Best Gaming Monitor Under 400

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I’m guessing since you’ve clicked on this monitor, you’re looking to buy a decent monitor and not empty your pocket at the same time. You’ve probably been through too many products and can’t decide which monitor you want. You’re reading all these specifications but you can’t figure out which to pick because most of the specifications look the same.

Well, you don’t have to worry anymore. We went through all the best monitors you could find on the market and we brought together a list for you. We also made a quick buyer’s guide so that you finally figure out what those specifications mean and what you should look for when you’re trying to find a monitor. So, let’s not waste any time and look at the best gaming monitors under 400 dollars.

1.LG 27GN750

On the top of our list today is the LG 27GN750. This beast of a monitor by LG is a 27-inch monitor with a QHD display. The response time is out of the world, and the IPS panel brings out the best colors. LG has also marketed this monitor as an HDR10 monitor.

The monitor in itself is ideal for gaming. It has extremely thin bezels, a sleek design, and sufficient connectivity options. The stand is where the problems begin for this monitor. There have been several complaints that the stand is tough to adjust, and mounting it to a wall is difficult because all the connectivity ports can’t be accessed if the monitor is mounted to the wall. At the same time, the pros outweigh the cons, and you could just spend another 50 dollars and get yourself a decent monitor mount.

Let’s come to why you’re going to buy this monitor. This monitor’s speed is out of the world. It has a response time of 1ms and a refresh rate of a whopping 144Hz. The panel is also something else for this monitor. It is equipped with a Nano IPS panel that gives you the best picture quality that you could imagine for 400 dollars. The icing on the cake is that this LG monitor is Nvidia Gsync certified, which gives you crisp images without any tears while gaming.
Pros

• 1ms response time
• QHD display
• Nvidia Gsync
• 144Hz refresh rate
• Nano IPS panel

Cons

• :HDR10 doesnt affect perfromance at all
• :Stand quality could’ve been much better
• HDR brings down monitors brightness to 100 nits

2. Sceptre C305B-200U1

This second monitor is a solid contender to be the best 144Hz monitor under 400 dollars. This 30-inch beast is a perfect fit for your budget ultrawide monitor needs, and its modern design will be used as both a work and gaming setup.

The monitor is fairly well-built and decent-looking. It has a frameless design, 1800R curvature, and a sturdy stand. The stand has two tapered legs which take up comparatively less space when compared to a traditional cylindrical monitor stand. A minor inconvenience is that the stand is not ergonomic and has tilt adjust only. Connectivity options include one DisplayPort, one HDMI 2.0, and two HDMI 1.4 ports. To use the maximum refresh rate, you need to use the DisplayPort.

Performance-wise this monitor is worth every penny. Starting off with the resolution, it has a 2560*1080p resolution which is too good for an ultrawide monitor in this price range. It also has HDR400 calibration to take your viewing experience to the next level. The VA panel brings in more vibrant colors and contrasts. Sceptre has also introduced a couple of features to take care of your eyes. These include the blue light shift and the Anti-flicker technology. Another interesting feature to help you multitask is the picture in picture feature.

Gaming wise this monitor is almost perfect. Its refresh rate can go upto 200hz, and to enhance this high refresh rate is the AMD FreeSync which works with most GPUS and gives crisp tear-free images. To conclude, a gaming monitor wouldn’t be a gaming monitor without a super-fast 1ms response time to give you an edge in fast-paced competitive games.

Overall, the Sceptre C305B is a value-for-money ultrawide monitor and a possible choice for the best-curved gaming monitor under 400 dollars.
Pros 

• 1800R Curvature
• 1ms response time
• AMD FreeSync
• Wide range of connectivity options

Cons

• Narrow Viewing Angles
• Tilt only stand
• Ghosting in dark scenes

3. Samsung LC24RG50FQNXZA

A premium 27-inch monitor by Samsung gives you performance and the tag of Samsung to give you that extra trust you need to add this monitor to your current setup. The sleek design with the excellent monitor performance is what makes this monitor what it is.

The monitor is well built and with sturdy support. The stand has two legs and which diverge and add that extra look to your monitor’s design. It has a 1500R curvature to create a more immersive gaming experience. A joystick has been installed to make using the On-Screen Display easier. Unfortunately, the stand is not ergonomic. You can adjust the tilt of the monitor. There is no height, swivel, pivot adjust, nor does it have a VESA mount.

This Samsung monitor works like a charm when it comes to picture quality. The VA panel brings fantastic vibrancy to the colors of this monitor. The resolution is perfect for this 27-inch monitor at a FullHD 1920*1080p resolution. The contrast ratio is a bold 3000:1. It also has different preset picture modes to facilitate different tasks like Movies, Gaming, etc. The EyeCare technology isn’t as developed as one would like to be, but I guess that’s a bargain most people are willing to take.

The CRG5 is no less when it comes to gaming. It is equipped with a 240hz refresh rate and Nvidia Gsync to back the refresh rate up. The let-down is that the VA panel can’t bring the response time that this monitor should’ve had. The response time is a disappointing 4ms.

Pros

• Preset Viewing modes
• 240hz refresh rate
• Nvidia Gsync
• 3000:1 Contrast atio
• 1500R curvature

Cons 

• No VESA mount
• Ghosting under 100FPS
• Tilt Only stand
• Eye Care technology doesnt work

4. LG 27GL83A

An LG 27GL83A is a solid contender to be the best 144Hz monitor under 400 dollars. This monitor has almost no problems, and even if there are, they are not going to affect your gaming experience in any aspect. It is fast, high-resolution, and modern to bring together the best 27-inch gaming monitor under 400 dollars. There obviously are all the LG-exclusive features to make the monitor even better.

The monitor is ultra-slim with a 3 side borderless design that adds to the monitors’ looks and overall gaming experience. The stand is where this monitor takes it all away. A top-tier quality stand is fully ergonomic, meaning all height, adjust, tilt and pivot adjustments. Connectivity options include one DisplayPort and two HDMI ports. It also has an audio input-output line.

The picture quality of this monitor is something else. It has an IPS display that makes this monitor perfect for both gaming and color-critical work. To add to this picture quality, there is also an option to use HDR10. It has a QHD display with a 2560*1440p resolution. The monitor has an ideal 144Hz refresh rate, and Nvidia Gsync to back that refresh rate up. This LG monitor also has a response time of 1ms. It also comes with a wide color gamut of 99% sRGB.

This monitor of the LG Ultragear series comes with LG-Exclusive features like ShadowBooster technology and Dynamic Action Sync. All these features come together to make the best gaming monitor under 400 dollars.

Pros

• 144hz refresh rate
• Nvidia Gsync
• Ergonomic Stand
• HDR10
• Frameless Design

Cons

• No USB
• Ghosting in Dark scenes

5.ALIENWARE-AW2521

This monitor is no suprise because when it comes to companies like Alienware, I expect nothing less than a out-of-the-world experience. This design ticks all boxes. It feels like a gaming monitor just by the looks of it. The Alienware AW2521 is the best 240Hz gaming monitor under 400 dollars.

The design and build of this monitor is where it stands out from most of the monitors. The monitor in itself is very slim and has a framless design but the stand is thick. The stand  has a neon LED on its backside to add to the look of the monitor. Connectivity options include two USB 3.0 1st, USB 3.0 Gen 1 with power charging, DisplayPort and two HDMI ports. Th best part about this monitor is an optimized ventillation system that has a cooling and venting design on both top and bottom.

This 24 inch monitor is a beast when it comes to performance. It uses IPS technology to bring out the best possible colors that this monitor could. To elevate the performance in terms of speed, this monitor has an inane refresh rate of 240hz. This monitor is both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia Gsync certified which plays a huge role in making this monitor one of the best gaming monitors under 400 dollars.

The Alienware AW2521 has a 1080p resolution and a 1ms response rate to give this monitor the edge over all these other monitors. A unique feature about this monitor is the Alien FX, this feature has a personalized light adjustment system so that your eyes are not harmed.

Pros

• 1ms response rate
• Alien FX
• 240hz refresh rate
• Wide range of connectivity options
• 99% sRGB color gamut
• Ergonomic stand

Cons

• 24 inch for high price
• No speakers
• Too much ghosting

6. AOC CQ27G2

One of the best monitors from the AOC G2 gaming series is the AOC CQ27G2. Every feature in this monitor contributes to this monitor and its gaming features. The CQ27G2 is a curved ultrawide gaming monitor that gives you the most immersive gaming experience compared to most monitors.

The CQ27G2 is an ideal curved gaming monitor under 400 dollars. It has a good stand which is ergonomic, and it does enough to keep this monitor. This stand has pivot, tilt, swivel, and height adjustment. The design has red patterns on the monitor to give the monitor more of a “gaming” look. Another advantage is that this monitor has a 3 side borderless design. Connectivity options include one display port, a seperate audio output line, and two HDMI 1.4 ports.

This 34-inch monitor has a resolution of 2560*1080p to do this 34 inch VA panel justice. The full HD resolution and a 1ms response make this monitor a proper curved ultrawide gaming monitor. The VA panel does a decent job of bringing out the colors and contrasts of this monitor. It also has a wide color gamut of 120%sRGB. It is also AMD FreeSync certified to avoid tears in your image and to give you crisp images.

Pros

• 34 Inch
• VA panel
• 120%sRGB
• Ergonomic stand
• AMD FreeSync

Cons

• 75Hz refresh rate
• Curvature doesn’t enhance experience
• Clumsy hotkeys

7. ASUS VG328H1B

The Asus VG328H1B is one of the most integral parts of the ASUS TUF gaming series. This monitor is an Ultrawide, frameless design monitor by Asus to give you the best gaming experience you could have. This 32-inch monitor is worth every penny that you spend on it.

Besides being a monitor that doesn’t hurt your budget at all, this monitor has a decent build too. The VG328H1B is a 32-inch monitor with a QHD resolution. This monitor has 2 tapered legs that make this monitor sturdy. Unfortunately, the monitor is tilt-only and has a 1500R curvature. It does have a tilt and swivel adjust, though. Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort.

Asus gaming monitors never fall short when it comes to the gaming aspect. It has a 165H refresh rate and has Adaptive sync to enhance the 165hz refresh rate. It also comes with ELMB. ELMB stands for Extreme Low Motion Blur, which minimizes the blur to a minimum for high-paced games. The resolution of this monitor has a 2560*1440 resolution. The ASUS VG32VQ1B has a fast response time of 1ms. The best part of this monitor has the entrance level HDR technology of HDR10.

Now let’s come to the best part of this monitor. The ASUS exclusive features. These features are the GamePlus, ShadowBoost technology, and Ultra-Low Blue light technology. Lastly, it has flicker-free technology to protect your eyes.

Pros

• Gameplus
• ShadowBoost
• HDR10
• Flicker-Free technology
• QHD resolution
• 165hz refresh rate

Cons

• Sound system is terrible
• ELMB detoriarates FreeSync technology
• Limited Connectivity options

Things to consider

Now that we’ve looked atht best monitors on the market right now, let’s look at a compilation of the most integral features you need to consider before buying the best curved gaming monitor under 400 dollars.

Panel Technology

Panel technology is what the whole monitor revolves around. There are three types of panel technologies in the market. 

The first one is the IPS Panel. IPS stands for InterPlane Switching in this acronym. This monitor’s prime focus is the colors accuracy and color reproduction of monitor. This type of panel is primarily helpful in monitors that will be used for color-critical work.

The second panel is the TN panel. TN stands for Twisted Nematic. This panel is more focused on speed rather than any other feature. TN panels are primarily made for gaming monitors as they have a better performance in terms of speed. The problem is that using a TN panel leads to many compromises when it comes to color.

The last panel is the VA panel. VA stands for Vertical Alignment. VA panels are just good enough when it comes to gaming and work. This panel gives you higher contrasts which lead to deeper blacks in a monitor. The VA panel, compared to the IPS panel, lacks the quality of color reproduction. When compared to the TN panel, the IPS isn’t fast enough. Overall, VA panels are the best of both worlds when we discuss these 3 monitors.

Stand

If you’re going to mount your monitor onto a wall, you don’t need to worry about this. If you plan to have on desk monitor, you need to look for an ergonomic stand. What I mean is if you don’t have a monitor already and don’t know how a new monitor will adjust to the workspace, you need to buy a monitor that is height, tilt and swivel adjustable.

Compatibility

You picking the best 250 dollar gaming monitor does not guarantee an amazing gaming experience. Your monitor’s features need to be compatible with the parts of your set-up. Basically, your monitor might be capable of a 240Hz refresh rate. Still, your setup needs to be able to be as fast as your monitor.

FreeSync and Gsync are also important examples here. Most people end up buying a FreeSync monitor that is a bit cheaper but have an Nvidia GPU installed in their setup. This, in turn, leads to flickering issues and screen tears while using the monitor. Even the best 4k monitor under 250 dollars will face problems if you do something similar to this.

PPI (Pixels Per Inch)

PPI, which stands short for pixels per inch, means the pixel density of a monitor. The higher the pixel density is, the better detailed and vibrant the colors of the image become. For gaming, a pixel density of 110ppi is ideal as it doesn’t overwork your computer set-up but, at the same time, shows a significant amount of detail.

Size And Resolution

The size of a monitor is a choice that entirely depends on your liking and, of course, your surroundings. Although the resolution is where you don’t need to make any compromise. The ideal resolution for a 24-inch monitor is a 1920*1080p. Likewise, the ideal resolution of a 27-inch FHD monitor is 2560*1440p. As the size of your monitor increases, so does the resolution. 

Refresh Rate and Response rate

Refresh rate is the rate at which your monitor updates itself with new information. The higher your refresh rate is, the better you’ll be when you’re gaming. An ideal refresh rate without any compromises is 144hz, at least under the budget of 400 dollars. There are more expensive options which run at 240hz refresh rate and 360Hz refresh rate

Response rate is how fast the pixels respond to your command and how fast they change accordingly. Your response rate needs to be 1ms without any thinking. After years of development, a 1ms response time isn’t limited to a TN panel. Now we can have a 1ms refresh with an IPS panel, so that we get the best possbile gaming experience

Verdict

After looking at the best monitors under 400 dollars and the features that you need to consider before buying a 400 dollar monitor, it’s time that we pick the best gaming monitor under 400 dollars. The best gaming monitor is the LG 27GL83A. It is the best 1440p gaming monitor under 400 dollars you could possibly find.
Other than all of its specifications which more or less are similar to most monitors. There are a few things that stand out about this monitor. Firstly, it has an ergonomic stand which is easy to use, so adjusting your monitor is the most convenient thing possible. Then comes the LG-exclusive On-Screen Control so that you don’t have to use the clumsy hotkeys, and you can adjust monitor settings with your mouse. It also has Dynamic Action Sync that minimizes input lag to a minimum.