There are monitors out there that range from well under a hundred bucks to all the way up into the thousands. But what price range is going to get you the best price to performance? We believe that you do not need to spend over $200 to get a monitor that will perform well for you for years to come.
We have listed our four favorite monitors under $200 dollars below. Let’s take a look at what makes each of them a good choice for you.
Contents
Quick Summary
- If you are looking for the perfect home office monitor, check out the HP Pavilion 27xw. It is a 27-inch IPS monitor with great colors and an elegant design.
- If you hate screen tearing and have an AMD GPU, the Acer CB272 features FreeSync. This means your games will look nice and smooth at all times, even when your frame rates drop.
- If you prefer large screens, the ViewSonic VX3276-MHD is a 32-inch behemoth! You get a nice, large display that is built like a tank…what more can you ask for under $200?
- If you have an Nvidia GPU and want a G-Sync monitor, check out the Acer XFA240. It is a high-quality gaming panel, and is also G-Sync compatible!
Who Should Buy This?
If you are looking for a new home office monitor, these are fantastic choices for you. They are all high performing, and extremely well-made displays. They are great for word processing, browsing the internet, and watching Netflix and YouTube.
These monitors are also good choices if you enjoy playing computer games. No matter if you prefer fast-paced FPS games or turn-based RTS titles, these monitors will be good choices for your gaming needs. Some are better suited than others, and we will let you know which ones are right for you in their individual reviews!
Best Monitor Under $200: What to Consider in 2022
Screen Size
This comes down to mainly personal preference. If you prefer a more large size monitor, then go with that. However, we find that anything over 27-inches will need a bit more distance between you and the monitor to reduce eye strain.
Resolution
While 1920×1080 is still the king of resolutions, there are other options out there. A lot of people are making the jump to 2560×1440 pixels. Finding a high-quality 1440p display at this price point is going to be near impossible, however.
Refresh Rate
If you are a gamer who enjoys playing first-person shooters, you want to get a high refresh rate monitor. This, combined with a powerful computer will give you smooth gaming experience and a competitive edge over your enemies.
Best Monitor Under $200: Our Picks for 2022
1. HP Pavilion 27xw
If you are looking for a new monitor for your office, there is a good chance you have stumbled upon quite a few from HP. We scoured their lineup, and have come to the conclusion that the 27xw is their best monitor for home office use under $200.
While the specs are pretty normal, Full HD 1080p at 60 Hz, you will be getting a slightly larger than normal 27-inch screen size here. But the real buying point of this monitor is the fantastic look and design. The white and silver flow together beautifully in this monitor, giving it a high end feel, and an almost Apple looking design. We love it!
- Screen Size: 27”
- Resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
2. Acer CB272
Acer has created a monitor in the CB272 that is great for office and productivity work, but also put some really nice gaming features in it as well. The overall design isn’t anything flashy, nor does it scream “gamer,” but it looks great sitting on a home office desk.
The 27-inch screen is nice with an almost bezel-less design, and the 1080p resolution looks nice and crisp. You get a max refresh rate of 75 Hz, which is nice, but when you combine that with the included FreeSync capability, it unlocks a great gaming experience. There is also the 1ms response time, cutting down on ghosting in fast-paced games. It really is a great office and gaming monitor in one.
- Screen Size: 27”
- Resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Refresh Rate: 75 Hz
3. ViewSonic VX3276-MHD
Some people really do believe bigger is better. If you are one of those people, ViewSonic has made just the monitor for you. This monster 32-inch monitor has a sturdy design, and the silver stand looks very futuristic when sitting on the desk.
While the monitor features the normal 1080p resolution at 60 Hz that most monitors out there run at, since it is such a large screen, it isn’t quite as good for doing things like read and write text (such as in programs like Microsoft Word or Excel). Where it excels (excuse the bad pun) is in watching movies or videos. Having such a huge screen is a very immersive experience when sitting so close at your desk.
- Screen Size: 32”
- Resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
4. Acer XFA240
If you are a gamer, there are a few options at the under $200 price point, but none as complete as the Acer XFA240. This monitor has a decent resolution and refresh rate, and is even G-Sync compatible. This all melds together to create a really nice gaming experience.
This 24-inch monitor features a 1080p resolution and 144 Hz refresh rate. This makes gaming look both crisp and smooth, giving you the advantage against players who are using slower refresh rates. The reason this monitor climbs above other monitors in this price range is the fact that it is G-Sync compatible, bringing you tear-free gaming.
- Screen Size: 24”
- Resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Refresh Rate: 144 Hz
Useful Tips and Resources
Some monitors you will find are not height adjustable. That is not ideal, as you want to make sure you have your monitor set to the proper eye level to cut down on eye strain and neck pain. If the monitor you pick up has a VESA mount, you can buy an adjustable monitor stand.
Another thing that you should be thinking about if you work at your desk for long hours is standing up every so often. This will dramatically increase your productivity and energy levels, as well as your overall health. Buying a nice stand workstation for your monitor and keyboard will allow you to stand up and continue working from time to time throughout the day.
Final Words
No matter which of the four monitors you choose from the options above, know that you are getting a high-quality display that will be durable and last you for a long time. While there are other options out there in the under 200 USD price point, these four stood out to us as head and shoulders above the competition.
What do you think is the perfect price point for a monitor? Let us know below!
