Best October Prime Day gaming monitor deals

Acer KC242Y | 23.8-inch | 1080p | 100 Hz | VA | FreeSync | $129.99 $89.99 at Best Buy (save $40)
Ok, so it's pretty small, and a VA panel. But honestly, for this money and from a well-known and trusted manufacturer, with AMD FreeSync and a 100Hz refresh rate? A pretty good deal if you ask us. This would make an excellent second monitor, or a pretty quick main monitor in a pinch if you're building on a very tight budget.

Price check: Amazon $89.99

ASUS VZ279QG1R | 27-inch | 1080p | |75 Hz | 1 ms response time | FreeSync | $109.99 $89.99 at Newegg (save $20)
Coming in at just over $100, this super budget-friendly Asus monitor punches above its weight. With a Full HD Panel, 1 ms response time, and FreeSync to ensure super smooth quality, it's an excellent choice for any rig that needs to save a bit of money. At just a 75Hz refresh rate, this is the biggest spot where its competitors have the advantage but, if you can stomach that, you get a seriously nice screen for the price.

ASRock Phantom Gaming | 27-inch | 1080p | 165 Hz | IPS | FreeSync | $179.99 $99.77 at Newegg (save $79.22)
ASRock has become a favorite of ours around here over busy shopping periods. These screens always seem to be on offer, and from the one we've used (read our review) they're good value for the money, too. You can't really complain with this 165Hz panel for just under $100.

Acer Nitro KC241Y | 23.8-inch | 1080p | 165 Hz | VA | FreeSync | $172.99 $99.99 at Amazon (save $73)
Why do monitor model names need to be so confusing? It's an eternal mystery. But if you can decode this Acer, you'll find it's a cracking deal. A 165Hz gaming monitor for just $99.99. Yes, it's VA, but at this price point, something's gotta give.

Price check: Newegg $159.99

Acer Nitro XF243Y | 23.8-inch | 1080p | 180Hz | IPS | FreeSync | $149.99 $109.99 at Amazon (save $40)
If you reckon IPS rather than VA tech is essential for a proper gaming panel, do not despair. This 180Hz Acer monitor rocks IPSm panel tech for a whisker over $100. Sure, it's only 1080p and 24 inches. But if you're looking for maximum speed for minimum money, this is an excellent deal.

Price check: Best Buy $109.99

Acer Nitro | 27-inch | 1080p | 240 Hz | VA | | Curved | FreeSync | $314.99 $159.99 at Amazon (save $155)
If you're desperate for a super-high refresh rate on a budget, then this Acer Nitro screen should fit the bill. It's not very bright, rated at just 250 nits, but it's a good size, is a VA panel and sports a full 240 Hz refresh rate for a rather tasty price tag.

Acer KA272U |27-inch | 1440p | IPS | 100 Hz | $199.99 $139.99 at Best Buy (save $60)
If you're on the tightest of budgets, this will get you a decently sized 1440p monitor for a real bargain price. It's even got a higher-than-60 Hz refresh rate. Okay, 100 Hz isn't spectacular, but it is still notably smoother than 60 Hz. It's also not the brightest screen, rated at 250 nits peak, but the compromises will have to come in somewhere. If you want something brighter, the $157 ASRock below is a true winner.

Acer Nitro ED270U | 27-inch | 1440p | VA | FreeSync Premium | 170 Hz | $249.99 $149.99 at Newegg (save $100)
This is one of the best deals on a 1440p gaming monitor we've seen so far. A respectable brand and a respectable spec, although it might be worth holding out for an IPS panel. Still, a good price on a great little screen.

Price check: Amazon $169.99

ASRock Phantom PG27Q15R2A | 27-inch | 165 Hz | 1440p | VA | FreeSync Premium | $239.99 $156.77 at Newegg (save $83.22)
ASRock's gaming monitors are always so darned cheap—we love them for that. This 1440p panel offers resolution and a rapid refresh rate for a potent PC gaming combo, though the built-in Wi-Fi antenna helps it stand out from the crowd. That's hardly essential, but could come in use for some.

Price check: Amazon $229

Samsung Odyssey G5 G55C | 27-inch | 165 Hz | 1440p | VA | $249 $179.99 at Walmart (save $69.01)
This monitor was already a great deal at its previous $216 Amazon price. Now, for $200 at Walmart, it's a steal. Samsung has form when it comes to getting VA panels to achieve good response. Put simply, Samsung VA panels are the quickest.

Price check: Amazon $199.99 | Newegg $219.99

Acer Nitro XV271U M3bmiiprx | 27-inch | 180 Hz | 1440p | 0.5 ms G2G response | IPS | $289.99 $214.99 at Amazon (save $75)
This Acer monitor is a steal for all you prospective competitive gamers, hitting a high refresh rate and low response time sweet spot (0.5-1 ms gray-to-gray). It's the same price as the Odyssey G5 below but is better for those of you who prefer an IPS panel to a VA.

Price check: Newegg $275.99

Acer Nitro XZ271U X3bmiiphx | 27-inch | 240Hz | 1440p | 1ms G2G response | IPS | $349.99 $249.99 at Newegg (save $100)
OK, these Acer monitor names are a bad joke. But bear with us, because this screen has loads to offer. The main attraction is a 240Hz 1440p panel with 1ms response times. That's pretty much the ideal real-world 16:9 gaming solution. Just take great care with what you're ordering and those model names!

Price Check: Walmart $249.99  | Amazon $265

Gigabyte M28U | 28-inch | 4K | 144Hz | IPS | $599 $399.99 at Amazon (save $200)
Here's a monitor we really rate from our Gigabyte M28U review. We actually loved this package for its blend of speed and resolution, even at its original $650 price tag. At this tantalizingly cheap price, it's that much better.

Price check: Newegg $399.99

Gigabyte M32UC | 32-inch | 4K | 144Hz | VA | FreeSync Premium Pro | $629.99 $499.99 at Amazon (save $130)
Here's our pick for the best budget 4K gaming monitor, but now it's even cheaper. That's a deal we can't pass up. It's a gloriously simple panel with a no-frills look paired with a speedy refresh of up to 144Hz and a handy USB hub. Our Jacob uses this panel daily, and he's had no complaints with it so far.

Price check: Newegg $529.99 | Best Buy $529.99

LG UltraGear | 32-inch | IPS | 144Hz | 4K | FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible | $599.99 $522.87 at Amazon (save $77.12)
You can pick up a cheaper VA 32-inch 4K screen above, but this is a fully gorgeous IPS panel and is dearer for it. With G-Sync and FreeSync support, you will always net smooth frames on this UltraGear—providing your GPU is up to the task. We're big fans of LG monitors, and this is a good 'un.

Price check: Best Buy $599.99

Gigabyte M32U | 32-inch | 4K | 144Hz | IPS | FreeSync | $729.99 $549.99 at B&H (save $180)
The flat version of Gigabyte's M32U isn't only flatter, it also comes with a lovely IPS panel. That's why it's also a touch more expensive, but if you won't get outta bed for anything less than IPS, this is a fair price for a monitor with HDMI 2.1 and a USB hub.

Price check: Newegg $929.83

Samsung Odyssey Ark 2nd gen | 55-inch | 4K | Freesync | $2,999.99 $1,799.99 at Amazon (save $1,200)
Do you need the Ark? Probably not, but damned if it isn't at least worth a look nonetheless. This screen offers something few others do, probably for good reason. It's absolutely massive, curved out the wazoo, ready for HDR to the extreme, built with Mini LED tech, and runs at 165Hz. It's something different, and that's why it bears mentioning that it's pretty much always on sale.

Price check: Best Buy $1,799.99 | Walmart $1,799.99

Dell S3422DWG | 34-inch | VA | 144 Hz | 3440 x 1440 | $217.87 at Amazon
Once a $500 screen the Dell ultrawide is a classic monitor for deal times, and at this price it's a stunning deal once more. It's a decent VA panel with a peak 400 nits luminance, though despite that DisplayHDR 400 rating I wouldn't call it a HDR screen. It is relatively high refresh, though, with a 144 Hz rating and FreeSync Premium Pro adaptive sync. 

Price check: Dell $299.99

LG UltraGear 34GP63A-B | 34-inch | 160 Hz | 3440 x 1440 | VA | $399.99 $236.99 at Amazon (save $163 with Prime membership)
At its current price, this LG ultrawide is a genuine bargain. By comparison, Alienware's fancy QD-OLED 34-inch panel is around $800 even on sale. This LG matches its size, resolution, aspect ratio and refresh rate for less than one-third of the price, although of course, it is a VA panel, not an OLED. It's also not the brightest gaming monitor ever, but it is a very good deal.

Price check: LG $249.99

GIGABYTE M34WQ | 34-inch | 144Hz | IPS | $449.99 $349.99 at Newegg (save $100)
Gigabyte make some of our favorite gaming monitors, and as ultrawides go, this one's a bit of a peach. That IPS panel is plenty fast with a 144Hz refresh rate, and it's got plenty of ports for all sorts of connection possibilities. A 400 nits brightness rating is pretty great for this sort of price, too.

Price check: Amazon $349.99 | Walmart $349.99

Samsung 34 inch Odyssey curved monitor | 34-inch | 175Hz | 0.03 ms response time | WQHD | OLED | $1,199.99 $617.49 at Amazon (save $582.50)
With a 175 Hz refresh rate, this 34-inch curved ultrawide OLED monitor has AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and it's buttery smooth, thanks to that impressive 0.03 ms response time. With True Black 400 HDR, the panel looks fantastic, and the built-in Gaming Hub makes for a much snappier gaming experience. 

Price check: Newegg $799.99

Alienware 34 AW3423DWF | 34-inch | 165Hz | QD-OLED | $899.99 $699.99 at Best Buy (save $200)
Pulling the trigger on a fancy OLED monitor is a big decision, but you won't regret choosing this one. The AW3423DWF (real gem of a name) is one of our favorite monitors at retail, and we considered it a good deal when it was discounted to $850 earlier this year. Now it's at a clean $700; affordable for this caliber of screen. You can read our Alienware QD-OLED review for more.

Price check: Dell $899.99

MSI MAG 341CQP | 34-inch | 175 Hz | QD-OLED | $779.99 $729.99 at Newegg (save $50)
OLED gaming still isn't as affordable as we'd like. But it's getting there. This 34-inch ultrawide QD-OLED beast is still a good deal at this price, however. The 175 Hz refresh is a tiny bit pedestrian, but it's plenty fast enough for us and in all other regards, this is the full OLED experience, including 0.03ms response and serious HDR sizzle.

Price check: Amazon $773.99

MSI MAG 321UP | 32-inch | 165 Hz | QD-OLED | $829.99 $759.99 at Amazon (save $70)
What a difference a letter makes... especially when it comes to gaming monitors. The code names give to monitors are often impenetrable, but the difference between this MAG 321UP and the MAG321UPX is the this one has a 165 Hz refresh instead of 240 Hz. That's the only difference between this and more expensive OLED, otherwise you're still getting a gorgeous 4K panel, with response times to die for, and pixel quality, I dunno, to live for? If you're not concerned about the refresh rate difference (and do you have the hardware to hit a matching 240 fps otherwise?) then this is where the smart OLED money is spent.

Price check: Newegg $799.99

Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ | 49-inch | 144Hz | 5120 x 1440 | OLED | $1,099.99 $899.99 at Amazon (save $200)
It's not been around for long but the Aorus CO49DQ already has a decent discount, and it's a lot of monitor for the money as we found in our review. Those rocking the RTX 4090 might be better off with the higher refresh rate of the Samsung Odyssey G9 G93SC, but the rest of us can take advantage of this very wide, very pretty looking panel for a bit less.

Price check: Newegg $899.99`

MSI MAG 321UPX | 32-inch | 240Hz | QD-OLED | $899.99 at Newegg
With its special launch price of $949, the MSI MAG 321UPX was already by far the cheapest of the new generation of gorgeous high-pixel density 4K gaming OLEDs. But you can already get for $50 off. It makes most 27-inch 1440p OLEDs look painfully overpriced. It may be out of stock when you click through, but it's worth checking back for this great deal.

Price check: Amazon $954

Samsung Odyssey G9 | 49-inch | 240Hz | 5120 x 1440 | OLED | $1,799.99 $1,079.99 at Amazon (save $720)
All evidence points to this being a computer monitor, but let's be real: This is a surfboard that can display moving pictures. An extremely nice surfboard, to be sure: You're getting just about every bell and whistle you could want in an ultra-ultrawide monitor at the steepest discount we've seen.

Price check: Samsung $1,079.99

Cooler Master GM238-FFS | 24-inch | 1080p | 144Hz | IPS | £144.95 £119.99 at Overclockers (save £24.96)
It's not big, and it certainly isn't from a name we normally associate with gaming monitors, but if space is at a premium and you just want a good, little 1080p display for your desk, this 24-incher has a lot going for it. For a start, it's a fast IPS panel, so you get the good colours and a 0.5ms response time, and it will deliver a 144Hz refresh rate, too.

ASRock Phantom PG27FF1A | 27-inch | 1080p | IPS | 165Hz | £119.99 at Scan (save £51)
It's pretty wild what you can get these days for a relatively small sum of money. This is a 27-inch monitor for roughly the same price as some smaller 24-inch panels, and it still rocks an IPS display, 1ms response time, and a 165Hz refresh rate. Fantastic for gaming on a budget.

Price check: Overclockers £129.95

AOC Q27G2S/EU | 27-inch | 1440p | IPS | 165Hz | £219.97 £213.18 at Amazon (save £6.79)
Besides this monitor's significant bezels, there's a lot to like here. It's a bit old fashioned looking, but all the important specs are here: 1440p, 165 Hz, FreeSync compatible. It's in a sweet spot for gaming and it's made by a manufacturer we trust with budget screens.

ASRock Phantom PG34WQ15R2B | 34-inch | 165Hz | 3440 x 1440 | VA | £418.99 £309.98 at Scan (save £109.91)
You can't beat a high-refresh 34-inch ultrawide gaming panel in terms of bang for buck and ASRock gives you that particular bang for less buck than ever. As we found in our review, this 1ms 165Hz VA panel has no major weaknesses and makes for a really nice overall package for the money.

Price Check: Overclockers £329.99 

Gigabyte M28U | 28-inch | 4K | 144Hz | IPS | £459.99 £369.99 at Amazon (save £90.01)
The combination of 4K and 144Hz is normally a wallet-wincing affair. But this Gigabyte gets you there for a whisker under £400. Hardly throw-away money, but as a long-term investment, this would be a very nice tool for some high-precision gaming.

Price Check: Overclockers £428.99 

Alienware 34 AW3423DWF | 34-inch | 165Hz | QD-OLED | £929.99 £699.98 at Amazon (save £230.01)
Alienware's fancy QD-OLED panel is one of our all-time favourite displays, and while this is still a lot of money for any monitor, even with a discount, you won't do much better than this for the cash. It's simply stunning. You can read our Alienware QD-OLED review for more.