Best Cheap 144hz Monitor for the Budget

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Spotless visuals and clear audio are the two key ingredients to an immersive gaming experience. A cheap 144hz monitor with a refresh rate of at least 144Hz will not only literarily draw you into the game but will also give you the impeccable clarity to see your enemies from way out. Truth be told, these monitors don’t come cheap. However, there are cheaper alternatives that gives you just as much gaming advantage.

Making your choice can be a serious problem owing to the fact that there is a large option out there. Also, how can you be sure that these cheap alternatives live up to the expectations?

To make your job easier when you are ready to buy, as well as to make sure that you get maximum value for every dollar you spend, we searched through hundreds of cheap gaming monitors with 144Hz refresh rate. We examined their panel technology, response time, screen size, and the connectors of each monitor. Consequently, we have compiled the result into a list of best cheap 144Hz monitor as you can see below.

Review of the best cheap 144Hz monitor of 2021

It is caution that makes us to think cheap products are inferior. In the past, 144Hz monitors come at a premium but that has changed. The monitors we present below are all within a friendly budget (mostly below $200) but still performed remarkably well. Without wasting further time, look at our selection and make your own judgment.

AOC C24G1 24” Curved Frameless Gaming Monitor – Best overall

It is not a fluke that the AOC C24G1 made it to the top of our list. It is a position that is well deserved owing to a number of reasons. Firstly, it is one of the cheapest 144Hz monitor you will find. This curved monitor offer 1920 x 1080p Full HD resolution and the shape wraps around your vision to keep you glued. The curvature also gives you a wider viewing angle. It makes use of the AMD FreeSync which synchronizes with your GPU to eliminate tearing. Also, with this product you will get 1ms response time for the smoothest viewing experience.

It has an ultra-narrow border so that you can stack up multiple monitors together. To keep your head at the right viewing angle, it comes with a height adjustable stand. This 24” cheap 144Hz monitor has provision for 2x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort, VGA, and 3.5mm audio line-out for convenience. The AOC C24G1 was also designed with your health in mind. It combines AOB Low Blue Mode Technology with FlickerFree technology which is soothing to the eyes during an extended gaming session. This product feels a little bulky to handle at 9.82 pounds. That is about the only con we found with this product.

Pros

  • Full HD resolution
  • Curved for a wider viewing angle
  • Adjustable height stand
  • AMD FreeSync to get rid of screen tearing
  • Wide screen and ultra-fast response time
  • Low Blue mode technology and flicker elimination for eye comfort

Cons

  • Slightly heavy
  • Comes with HDMI 1.4 instead of HDMI 2.0

Sceptre 24” 144Hz Gaming LED Monitor – Best budget 144Hz monitor

In as much as all the monitors we have reviewed are budget-friendly, the Sceptre 24” remains the best in terms of price. Like the AOC, it is also curved and offers a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. Tearing usually arise due to the difference between the graphics card frame rate and that of the monitor. However the AMD FreeSync is able to sync with both to eliminate this tearing to ensure gamers enjoy smooth video irrespective of the game title. To further enhance your viewing experience this product has an anti-flicker technology that prevents the backlight from flickering periodically—which can be uncomfortable to the eyes. You also have the option of choosing between RTS and FPS game modes to gain access to custom settings that will further enhance your gameplay.

To ensure you get an optimal viewing angle, the Sceptre 24” is designed to be able to tilted 15 degrees backwards and 5 degrees forward. The tilt feature and the anti-flickering work together to ensure you stay comfortable during a long gaming session. In addition to offering 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution, this product also comes with 2 x HDMI port, DisplayPort, and Audio out Jack which gives it a wide compatibility. Note that HDMI 1 delivers 144Hz refresh rate while HDMI 2 delivers 12Hz. The Sceptre 24” is extremely lightweight at 6.32 pounds. This cheap gaming monitor with 144Hz refresh rate definitely has all you want for an immersive gameplay.

Pros

  • Full HD resolution
  • AMD FreeSync to get rid of screen tearing
  • FPS and RTS game modes with custom settings
  • Backward and forward tilt for optimal viewing comfort
  • Extremely lightweight

Cons

  • Multi-monitor stacking can be an issue
  • The height of the stand is not adjustable
  • Lacks VGA support

MSI Optix AG32C Full HD Gaming Red LED monitor – Best refresh rate

If you have $100 more to spare and would like to take the refresh rate higher, the MSI Full HD Gaming monitor will be a great option. This 1ms monitor has a refresh rate of 165Hz while offering 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution. To make sure you have the most immersive viewing experience, this product has been optimized with MSI gaming VGA. This combines with 1ms response time and FreeSync to eliminate screen tearing and choppy frame rates. At 32”, you can bet that this is one of the largest flicker-free gaming monitor you can get below 300 dollars. The super narrow bezels further expands your viewing angle to 178 degrees as well as makes it possible to stack up two or more monitors together for a cinema-like display.

This product was also designed with the safety of your eyes in mind. It is optimized to keep the blue light displayed by the monitor minimal making it possible to play for a longer time without eye fatigue. The MSI Optix AG32C boasts of at least 20% more gamut coverage when placed side-by-side with other monitors. This gives your game a more realistic color. You can choose from 7 different visual modes to enhance your gameplay if you have the MSI gaming center that comes pre-loaded with MSI gaming desktop. The connection ports that come with MSI Optix AG32C include 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DVI, 1x Displayport 1.2. This product can feel like a load at 14.6 pounds—but that can be ignored if you consider the features.

Pros

  • Higher refresh rate of 165Hz
  • Full HD resolution
  • AMD FreeSync to get rid of screen tearing
  • Delivers 20% more gamut coverage
  • Players can select up to 7 different visual modes through MSI gaming center

Cons

  • Heavier than major competitors
  • Limited number of connection ports
  • Slightly expensive

Acer GN246HL Bbid 24-inch Gaming Monitor – Best under $180

Your budget will most certainly be the limitation between what you desire and what you can have. If you are looking for cheap 144Hz monitor under $180, the Acer GN246HL Bbid is definitely a great deal. Like all premium gaming monitors, it offers 1920 x 1080p Full HD resolution which gives you excellent visual details. Although not curved, this wide 24” display offers a viewing angle of up to 170 degrees, thanks to the thin bezel. It can also be tilted 5 to 15 degrees. The combination of 1ms response time, NVIDIA 3D Vision Ready and NVIDIA 3D Lightboost gives a jaw dropping visual experience that is free of tearing.

With the active shutter 3D technology, the Acer GN246HL Bbid supports multiple pairs of glasses to be used simultaneously for shared enjoyment. This product will also cut your power consumption by 68% when compared to other monitor, thanks to the Acer EcoDisplay technology. This is particularly useful for those who spend long hours on games. In terms of connection, you will have 1x DVI, 1x VGA, and 1x HDMI ports. This cheap gaming monitor with 144Hz refresh rate is considerably lightweight at 7.7 pounds. The Acer GN246HL Bbid falls short in a few areas but is still a great buy when you consider the price.

Pros

  • Full HD resolution
  • Wide viewing angle and tilt
  • Fast response time
  • NVIDIA 3D Lightboost for 3D imagery
  • Lower power consumption

Cons

  • Limited number of connection ports
  • Stand height is not adjustable

Sceptre 27” Curved 144Hz Gaming LED monitor – Best audio

The Sceptre 27” has a lot of eye-catching features including built-in speakers. In addition to immersive gaming, this feature also makes it possible to use this cheap 144Hz monitor for conference calls in the office. At 27” you can be certain that no detail will miss your sight. The inclusion of anti-flicker technology and FreeSync you can enjoy your games without tearing or stuttering that usually arise from the difference in monitor refresh rate and graphics card frame rate. Like all other curved monitors, the Sceptre 27” makes use of the revolutionary 1800R screen curvature such that the image appears to wrap around you with greater depth.

The cheapers 144Hz monitors from Sceptre has a custom FPS and RTS settings which are made to enhance your gaming experience. This monitor also comes with Blue Light Shift Mode that filters the blue light from the screen display to give you a pleasant viewing experience without undue fatigue to your eyes. To ensure that this product has a wide compatibility, it has 2x HDMI and 1x DisplayPort. However, it lacks DVI and VGA ports. The Sceptre 27”feels compact and lightweight at 9.26 pounds as well as ensures a good value for money.

Pros

  • Built-in speakers
  • FreeSync and anti-flicker technology
  • FPS and RTS custom settings
  • Lightweight with large screen and viewing angle
  • Blue light filtering for better eye comfort

Cons

  • Limited number of connection ports
  • Stand is not adjustable
  • Slightly expensive

Acer XFA240 bmjdpr 24” Gaming monitor – Best adaptive sync

There are two types of adaptive sync; the AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync. The function of both of them is to eliminate image tearing that may arise as a result of difference in screen refresh rate and graphics card frame rates. The Acer XFA240 bmidor supports both adaptive sync giving you a higher competitive advantage over your rivals. It offers 1920 x 1080p Full HD display with a response time of 1ms. The stand is adjustable in tilt and swivel to deliver a viewing angle of up to 170 degrees. With this product, you will have richer colors that is far beyond what was previously possible.

It has 2 speakers that deliver an immersive audio as well as makes use of the Acer VisionCare Technology that filters blue light which can cause eye fatigue during long gaming hours. Many computers make use of NVIDIA GeForce graphics card, therefore you will experience tear-free gaming at maximum refresh rates because G-Sync is highly compatible with the GeForce. There are a few areas where the Acer XFA240 bmidor falls short and one of them is the number and types of input ports. You will only get 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI/MHL, and 1x DVI. Also, this product feels overweight at 13.99 pounds.

Pros

  • Full HD wide display
  • AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync compatible
  • Fast response time
  • Comes with 2 speakers
  • Acer VisionCare Technologies protects eyes against fatigue

Cons

  • Limited number of connection ports
  • Extremely overweight for a 24” monitor

VIOTEK GN27CB 27-Inch 144Hz Curved Gaming Monitor – Best color accuracy

Pro-level gamers will definitely enjoy the superior gaming advantage that the Viotek GN27CB offer. This budget-friendly monitor combines 144Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync technology to deliver smooth display with minimal motion blur and image distortion. However, one area that this product stands tall is in color accuracy. The curved VA panels are designed to distribute 16.7M colors with 3000:1 contrast to ensure high-level color accuracy. You can also activate DCR to further boost the contrast ratio to 1M:1 for a richer spectrum. Using the HDMI cable, you can connect your PS4 or Xbox One to this monitor for an incredible immersive gaming experience.

You can adjust this LED monitor screen dynamics with the press of a button. This includes the option for activating low blue light to filter out harmful blue lights without losing image details. This setting and anti-glare property of this monitor helps to reduce eye strain and fatigue during extended gaming hours. The curved screen and adjustable stand helps to expand the viewing angle to 178 degrees. Viotek GN27CB offers you 2x HDMI 2.1 ports and 1x DisplayPort for compatibility with a wide range of devices. At 10.36 pounds, this product is one of the lightest 27” monitors you will find.

Pros

  • Advanced color accuracy
  • Blue light filter without loss of image details
  • Extremely wide viewing angle
  • Compact and light weight
  • Adjustable stand
  • Comes with 2 speakers

Cons

  • Limited number of connection ports
  • Slightly expensive

BenQ ZOWIE XL2411P Gaming Monitor – Best game modes customization

Customization settings can bring a lot of advantage to your gaming experience. BenQ Zowie XL2411P has multiple configurations for RTS, FPS, RPG and so on. This makes it possible to play all game types at optimal settings. This cheap gaming monitor with 144Hz refresh rate is lightning-fast, having a response time of 1ms to ensure elimination of lags for optimal gaming experience. It makes use of the innovative Color Vibrance and Black eQualizer technology to enhance visual clarity as well as deliver customized color settings that will help players to create the perfect background contrast that will give them competitive advantage on the battlefield.

The stand is fully adjustable with the touch of the finger. You can adjust the height of the monitor for optimal viewing angle so as to maximize comfort during your gaming session. It comes with a flicker-free technology that reduces eye strain so that you can game with comfort for longer hours. In terms of connectivity BenQ Zowie XL2411P has 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI-DL, as well as Headphone / Mic Jack. This might seem like a limited number of ports when you place it side-by-side with other cheap 144Hz monitors. Also, this product feels overweight at 13.01 pounds.

Pros

  • Multiple configurations for different game types
  • Color Vibrance and Black eQualizer technology for enhanced visual clarity
  • Adjustable stand
  • High response time and flicker-free technology

Cons

  • Limited number of HDMI ports
  • Feels overweight
  • More expensive than major competitors

Sceptre C2488-144R 24-Inch Curved Gaming Monitor – Best lightweight

If you have a fragile gaming desk, the weight of the cheapest 144Hz monitor can still make you to ignore it. The Sceptre C248B is extremely lightweight at 6.32 pounds. This makes it suitable for all gaming desks—but that is not all. This monitor offers 1920 x 1080p Full HD resolution. It also features two game modes—FPS and RTS—which gives players a competitive edge. To further ensure a smooth gaming experience without lags or tears, this product comes with the AMD FreeSync technology. The anti-flicker technology also ensures that you have crisper pictures and enjoy a longer gaming session with minimal strain to the eyes.

The Sceptre C248B has a large compatibility, thanks to the 1x HDMI port, 1x DisplayPort, and 1x DVI. You will also get an audio in mini-jack for auxiliary input as well as an audio out mini-jack for external speakers or headphones. Another feature that is worth talking about is the blue light filtering technology which helps to keep eye fatigue at a minimum. The totality of these features ensures that gamers get the best value for their money.

Pros

  • Compact and extremely lightweight
  • Anti-flicker technology and blue light filtering for eye comfort
  • Custom settings for two game modes
  • Wide angle viewing option

Cons

  • Limited number of HDMI port
  • Stand is not adjustable

Acer Nitro VG240Y pbiip 23.8” Gaming Monitor – Best IPS monitor

The panel technology for most monitors is TN (twisted nematic) while IPS (in-plane switching) is rarely used. The reason is because TN usually offer a better response time than IPS. However, Acer Nitro VG240Y pbiip is able to deliver 1ms response time using the IPS technology. One advantage of the IPS is that it gives uniform color irrespective of the viewing angle. The inclusion of AMD FreeSync also helps to eliminate tearing by synchronizing the monitor’s frames with that of the graphics card. This ensures a smooth and immersive gaming experience. Although the screen is a few inches smaller than major competitors, it still delivers 1920 x 1080 Full HD display.

The Acer Nitro VG240Y pbiip boasts of zero-frame design which gives you more viewing angle from the edge. The most impressive feature of this monitor is the Acer Game Mode. This has 8 pre-set display modes to optimize the visuals for different types of games. This innovative feature can easily be accessed through a hotkey or the On Screen Display settings menu. When it comes to connectivity, you have 2x HDMI 2.0 ports and 1x DisplayPort 1.2. Considering the smaller screen size, the Acer Nitro VG240Y pbiip is slightly heavy at 10.95 pounds and also more expensive than a few competitors of similar screen size.

Pros

  • Zero-frame design for better edge view
  • Up to 8 pre-set display modes
  • High response time and refresh rate
  • Anti-flicker technology for eye comfort

Cons

  • Heavier than most competitors
  • Slightly expensive
  • Limited number of connection ports

Buying Guide For Cheap 144Hz Monitor

Notwithstanding that the watchword here is cheap, there are some features that must never be sacrificed. The first and most important is that the resolution must be Full HD. A lower display will not give you much background detail which means you won’t have competitive advantage either. You will get the full benefit of cheap 144Hz monitor if the response time is low. Continue reading for a more detailed guide on the different features to consider.

Screen Resolution

Higher resolutions equals to higher pixel count which will give you better details and higher image clarity. However it is important to note that the display resolution can be limited by the GPU power of your computer. It is not surprising that all our best budget 144Hz monitor offer Full HD display. Anything less than that is not acceptable because it will mar your gaming experience with blurry or grainy images.

Panel Technology

TN and IPS are the most popular types of panels that come with monitors. IPS offer slightly overall better visual but this comes at a cost of response time. However it gives more accurate colors and viewing angles. A TN panel usually has a faster response time but you have to sacrifice a bit of color.

Response Time

When you are going for the cheapest 144Hz monitors, make sure they have a response time of 1ms. The response time is the time required for the pixels to switch shades or from black to white and vice versa. Lower response time ensures smoother camera movements which will lead to lesser motion blur unlike high response time.

Connectivity

The number and types of ports that comes with your monitor will ultimately determine what devices or gaming consoles can be projected to it. For Full HD display, you need a HDMI of at least 2.0 or DisplayPort. If you want to use a headphone with your monitor, make sure it has an audio out mini-jack. Depending on what you want to connect to your monitor you can choose between those that have 1 or 2 HDMI ports.

Screen Size

Screen sizes between 24 and 27 creates a balance between viewing comfort and clarity. One thing you must know is that the bigger the screen size, the lower the pixel density will become and may eventually lead to questionable display. While the size is entirely up to you, we suggest you stick with 24” and 27” for 1080p monitors.

Monitor Stand

This is entirely for ergonomic reasons. Having a monitor stand that is adjustable helps you to tilt the monitor in the best way that will ensure comfortable viewing. While this may mean little to passive gamers, if you enjoy marathon gaming session this will be a major consideration.

Price

Among all the cheap gaming monitors with 144Hz refresh rate we have listed, some are still cheaper than the others. In choosing the right gaming monitor, it is OK to sacrifice ergonomics for performance. Likewise, it is always important to pay more attention to performance than price. In other words, it pays to approach gaming monitors with an open mind and flexible budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does all gaming monitors have adjustable stand?

No, some of the stands are not adjustable. The manufacturer will not fail to let you know if the stand can be adjusted.

  • What are the most important features to look out for when you want to buy a monitor?

The screen resolution and the connectivity are the two most important features to consider when you want to buy an affordable monitor. The resolution should be at least 1080p and it should have HDMI 2.0 port.

  • What is the Difference between AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync?

Both of them help to eliminate tearing which result from difference in monitor and graphics card frames. However, FreeSync is more compatible with AMD graphics card just like NVIDIA G-Sync is more compatible with NVIDIA graphics card.

  • Can I get better visual quality by adjusting the settings?

Yes, tweaking the contrast can help you to get a better visual quality. Some monitors come with pre-set modes for different game types. You can switch between modes through the OSD settings.

Conclusion

It is possible to get a superb 144Hz monitor at an amazingly cheap price. A few of the selections on our list are below $160. In addition to offering a Full HD display, the right monitor should have FreeSync or G-Sync technologies that prevents tearing. Also, it should come with the right type of connecting ports that will make it possible for you to connect different gaming consoles to it. We have highlighted the features you need to consider in our buying guide and hope it helps you to get the most out of your budget.