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Gaming Monitor deals

A pair of monitors on a green background. — (Image credit: Future - Jorge Jimenez)

1080p: (opens in new tab) 1920 x 1080 (HD)
1440p: (opens in new tab) 2560 x 1440 (QHD)
4K: (opens in new tab) 2840 x 2160 (4K UHDTV)
Ultrawide: (opens in new tab) 3440 x 1440 (UW QHD), 2560 x 1080 (UWHD)
UK monitor deals: All the best panels on sale

There's never a wrong time to scout for a cheap gaming monitor deal. Whether you're looking to upgrade to a higher resolution because you've just bagged a shiny new graphics card or adding a second panel to your home office desk, there's usually a lot on offer at discount prices. There's much to consider when searching for the right gaming monitor. Is it just for work, for play, or both? Do you plan on using a desk mount? What's your budget?

Suppose you picked up one of the best graphics cards (opens in new tab). In that case, you must ensure your monitor can deliver its optimum resolution with a decent frame rate. Otherwise, you're not taking advantage of your fancy GPU's graphical potential and forcing an unnecessary bottleneck.

We've compiled a list of all the best cheap gaming monitor deals we've found, using our years of panel testing expertise to guide us, and we've organized them by resolution below. You can also see how they compare against some of the best gaming monitors (opens in new tab). Those top screens don't always go on sale, but the ones listed here can offer a good alternative if you want to save a buck. And rest assured; we will let you know if they get a discount.

Where the best gaming monitor deals?

In the US:

Amazon - Save hundreds of dollars on selected gaming monitors (opens in new tab)
Best Buy - Deals for gaming monitors under $500 (opens in new tab)
Lenovo - Lenovo Legion gaming monitors are over 30% off (opens in new tab)
Newegg - Limited-time deals on new gaming monitors (opens in new tab)
Dell - Deep discounts on Alienware and Dell gaming monitors (opens in new tab)

In the UK:

Amazon -Tons of deals on gaming monitors (opens in new tab)
Ebuyer - Discounts on 4K gaming monitors (opens in new tab)
Box - Sales on 1080p high-refresh rate monitors like Viewsonic (opens in new tab)
Argos - Good markdowns on cheap gaming monitors (opens in new tab)

1080p

1440p

4K

Ultrawide

UK monitor deals

Asus TUF Gaming VG279QM | 27-inch | 1080p | 280Hz | IPS | ~~£368.95~~ £293.95 at Overclockers (save £75) (opens in new tab)
We're big fans of Asus's more affordable TUF monitors. They deliver a high-quality construction from a trusted brand with plenty of performance where it counts. This monitor is a little different, though. Rather than paying this much for a 1440p panel, which is what we'd usually recommend here, this is a 280Hz 1080p panel. That means this is best suited to players that are willing to pay for that competitive edge.

Gaming monitor FAQ

Should I go for an IPS, TN or VA panel?

We would always recommend an IPS panel over TN (opens in new tab). The clarity of image, viewing angle, and color reproduction are far superior to the cheaper technology, but you'll often find a faster TN for cheaper. The other alternative, less expensive than IPS and better than TN, is VA tech. The colors aren't quite so hot, but the contrast performance is impressive.

Should I go for a FreeSync or G-Sync monitor?

In general, FreeSync monitors will be cheaper. It used to be the case that they would only work in combination with an AMD GPU. The same went for G-Sync monitors and Nvidia GPUs. Nowadays, though, it is possible to find G-Sync compatible FreeSync monitors (opens in new tab) if you're intent on spending less.

Should I buy a HDR monitor?

With a High Dynamic Range monitor, you can take advantage of the ever-growing list of games and apps that feature HDR support. It offers more vibrant colors and greater contrast but is going to drive up the price a little. Windows' native HDR function also leaves a lot to be desired, and you may find you have to fiddle in the settings to get HDR looking like it should.

What aspect ratio should I go for?

Today's movies and games are best enjoyed in a widescreen format at a 16:9 aspect ratio or above. In 4:3, those cinematic moments will look stunted with black strips along the top and bottom. There are a host of minute variations on each ratio, but at the end of the day choosing between these depends entirely on your personal preference.

And the very far-out option, if you have a little extra cash to blow, is ultra-wide aspect ratios like 21:9 and 32:9 and their variants. These will provide a much more immersive, encompassing experience. Or literally, encompass yourself with a curved monitor, up to you.

Jargon buster - gaming monitor terminology

Refresh Rate (Hz)
The speed at which the screen refreshes. For example, 144Hz means the display refreshes 144 times a second. The higher the number, the smoother the screen will appear when you play games.

V-Sync
Graphics tech synchronizes a game's framerate with your monitor's refresh rate to help prevent screen tearing by syncing your GPU frame rate to the display's maximum refresh rate. Turn V-Sync on in your games for a smoother experience, but you'll lose information, so turn it off for fast-paced shooters (and live with the tearing). Useful if you have an older model display that can't keep up with a new GPU.

G-Sync
Nvidia's frame synching tech that works with Nvidia GPUs. It basically allows the monitor to sync up with the GPU. It does by showing a new frame as soon as the GPU has one ready.

FreeSync
AMD's take on frame synching uses a similar technique as G-Sync, with the biggest difference being that it uses DisplayPort's Adaptive-Sync technology which doesn't cost monitor manufacturers anything.

Ghosting
When movement on your display leaves behind a trail of pixels when watching a movie or playing a game, this is often a result of a monitor having slow response times.

Response Time
The amount of time it takes a pixel to transition to a new color and back. Often referenced as G2G or Grey-to-Grey. Slow response times can lead to ghosting. A suitable range for a gaming monitor is between 1-4 milliseconds.

TN Panels
Twisted-nematic is the most common (and cheapest) gaming panel. TN panels tend to have poorer viewing angles and color reproduction but have higher refresh rates and response times.

IPS
In-plane switching, panels offer the best contrast and color despite having weaker blacks. IPS panels tend to be more expensive and have higher response times.

VA
Vertical Alignment panels provide good viewing angles and have better contrast than even IPS but are still slower than TN panels. They are often a compromise between a TN and IPS panel.

HDR
High Dynamic Range. HDR provides a wider color range than normal SDR panels and offers increased brightness. The result is more vivid colors, deeper blacks, and a brighter picture.

Peak Brightness
This refers to the maximum brightness of a monitor or television and is measured in nits.

Ultrawide
Shorthand for monitors with aspect wider aspect ratios like 32:9 or 21:9

Resolution
The number of pixels that make up a monitor's display, measured by height and width. For example: 1920 x 1080 (aka 1080p), 2560 x 1440 (2K), and 3840 x 2160 (4K).

Jorge is a hardware writer from the enchanted lands of New Jersey. When he's not filling the office with the smell of Pop-Tarts, he's reviewing all sorts of gaming hardware, from laptops with the latest mobile GPUs to gaming chairs with built-in back massagers. He's been covering games and tech for over ten years and has written for Dualshockers, WCCFtech, Tom's Guide, and a bunch of other places on the world wide web.

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