If you’re a gamer on a budget, your options are limited. Luckily, we’ve got seven of the best budget-friendly gaming monitors to help get you started. Read on to find out which monitor is right for your needs and wallet!
Gaming is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. There’s no doubt that competitive gamers are on the rise, and with new games coming out every week, it can be hard to keep up with all your favorite titles.
Fortunately, there are monitors designed specifically for gaming! These monitors come equipped with some pretty impressive features like high refresh rates (144Hz) and extremely low response times (1ms). The following list includes seven of the best budget-friendly 1440p 144Hz monitors on Amazon. Let’s dive right in!
In a hurry? Here are our top 3 picks when it comes to the best budget-friendly 1440p 144Hz gaming monitors in 2022!
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Can a 144hz Monitor Run 1440p?
Yes, a 144hz monitor can run 1440p. In fact, most monitors that are marketed as “gaming monitors” have a native resolution of 1440p. This is because 1440p is the perfect balance between image quality and performance. It offers more detail than 1080p while still being playable on most mid-to-high-end GPUs.
Are 1440p Monitors Still Good in 2022?
Yes, 1440p monitors will still be good in 2022. In fact, they’ll still be good in 2027! 1440p is a resolution that has been around for a while now and it isn’t going anywhere. The reason why it has lasted so long is that it offers the perfect balance between image quality and performance. It’s not too demanding on hardware and it provides a significant increase in image quality over 1080p. So, whether you’re a gamer or a graphic designer, a 1440p monitor is still a great investment.
Now that we’ve discussed the basics of 1440p 144Hz monitors, here are our picks for the top 7 best budget-friendly 1440p 144Hz gaming monitors:
1. SAMSUNG 32” Odyssey G5 Gaming Monitor — Best Overall
On the outside, the Samsung Odyssey G5 looks nothing like a cheap gaming monitor. Many budget monitors lack the flare that you expect in a gaming monitor. However, the Odyssey G5 fixes that.
Of course, this monitor has the same 2560px1440p 144hz display as the rest of the list, but it is also one of the few monitors on the list that is bigger than 27 inches. It’s a 32-inch curved display that takes advantage of the 1440p resolution a little more. It’s also worth mentioning that this is presently the cheapest 32-inch monitor with 1440p resolution and 144hz refresh rate on the market.
Like many other affordable curved monitors, this one comes with a VA panel that has a 99 percent sRGB accuracy. Simply said, this means darker blacks and more accurate color reproduction for the 16.7 million colors it can show, but it may still seem washed out in certain situations.
Why Is This the Best Budget-Friendly 1440p 144hz Monitor for Gaming in 2022?
The Samsung Odyssey G5 is the best budget-friendly 1440p 144Hz gaming monitor in 2022, thanks to its 1ms MBR response, designed to prevent ghosting on panels with faster response times. Without such boosts, the reaction time is closer to 5ms. Note that if you depend too much on MBR boosters, they might bring nausea or headaches.
The display also comes with AMD Free-Sync, which boosts gaming performance if you have an AMD GPU while keeping the price low if you don’t.
The Odyssey G5 comes with a two-year replacement warranty, which is in the center of most monitor manufacturers’ warranties.
Overall, the Samsung Odyssey G5 is a low-cost gaming monitor that will remind you of it time and time again. It is, however, the cheapest 32″ 1440p 144hz monitor available, and for that reason alone, it is definitely a worthy choice for those on tight budgets.
2. MSI Full UHD 4K Anti-Glare 31.5” Monitor — Premium Pick
The Optix MPG321UR is among MSI’s latest flagship gaming monitors, and based on the extensive list of high-end specs, it seems to be a very good offering. It’s somewhat more costly than the other alternatives mentioned below, but it’s also larger, brighter, and has a wider color gamut, which helps to explain the price.
The Optix MPG321UR is large at 32-inches, so it will have no trouble showing two, or maybe even three, windows side by side. The 3,840 by 2,160-pixel resolution is sufficient to eliminate pixelation throughout this large screen, making it comfortable to work on and providing excellent clarity while gaming.
This is about the largest 16:9 monitor you’d actually consider having on your desk, but the extra size makes it a viable device for living room usage if you’d rather do some armchair gaming. Furthermore, if you have a next-generation console, the HDMI 2.1 inputs will allow you to run existing console games at their maximum 4K 120Hz output levels without the need for a new TV.
Aside from being able to operate this monitor at its maximum 144Hz refresh rate through DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 connections, PC gamers will also benefit from G-Sync compatibility, which will minimize screen tearing and other unpleasant artifacts for anybody with an Nvidia GPU.
3. ASUS ROG Strix 27” 1440P HDR Gaming Monitor — Runner Up
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQ is one of the best 1440p/144Hz monitors we’ve tested. It has a 27-inch 1440p IPS screen and a high 170Hz refresh rate, making it a great gaming monitor.
With the correct overdrive settings, it offers an incredibly rapid reaction time over the refresh rate range, resulting in a smooth motion with very little blur around fast-moving objects and hardly any overshoot. It offers Adaptive-Sync variable refresh rate technology to eliminate screen tearing and is compatible with AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards.
The IPS panel boasts good grey uniformity, remarkable accuracy, and a fantastic SDR color gamut. It is perfect for co-op gaming and has wide viewing angles. It’s ideal for office usage or content creators with outstanding ergonomics, excellent gradient handling, and decent text clarity. It features robust reflection control and SDR peak brightness, so visibility should be fine in most environments.
4. VIOTEK GFV27DAB 27” 165Hz QHD Gaming Monitor — Budget Pick
If you don’t like curved monitors, the VIOTEK GFV27DAB is the one for you. It is also the first display on our list to have RGB elements, which is rare for budget monitors.
The GFV27DAB is a 27″ monitor with a full 25601440 resolution and a 144hz refresh rate, providing a clear, smooth picture for gaming.
Furthermore, the display uses VA panel tech, which is more often seen in curved panels but gives similar results to a flat monitor. Viotek has adopted a 99 percent sRGB coverage, which will provide higher precision for the colors it can display. Like other VA panels, this panel will provide deeper, richer blacks but may seem washed out in brighter colors.
Aside from that, the back of the frame has an RGB ring that can be configured to provide some amazing lighting effects. It’s also a frameless monitor with a little bezel around the bottom.
Finally, Viotek’s gaming monitors feature one of the best warranties, at least in terms of dead pixels, with a warranty for even a single pixel over a three-year period. Their bright pixel guarantee is a little more restrictive, requiring at least four bright pixels before replacing the monitor.
5. MSI Full HD Non-Glare Free Sync 27″ Curved Gaming Monitor
MSI, a Taiwanese company, is more well-known in Asian markets than in North America and Europe, although their devices are available worldwide. With several large tournaments and sponsorships under their belts, they’ve managed to build themselves a reputation as a rather serious gaming brand. The MSI Optix G27CQ4 is a gaming monitor that proves why MSI has such a good reputation.
The Optix G27CQ4 is a curved 27″ monitor. While it has the QHD (25601440) resolution, it pushes the refresh rate a bit farther, with a maximum possible of 165hz.
It features a VA panel for strong contrast and reasonable performance, as do the other monitors on our list, and compensates for the usual washed-out color issues with an sRGB 115 percent gamut. This means that some color ranges are slightly oversaturated in order to produce richer colors at the cost of some color fidelity.
This monitor uses AMD Freesync for improved visual performance, thus tearing and stuttering will be eliminated for gamers who utilize AMD graphics cards.
If you’re searching for a multi-monitor or multi-device setup, the Optix G27CQ4’s connection options will come in handy, with two HDMI connections, a display connector, and a headphone out audio jack.
The increased refresh rate is the MSI Optix G27CQ4’s main selling feature. Unfortunately, the shift from 144hz to 165hz isn’t likely to be noticed by many users.
6. MSI 27” WQHD (2560 x 1440) Non-glare HDR Ready Curved Gaming Monitor
The MSI Optix MAG272CQR faces stiff competition in the increasingly saturated market for high-refresh rate gaming monitors. A 27-inch curved gaming screen with a 165Hz refresh rate, 1440p resolution, and a 1440p resolution make it a middle-market example. The masses of 1080p lie below, while 4K and even higher refresh displays are rare.
The MAG272CQR additionally expands the color gamut over its predecessor, classifying it as a DCI-P3 monitor. The previous MAG271CQR was more accurately referred to as “sRGB+.”
The 272 also has a new HDR feature. The Samsung-manufactured panel features 10-bit color, thanks to an 8-bit engine with Frame Rate Control. This means that there should be no banding with 10-bit HDR signals.
The MAG272CQR also has Adaptive-Sync to minimize screen tearing, as is standard for any modern gaming monitor. It claims AMD FreeSync but isn’t Nvidia-certified for G-Sync.
7. AOC CQ27G2 27″ Super Curved Frameless Gaming Monitor
The AOC CQ27G2 series monitor is the best option for a curved 1440p 144hz monitor at a reasonable price. This 27-inch display has a 1500R curved panel with a three-sided frameless design and custom-made narrow borders to improve multi-monitor installations.
This monitor utilizes a VA panel rather than an IPS or TN panel, which means it may be somewhat weaker in terms of brightness and sRGB color space compared to the IPS and reaction time compared to the TN. Still, it has a significantly higher contrast ratio, making it ideal for darker settings.
This monitor supports Freesync and G-Sync. Thus it can be used with both AMD and Nvidia GPUs to prevent screen tearing and freezing. In terms of input latency, the AOC CQ27G2 is marginally quicker than the MSI monitor mentioned above, with a minimum variable refresh rate of just 9.5ms at 60 Hz (1ms MPRT), making this monitor an excellent option for gaming applications.
If you’re on the fence about buying a budget monitor, this one from AOC is a good place to start. Any concerns you may have about poor build construction or low-quality components are outweighed by their warranty. More significantly, the picture quality and general gaming performance are exceptional for the budget.
How to Choose the Best 1440p 144Hz Monitor for Gaming? — Buying Guide
To help you find the best 1440p 144Hz monitor, below are some helpful factors to consider.
Display Panel (IPS vs TN vs VA)
The first thing you’ll want to think about is what type of panel your preferred monitor will use. Overall, IPS panels tend to offer better color reproduction and viewing angles than TN panels, but TN panels typically have a faster response time, making them more suitable for gaming. VA panels offer the best contrast ratios of all three panel types but can suffer from poor viewing angles.
Refresh Rate
Another important factor to consider is the refresh rate of your monitor. Most 1440p 144Hz monitors will have a refresh rate of 144 Hz, but there are a few that offer higher or lower refresh rates. If you’re looking for the best possible gaming experience, it is best to stick with a monitor that has a refresh rate of at least 144 Hz.
Response Time
Another important factor to consider when choosing a gaming monitor is response time. This is the amount of time it takes for the pixels on the screen to change from black to white (or vice versa) and is measured in milliseconds (ms). A lower response time is ideal for gaming, as it reduces the chances of experiencing image lag, ghosting, and motion blur. Most 1440p 144Hz monitors have a response time of 4 ms or less.
Screen Size
Another consideration is screen size. Larger monitors provide a more immersive gaming experience, but they can also be more expensive. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, it is best to stick with a monitor that has a screen size of 24 inches or less.
Price
Finally, the price is always an important consideration when purchasing any type of product. When looking for the best 1440p 144Hz monitor, it is important to find one that offers good value for your money. There are a number of excellent 1440p 144Hz monitors available for under $500.
Conclusion
The best 1440p 144Hz monitors are those that offer excellent color reproduction, high refresh rates, low input lag, and a wide variety of screen sizes. These seven affordable options should be perfect for the budget-conscious gamer looking for an immersive experience without breaking the bank!
