There is a high demand for gaming monitors in the market, and considering how the GPUs have become a lot cheaper, more and more people are looking for gaming monitors to pair with their gaming PCs.
The common misconception is that gaming monitors are always expensive, and that is why people usually look to stay away from them.
However, that is not the case in reality. As you can find a lot of gaming monitors for cheap. How cheap you ask? Well, I am talking about under 200.
To keep things simple and straightforward, I am only going to talk about 5 monitors because the people who are looking for cheap gaming monitors are not really looking for confusions, because if I do add more monitors, there can be a confusion among those who just want a simple monitor.
The important thing that you need to note here is that most of the monitors I am reviewing are available in 24-inch screen size, which is perfect for 1080p resolution.
With that said, let us go ahead and have a look at all the monitors available in the market.
Related Article: Monitor Buying guide
1. ASUS VG245H – View on Amazon
The first monitor on the list is the Asus VG245H. This is the one monitor that surprised me the most because this is perhaps the cheapest monitor that comes with AMD’s Free Sync technology, this works in the same way as Nvidia’s G-Sync but the good thing here is that the Free Sync is a lot cheaper to implement as it does not require a separate module.
Aside from Free Sync, you get full HD resolution that looks remarkable on a 24-inch panel which is TN (Twisted Nematic) and while I know that not a lot of people like that type of panel, you have to consider the cost you are paying for the monitor, and then look at what you are getting.
In addition to that, the monitor has super low response rate, and the overall design happens to be one of the most ergonomic I have seen. Moving on, I really love the intuitive interface that you get with this monitor; truly one of the best.
To be honest, I really don’t have any complaints with the monitor and how it is. Given the price tag, it is almost as if you are getting a lot. If I have any complaint from this amazing monitor, it is that the monitor is dimmer as compared to some of the competitors in the market. That is not necessarily a bad thing, as some monitors tend to use different panels.
In conclusion, the Asus VG245H is a great gaming monitor for under 200 that should suit your build really well, especially if you are on a budget, and you want something cheap, and extremely functional.
Pros
- Full HD resolution is a treat.
- The image is clear, and crisp.
- One of the lowest response rate.
- Interface is fun to use, and easy.
- The design is ergonomic and very professional.
- Having AMD Free Sync is a huge plus.
Cons
- The panel is dimmer than the competition.
2. Acer XFA240 bmjdpr – View on Amazon
Acer is a company that is consistently impressing with their amazing monitors. At first I thought that they are only good with higher end monitors that are sold under the Predator branding.
However, after testing the Acer Gaming Monitor 24″ XFA240 bmjdpr, my perception about the lower end, cheap monitors has completely changed, and that too, for good. Let us find out why.
One of the main things that surprised me the most is the fact that this is a 144 Hz panel that you are looking at. Yes, I am talking about 144 Hz at 1080p.
If this is not a jackpot, I don’t know what is. But that is not all, this is an incredibly affordable monitor, and on top of the 144 Hz refresh rate, you also get the AMD Free Sync technology which makes this monitor one of the sweetest deals that you can invest.
The display is also one of the finest you can lay your eye on, and while it still uses TN panel, it more than makes up for that by offering you low response rate, and high refresh rate, making it one of the fittest monitor for people who prefer fast-paced gaming.
I cannot think of anything wrong with the monitor as far as features are concerned.
The only thing I don’t like about the otherwise amazing Acer Gaming Monitor 24″ XFA240 bmjdpr is that it is low on connectivity.
To put things in perspective, it only comes with a DVI, HDMI, and a Display Port, and that is about it. There is no headphone jack, and most certainly, no USB ports.
Pros
- 144 Hz refresh rate with 1 ms response time.
- Full HD.
- AMD Free Sync.
- Perfect for fast-paced, and competitive gaming.
Cons
- The monitor lacks enough connectivity options.
3. Dell SE2717HR RVJXC – View on Amazon
If you believe that 24-inch screen size is not enough for you, then don’t worry as there are options in the list that extent beyond that screen size.
Say hello to the Dell SE2717HR RVJXC. Honestly, I was not expecting much from this monitor when I first laid by eyes on it, because I was under the impression that I will not be getting enough from this monitor but I was surprised.
The first notable feature that you are getting from this monitor is that this is the cheapest monitor on the list that actually offers you an IPS (In-Plane Switching) panel rather than the common TN panel that is usually the one thing that is best known in the cheaper monitors.
In addition to that, you are getting 27-inch screen size that is running at 1080p resolution. While some people might think that the images might suffer, but the good thing is that it is not the case as the picture comes out pretty clear.
The overall design and build quality is pretty solid as well, and I don’t think I can complain. With that being said, thanks to the IPS panel, the Dell SE2717HR RVJXC offers one of the most accurate colour reproduction, which means if you are content creator on a budget, then this monitor might be able to offer you some help.
I do not think there is a lot to hate when it comes to the Dell SE2717HR RVJXC. It is a pretty amazing monitor that offers you a lot of features and for cheap. It cannot get better than that, and if it can, then it definitely costs more than the price of this monitor.
Pros
- Excellent value for money.
- IPS panel is a blessing.
- The full HD resolution looks great.
- Great design and build quality.
- The colour reproduction is one of the finest I have seen in a monitor under 200.
Cons
- None
4. BenQ ZOWIE (RL2455) – View on Amazon
If you are looking for an affordable gaming monitor that does not require a lot of money, then you are at the right place.
The BenQ ZOWIE (RL2455) is a great 24-inch monitor that is aimed towards gamers.
However, the important thing that you need to know here is that you do not get advanced features such as AMD Free Sync, or 144 Hz refresh rate.
You get a pretty basic set of features, so you might want ot be careful when you are buying this monitor.
The good things, though, are certainly there. For starters, the image that is reproduced on this monitor is clear and does not create any issues whatsoever.
If you are an RTS gamer, then another great feature is that you get some pretty useful presets that are great for RTS games, and while I thought that they are gimmicks at first, they work really well, and that is what matters here.
Last but not the least, one of the biggest selling points of this monitor is that it is affordable. A lot more affordable than some of the other monitors available in the market.
The important thing to note here is that the BenQ ZOWIE (RL2455) is not without its shortcomings. The biggest one is that it does not have any height adjustments.
While I found the height to be perfect, I know several gamers who would not buy this monitor just because the lack of height adjustment, and that is a serious issue.
Overall, the BenQ ZOWIE (RL2455) is a good enough gaming monitor that is cheap, and should get the job done for the most part.
Pros
- Crisp and clear image on the 1080p panel.
- The preset for RTS games is really nice and works really well.
Cons
- The monitor does not offer height adjustment.
5. Dell Gaming Monitor SE2417HG – View on Amazon
Now I am going to take a look at the last monitor on the list and it is again from Dell. To be honest, I am not surprised as Dell has given us some really nice gaming monitors and even some pretty amazing professional monitors so I have to give credit where it is due.
Now coming back to the point, I will be honest, there is not a lot of groundbreaking going on with this monitor, and although Dell has marketed this as a gaming monitor, though I fail to understand why.
You don’t get high refresh rate, or super low response rate, it is still a TN panel. Still, it is up to me to review the monitor and see just how good it is.
To begin with, the TN panel does offer pretty good colour reproduction, and while it is not as good as an IPS, it still gives a decent viewing experience, and pictures appear crisp and clear.
I think with some tinkering around in the profile, you can create a pretty good colour profile for your needs.
The monitor looks good, and the looks are understated, so if you are worried about gaining too much attention, do not worry as it will not be the case.
There are no weird, angular shapes, so you really do not have to worry about those either.
Overall, the Dell Gaming Monitor SE2417HG is a pretty standard gaming monitor that does not offer a lot but still shoots at within its range.
It is not promising you anything with the fancy marketing material unlike some of the other monitors in the market.
Therefore, I would say that you are getting what you pay for. If you happen to be on a budget, and you want a good enough experience, then I would most certainly recommend you the Dell Gaming Monitor SE2417HG.
Pros
- Great value for money.
- Looks professional.
- The images appear crisp.
Cons
- Severely lacking in some of the advanced features.
Conclusion
The thing about cheap monitors or any products for that matters is that you have to look a lot closer in order to find the perfect options.
Because if you don’t, then you can just get lost in the spiral of endless products that might not make sense at all.
The same is the case with monitors; at first, you might not think that you are going to run into a lot of products but upon closer inspection, you get to realise the amount of options there are in the market, and how you have to sift through the pile to find the best possible options.
The purpose of this list is basically for people who do not want to waste their time drowning in all that confusion, and just want to have the best possible product.
I can assure you that if you do follow this list, you are going to come across some of the best gaming monitors under 200, and I believe that it is nothing more than an achievement. So, definitely keep that in mind.