG251Q X3 ($50 to $100) to the SE2726HG ($100 to $150).

What to Look for in a 200Hz Gaming Monitor

Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.

  1. Refresh rate

    Here refresh rate runs from 200Hz on the CRUA 24.5 Pivot to 240Hz on the SE2426HG. The SE2426HG is the pick for refresh rate.

  2. How much screen size you need

    Here screen size runs from 23.8 inches on the SE2426HG to 27 inches on the SE2726HG. The KG251Q X3 comes second for less money.

  3. Response

    The KG251Q X3 and the KG241Y X1 list 0.5ms; the CRUA 24.5 Pivot lists 3ms. Rule out the mismatches before looking at price.

  4. Features beyond the spec table

    The SE2426HG: 99% sRGB coverage. The CRUA 24.5 Pivot: 120mm of height adjustment. The SE2726HG: PC and console tear-free play.

  5. Budget

    $50 to $100 buys the KG251Q X3, the KG241Y X1 and the SE2426HG; $100 to $150 buys the CRUA 24.5 Pivot and the SE2726HG at our last check.

How to Choose a 200Hz Gaming Monitor

By priority

PriorityConsiderWhy
Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the buildKG251Q X3The lowest price of the group at our last check
Buyers who want an IPS panelKG241Y X1An IPS panel
Buyers who want 240Hz at a budget price tierSE2426HG240Hz at a budget price tier
Buyers who want a freeSyncCRUA 24.5 PivotA freeSync
Buyers who put screen size firstSE2726HGThe largest screen size here (27 inches)

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Key specs side by side

The SE2426HG leads on refresh rate at 240Hz, ahead of the SE2726HG at 240Hz. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.

MonitorRefresh rateResolutionSizePanel
KG251Q X3200Hz1920x1080 (1080p)24.5 inchesNot listed
KG241Y X1200Hz1920x1080 (1080p)23.8 inchesIPS
SE2426HG240Hz1920x1080 (1080p)23.8 inchesFast IPS
CRUA 24.5 Pivot200Hz1920x1080 (1080p)24.5 inchesNot listed
SE2726HG240Hz1920x1080 (1080p)27 inchesFast IPS

Scroll sideways to see every column.

By price at the time of writing

The KG251Q X3 was the lowest-priced pick and the SE2726HG the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.

Price tierMonitors
About $50 to $100KG251Q X3, KG241Y X1, SE2426HG
About $100 to $150CRUA 24.5 Pivot, SE2726HG

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the KG251Q X3 compare with the SE2726HG on screen size?

The SE2726HG leads at 27 inches, with the KG251Q X3 at 24.5 inches. The SE2426HG is at the other end of this group with 23.8 inches.

Is the SE2726HG worth paying more than the KG251Q X3?

On paper it adds refresh rate (240Hz against 200Hz) and screen size (27 inches against 24.5 inches). The KG251Q X3 was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.

What makes the CRUA 24.5 Pivot the FreeSync Adaptive Sync?

It earns the label for a freeSync. It suits anyone who wants a freeSync.

Do the KG241Y X1 and the SE2426HG differ on panel?

The KG241Y X1 uses IPS; the SE2426HG and the SE2726HG use Fast IPS. The makers of the KG251Q X3 and the CRUA 24.5 Pivot don't say.

Beyond the specs, what sets the KG251Q X3 and the KG241Y X1 apart?

The KG251Q X3: a 200Hz refresh rate under $90 at the time of writing. The KG241Y X1: a 200Hz refresh rate under $100 at the time of writing. The SE2426HG: 240Hz at a budget price tier.

Bottom Line

Our first pick is the KG251Q X3, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the KG241Y X1 for an IPS panel, the SE2426HG for 240Hz at a budget price tier and the CRUA 24.5 Pivot for a freeSync if those matter more to you.

Measure desk depth before buying a larger screen.