PickMyMonitor
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Best value gaming monitor

In monitors there is a band where every extra euro buys a lot, and another where it buys very little. Knowing where the border sits is the difference between a smart purchase and paying for a spec sheet you will never use.

Under €150: you are buying hertz

In this band the resolution is Full HD, full stop. What moves up and down is the refresh rate, and something notable has happened there: 240 Hz has dropped below €150, when three years ago it was high-end territory.

The classic mistake in this band is buying 27 inches in Full HD because it sounds better than 24. Density falls to 82 ppi and your eyes pay for it every day.

Between €150 and €250: the market's sweet spot

This is where QHD at 27 inches and 180 Hz appears, and for most people that combination is everything they need. A density of 109 ppi is comfortable, the resolution does not choke the graphics card, and the refresh rate is more than enough for anything short of elite esports.

It is the band where we would tell someone to spend, unless they have a specific need pushing them higher.

Between €250 and €400: you are buying image quality

Refresh rates barely climb any further; what you are buying now is the panel. A Mini-LED with genuine HDR 1000, or the step up to 4K, or the ultrawide format. These are improvements to the experience, not to performance.

If you play visually ambitious titles, this band shows. If you play competitively, you are already paying for things you turn off in the settings.

Above €500: you are buying OLED

From here the argument is essentially a single one, and it is OLED. Absolute black and 0.03 ms are not obtainable any other way, and it is the only upgrade in this band that genuinely impresses when you see it.

What you have to accept is that you pay dearly for it, that sustained brightness is lower than on a good Mini-LED, and that static content needs some care.

What we would buy

The models in the catalogue that best match what is explained above.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the sweet spot right now?

Between €150 and €250, with a 27-inch QHD panel at 180 Hz and fast IPS. Below that you lose resolution; above it you pay for image upgrades not everyone will use.

Is it worth waiting for the sales?

Monitors drop noticeably during sales events and at the end of the year, more than other components. If you are not in a hurry, waiting usually pays. The deals page keeps the catalogue sorted so you can watch it.

Expensive brands or budget brands?

On panels, almost every manufacturer buys from the same three or four suppliers. What you pay for with the expensive brands is image processing, factory calibration, support and warranty. At entry level the difference is small; on OLED, a warranty against retention is worth real money.