Picking the best gaming monitor while you’re on a budget can be tricky. You should know which factors are okay to let go of and which ones are essential for an excellent gaming experience.
No matter how fantastic a game is, pairing it with a low-quality monitor can lead to a terrible gaming experience, and we don’t want that for you.
For this reason, we have made you a list of the best gaming monitors under $150 on the market. We tried to pinpoint the best feature of each one so that you know which of them suits your needs.
What’s more, we wrote you a buying guide, including the crucial factors that should be on your checklist while shopping for one.
These are our choice for the best gaming monitors for the money:
- AOC C24G1 – Best Curved Monitor
- BenQ ZOWIE RL2455S – Best For Console Gaming
- LG 24MP59G-P – Premium Pick
- Acer Nitro VG240Y – Best Frameless Monitor
- ViewSonic VX2452MH – Best Connectivity Options
Best Budget Gaming Monitors Under $150 – (Comparison Table)
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | AOC C24G1 |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Best For Console Gaming  | BenQ ZOWIE RL2455S |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Premium Pick  | LG 24MP59G-P |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Best Frameless Monitor  | Acer Nitro VG240Y |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Best Connectivity Options  | ViewSonic VX2452MH |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Best Gaming Monitors Under $150
1#. AOC C24G1 – Best Curved Monitor
This is the current price of these AOC C24G1 24″ Curved Frameless Gaming Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
Gamers love curved monitors as they reduce eye strain since the curve matches the natural curvature of the human eye. They also give users a better view of the entire screen at once.
Having said that, I am glad to tell you that on the top five list comes AOC C24G1, which is an excellent 24” curved monitor of 1080p resolution.
The screen also features three frameless sides with very narrow borders, allowing for a multi-monitor setup so that gamers can increase the area available for computer games running on the same computer system.
No matter how many hours you spend staring at the screen, your eyes won’t hurt thanks to the direct current backlighting, which reduces flickering. What’s more, you’ll love the AOC low blue mode that filters the harmful blue lights emitted by the screen.
AOC C24G1 displays smooth images thanks to the impressive 144Hz refresh rate and the fast 1ms response time that offer an instantaneous response to your mouse and keyboard actions. What’s more, rest assured that you’ll get the best contrast and image depth thanks to the VA panel.
You’ll also enjoy crisp images with no tearing or stuttering because the refresh rate and response time are combined with AMD FreeSync that synchronizes the display and GPU in your AMD PC.
The monitor is height-adjustable and VESA mountable, so you can mount it on the wall and save desk space.
Plus, it comes with Displayport, two HDMI 1. 4, and VGA inputs with audio Line-out for convenience.
Pros:
- Curved
- Fast response time
- High refresh rate
- Ergonomic design
- Affordable
Cons:
- Uneven brightness
Bottom Line
AOC C24G1 is the best affordable curved monitor that prevents eye strain. Its 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time ensure a smooth gaming experience with no ghosting or trailing.
This is the current price of these AOC C24G1 24″ Curved Frameless Gaming Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
2#. BenQ ZOWIE RL2455S – Best For Console Gaming
This is the current price of these BenQ ZOWIE RL2455S 24 inch 1080p Gaming Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
BenQ ZOWIE RL2455S is excellent for console gaming since it’s compatible with console and PC platforms. It comes with a compact slip-resistant base that you can use for storing your controller.
Also, since it’s equipped with two HDMI ports, you can connect your gaming console and another HDMI device to the monitor at the same time.
Although the stand is tilt-only, it’s VESA mountable, so you can always mount it to the wall if that’s more comfortable for your neck.
If you think that 24” inches is too small, I’m glad to tell you that it’s perfect as it’s combined with a 1080p resolution, offering an impressive pixel density.
What’s more, the monitor supports a TN panel known for supporting fast response times of 1ms only, allowing for a smooth gaming experience. Plus, it displays images in full HD supporting up to 75 Hz, which you can configure through GPU settings.
Want to play for hours without having any eye strain? Now you can, thanks to the flicker-free technology that offers visual comfort by eliminating flickering at all brightness levels.
Since poor visibility can make you lose the game, BenQ ZOWIE RL2455S features Black eQualizer color engine technology that brightens the dark areas without overdoing the bright ones.
The above feature is especially great for FPS gaming because if your enemy is hiding in one of the dark spots on the map, you will easily spot them.
Pros:
- Built-in speakers
- VESA mountable
- Zero eye strain
Cons:
- Not so good for PC gaming
Bottom Line
BenQ ZOWIE RL2455S is one of the best gaming monitors under $150 for console gaming. It even comes with a place to store your controller. It’s also VESA mountable and prevents any eye strain so you can play with no worries.
This is the current price of these BenQ ZOWIE RL2455S 24 inch 1080p Gaming Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
3#. LG 24MP59G-P – Premium Pick
This is the current price of these LG 24MP59G-P 24-Inch Gaming Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
LG 24MP59G-P is the most expensive option on our list, but it’s worth its money. However, go for it only if your Frames per Second (FPS) do not exceed 75Hz.
Plus, you’ll be able to maintain a higher FPS rate in video games thanks to its 1920 x 1080 resolution, which isn’t demanding on your CPU and GPU.
This resolution works wonders when combined with a 24” screen because it provides an excellent pixel density, allowing for vast screen space and crisp images.
What’s more, rest assured that you’ll have excellent viewing angles as LG 24MP59G-P’s IPS panel offers 178-degree wide viewing angles. In other words, the image doesn’t shift in color, and the brightness of the screen remains impressive regardless of the viewing angle.
Another reason why this IPS panel is great is that it supports fast response times. For example, the monitor in question supports a Full HD display with 1ms Motion Blur Reduction. This means that you can say goodbye to ghosting, trailing, and stuttering.
For accurate, vibrant, and consistent colors, it has an 8-bit color depth support and 99% sRGB color gamut.
LG 24MP59G features AMD FreeSync, providing variable refresh rates (VRR) for compatible graphics cards. Plus, you can use FreeSync with compatible NVIDIA cards in addition to most AMD GPUs thanks to the fact that this monitor has a DisplayPort input.
It has some other useful gaming features, including a black stabilizer that helps brighten the dark spots so you can see the enemies hiding there. It also features customizable crosshair overlays, helping you aim correctly and never miss a shot.
You can also choose one from its three gaming modes (two First-Person-Shooter modes and an RTS pre-set mode), depending on the game you’re playing.
As for the connectivity options, it includes DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, VGA, and a headphones jack. Note that the FreeSync works over both HDMI and DP with a 40-75Hz VRR range.
Sadly, the design is not very ergonomic, given that it’s not VESA mountable, and the screen can only be tilted.
Pros:
- Vibrant colors
- No motion blur
- Backlight Stabilizer
- Rich connectivity options
Cons:
- Noy VESA mountable
- Tilt-only design
Bottom Line
LG 24MP59G-P is one of the best gaming monitors at around $150. Its adequate refresh rate and low response time combined with the IPS panel help display a fluid image with no tearing.
This is the current price of these LG 24MP59G-P 24-Inch Gaming Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
4#. Acer Nitro VG240Y – Best Frameless Monitor
This is the current price of these Acer Nitro VG240Y mix 23.8″ Full HD Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
Acer Nitro VG240Y comes in a zero-frame design, giving you extra space on the screen and making up for the relatively small screen size of 23.8”.
Also, thanks to the in-plane switching and advanced IPS technologies, this monitor offers excellent colors with no shifting when viewed from any angle.
You can rest assured that it offers the best visual quality with excellent sharp details as it comes with a 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution in a 16:9 aspect ratio. Moreover, the 75Hz refresh rate is pretty quick in that it delivers fluid 2D scenes.
Not only will you enjoy lively games on this monitor, but you will also appreciate the 1ms response time that allows you to respond to attacks immediately, giving you full control.
What’s more, the monitor features AMD’s Freesync technology, so the monitor is synced with the graphic card’s frames. In other words, you can play fast-action games without worrying about input lags or ghosting.
Moving on, Acer features eight predetermined display modes, allowing you to optimize the visuals depending on the game content, be it action, race or graphic. You can access this feature through a hotkey or OSD settings menu.
Acer Nitro VG240Y comes with two speakers, two HDMI 1. 4 Ports, and one VGA.
Pros:
- Frameless
- Low response time
- High refresh rate
- No lagging
- VESA mountable
Cons:
- The design is a bit bulky
Bottom Line
Acer Nitro VG240Y is a beautiful frameless gaming monitor that comes at a low price point. Its design, IPS panel, resolution, response time, and refresh rate ensure bright colors, excellent viewing angles, and smooth images.
5#. ViewSonic VX2452MH – Best Connectivity Options
This is the current price of these ViewSonic VX2452MH 24 Inch 2ms 60Hz 1080p Gaming Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
ViewSonic VX2452MH offers the best connectivity options at a very decent price point as it is compatible with laptops, Macs, and PCs thanks to the integration of HDMI, DVI, and VGA inputs.
You can also connect it to gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and digital cameras because of the HDMI that delivers perfect audio and video clarity.
If you’re one of those gamers who love being immersed in the game, you’ll appreciate the dual integrated speakers. You’ll even love the fact that you can expand the sound in different locations in the room because you can connect an additional speaker via the SPDIF audio-out port.
Not only does ViewSonic VX2452MH support a fast response time (2ms), but it also has a refresh rate of 60Hz. This might seem low to some, but 60Hz monitors provide good visual quality for competitive gamers.
Given the above, you can be sure that you’ll enjoy smooth and fluid motion on the screen with no lags or ghosting whatsoever.
While it’s true that IPS panels offer better colors and viewing angles than TN panels, this monitor makes up for its TN panel with the superior MEGA dynamic contrast ratio that delivers incredible colors as it defines the relationship between the darkest and brightest colors
What’s more, this monitor features Full HD 1920×1080 resolution on a 24” screen size, offering the best pixel density. Thus, providing clear images.
With a press of a button, ViewSonic’s Game Mode delivers spectacular colors as it highlights the dark spots on the map. Gamers will appreciate this as it prevents them from getting shot by an enemy hiding in any dark area.
VX2452MH comes with a power cable, a VGA cable, a DVI cable, and an Audio cable.
Pros:
- Rich connectivity
- Vibrant colors
- Fluid motion
- Excellent sound output
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not the best viewing angles
Bottom Line
While ViewSonic VX2452MH supports the lowest refresh rate on our list, it still performs incredibly well that there are no lags at all. Plus, the low response time and the excellent visual quality render it one of the best monitors for gaming under $150.
How to Pick an Affordable Gaming Monitor? (6 Things To Consider)
Buying a gaming monitor on a budget is a bit scary because if you get one feature wrong, you lose. For this reason, we have decided to write you a list of the essential factors that a gaming monitor should feature.
1. Response Time
The response time of a monitor, which is measured in milliseconds (ms) is the time that a pixel needs to switch from black to white or between shades of grey. Low response times display smooth camera movement.
Contrarily, high response times result in motion blur and ghosting because the pixel doesn’t have enough time to switch between colors, especially with quick camera movements.
The common response time of the monitors on the market nowadays varies between 1ms to 4ms. And the difference between them is hardly noticeable.
2. Refresh Rate
The refresh rate measured in Hertz (Hz) is another factor that helps eliminate motion blur and choppy images. The higher the refresh rate, the better because it determines the number of frames that the monitor can display per second. If the monitor displays and refreshes the image a lot every second, there won’t be any ghosting or trailing.
Try not to get a monitor with less than 75Hz. If you buy one with high refresh rates such as 144Hz or 240Hz, make sure that the graphics processing unit (GPU) can run the games you want at such high frame rates.
3. Panel Technology
There are three excellent panel technologies you can get: TN (twisted nematic), IPS (in-plane switching) or VA (vertical alignment) panels. Before deciding on which one to get, know the pros and cons of each one.
You may also Like: best vertical monitor.
For example, the IPS panel offers impressive visual quality, viewing angles and vibrant colors. But TNs support the fastest response times. On the other hand, if you don’t care about fast response times and need the best contrast and image depth, VA panels won’t disappoint you.
4. Adaptive Sync
This feature is yet another one to prevent screen tearing during games. You can either go for the affordable AMD FreeSync or the more expensive NVIDIA G-Sync for its superior performance, where the former is compatible with AMD graphic cards, and the latter only works with NVIDIA cards.
5. Connectors
Modern gaming monitors usually have one or more of these inputs and outputs: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 1.4/2.0, 5mm Audio Out.
HDMI 1.4/2.0 transfers video and audio and is excellent for mid-range resolution. However, it doesn’t support high refresh rates in high resolutions, unlike DisplayPort 1.4 that could be deemed the best connector for video/audio transfer on PC.
Use the 5mm Audio Out if you want to connect the headphones to the monitor itself instead of the motherboard’s back panel or the case’s front panel. Some monitors also have a 3.5mm audio input and one or several USB ports of varying types.
Anyways, video/audio compatibility is not a big concern because most graphic cards come with one or more DisplayPort or HDMI ports, and they both transfer sound.
6. Screen Size
The least important factor to check when buying a gaming monitor is the screen size because gamers usually sit close to the screen. However, to stay on the safe side, get a monitor whose screen size ranges between 21” to 27” as it balances visual clarity and comfort.
Screens whose sizes are less than 21” usually display low-quality resolution, where screens larger than 27” must be viewed from a distance.
It’s worth mentioning that a 1080p monitor should not be larger than 24” because low pixel density will result in a lousy resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1#. Are Curved More Comfortable than Their Flat Counterparts?
Yes, they are. Curved monitors match the natural curvature of the human eye, eliminating eye strain. They also allow you to view all parts of the screen at once.
2#. DisplayPort or HDMI?
They are both excellent for certain reasons. For example, DisplayPort is versatile but doesn’t support HDR, while HDMI 2.0 supports it. So, we can’t say that one of them is necessarily better than the other.
3#. Does the Monitor Make a Difference?
The features of the monitor make a big difference. For example, if you get one with bad visual quality and high response time, you will lose all your games due to lagging.
On the other hand, if you pick a monitor that does not show any blurred images and eliminates flickering and tearing, you’ll enjoy fast-action games such as FPS (first-person shooters).
In case you want to invest in a bit more expensive monitor, check out the following guides:
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you’ve already decided which of the above models is the best gaming monitor under $150 for your needs. However, we’ve decided that we want to help you more by spotting the light on some of the options.
On the top of our list comes AOC C24G1, which is the only curved monitor in this article. Curved monitors are especially convenient for gamers whose eyes get tired quickly because the monitor’s curve matches the natural curves of the human eye. What’s more, it’s the only option with a 144Hz refresh rate, meaning that it offers the best smooth and fluid images. You can also adjust its height or mount it on a wall, depending on your preference. Plus, it comes with plentiful connection options such as Displayport, two HDMI 1. 4 and VGA inputs with audio Line-out for convenience.
Our second-best option is BenQ ZOWIE RL2455S, that is the best option for console games. It allows you to connect the gaming console and another HDMI device simultaneously, thanks to the presence of two HDMI ports. Moreover, if you love gaming marathons and usually spend a lot of time staring at the screen, you’ll appreciate the flicker-free technology that provides excellent visual quality. What’s more, say goodbye to enemies hiding in dark spots on the screen thanks to the Black eQualizer color engine technology that brightens the dark areas without overdoing the bright ones.
