The 3 Best Monitors Under $200 - Fall 2024

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 it's 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, which is ideal for watching your favorite content.

It's mainly focused on gaming, as it has a 170Hz refresh rate and VRR support to reduce screen tearing. However, it doesn't have the best gaming performance because it has smearing and blur with fast-moving objects. It also lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of gaming consoles, which is what you have to expect for a low-cost monitor.

If you're looking for the best gaming display under $200, look into the Dell G2724D. It's a 27-inch, 1440p monitor that performs well for gaming. You can get it for a low cost directly from Dell's website. Although the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx is also a good choice for gaming, mainly because it has better picture quality due to its Mini LED local dimming feature, that monitor has more smearing. This means if you care about pure gaming performance and want better motion handling, the Dell is the better choice. Additionally, it has a similar 165Hz refresh rate with low input lag and VRR support.

Unlike the Acer, it even supports VRR with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, reducing screen tearing with either console. It also gets bright enough to fight glare and has good reflection handling, but it has a low contrast ratio, so it isn't as good to use in dark rooms as the Acer.

If you need a simple and cheap monitor for office work and don't need the gaming features of the Dell G2724D, look into the Dell P2425H. While both the G2724D and the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx are good for productivity, thanks to their 27-inch, 1440p screens, they don't have any work-specific features. That's something the P2425H has, and 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.