Video games are hugely popular and are heavily reliant on technology. These two facts coalesce to make gaming-specific products pretty darn expensive. Or, at least, that’s how it can look from a quick Google search.
While it is true that gaming PCs, consoles and all the related peripherals can get rather expensive, there are ways to ensure that you’re picking up a bargain. This is certainly the case with gaming monitors.
Gaming monitors are an exciting purchase. Whether you’re a PC or console gamer, a gaming monitor offers benefits that you can actually see and judge. The screen resolution, refresh rate and size all affect how you see, feel and experience video games, so it makes perfect sense to choose carefully - even when you’re on a modest budget.
Read more: The best budget gaming PC | The best PC games
If you’re looking to spend under £200 on a monitor, you are going to find yourself spoilt for choice. While in some ways it’s good to temper your expectations (no 32-inch curves and 4K resolutions have made the cut), all of the essential criteria for an impressive gaming monitor are attainable. The reason such good monitors are available at this price is a simple one - technology moves quickly, and manufacturers are always trying to release new models and be the next big thing. Once a monitor is released, all eyes already look to what’s around the corner. This is where budget shoppers can gain an advantage. Gaming monitor models are that are a year or two old come crashing down in price, making their previously premium specifications fall well within our grasp.
To help you find the best gaming monitor under £200, we’ve put together a buyer’s guide to our favourites. Below, you’ll find a mix of gaming monitors offering up impressive specs.
The best gaming monitors under £200
www.currys.co.uk
When frames matter, go for the Odyssey G3. If you're packing a powerful enough GPU, this will deliver you 1080p at 120fps. There's a large contingent of the gaming community that holds frames in higher regard than resolution - so, what you'll get here is an incredibly smooth and lifelike experience.
| Screen size: | 24-inch |
| Resolution: | 1080p |
| Refresh rate: | 144Hz |
| Response time: | 1ms |
| Contrast ratio: | 3000:1 |
Iiyama is a Japanese brand that has earned a respectable following in bargain-hunting gaming circles. The GB2530HSU-B1 is a true gem, it's got a great look, and its specs include an excellent screen size, resolution, colour representation, response time, low input lag, and AMD FreeSync. The ideal choice for a competitive gamer in training. The 24.5-inch variant offers the same stats at an even more affordable price, too.
| Screen size: | 27-inch |
| Resolution: | 1080p |
| Refresh rate: | 75Hz |
| Response time: | 1ms |
| Contrast ratio: | 1000:1 |
www.currys.co.uk
At the time of writing, the MSI G241VC is under £100. Considering what the monitor offers, that's astounding. While it is a few years old now, the G241VC offers a nice contrast ratio and crisp curved screen providing gamers with a new and exciting perspective on their favourite titles. The refresh rate, response time, and AMD FreeSync all operate to provide decent visuals. What's not to like?
| Screen size: | 23.6-inch |
| Resolution: | 1080p |
| Refresh rate: | 75Hz |
| Response time: | 1ms |
| Contrast ratio: | 3000:1 |
The 27-inch AOC 27G2U5 is an excellent choice, complete with some prominent gamer-like styling. While the screen is big and colourful and the response time nippy, the 75Hz refresh rate will allow those with capable machines to hit 60fps at FHD. We've previously reviewed the 144Hz 1440p version of this monitor and it truly impressed us. Though a little lower on specs, AOC has still managed to deliver gold for under £200.
| Screen size: | 27-inch |
| Resolution: | 1080p |
| Refresh rate: | 75Hz |
| Response time: | 1ms |
| Contrast ratio: | 1000:1 |
www.currys.co.uk
The MSI Optix G241 is one of the most popular entry-level gaming monitors available today. The reason is because of its great screen quality, reliability and refresh rate. The IPS panel it carries is particularly good for bringing out colours, and it never harms to have a powerful gaming name like MSI on your desktop.
| Screen size: | 24-inch |
| Resolution: | 1080p |
| Refresh rate: | 144Hz |
| Reponse time: | 1ms |
| Contrast ratio: | 1000:1 |
www.currys.co.uk
Here, HP has managed to bundle a significant specification inside an affordable gaming monitor. The main things to excite here are the 144Hz refresh rate for sky smooth graphics and colourful IPS LCD screen. Thereu2019s a decent-sized cutout in the base for cable management from keyboards and mice - a nice touch.
| Screen size: | 24-inch |
| Resolution: | 1080p |
| Refresh rate: | 144Hz |
| Response time: | 1ms |
| Contrast ratio: | 1000:1 |
What you need to know when buying a gaming monitor
What is resolution?
Resolution refers to the number of pixels a screen panel has – the more pixels, the more detailed an image. Full HD resolution has a pixel count of 1,920 x 1,080. Though many gaming monitors hit higher than this, such as 1440p and 4K UHD monitors, Full HD screens still offer an enjoyable picture quality, especially when paired with a high refresh rate.
If you would like to use anything over and above Full HD resolution on a PC, you’ll need to make sure your GPU hardware can handle the extra work. If in doubt, always check with manufacturers.
Resolution guide:
HD: 1280×720
Full HD: 1920×1080
QHD: 2560 x 1440
Ultra HD/4K: 3840×2160
What is refresh rate?
Refresh rate refers to the number of times a screen completely refreshes the onscreen image every second. Refresh rate is measured in Hertz (Hz), and higher Hz means a smoother visual experience. Low refresh rates can make fast-paced footage and gameplay appear to jump, stutter and jolt. 144Hz gaming monitors are a favourite amongst PC gamers, but 75Hz sits as the generally affordable alternative.
Hz directly converts to frames per second. So, a 60Hz monitor will do 60fps, while a 144Hz will do up to 144fps. Note that monitors can run at different refresh rates, depending on settings and source (e.g. 144Hz at 120fps, 75Hz at 60fps).
If you’re into Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or Apex Legends, you’ll want a higher refresh rate to help with scoping in and quick twitchy shooting. A lower refresh rate is an acceptable compromise for players who prefer single-player campaigns with other features taking precedences, such as better colour representation and contrast. In the end, it all comes down to personal choice.
Console gamers won’t need anything above 75Hz – that is, unless they have the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, which are both capable of 120fps gameplay.
What is VRR?
VRR stands for Variable Refresh Rate. AMD FreeSync is an example of such technology. This allows your monitor to adjust how frequently it refreshes the image to match the frame rate from your PC or VRR-supporting PC. A high refresh rate will ensure you have a very seamless gaming experience in terms of the videos or imagery displayed.
What is Response Time?
Response time is a measurement that tells users the amount of time a pixel takes to change colour – it’s measured by manufacturers as grey-to-grey. A good response time reduces blur and increases the graphic’s clarity. A quality gaming monitor will usually have a response time between one and four milliseconds (ms).