Best Gaming Monitors Under $250 – Buyer’s Guide


Buying an impressive gaming monitor on a low budget might seem like a fairytale to some. However, after reading this article, you’ll realize that you can get an excellent one for less than $250.

You can find options that perform as exceptionally as expensive models. In other words, they have high refresh rates and low response times, allowing for smooth and crisp images with no ghosting or stuttering.

Some models even have an ergonomic design as height adjustability and the ability to tilt. Do you dream of long hours of playing games with no eye strain? You can have that as some of the following models feature low blue light mode that filters harmful blue light.

For more information, check out our review, the buying guide, and the frequently asked questions to have a clearer image of the factors you need to consider before buying one. 

Are you ready to meet your best gaming monitor under $250?

Top 5 Best Budget Gaming monitors: (Comparison Chart)

ImageProductFeaturesPrice
Budget Choice
Viotek GN24CB
Viotek GN24CB
  • Size: 24”
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080
  • Panel: VA
  • Refresh rate: 144Hz
VIEW ON AMAZON →
Best Ultra-Wide Monitor
LG 29WK600-W
LG 29WK600-W
  • Size: 29”
  • Resolution: 2560 x 1080
  • Panel: IPS
  • Refresh rate: 75Hz
VIEW ON AMAZON →
AOC 27G2 AOC 27G2
  • Size: 27”
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080
  • Panel: IPS
  • Refresh rate: 144Hz
VIEW ON AMAZON →
ViewSonic XG2402 ViewSonic XG2402
  • Size: 24”
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080
  • Panel: TN
  • Refresh rate: 144Hz
VIEW ON AMAZON →
Asus VP249QGR Asus VP249QGR
  • Size: 23.8” 
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080
  • Panel: IPS 
  • Refresh rate: 144Hz
VIEW ON AMAZON →

Best Gaming Monitors Under $250

1#. Viotek GN24CB – Budget Choice 

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This is the current price of these VIOTEK GNV27DB 27-Inch Curved QHD Gaming Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

Coming at a very affordable price, Viotek GN24CB performs as well as the expensive gaming monitors. This 24-inch curved gaming monitor comes with a full HD resolution of 1920x1080p. This means that it displays crisp images without missing any details. 

What’s more, thanks to its VA panel, it delivers up to 16.7 million life-like colors where blacks are deep and whites are bright. Moreover, you’ll enjoy the cinematic view resulting from the natural 1800R curvature and 16:9 widescreen display. 

Plus, the wide viewing angle helps the color look very life-like with a 178-degree field of vision. Besides, the anti-glare VA panel reduces any on-screen reflections.  

In case you’re hesitant to buy a monitor that supports a VA panel because it usually has long response time, I am glad to tell you that this isn’t the case with Viotek GN24CB. It has a 4ms GTG response time that can be ramped up to 3.1ms if you overdrive.. 

Moreover, AMD FreeSync eliminates lagging so you can enjoy smooth gameplay. It also features a crosshair overlay, which is this circle in the center of your screen that helps you shoot accurately by pressing the right mouse button without needing to look down on your gun. 

In case you want to invest in a bit more expensive monitor, check out the following guides:

Viotek GN24CB is a versatile monitor that can be used on its own, as a secondary monitor or as a game console monitor. 

It can also be used as a PS4 or Xbox monitor because it can be connected with any game console that uses DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0 or HDMI 1.4 ports. 

Don’t want to spend money on speakers? You don’t have to because it’s equipped with built-in ones. 

Additionally, you can activate the low blue light mode when you want to filter out harmful blue light to avoid any eye fatigue. 

Pros:

  • Affordable 
  • Built-in speakers 
  • No eye fatigue 
  • Crips images 
  • Vibrant colors 

Cons:

  • Defective audio jack 

Bottom Line 

Viotek GN24CB is one of, if not the best gaming monitors under $250. It displays vibrant colors, crisp images and causes no eye strain thanks to its curved screen that matches the natural curvature of the human eye. 

Click here to buy these VIOTEK GNV27DB 27-Inch Curved QHD Gaming Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

See also: Best gaming monitor under 500$.

2#. LG 29WK600-W – Best Ultra-Wide Monitor 

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This is the current price of these LG 29WK600-W 29″ UltraWide available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

LG 29WK600-W is the best ultrawide gaming monitor on our list. Such monitors have an aspect ratio of 21:9 as opposed to the standard 16:9 ratio of wide screens. This way, you’ll have extra horizontal space, allowing you to have a broader view of the game.

If the content doesn’t support 21:9, just play it with a black border on the side instead of experiencing a cropped or a stretched image. However, there is a minimal chance you’ll need that because most new video games support 21:9. 

What’s more, the 2560×1080 resolution combined with the 29” screen results in a beautiful pixel density of 95 pixels per inch, allowing for crisp images. You can rest assured that you’ll view vibrant and accurate colors thanks to the factory-calibrated IPS panel covering 99% of the sRGB color space. 

The 5ms GtG response time is perfect, given that it’s combined with an IPS panel and a 75Hz refresh rate. You won’t experience any trailing or ghosting. That’s also because LG 29WK600 supports AMD FreeSync, which works well with compatible NVIDIA cards with a more limited VRR range of 40-75Hz/FPS.

Also, just like Viotek GN24CB, you can turn on GamePlus targeting crosshairs, so you don’t need to look at your gun and miss a shot.  

Plus, it features Black Stabilizer that does a great job in brightening the dark colors on the screen without overdoing the already bright areas. 

Besides, it supports High Dynamic Range (HDR), but you can ignore it because it lacks localized dimming, wide color gamut, and intense peak brightness. 

LG 29WK600-W has plentiful connectivity options, including two HDMI 2.0 ports, a DisplayPort 1.2 input, a headphones jack and dual 5W integrated speakers.

Sadly, the stand of the monitor can only be tilted. However, you can detach it and put it on another stand via the 100x100mm VESA pattern. 

Pros:

  • Crisp images 
  • Ultra-wide screen 
  • AMD FreeSync up to 75Hz
  • Rich connectivity options 
  • Excellent view in dark scenes because of the Black stabilizer

Cons:

  • Tilt-only stand

Bottom Line 

LG 29WK600-W is an excellent gaming monitor for those who love wide screens. Its IPS panel, low response time, and 75Hz refresh rate ensure you don’t get disturbed by any trailing or ghosting. 

Click here to buy these LG 29WK600-W 29″ UltraWide available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

3#. AOC 27G2 – Best G-Sync Compatible Option

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This is the current price of these AOC 27G2 27″ Frameless Gaming IPS Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

Spotting a dead pixel on your monitor can ruin your gaming experience and prevent you from enjoying a smooth gaming experience. With AOC 27G2, you’re offered a three-year guarantee of zero dead pixels. 

What’s more, this 27” monitor comes with a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 and supports an IPS panel. This means that you can view the video games on a widescreen full of vibrant colors. You’ll also enjoy excellent viewing angles and high visual quality. 

Besides, you can say goodbye to trailing, ghosting, and lagging thanks to the 1ms response time and 144Hz refresh rate combined with NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatibility and Adaptive-Sync. 

Moreover, the high refresh rate does wonders when you’re playing high-speed races as it eliminates any kind of stuttering. 

To prevent eye fatigue, AOC 27G2 is flicker-free and features AOC LowBlue Mode technology that filters out all harmful blue light. 

This monitor has one slim bottom border and three borderless sides, offering minimal bezel distraction. Plus, you can adjust its height, which is a great plus as it helps comfort your neck. It’s also VESA-mountable so you can mount it to the wall if you don’t have enough desk space. Moreover, you can pivot, swivel, and tilt it.

As for the connectivity options, it’s equipped with VGA, DisplayPort 1.2, and two HDMI 1.4 connections, so you can connect it to your laptop, PC, or Mac. 

Sadly, it’s not an HDR monitor, so the contrast ratio is not as good as other monitors with HDR. 

Pros:

  • Rich connectivity options 
  • Vivid colors and sharp images 
  • Excellent viewing angles 
  • No dead pixels 

Cons:

  • No HDR 

Bottom Line 

AOC 27G2 is an excellent gaming monitor under $250 because it eliminates trailing, ghosting, and stuttering with adequate response time and refreshes rate. Gamers with neck problems will enjoy the height adjustability.

Click here to buy these AOC 27G2 27″ Frameless Gaming IPS Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

4#. ViewSonic XG2402 – Best Fluid Gameplay

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This is the current price of these ViewSonic XG2402 24 Inch 1080p 1ms 144 Hz Gaming Monitor available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

With 1080p ViewSonic XG2402, rest assured that you’ll enjoy smooth images with no screen tearing even during fast-paced action scenes thanks to the incredible 144Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync™ technology. You can select the refresh rate you need to cap the Hz output of your monitor.

This 24” monitor does not only feature a high refresh rate, but also a low response time of 1ms only. So, it surely delivers smooth images with zero stuttering or ghosting. 

What’s more, it features five levels of rapid response rate (Standard, Fast, Faster, Ultra-fast, Fastest). This feature helps ViewSonic XG2402 correct ‘overshoot’ and motion blur when gaming at high refresh rates.

Diehard gamers love having monitors that process every command from the controller, mouse or keyboard once it occurs. I’m glad to tell you that ViewSonic XG2402 features a built-in process reducer that decreases the delays between all inputs so that you can react in real-time against any competitor. 

Given that this monitor supports a TN panel, it comes as no surprise that it doesn’t have the best contrast ratio, black uniformity or viewing angles. So, gamers won’t love using it for dark gameplay, and the picture looks a bit washed out when viewed from the side. 

However, the ViewSonic Black Stabilization feature makes up for this because it brightens the dark scenes without overdoing the bright ones with 22 customizable levels of black stabilization controls. 

Besides, you can use it in the sun or bright places because it has excellent peak brightness and reflection handling. 

You can use ViewSonic XG2402 with many gaming modes such as FPS, RTS, eSports, and MOBA games because it features pre-set customizable visual modes such as ColorX. 

Moreover, it’s equipped with flexible connectivity options, including HDMI 1.4, USB, and DisplayPort inputs that allow you to use it with laptops, PCs, and Macs. 

If you’re into gaming marathons, this one’s definitely for you as it comes with a fully adjustable ergonomic stand that ensures your comfort. 

Pros:

  • Supports many gaming modes
  • Multiple refresh rates 
  • Five levels of response time 
  • Smooth images 

Cons:

  • Low performance in dark rooms 
  • Bad side viewing angles

Bottom Line 

If you mostly play in bright rooms, ViewSonic XG2402 won’t disappoint you. Its refresh rate, response time, TN panel and AMD FreeSync™ technology render it one of the best gaming monitors that display smooth and crisp images.  

Click here to buy these View Sonic XG2402 24 Inch 1080p 1ms 144 Hz Gaming Monitor available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

5#. Asus VP249QGR – Best Colors 

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This is the current price of these ASUS VP249QGR 23.8” Gaming Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

Supporting an IPS panel with a 23.8” screen of 1920 x 1080 resolution, 178° viewing angles, 8-bit color depth, and ~99% sRGB color gamut, we can tell that Asus VP249QGR offers the best vibrant and accurate colors. 

Gamers will get the best image quality thanks to the 144Hz refresh rate with Adaptive-Sync (FreeSync) technology combined with ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) technology, allowing for 1ms response time. 

These features eliminate tracing, ghosting, lag, and motion blur, as well as ensure crips images and clear video playback. The fast response time and high refresh rate give you full control when you’re playing first-person shooter games and races because they allow you to react to what’s on-screen in real-time. 

If you want to play a game that has a lot of dark scenes, you can do that with Asus VP249QGR because it features ASUS Shadow Boost technology that brightens dark spots of the game without overexposing the bright areas. This way, you can easily spot the enemies in the dark parts on the screen. 

For a comfortable gaming experience, Asus VP249QGR minimizes instances of eye strain as it’s enhanced with the flicker-free technology that smoothens the image. 

Plus, it features ASUS Ultra-Low Blue Light technology that reduces the amount of harmful blue light you’re exposed to. You can select four different filter settings onscreen through the OSD menu to find the one that suits you the most. 

Asus VP249QGR has many connectivity options, including HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.4, VGA, and an audio line-in port for the two 2W built-in speakers. Besides, 144Hz is supported over both HDMI and DisplayPort!

If you want to save space on your desk, I’m glad to tell you that this monitor is VESA mountable so you can mount it on the wall or on a third-party stand. You might need to put it on a stand other than the tilt-only stand that it comes with. 

Pros:

  • Excellent colors 
  • Crisp images
  • Low response time 
  • High refresh rate 
  • No eye strain 
  • Affordable 

Cons:

  • Tilt-only stand 

Bottom Line 

We recommend Asus VP249QGR for its wide color gamut and impressive smooth images. It’s also an excellent option for gamers who usually suffer from eye strain thanks to its flicker-free and Ultra-Low Blue Light technologies.

Click here to buy these ASUS VP249QGR 23.8” Gaming Monitors available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

What to Look for When Buying a Gaming Monitor Under $250?

Buying a gaming monitor is not easy, especially when you’re on a budget. You don’t want to waste your money on a defective model that’s not suitable for games. For this reason, we have made you a buying guide, including all the essential factors that should be on your gaming monitor checklist.

1. Response Time 

The response time -measured in milliseconds (ms)- is the time a pixel takes to switch from black to white or between shades of grey. The lower the response time, the better because it results in smoother camera movements. On the other hand, high response times lead to motion blur and ghosting because the pixel doesn’t have enough time to switch between colors when the camera moves quickly. 

Most of the gaming monitors have a response time between 1ms and 4ms. The difference between the two can easily go unnoticed unless compared side by side. 

2. Refresh Rate 

The refresh rate is the number that’s written right next to Hertz (Hz). It measures the number of times the monitor refreshes the displayed image per second and determines the number of frames that the monitor can display per second. 

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. The Panel Technology

You can get a monitor that supports TN (twisted nematic), IPS (in-plane switching) or VA (vertical alignment). Each of them has its pros and cons. For example, if you want high visual quality, vibrant colors, and better viewing angles, go for an IPS panel. 

You may also Like: best vertical monitor.

In case you’re looking for a panel that supports fast response times, you’ll love TNs. If you’re okay with having long response times but need the best contrast and image depth, then VA panels are what you’re looking for. 

4. Adaptive Sync 

FreeSync and G-SYNC prevent any screen tearing during the games. If you need an affordable one, then choose AMD FreeSync. It doesn’t add any extra cost to the base price of the monitor. Plus, it’s compatible with AMD graphics cards. If money is not an issue, NVIDIA G-SYNC adds around $150 to the base price of the monitor, has superior performance, and only works with NVIDIA cards.  

5. Connectors 

A modern gaming monitor will usually have these inputs and outputs: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 1.4/2.0, 5mm Audio Out. DisplayPort 1.4 is the best connector for video/audio transfer on PC. Plus, it supports refresh rates at high resolutions. 

HDMI 1.4/2.0 is excellent for mid-range resolutions, but it doesn’t support high refresh rates in high resolutions. Like DisplayPort 1.4, it transfers video and audio. In case you don’t want to connect your headphones on the motherboard’s back panel or the case’s front panel, you can connect it to the monitor itself via 5mm Audio Out. 

A monitor may also have a 3.5mm audio input and one or several USB ports of varying types.

Plus, video/audio compatibility is not an issue because most graphic cards come with one or more DisplayPort or HDMI ports, and they both transfer sound.

6. Screen Size 

The screen size is not as important as the above factors because gamers usually sit close to the monitor. Most of the monitors fall between 21” and 27”, balancing between visual clarity and comfort. 

If you get a screen whose size is less than 21”, you’ll experience low-quality resolution. It’s also worth mentioning that the best screen size to go for with a 1080p monitor is no larger than 24”; otherwise, the low pixel density will result in a lousy resolution. And if you go for a screen larger than 27”, you’ll have to view it from a distance. 

Frequently Asked Questions: 

1#. Should I Get a 144Hz Monitor or 240Hz?

They are both excellent, and you won’t notice the difference between them because it is not as noticeable as that between 60Hz and 144Hz. But 144Hz monitors are better because they are cheaper. They are also more recommended because the required FPS is easier to achieve. 

2#. Are Curved Monitors Any Good? 

They are more comfortable to the eye, and they allow you to see everything at once without experiencing eye fatigue. They’re also comfortable to the eyes because they match the natural curvature of the human eye. 

3#. Is DisplayPort better than HDMI?

We can’t say that one of them is necessarily better than the other. DisplayPort is a versatile option. But we recommend HDMI since HDMI 2.0 supports HDR, and DisplayPort 1.2 does not. 

Final Words 

Now that you know how to choose the best gaming monitor under $250, we believe that you are leaning towards one of the above models. In case you’re still a bit confused, let us help you by highlighting some options.

We love Viotek GN24CB because it offers impressive features at the lowest price possible. First of all, you’ll enjoy its crisp images with no trailing or ghosting thanks to its 4ms GTG response time that can be ramped up to 3.1ms by overdriving and its 144Hz refresh rate. 

Plus, it causes no eye strain because of its curved screen and low blue light. Moreover, it’s pretty versatile, as you can use it as a PS4 or Xbox monitor because it can be connected with any game console that uses DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0 or HDMI 1.4 ports.

In case you need an ultrawide screen, go for the beautiful LG 29WK600-W that offers extra horizontal space, allowing you to have a broader view of video games. It also has an excellent pixel density of 95 pixels per inch, allowing for crisp images. Moreover, it displays vibrant colors thanks to the factory-calibrated IPS panel covering 99% of the sRGB color space

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