Favorite Budget Monitors Comparison
Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5 - Very Ergonomic
- Good Color Accuracy
- Has Integrated Eye Protection
Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5 - Good for Multi-monitor Use
- Decent Budget Gaming Specs
- Very Affordable
Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5 - Excellent Gaming Specs
- Convenient for Any Setup
- Supports Syncing Technology
What to Look for in the Best Budget Monitor
The best budget monitors will have precisely the features you need for your intended purposes without having any extra features so you don’t have to pay extra for having features you don’t need. You can find relatively powerful monitors with decent specs for any purpose for relatively cheap prices, but you will have to settle in some ways because the overall quality of a monitor is usually determined by what price you are willing to pay for it.
Budget Gaming Monitor Features
The best budget gaming monitor will not sacrifice in its refresh rate or response time. Everywhere else you will have to accept that it is going to be lower quality than a more expensive monitor. The most important part of a monitor when it comes to gaming is the refresh rate and the response time, with a secondary consideration for the resolution.
You want to at least be able to play games at 1080p as that is the standard for most games and it is easy to find cheap 1080p monitors. Anything over that is just icing on the cake. If you are primarily a console gamer then you only need a 60 Hz refresh rate which makes things much cheaper and easier to find. The response time should always be 5 milliseconds or less, less is better.
Best Budget Monitor
1. Dell P2419H
Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5 Product Features- The P2419H comes with Dell’s proprietary ComfortView technology to reduce blue light emissions and protect your eyes from damage and strain.
- It implements Flicker-free technology to reduce or eliminate any fatigue your eyes might suffer from while using this monitor for a long time.
- Dell’s Custom Color feature is implemented to ensure that this monitor produces colors that even the most sensitive individual will appreciate.
- The LED Edgelight System is used to ensure that there are no corner shadows that you would usually find on cheap IPS monitors.
- It has an ergonomic stand that can swivel, pivot, tilt, and adjust the height for use in any situation and at any angle.
| Dell P2419H | Header |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 24 inches |
| Display Panel | LED, In-Plane Switching (IPS) |
| Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Response Time | 8 – 5 ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Speakers | Yes |
| G-Sync / FreeSync | No |
| Features | Dell ComfortView, Flicker-Free, Dell Custom Color, LED Edgelight System, Ergonomic Stand |
| Ports / Connectivity | VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort |
This is not recommended for gaming. This is the best budget monitor for quality of life features. I especially felt the effects of the ComfortView settings and really appreciated them.
Pros
- Very Ergonomic
- Good Color Accuracy
- Has Integrated Eye Protection
Cons
- You have to pay extra for the HDMI cable
Conclusion:
2. Acer SB220QAcer SB220Q
Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5 Product Features-
The SB220Q has an extremely thin frame that is pleasing to the eye and especially convenient if you plan to pick up two of them and use them side-by-side.
-
The stand has tilt support so you can adjust the viewing angle to suit your needs.
-
The viewing angles are wide and tall so that you can see what’s on the screen clearly from anywhere.
-
It is ENERGY STAR compliant which means it is especially energy-efficient for its size and resolution.
-
It comes with a Kensington Security Lock slot if you are concerned about your monitor being stolen.
| Acer SB220Q bi | Header |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 21.5 inches |
| Display Panel | LED, In-Plane Switching (IPS) |
| Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
| Refresh Rate | 75 Hz |
| Response Time | 4 ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Speakers | No |
| G-Sync / FreeSync | FreeSync |
| Features | Thin frame, Tiltable, Wide Viewing Angles, ENERGY STAR Certified, Kensington Security Lock |
| Ports / Connectivity | VGA, HDMI |
Acer’s SB220Q bi is a good pick for console gamers looking for a cheap monitor. It has a high refresh rate for console gaming and a decently low response time as well. This is the best budget computer monitor if you need something versatile. I had no problems using this with my Xbox or PS4.
Pros
- Good for Multi-monitor Use
- Decent Budget Gaming Specs
- Very Affordable
Cons
- You must supply the connector cables yourself
Conclusion:
3. ViewSonic XG2402
Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5 Product Features-
This monitor supports VESA mounting, so it should be easy to add to your current setup or to add new monitors around it later.
-
It has an integrated USB hub to plug in your peripheral equipment.
-
You can use the “Game Mode Hotkey” to customize your visual settings and optimize them specifically for gaming.
-
It has an ergonomic stand that is capable of moving into any position for maximum viewing comfort.
-
It comes with an integrated cable management solution on the back of the stand to help keep you organized.
| ViewSonic XG2402 | Header |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 24 inches |
| Display Panel | LCD, Twisted Nematic (TN) |
| Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| Response Time | 1 ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Speakers | Yes |
| G-Sync / FreeSync | FreeSync |
| Features | VESA Compatible, USB Hub, Game Mode Hotkey, Ergonomic Stand, Cable Management Solution |
| Ports / Connectivity | DisplayPort, HDMI |
The XG2402 from ViewSonic is by far the best cheap monitor for gaming on this list. PC gamers should look to this monitor for their budget gaming needs as it has a very high refresh rate and an extremely fast response time as well. Use this monitor to get the most out of your gaming experience. I really felt like I was getting the most out of my PC’s potential with this monitor.
Pros
- Excellent Gaming Specs
- Convenient for Any Setup
- Supports Syncing Technology
Cons
- Has a relatively thick frame
Conclusion:
4. LG 32MA70HY-P
Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5 Product Features-
It is capable of splitting the screen for increased efficiency and productivity.
-
It has reader mode for reducing blue light emissions and protecting your eyes.
-
It can be mounted on the wall using VESA mounts.
-
There are easy and convenient to use on-screen controls for adjusting the visual settings.
-
It is designed to be as space-efficient as possible, even considering its size.
| LG 32MA70HY-P | Header |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 32 inches |
| Display Panel | LED, In-Plane Switching (IPS) |
| Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
| Refresh Rate | 65 Hz |
| Response Time | 5 ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Speakers | No |
| G-Sync / FreeSync | No |
| Features | Screen Split, Reader Mode, VESA Compatible, On-Screen Controls, Space Efficient |
| Ports / Connectivity | HDMI, DisplayPort, D-sub |
If you spend a lot of your time working with multiple text documents then the 32MA70HY-P from LG is the best budget monitor for you. It allows for screen splitting so you can view all of your documents at once with no trouble. I found the screen split especially useful on this monitor for working with many text documents at once.
Pros
- Increases Productivity and Efficiency
- Can be Wall Mounted
- Has Eye Protection Mode
Cons
- Wall mounting is difficult due to the video ports being horizontal instead of vertical
Conclusion:
5. Samsung C27F398
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5 Product Features-
The panel is curved to increase immersion and reduce distractions.
-
There is an Eye Saver Mode function to protect your eyes from damaging light.
-
It is eco-friendly and energy-efficient.
-
It has a Game Mode feature that optimizes visual quality for gaming.
-
You can use the Samsung MagicBright feature to optimize brightness for different activities.
| Samsung C27F398 | Header |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 27 inches |
| Display Panel | LED, Vertical Alignment (VA) |
| Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Response Time | 4 ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Speakers | Yes |
| G-Sync / FreeSync | FreeSync |
| Features | Curved, Eye Saver Mode, Eco-Friendly, Game Mode, Samsung MagicBright |
| Ports / Connectivity | DisplayPort, HDMI |
If you want a curved monitor for gaming or media consumption then Samsung’s C27F398 is for you. It uses a curved panel so you don’t have to be worried about being distracted from your content and it includes many features to increase visual quality.
Pros
- Many Visual Features
- Interesting Panel Design
- Has Eye Protection Implementation
Cons
- May have backlight bleeding on the edges
Conclusion:
Will Graphics Properties Satisfy You at This Price?
A common aspect of many computer and graphics enthusiasts is that they are rarely satisfied. I know this because I am one myself, and I always want better equipment and am excited at the prospect of upgrading something I already have. If you are going to be purchasing equipment on a budget, you are unlikely to be truly satisfied unless you are upgrading from a piece of equipment that is either old or even cheaper than what you are purchasing.
That said, you can find the specs you need for most purposes on a budget, you just have to make sacrifices on things you may want to get the things you need.
How About Ergonomics?
Ergonomics are what I call “quality of life features” and they are the first thing to go out the door when you are on a budget. Quality of life features are things that make you more comfortable while you are using your equipment, which means they aren’t necessary and they cost extra money to have them.
You can find ergonomic equipment on a budget, but if certain ergonomic requirements are something you can’t budge on, you will have to make a sacrifice in performance to get them. As long as you understand that and are willing to accept it going into your shopping endeavors, then you should be fine finding cheap computer monitors that suit your needs.
What Design & Style Can You Get on a Tight Budget?
Design and style also fall under the banner of “quality of life features” which means all of the things I said about ergonomics apply here as well. Having a setup that looks nice, feels nice and it is certainly something you should consider when making purchases, but only if you have the luxury of doing so.
The first thing in your mind should always be to ensure that you are getting what you need first, and then adding on quality of life features as your budget allows. If you are looking for cheap monitors then it is because you know you can’t afford to have everything, which means you need to prioritize well and I assure you that the specs matter more than how something looks.
