Gone are the days when a regular monitor was good enough for putting together a gaming setup. Players are constantly after performance and manufacturers are aware of this, producing several gaming equipment and accessories. How many of you imagined, a few years ago, that we will be talking about the best gaming headsets nowadays?
The good news is that you don’t need to break the bank in order to be a gamer, as you can find some high-quality pieces for your setup with a pocket-friendly price tag. Monitors included!
We did a bit of research and managed to come across some excellent models, from top-notch manufacturers, then put everything in a list, to make it easier for you to choose.
Without much further ado, let’s see which are the best gaming monitors under $500 you can get right now!
The Best Gaming Monitors Under $500 Reviewed
Acer Predator XB241H
Let’s start with a monitor that screams “gaming” from all pores, the Acer Predator XB241H. The aggressive stand, with red accents, fits perfect in a gaming setup, while the two built-in speakers are bringing top class sound to your games. But we bet that you’re here for the specs, right?
We’re looking at a 24″ full HD widescreen model, with a 30 degree Swivel Angle and Twister Nematic Film Technology. The response time is just 1ms and let’s not forget about the Flicker-less Technology, which reduces the flickering that can cause eye strain if you play for longer periods. Finally, let’s talk about the refresh rate: 144Hz, overclockable to 180Hz.
The monitor has an adjustable height and features one HDMI port, as well as a v1.2 Display Port. And if you fancy 3D gaming, it’s all prepared. Using the Nvidia 3D Vision 2 Wireless Glass Kit and the 3D Lightboost technology, you can experience 3D gaming like never before!
Asus MK278Q 2K
Moving on, we have one of the best-looking gaming monitors under $500, this time coming from the folks over at Asus. The MG278Q 2K is also built with gamers in mind, with red and metallic accents – fitting excellent in a setup powered by a ROG laptop – and offers enough screen real estate so you can use it to watch movies in top conditions.
It’s a 27″ monitor, with a 2K resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and a 1ms response, delivering competition-grade blur-free visuals. As for the refresh rate, it’s 144Hz, but this model has an ace in its sleeve: the AMD FreeSync technology maximizes frames per second, making the Asus MG278Q 2K the most responsive gaming display of the moment. Oh, and if you tend to play a lot, you can enjoy the benefits of Asus Eye Care technology, which minimizes eye fatigue, but also ailments with flicker-free backlighting and blue light filters.
The monitor has an ergonomic stand with full tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustment, for the best viewing position. If you ask us, it’s definitely one of the best deals of the moment, in terms of gaming monitors.
BenQ Zowie XL2540
Yet another monitor which looks exactly like one a gamer would buy makes it to our list. the BenQ Zowie XL2540 is tailored to the needs of professional gamers. Yes, we’re talking about the side shields, helping you focus on the game by blocking out any distractions. Some could say that this is solely for professionals, but we really fancy this feature!
This 24.5″ e-sports model has a full HD resolution and a native 240HZ refresh rate, delivering an incredibly smooth gaming experience, while the 1ms response time prevents any smearing or ghosting.
An additional feature we like is the built-in black equalizer technology, which brightens dark scenes without overexposing the bright areas. Oh yeah, and it has an adjustable stand, so you can tailor your gaming environment to the tiniest detail.
Alienware AW2518H
When we covered the best gaming laptops, we felt the need to include an Alienware model. Well, the same thing happens now, as we just can’t ignore the Alienware AW2518H gaming monitor! It’s a 25″ full HD model, delivering a solid gaming or video experience, without making your graphics card feel ‘tired’.
Let’s start with a 240 Hz refresh rate – which translates to powerful performance – and a 1 ms response time, which minimizes lag and time-to-screen. The G-Sync technology synchronizes the refresh rates between the GPU and display, thus eliminating all the screen tearing, but also minimizing display stutter and lag.
And we bet you just can’t ignore the design! It has Alienware written all over it, featuring 170 degrees horizontal and 160 vertical viewing angles, so you can see the screen in any conditions.
Dell S2417DG
One of our favorite models in this list with the best gaming monitors under $500 is the Dell S2417DG. And it’s not just about the way it looks, but also the things it can do!
Thanks to the QHD resolution – close to two times more screen details than a full HD one – the monitors enhances your visual experiences thanks to the various preset modes, tailored to suit any gaming genre you can think of. And it measures 24 inches, while a 27″ version is also available, but it’s a bit more expensive than the budget limit for this article.
You can forget about eye strain, as this is a flicker-free screen, with a response time of just 1 ms and a contrast ratio of 1000:1. The Nvidia G-Sync technology is also present, not to mention the ability to swap between systems.
By the way, if you’re about design and looking forward to building a real battle station, you can combine two monitors (or even three) perfectly, thanks to the ultra-thin bezel. These are the kind of details we love!
AOC Agon AG271QX
Moving on, we have the AOC Agon AG271QX in the top of the best gaming monitors under $500. It’s a 27″ model, with a QHD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, allowing you to see greater detail with more spacing, not to mention that it delivers incredibly crisp and clear visuals.
What makes it obvious that we’re talking about a ridiculously good gaming monitor is the 165Hz refresh rate, helping you get those critical missing images on the screen, in ultra-smooth motion. There’s also the Nvidia G-Sync technology, which synchronizes the refresh rate to your GPU, eliminate all the screen tearing.
Finally, there’s one thing we really like: AOC Shadow Control. Using this, gamers can dial-in shadow levels and increased contrast for better dark areas, without affecting the rest of the screen at all! How’s that for an innovative feature?
LG 25UM57
How about a great gaming monitor from LG, with a more than friendly price tag for our next entry? The LG 25UM57 is a great 25″ model, with a WFHD resolution of 2560 x 1080 pixels and a 21:9 aspect ratio, making movies and games more immersive than ever. Not to mention that it’s also good for work!
The monitor features the IPS technology, which means that response times are shortened, color reproduction is improved and, probably the most important things, users can view the screen from pretty much any angle they can think of.
Another interesting feature we should mention is the sRGB over 99%, which means that this monitor is a great solution not for gamers, but also professional photographers, graphic designers or any users that are looking forward to getting a monitor with highly accurate colors.
ViewSonic XG2401
ViewSonic is far from being a well-known brand, but the XG2401 is definitely worth adding on our list with the best gaming monitors under $500. It’s a 24-inch full HD monitor, packed with everything a diehard gaming enthusiast needs. Featuring a 144Hz refresh rate, as well as the VESA Adaptive-Sync Technology, the monitor is able to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering, delivering smooth gameplay, even during fast-paced action scenes.
In terms of response time, it rocks a value of 1ms, which provides smooth screen performance, while the SmartSync technology automatically picks the best refresh rate and response time, as well as the lowest input lag, depending on the game you’re playing.
Last but not least, the ViewSonic XG2401 comes with a Game Mode feature, which optimizes visuals for the game you’re playing. Oh, and there’s a black stabilization function, which helps you detect enemies while playing FPS games with dark environments.
All in all, it’s an amazing gaming monitor, despite not coming from a reputed manufacturer.
Samsung C27G50
Nope, they aren’t good just at making smartphones! Samsung has quite a few gaming monitors under $500 in their portfolio – great models, that is – and the C27JG50 is one of them. Thanks to the Quantum Dot technology, this QLED monitor, measuring 27 inches, can be an upgrade in your gaming experience. But this is not everything…
The monitor has a QHD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, which, combined with a refresh rate of 144Hz and a response time of 1m/s deliver a top-notch gaming experience. Let’s not forget that it’s a curved monitor – it has an industry-leading 1,800R curvature – that really gives you the feeling that you are living inside the game, pretty much as an IMAX screen does. And as a nice touch, it has an illuminated circle at the back, pulsating on the wall behind it, adding a nice touch to the room.
Overall, it’s an advanced gaming monitor, which, despite the price, it offers amazing game scenes, loaded with details, but also a panoramic view, thanks to the curvature of the display. If you’re looking for a model to play games on and not only, but you’re also on a budget, the Samsung C27JG50 is exactly what you need.
Acer XF270HU
After looking at some of the best gaming monitors under $500, we found it a bit difficult to decide upon our favorite model, but in the end, we did it. And it’s the amazing Acer XF270HU, a model that is great in terms of both looks and performances.
First thing first, you just can’t ignore the design, as this model screams gaming from all pores: small bezels, red accents, and quality materials. What more can one ask for?
Moving on to the features, this 27″ WQHD model has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ration, presenting stunning, high-quality images, with excellent details. And it looks super on that panel with almost no bezels. Thanks to the AMD Freesync technology, the monitor’s frames are synced with the graphics card’s frames, therefore eliminating screen tearing and providing a smooth gaming experience. A supercharged refresh rate of 144Hz and a 1ms response time are completing this list, while the Acer ComfyView technology is great for keeping your eyes safe if you spend a lot of time in front of it.
All in all, it’s the gaming monitor under $500 we’d definitely buy. But hey, maybe it’s just us.
And this wraps it up. Below you can check out a few of the best monitors for gaming you can get right now, for unde $500. We handpicked models coming from reputed manufacturers, dominating the gaming scene, but also models coming from lesser known brand, but which are a real bang for a buck. Whether you’re building your first battle station or simply looking for an upgrade for your current setup, we’re convinced that you can find here something you will like. As for us, you already know our favorite.
Let us know which one of these would you opt for, by dropping a few lines in the comments section below. Also, if you know other models which come under $500 and we somehow missed, do let us know about them, so we can include them in an updated version of this list.
Last update on 2023-11-11 at 11:43 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
