Buying Guide
The Best Budget-Friendly Gaming Monitors
Five gaming monitors under about $160 at the time of writing, with 1440p and 240Hz options.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Budget monitors now reach 1440p at 200Hz and above. These five stay near or under $160 at the time of writing.
Figures come from each manufacturer listing.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best 1440p 240Hz
AOC Q27G41ZE1440p at 240Hz near $160.
Best for: Mid-range PCs.
Check price for AOC Q27G41ZE on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Rapid IPS
MSI MAG 274QF E20A 200Hz Rapid IPS panel at 1440p.
Best for: Balanced 1440p play.
Check price for MSI MAG 274QF E20 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Brand Pick
Dell G2725D1440p at 180Hz with 99% sRGB.
Best for: Buyers who want a Dell.
Check price for Dell G2725D on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best 1080p Speed
GIGABYTE G25F2A240Hz with 120% sRGB.
Best for: Esports.
Check price for GIGABYTE G25F2A on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price
AOC 24G42HE200Hz near $98.
Best for: The smallest budgets.
Check price for AOC 24G42HE on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1440p at 240Hz near $160. | Mid-range PCs. | Check price for AOC Q27G41ZE on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A 200Hz Rapid IPS panel at 1440p. | Balanced 1440p play. | Check price for MSI MAG 274QF E20 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 1440p at 180Hz with 99% sRGB. | Buyers who want a Dell. | Check price for Dell G2725D on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 240Hz with 120% sRGB. | Esports. | Check price for GIGABYTE G25F2A on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 200Hz near $98. | The smallest budgets. | Check price for AOC 24G42HE on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best 1440p 240Hz1 of 5
AOC Q27G41ZE
The Q27G41ZE runs 1440p at 240Hz natively, with an overclocked 260Hz mode, on an IPS panel.
Best for
- Mid-range PCs.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the 24G42HE, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is rare to see that combination at this price. On refresh rate it ties with the G25F2A at 240Hz. It matches the MAG 274QF and the G2725D on screen size (27 inches).
It shares a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution with the MAG 274QF and G2725D; the 24G42HE goes with a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution. It shares an IPS panel with the 24G42HE; the G25F2A goes with a SuperSpeed IPS panel. Like the 24G42HE, it has a G-SYNC Compatible, while the G2725D uses a FreeSync.
It also offers DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 inputs. To see 240Hz at 1440p, connect over DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1; older HDMI 2.0 ports cap the refresh rate lower. G-SYNC Compatible works on NVIDIA cards over DisplayPort, and FreeSync covers AMD cards. At our last price check it topped the group, with the MAG 274QF the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- Refresh rate
- 240Hz
- Resolution
- 2560x1440 (1440p)
- Size
- 27 inches
- Panel
- IPS
- Response
- 0.3ms
- Adaptive sync
- G-SYNC Compatible
Pros
- a 240Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- 1440p resolution, sharper than 1080p at 27 inches
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- G-SYNC Compatible to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- Costs more than the 24G42HE at the time of writing
Best Rapid IPS2 of 5
MSI MAG 274QF E20
The MAG 274QF runs 1440p at 200Hz on a Rapid IPS panel with FreeSync Premium.
Best for
- Balanced 1440p play.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the 24G42HE, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is a balanced step down from the AOC. The Rapid IPS panel is rated at 0.5ms GtG. MSI's AI Vision mode lifts detail in dark scenes and boosts brightness and saturation.
It matches the 24G42HE on refresh rate (200Hz). On screen size it ties with the Q27G41ZE and the G2725D at 27 inches. Like the Q27G41ZE and G2725D, it has a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution, while the G25F2A uses a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution.
G-SYNC Compatible works on NVIDIA cards over DisplayPort, and FreeSync covers AMD cards. Its price falls between the G2725D and the Q27G41ZE, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Refresh rate
- 200Hz
- Resolution
- 2560x1440 (1440p)
- Size
- 27 inches
- Panel
- Rapid IPS
- Response
- 0.5ms
- Adaptive sync
- FreeSync Premium, G-SYNC Compatible
Pros
- 200Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- 1440p resolution, sharper than 1080p at 27 inches
- a Rapid IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- FreeSync Premium, G-SYNC Compatible to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- Costs more than the 24G42HE at the time of writing
Best Brand Pick3 of 5
Dell G2725D
The G2725D offers 1440p at 180Hz with 99% sRGB at a very low price.
Best for
- Buyers who want a Dell.
Skip if
- Skip it if refresh rate matters most to you; the Q27G41ZE offers 240Hz.
Why we like it
Dell doesn't name the panel type. Its 180Hz refresh rate is the lowest in this group; the Q27G41ZE leads at 240Hz. On screen size it ties with the Q27G41ZE and the MAG 274QF at 27 inches.
Like the Q27G41ZE and MAG 274QF, it has a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution, while the G25F2A uses a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution. No other pick in this guide offers a 99% sRGB color gamut; compare the G25F2A, which has a 120% sRGB color gamut. You get a FreeSync here, which sets it apart from the G25F2A and its a FreeSync Premium.
You also get 1440p at 180Hz at one of the lowest prices here at the time of writing. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper G25F2A and the pricier MAG 274QF, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Refresh rate
- 180Hz
- Resolution
- 2560x1440 (1440p)
- Size
- 27 inches
- Color gamut
- 99% sRGB
- Adaptive sync
- FreeSync
Pros
- 180Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- 1440p resolution, sharper than 1080p at 27 inches
- 99% sRGB colour coverage
- FreeSync to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- Refresh rate trails the Q27G41ZE (240Hz)
- Costs more than the 24G42HE at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is refresh rate; for more, the Q27G41ZE offers 240Hz.
Best 1080p Speed4 of 5
GIGABYTE G25F2A
The G25F2A runs a 24.5-inch IPS panel at 240Hz with FreeSync Premium at a price that used to buy 144Hz.
Best for
- Esports.
Skip if
- Pass on it if hDR10 support without a DisplayHDR certification rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It is the pick for fast games. It matches the Q27G41ZE on refresh rate (240Hz). On screen size it sits mid-pack at 24.5 inches: the Q27G41ZE comes in at 27 inches, and the 24G42HE comes in at 24 inches.
Like the 24G42HE, it has a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution, while the G2725D uses a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution. No other pick in this guide offers a SuperSpeed IPS panel; compare the Q27G41ZE, which has an IPS panel. No other pick in this guide offers a 120% sRGB color gamut; compare the G2725D, which has a 99% sRGB color gamut.
You also get a 240Hz refresh rate under $100 at the time of writing. 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 second of 5, between the cheaper 24G42HE and the pricier G2725D, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Refresh rate
- 240Hz
- Resolution
- 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size
- 24.5 inches
- Panel
- SuperSpeed IPS
- Response
- 1ms
- HDR
- HDR10
- Color gamut
- 120% sRGB
- Adaptive sync
- FreeSync Premium
Pros
- a 240Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- a SuperSpeed IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- 120% sRGB colour coverage
- FreeSync Premium to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- HDR10 support without a DisplayHDR certification
- Costs more than the 24G42HE at the time of writing
Lowest Price5 of 5
AOC 24G42HE
The 24G42HE matches that 200Hz rate with a wider 116% sRGB colour coverage and G-SYNC Compatible support.
Best for
- The smallest budgets.
Skip if
- Skip it if screen size matters most to you; the Q27G41ZE offers 27 inches.
Why we like it
On refresh rate it ties with the MAG 274QF at 200Hz. Its 24 inches screen size is the smallest in this group; the Q27G41ZE leads at 27 inches. It shares a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution with the G25F2A; the G2725D goes with a 2560x1440 (1440p) resolution.
It shares an IPS panel with the Q27G41ZE; the G25F2A goes with a SuperSpeed IPS panel. A 116% sRGB color gamut is unique to it among these picks, while the G25F2A uses a 120% sRGB color gamut. At 1080p, 200Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older.
G-SYNC Compatible works on NVIDIA cards over DisplayPort, and FreeSync covers AMD cards. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the G25F2A was closest.
Key specs
- Refresh rate
- 200Hz
- Resolution
- 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size
- 24 inches
- Panel
- IPS
- Response
- 0.3ms
- Color gamut
- 116% sRGB
- Adaptive sync
- G-SYNC Compatible
Pros
- 200Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- 116% sRGB colour coverage
- G-SYNC Compatible to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- Screen size trails the Q27G41ZE (27 inches)
The catch
Screen size is its weakest area, and the Q27G41ZE covers it better at 27 inches.
How We Chose These Budget-Friendly Gaming Monitors
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- What we compared
- We set side by side five monitors on refresh rate, resolution, screen size and panel as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 4 of the 7 fields compared are stated for every pick, while panel and response have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Q27G41ZE to the 24G42HE, state refresh rate, resolution and screen size.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The G2725D gives no panel; the G2725D gives no response.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the 24G42HE ($50 to $100) to the Q27G41ZE ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a Budget-Friendly Gaming Monitor
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Refresh rate across these picks
Across these 5 picks refresh rate spans 180Hz (the G2725D) to 240Hz (the Q27G41ZE). For less, the G25F2A is the runner-up at 240Hz ($50 to $100 tier).
Screen size
Here screen size runs from 24 inches on the 24G42HE to 27 inches on the Q27G41ZE, a 13% spread. The MAG 274QF comes second at 27 inches, in the same price tier as the Q27G41ZE.
A large monitor showing a game on a low media unit Panel
The Q27G41ZE and the 24G42HE list IPS; the MAG 274QF lists Rapid IPS; the G25F2A lists SuperSpeed IPS. Sort out panel before price: it splits 4 stated picks into groups of 2, 1 and 1.
Response
The Q27G41ZE and the 24G42HE list 0.3ms; the MAG 274QF lists 0.5ms; the G25F2A lists 1ms. Sort out response before price: it splits 4 stated picks into groups of 2, 1 and 1.
A gaming monitor on a desk with purple bias lighting Features beyond the spec table
The G2725D: 1440p at 180Hz at one of the lowest prices here at the time of writing. The G25F2A: a 240Hz refresh rate under $100 at the time of writing. The 24G42HE: a 200Hz IPS panel.
How to Choose a Budget-Friendly Gaming Monitor
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range PCs | Q27G41ZE | 1440p at 240Hz near $160 |
| Balanced 1440p play | MAG 274QF | A 200Hz Rapid IPS panel at 1440p |
| Buyers who want a Dell | G2725D | 1440p at 180Hz with 99% sRGB |
| Esports | G25F2A | 240Hz with 120% sRGB |
| The smallest budgets | 24G42HE | 200Hz near $98 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Q27G41ZE leads on refresh rate at 240Hz, ahead of the G25F2A at 240Hz. "Not listed" marks panel where the G2725D leaves the figure out.
| Monitor | Refresh rate | Resolution | Size | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q27G41ZE | 240Hz | 2560x1440 (1440p) | 27 inches | IPS |
| MAG 274QF | 200Hz | 2560x1440 (1440p) | 27 inches | Rapid IPS |
| G2725D | 180Hz | 2560x1440 (1440p) | 27 inches | Not listed |
| G25F2A | 240Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 24.5 inches | SuperSpeed IPS |
| 24G42HE | 200Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 24 inches | IPS |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the 24G42HE, sat in the $50 to $100 tier, 3 tiers in all up to the Q27G41ZE at $150 to $250; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Monitors |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | 24G42HE, G25F2A |
| About $100 to $150 | G2725D |
| About $150 to $250 | MAG 274QF, Q27G41ZE |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Q27G41ZE worth paying more than the 24G42HE?
What it brings is refresh rate (240Hz against 200Hz) and screen size (27 inches against 24 inches). The 24G42HE sat in the $50 to $100 tier and the Q27G41ZE in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if refresh rate and screen size decide your purchase.
What makes the MAG 274QF the Best Rapid IPS?
The label rests on a 200Hz Rapid IPS panel at 1440p. The 24G42HE, the cheapest pick, sat in the $50 to $100 tier against $150 to $250 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits balanced 1440p play.
Do the Q27G41ZE and the G25F2A differ on resolution?
The Q27G41ZE, the MAG 274QF and the G2725D use 2560x1440 (1440p); the G25F2A and the 24G42HE use 1920x1080 (1080p).
Beyond the specs, what sets the Q27G41ZE and the MAG 274QF apart?
The Q27G41ZE: an overclocked 260Hz mode above its 240Hz native rate. The MAG 274QF: a 200Hz refresh rate at 1440p. The G2725D: 1440p at 180Hz at one of the lowest prices here at the time of writing.
Who should choose the Q27G41ZE?
The Q27G41ZE carries our Best 1440p 240Hz label for 1440p at 240Hz near $160. It ranks first of 5 here and sat in the $150 to $250 tier at our last price check; it suits mid-range PCs.
Bottom Line
AOC's Q27G41ZE is the standout for 1440p at 240Hz. MSI's MAG 274QF is the close alternative, and the two 24-inch screens suit 1080p esports.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Gaming Monitors
- Related guideThe Best 27-Inch Gaming Monitors
- Related guideThe Best OLED Monitors
- Without a budget limitThe Best Gaming Monitors to Buy Now
- Similar guideThe Best Budget Gaming Monitors
- ExplainerHow to Choose a 1080p Monitor
- ExplainerHow to Choose a 1440p Monitor
- Also see: graphics cardsHow to Choose a Graphics Card for 1440p Gaming
- Similar guideThe Best HDR1000 Gaming Monitors
- Topic hubAll gaming monitors guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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