Best Budget Monitors – Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best budget monitors. They are adapted to be valid for most people. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our monitor reviews, sorted with their price from low to high. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
ROUND UP
1.ASUS ProArt
Features
- 27-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS monitor with frameless design
- International color standard 100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 709 wide color gamut
- Calman Verified with factory calibration for excellent Delta E less than 2 color accuracy
- ASUS-exclusive ProArt Preset and ProArt Palette provide numerous adjustable color parameters
- Extensive connectivity for maximum flexibility, including Mini DisplayPort, DisplayPort, HDMI, dual-link DVI-D, audio in and earphone jack, plus four USB 3.0 ports
- Ergonomic stand with tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustments for a comfortable viewing experience, plus VESA wall-mountable
ASUS has been known for making quality PC components, but few people know that the company also makes mid-range and high-end monitors for professional photographers, graphic artists, and content creators. Specifically, the “ProArt” line has been designed for those who want high-end IPS displays for accurate color reproduction. The ASUS ProArt PA278QV represents the lower end of the line.
With its sub- price, this is one of the cheapest 27″ IPS budget monitors on the market. I recently had a chance to test this monitor out to see if it is something I can recommend to our readers. In this review, we will take a closer look at the PA278QV and see whether it should be considered for photo editing needs.
2.Celicious Privacy
Features
- 2-way landscape mode privacy screen protector film designed specifically for the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV
- Helps protect confidential data by narrowing the viewing angle to 30 degrees either side of the screen when the monitor is in landscape orientation
- Matte surface helps reduce glare caused by ambient lite
- Advanced silicone based adhesive backing bonds firmly to the surface of the screen without any air bubbles
- Pack includes: 1 x ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV screen protector and application kit
“Visual hacking” is a fancy way of describing how someone sits or stands around you and looks at what’s on your device’s screen. It may seem harmless, but it’s worth thinking about at least since many of us do almost everything on our phones.
Using the phone for everything, from social media to online banking, has become second nature. However, if you’re logging into accounts and or checking sensitive information, others might be able to see it all as well, while you unknowingly type away. We all love the large, bright, beautiful displays of our phones, but they certainly aren’t great for privacy.
3.Acer R240HY bidx
Features
- 23.8" Full HD IPS widescreen with 1920 x 1080 resolution
- Response time: 4ms, refresh rate: 60 hertz, pixel pitch: 0.2745 millimeter. 178 degree wide viewing angle, display colors: 16.7 million
- The zero frame design provides maximum visibility of the screen from edge to edge
- Signal inputs: 1 x HDMI, 1 x DVI (withHDCP) & 1 x VGA. Does not support HDCP 2.2, the version this monitor supports is HDCP 1.4
- No picture visible using the OSD menu, adjust brightness and contrast to maximum or reset to their default settings. Brightness is 250 nit. Operating power consumption: 25 watts
- Monitor only, without speaker
Along the bottom edge of the panel is a strip of glossy-black trim that holds five function buttons and a Power switch, and around back are an HDMI port, a DVI port, and a VGA port, as well as a headphone jack. As with many midrange monitors, the R240HY lacks USB ports and speakers.
It’s also missing a DisplayPort input. Picture settings are basic and include Brightness, Contrast, and Blue Light adjustments, along with the usual analog (Position, Focus, and Clock) settings. You won’t find any advanced settings, such as the 6-Axis-Color and Gamma settings that you get with the Acer H257HU. Picture presets include User, ECO, Standard, Graphics, and Movie modes.
4.Acer Nitro XV340CK
Features
- 34" QHD UltraWide (3440 x 1440) IPS Display with AMD Radeon FreeSync Technology
- 21:9 Aspect Ratio ; HDR10
- 144Hz Refresh Rate ; Response Time: 1ms (VRB) ; Brightness: 250 cd/m2
- Zero Frame Design
- Ports: 2 x Display Ports, 2 x HDMI 2.0 and 2 x USB 3.0 Ports (HDMI and USB Cable Included)
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.
5.LG 32UL500-W
Features
- 31.5 Inch UHD (3840 x 2160) VA Display
- DCI-P3 95% Color Gamut
- HDR 10 Compatible
- AMD FreeSync Compatible
- OnScreen Control with Screen Split
In fact, IPS and TN panel displays, which usually have a contrast ratio of ~1,000:1, have grayish blacks in comparison!
Further, the monitor has a wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut (equivalent to ~125% sRGB), which makes for vibrant and lifelike colors. This can also make the colors appear somewhat over-saturated for regular sRGB content, but you can limit the color output to ~100% sRGB via the Rec709 picture mode if you want more accurate colors.
Of course, IPS panel monitors still offer better color accuracy as their colors are more consistent across the screen, but for basic content creation, the LG 32UL500 display will do just fine.
WRAP UP
Best Budget Monitors – Even budget monitors can offer a decent experience, depending on your needs. Although they’re usually smaller, with simpler designs and fewer added features, budget monitors can still offer a good overall user experience. If you’re looking for a budget gaming monitor, more and more options are starting to include gaming features like variable refresh rate (VRR) support.