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7 Best Monitors Under $200 Reviews | Get More Than What You Pay For

7 Top Picks

4 Reviewers

33 Hours of Research

28 Options Considered

One of the most important parts of any computer setup is the monitor. Some may underestimate the value of a good monitor, thinking that it is just there to display whatever you are doing, no big deal. You shouldn’t undervalue them, make sure you get the best monitor under 200 USD that you can. 

If you are gaming then your monitor will determine a lot about your performance due to things like input lag, clarity, and precision. The best gaming monitor under $200 can be found here. If you are in graphic design then it becomes very important that you can see the fine details of whatever project you are working on so that you can ensure no mistakes are made. If you're lucky, you may even find monitors with touch screen feature that fit your budget on sale. Whatever you decide on, bear in mind that LED monitors are probably the easiest on your eyes.

Monitors are essentially your eyes into the world of the internet and they should not be neglected in your computer setup. If money isn't the issue, would you go for a much better selection of gaming monitors under 300 USD or under 500 USD? If you are not sure, look into these top-rated monitors from Dell, or check out HP monitors we reviewed and pick the best gaming monitor for your needs.

3 Top Monitors Under 200

This monitor from HP comes with a screen size of 23.8 inches which means it has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and can support resolutions up to Full HD or 1920 x 1080. 

  • VESA Compatible
  • Inexpensive
  • Versatile Display Ports

This monitor from HP comes with a screen size of 23.8 inches which means it has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and can support resolutions up to Full HD or 1920 x 1080. 

  • Good Image Quality
  • Inexpensive
  • Versatile

4.7/5

This ViewSonic monitor has a large screen size of 31.5 inches and an aspect ratio of 16:9 which supports a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 with a refresh rate of 60 Hz.

  • Good Image Quality
  • Large Screen Size
  • Blue Light Filter

Types of Monitors – IPS/VA/TN

What kind of monitor you have will determine what kind of activities your monitor will be best at. LCD flat-screen monitors typically come in three types: IPS, VA, and TN.

Twisted Nematic (TN) is the oldest form of LCD monitor and it is what you will see most often when shopping for monitors, especially under 100 USD. A TN monitor is extremely quick to respond which makes it excellent for gaming.

In-Plane Switching (IPS) monitors are fantastic at color reproduction which makes them superb graphic design implements, but in exchange for this capability, their responsiveness is way down.

Vertical Alignment (VA) comes in two types: Multi-domain Vertical Alignment (MVA) and Patterned Vertical Alignment (PVA). These types of monitors have a jack of all trades, master of none problem going on. They were created in an attempt to merge the color reproduction of IPS monitors with the responsiveness of TN with little success.

Best Monitor Under 200 USD Reviews

This monitor from Sceptre has a screen size of 24 inches and an aspect ratio of 16:9 which supports screen resolutions up to 1920 x 1080 with a refresh rate of 75 Hz. The monitor comes in well under the $200 budget and it is a TN type monitor which means it should be a decent budget monitor for gaming.

It has a response time of 5 milliseconds which isn’t ideal and the refresh rate isn’t either but they are just on the cusp of the lower end for gaming monitors.

It has a slim profile which means it shouldn’t take up too much space on your desk and should be a good candidate for a multi-monitor setup.

It comes with two HDMI ports that can convert to DVI which gives it some versatility. These connectivity ports made it a good choice for hooking up my console and quickly swapping to it when I’m feeling the urge for some console gaming.

It is VESA compatible which further lends credence to it being a good candidate for multi-monitor setups.

Sceptre E248W-19203R 24” Technical Specifications

Screen Size

24 inches

Display Panel

Twisted Nematic (TN), LED

Max. Resolution

1920 x 1080 (1080p)

Refresh Rate

75 Hz

Response Time

5 milliseconds

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Speakers

Yes

G-Sync / FreeSync

No

Features

Adaptive Sync, Security Lock

Ports / Connectivity

VGA, HDMI

If you are going to use this monitor for gaming you might have to calibrate it to ensure that your colors aren’t washed out or too bright. This should be a simple matter of adjusting a few settings in your graphics driver’s control panel. This might be an option for a cheap gaming pc under 200 build.

Sceptre E248W-19203R 24” Ultra Thin 75Hz 1080p LED Monitor Pros

  • VESA Compatible
  • Inexpensive
  • Versatile Display Ports

Sceptre E248W-19203R 24” Ultra Thin 75Hz 1080p LED Monitor Cons

  • Low end performance

This monitor from HP comes with a screen size of 23.8 inches which means it has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and can support resolutions up to Full HD or 1920 x 1080. It is an IPS type monitor which means that it has excellent image quality capabilities and should be good for graphic design work which makes it one of the best cheap 24-inch monitors. It is our top pick and is the best gaming monitor on this list.

The response time is 5 milliseconds which isn’t very ideal for top gaming and the refresh rate is only 60 Hz which also isn’t great but they are serviceable and should serve well enough for casual gaming. These types of specifications are to be expected from an IPS monitor. 

Some of the features of this monitor include built-in speakers and VESA mounting for multiple display setups. The frame is extremely thin and bezel-less which should also make it very good for multiple monitor setups.

The monitor has adjustable height and rotation support which isn’t often seen in inexpensive monitors. This one has a tilt of negative 5 degrees to 30 degrees. This is especially useful for me and my setup because I have a tendency to lean way back in my chair which throws the viewing angles off. With this monitor I can just tilt it down and then everything is fine.

HP 23.8-inch FHD IPS Monitor Technical Specifications

Screen Size

23.8 inches

Display Panel

In-Plane Switching (IPS), LED

Max. Resolution

1920 x 1080 (1080p)

Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Response Time

5 milliseconds

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Speakers

Yes

G-Sync / FreeSync

No

Features

Tilt-able, Adjustable Height, Thin frame, Energy Efficient, VESA Compatible

Ports / Connectivity

VGA, HDMI, HDCP

The ports available to you for connecting this monitor to your system include VGA, HDMI, and HDCP ports. It comes with a power cord, aux cord for audio, and an HDMI cable to connect it to your display port on your machine.

Ultimately, this monitor is a very versatile piece of equipment which makes it one of the best monitors under 200 USD. It can do a little bit of everything without suffering too much in one area. It should provide excellent image quality for professional work with a large screen for managing multiple applications while also being capable of gaming though it is not going to compete with a monitor specifically designed for gaming. It comes in well under the budget of $200 while providing more than the expected number of features for the price range.

One of the cons of using this particular monitor is that it is advertised as having speakers built-in but they aren't very good. You are better off using anything else for your sound needs which means that you'll have to go through the effort of setting another device as your primary device regarding sound when you first set it up but you shouldn't have to do it again after that. An absolute must have whether it's for doing work, watching Netflix, or for the ultimate gaming experience.

HP 23.8-inch FHD IPS Monitor with Tilt/height Adjustment Pros

  • Good Image Quality
  • Inexpensive
  • Versatile

HP 23.8-inch FHD IPS Monitor with Tilt/height Adjustment Cons

  • Bad speakers

4.7/5

This ViewSonic monitor has a large screen size of 31.5 inches and an aspect ratio of 16:9 which supports a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. It is an IPS panel monitor which, when considering its large screen size, would make it a great option for a centerpiece in a multi-monitor setup for professional graphic or video work and one of the best computer monitors under 200.

It has a response time of 8 milliseconds which, coupled with the low refresh rate makes this a poor choice of monitor for gaming and it is not the best 144hz monitor under 200.

The frame is very slim and sleek which further adds to its quality as a piece in a multi-display setup. It also has VESA compatibility so it can be mounted on a VESA frame.

Other features included with this display are the flicker-free technology and blue light filter implemented in the screen which should help to protect your eyes during extended use.

ViewSonic has developed the ViewSplit software which allows you to divide your screen into multiple viewing windows. This is a great feature to increase productivity and should work especially well with this monitor due to its large size.

ViewSonic VX3276-MHD 32 Inch Technical Specifications

Screen Size

32 inches

Display Panel

In-Plane Switching (IPS), LCD

Max. Resolution

1920 x 1080 (1080p)

Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Response Time

8 milliseconds

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Speakers

Yes

G-Sync / FreeSync

No

Features

Flicker-Free, Blue Light Filter, ViewSplit, 

Ports / Connectivity

VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort

It has a variety of connectivity ports including HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA inputs. This should allow it to interface with a large number of devices like PCs, Macs, and laptops.

With the purchase of this monitor, you are also allowed access to a 3-year warranty and a US-based customer service team for any problems you have with the monitor.

The monitor comes with a power cable and an HDMI cable so there is no need to purchase one separately.

On paper, this monitor looks great for work with graphic design or photography and comes with many quality-of-life features but it is not the best gaming monitor under 200. 

Unfortunately, it tends to be unreliable. If you get a monitor working perfectly as intended then great! It should be as good as it sounds. Sometimes, though, this monitor comes with some backlight bleed issues that take away from the experience when any parts of the screen are showing black.

The screen is also very glossy which means you will have to manage the light in any room you are using it in very carefully to avoid glare on the screen when it is displaying something dark.

ViewSonic VX3276-MHD 32 Inch 1080p Frameless Widescreen Pros

  • Good Image Quality
  • Large Screen Size
  • Blue Light Filter

ViewSonic VX3276-MHD 32 Inch 1080p Frameless Widescreen Cons

  • Unreliable

This is the second curved monitor on this list, provided by Samsung. It has a screen size of 27 inches which has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and supports a resolution of 1920 x 1080 with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. This is a VA type monitor which means it is versatile and can support many different kinds of activities at a decent quality.

The response time for this monitor is 4 milliseconds which is on the low end for gaming monitors but is still better than many of the monitors in this list. The 60 Hz refresh rate holds it back regarding gaming though.

It comes with a DisplayPort and an HDMI port for connectivity. In the box, the monitor will come with an HDMI cable so you don't need to purchase one separately.

Samsung C27F398 27 Inch Technical Specifications

Screen Size

27 inches

Display Panel

Vertical Alignment (VA), LED

Max. Resolution

1920 x 1080 (1080p)

Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Response Time

4 milliseconds

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Speakers

No

G-Sync / FreeSync

FreeSync

Features

VESA Compatible, Tilt-able, Curved 

Ports / Connectivity

HDMI, DisplayPort

The monitor is capable of tilting from negative 2 degrees to 22 degrees.

Coming in at just under the $200 budget this monitor is okay for its price but there are better options in this list no matter what your monitor’s intended purpose is. It is probably the best 27-inch monitor under 200 If you are attached to the curved screen design then this would serve as a cheaper alternative to the Philip’s Computer Monitors display listed earlier in this list.

Samsung C27F398 27 Inch Curved LED Monitor Pros

  • Good Image Quality
  • Interesting Design
  • Versatile

Samsung C27F398 27 Inch Curved LED Monitor Cons

  • Expensive for its performance

This Dell monitor is a 23.8 inch IPS panel monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio that supports 1920 x 1080 resolution at a 60 Hz refresh rate.

It has almost no input lag with a response time of 5 milliseconds which puts this monitor firmly at the bottom of acceptable response times and refresh rates for gaming. It will be capable but in comparison to other monitors, it will be sorely lacking. This is not a good option for a 200 dollar gaming pc setup because of its poor viewing angles.

It can certainly serve as a cheap hdmi monitor for professional work but there are cheaper monitors on this list that will perform better.

Dell SE2419Hx 23.8” Technical Specifications

Screen Size

23.8 inches

Display Panel

In-Plane Switching (IPS), LED

Max. Resolution

1920 x 1080 (1080p)

Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Response Time

5 milliseconds

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Speakers

No

G-Sync / FreeSync

No

Features

Thin Frame, Compact Base

Ports / Connectivity

HDMI

Dell SE2419Hx 23.8” IPS Full HD Pros

  • Decent Image Quality
  • Versatile
  • Monitor every performance aspect of IT infrastructure when paired with Orion
  • Dashboard easy to use

Dell SE2419Hx 23.8” IPS Full HD Cons

  • Expensive for its performance

Acer ships this  great monitor with a screen size of 21.5 inches which has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and supports a screen resolution in Full HD or 1920 x 1080 with a refresh rate of 75 Hz. It is an IPS style monitor fantastic for professional and high-quality work with images, graphics, and viewing angles.

The monitor comes with AMD freesync technology which means that, if you have an AMD graphics card installed in your machine, the monitor will lock its refresh rate to the framerate that your GPU is displaying at which should eliminate things like screen tearing or stuttering.

There is almost no frame, which would make this an excellent monitor for a multi-display setup but it does not have VESA mount capability which means you will have to get creative if you want to include this monitor in your multi-display setup. Personally, I don’t mind a challenge and I think this monitor is worth a little logistical creativity.

For your connectivity needs, this monitor comes with an HDMI port and a VGA port.

It comes with the ability to tilt with a range of negative 5 degrees to 15 degrees. Not much, but not every monitor is even capable of tilting so this is a mark in its favor. At #2 it's a great monitor for everyone and a great gaming monitors under $200

Acer Monitor

Acer SB220Q bi 21.5 inches Technical Specifications

Screen Size

21.5 inches

Display Panel

In-Plane Switching (IPS), LED

Max. Resolution

1920 x 1080 (1080p)

Refresh Rate

75 Hz

Response Time

4 milliseconds

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Speakers

No

G-Sync / FreeSync

FreeSync

Features

Tilt-able, Thin frame

Ports / Connectivity

VGA, HDMI

The response time is 4 milliseconds which isn’t fantastic for gaming but it should still be capable of it. This will be the best FreeSync monitor for gaming on this list. If you are going to build a 200$ gaming pc then this is the monitor I recommend from this list.

In short, this monitor is slightly lower quality than the last entry with a slightly lower price which makes it an excellent substitute if that one was just a little out of your price range or you are looking for cheap good monitors. This is also a better monitor to go with if you are going to be doing more gaming.

Some of the cons of this display are the lack of connectivity ports and having no compatibility with VESA mounting. The overall lack of quality-of-life features included with this monitor holds it back, but you can't ask for much considering the excellent price of this monitor.

Acer SB220Q bi 21.5 inches Full HD Pros

  • Good Image Quality
  • Inexpensive
  • Radeon FreeSync

Acer SB220Q bi 21.5 inches Full HD Cons

  • No VESA compatibility

Philips Computer Monitors ships the first curved monitor of this list. It has a size of 31.5 inches and an aspect ratio of 16:9 which supports a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a refresh rate of 75 Hz. It is a VA monitor which means it should support a wide variety of uses.

Curved monitors are interesting because of their odd shape. Most computer monitors are flat, but with a curved design it allows you to see more with less eyestrain and provide a wider field of view.

The response time of this monitor is 5 milliseconds which is less than ideal for gaming but should serve fine for casual play. It does come with AMD FreeSync for smoother gameplay with less stuttering and tearing.

Connectivity ports included are HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA which should allow it to connect to many devices. It is VESA compatible so it should work fine in a multi-monitor setup. 

It comes with a low blue light mode and flicker-free technology so that you can work or play longer with less fatigue and no fear of damage to your eyes.

monitor by Philips

Philips 328E9QJAB 32”  Technical Specifications

Screen Size

31.5 inches

Display Panel

Vertical Alignment (VA), LED

Max. Resolution

1920 x 1080 (1080p)

Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Response Time

5 milliseconds

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Speakers

Yes

G-Sync / FreeSync

FreeSync

Features

Curved, Thin Frame, Flicker-Free, Low-Blue Light, VESA Compatible

Ports / Connectivity

VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, Audio in/out

All monitors sold by Philips Computer Monitors come with a 4-year advance replacement warranty in the United States so if your monitor gets damaged you have nothing to worry about.

This monitor is a good multi-purpose monitor and could serve well as your primary monitor in a multi-monitor setup but there are some things you should know if you are going to purchase it.

The monitor is best used directly in front of you, it has some issues if you are looking at it from below or from the sides. Also, the image quality might not be the best right out of the box, this can be fixed by installing the drivers for this specific model. When you download the drivers they will come with a “Readme.txt” file that should explain how to install them.

Philips 328E9QJAB 32” Curved Frameless Monitor Pros

  • Good Image Quality
  • Interesting Design
  • Versatile

Philips 328E9QJAB 32” Curved Frameless Monitor Cons

  • Bad view angles

What to Expect In Terms of Monitor Features and Performance Under 200 USD


When considering the best monitor under 200 you will have to decide what is more important to you. For under $200 you can get some truly excellent monitors but if performance is a concern then you will likely be missing out on some nice quality-of-life features. If those quality-of-life features are more important to you then you might miss out on some performance.

That said, if performance is what you are after then I can show you the best computer monitors under 200 USD. 

Image Quality

When you discuss image quality on a computer monitor you are usually discussing two things: Color Accuracy and Image Sharpness. 

The accuracy of the colors you see on your screen will mostly be determined by the type of monitor you have. IPS monitors will have the best color accuracy whereas TN will most likely have the worst.

Image sharpness is determined by many factors but the biggest factor to consider is your screen’s resolution. The larger the resolution of your screen the more sharply images will be displayed on it.

Screen Resolution

Screen resolution is an aspect of screen size. Screen sizes are something you will see frequently while searching for monitors and are measured in inches, diagonally from corner to corner. 


Resolution is measured in pixels and usually displayed in a width by height format. The most popular screen resolution is Full HD, or 1920 x 1080.


Something important to note when looking through monitor resolutions is that bigger is always better but it can sometimes also be different because of another aspect of resolution called “aspect ratio” which is essentially a ratio that determines the relation of height to width. For instance, a 4:3 aspect ratio would have resolutions like 640 x 480 but not a resolution like 1920 x 1080.


Determining the aspect ratio you need for the resolution you want is quite simple though it will require a tiny bit of math. Essentially the task is as easy as simplifying fractions. If you turn the resolution into a fraction with width on top and height on the bottom and then simplify it you’ve got your ratio. For example, 1920 x 1080 when turned into a fraction would be 1920/1080 and when simplified would be 16/9, thus the aspect ratio you are after is 16:9.

Refresh Rates

Refresh rate determines how smooth moving images will be on your computer screen. The maximum for computer display refresh rates is currently 240 Hz which essentially means that images shown on them will be displayed at 240 frames per second.

This aspect is especially important to consider when gaming because it will be a major component in determining the clarity of your game and how smooth it will look when playing.  

FAQs:

1. What is the best monitor under 200 USD?

These are the top 3 Monitors Under 200 that we recommend and tested.

1. HP 23.8-inch FHD IPS Monitor with Tilt/height Adjustment - This monitor from HP comes with a screen size of 23.8 inches which means it has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and can support resolutions up to Full HD or 1920 x 1080.
2. Acer SB220Q bi 21.5 inches Full HD - Acer ships this monitor with a screen size of 21.5 inches which has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and supports a screen resolution in Full HD or 1920 x 1080 with a refresh rate of 75 Hz
3. ViewSonic VX3276-MHD 32 Inch 1080p Frameless Widescreen - This ViewSonic monitor has a large screen size of 31.5 inches and an aspect ratio of 16:9 which supports a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 with a refresh rate of 60 Hz.

2. Is a 200 dollar monitor good?

Yes, they are well worth the investment. Fortunately, if you're a competitive gamer, you can pick up a nice 1080P 144Hz monitor for under $200, or for even less if you're a casual gamer.

3. Should I buy a curved monitor? 

If you want the best gaming experience, you should get a curved monitor. Because a curved screen directs light in all directions toward the viewer's eye, the idea is that you'll be able to take everything in without exerting much ocular effort. Therefore, if your eyes can cover a larger field of view more easily than they can with flat screens, curved monitors will feel larger.

4. How big of a monitor should I get?

When you are looking for a new monitor, there are many factors to consider. One of the most important decisions is how big of a monitor you should get. Most people agree that the best size range is between 24 and 30 inches.

There are several reasons why this size range is ideal. First, 24 and 30 inch monitors provide plenty of screen real estate, making it easy to do multiple tasks at once. They are also large enough to produce high-quality images without being too cumbersome or taking up too much space on your desk.

Finally, 24 and 30 inch monitors fall within the standard range for resolutions, so you won’t have to worry about your graphics card not being able to handle it.

5. How do I choose a monitor?

When choosing a monitor, there are many factors to consider. Resolution is important, as well as size. You'll want to make sure the monitor you choose has a good contrast ratio and viewing angle. Some monitors also come with built-in speakers, which can be convenient. Price is also something to take into account when making your decision.

About Lawrence Jung

Lawrence graduated cum laude from Boston University with a B.S. in Journalism. He then started working with The New York Times for 3 years as an editor. Upon their acquisition of online review website the Wire Cutter he became exposed to the digital world of review-style articles and digital content. He was a writer for many tech review products where he developed his expertise in the electronic and PC peripheral space. He quickly got promoted to managing a writing team where he was responsible for training and managing a team of over a dozen writers. After being there for another 3.5 years, Lawrence left in late 2019 to help Dusan create VSS Monitoring, where he could help design and contribute to the site’s content and website’s architecture to develop what he wants to become THE top tech resource online.