The 4 Best Monitors Under $200 - Spring 2025

The best display under $200 we've tested is the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx. It's a unique low-cost monitor because it has features most entry-level monitors don't have, and it's worth getting when you can find it on sale below $200. It uses Mini LED backlighting and has an okay local dimming feature, which helps it display deep blacks in dark rooms, and there isn't much blooming around bright objects either. It even gets incredibly bright, so it fights glare well and makes highlights pop in HDR for a fantastic viewing experience. This is ideal for watching your favorite content, and it's better than other low-cost displays for this purpose.

Besides that, it's mainly focused on gaming, as it has a 170Hz refresh rate and VRR support to reduce screen tearing. However, it has smearing and blur with fast-moving objects. If you want something with better motion handling, though, check out the AOC Q27G3XMN. It's another versatile Mini LED monitor, but because it tends to cost more than $200, it may be too expensive if you're on a tight budget.

If you're looking for the best gaming display under $200, look into the Dell Alienware AW2724DM. It's a 27-inch, 1440p monitor that performs well for gaming. If you can't find it for less than $200 through retailers, you can also find it for a low cost directly from Dell's website. Although the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx has better picture quality due to its Mini LED local dimming feature, that monitor has more smearing with fast-moving objects. This means if you care about pure gaming performance and want superior motion handling, the Dell is the better choice.

It has a native 165Hz refresh rate that you can overclock to 180Hz with a DisplayPort connection, and it supports all common VRR formats, including HDMI Forum VRR. Motion looks consistently sharp at any refresh rate, and its response time remains quick at low refresh rates, but it doesn't have a backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur. While the Acer has better picture quality and gets brighter, the Dell is still a good choice for gaming in a well-lit room as it has good reflection handling and gets bright enough to fight glare.

If you find that the 27-inch screen of the Dell Alienware AW2724DM is too big for you, there are other cheap gaming monitors you can get with a smaller 24- or 25-inch screen. One of those is the Dell G2524H, which is an entry-level model that offers good value for its price. Although it has a lower 1080p resolution than the AW2724DM and images aren't as detailed, an advantage of getting this monitor is that it has a higher native 240Hz refresh rate. It also has an overclock setting to boost it up to 280Hz over DisplayPort.

Gaming feels smooth thanks to this high refresh rate, and it also has a fast enough response time to make motion look sharp. However, this monitor isn't very versatile for other uses besides PC gaming. It only supports 1080p signals with consoles and doesn't support HDR, so if you want something with better picture quality, then the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx is worth getting instead. The G2524H still has typical gaming features, like crosshairs and vision modes, and a dark stabilizer setting that makes it easier to see opponents in dark scenes of games.

If you need a simple and cheap monitor for work and don't need the gaming features of the Dell Alienware AW2724DM or the Dell G2524H, look into the Dell P2425H. While more expensive options, like the AW2724DM, are good for productivity thanks to their 27-inch, 1440p screens, they don't have many work-specific features. That's something the P2425H has, as unlike most entry-level monitors, it has three USB-A ports and a USB-C port to connect various devices. However, because the USB-C port doesn't support DisplayPort Alt Mode, you can't use it to display any video signal, and it's really meant for data transfer or charging.

Besides that, it has good reflection handling, so it's fine if you want to use it in a room with a few lights around, but it doesn't get bright enough to fight intense glare. It also has wide viewing angles and fantastic ergonomics that make it easy to share your screen with someone else.