If you’ve been gaming for a while or just have a somewhat older monitor, it might be worth considering buying a new one. There have been a lot of excellent advances over the past few years, and you’ll be surprised at the pace of innovation that we’re seeing. You can even get 4k monitors that run at or above 144Hz refresh rates, an unthought-of proposition only a few years back. Even if you want something mid-range, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get quality.
Samsung is known for its high-end gaming monitors, so if you want to go with a Samsung option, this is probably the cheapest. It runs an FHD resolution with an IPS panel and has a 75Hz refresh rate.
This 27-inch Sceptre monitor features a sleek, nearly bezel-less design, which makes it a great choice if you’ve got a multimonitor setup, and it’s equipped with both DisplayPort and HDMI ports. It has an IPS display with a speedy 144Hz refresh rate. It’s also rated for 450 nits of brightness and runs at QHD, which is excellent for a monitor at this price.
This 27-inch Pixio monitor is a great value even at its full list price, and at Amazon, you can pick it up for even less. It features a QHD resolution along with AMD FreeSync and a speedy 144Hz refresh rate if you want to use it for gaming in addition to work. It’s rated for an ample 350 nits of brightness. Just be sure to clip the coupon to get the full deal.
Asus’ TUF gaming monitor can manage the more standard 165Hz refresh rate that you might see on high-end gaming monitors. It’s not only well-priced, but it also has AMD FreeSync Premium, Extreme Low Motion Blur tech and its own speakers, so you don’t have to get an independent set if you mostly rely on headphones.
The Asus TUF lineup of gear is made to be budget-friendly, but that doesn’t mean it’s not powerful. This 27-inch monitor not only runs a QHD resolution, but it can also manage a hefty 170Hz refresh rate, making it a great option for those who like to play FPS games competitively.
While curved monitors aren’t as big now as they used to be, there are still some good options with budget pricing. This one from Gigabyte can handle both a QHD resolution and an impressive 165Hz refresh rate, plus it comes with some nice additions like FreeSync Premium and HDR.
If you’re a fan of Samsung, then you’ll really like this 1440p 32-inch curved monitor with excellent image reproduction and fidelity. It has a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time and FreeSync Premium. Interestingly enough, it also comes with HDR10 support, although it won’t be the same that you might see on TV.
Samsung’s M7B Series is a smart monitor, and if you’re not familiar with what that is, we don’t blame you. Essentially, it functions similarly to a smart TV, giving you access to Samsung’s Tizen Smart TV platform, so you can use it as a smart TV if you want. More importantly, it does allow you to access some productivity software without the need to turn your PC on, as well as some streaming to monitor using DEX.
Curved screens can be a lot of fun, and this one from MSI is perfect if you want to do some gaming since it can hit a 144Hz refresh rate. It also comes with three months of free YouTube Premium and six months of Norton 360. Even better, there’s an offer that gives you 20% off select Logitech hardware and accessories. Just be aware that the offer only applies if you have My Best Buy Plus or Total.
While the Samsung Odyssey G7 is a bit expensive, it’s probably one of the best curved gaming monitors you’re going to find out there. It runs on 4k, but also does a 144Hz refresh rate and comes with both FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync. the 1ms response time is also great, although the 350nits of peak brightness could be a bit better, especially if you have a lot of light in your gaming area.
