Best Gaming Monitor Under $200 – The Ultimate Guide

High refresh rates, low response times, and crisp visuals are essential qualities in any good monitor. However, finding the all-in-one package with a $200 budget can take time and effort. 

A monitor is an essential piece of equipment to own if you’re serious about gaming. It gives you an immersive experience only when you make the right choice. 

Keep reading, and you’ll also discover how to choose the best gaming monitor under 200. Let’s go! 

How to Choose the Best Gaming Monitor Under 200

Before choosing a good affordable gaming monitor, you must brush up on the requirements that guarantee value for your money. 

The tips below will help you make an informed decision that meet your needs and budget: 

Check the Refresh Rate

The refresh rate in gaming monitors refers to the number of times the screen updates with new images per second. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the gameplay will be. 144hz gaming monitors are the most common, and a general rule of thumb is to avoid going below it. 

Confirm the Response Time

The response time of a monitor is the time it takes for a pixel to change from one color to another. A low response time helps gamers avoid motion blur and ghosting. The best option for avid gamers is a response time of 1 ms or less.

Consider the Resolution

The resolution of a monitor is the number of pixels displayed on the screen. The higher the resolution, the more detail you’ll be able to see. Choosing a monitor with a resolution of at least 1920×1080 (Full HD) or 2560×1440 (Quad HD) is recommended for gaming.

Panel Technology

There are three main types of panel monitors: TN, IPS, and VA. 

TN panels are the most common and are known for their fast response times, but they have poorer viewing angles and color accuracy. IPS panels have excellent color accuracy and viewing angles but respond slower. VA panels have the best contrast ratios but can have slow response times and motion blur.

Sync Technology

Sync technologies like AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync help to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering by syncing the monitor’s refresh rate with the graphics card’s output. It’s recommended to choose a monitor that supports one of these technologies if your graphics card supports it.

Determine the Size 

Choosing the monitor size is a matter of personal preference, but a larger monitor can provide a more immersive experience for gaming. However, a larger monitor may require a higher resolution to avoid pixelation.

The most common monitor sizes for gaming are 24-inch screens or 27-inch monitors. They provide plenty of screen room, which maximizes your experience with modern gaming.

Consider your Budget 

There’s nothing wrong with cheap monitors if you have a tight budget. Typically, gaming monitors can range in price from under $100 to over $1000. 

Whatever decision you choose, the endgame should be choosing a monitor that meets your needs and budget.

Types of Gaming Monitors 

There are many categories of gaming monitors in the market. Each one has unique features and benefits. 

You’ll want to know the different types before finally choosing the best monitor for gaming. Here are some of the most common types:

• TN (Twisted Nematic) monitors: The most common and affordable gaming monitors. Their response times are fast, with high refresh rates. However, they can also have limited viewing angles and color accuracy.
• IPS (In-Plane Switching) monitors: IPS monitors are great because they have wider viewing angles and better color accuracy. However, their downside is their slower response times and higher input lag.
• VA (Vertical Alignment) monitors: VA monitors offer deep blacks and high contrast ratios, making them ideal for dark or cinematic single-player games. But generally, they can have slower response times than TN and IPS monitors.
• Ultrawide monitors: Ultrawide monitors offer a larger screen, with an aspect ratio of 21:9 or higher. They are fantastic for immersive gaming experiences in terms of plenty of screen space.
• Curved monitors: Curved monitors have a slight curve that can enhance the gaming experience by providing a more immersive and natural field of view.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) monitors: These monitors offer better color accuracy and contrast and can display a wider range of colors than non-HDR monitors.
• 4K monitors: 4K monitors have a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels, which is four times the resolution of a standard 1080p monitor. They offer incredible detail and clarity for gaming but need a powerful graphics card to run smoothly.

The Top Five Gaming Monitors Under $200 

Are you ready to learn more about the best budget gaming monitors? Here you go: 

1. Acer Nitro XFA243Y

The Acer Nitro XFA243Y is the key to high performance in gaming. Its 23.8-inch Full HD IPS panel offers wide viewing angles of your gameplay at a lightning-fast 144Hz refresh rate. 

The monitor has a 1ms response time, which can be likened to the speed of a professional athlete’s reflexes. In other words, the same way athletes train their bodies to react fast to a stimulus, the Acer Nitro XFA243Y responds almost instantly to your commands. 

At this rate, you will always catch every single frame even while playing fast-paced games.

Acer’s AMD FreeSync technology synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with your graphics card. This eliminates screen tearing and minimizes stuttering for a seamless gaming experience. 

And with a fast 1ms response time, this monitor ensures that every action you take is displayed on-screen with incredible speed and precision.

This attribute also helps minimize storage consumption, leaving more space for other things. 

Gaming-centric features like Black Boost technology, which enhances visibility in dark scenes, and GameView, which allows you to adjust game settings, are also part of Acer’s complete package.

You can also use various connectivity options like HDMI, display port, and USB 3.0 to interact with different devices.

The design of the Nitro XFA243Y is sleek. It’s modern aesthetic features a narrow bezel that maximizes screen space and reduces distractions. And with an adjustable stand that allows you to tilt, swivel, and adjust the monitor’s height, you will find the perfect viewing angle for your gaming setup.

In a nutshell, the Acer Nitro XFA243Y is your go-to gaming monitor if you’re looking for exceptional performance, stunning visuals, and a range of features that will undoubtedly take your gaming experience to the next level.

What are you waiting for? Check it out now. 

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2. AOC g2490VX Class Frameless Monitor

Whether you’re looking to upgrade or begin your journey with gaming setups, AOC g2490VX Class Frameless Monitor is the perfect addition.

It sports a sleek and modern design, with a 23.8-inch display that guarantees gameplay immersion. The frameless design expands the viewing area, while the Full HD resolution and 1ms response time improve the visual experience.

This monitor features a 144Hz refresh rate, which means that fast-paced games like first-person shooters and racing games will display smoothly without lagging or stuttering. A 144Hz refresh rate means the 24-inch monitor displays images up to 144 times per second.

This results in a smoother and more responsive gaming experience when playing your favorite games.

The g2490VX is one of those budget gaming monitors with many unique features. For instance, the blue light filter will prevent migraines when immersed in a game for hours. It also uses flicker-free technology, which means goodbye to headaches and eye strain when gaming.

With its AMD FreeSync technology version, this gaming monitor synchronizes its refresh rate with that of your graphics card to prevent tearing and stuttering.

Furthermore, the monitor also comes with AOC’s Game Color feature, which offers a variety of pre-set vibrant colors to enhance different types of games. Think about it – the ability to improve the gaming display easily through the settings gives you an advantage in competitive gaming.

For instance, the FPS mode helps to highlight enemies in first-person shooters, while the Racing mode provides a more vibrant and immersive experience for racing games. Its VA panel will also improve your gaming session by making it as life-like as possible.

You can use the AOC g2490VX for other functions like watching movies or browsing the web. It is one of those wide frameless gaming monitors that have a design and wide viewing angles that are perfect for multitasking, while the fast response time ensures smooth video playback.

With the tilt adjustment feature, you can customize the monitor’s stand, height, or angle for excellent performance. Thanks to the VESA mount compatibility, you can mount it on a wall or arm to free up desk space.

The AOC g2490VX Class Frameless Monitor is a top-performing gaming monitor that offers excellent value at affordable prices. Its fast refresh rate, screen size, accurate colors, and attractive design make it an excellent addition to any gamer’s setup when the aim is taking gaming to the next level. 

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3. KOOURUI 27 Inch QHD Gaming Monitor

Check out the KOOURUI 27 Inch QHD Gaming Monitor if you fancy wider viewing angles. It gives casual and hardcore gamers a smoother experience.

The larger screen of the KOOURUI QHD gaming monitor is attached to a sleek and stylish chassis sporting a resolution of 2560 x 1440. This pixel density is better because it provides a crystal-clear picture, making gameplay more attractive and appealing.

The ultrawide monitor exhibits a fast Hz response time (144Hz refresh rate) and a 1ms response time, so you’ll constantly enjoy smooth and uninterrupted gameplay without input lag, ghosting, or blurring vision.

If you often spend a lot of time behind your gaming monitor, your body will experience fewer episodes of eye fatigue because of the KOOURUI technology.

Whether battling it out in a fast-paced shooter or exploring a vast open world, this monitor ensures you keep up with the action in the gaming space.

Like the other cheap monitors on our list, one of the KOOURUI QHD monitor’s additional features is the AMD FreeSync technology. And with a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees, you can enjoy the same stunning visuals no matter where you’re sitting.

This g-sync monitor has a 90% color gamut, which means its color reproduction is state-of-the-art for the sub-$200 price point.

But the KOOURUI Gaming Monitor isn’t just about performance. It boasts a sleek, stylish design that looks great on your desk space. With a slim bezel and a stand fully adjustable for height, tilt, and swivel, you can customize your setup to suit your preferences and enjoy a comfortable gaming experience for hours.

If you want to enjoy first-person experiences while playing your favorite games, the KOOURUI 27 Inch QHD gaming monitor is an absolute steal. Competitive gamers will especially agree because of the gaming PCs’ Timer Function. It’s an additional feature that offers you to track average response time while playing some video games.

The ultrawide monitor is a top-of-the-line choice for gamers and professionals who demand the best performance, style, and functionality. Upgrade your gaming setup today for the ultimate experience in visual clarity, speed, and immersion.

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4. Z-Edge UG27P Curved Gaming Monitor

The Z-Edge UG27P curved display gaming monitor uses a 1920 x 1080 resolution. It is a 27-inch monitor that flaunts a 240Hz refresh rate with a response time of 1 ms (gray-to-gray).

It has horizontal and vertical alignment options, with an 85% NTSC color gamut. The display port and 2 HDMI 2.0 ports are a significant advantage in terms of connectivity because they increase your device options. 

This curved screen from Z-Edge has in-built speakers and an HDMI port for easy connectivity. Because of flicker-free technology, you’ll experience less eye fatigue and headaches from staring at your gaming monitor.

Z-Edge is an affordable monitor with an LED-backlit LCD, ensuring a smoother experience and fluid gameplay.

With a response time of 4ms (gray-to-gray), you can expect crisp and clear images without motion blur or ghosting. The z-Edge UG27P also boasts a high contrast ratio of 3000:1 and a brightness of 250 cd/m², bringing out the finest details and colors in your games. 

The wide viewing angle of 178° (horizontal and vertical) ensures that everyone in the room can enjoy the action on the screen.

The z-Edge UG27P is VESA mount compatible, making it easy to mount on a wall or monitor arm for a customized setup. Measuring 24.5 x 18.4 x 9.5 inches (with a stand) and weighing only 11.5 lbs, this monitor is compact and lightweight, making it easy to move around or take to LAN parties.

Overall, the z-Edge UG27P Curved Gaming Monitor is a high-quality display with exceptional image quality, large screen size, fast performance, and a sleek design. Whether you’re a professional gamer or just someone who enjoys gaming, it is one of those budget monitors that guarantee an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.

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5. MSI MAG2732 27” Gaming Monitor 

The MSI MAG2732 27-inch monitor is a high-performance display that will take your gaming experience to the next level. With a fast 165Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, this monitor delivers smooth and fluid visuals, making it perfect for competitive gamers.

It offers unique features like a cable lock slot and an on-screen display. Another necessary functionality that’s worth the hype is the wide color gamut. This ensures you enjoy vivid colors even during fast-paced gaming.

The 27″ display features a Full HD resolution of 1920×1080 and is equipped with HDR technology to enhance color and contrast. The monitor also supports AMD FreeSync Premium technology, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering and ensuring a seamless gaming experience.

There’s also an adjustable stand with tilt adjustment options for better gaming.

With the NVIDIA G-sync technology, the MSI gaming monitor seamlessly matches the frame rate monitor with the GPU.

The monitor’s IPS panel provides a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees, allowing you to view the display from virtually any angle without color distortion. This is great for first-person shooters or other fast-paced competitive games.

The monitor also has a low blue light mode, which helps reduce eye strain during extended gaming sessions. Your eyes will also thank you because of the anti-flicker technology the MSI brand uses.

Picture and screen quality aren’t lagging either, and the display settings can be adjusted to improve the brightness.

The sleek and modern design features a thin bezel and a sturdy stand that provides excellent stability. The stand offers height, tilt, and swivel adjustments, allowing you to position the monitor to your preferred viewing angle.

Of all the appealing features of the MSI MAG2732 27″ Gaming Monitor, the night vision functionality appeals the most to gamers.

Coupled with endless flexibility (you can adjust the physical screen to any angle to optimize your experience), gamers who want a high-performance display with advanced features should undoubtedly check out this 27-inch monitor. 

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Conclusion 

Nowadays, you don’t have to sacrifice performance while on a budget. With $200 or less, you can enjoy an immersive gaming experience on a curved screen or frameless gaming monitor. 

What are you waiting for? The best gaming monitor under $200 may be just what you need to maximize your gaming sessions.