Updated at: 04-05-2022 - By: Leo Hall

Aside from gaming computers, gaming monitors are arguably the most significant component of a gaming PC. The aesthetic and feel of the game is defined by the monitor, regardless of whether it is widescreen, resolution, ultra-wide, or HDR-enabled. The bright side is that a wide range of cutting-edge display technologies are now readily available. Examples abound; keep reading for much more!

SB220Q

Even though TN screens are traditionally the least expensive option, the Acer SB220Q has a surprising 75 Hz refresh rate for a cheap 1080p IPS display.

Since the SB220Q has a higher refresh rate and FreeSync support, it appears to be superior to most TN competitors in this price range, as well. An increase in frames per second (FPS) improves the overall gaming experience.

The quality of a screen with 144 Hz will never be matched by 75 Hz, hence it’s impossible for 75 Hz to give the same effect. However, when you take into account the price, it’s rather astounding.

Like many low-end products, it has a number of noticeable drawbacks. Because there is no VESA support, the stock stand can only be tilted, and this is the most critical drawback.

There is only one VGA and one HDMI port on the SB220Q, as well. It’s also a tad small by today’s standards, measuring just 21.5 inches. For 1080p panels, a 24-inch diagonal seems to be the sweet spot.

To be sure, the Acer SB220Q isn’t the most expensive or most impressive monitor on the market, but it’s an excellent choice for individuals on a budget who want something that’s still reliable.

ASUS VP249QGR

Dimensions: 24 inches

the IPS panel

The following is the screen resolution: 1920×1080

144Hz is the refresh rate.

The Pros:

  • Colors and angles are of the highest quality.
  • FreeSync-enabled 144-Hz refresh rate
  • For a reasonable price,
  • VESA-compatible

The Cons:

  • Incredible position
  • Motion blur can be clearly seen.

We then switch to a monitor from Asus, the VP249QGR, which is known for its reliability. It’s a reasonably priced 1080p IPS panel, however it costs a little more than the average 1080p IPS monitor.

Those looking for greater fluidity and responsiveness, or who simply want an advantage in online games, will appreciate the panel’s 144 Hz refresh rate, which is also more performance-oriented.

You can rest assured that this monitor’s panel is an IPS, which provides outstanding color quality and wide viewing angles. In addition, as previously indicated, the 24-inch screen is the ideal size for 1080p. For the price, FreeSync’s 48 to 144 Hz refresh rate is more than adequate.

The VP249QGR’s major flaw is its motion blur, which is most evident in fast-paced scenes. Despite its high response time, the ghosting isn’t as bad as on inferior panels, and the display is still decent.

When it comes to gaming monitors under $200 that deliver impressive performance for their price point, it’s hard to find an option better than Asus’ VP249QGR.

Acer’s latest IPS monitor isn’t quite as impressive in terms of image quality as its predecessor, but it’s still an amazing value for the money. One of the most critical aspects of a monitor’s effectiveness is its ability to respond quickly and accurately to your commands.

AOC CQ27G1

Inches in length: 27′′

The VA panel

a screen resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels

144Hz is the refresh rate.

The Pros:

  • Monitor with 144 Hz refresh rate for 1440p at a reasonable price.
  • The contrast and color are excellent.
  • Intriguing visuals
  • An adjustable stand with VESA
  • Overall, this is a fantastic deal.

The Cons:

  • Ghosting is an issue.
  • Color fidelity isn’t as high as it is on an IPS panel.

Moving on to something more serious, the AOC CQ27G1 will be our next stop. There are more expensive displays on the market, but this one is the best value for the money you’ll discover when seeking for a monitor that offers great images and superb performance at an affordable price.

With its vivid red accents, the CQ27G1 stands out as a gaming display and is a stark contrast to the black exteriors of the other models we’ve discussed.

It features a 1440p VA panel with a refresh rate of 144 Hz and an angled design. In other words, it’ll look well and perform well.

For what it’s worth, FreeSync is well-implemented and supports a frequency range of 48-144 Hz, high-quality colors and a wide range of contrast. It also has a stylish, fully-adjustable stand.

CQ27G1’s key drawbacks are the ghosting difficulties that are particularly evident in dark scenes, which are the fundamental drawbacks of the monitor. In general, VA panels have this issue.

You won’t be able to get the same brilliant colors as you would on a high-quality IPS panel. In spite of this, the display’s high resolution and rapid refresh rate compensate.

The adjustable VESA stand adds a beautiful finishing touch to the design.

For those who need a larger curved display, there are 27-inch and 32-inch variants available; however, an ultrawide model may be a better option in this scenario (more about that later).

Philips 278E1A

Inches in length: 27′′

the IPS panel

3840 x 2160 (high definition)

At 60 Hz, the refresh rate

The Pros:

  • Crisp and clear picture
  • For a 4K display, this is a really affordable price.

The Cons:

  • The refresh rate is 60 Hz.
  • Only the tilting stand is available.

We’re working on a low-cost 4K monitor that, yes, you’ve read it correctly. If you’re in the market for a 4K display, you don’t have to worry about blowing your budget on an LCD panel.

It’s a Philips 278E1A 4K monitor with an IPS panel for a low price. If you place an emphasis on aesthetics over functionality, this is a match made in heaven. A 4K-resolution monitor is nearly certain if you’re on a limited budget and want to buy one.

Just to summarize, the 278E1A’s image quality is superb, with accurate and vibrant colors, wide angles of view and the kind of clarity in the image that only 4K can supply you with. It’s true that you can’t eat your cake and have it all, especially when it’s this expensive. There are a few drawbacks to keep in mind.

Even while it isn’t the sole drawback, the fact that it is a 60 Hz display implies that it is slower than a 144 Hz display. If you’re used to playing on screens with a response time of 1ms or less, this will not be a noticeable difference.

In addition, the 278E1A comes with a tilt-only base, but it is VESA-compatible, so those who need more adjustment can find another stand on the third-party market.

Sceptre C305B-200UN

Inches: 30′′

The VA panel

The resolution is 2560 x 1080 pixels.

200 Hz refresh rate

The Pros:

  • The graphics are excellent.
  • An ultra-wide immersive screen in ultra-wide format
  • A refresh rate of 200 Hz
  • Return on investment

The Cons:

  • a simple stand that tilts
  • Glimmering spectres

The C305B 200UN monitor from Sceptre, a lesser-known manufacturer, is an excellent option for those looking for an ultrawide gaming monitor on a budget.

As a result of the fact that it has a 30-inch ultrawide, curved screen and a 200 Hz refresh rate, it is expected to have a 1080p screen, which it does.

There are some drawbacks to this display, such as a slow response time and a lack of overall color accuracy compared to IPS panels, but generally, it’s a terrific value for the money.

The C305B200UN’s major problem is its slow response time, which can result in noticeable motion blur and ghosting that many VA panels experience.

Also available is a stock stand that is mediocre at best for tilting. But the monitor is VESA-compatible, which means it may be used with any other VESA mounting system or stand from third parties.

AOC CU34G2X

Inches: 34

The VA panel

An aspect ratio of 3440 by 1440

144Hz is the refresh rate.

The Pros:

  • This ultrawide VA panel is stunning.
  • Refresh rate is 144 Hz for 1440p.
  • Adjust the height of the stand at any time.

The Cons:

  • Pricey

Toward the end of the list, we have a second ultrawide display, although this one is more powerful and pricey than the Sceptre model.

With its 34-inch diagonal and 1440p display, the AOC CU34G2X has a VA panel as well, making it easier for gamers to get drawn into the gaming world.

In comparison to the Sceptre model’s 20 Hz, the AOC monitor only has a slightly lower refresh rate of 144 Hz, but the difference is negligible and the AOC monitor more than makes up for it in other ways.

It has a 34-inch 1440p display with a more true color and a responsive display with less ghosting, as well as an extremely-adjustable VESA stand, which makes it a more tempting choice overall..

However, the AOC CU34G2X monitor’s most notable downside is its price. Even if it’s not the most expensive option, we’re looking at budget models in this review, and this is expensive when it comes to budget options.

How To Pick The Best Monitor

The Resolution

The resolution of a monitor is usually the first and most essential consideration for buyers. Why is it so important to come to a decision?

The games will appear more appealing if they have a higher resolution. Clearer images, with more information and a better sense of depth, can be achieved by using more pixels.

The following are common screen resolutions seen on modern gaming monitors:

  1. HD 1080p (Full HD) Many televisions and computer monitors used to come with a 1080p (Full High Definition) resolution, however that is gradually being phased out in favor of other resolutions. In 2022, though, 1080p will still be a feasible resolution for gaming, as it looks beautiful, isn’t as demanding, and can lead to better performance.
  2. 1280 by 1440 (Quad HD) Although 1440p (Quad HD) looks better than 1080p, it isn’t as demanding as 4K, making it a perfect halfway ground for many gaming devices.
  3. The resolution of 2160p (Ultra HD/4K) Although this resolution produces the sharpest images on a monitor, it is also one of the most taxing on the graphics processing unit (GPU).

The Screen Size

The size of a monitor’s screen is another important feature of screen resolution.

The most essential factor in determining the size of your display is the resolution.

A picture’s sharpness is directly related to the picture’s pixel density, which is directly proportional to the size of the screen on which it appears.

As the density of pixels falls on a large screen, you’ll notice a significant drop in visual fidelity. The same is true for screens with low resolution.

  • 1080p at 21-24 inches
  • 1440 pixels wide by 2427 pixels high
  • 27-32 inches, 2160p

Most people believe that 32 inches is the maximum size of an average desktop display, and that anything greater is unappealing when viewed in close proximity to the monitors.

The aspect ratio 16:9 is the next aspect ratio, hence this is only true for regular widescreen monitors.

The Aspect Ratio

Ultrawide displays, which have a 21-to-1 aspect ratio, are becoming increasingly popular in addition to traditional 16:9 widescreen options. This is understandable, given the benefits (and drawbacks) they offer.

The greatest and most obvious advantage of an ultrawide display is that a larger screen allows you to see more during gameplay. It’s not just games that will benefit from the increased screen space, but even simple tasks like browsing the web will benefit from the extra space.

Ultrawide curved monitors, on the other hand, may deliver an unmatched sense of total immersion.

As a result, many game developers purposefully deactivate FOV changes in competitive games in order to prevent gamers with ultrawide monitors from getting an unfair advantage over their opponents.

In addition, some games may not run properly on a 21:9 monitor since they are incompatible with ultrawide, thus some more tuning may be necessary.

The Refresh Rate

By 2022, the refresh rate will be critical, even more so than the display’s resolution, for some players. Why is it so important to have a high refresh rate?

The refresh rate is the number of times a second the monitor refreshes its display. Hertz expresses this sentiment in this manner (Hz).

The number of frames the monitor can display in a second is directly related to the refresh rate. In other words, if you want smoother animations, better responsiveness, and less fuzzy motion, you might consider increasing your frame rate. A faster refresh rate is unquestionably a top priority for you.

Refresh rates in 2022 are expected to range from the conventional 60 Hz to a whopping 240 Hz, as seen in this research (and even higher in some rare instances).

It is important to take into account your personal preferences as well as your computer’s hardware when deciding on the appropriate refresh rate.

Similarly to resolution, it’s a good idea to check out the benchmarks to see what kind of performance you can expect from your graphics card in a specific game before making a decision.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that high refresh rates have diminishing returns. The advantages become less credible as the refresh rate increases.

The Response Time

While the refresh rate is vital for responsiveness, it isn’t the only element you should keep an eye on when looking at a product’s specifications.

The normal response time of a modern monitor is between 1ms and 4ms, which is extremely slow by today’s standards. Due to the fact that TN panels are the most efficient and IPS panels are the closest to the left, VA panels are normally the slowest and most prone to issues with ghosting, while TN panels are the fastest and IPS panels the closest to the left.

When it comes to how important it is to reply quickly, everyone’s opinion is going to be different.

There is no motion blur unless the user’s response speed is greater than 10 milliseconds. In 2022, you won’t be able to get a gaming display with this kind of response time.

Conclusion

Having everything out of the way, which of the above displays would you choose to utilize for gaming in 2022?

  1. The Acer SB220Q is a good option for those on a budget. As we’ve already stated, this monitor is a fantastic value for the money it currently costs. The visual quality of performance isn’t going to compete with the more expensive models, but for the price of $90, it’s a great deal.
  2. Most cost-effective option The Most Effective Deal For the price, we believe that the AOC CQ27G1 is the best overall value for your money, since it covers all the essentials – the resolution and refresh rates and visuals – for the best overall value. It has a nice VESA stand that can be easily adjusted, as well as an attractive exterior.
  3. This is the best AOC CU34G2X. Overall, this is the best monitor on the list since it accomplishes everything the CQ27G1 does well and adds a magnificent curved ultrawide display to the mix as an additional bonus. Although it is the most expensive of these displays, it is still a solid option for individuals who aren’t looking to spend too much money.

But remember, these are only our preferences! If you keep your needs and the capabilities of your PC in mind, any of the displays on this list will be a good fit.