If you’re looking to get back into the game, make sure your rig is up to the task. You can splash the money on a new desktop or keyboard, but don’t forget your display. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a solid monitor. We’re here to spare you some green. Here are the best cheap 144Hz monitors you can get right now.
See also: The best work and play monitors you can get
In our case, we’re defining cheap monitors as those that cost less than $ 250, including those on sale. Regardless of the cutoff, all of our picks offer a smooth 144Hz refresh rate, and most feature FreeSync technology. Are you ready to upgrade your battle station? Let’s go!
The Best Cheap 144Hz Monitors:
Editor’s note: All of these monitors were available at the time of writing, but we’ll definitely update this list as we find new options.
Acer Nitro XF243Y
While Acer’s Nitro Monitor might not be among the biggest on this list, it has specs that are in line with the package. It’s 23.8 inches in diameter and AMD’s Radeon FreeSync technology is a perfect match for your graphics card. The Acer Nitro may be a cheap 144 Hz monitor, but you can overclock it to 165 Hz. Acer also added a lot of room for angle adjustments. The Nitro XF243Y monitor offers a Full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080p with an aspect ratio of 16: 9.
See also: The best gaming laptops you can buy
Lenovo G25-10 144Hz monitor
This Lenovo 144Hz monitor is only slightly larger than Acer’s option at 24.5 inches, but a little real estate can go a long way. It keeps up with Full HD resolution and AMD’s FreeSync technology. Lenovo also added a blue light filter to help you stay in the game longer and reduce eye strain. The ultra-fast response time of 1 ms almost eliminates delays and time to screen. You can also pack peripherals with the HDMI and DisplayPort options.
See also: Best gaming pc desktops
MSI Optix MAG240CR
MSI builds gaming laptops with the best of them, so it only makes sense that it can produce some solid monitors as well. This 24-inch model is a perfect example, although you may have to adjust to the curved display. Once you are familiar with the design, you can take full advantage of the built-in RGB lighting from AMD FreeSync and MSI. While most MSI laptops are extremely expensive, this cheap 144Hz monitor costs a little over $ 200.
See also: Best MSI Laptops To Buy
Gigabyte G27F 144Hz monitor
While Gigabyte might not be the most recognizable name on the list, the G27F is a great choice on a budget. You may know Gigabyte from their lightweight, high-performance aero gaming laptops, many of which have a crisp OLED display or refresh rates of up to 240 Hz. This cheap monitor doesn’t quite match those highs, but a 144Hz refresh rate isn’t something to make fun of. Better still, with a 27-inch display, it’s the largest monitor on the list to date.
AOC G2490VX
Because of our small budget, many of these 144 Hz monitors are a bit limited. This AOC monitor is a perfect example, although the three-sided frameless design helps make the display feel larger. It has everything you would expect – Full HD resolution, AMD FreeSync and a response time of 1 ms. AOC’s G2490VX is also VESA-ready, so you can add the monitor almost anywhere you want. The VA panel guarantees a viewing angle of 170 degrees. So take a few and build a real battle station.
BenQ Zowie XL2411P
This 144 Hz monitor from BenQ is technically beyond our budget, but is currently on sale. Of course, you have to accept some thicker frames with the Zowie, but eQualizer’s exclusive Color Vibrance and Black technologies should keep your games looking perfect. You can even adjust the Zowie XL2411P vertically or rotate it 90 degrees for a portrait. For connectivity, BenQ opted for DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-DL and headphone connections to ensure a lot of flexibility.
Dell S2421HGF 144Hz monitor
Alienware may be the most recognizable item in Dell’s gaming lineup, but the mothership brand is a stand-alone competitor. Just check out the G5 laptops or this affordable monitor for all the evidence you need. It may only be 24 inches in diameter, but Dell has managed to shrink the frames as much as possible. FreeSync and a response time of 1 ms are a must, and you can even customize three different color profiles for your favorite games.
See also: The best Dell laptops for 2020
Acer XF240Q
We’re going to end our list of the best cheap 144Hz gaming monitors right where they started – with a 23.8-inch Acer model. However, this version does not have the Nitro nameplate. Instead, it’s based on a twisted nematic panel. Otherwise, the two options are remarkably similar: you can overclock this version to 165 Hz and FreeSync will keep it in step with your graphics card. In fact, the biggest changes you’ll notice are the monitor itself. This Acer XF240Q has larger bezels all around, and the stand is nowhere near as sleek.