Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Monitors Under $150
We weighed five monitors on refresh rate and screen size; the 25G51Z has the highest refresh rate, and the G24B36N costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Under $150, the trade-offs are sharper, so it helps to know which spec you can give up. Every monitor here cost $150 or less when we checked and refreshes at 120Hz or more, ordered by refresh rate.
The order reflects refresh rate, resolution and size from maker specifications; we did not test these monitors ourselves, and a missing panel is flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Fastest Refresh
AOC 25G51Z
The highest refresh rate here (260Hz).
Best for: Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates.
SuperSpeed IPS Panel
GIGABYTE G25F2A
A superSpeed IPS panel.
Best for: Buyers who want a superSpeed IPS panel.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE G25F2A (opens in a new tab)
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)
Also Consider
Acer Nitro KG251Q X3
A 200Hz refresh rate under $90 at the time of writing.
Best for: Buyers who want 200Hz refresh rate under $90 at the time of writing.
Our take Check price for Acer Nitro KG251Q X3 (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
AOC G24B36N
Undercutting the KG251Q X3 on price when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The highest refresh rate here (260Hz). | Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates. | Check price for AOC 25G51Z (opens in a new tab) |
| A superSpeed IPS panel. | Buyers who want a superSpeed IPS panel. | Check price for GIGABYTE G25F2A (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest screen size here (27 inches). | Buyers who put screen size first. | Check price for Dell 27 SE2726HG 240Hz (opens in a new tab) |
| A 200Hz refresh rate under $90 at the time of writing. | Buyers who want 200Hz refresh rate under $90 at the time of writing. | Check price for Acer Nitro KG251Q X3 (opens in a new tab) |
| Undercutting the KG251Q X3 on price when we checked. | Keeping the budget tight. | Check price for AOC G24B36N (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Fastest Refresh1 of 5
AOC 25G51Z on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 25G51Z reaches 260Hz overclocked on a 25-inch IPS panel, the highest refresh here.
Best for
- Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the G24B36N cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
On refresh rate it leads this guide at 260Hz, ahead of the G25F2A (240Hz). Its 25 inches screen size ranks second of 5 here, behind the SE2726HG (27 inches) and ahead of the G24B36N (23.8 inches). An IPS panel is unique to it among these picks, while the G24B36N uses a VA panel.
No other pick in this guide offers a G-SYNC Compatible; compare the G25F2A, which has 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 G25F2A and cheaper picks cost less, and the SE2726HG cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 260Hz
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size: 25 inches
- Panel: IPS
- Response: 0.5ms
- Adaptive sync: G-SYNC Compatible
Pros
- a 260Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- G-SYNC Compatible to reduce screen tearing
- Screen size of 25 inches, ahead of the G25F2A
Cons
- Costs more than the G24B36N at the time of writing
SuperSpeed IPS Panel2 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
- Buyers who want a superSpeed IPS panel.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when hDR10 support without a DisplayHDR certificatio is a problem.
Why we like it
It is the pick for fast games. On refresh rate it ties with the SE2726HG at 240Hz. It matches the KG251Q X3 on screen size (24.5 inches).
A SuperSpeed IPS panel is unique to it among these picks, while the G24B36N uses a VA panel. Like the KG251Q X3, it has a FreeSync Premium, while the 25G51Z uses a G-SYNC Compatible. It also comes with 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. When we checked, only the KG251Q X3 and cheaper picks cost less, and the 25G51Z cost more.
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
Largest Screen Size3 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
- Skip it if price comes first: the G24B36N 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. It matches the G25F2A on refresh rate (240Hz).
Its 27 inches screen size is the largest here; the 25G51Z comes next at 25 inches. It is the only pick here with a fast IPS panel; the G24B36N has a VA panel instead. 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 the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the 25G51Z.
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 G24B36N at the time of writing
Also Consider4 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 want 200Hz refresh rate under $90 at the time of writing.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the G24B36N, which cost less when we checked.
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.
On refresh rate it sits mid-pack at 200Hz: the 25G51Z offers 260Hz, and the G24B36N comes in at 180Hz. It matches the G25F2A on screen size (24.5 inches). Like the G25F2A, it has a FreeSync Premium, while the 25G51Z uses a G-SYNC Compatible.
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. When we checked, only the G24B36N cost less, and the G25F2A cost more.
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 G24B36N
Cons
- Costs more than the G24B36N at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here5 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
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 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 is the lowest in this group; the 25G51Z leads at 260Hz.
On screen size it trails the group at 23.8 inches, while the SE2726HG comes in at 27 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 KG251Q X3 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
- VA panel, the only one here
Cons
- a VA panel that can smear dark transitions
- Refresh rate trails the 25G51Z (260Hz)
- Screen size trails the SE2726HG (27 inches)
How We Chose These Gaming Monitors Under $150
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 25G51Z to the G24B36N, state refresh rate, resolution and screen size and share 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The KG251Q X3 gives no panel; the SE2726HG gives no response.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the G24B36N ($50 to $100) to the SE2726HG ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in a Gaming Monitor Under $150
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Refresh rate across these picks
Here refresh rate runs from 180Hz on the G24B36N to 260Hz on the 25G51Z. The G25F2A comes second for less money.
How much screen size you need
Here screen size runs from 23.8 inches on the G24B36N to 27 inches on the SE2726HG. For less, the 25G51Z is the runner-up at 25 inches.
Response
The 25G51Z, the KG251Q X3 and the G24B36N list 0.5ms; the G25F2A lists 1ms.
Extras that separate them
The SE2726HG: PC and console tear-free play. The KG251Q X3: a 200Hz refresh rate under $90 at the time of writing. The G24B36N: an overclocked 180Hz mode above 144Hz native.
Where your budget lands
$50 to $100 buys the G24B36N, the KG251Q X3 and the G25F2A; $100 to $150 buys the 25G51Z and the SE2726HG at our last check.
How to Choose a Gaming Monitor Under $150
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates | 25G51Z | The highest refresh rate here (260Hz) |
| Buyers who want a superSpeed IPS panel | G25F2A | A superSpeed IPS panel |
| Buyers who put screen size first | SE2726HG | The largest screen size here (27 inches) |
| Buyers who want 200Hz refresh rate under $90 at the time of writing | KG251Q X3 | A 200Hz refresh rate under $90 at the time of writing |
| Keeping the budget tight | G24B36N | Undercutting the KG251Q X3 on price when we checked |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The 25G51Z leads on refresh rate at 260Hz, ahead of the G25F2A at 240Hz. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Monitor | Refresh rate | Resolution | Size | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25G51Z | 260Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 25 inches | IPS |
| G25F2A | 240Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 24.5 inches | SuperSpeed IPS |
| SE2726HG | 240Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 27 inches | Fast IPS |
| KG251Q X3 | 200Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 24.5 inches | Not listed |
| G24B36N | 180Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 23.8 inches | VA |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The G24B36N was the lowest-priced pick and the SE2726HG the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Monitors |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | G24B36N, KG251Q X3, G25F2A |
| About $100 to $150 | 25G51Z, SE2726HG |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 25G51Z ahead of the G25F2A on refresh rate?
The 25G51Z leads at 260Hz, with the G25F2A at 240Hz. The G24B36N is at the other end of this group with 180Hz.
How does the 25G51Z compare with the SE2726HG on screen size?
The SE2726HG leads at 27 inches, with the 25G51Z at 25 inches. The G24B36N is at the other end of this group with 23.8 inches.
What does the SE2726HG add over the G24B36N?
On paper it adds refresh rate (240Hz against 180Hz) and screen size (27 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 SE2726HG our Largest Screen Size pick?
It earns the label for the largest screen size here (27 inches). It suits anyone who put screen size first.
Do the 25G51Z and the G25F2A differ on panel?
The 25G51Z uses IPS; the G25F2A uses SuperSpeed IPS; the SE2726HG uses Fast IPS; the G24B36N uses VA. The maker of the KG251Q X3 doesn't say.
What extras do the 25G51Z and the G25F2A include?
The 25G51Z: an overclocked 260Hz refresh rate. The G25F2A: a 240Hz refresh rate under $100 at the time of writing. The SE2726HG: 240Hz on a 27-inch 1080p panel.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the 25G51Z. Look at the G25F2A for a superSpeed IPS panel, the SE2726HG for the largest screen size here (27 inches) and the KG251Q X3 for a 200Hz refresh rate under $90 at the time of writing if those matter more to you.
Use the cable in the box; older cables can cap the refresh rate.