There are plenty of options to choose from if you need a monitor and are on a budget. You can pick from VA and IPS displays and even go for curved monitors. In this article, we are going to go over some of the best budget monitors under $200 that you can buy right now in 2022.
Best Budget 1080p Monitors You Can Buy In 2022
The following are some of the best budget 1080p monitors that you can buy right now in 2022:
Asus VG246H
Display Type: IPS | Response Time: 1ms | Refresh Rate: 75 Hz
The Asus VG246H is a budget monitor which is small but comes with impressive ergonomics. It has a low input lag of 7.8 ms and refresh rate of 75 Hz which makes it ideal for casual gamers. If you are a hardcore player then you might be interested in a higher refresh rate monitor.
The Asus VG246H has slim bezels around the sides and the design is pretty minimal. It has decent SDR peak brightness and great gray uniformity. It also supports FreeSync variable refresh rate in order to avoid screen tearing. For video output, you get an HDMI 1.4 port and a VGA port. While this is not a monitor that this the best at anything, it is a great budget 1080p monitor to consider.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Asus VG246H:
Pros:
- Decent SDR peak brightness
- Excellent ergonomics
- Great gray uniformity
- FreeSync VRR support
Cons:
- Black can look grey in dark environments
Acer Nitro QG241Y Pbmiipx – Best Budget 1080p Gaming Monitor
Display Type: VA | Response Time: 1ms | Refresh Rate: 165 Hz
The design of the monitor is similar to other gaming monitors from Acer and it does look rather nice. Ergonomically speaking, the stand only supports tilt and there are no features like swivel and height adjustment. If that is important to you then you will want to invest in a mounting arm.
For video input, you get a pair of HDMI ports and a single VGA port. This is a VA panel so while the image quality is decent and the price of the monitor is reasonable, the colors aren’t the most accurate and the viewing angles are not the best. It does have higher contrast ratios which is ideal for content consumption.
This is a great budget monitor with features such as HDR 10, a high refresh rate, and low response times. If that is what you are looking for then this is a great pick.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Acer Nitro QG241Y:
Pros:
- Nice contrast ratio
- High refresh rate
- FreeSync Premium support
- HDR10
Cons:
- VA Panel
- Stand adjustment is limited
- No speakers
AOC C24G1A – Best Curved Budget Monitor
Display Type: VA | Response Time: 1ms | Refresh Rate: 144 Hz
If you are interested in a curved gaming monitor but do not want to spend a lot of money then the AOC C24G1A is a great option. It comes with a great combination of high refresh rate, low response time, and a curved display. This is a VA panel so while you get a higher contrast ratio, the color accuracy and viewing angles are not as impressive as IPS displays.
The screen has thin bezels and a 1500R curve. The monitor comes with FreeSync support to reduce screen tearing. For video input, you get a DisplayPort 1.2 port, a pair of HDMI 1.4 ports, and a single VGA port. The stand is sturdy and supports tilt and swivel adjustments.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the AOC C24G1A:
Pros:
- Curved screen on a budget
- High refresh rate
- FreeSync support
- Impressive contrast ratio
Cons:
- Settings need to be tweaked
- No speakers
Samsung CF396 – Decent Basic Curved Monitor
Display Type: LED | Response Time: 4ms | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
The Samsung CF396 is a great budget curved monitor. It only features a single HDMI and VGA output so the port selection is limited but it does come with a headphone jack. The screen supports AMD FreeSync but since the display has a max refresh rate of 60 Hz, you might not even need the feature.
The stands are not the best. The screen can wobble if you use the default stand. You can mount these to the wall if sturdiness is an issue. All things considered, the Samsung CF396 is a great budget curved gaming monitor for 1080p gaming.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Samsung CF396:
Pros:
- Curved on a budget
- Decent brightness for the price
- Good sRGB color coverage
- Joystick controller
Cons:
- Limited port selection
- Stand only supports tilt adjustment
LG 24MP88HV-S Neo Blade III – Great Design
Display Type: IPS | Response Time: 4ms | Refresh Rate: 75 Hz
The LG 24MP88HV-S Neo Blade III has a nice clean design and comes with super slim bezels which makes a multiple monitor setup ideal. You can have two or even three of these side by side. This is one of the better-looking budget 1080p monitors that we have seen on the market.
Since this is a budget monitor, it is not going to be perfect. While the stand is sturdy, it only supports tilt. So no swivel or height adjustment. While this is a 75 Hz refresh rate display, there is no adaptive sync so you might encounter some screen tearing when gaming.
For video input, you get dual HDMI ports and a single VGA port. These are outward facing rather than downward, so reaching them is easier. It also has a joystick controller which allows you to navigate the menu. The monitor also packs a pair of 5-watt speakers which provide decent audio compared to the 2-watt speakers that many budget monitors come with.
Since this is an IPS display you great impressive color accuracy and great viewing angles. If you are happy with sticking to 60 FPS for gaming and like watching movies or shows on the side then this is a great monitor for you.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the LG 24MP88HV-S Neo Blade III:
Pros:
- Very thin bezels
- Clean design
- 2x HDMI ports
- Dual 5 Watt speakers
- Great sRGB color coverage
- Joystick controller
Cons:
- Stand could be steadier
- Needs tweaking for 60+ Hz refresh
These are some of the best budget 1080p monitors that you can buy right now in 2022. If you are interested in buying a graphics card to power your display then you can check out our recommended budget graphics cards.