Best Gaming Monitor Under 400 in 2025: With Buying Guide
Komal Gulab
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Looking for the best gaming monitor under $400? In this guide, you'll find only the best of the 144Hz, 240Hz, ultrawide, 4K, and other models.
The 4K gaming landscape has never been more exciting. With high-quality monitor options at every level and more releases coming soon, there's never been a better time to get into 4K gaming.
The gaming monitor market has become more accessible of late, with prices dropping significantly over the past few years.
What used to be the price range for mid- to high-end 1440p monitors (around $400 to $500) can now guarantee you a quality 4K display.
Plus, with the wider adoption of upscaling technology, 4K gaming is not only more affordable but also more practical, as even mid-range GPUs can deliver excellent performance in many titles.
And as 60Hz 4K models are phased out in favor of faster refresh rates, gamers have more compelling options across all price ranges.
In this guide, we've carefully selected 4K monitors that meet a variety of needs, whether you're looking for immersive HDR with OLED or affordable, high-performance SDR panels.
As usual, our recommendations will mostly cover products we've reviewed and tested ourselves.
In this guide, you'll find all the available combinations of display specs within this price range, allowing you to choose the best gaming monitor under $400 for yourself.
1. Acer Nitro XV272U W2bmiiprx Best Monitors Under 400
If you're really capable of hitting high frame rates in your favorite games, we definitely have to suggest the Acer Nitro XV272U. This is the SKU W2bmiiprx, which offers up to 240Hz for silky smooth performance.
This can only be achieved via DisplayPort 1.4, as it's not an HDMI 2.1 monitor, but this isn't an issue at all for us PC gamers.
Acer has really thrown a high-quality monitor into the mix for under $400, as 240Hz 1440p monitors are definitely harder to find at this price point, especially from a trusted brand.
Combine the high refresh rate with the response time, which can be as fast as 0.5ms, and you have yourself an excellent gaming monitor for competitive titles.
If you're looking to upgrade from 1080p and don't want to compromise on gaming performance, then this Acer monitor is for you.
Nothing too flashy in terms of looks with its puck-shaped base and lack of RGB lighting, but the slim bezel design helps keep you immersed and focused on the game.
This is another IPS panel that guarantees high-quality colors, with 95% DCI-P3 coverage for solid color accuracy and DisplayHDR 400 rating for decent HDR performance, though this is really the bare minimum in terms of VESA certification.
Overall, you've got a high-quality monitor for gaming and a sizable 27" screen, making it good for productivity when you need it.
2. AOC 2C32G2E 31.5-inch Curved LCD Gaming Monitor
A 31.5-inch Full HD curved monitor with HDR for under $400 may sound too good to be true, but AOC has created a monitor that is a great performer all around.
First and foremost, it offers a solid curved display for gaming. This helps generate that immersive, wraparound effect that lets you sink into the action.
Plus, its FreeSync Premium technology helps eliminate screen tearing, while the 165Hz refresh rate keeps the action super smooth.
One glaring downside is the lack of speakers, so don't forget your standalone units or headphones.
This model also has no USB ports and limited ergonomic features other than tilt, so you may need an adjustable stand for maximum comfort.
3. Gigabyte 27-inch 144Hz 1440P Gaming Monitor
While a super-fast 4K gaming monitor is definitely outside the realm of “budget,” fast 1400 pixel displays abound. For anyone looking for a clearer, higher-resolution display, the Gigabyte G27Q is a great choice.
With a large 27-inch IPS display, wide color gamut, good color contrast, and HDR support, visuals definitely stand out, especially when compared to monitors with TN panels.
The G27Q is no slouch when it comes to speed, either, with up to a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and FreeSync technology.
Pair the incredible display with built-in speakers, USB port, and stand adjustability, and the G27Q is a great choice for gamers looking for quality graphics.
4. MSI MAG274UPF UHD Best Monitor Monitor Under $400
If you want a 4K monitor for your setup under $400, then you should check out the MSI MAG274UPF monitor.
This MSI monitor has a 27-inch screen, which is a suitable size if you sit close to the monitor or if you play fast-paced games.
As mentioned, the monitor offers a 4K resolution, which should offer a clear and highly detailed image quality.
As far as performance is concerned, the monitor comes with a 144Hz refresh rate, which is more than enough to run most AAA games.
You also get a 1ms response time, which should eliminate choppy frame rates. Also, to keep refresh rates in sync, the monitor offers support for NVIDIA G-Sync and FreeSync Premium.
As far as connectivity options go, the monitor offers multiple ports, including DisplayPort 1.4a, HDMI 2.1, and more.
5. ASUS TUF 27-inch 2K HDR Gaming Monitor
The Asus TUF VG27AQ monitor isn't just a great budget monitor, it's a great monitor overall. Its combination of specs and extra features gives you almost everything you could ask for in a 27-inch gaming monitor.
A 1440p resolution delivers stunning detail for all types of content, not just gaming. In-game, the VG27AQ offers a fast refresh rate, response time, variable refresh rate options, and HDR10.
However, HDR performance isn't the VG27AQ's strong suit, with a low color spectrum and weak brightness.
That said, this monitor pairs well with gaming consoles, as it has two HDMI 2.0 ports and built-in speakers.
6. SAMSUNG Odyssey G50A Best Monitor Under 400
The Samsung Odyssey monitor range is one of the most popular on the market. Samsung is well known for pushing the boundaries of displays, something it has been doing time and time again, especially with the Odyssey line.
However, here we are talking about the G5, particularly the updated 2022 model. We reviewed the Samsung Odyssey G5, but this G50A model now comes equipped with an IPS panel, which is sure to be a solid upgrade over the previous VA panel.
Particularly thanks to the wide viewing angles and excellent color accuracy that these panels benefit from. That works hand-in-hand with the HD10 rating to deliver excellent color accuracy and stunning visuals.
Other specs remain as impressive as before, with the 1440p gaming monitor being a great middle ground between 1080p and 4K, especially if you don’t have a monster gaming PC to back up full 4K visuals.
As a gaming monitor, the G50A of course comes with VRR (variable refresh rate) technology like AMD FreeSync Premium, though this Samsung monitor is also G-Sync compatible.
Either will ensure your gaming experience is as smooth as possible, avoiding annoying screen tearing or stuttering.
As a 165Hz gaming monitor, it offers a bit more than 144Hz, while the 1ms response time is a must for gamers who want to enjoy their games without having to worry about ghosting or annoying motion blur effects.
Overall, it's hard to beat in terms of quality and specs, and it stays under the $400 budget.
What to look When Shopping for a New Monitor?
There are a dizzying array of specs to consider when shopping for a new monitor, including screen size, resolution, panel type, port selection, adjustability, mounting, viewing angles, brightness, pixel density, and aspect ratio.
And when you factor in all the different manufacturers, too, it's easy to get overwhelmed. When it comes to gaming monitors, especially when operating on a budget, refresh rate, response time, panel type, and sync technology are the most important areas to focus on.
You can also opt for a curved model, which provides greater immersion and reportedly less eye strain and blurriness, though increased glare is a trade-off.
One of the overwhelming things when shopping for monitors is all the terminology. Here's a quick rundown of some terms you should know and which one is the best option to save on price.
Panel Type
Most monitors (including those on this list) use LCD displays. Within this category, there are different types of display panel technology.
Pneumatic twisted panels, also known as TN panels, are generally preferred for most fast-paced games as they are the cheapest and fastest, but they have poor color contrast and viewing angles, so they work best in a dark room.
In-plane switching, or IPS, panels are more expensive and slower than TN panels, but they have a much better color gamut, contrast, and viewing angles, making them more versatile.
Vertical alignment, or VA, panels are in the mid-range price-wise and provide decent color and viewing angles, but they are a bit slower.
Refresh Rate
Refresh rate, measured in hertz, refers to how often the display can show a new image. For example, 60 hertz means the display can refresh up to 60 times per second.
Look for a refresh rate that matches or exceeds the frame rate of your favorite games.
Response Time
Measured in milliseconds, response time is the time it takes for the monitor's pixels to change from one color to another, typically from black to white and back to black.
The lower this number, the faster colors can change; look for faster response times for graphics-intensive games.
Sync Technology
Some gaming monitors include sync technologies that work to match your monitor's refresh rate to your graphics card and your game—this is called variable refresh rate.
Both graphics processing unit manufacturers NVIDIA and AMD offer sync technologies. NVIDIA offers G-Sync, while AMD offers FreeSync.
Both work to match your monitor's refresh rate to your graphics card and your game for the best possible gaming experience.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, our complete breakdown of the best gaming monitors under $400 in 2025. While there are compromises to be made at this price point, $400 is still more than enough to get you a very capable gaming monitor.
We tried to select monitors that fit a variety of categories, including 4K, eSports, and UltraWide options.
That said, for a budget of $400, we think the Asus TUF gaming monitor is probably the best you can get.
The monitor offers a 27-inch display with a QHD resolution, which should offer high image quality and immersion at the same time.
Plus, you get up to 260Hz refresh rate, which is enough to play most video games.
And with VRR technology and ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync, you should have a smooth gaming experience.
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