Best Gaming Monitors Under $300 | 2022 Top Pick

Are you in search of the best gaming monitors under 300 USD? Well, being a gamer, I know the value of a good gaming monitor and the consequences of having a bad one. So, if your budget is around $300, slightly less or slightly more than this article is going to help you out in different ways.

In this post, I have compiled a buying guide of the best gaming monitors for under 300 dollars. We have chosen the best products in this budget range with 144Hz, 240Hz, 4k and 1080p displays.

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We have gathered a lot of useful information regarding gaming monitors to make this review well-researched and helpful. If you are new to gaming then it is important for you to understand which features are essential for your gaming monitor to have.

Best 4k Gaming Monitors Under 300

BenQ EL2870U

Specifications:

  • Screen Size: 28″
  • Resolution: 3840 x 2160
  • Panel Type: TN
  • Refresh Rate: 60Hz
  • Response Time: 1ms

 

Pros
  • Equipped with HDR support
  • The overall price is affordable
  • Comes with FreeSync support
Cons
  • The performance isn’t versatile in a dark room
  • HDR support doesn’t add to the overall performance of this monitor
  • No G-Sync compatibility
  • It has a plain design

 

BenQ EL2870U is an affordable and amazing gaming monitor that displays a decent 4K resolution. The BenQ EL2870U features a plain and traditional monitor design. However, the response time delivered by the monitor is quite good.

This gaming monitor comes up with some outstanding gaming features such as AMD Free-Sync support, a rapid response time, and the input lag is also minimum. All of these features collectively make this monitor one of the best for gaming.

However, if you keep this monitor in a relatively dark room, then it will not look that much good. It is equipped with HDR support but there is basically no advantage of that in a dark room.

Philips 278E1A

Specifications:

  • Screen Size: 27″
  • Resolution: 3840 x 2160
  • Panel Type: IPS
  • Refresh Rate: 60Hz
  • Response Time: 5ms

 

Pros
  • Good value gaming monitor for its price.
  • The colors are vibrant.
  • Input lag is low.
  • It offers wide viewing angles.
Cons
  • There is not AMD FreeSync technology
  • The stand is tilt-only.

 

Philips 278E1A 27” that is an excellent gaming monitor choice for gamers. The Philips 278E1A offers a screen size of 27 inches with 4K resolution in a budget price tag. It is equipped with IPS panels so overall the display ingredients of this monitor make it flawless.

This 4k gaming monitor, unfortunately, does not offer some important things such as FreeSync and VESA mount compatibility, etc. However, it is a cheap option and a little better if you want to make a good deal at a lower price. Naturally, the monitor is good but the manufacturers had to sacrifice some important features to balance the price.

Best 1440p Gaming Monitors Under 300

AOC CQ27G2

Specifications:

  • Screen Size: 27″
  • Resolution: 2560 x 1440
  • Panel Type: VA
  • Refresh Rate: 144Hz
  • Response Time: 1ms

 

Pros
  • This gaming monitor comes at a fair price.
  • It offers an ideal refresh rate of 144Hz further accompanied by a response time of 1ms.
  • The input lag is minimal.
  • This monitor has the ideal gaming screen size with high native contrast ratios.
Cons
  • The wide viewing angles of this monitor are poor.
  • The peak brightness is not exciting at all.

 

The AOC CQ27G2 27”, overall is an outstanding gaming monitor because it offers minimum input lag with an enhanced response time that saves you from seeing blurry images and other graphic related issues.

Other than gaming, users can also use this monitor for several tasks including office use, and for live streaming videos, or other multimedia purposes. The thing that bothered me the most about this product is its limited viewing angles that can cause a lot of issues for some users. However, new gamers or people who like to play casually will not get bothered easily.

The plus point on the other hand is that it has excellent reflection handling but it can also get very bright sometimes. So if you like to play games in a bright room, you are going to get bothered.

MSI Optix MAG27CQ

Specifications:

  • Screen Size: 27″
  • Resolution: 2560 x 1440
  • Panel Type: VS
  • Refresh Rate: 144Hz
  • Response Time: 1ms

 

Pros
  • It comes with RGB lighting technology.
  • The color gamut is wide and the contrast ratio is high.
  • The input lag of this monitor is relatively low.
  • It has a unique and innovative design.
  • The peak brightness is strong.
Cons
  • Image quality reduces when viewed from a particular angle.

 

The MSI Optix MAG27CQ that is highly rated as a budget-friendly gaming monitor, capable of fulfilling your gaming-related wishes.

The MSI Optix MAG27CQ is a decent gaming monitor that comes with excellent design aesthetics and some amazing gaming features to help you play your favorite games without any hassle. Other than gaming users have also reported that this monitor is ideal for office use, multimedia purposes, and media creation as well. 

About the gaming features, the MSI Optix MAG27CQ has an extremely low input lag followed by a quick and outstanding response time. This gaming monitor also supports AMD Freesync technology even if you have connected to an NVIDIA Graphics card. As compared to the other gaming monitors under 300 dollars on our list, this one has a unique and overwhelming design. It also comes with an adjustable stand as well as a cool RGB lighting system.

The only thing about this monitor that I didn’t like is that it has a disappointing image accuracy when viewed from a certain angle. However, this gaming monitor is a good one to use for playing games; however , it does not support HDR, which is a major drawback.

GIGABYTE G27Q

Specifications:

  • Screen Size: 27″
  • Resolution: 2560 x 1440
  • Panel Type: IPS
  • Refresh Rate: 144Hz
  • Response Time: 1ms

 

Pros
  • Excellent quality resolution
  • Offers NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync technology.
  • The refresh rate offered by the Gigabyte G27Q 27” is 144 Hz that is ideal for gaming purposes.
  • At the maximum refresh rate, the response time becomes quicker.
  • During gaming, the input lag reduces to minimum.
Cons
  • The contrast ratio is low.

 

The Gigabyte G27Q 27” is a budget-friendly gaming monitor that is equipped with IPS panels and it offers wide-viewing angles as well. It has a high refresh rate of 144Hz and surprisingly it offers both FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility. The input lag is also low so you can easily perform your gaming tasks without any error.

However, the contrast ratio is low and at some times the black color on the screen appears to be grey when used in a dark room. The response time is amazing when you maximize the refresh rate, it ultimately results in a little motion blur however the input lag becomes extremely low at that point. Let’s take a look at its specifications to know it better.

Best 240Hz Gaming Monitor Under 300

Acer XF250Q Cbmiiprx

Specifications:

  • Screen Size: 24.5″
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080
  • Panel Type: TN
  • Refresh Rate: 240Hz
  • Response Time: 1ms

 

Pros
  • It has an exceptional refresh rate
  • The design is unique
  • The input lag is low
Cons
  • The twisted nematic panels deliver poor image quality as compared to VA and IPS panels.
  • The image viewing angles are narrow and seem to be awkward.

 

Acer Xf250Q Cbmiiprx gaming monitor that is the most budget-friendly 240Hz monitor. It is a top-rated budget gaming monitor. This gaming monitor comes with a lot of features related to gaming.

The good thing is that it is a combination of flawless design and sturdy gaming functions that is so far the best blend in the world of budget-gaming monitors.

The Acer Xf250Q Cbmiiprx is an affordable monitor with a relatively low input lag and a quick response time. It is a perfect monitor for you if you are a hardcore gamer looking for budget options. It comes with G-Sync compatibility and it has a strong stand that keeps it in place.

Overall, the Acer Xf250Q Cbmiiprx monitor ultimately provides you with an ultra-HD gaming experience followed by a tough refresh rate of 240Hz that is more than good for your gaming. With a refresh rate of 240Hz, you can get faster frame rates to beat your competitors while playing games.

Best 1080p Gaming Monitors Under 300

BenQ MOBIUZ EX2510

Specifications:

  • Screen Size: 24.5″
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080
  • Panel Type: IPS
  • Refresh Rate: 144Hz
  • Response Time: 1ms

 

Pros
  • The refresh rate is good.
  • Response time is better
  • Graphics and colors displayed by the BenQ MOBIUZ EX2510 are outstanding.
  • The refresh rate is 144Hz that is ideal
  • Compatible with both AMD Free-Sync and NVIDIA G-Sync.
Cons
  • It is a bit expensive for a 1080p display and 144Hz refresh rate.
  • No technical cons reported yet.

 

BenQ MOBIUZ EX2510 which is another affordable 144Hz gaming monitor that offers users amazing gaming features to enjoy the best graphic experience possible.

The BenQ MOBIUZ EX2510 delivers an excellent gaming experience. Also, at this price tag, the BenQ MOBIUZ EX2510 could deliver these super-fast features for your gaming aid.

The screen size delivered by this gaming console is also 25 inches just like the product we have reviewed previously, however, the good thing is that it is equipped with IPS panels. The response time of this monitor is quick as well as the input lag is also minimal. 

When it comes to refreshing rate, it is 144Hz that is ideal for gaming. Now, let’s just take a quick look at the specifications of the BenQ MOBIUZ EX2510.

ASUS VG278QR

Specifications:

  • Screen Size: 27″
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080
  • Panel Type: IPS
  • Refresh Rate: 165Hz
  • Response Time: 0.5ms

 

Pros
  • It has a unique and powerful design
  • The refresh rate is 144 Hz
  • The response time is quick and input lag is relatively low.
Cons
  • The pixel density is low.
  • It is a little bit expensive as compared to its features.

 

At number eight we have the ASUS VG278QR 27” budget gaming monitor. This budget gaming monitor consists of almost everything that is essential for gamers today. However, besides adding this many features the manufacturers have maintained the ASUS VG278QR 27” at a great price.

So, while buying a gaming monitor for under 300 dollars remember to consider this product. Here’s why:

The ASUS VG278QR 27” is a cheap gaming monitor option that displays 1080p HD resolution further accompanied by 144Hz of ideal refresh rate for gamers. It offers a minimal response time of 1ms that makes it even more special.

This gaming monitor is integrated with AMD FreeSync technology. On the other hand, it also supports NVIDIA G-Sync so there is no chance that you will face problems related to incompatibility.

Other than these features, the design of this monitor is extremely unique with a lot of gaming features at your service.

ASUS TUF Gaming VG279Q1A

Specifications:

  • Screen Size: 27″
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080
  • Panel Type: IPS
  • Refresh Rate: 165Hz
  • Response Time: 1ms

 

Pros
  • It has a high-resolution benchmark
  • It is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility.
  • The response time of this gaming monitor is incredibly fast.
  • It delivers an excellent refresh rate of 144Hz that can be overclocked to 170Hz as well.
  • The brightness performance is excellent in the dark.
Cons
  • The contrast ratio of this gaming monitor is very low.

 

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279Q1A 27” is another budget gaming monitor that delivers exceptional performance and is more capable as compared to the previous version launched by the company in the TUF lineup.

The good thing about this gaming monitor is that it features Adaptive-Sync and FreeSync with G-Sync support as well. The refresh rate offered by this monitor is around 144Hz however you can also overclock it to 170Hz to maximum the rate in order to get a better gaming performance.

The response time of this gaming monitor is excellent when you maximize the refresh rate. However on the other hand when we talk about the input lag it is also ideal. Even if you use it at 60Hz while gaming, the input lag won’t disturb you.

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG279Q1A 27” also supports HDR that helps it display good quality and bright colors as well. This gaming monitor is an all-rounder. It is also recommended for other tasks like office use, multimedia purposes, etc. other than gaming.

Acer Nitro VG271

Specifications:

  • Screen Size: 27″
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080
  • Panel Type: IPS
  • Refresh Rate: 144Hz
  • Response Time: 1ms

 

Pros
  • It has a good refresh rate
  • The response time is quick.
  • Comes with AMD FreeSync technology.
Cons
  • The design isn’t that great
  • The contrast ratio is low.
  • Black uniformity is poor

 

Acer Nitro VG271 Pbmiipx 27” that is an excellent option for gamers on a budget. This gaming monitor is quite good for a lot of uses other than gaming. It offers a variety of things such as great peak brightness, wide viewing angles, and some exceptional gaming features as well. For gaming, the monitor is excellent due to the low input lag it offers.

When it comes to the display screen it delivers a 1080p resolution with a refresh rate of 144Hz. This refresh rate is ideal for your daily gaming tasks. It delivers an excellent picture quality. The only thing is that it is equipped with IPS panels and as you already know they are not good while performing in dark rooms. 

The design is quite basic and the ergonomics are not also that good. You may face a tough time while finding the best adjustable position for this monitor.

Even if it supports HDR still it is unable to display a wide color gamut that is necessary to play games in HDR.

Factors to Consider While Buying a Best Gaming Monitor Under $300

Best 144hz monitor under 200

When it comes to choosing the best gaming monitor for your needs, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Here are some of the key factors to consider when purchasing a best gaming monitor under $300:
Let’s take a look at these factors:

Resolution

While buying a gaming monitor, you should opt to buy the one with High definition resolution. There are a lot of gaming monitors under 300 dollars that offer a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080

1920x1080 vs 2560x1440

Some monitors offer Quad-High Definition and that is even better but gaming monitors with QHD are usually expensive. During the purchasing process, just make sure that the pixel count is higher because in this way you will get a sharp image. Moreover, if you have a powerful graphics card then the game graphics will blow your mind for sure.

Panel Size

The bigger the monitor is, the better your gameplay will be. However, 24 inches size is considered to be ideal for gaming monitors. Some monitors also come with a luxury size of 27 inches.

Panel Technology

There are a lot of panel technology types, and each one has its own pros and cons. For gaming purposes, I highly recommend you to get a gaming monitor with Twisted Nematic (TN) Panels.

The TN Panel type is quite popular in the gaming community because they are super affordable, with fast refresh rates and pixel responses. But as I mentioned above each type has its own pros and cons, similarly, the twisted nematic panels are not good in color shifting from viewing angles.

Another option that you can consider is Vertical Alignment (VA) panels that are highly popular for their robust colors, contrast ratio, and providing a display with deep blacks. However, they produce ghosting effects on your screen that provide a lot of damage to your gaming performance.

The third type of panels are In-Plane Switching panels (IPS) famous for providing a sturdy color quality, excellent grayscale performance, wide viewing angles, but the pixel response of IPS panels is very poor as compared to TN panels.

Hence, for gaming purposes, I would suggest you buy Twisted Nematic panels because this type is affordable, with good pixel response and response rates. Rest you can compromise with the shortcomings.

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate of a monitor is the time taken per second your monitor takes to display a new image on your screen. Refresh rate is measured in Hertz (Hz). 

60hz vs 144hz

Most of the monitors these days come with a refresh rate of 60Hz, but what does that mean? This means that your screen is getting refreshed 60 times in each second passing. 

However, if your favorite game displays fast-moving graphics then you may experience blurry images at this refresh rate. So if you want to experience gaming without blurry graphics then go for a monitor with a 120Hz refresh rate or higher. In this way, you can get rid of blurry images and tearing problems that are major obstacles in smooth games.

Response Time

It is important for gaming monitors to have a fast pixel response with a higher refresh rate. In most gaming monitors, the common pixel response rate is gray-to-gray that is measured in milliseconds.

High response time vs low response time

While buying your gaming monitor, make sure that it features a gray-to-gray pixel response of 2 milliseconds, which is considered ideal. However, even if a monitor has a 4 milliseconds pixel response rate, it would be enough for gaming.