Best 4k Monitors Under 400 – So, there you have it, our comprehensive breakdown of the best gaming monitors for under $400 this 2021. Whilst compromises do need to be made at this price point, $400 is still more than enough to get yourself a very efficient gaming monitor. We’ve tried to select monitors that suit a variety of categories, including 4K, esports, and ultrawide options.
ROUND UP
back to menu ↑1.Alienware 25 AW2521HF
Features
- Experience the best available in IPS Technology with native refresh rates of up to 240Hz
- A true 1ms response time blasts away ghosting and blurs for clear images with no artificial tricks needed
OUR TAKE
The Alienware 25, in its so-called Lunar Light color scheme we tested (model AW2521HFL), is white and black, just like Alienware’s recent Aurora desktops (as well as the Sony PlayStation 5). The 25-inch screen is flat and has barely any bezel, with only a thin black band running along three edges. A narrow black strip on the bottom edge features the Alienware logo.
On the back, most of the monitor is white plastic, with black inserts where the ports can be found and on the joint where the stand connects to the screen. It’s a striking look, and a nice departure from the usually boxy, black look of most monitors, even many elite gaming ones. (That said, Alienware also offers a blacked-out version dubbed “Dark Side of the Moon,” model AW2521HF)
back to menu ↑2.LG 27GL83A-B
Features
- 27 inch QHD (2560 X 1440) IPS display
- IPS 1ms response time & 144Hz refresh rate
OUR TAKE
The LG 27GL83A-B is a very good monitor with a 27 inch, 1440p IPS screen. It delivers a great gaming experience with extremely low input lag, an outstanding response time, and a few great gaming features. It supports AMD’s FreeSync variable refresh rate technology (VRR), but it’s also certified by NVIDIA to support VRR from recent NVIDIA graphics cards.
It has wide viewing angles, good reflection handling, and very good peak brightness, so glare shouldn’t be an issue. As a more budget-oriented model, it has a pretty basic stand, with limited ergonomics and no RGB lighting. Although it supports HDR, this doesn’t really add much, as it can’t get bright enough to deliver a true HDR experience and has a low contrast ratio.
back to menu ↑3.LG Premium Ultragear 27”
Features
- 27 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Panel 144Hz Refresh Rate 16 : 9 Aspect Ratio 5ms Response Time (1ms Motion Blur Reduction) Display
- NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible, Adaptive-Sync Technology
OUR TAKE
LG’s UltraGear 27GN950 is a 4K gaming monitor that almost does it all. The company has pulled out all the stops, aiming to deliver a premium screen for gaming, content creation, and media consumption, and it has pretty much succeeded. The UltraGear 27GN950 is an absolutely fantastic monitor, and save for a few minor quibbles, it provides a stellar experience through and through.
Even before you power it on, it already impresses with its spec sheet. A crisp 4K resolution and 10-bit colour. Fluid 144Hz refresh rate. NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible.
DisplayHDR 600 certification. LG’s Nano IPS panel. The entire package comes together nicely, and the monitor is one of the best I’ve had the pleasure to use.
back to menu ↑4.Acer Nitro XV340CK
Features
- 34" QHD UltraWide (3440 x 1440) IPS Display with AMD Radeon FreeSync Technology
- 21:9 Aspect Ratio | HDR10
OUR TAKE
The Acer Nitro XV340CK Pbmiipphzx 34 inch is a great ultrawide gaming monitor. It delivers a great gaming experience that feels smooth and responsive thanks to its low input lag and high refresh rate. Its excellent response time makes fast-moving content look crisp, and it has an optional Black Frame Insertion feature to improve motion clarity further.
FreeSync is supported natively to help minimize screen tearing, and it’s compatible with NVIDIA’s G-SYNC. Its ultrawide format provides plenty of screen space for multitasking, and it even has a Picture-in-Picture mode that lets you display two input sources at once. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get very bright, so visibility can be an issue in well-lit rooms. Also, while it has HDR support, it can’t display a wide color gamut, resulting in a lackluster HDR experience.
back to menu ↑5.ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM
Features
- 24.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) Fast IPS gaming monitor with ultrafast 280Hz refresh rate (supports 144Hz) designed for professional gamers and immersive gameplay
- Fast IPS technology enables a 1ms response time (GTG) for sharp gaming visuals with high frame rates.
OUR TAKE
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM is an excellent IPS monitor that delivers a smooth and responsive gaming experience. It shares many similarities with its bigger brother, the ASUS VG279QM, as it also has a 1080p resolution and a 280Hz refresh rate. It has great visibility in bright environments thanks to its impressive peak brightness, but to the contrary, it isn’t as well-suited for dark rooms due to its low contrast ratio.
It has exceptionally fast response time, a Black Frame Insertion feature, as well as native FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility. It supports HDR10; however, HDR content doesn’t look significantly better than in SDR because it lacks a wide color gamut and local dimming. On the upside, it has a great build quality, wide viewing angles, and outstanding ergonomics.
back to menu ↑WRAP UP
Best 4k Monitors Under 400 – Gaming monitors have become increasingly important in gamers’ setups over the years. A poor monitor can quite literally be the difference between winning and losing, especially if you start dicing with monitors equipped with low refresh rates, slow response times, and poor input lag.
Fortunately, finding a decent gaming monitor for under $400 is actually quite reasonable right now – mainly because new technology has come in and reduced the price of aging alternatives.
For that reason, we’ll be scouring the web to find only the best gaming monitors for $400 – comparing price, performance, build quality, and aesthetics as we go.
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