This MSI 144Hz IPS 4K gaming monitor is just $200 and even offers a sweet dual mode to double that refresh rate

MSI Mag gaming monitor on a deals background — (Image credit: MSI)

Though the same can't be said for the PCs needed to run the resolution, 4K gaming monitors are only getting more and more reasonable over time. If you've been holding out on making the upgrade to 4K gaming, I've found a pick that may just be too tempting to ignore. Even if you can't afford a 4K capable GPU right now. And that's because it can also deliver super high 1080p refresh rates, too.

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Part of what makes this monitor so special is that, as well as being from a trusted brand, it comes with a 144 Hz refresh rate, plus a response time of 1 ms. Though I wouldn't get your head turned by that DisplayHDR 400 VESA specification on the specs sheet.

Theoretically, that means you ought to be able to hit 400 nit peaks in HDR mode, but you are not going to get a good PC HDR experience out of this display. It's standard peak luminance is rated at a pretty lowly 250 nits, which is fine, just not particularly zingy.

However, if you don't plan on upgrading the rest of your PC setup right now, it also has a dual mode, sending it down to 1080p but with a much higher 288 Hz refresh rate. So, if you can only run 1080p but plan on running 4K in the future, it supports both with ease.

This also means that, should you have competitive gaming in mind, you can crank it up on command. Generally, the sweet spot is 4K for singleplayer pretty games and 1080 for competitive shooters for sheer pace.

Being 27 inches, this IPS panel delivers a very tight pixel pitch, and that size also makes it a good shout for a two-monitor setup (my setup of choice). It can obviously serve as a single monitor, though, and it comes with a height-adjustable stand, plus swivel, pivot, and tilt capabilities. It's a solid all-rounder, and an excellent way of getting 4K at a reasonable price.

We have once seen this MSI MAG monitor at this price point, but that was last Black Friday, and if you can match Black Friday deals outside of the big day, you're doing something right. Just make sure to pop that promo code in at checkout for the last $40 off.

I watch over our roundup of the best cheap gaming monitor deals every week, and this MSI choice is the absolute cheapest 4K monitor I'd genuinely recommend right now.

Best gaming monitors 2026

1. Best overall / 4K:
MSI MPG 321URX

2. Best budget 4K:
Asus ROG Strix XG27UCG

3. Best 1440p:
MSI MPG 271QRX

4. Best budget 1440p:
KTC H27T22C-3

5. Best 1080p:
AOC Gaming C27G4ZXE

6. Best Ultrawide:
Gigabyte MO34WQC2

7. Best budget ultrawide:
Xiaomi G34WQi

8. Best 32:9:
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9

9. Best dual-mode:
Alienware AW2725QF

👉Check out our full gaming monitor guide👈

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James is a more recent PC gaming convert, often admiring graphics cards, cases, and motherboards from afar. It was not until 2019, after just finishing a degree in law and media, that they decided to throw out the last few years of education, build their PC, and start writing about gaming instead. In that time, he has covered the latest doodads, contraptions, and gismos, and loved every second of it. Hey, it’s better than writing case briefs.

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