High refresh rate gaming (144Hz to 240Hz) is becoming a must-have competitive edge over your opponents.
Keeping that in mind, the important thing that you need to know is that you must have a good monitor that supports the higher refresh rate as well as a good GPU that can output that many frames.
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You can now find plenty of gaming monitors under $400 which offer HD or FHD (full-HD) or even 1440p (QHD) resolutions at a 144 Hz refresh rate. All these recommendations are in stock and can be purchased today on Amazon or Best Buy. I avoid reviewing products that are not in stock.
Note: You can check out 1440p to 2160p 4K 144Hz gaming monitors under $800 here.
Best 144Hz Gaming Monitors Under $400 Buying Guide
| Size | Price Range | Current Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
Asus VG278Q 27″ Full HD 1080P 144Hz |
27″ | $300-$350 | Check Price |
Acer Predator XB241H Bmipr 24-Inch Full HD 1920×1080 |
24″ | $350-$400 | Check Price |
ViewSonic XG2401 24 Inch 1080p 1ms 144 Hz Gaming Monitor |
24″ | $300-$350 | Check Price |
LG 27GL83A-B 27 Inch Ultragear QHD IPS |
27″ | $350-$400 | Check Price |
BenQ ZOWIE XL2411P 24 Inch 144Hz Gaming Monitor |
24″ | $200-$250 | Check Price |
Gaming monitors at this under $400 price point all come as G-SYNC compatible, the lowest level of G-SYNC certification. You won’t get full HDR from these monitors, or the custom NVIDIA processors to get a G-SYNC Ultimate rating. Last I checked, only 10 monitors have the highest “Ultimate” rating, but hundreds have the “Compatible” rating.
1. ASUS VG278Q: Check Price On Amazon
Best 27-inch 1080p 144Hz Gaming Monitor
The monitor we are looking at today is the ASUS VG278Q. One of the most budget-friendly options, but how does it fair? Let’s see.
To start with, this is the first monitor on the list that comes with full support of both AMD Free Sync as well as Nvidia G-SYNC. Before you get surprised, this happened earlier this year when Nvidia talked about how they are bringing support for the G-SYNC on monitors that do not have the module installed.
This was one of the monitors that did have the support. Couple this with low input lag, great response time, as well as the 1080p resolution at 144Hz, and you have a killer gaming monitor for under $400. The screen size is 27-inch on this monitor, and the picture still looks sharp.
The design is ergonomic and easy to work-around with, and the monitor has a stunning value for the price you are paying.
As far as the downsides are concerned, you would be hard-pressed to find any. Sure, this monitor is just a bit more expensive, but when you look at the great value you are getting, you do not have a lot to complain about.
In conclusion, the ASUS VG278Q is definitely one of the best gaming monitors available in the market. For a lot of reasons, you get G-Sync, as well as Free Sync, high refresh rate, larger screen, a streamlined, sturdy, and simple design, and a whole lot of value. I honestly cannot think how anyone could go wrong with this monitor.
Pros
Pros
- Great value for money.
- Solid and simple design.
- Supports both Nvidia G-Sync, and AMD Free Sync.
- 27-inch looks great.
Cons
Cons
- None
Asus VG278Q 27″ Full HD 1080P 144Hz 1ms Eye Care G-Sync Compatible Adaptive Sync Gaming Monitor with DP HDMI DVI
- 27” Full HD (1920×1080) Panel 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms (GTG) response time gaming monitor and free Sync/Adaptive Sync for a tear-free experience
- Nvidia G-SYNC technology ensures smooth gameplay by eliminating screen tearing and stuttering ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio (ASCR) is 100000000 1
- Stereo 2W speakers provide for a full sound while eliminating the need for external speakers
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2. Acer Predator XB241H: Check Price On Amazon
Best G-Sync 1080p 144Hz Gaming Monitor
Acer is not shy of releasing some powerful hardware into the market.
We are reviewing the Acer Predator XB241H, a beast of a gaming monitor.
Granted, it is still a 1080p monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate, but the good thing is that it can be overclocked up to 180Hz. The input lag is non-existent, and most importantly, you get a ton of gaming-oriented features.
However, believe it or not, all these good things are not what makes this monitor the star of the show. The monitor comes with UMLB blur reduction technology. More importantly, it also comes with the brilliant Nvidia G-Sync, which means that all your gaming experience is just going to get better.
As far as the downsides are concerned, I will be honest, I cannot find a single issue with this monitor.
Overall, the Acer Predator XB241H is a great monitor that gives you a lot of amazing benefits. Yes, the monitor is a bit expensive, but the best part here is that you are getting so many amazing benefits that make so much sense.
So, if you are looking for a great monitor that gives you amazing performance as well, I do not see any major or even minor deal breakers hindering the experience.
Pros
Pros
- NVidia G-Sync takes care of all the stutters.
- Gorgeous, aggressive design.
- Great list of gaming-oriented features.
- Sharp and great picture quality.
- No ghosting, or motion blur.
Cons
Cons
- None.
Acer Predator XB241H Bmipr 24-Inch Full HD 1920×1080 NVIDIA G-Sync Display, 144Hz, 2 x 2w speakers, HDMI & DP
- 24 inch full HD widescreen with 1920 x 1080 resolution. Swivel angle 30 degree
- Panel technology: Twisted Nematic Film (TN) Technology
- Response Time: 1ms, Pixel Pitch: 0.276 millimeter. Flicker less technology reduces annoying screen flickering that can cause eye strain when viewing the monitor for long periods
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3. ViewSonic XG2401: Check Price On Amazon
Best FreeSync 1080p 144Hz Gaming Monitor
The first monitor we are looking at today is from ViewSonic. We are looking at the ViewSonic XG2401 24. The XG2401 24 is a 24-inch monitor that comes with the right specs for the price you are paying. Let’s have a look and see how it fairs.
To start with, the monitor’s gaming performance is the star here. Sure, you are getting a TN panel with 1080p resolution, and there are some great things about this panel as well.
For starters, it has a low response time of 1ms, the resolution is full HD, and the best part is that it also offers 144Hz refresh rate.
The monitor also supports AMD’s Free-Sync, so if you do have an AMD graphics card, you are good to go. For the price you are paying, you do get a lot of unique features, and the overall image quality is pretty excellent for what you are paying.
As far as the downsides are concerned, my only issue with this monitor is that this monitor’s design language is average at best, which might upset some people.
In conclusion, the ViewSonic XG2401 24 is a great gaming monitor that will serve you well, provided you are in the market looking for a decent performer at a low budget. It does not break any grounds, but it does not mean that it is not enough for gaming.
Pros
Pros
- Great gaming performance.
- A good set of features.
- Respectable image quality.
- Great price.
Cons
Cons
- The design language is average at best.
ViewSonic XG2401 24 Inch 1080p 1ms 144 Hz Gaming Monitor with FreeSync Premium Eye Care Advanced Ergonomics HDMI and DP,Black
- BE THE DIFFERENCE: Full HD resolution, ultra fast 1ms response time, and amazing 144Hz refresh rate give you the edge in all your gaming quests
- SMOOTH GAMING: AMD FreeSync technology enables smooth frame rates to aid you in battle
- IN IT TO WIN IT: A fully adjustable ergonomic stand and blue light filter delivers the comfort you need for marathon gaming sessions
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4. LG 27GL83A-B 27 Inch UltraGear QHD IPS: Check Price on Amazon
This is a monitor I am ordering my own under $1,000 pc gaming build. Update! I have the monitor and am putting it through an extensive review!
I will update this section once I have played with this monitor on Overwatch and some other PC games. I have a GTX 1070 and a number of lower-tier cards I will test with this QHD monitor from LG. I have a 65-inch LG OLED TV that I love, so my guess is this monitor will be a quality product as well. LG knows how to make incredible looking screens.
Unboxing the LG UltraGear IPS Gaming Monitor
LG UltraGear IPS Gaming Monitor Unboxing 27 inch QHD
Watch this video on YouTube
First impressions
This thing is a joy to use. Blacks are brilliant and playing Overwatch was buttery smooth. This is my first 144Hz gaming monitor and it is not disappointing on initial review. Here are my initial thoughts on this monitor:
LG UltraGear IPS Gaming Monitor – Playing Overwatch on 144 Hz and 1440p QHD
Watch this video on YouTube
LG 27GL83A-B 27 Inch Ultragear QHD IPS 1ms NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible Gaming Monitor, Black
- 27 inch QHD (2560 X 1440) IPS display
- IPS 1ms response time & 144Hz refresh rate
- NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible
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5. BenQ Zowie XL2411p: Check Price On Amazon
For anyone who is well aware of the monitor market, the name BenQ should not surprise anyone. They have been creating some promising monitors for some time now.
Whether you are looking for a high-end gaming monitor or something along the lines of a budget-friendly option, BenQ has you covered. Today, we look at the BenQ Zowie XL2411p, a promising and competitively priced monitor that should be enough for you.
Now I know that the monitor is definitely on the cheaper side. Still, the fact that the input lag on this monitor is non-existent, and the response time is the lowest one millisecond, I can assure you that this monitor is definitely for gaming purposes.
Additionally, BenQ has done a good job with motion blur implementation because it works wonders and that too, without any issues whatsoever. The design happens to among the most ergonomic ones, and you will not regret it at all. Sure, it is simple, but the best part is that it looks great while being simple.
Honestly, at the given price point, it is hard to beat the monitor in any given categories. Still, there is one caveat that might be a bother for some.
The monitor, for better or for worse, does not come with support for AMD Free Sync. I can understand the exclusion of G-Sync since that would have bumped up the cost way higher, but not having Free Sync can be a bummer.
The BenQ Zowie XL2411p is a great monitor for a great price. It does not look like a gaming monitor from any angle, but the good news is that it does give you full HD resolution, a pretty good image quality, and, most importantly, the 144Hz refresh rate. The only thing lacking here is the AMD Free Sync.
Pros
Pros
- Excellent performance.
- Pretty good build quality.
- 1080p at 144Hz is a great experience.
- 1ms response time.
Cons
Cons
- The monitor comes without AMD Free Sync.
Sale BenQ ZOWIE XL2411P 24 Inch 144Hz Gaming Monitor / 1080P 1ms / Black eQualizer and Color Vibrance for Competitive Edge / Does not Support 120Hz on console
- Lightning-fast 144 Hz refresh rate performance for a smooth PC gaming experience over DisplayPort or DVI-D
- ATTENTION: HDMI only outputs 60Hz max; NOT COMPATIBLE with PS5 / XBox Series X/5 @ 120Hz; Please check out the XL2411K for full 120Hz compatibility
- 1ms Response Time (GTG) to eliminate ghosting and lag, providing the optimal gaming experience. Dimensions (HxWxD mm)- 559 (Hightest) / 429 (Lowest) x 570 x 219; Dimensions with wall mount (HxWxD mm) (w/o Base)- 347x570x59.97
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What to Consider When Buying a Gaming Monitor under $400
If you have finally made your mind up about buying a more expensive, but still under $400 gaming monitor, then you do need to consider a few things before you go ahead.
Gaming Monitor Resolutions
The first thing I would suggest you consider is the resolution of the monitor you will buy. Ideally, you have the choice between a 1080p monitor (HD or FHD), a 1440p monitor (WQHD or QHD), or a 2160p monitor (4K UHD).
The higher the resolution, the more expensive the monitor.
The Refresh Rate
The second thing you need to consider is the refresh rate of the monitor. The refresh rate is measured in Hz (hertz) and is the number of times per second the monitor refreshes.
The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the gaming experience is going to be. You get options such as 60Hz, 75Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, and up to 240. Remember, the refresh rate is directly proportional to the number of frames that your screen can output.
Whatever refresh rate you may go for, the one essential thing to keep in mind here is that make sure that your graphics card is powerful enough to output that many frames, or something closer to the max refresh rate because otherwise, it is just pointless.
The Screen Size
The screen size is an important factor that you must consider whenever you are going for a good gaming monitor. You do not necessarily have to go for the largest screen possible. You can choose from 22, 24, and 27 inches.
There are larger sizes as well, like above 30 inches, and then you can even go to the territory of ultra-wide screens.
The screen size has nothing to do with performance, but you will pay more for larger-sized monitors.
Adaptive Sync
This is one of those features that have managed to turn the heads of many people. Adaptive sync is great because it technically gets rid of the stutter you face when the frame rate in a game drops below the monitor’s refresh rate.
The way it works is interesting; if you are playing a game on a 144Hz monitor, and you are only getting 70 frames per second, the monitor’s refresh rate will automatically adjust to the number of frames you are getting. This feature eliminates any stutter that you might notice otherwise.
When choosing a gaming monitor, you will get the choice to go with Free Sync or G-Sync.
The Free Sync is by AMD, and it works through a Display Port cable with the supported AMD GPU and the monitor. These monitors are comparatively cheaper as well, and they work in the same way as G-Sync does.
As far as G-Sync is concerned, that is Nvidia’s proprietary technology, and the monitors that come with G-Sync have a hardware module installed inside of them.
Additionally, these monitors are more expensive as compared to the ones with Free Sync, but you do get the bragging rights, and the sweet logo that accompanies.
Panel Type
The last consideration I would ask you to make is the type of panel that the display uses. You can use TN if you are going for something cheaper, or VA for that matter.
But if you want the best color reproduction and color coverage, then going with the IPS panel is where the good things at; however, monitors with IPS panel tend to be a bit more expensive.
Conclusion
The thing about high refresh rate gaming is that it is becoming more and more mainstream. With the display technology getting better and honestly cheaper, many more gamers find a great 144 Hz gaming monitor for under $400 like our picks here.
The good news here is that monitors like these will continue to fall in price as display technology keeps getting better and better.
Keeping that in mind, the roundup we have worked on consists of the best 144Hz monitors for gaming under $400. These monitors offer a lot of value, and the best part is that they allow you to game at a high refresh rate with ease.
Last update on 2020-12-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API