Best cheap gaming monitor deals today

Gaming monitor deals

A pair of monitors on a green background.

(Image credit: Future - Jorge Jimenez)

1080p: 1920 x 1080 (HD)
1440p: 2560 x 1440 (QHD)
4K: 2840 x 2160 (UHD)
Ultrawide: 3440 x 1440 (WQHD), 2560 x 1080 (WFHD)
UK monitor deals: All the best panels on sale

There are plenty of cheap gaming monitor deals around at any one point; we would know, we're constantly updating this page with them. Whether you're looking to upgrade to a higher resolution because you've just bagged a shiny new graphics card or adding a second panel to your home office desk, there's usually a lot on offer at discount prices.

If you've you picked up one of the best graphics cards, you must ensure your monitor can deliver its optimum resolution with a decent frame rate. Otherwise, you're not taking advantage of your fancy GPU's graphical potential and forcing an unnecessary bottleneck. 

For the discerning competitive gamer, it's all about frame rate. Resolution be damned! Thankfully we've spotted gaming monitors with refresh rates up to 360Hz on offer lately, and 240Hz seems pretty commonly discounted.

We've compiled a list of all the best cheap gaming monitor deals we've found, using our years of panel testing expertise to guide us, and we've organized them by resolution below. You can also see how they compare against some of the best gaming monitors. Those top screens don't always go on sale, but the ones listed here can offer a good alternative if you want to save a buck. And rest assured; we will let you know if they get a discount.

Gaming monitor deals — US quick links

1080p

Asus TUF Gaming | 24-inch | 1080p | 165Hz | IPS | FreeSync Premium |$189.99 $109.99 at Best Buy (save $80)

Asus TUF Gaming | 24-inch | 1080p | 165Hz | IPS | FreeSync Premium | $189.99 $109.99 at Best Buy (save $80)
This is only a 24-inch screen, and to be honest most people would prefer something larger, even our good selves. However, if what you're after is a small panel that won't dominate your desk with a good specification from a reputable brand, this one comes with all the bells and whistles for a price reflective of its size.

Dell 27 Gaming Monitor | 27-inch | 1080p | 280Hz | IPS | FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible | $369.99 $149.99 at Dell (save $220)

Dell 27 Gaming Monitor | 27-inch | 1080p | 280Hz | IPS | FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible | $369.99 $149.99 at Dell (save $220)
For a rapid IPS panel, this is a rather low price, even if you don't really pay much attention to Dell's obscure "estimated value". That peak 280Hz refresh rate via OC is going to be mega for competitive shooters, though the variable refresh rate technologies included here will make sure you see buttery smooth frames regardless of how fast you're running this screen.

1440p

ASRock Phantom Gaming | 27-inch | 165Hz | 1440p | VA | FreeSync Premium |$239.99 $197.99 at Newegg (save $42)

ASRock Phantom Gaming | 27-inch | 165Hz | 1440p | VA | FreeSync Premium | $239.99 $197.99 at Newegg (save $42)
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.

Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQA1A | 27-inch | 1440p | VA | $249.99 $189.99 at Newegg (save $60, with $10 rebate card)

Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQA1A | 27-inch | 1440p | VA | $249.99 $189.99 at Newegg (save $60, with $10 rebate card)
For the budget-conscious gamer, Asus makes a mean gaming monitor. This screen may be on the cheaper side, even costing less than some 1080p panels, yet it delivers 1440p res gaming with a 170Hz refresh rate (overclocked). Not too shabby.

Gigabyte GS27QC | 27-inch | 170Hz OC | 1440p | VA | $229.99 $189.99 at Amazon (save $40)
Less than

Gigabyte GS27QC | 27-inch | 170Hz OC | 1440p | VA | $229.99 $189.99 at Amazon (save $40)
Less than $200 for a decent 1440p 170Hz monitor from a proper brand like Gigabyte? What's not to like? Some would argue the VA panel, but it is rated at 1ms, albeit MPRT not GtG. The 250 nits brightness is modest, too, and the stand isn't height adjustable. Still, the panel sports 4,000:1 static contrast, which is excellent.

Price check: Newegg $189.99

Gigabyte G27Q | 27-inch | 1440p | 144Hz | IPS | FreeSync Premium | $249.99 $219.99 at Newegg (save $30)

Gigabyte G27Q | 27-inch | 1440p | 144Hz | IPS | FreeSync Premium | $249.99 $219.99 at Newegg (save $30)
If you ditch the curved panel, you can pick up an IPS screen from Gigabyte for not much more than its VA counterpart. We're fans of the straightforward, feature full gaming monitors Gigabyte makes, and this one looks to be no different. 

Gigabyte M32QC | 32-inch | 170Hz OC | 1440p | VA | $349.99 $308.03 at Amazon (save $41.96)

Gigabyte M32QC | 32-inch | 170Hz OC | 1440p | VA | $349.99 $308.03 at Amazon (save $41.96)
There's very little to complain about with this Gigabyte screen. It's quick, responsive, has a good resolution, and Newegg has just taken a chunk more money off the already appealing price.

Price check: Newegg $349.99

Dell S3222DGM | 32-inch | 165Hz | 1440p | VA | $349.99 $239.99 at Dell (save $110)

Dell S3222DGM | 32-inch | 165Hz | 1440p | VA | $349.99 $239.99 at Dell (save $110)
Dell's 32-inch 1440p monitor (see our review) is a classic of sales events the world over. It's always on offer. But that doesn't stop this from being a good deal, delivering decent visual quality, and a big screen size, for not a lot of money at all.

Price check: Best Buy $349.99

Acer Nitro XV320QU | 31.5-inch | 1440p | 165Hz | IPS | FreeSync Premium | $349.99 $239.99 at Newegg (save $110)

Acer Nitro XV320QU | 31.5-inch | 1440p | 165Hz | IPS | FreeSync Premium | $349.99 $239.99 at Newegg (save $110)
If you're chasing high frame rates and still want some degree of high fidelity, this 1440p panel is for you. It's rocking a 165Hz refresh rate with AMD's FreeSync supported to keep everything silky smooth. It's big, too, though 31.5-inch is pushing the 1440p resolution on pixel-per-inch.

Price check: Amazon $279.99

LG UltraGear OLED | 27-inch | 1440p | 240Hz | G-Sync Compatible | $999.99 $782.21 at Amazon (save $217.78)

LG UltraGear OLED | 27-inch | 1440p | 240Hz | G-Sync Compatible | $999.99 $782.21 at Amazon (save $217.78)
How much for a 1440p panel?! Stick an OLED panel on anything and you can charge extra for it, though it actually makes sense to use an OLED panel for your primary gaming monitor. They make for seriously gorgeous screens. Admittedly this one is a little dim overall (read more in our LG UltraGear 27GR95QE-B review) but it's still absolutely stunning in a shady spot.

Price check: Best Buy $999.99 | Newegg $818.99

4K

Acer Nitro XV322QK | 32-inch | 4k | 144Hz | IPS | USB-C 65W PD | $699.99 $449.99 at Amazon (save $250)Promo Code: BFCY2Z739

Acer Nitro XV322QK | 32-inch | 4k | 144Hz | IPS | USB-C 65W PD | $699.99 $449.99 at Amazon (save $250)
This is nothing less than the cheapest gaming monitor we've ever seen that hits that critical combo of 32 inches, 4K, 144Hz and IPS panel tech. Heck, it even throws in USB-C connectivity with 65W of power delivery. What an absolute steal of a deal. Use Promo Code: BFCY2Z739 at NewEgg or hit the checkbox on Amazon for the right price.

Price check: Newegg $689.99

MSI G321CU | 32-inch | 4K | 144Hz | VA | $529.99 $439.99 at Amazon (save $90)

MSI G321CU | 32-inch | 4K | 144Hz | VA | $529.99 $439.99 at Amazon (save $90)
Sub $500 4K 32-inch high refresh monitors have remained frustratingly rare. But here's one at Amazon from MSI for under $450! Arguably, 4K makes more sense in the larger 32-inch format than, say, 27 inches. Inevitably, this is a VA not IPS model. But it's still rated at 1ms so the response should be at least reasonable.

Price check: Newegg $538.04

Gigabyte M28U | 28-inch | 4K | 144Hz | IPS | $599.99 $449.99 at Amazon (save $150)

Gigabyte M28U | 28-inch | 4K | 144Hz | IPS | $599.99 $449.99 at Amazon (save $150)
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 $459.99 | Best Buy $499.99

Gigabyte M32UC | 32-inch | 4K | 144Hz | VA | FreeSync Premium Pro | $629.99 $579.99 at Amazon (save $50)

Gigabyte M32UC | 32-inch | 4K | 144Hz | VA | FreeSync Premium Pro | $629.99 $579.99 at Amazon (save $50)
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 $629.99 | Best Buy $629.99 | B&H $629.99

Gigabyte M32U | 4K | 144Hz | IPS | FreeSync | $729.99 $649.99 at B&H (save $80)

Gigabyte M32U | 4K | 144Hz | IPS | FreeSync | $729.99 $649.99 at B&H (save $80)
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 decent saving on a monitor with HDMI 2.1 and a USB hub.

Price check: Newegg $649.99

Aorus FV43U | 43-inch | 144Hz | 4K | VA |$1099.99 $719.99 at Amazon (save $380)

Aorus FV43U | 43-inch | 144Hz | 4K | VA | $1099.99 $719.99 at Amazon (save $380)
The FV43U is the slightly smaller (and cheaper) version of the FO48U. Even though it isn't an OLED, it provides excellent picture quality and a 144Hz refresh rate at a 4K resolution. Pair this with a fancy RTX 40-series GPU, you've got a hell of a visual combo. 

Samsung Odyssey Ark | 55-inch | 4K | $2,699.99 $1,799.99 at Best Buy (save $900)

Samsung Odyssey Ark | 55-inch | 4K | $2,699.99 $1,799.99 at Best Buy (save $900)
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.


Ultrawide

LG UltraGear 34GP63A-B | 34-inch | 160Hz | 3440 x 1440 | VA | $399.99 $334.99 at Amazon (save $65)

LG UltraGear 34GP63A-B | 34-inch | 160Hz | 3440 x 1440 | VA | $399.99 $334.99 at Amazon (save $65)
At less than $350 this LG ultrawide is a genuine bargain. By comparison, Alienware's fancy QD-OLED 34-inch panel is $800 even on sale. This LG matches its size, resolution, aspect ratio and refresh rate for less than one third of the price. It's not the brightest gaming monitor ever, but it is a very good deal.

Price check: LG $399.99

ASRock Phantom Gaming| 34-inch | 165Hz | VA | $379.99 $334.99 at Newegg (save $45)

ASRock Phantom Gaming | 34-inch | 165Hz | VA | $379.99 $334.99 at Newegg (save $45)
High refresh 34-inch ultrawide gaming monitors are arguably the sweet spot in terms of size, resolution and ergonomics. So, it's great to see one with decent specs for a reasonable price. As we discovered in our review, this ASRock is a very nice overall monitor for the money.

Samsung Odyssey G5 | 34-inch VA | 3440 x 1440 | 250 nits |1ms MPRT | $549.99$369.99 at Best Buy (save $180)

Samsung Odyssey G5 | 34-inch VA | 3440 x 1440 | 250 nits |1ms MPRT | $549.99 $369.99 at Best Buy (save $180)
34-inch ultrawide 1440p gaming remains one of our firm favourites. It's a great compromise between lots of detail and decent frame rates. This Samsung panel gives you all that with 3,440 by 1,440 pixels, 165Hz refresh and 1ms response. It's not the brightest at 250 nits. But if you can live with that, it's an awful lot of monitor for the money.

Alienware AW3821DW | 38-inch | 144Hz | 3840 x 1600 | IPS |$999.99$719.99 at Amazon (save $280)

Alienware AW3821DW | 38-inch | 144Hz | 3840 x 1600 | IPS |$999.99 $719.99 at Amazon (save $280)
A 38-inch high-refresh Alienware panel with much higher resolution than the more expensive 34-inch OLED model? Yup. It's IPS rather than OLED and 'only' 144Hz. But if you appreciate more pixels (3,840 by 1,600 in this case), then this is one of the very few 38-inch monitors that's optimized for gaming.

Price check: Dell $799.99

Alienware 34 AW3423DWF | 34-inch | 165Hz | QD-OLED | $1,099.99 $799.99 at Dell (save $250)

Alienware 34 AW3423DWF | 34-inch | 165Hz | QD-OLED | $1,099.99 $799.99 at Dell (save $250)
Alienware's fancy QD-OLED panel just got that little bit cheaper. It's still not exactly entry-level at $800, but think of it as a long term investment that will make every single gaming session pop. Once you've experienced per-pixel OLED-style lighting, you won't want to go back to LCD tech. You can read our Alienware QD-OLED review for more.

Price check: Best Buy $999.99

Gaming monitor deals — UK quick links

UK monitor deals

Cooler Master | 24-inch | 1080p | 144Hz | IPS | £144.95 £119.99 at Overclockers (save £24.96)

Cooler Master | 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.

AOC Q27G2S/EU | 27-inch | 1440p | IPS | 165Hz | £269.99 £227.03 at Amazon (save £42.96)

AOC Q27G2S/EU | 27-inch | 1440p | IPS | 165Hz | £269.99 £227.03 at Amazon (save £42.96)
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, 165Hz, FreeSync compatible. It's in a sweet spot for gaming and it's made by a manufacturer we trust with budget screens.

Price check: Ebuyer £239.99

ASRock Phantom Gaming | 27-inch | 1080p | IPS | 165Hz | £178.99 £159.98 at Scan (save £19.01)

ASRock Phantom Gaming | 27-inch | 1080p | IPS | 165Hz | £178.99 £159.98 at Scan (save £19.01)
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 of the smaller 24-inch panels below, and it still rocks an IPS display, 1ms response time, and a 165Hz refresh rate. Fantastic for gaming on a budget.

ASRock Phantom Gaming PG34WQ15R2B | 34-inch | 165Hz | 3440 x 1440 | VA | £418.99 £389.48 at Scan (save £29)

ASRock Phantom Gaming PG34WQ15R2B | 34-inch | 165Hz | 3440 x 1440 | VA | £418.99 £389.48 at Scan (save £29)
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.

Samsung Odyssey G7 | 28-inch | 4K | 144Hz | IPS | £649.99 £549.99 at Amazon (save £100)

Samsung Odyssey G7 | 28-inch | 4K | 144Hz | IPS | £649.99 £549.99 at Amazon (save £100)
Samsung rarely makes a duff monitor and this one ticks all of the right boxes for a high resolution, high refresh rate model. It uses an IPS panel so the contrast ratio isn't great; in HDR mode, pure black regions will look somewhat grey at times. It does sport two HDMI 2.1 ports for a spot of console goodness, though.

Price check: Ebuyer £615.99 | Overclockers £648.95

Gaming monitor FAQ

Should I go for an IPS, TN or VA panel?

We would always recommend an IPS panel over TN. The clarity of image, viewing angle, and color reproduction are far superior to the cheaper technology, but you'll often find a faster TN for cheaper. The other alternative, less expensive than IPS and better than TN, is VA tech. The colors aren't quite so hot, but the contrast performance is impressive.

Should I go for a FreeSync or G-Sync monitor?

In general, FreeSync monitors will be cheaper. It used to be the case that they would only work in combination with an AMD GPU. The same went for G-Sync monitors and Nvidia GPUs. However, it is possible to find G-Sync-compatible FreeSync monitors if you intend to spend less.

Should I buy a HDR monitor?

With a High Dynamic Range monitor, you can take advantage of the ever-growing list of games and apps with HDR support. It offers more vibrant colors and greater contrast but will slightly increase the price. Windows' native HDR function also leaves much to be desired, and you may have to fiddle with the settings to get HDR looking like it should.

What aspect ratio should I go for?

Today's movies and games are best enjoyed in a widescreen format at a 16:9 aspect ratio or above. In 4:3, those cinematic moments will look stunted with black strips along the top and bottom. There are a host of minute variations on each ratio, but at the end of the day choosing between these depends entirely on your personal preference. 

And the very far-out option, if you have a little extra cash to blow, is ultra-wide aspect ratios like 21:9 and 32:9 and their variants. These will provide a much more immersive, encompassing experience. Or literally, encompass yourself with a curved monitor, up to you. 

Jargon buster - gaming monitor terminology

Refresh Rate (Hz)
The speed at which the screen refreshes. For example, 144Hz means the display refreshes 144 times a second. The higher the number, the smoother the screen will appear when you play games. 

V-Sync
Graphics tech synchronizes a game's framerate with your monitor's refresh rate to help prevent screen tearing by syncing your GPU frame rate to the display's maximum refresh rate. Turn V-Sync on in your games for a smoother experience, but you'll lose information, so turn it off for fast-paced shooters (and live with the tearing). Useful if you have an older model display that can't keep up with a new GPU.

G-Sync
Nvidia's frame synching tech that works with Nvidia GPUs. It basically allows the monitor to sync up with the GPU. It does by showing a new frame as soon as the GPU has one ready.

FreeSync
AMD's take on frame synching uses a similar technique as G-Sync, with the biggest difference being that it uses DisplayPort's Adaptive-Sync technology which doesn't cost monitor manufacturers anything.

Ghosting
When movement on your display leaves behind a trail of pixels when watching a movie or playing a game, this is often a result of a monitor having slow response times. 

Response Time
The amount of time it takes a pixel to transition to a new color and back. Often referenced as G2G or Grey-to-Grey. Slow response times can lead to ghosting. A suitable range for a gaming monitor is between 1-4 milliseconds.

TN Panels
Twisted-nematic is the most common (and cheapest) gaming panel. TN panels tend to have poorer viewing angles and color reproduction but have higher refresh rates and response times. 

IPS
In-plane switching, panels offer the best contrast and color despite having weaker blacks. IPS panels tend to be more expensive and have higher response times. 

VA
Vertical Alignment panels provide good viewing angles and have better contrast than even IPS but are still slower than TN panels. They are often a compromise between a TN and IPS panel. 

HDR
High Dynamic Range. HDR provides a wider color range than normal SDR panels and offers increased brightness. The result is more vivid colors, deeper blacks, and a brighter picture. 

Peak Brightness
This refers to the maximum brightness of a monitor or television and is measured in nits.

Ultrawide
Shorthand for monitors with aspect wider aspect ratios like 32:9 or 21:9

Resolution
The number of pixels that make up a monitor's display, measured by height and width. For example: 1920 x 1080 (aka 1080p), 2560 x 1440 (2K), and 3840 x 2160 (4K).

Dave James
Managing Editor, Hardware

Dave has been gaming since the days of Zaxxon and Lady Bug on the Colecovision, and code books for the Commodore Vic 20 (Death Race 2000!). He built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 16, and finally finished bug-fixing the Cyrix-based system around a year later. When he dropped it out of the window. He first started writing for Official PlayStation Magazine and Xbox World many decades ago, then moved onto PC Format full-time, then PC Gamer, TechRadar, and T3 among others. Now he's back, writing about the nightmarish graphics card market, CPUs with more cores than sense, gaming laptops hotter than the sun, and SSDs more capacious than a Cybertruck.