The Best Gaming Monitor Under $500 in 2023

Best 1080p Gaming Monitor: Acer KB272

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Key Specifications

Screen Size: 27 Inches
Special Feature: Blue Light Filter
Refresh Rate: 75 Hz

If you're looking for a good budget option for gaming, then you're going to find the Acer KB272 the best monitor for you. You'll also find that it's actually the only 1080p monitor out there that's under $500. Talk to competitive gamers though, and you'll see many of them actually recommend this monitor over some of the more expensive models on the market right now. Let's see why that is.

Image quality:

This monitor is based on an IPS panel, which does come with a lot of benefits, as well as some drawbacks that you need to be aware of. As it's an IPS model, you'll get a 178-degree viewing angle which ensures you get the best quality image, no matter what angle you view it at.

As for color, there are accurate and consistent colors throughout the whole sRGB spectrum, so you won't get any color degradation here. Its peak brightness is 400-nits, making it more than bright enough even when gaming in a well-lit room. That's something to keep in mind if you're considering streaming, as you're going to have a lot of lights on you as you do so.

One of the best things about the panel is that it has a 1ms GtG pixel response time, meaning there's no visible trailing on fast-moving objects so there are no distractions while gaming.

The only real drawback is IPS glow, as you'd expect from an IPS-based monitor. This is glowing that you can see around the edges of the monitor when it's in use. However, there are several ways you can mitigate the glow and avoid it, so this shouldn't impact your use too much.

Unique features:

This monitor uses FreeSync technology, which allows you to sync the monitor's refresh rate to the GPU frame rate. This helps you stop screen tearing and stuttering, something that a lot of gamers will appreciate.

There's also a Visual Response Boost, which allows you to use backlight strobing in order to reduce motion blur. You'll also find Black Boost that helps improve visibility in dark games.

Design:

This monitor has full ergonomic support which can be adjusted up to 100mm in height, as well as a 180 degree swivel, and 90 degree pivot so you can position it any way you want to. It also has VESA mount compatibility.

It uses a DisplayPort 1.4, as well as 2 HDMI 2.0 ports and a headphone jack. It also has two basic built in speakers.

Best 1440p 144Hz Gaming Monitor: MSI QHD Rapid-IPS Gaming Non-Glare Super

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Key Specifications

Refresh Rate: 165 Hz
Special Feature: High Dynamic Range
Screen Size: 27

Most gamers, they'll find that a 1440p resolution and a 144Hz+ refresh rate give them everything they need to enjoy their games. This monitor is the best one you can get that fits these requirements for under $500.

Image:

This monitor has the perfect screen size as it allows it to show 108 pixels per inch, giving you a sharp i8mage without the need for scaling. The IPS panel used allows it to use quantum dot technology, giving it 10-bit color depth support. As a result, all colors displayed are accurate and vibrant, so you can really enjoy the graphics in-game as they're meant to be enjoyed.

The screen also supports HDR, but be aware that it doesn't have a local dimming feature, which would give it a higher contrast ratio. As such, some HDR content may look better, but typically you'll play with the HDR support disabled. Also, again IPS glow is something that you'll get with this monitor, so you'll have to consider if that's something you want to deal with.

What you will find is that the pixel response time is excellent, so there'll be no ghosting in your games. With the great color and angles, you'll get, you're going to get the very best image possible here.

Features:

As with the above monitor, you can use AMD FreeSync on this monitor too to improve the overall performance of the screen. What's useful to know is that this monitor is certified by NVIDIA as G-SYNC compatible, so VRR will work with compatible graphics cards.

There is also some helpful picture presets, including sRGB and DCI-P3 modes, as well as motion blur reduction and night vision and crosshair overlays. These all work together to give you an excellent gaming experience.

Design:

There's great ergonomic support on this monitor, with VESA mount compatibility and 100mm height adjustment. It can also be pivoted 90 degrees.  As for connectivity, there are two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, a headphone jack, a dual USB 2.0 hub, and USB-C.

Best Ultrawide Gaming Monitor: AOC CU34G2X 34

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Key Specifications

Screen Size: 34 Inches
Refresh Rate: 144 Hz
Special Feature: Ultrawide Screen

Yes, you really can get an ultrawide gaming monitor for under $500, and get the best experience. This monitor gives you everything you need and is often found for around $450.

Image:

As the monitor uses a 21:9 aspect ratio, you'll get an excellent immersive experience, as well as an extra desktop workspace for when you're looking to work offline. As it uses a VA panel, you'll get the very best deep and vivid black shades in your games.

As it's a VA panel as compared to an IPS panel, you're not going to get colors as accurate or consistent with it, but they're still rich with 8-bit color depth.  One of the best things about the monitor is that it uses 3440X1440 resolution, which gives you a pixel density of 110 pixels per inch. That gives you the very best details, so you can see everything as you play.

You do need to be aware that VA panels don't offer the best response times, and pixels can take a little longer to change color which results in a small amount of ghosting. If you play fast-paced games, then any VA panel isn't going to be for you.

Features:

Again, this monitor supports FreeSync, although you may see some flickering when you use it. This does depend on the particular unit, though.  You'll also get access to pre-calibrated picture modes, as well as Shadow Control and Game Color. You can also get pictures in pictures, or picture by picture.

Design:

You'll get the best height with this monitor, as it can go up by 130mm. There's good tilt and swivel too, for the best angling.  There are two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, as well as two HDMI 2.0 ports, a headphone jack and a quad USB 3.0 hub.  Any one of these monitors will give you just what you're looking for in gaming. Plus, they all come in at under $500 making them highly affordable.