Are you in the market for a new monitor but don’t want to break the bank? Well, you’re in luck because we will discuss the best monitor for under 400 bucks today.
Whether you’re a gamer, graphic designer, or just looking for a solid display for your work or entertainment needs, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s dive in and explore some top picks that offer great value for your money.
At a Glance:
1. Dell S2721QS
- Stunning view with 4K UHD resolution
- Beautiful and elegant design
- Smooth gaming experience with AMD FreeSync technology
- Height adjustable stand, tilt, swivel, and pivot features for all-day comfort
3. LG 27QN600-B
- Excellent picture quality with WQHD resolution and IPS panel technology
- Fast response time and high refresh rate for a smooth and seamless gaming experience
- AMD Radeon Freesync technology eliminates screen tearing and stuttering
- Sleek and stylish design
5. ViewSonic XG2405
- Fast 1ms response time and 144Hz refresh rate
- AMD FreeSync Premium technology ensures smooth gameplay
- Stunning views from any angle with the IPS panel
- The fully adjustable ergonomic stand provides all-day comfort
- Versatile connectivity options
6 Best Monitor under $400
| Design | Best Monitor | Retailer |
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Best Pick | Check Price | |
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Staff Pick | Check Price | |
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Budget Pick | Check Price | |
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1. Dell S2721QS
Best Pick| Specification | Details |
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Response Time | 4.0 milliseconds |
| Display Size | 27 inches |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
I recently got my hands on the Dell S2721QS, one of the best monitors under $400 available in the market.
As someone who spends a lot of time in front of the screen, I was looking for a monitor that would offer me a stunning view, beautiful design, and smooth performance without burning a hole in my pocket. The Dell S2721QS checked all these boxes and more.
Let’s start with the stunning view. With 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution, this monitor offers incredible clarity and fine detail, giving me an immersive viewing experience.
The three-sided ultrathin bezel design adds to the immersive experience, making it feel like the screen goes on forever. The monitor also supports HDR content playback, which adds a lifelike visual experience to movies and games.
Moving on to the design, the Dell S2721QS is a true beauty. The modern and elegant design, with a subtle textured pattern at the back, makes it stand out from other monitors. It adds a touch of class to my workspace and blends seamlessly with my decor.
As for gaming, the Dell S2721QS has AMD FreeSync technology, which gives me a smooth, tear-free gaming experience.
I don’t experience lag or stuttering, even when playing demanding games. It’s not a curved screen, but the flat panel is still great for gaming.
Finally, the Dell S2721QS offers flexibility for all-day comfort with its height-adjustable stand, tilt, swivel, and pivot features.
I can easily adjust the monitor’s height to suit my needs, and the tilt, swivel, and pivot features make it easy to find the perfect viewing angle.
Overall, the Dell S2721QS is a fantastic monitor that offers great value for its price. It has some amazing features, like the 4K UHD resolution, HDR support, and AMD FreeSync technology, which makes it ideal for both work and play. Here are some of its pros and cons:
Pros
- Stunning view with 4K UHD resolution
- Beautiful and elegant design
- Smooth gaming experience with AMD FreeSync technology
- Height adjustable stand, tilt, swivel, and pivot features for all-day comfort
2. ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q
| Specification | Details |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920×1080) |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Response Time | 1ms MPRT |
| Brightness | 250cd/m² |
As someone who loves to play games, I recently got my hands on the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q, one of the best monitors under $400 available on the market.
The 23.8-Inch full HD (1920×1080) IPS gaming monitor is designed for professional gamers and fast-paced gameplay.
Let’s talk about the refresh rate, a standout feature of this monitor. With a fast 144Hz refresh rate, I get smooth and seamless graphics.
The viewing angle of 178°/ 178° means I can enjoy the graphics from almost any angle without losing color accuracy or contrast. The brightness of 250cd/㎡ ensures that the screen is bright and vivid, and I can see everything.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q has ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) technology with 1ms MPRT to reduce ghosting and motion blur.
This technology ensures I have the smoothest gaming experience without motion blur, which is especially useful in fast-paced games.
Another standout feature of this monitor is the FreeSync technology, which eliminates screen tearing and choppy frame rates. This feature ensures that my games run smoothly without any distracting visual glitches.
The ergonomically designed stand of the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q offers extensive swivel, tilt, pivot, and height adjustments, so I can find the most comfortable position to play games for extended periods without any strain.
Finally, the Shadow Boost Technology of the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q enhances image details in dark areas, brightening scenes without over-exposing bright areas. This feature is useful in games with dark areas that might hide enemies.
Overall, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q is a fantastic monitor for gamers. It has some great features, like the 144Hz refresh rate, ELMB technology, and FreeSync technology, which make it ideal for fast-paced games. Here are some of its pros and cons:
Pros
- Fast 144Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay
- ASUS ELMB technology for reduced ghosting and motion blur
- FreeSync technology to eliminate screen tearing and choppy frame rates
- Ergonomically designed stand for comfortable extended gameplay
Cons
- Full HD resolution might not be ideal for all gamers.
- 23.8-Inch screen size might be small for some users
3. LG 27QN600-B
Staff Pick| Size | 27 inches |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 pixels |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| Response Time | 1ms VRB |
| Viewing Angle | 178 degrees (H) / 178 degrees (V) |
| Brightness | 400 cd/m² |
| Colour Supported | 1.07 billion |
| Ports | 1 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x USB 3.0 |
| Speakers | 2 x 2W |
LG 27QN600-B is a 27-inch WQHD monitor with AMD Radeon Freesync technology that offers stunning picture quality and an immersive viewing experience.
This monitor is an excellent choice for gamers and graphic designers as it provides exceptional clarity, color accuracy and fast response time. The monitor’s sleek and stylish design is also impressive.
One of the standout features of this monitor is its WQHD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. With this resolution, the monitor produces sharp, clear and detailed images with vivid colors.
The IPS panel technology used in the monitor ensures that the colors are consistent across the screen and the viewing angles are wide. The monitor has a 144 Hz refresh rate, allowing smooth and seamless gameplay without lag or stuttering.
The LG 27QN600-B also comes with AMD Radeon Freesync technology that helps to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering.
This technology synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with the graphics card’s frame rate to provide a seamless and fluid gaming experience.
Additionally, the monitor has a fast response time of 1ms VRB that further reduces motion blur and ghosting during fast-paced gaming.
The monitor also features two built-in speakers that deliver a decent audio output 2W per speaker. While the audio output may not be the best, it’s still suitable for casual use.
One of the downsides of this monitor is that it does not have a USB-C port, which may be a deal-breaker for some users.
Additionally, some users may experience screen flickering and blurriness if their video driver needs to be updated or the resolution must be corrected. However, updating the video driver and adjusting the resolution to the correct setting can easily fix this issue.
Pros
- Excellent picture quality with WQHD resolution and IPS panel technology
- Fast response time and high refresh rate for a smooth and seamless gaming experience
- AMD Radeon Freesync technology eliminates screen tearing and stuttering
- Sleek and stylish design
Cons
- No USB-C port
- Users may experience screen flickering and blurriness if the video driver needs to be updated or the resolution needs to be corrected.
4. Acer Nitro XV272U
| Specification | Details |
| Screen Size | 27 inches |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 pixels |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
| Response Time | 1ms VRB |
| Adaptive Sync Technology | AMD Radeon FreeSync |
The Acer Nitro XV272U is a fantastic monitor for gaming, offering a great viewing experience at an affordable price point.
The 27-inch widescreen IPS zero-frame display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels offers stunningly clear and sharp visuals, and the 144Hz refresh rate combined with a 1ms response time ensures a smooth and tear-free gaming experience.
One of the biggest selling points of this monitor is its adaptive sync technology. The AMD Radeon FreeSync technology synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with the frame rate of your graphics card to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering. This results in a smoother and more fluid gaming experience.
The Acer Nitro XV272U is also equipped with two 2-watt speakers, which produce decent sound quality for casual gaming and multimedia use.
The monitor has a wide viewing angle of 178º (H) / 178º (V) and a brightness of 400cd/m², providing excellent color accuracy and detail.
On the downside, the monitor does not have a built-in USB hub, which might be a dealbreaker for some users.
Also, the stand could be more ergonomic and only allow for tilt adjustment, which can be a bit limiting for users who need a monitor with more flexible positioning options.
Pros
- Stunning 1440p resolution
- Fast 144Hz refresh rate with 1ms response time
- AMD Radeon FreeSync technology eliminates screen tearing and stuttering
- Good color accuracy and wide viewing angles
- Decent built-in speakers
Cons
- No built-in USB hub
- Limited ergonomic adjustment options
5. ViewSonic XG2405
Budget Pick| Specification | Detail |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 (Full HD) |
| Response Time | 1ms (MPRT) |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| FreeSync | AMD FreeSync Premium |
| Connectivity | HDMI and DisplayPort |
| Ergonomics | Height, pivot, and tilt adjustable stand |
The ViewSonic XG2405 is a fantastic gaming monitor that provides an excellent gaming experience. The monitor features a Full HD 1080p resolution, perfect for gaming.
With a 1ms response time and a 144Hz refresh rate, this monitor is perfect for competitive gamers who need every edge.
The IPS panel ensures stunning views no matter your vantage point, making it an ideal monitor for multi-player games.
The XG2405 also features AMD FreeSync Premium technology, which enables fluid and tear-free gameplay.
The FreeSync technology works flawlessly, and I have never experienced any screen tearing or stuttering while gaming.
The monitor has a sleek and modern design, with a thin bezel and a sturdy stand that is fully adjustable. The stand was very com easy and easy to adjust. It was perfect for marathon gaming sessions.
The XG2405 is also very versatile and can connect to various devices. It supports laptops, PCs, Macs, PlayStation, and Xbox with HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, making switching between devices easy.
Pros
- Fast 1ms response time and 144Hz refresh rate
- AMD FreeSync Premium technology ensures smooth gameplay
- Stunning views from any angle with the IPS panel
- The fully adjustable ergonomic stand provides all-day comfort
- Versatile connectivity options
Cons
- Full HD resolution might not be enough for some gamers who prefer higher resolutions.
6. AOC C24G1A
| Specification | Detail |
| Screen size | 24″ class, 23.6″ viewable |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 Full HD |
| Refresh rate | 165Hz (via DP 1.2 port) |
| Response time | 1ms (MPRT) |
| Curvature | 1500R |
| Adaptive sync | AMD FreeSync Premium |
As someone always looking for the best gaming gear on a budget, I can say that the AOC C24G1A is a great monitor for gamers who want an immersive gaming experience without breaking the bank.
One of the standout features of the AOC C24G1A is its 1500R curvature, which wraps around your vision and provides an immersive gaming experience. The 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution also delivers crisp and clear visuals, essential for competitive gaming.
The monitor also boasts a rapid 1ms response time and a 165Hz refresh rate, ideal for fast-paced games where every millisecond counts.
The monitor also features AMD FreeSync Premium technology, which ensures no screen tearing or stuttering during gameplay.
The AOC C24G1A also features a 3-sided frameless design with ultra-narrow borders, which makes it perfect for a multi-monitor setup.
Additionally, the monitor is height adjustable and can swivel and tilt to ensure optimum ergonomics. The monitor also has a quick-release feature, which makes it easy to detach the monitor from its stand and mount it on a wall or desk.
One of the standout features of the AOC C24G1A is that it’s also great for console gaming. The monitor is designed to maximize the performance of your consoles by unleashing up to 120Hz frame rate, which can give you an edge over your opponents.
Pros
- Immersive 1500R curvature
- Crisp and clear visuals with 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution
- Rapid 1ms response time and 165Hz refresh rate for fast-paced games
- AMD FreeSync Premium technology eliminates screen tearing and stuttering
- The 3-sided frameless design with ultra-narrow borders for the ultimate multi-monitor setup
- Height adjustable stand with swivel, tilt, and quick release for optimum ergonomics
- Ideal for console gaming, up to 120Hz frame rate and ultra-low latency
Cons
- Limited resolution compared to higher-end gaming monitors
- Some users may prefer a larger screen size for a more immersive experience
Buying Guide: How to Choose
Are you in the market for a new monitor but have a $400 or less budget? Fear not, as plenty of excellent options won’t break the bank.
In this buying guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to choose the best monitor under $400 for your needs and budget.
- Determine your needs: Consider how to use your new monitor for gaming, productivity, or entertainment. Will you use it for color-critical work like photo editing? Knowing your needs will help you narrow your options and find a monitor suited to your use case.
- Consider the size: Monitor sizes can range from 21 inches to 34 inches or larger, so think about how much space you have on your desk and how far away you’ll be sitting from the screen. A larger monitor can provide a more immersive experience but may also take up more space and be more expensive. On the other hand, a smaller monitor may be more budget-friendly but may be less enjoyable for gaming or entertainment.
- Resolution: The resolution of your monitor will determine how sharp and clear the images and text will appear. A higher-resolution monitor will generally provide a crisper image but is more expensive. A 1080p monitor can still provide a good visual experience if you’re on a tight budget.
- Refresh rate and response time: If you’re a gamer, you’ll want to pay close attention to your monitor’s refresh rate and response time. A higher refresh rate and lower response time will provide a smoother and more responsive gaming experience. Aim for a monitor with a refresh rate of at least 144Hz and a response time of 1 ms or less.
- Panel type: There are three main types of panels: IPS, TN, and VA. IPS panels generally provide the best color accuracy and viewing angles but can be more expensive. TN panels are known for their fast response times, making them popular for gaming, but they can have poor viewing angles and color accuracy. VA panels offer high contrast ratios but can have slower response times. Consider which features are most important to you before choosing a panel type.
- Connectivity: Make sure the monitor you choose has the necessary ports to connect to your computer or gaming console. Look for a monitor with HDMI and DisplayPort inputs for maximum compatibility.
Based on the above criteria, we recommend the Acer Nitro XV272U and ViewSonic XG2405 as excellent options for the best monitor under $400.
The Acer Nitro XV272U offers a high resolution, fast response time, and AMD FreeSync technology for smooth gaming.
The ViewSonic XG2405 provides a high refresh rate, IPS panel, and AMD FreeSync Premium for an immersive gaming experience. Both monitors offer excellent value for their price and are sure to satisfy your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a 60Hz and a 144Hz monitor?
The refresh rate is the main difference between these two monitors. A 60Hz monitor refreshes the image 60 times per second, while a 144Hz monitor refreshes the image 144 times per second. This means a 144Hz monitor can display up to 144 frames per second, providing a smoother and more responsive gaming experience.
What is the significance of the response time of a monitor?
The response time of a monitor refers to how quickly it can change from one color to another. A lower response time means that the monitor can change colors more quickly, which can reduce motion blur and ghosts in fast-paced games or videos.
What does FreeSync or G-Sync mean on a monitor?
FreeSync and G-Sync are technologies that synchronize a monitor’s refresh rate with the output of a graphics card to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering. FreeSync is AMD’s version of the technology, while G-Sync is NVIDIA’s.
What is the difference between TN, IPS, and VA panels?
TN, IPS, and VA are different types of LCD panels used in monitors. TN panels are known for their fast response times but narrow viewing angles and less accurate color reproduction. IPS panels offer wider viewing angles and better color accuracy but typically have slower response times. VA panels offer the best contrast ratios and deep blacks but can suffer from slow response times and color shifting.
Can I use a monitor with a lower resolution than my computer’s graphics card?
Yes, you can use a monitor with a lower resolution than your computer’s graphics card. The graphics card will scale the image to fit the monitor’s resolution. However, this can result in losing image quality and sharpness, so using a monitor with a resolution that matches or exceeds your graphics card’s capabilities is generally recommended.
Conclusion
In conclusion, finding the best monitor under 400 dollars can be daunting, but it is not impossible. With so many options available in the market, it’s important to consider your specific needs and use cases before purchasing.
Factors like resolution, refresh rate, response time, panel type, and connectivity options can all affect your viewing experience. By researching and considering your budget and preferences, you can find a high-quality monitor that fits your needs without breaking the bank.
