- 01What to Look for in a Gaming Monitor Under $300
- 02Best Overall: LG 27GP850-B (27" 1440p 180Hz)
- 03Best 1080p Budget Option: AOC 24G2SP
- 04Best 1440p Value: Samsung Odyssey G5 27"
- 05Best Ultrawide Under $300: LG 29WP500-B
- 06Best for Console Gaming: ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q3A
- 07Comparison Table
- 08Frequently Asked Questions
Best Gaming Monitors Under $300 in 2025
High refresh rate, low latency, and no eye strain — the best gaming monitors that won’t break your budget.
Gaming monitors have never been better value. In 2025, $300 gets you a 1440p IPS panel with 165+ Hz refresh rate and 1 ms GTG response time — specs that would have cost $600 two years ago. But not every monitor is created equal. Panel type, input lag, and HDR implementation vary wildly. Here’s what’s actually worth buying.
2026 Update: OLED has hit the sub-$300 range in 2026. The Alienware AW2726DM — 27-inch QHD 240Hz QD-OLED — is a notable price breakthrough for desktop OLED. Check current pricing on OLED options before settling on IPS; the gap has narrowed significantly enough to reconsider.
What to Look for in a Gaming Monitor Under $300
Prioritise in this order: refresh rate (144 Hz minimum, 165+ Hz ideal), panel type (IPS for colour and viewing angles, VA for contrast, TN for raw speed), resolution (1080p for budget builds, 1440p for mid-range), and response time (1 ms GTG). HDR on monitors under $300 is usually DisplayHDR 400 — functional but not transformative.
Best Overall: LG 27GP850-B (27″ 1440p 180Hz)
The LG 27GP850-B hits every mark for competitive gaming at a reasonable price. Its Nano IPS panel delivers accurate colours with a wide colour gamut, 180 Hz refresh rate, and a 1 ms GTG response time that keeps ghosting invisible even in fast-paced FPS games. G-Sync Compatible and FreeSync Premium support covers both GPU camps.
- Size/Resolution: 27″ 2560×1440
- Refresh rate: 180 Hz (overclocked from 165 Hz)
- Panel: Nano IPS
- Response time: 1 ms GTG
- HDR: DisplayHDR 400
- Price: ~$250–$280
The stand adjusts for height, tilt, and pivot, which is rare at this price. If you can catch it on sale around $220, it’s an exceptional deal.
Best 1080p Budget Option: AOC 24G2SP
At around $130, the AOC 24G2SP gives you a 24″ IPS panel at 165 Hz with 1 ms MPRT response time. It’s not the flashiest monitor, but the image quality is clean, the input lag is low, and it pairs perfectly with mid-range GPUs like the RX 6600 or RTX 4060 that don’t need 1440p horsepower.
- Size/Resolution: 24″ 1920×1080
- Refresh rate: 165 Hz
- Panel: IPS
- Price: ~$120–$140
Best 1440p Value: Samsung Odyssey G5 27″
Samsung’s Odyssey G5 offers a 1000R curved VA panel at 1440p and 165 Hz for around $200. The curve is divisible for immersion in single-monitor setups, and the VA contrast ratio (~3000:1) makes dark scenes look genuinely deep. The downside: VA panels can smear in fast motion if you don’t enable the overdrive correctly.
- Size/Resolution: 27″ 2560×1440
- Refresh rate: 165 Hz
- Panel: VA (curved, 1000R)
- Contrast: 2500:1
- Price: ~$180–$220
Best Ultrawide Under $300: LG 29WP500-B
The LG 29WP500-B stretches to 29″ at 2560×1080 resolution with an IPS panel. Ultrawide gives you a massive advantage in open-world games and productivity — two windows side by side without borders. At $200, it’s one of the most affordable ultrawide gaming monitors available with decent colour accuracy.
- Size/Resolution: 29″ 2560×1080 ultrawide
- Refresh rate: 75 Hz
- Panel: IPS
- Price: ~$180–$200
Note: 75 Hz is the downside here. It’s not ideal for competitive FPS but fine for RPGs, simulators, and productivity.
Best for Console Gaming: ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q3A
If you’re connecting a PS5 or Xbox Series X, you want 1080p at 120 Hz with HDMI 2.0 and low input lag. The ASUS TUF VG249Q3A covers all of that with an IPS panel and a response time under 2 ms. It also has a built-in speakers which is convenient for desk setups.
- Size/Resolution: 24″ 1920×1080
- Refresh rate: 180 Hz
- Panel: IPS
- Price: ~$150
Comparison Table
| Monitor | Size | Resolution | Refresh | Panel | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG 27GP850-B | 27″ | 1440p | 180 Hz | Nano IPS | ~$265 |
| AOC 24G2SP | 24″ | 1080p | 165 Hz | IPS | ~$130 |
| Samsung Odyssey G5 | 27″ | 1440p | 165 Hz | VA curved | ~$200 |
| LG 29WP500-B | 29″ | 2560×1080 | 75 Hz | IPS UW | ~$190 |
| ASUS TUF VG249Q3A | 24″ | 1080p | 180 Hz | IPS | ~$150 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1440p worth it for gaming under $300?
Yes, if your GPU can handle it. An RTX 4070 or RX 7800 XT comfortably drives 1440p at 100+ FPS in most games. 1440p offers noticeably sharper images on 27″ displays compared to 1080p.
IPS vs VA — which is better for gaming?
IPS has better colour accuracy, wider viewing angles, and less motion blur in fast games. VA has superior contrast (important for dark games/movies) but can show ghosting. For competitive FPS, IPS is generally better.
Does refresh rate matter for console gaming?
PS5 and Xbox Series X support up to 120 Hz via HDMI 2.1. A 120 Hz+ monitor will give you noticeably smoother gameplay in supported titles. The LG 27GP850-B supports 144 Hz over HDMI 2.0 which is compatible.
What’s the minimum refresh rate for competitive gaming?
144 Hz is the baseline. Competitive players typically use 240 Hz+, but the difference between 144 Hz and 240 Hz is much less noticeable than going from 60 Hz to 144 Hz.