The Best Budget Gaming Monitors Under $150

On refresh rate it leads this guide at 260Hz, ahead of the SE2426HG (240Hz). Its 25 inches screen size ranks second of 6 here, behind the 27G414B (27 inches) and ahead of the MP243L (23.8 inches). Like the 27G414B, it has a G-SYNC Compatible, while the KG241Y X1 uses a FreeSync Premium.

At 1080p, 260Hz 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. When we checked, only the SE2426HG and cheaper picks cost less, and the 27G414B cost more.

It costs about $100 at the time of writing. On refresh rate it sits mid-pack at 240Hz: the 25G51Z offers 260Hz, and the MP243L comes in at 144Hz. It matches the KG241Y X1, the G24B36N and the MP243L on screen size (23.8 inches).

You get a fast IPS panel here, which sets it apart from the 27G414B and its an IPS panel. 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. It was priced above the KG241Y X1 and below the 25G51Z at the time of writing.

It is a solid first gaming monitor. Its 200Hz refresh rate ranks third of 6 here, behind the 25G51Z (260Hz) and ahead of the MP243L (144Hz). On screen size it ties with the SE2426HG, the G24B36N and the MP243L at 23.8 inches.

You get a FreeSync Premium here, which sets it apart from the 27G414B and its a G-SYNC Compatible. It also comes with 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. On price it sat third of 6, between the cheaper MP243L and the pricier SE2426HG, at the time of writing.

It puts a larger screen within a tight budget. It matches the MP243L on refresh rate (144Hz). Nothing else here matches its 27 inches screen size; the 25G51Z comes closest at 25 inches.

It shares a G-SYNC Compatible with the 25G51Z; the MP243L goes with a FreeSync. It also comes with built-in stereo speakers and LG Switch app window layouts. At 1080p, 144Hz 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. It was the highest-priced of the 6 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the 25G51Z and the rest.

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 fourth of 6 here, behind the 25G51Z (260Hz) and ahead of the MP243L (144Hz).

On screen size it ties with the SE2426HG, the KG241Y X1 and the MP243L at 23.8 inches. It is the only pick here with a VA panel; the 25G51Z has an IPS panel instead. It also offers 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 MP243L was the next step up.

It is one of the lowest-priced monitors here. It matches the 27G414B on refresh rate (144Hz). On screen size it ties with the SE2426HG, the KG241Y X1 and the G24B36N at 23.8 inches.

You get a FreeSync here, which sets it apart from the 25G51Z and its a G-SYNC Compatible. It also comes with flicker-free and low blue light modes, 1500:1 contrast and the lowest price tier among these gaming picks. At 1080p, 144Hz 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 6, between the cheaper G24B36N and the pricier KG241Y X1, at the time of writing. The trade-off is refresh rate; for more, the 25G51Z offers 260Hz.