Buying Guide
The Best Budget Gaming Monitors
Five monitors ranked on refresh rate and screen size, where the G25F2A has the highest refresh rate; the G24B36N is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
A budget screen should still get the basics right: a stable stand, a sharp panel and the inputs you need. Every monitor here cost $300 or less when we checked and refreshes at 120Hz or more, ordered from the lowest price.
Rankings weigh refresh rate, resolution and size as the makers state them; if a maker skips response, the guide says so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
AOC G24B36N
Undercutting the 24B35H3 on price when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Also Consider
AOC 24B35H3
100% sRGB colour coverage.
Best for: Buyers who want 100% sRGB colour coverage.
Strong Alternative
Dell SE2426H
A 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price in this list at the time of writing.
Best for: Buyers who want 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price in this list at the time of writing.
Worth a Look
TECLAST 16-inch 144Hz Portable
144Hz with FreeSync.
Best for: Buyers who want 144Hz with FreeSync.
Our take Check price for TECLAST 16-inch 144Hz Portable (opens in a new tab)
Fastest Refresh
GIGABYTE G25F2A
The highest refresh rate here (240Hz).
Best for: Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE G25F2A (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undercutting the 24B35H3 on price when we checked. | Keeping the budget tight. | Check price for AOC G24B36N (opens in a new tab) |
| 100% sRGB colour coverage. | Buyers who want 100% sRGB colour coverage. | Check price for AOC 24B35H3 (opens in a new tab) |
| A 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price in this list at the time of writing. | Buyers who want 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price in this list at the time of writing. | Check price for Dell SE2426H (opens in a new tab) |
| 144Hz with FreeSync. | Buyers who want 144Hz with FreeSync. | Check price for TECLAST 16-inch 144Hz Portable (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest refresh rate here (240Hz). | Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates. | Check price for GIGABYTE G25F2A (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
AOC G24B36N on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The G24B36N runs 180Hz overclocked on a VA panel and includes HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: a VA panel that can smear dark transitions.
Why we like it
VA gives good contrast but can smear dark scenes. It has HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4 and a headphone output, with Adaptive Sync and HDR support. Its 180Hz refresh rate ranks second of 5 here, behind the G25F2A (240Hz) and ahead of the 24B35H3 (120Hz).
On screen size it ties with the SE2426H at 23.8 inches. It is the only pick here with a VA panel; the 24B35H3 has an IPS panel instead. It also comes with an overclocked 180Hz mode above 144Hz native.
At 1080p, 180Hz 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 24B35H3 was the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 180Hz
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size: 23.8 inches
- Panel: VA
- Response: 0.5ms
Pros
- 180Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs
- Overclocked 180Hz mode above 144Hz native
- Screen size of 23.8 inches, ahead of the TECLAST 16
Cons
- a VA panel that can smear dark transitions
- Refresh rate of 180Hz, behind the G25F2A (240Hz)
Also Consider2 of 5
AOC 24B35H3 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 24B35H3 offers 100% sRGB on an IPS panel at 120Hz.
Best for
- Buyers who want 100% sRGB colour coverage.
Skip if
- Skip it if refresh rate matters most to you; the G25F2A offers 240Hz.
Why we like it
It is a colour-accurate budget screen. Its 24-inch IPS panel runs at 120Hz with Adaptive Sync, which is smoother than a 60Hz office screen. Wide viewing angles keep colour consistent.
It covers 100% of sRGB with flicker-free backlighting and a low blue light mode. HDMI and VGA inputs plus a headphone jack cover older PCs. Its 84% NTSC coverage gives slightly richer colour than a typical budget office screen.
Its 120Hz refresh rate is the lowest in this group; the G25F2A leads at 240Hz. On screen size it sits mid-pack at 24 inches: the G25F2A comes in at 24.5 inches, and the TECLAST 16 comes in at 16 inches. Like the SE2426H and TECLAST 16, it has an IPS panel, while the G24B36N uses a VA panel. Its price falls between the G24B36N and the SE2426H, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size: 24 inches
- Panel: IPS
- Color gamut: 100% sRGB
Pros
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- 100% sRGB colour coverage
- Screen size of 24 inches, ahead of the G24B36N
Cons
- Refresh rate trails the G25F2A (240Hz)
- Costs more than the G24B36N at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
Dell SE2426H on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The SE2426H is Dell's 144Hz IPS monitor at the lowest price in this list.
Best for
- Buyers who want 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price in this list at the time of writing.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the G24B36N cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It covers the basics without extras. It runs at 144Hz with a 1ms MPRT response and carries TÜV Rheinland's 3-star eye comfort certification. The 178-degree viewing angles keep colour consistent off-axis.
It matches the TECLAST 16 on refresh rate (144Hz). On screen size it ties with the G24B36N at 23.8 inches. Like the 24B35H3 and TECLAST 16, it has an IPS panel, while the G24B36N uses a VA panel.
It shares a FreeSync with the TECLAST 16; the G25F2A goes with a FreeSync Premium. At 1080p, 144Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. Its price falls between the 24B35H3 and the TECLAST 16, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size: 23.8 inches
- Panel: IPS
- Response: 1ms
- Adaptive sync: FreeSync
Pros
- 144Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- FreeSync to reduce screen tearing
- 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price in this list at the time of writing
Cons
- Costs more than the G24B36N at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
TECLAST 16-inch 144Hz Portable on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
TECLAST's 16-inch portable runs 1920x1200 at 144Hz with 100% sRGB coverage and FreeSync.
Best for
- Buyers who want 144Hz with FreeSync.
Skip if
- Skip it if screen size matters most to you; the G25F2A offers 24.5 inches.
Why we like it
It combines a taller screen with a high refresh rate. Its 16-inch 1920x1200 panel runs at 144Hz with 100% sRGB, and one USB-C cable carries video and power. HDMI covers consoles.
On refresh rate it ties with the SE2426H at 144Hz. Its 16 inches screen size is the smallest in this group; the G25F2A leads at 24.5 inches. You get a 1920x1200 resolution here, which sets it apart from the G25F2A and its a 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution.
It shares an IPS panel with the 24B35H3 and SE2426H; the G25F2A goes with a SuperSpeed IPS panel. It shares a 100% sRGB color gamut with the 24B35H3; the G25F2A goes with a 120% sRGB color gamut.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
- Resolution: 1920x1200
- Size: 16 inches
- Panel: IPS
- Color gamut: 100% sRGB
- Adaptive sync: FreeSync
- USB-C: Yes
Pros
- 144Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- 100% sRGB colour coverage
- FreeSync to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- Screen size trails the G25F2A (24.5 inches)
- Costs more than the G24B36N at the time of writing
Fastest Refresh5 of 5
GIGABYTE G25F2A on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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 players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: hDR10 support without a DisplayHDR certification.
Why we like it
It is the pick for fast games. Nothing else here matches its 240Hz refresh rate; the G24B36N comes closest at 180Hz. Its 24.5 inches screen size is the largest here; the 24B35H3 comes next at 24 inches.
A SuperSpeed IPS panel is unique to it among these picks, while the 24B35H3 uses an IPS panel. A 120% sRGB color gamut is unique to it among these picks, while the TECLAST 16 uses a 100% sRGB color gamut. No other pick in this guide offers a FreeSync Premium; compare the SE2426H, which has a FreeSync.
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. At our last price check it topped the group, with the TECLAST 16 the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & 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 G24B36N at the time of writing
How We Chose These Budget Gaming Monitors
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We compared five monitors on refresh rate, resolution, screen size and panel from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the G24B36N to the G25F2A, state refresh rate, resolution and screen size.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The 24B35H3 and the TECLAST 16 give no response; the G24B36N and the SE2426H give no color gamut.
- Price range
- From the G24B36N to the G25F2A, all sat in the $50 to $100 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Budget Gaming Monitor
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much refresh rate you need
Here refresh rate runs from 120Hz on the 24B35H3 to 240Hz on the G25F2A. The G24B36N comes second for less money.
Screen size
Here screen size runs from 16 inches on the TECLAST 16 to 24.5 inches on the G25F2A. For less, the 24B35H3 is the runner-up at 24 inches.
Panel
The G24B36N lists VA; the 24B35H3, the SE2426H and the TECLAST 16 list IPS; the G25F2A lists SuperSpeed IPS. Settle this first, then compare prices.
Response
The G24B36N lists 0.5ms; the SE2426H and the G25F2A list 1ms.
Extras that separate them
The SE2426H: a 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price in this list at the time of writing. The TECLAST 16: USB-C single-cable video and power. The G25F2A: a 240Hz refresh rate under $100 at the time of writing.
How to Choose a Budget Gaming Monitor
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the budget tight | G24B36N | Undercutting the 24B35H3 on price when we checked |
| Buyers who want 100% sRGB colour coverage | 24B35H3 | 100% sRGB colour coverage |
| Buyers who want 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price in this list at the time of writing | SE2426H | A 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price in this list at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want 144Hz with FreeSync | TECLAST 16 | 144Hz with FreeSync |
| Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates | G25F2A | The highest refresh rate here (240Hz) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The G25F2A leads on refresh rate at 240Hz, ahead of the G24B36N at 180Hz.
| Monitor | Refresh rate | Resolution | Size | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G24B36N | 180Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 23.8 inches | VA |
| 24B35H3 | 120Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 24 inches | IPS |
| SE2426H | 144Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 23.8 inches | IPS |
| TECLAST 16 | 144Hz | 1920x1200 | 16 inches | IPS |
| G25F2A | 240Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 24.5 inches | SuperSpeed IPS |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the highest refresh rate: the G25F2A or the G24B36N?
The G25F2A leads at 240Hz, with the G24B36N at 180Hz. The 24B35H3 is at the other end of this group with 120Hz.
Is the G25F2A ahead of the 24B35H3 on screen size?
The G25F2A leads at 24.5 inches, with the 24B35H3 at 24 inches. The TECLAST 16 is at the other end of this group with 16 inches.
What does the G25F2A add over the G24B36N?
On paper it adds refresh rate (240Hz against 180Hz) and screen size (24.5 inches against 23.8 inches). The G24B36N was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
Why is the G25F2A our Fastest Refresh pick?
It earns the label for the highest refresh rate here (240Hz). It suits esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates.
Do the G24B36N and the TECLAST 16 differ on resolution?
The G24B36N, the 24B35H3, the SE2426H and the G25F2A use 1920x1080 (1080p); the TECLAST 16 uses 1920x1200.
What extras do the G24B36N and the 24B35H3 include?
The G24B36N: HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs. The 24B35H3: 100% sRGB colour coverage. The SE2426H: a 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price in this list at the time of writing.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the G24B36N, chosen for undercutting the 24B35H3 on price when we checked. Look at the 24B35H3 for 100% sRGB colour coverage, the SE2426H for a 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price in this list at the time of writing and the TECLAST 16 for 144Hz with FreeSync if those matter more to you.
Use the cable in the box; older cables can cap the refresh rate.