Monitors have seen a number of advances over the years — you’d 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. And luckily, they’ve also come down in price across the board. So whether you want something mid, high, or low range, it doesn’t have to break the bank.
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 Acer monitor has a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution, which is pretty decent for its size. It also uses so-called EyeSafe display, which allows for less strain on your eyes. Other features of this monitor include easy height, swivel and tilit adjustment, AMD FreeSync technology and built-in speakers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This budget 32-inch monitor is ideal for those who want a second display. No, it’s not 4K, but its 1,920×1,080 resolution will be enough for most people — and it’s hard to beat the price.
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.
