A good monitor is one of the essentials needed to comfortably work with any computer. This is how a computer communicates with us – it presents the data in a human-readable format on the screen, whether it’s a website we googled for, a game we were currently playing, or a result of a professional software used for science.
It may sound complicated, but it really isn’t – it’s not a secret that when shopping for monitors, we are usually having gaming, watching movies or graphics processing in mind, and this is the primary reason we choose one model over the other. Our budget is what limits the options significantly, and this is what forces us to make a compromise here and there. Do you really need a 144Hz monitor or 60Hz will suffice? Do you need HDR support? Is DisplayPort necessary, or HDMI will be enough? What about VESA mount? Do you need wide viewing angles or crystal clear image? Is power consumption an issue? Do you care about having a modern and fancy GUI to adjust the monitor’s settings, like contrast or brightness?
Choosing the right monitor to fit one’s needs is not an easy task, as it requires to answer the above-mentioned questions, and the market seems to be filled with plenty of interesting products waiting to be picked. To make things easier for you, we carefully selected a few specific models from different brands – each with its own strengths and advantages, which should appeal to different groups of consumers.
Budget PC Monitors Under $250 | ||||||||
| Computer Monitor | Resolution | Screen Size | Display | Contrast | Response time | Connections | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asus VP247HA 23.6″ |  | Full HD 1920 x 1080 | 23.6 | LED | 3000:1 | 5ms | HDMI, D-sub (VGA) | |
| Philips 243V5LHSB 24″ |  | Full HD 1920 x 1080 | 24 | LED | 1000:1 | 1ms | HDMI, D-sub (VGA), DVI-D | |
| Asus VC239HE 23″ |  | Full HD 1920 x 1080 | 23 | IPS LED | 1000:1 | 5ms | HDMI, D-sub (VGA) | |
| LG 24MK400H-B |  | Full HD 1920 x 1080 | 23.8 | LED | 1000:1 | 1ms | HDMI, D-sub (VGA) | |
| LG 22MK600M-B |  | Full HD 1920 x 1080 | 22 | IPS | 1000:1 | 5ms | HDMI, D-sub (VGA) | |
| Philips 223V5LSB2 |  | Full HD 1920 x 1080 | 21.5 | WLED | 600:1 | 5ms | HDMI, VGA | |
| HANNS G HE247DPB |  | Full HD 1920 x 1080 | 23.6 | LED | 1000:1 | 5ms | HDMI, DVI-D, D-sub (VGA) | |
| LG 27MK400H-B |  | Full HD 1920 x 1080 | 27 | WLED | 1000:1 | 2ms | HDMI, D-sub (VGA) | |
If you are looking for the best budget monitors under 250$, look no further as we present you the list of the most interesting products on the market.
Asus VP247HA 23.6″
| Screen Size | 23.6 |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920×1080) |
| Response Time | 5 ms |
| Producer | ASUS |
Asus VP247HA could be a great 23.6-inch option for gamers, as it features relatively low response time and a GamePlus technology, which could be used to display a custom crosshair in FPS games.
The non-glare screen helps to focus on gaming, as it does not reflect rays of light as much as glossy screens do. Asus VP247HA also comes with a VESA mount, making it possible to mount the monitor on the wall.
| Key features |
|---|
|
Philips 243V5LHSB 24″
| Screen Size | 24 |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920×1080) |
| Response Time | 1 ms |
| Producer | Philips |
24-inch Philips 243V5LHSB is another affordable monitor designed for gamers, thanks to its ultra-low response time of 1ms, allowing you to comfortably play in 1080p.
It has both HDMI and VGA video ports, meaning you can connect it to computers with older graphics cards, and effortlessly switch to a better one later. SmartControl Lite allows to conveniently adjust monitor’s settings using mouse alone.
| Key features |
|---|
|
Asus VC239HE 23″
| Screen Size | 23 |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920×1080) |
| Response Time | 5 ms |
| Producer | ASUS |
Asus VC239HE has great value to price ratio, making it an interesting choice in the 200$ range. This 23-inch monitor can be very well used both by gamers and professionals alike.
IPS screen displays a high-quality image, and Flicker-free technology allows to use the computer for longer periods of time without stressing the eyes. Additionally, there’s Kensington Lock, which allows using the monitor safely in public places, like the office.
| Key features |
|---|
|
LG 24MK400H-B
| Screen Size | 23.8 |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920×1080) |
| Response Time | 1 ms |
| Producer | LG |
LG 24MK400H-B also has its place on the list of the best budget monitors. It comes with a variety of interesting features, like Black Stabilizer which automatically brings out the details of objects lurking in darker areas.
FreeSync drastically reduces the occurrence of image tearing and stuttering, making the overall experience much better and smoother. The monitor has very low energy consumption in sleep mode – just about 0.3W.
| Key features |
|---|
|
LG 22MK600M-B
| Screen Size | 22 |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920×1080) |
| Response Time | 5 ms |
| Producer | ASUS |
LG 22MK600M-B boasts of having a high-quality IPS screen, thus delivering sharp and crystal clear image full of colors. The monitor features two HDMI ports, making it possible to use 2 different computers with one monitor simultaneously.
The whole is packed inside a bezel-less frame, which might be worth noting in case of planning a workspace consisting of multiple monitors standing next to each other.
| Key features |
|---|
|
Philips 223V5LSB2
| Screen Size | 21.5 |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920×1080) |
| Response Time | 5 ms |
| Producer | Philips |
Philips 223V5LSB2 is another great option among cheap monitors. It is intended for more professional tasks or watching movies, but can also serve well when used for casual gaming.
The monitor has an adjustable tilt (-5-20 degrees), allowing Philips 223V5LSB2 to be comfortably used on desks of different heights. SmartContrast dynamically improves the overall image quality.
| Key features |
|---|
|
HANNS G HE247DPB
| Screen Size | 23.6 |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920×1080) |
| Response Time | 5 ms |
| Producer | HANNS |
HANNS G HE247DPB is inexpensive 23.6-inch monitor which could be a great option for those who look for a quality image for a reasonable price.
The monitor has a VESA mount which allows HANNS G HE247DPB to be mounted on the wall. A matte screen is also worth mentioning, as it significantly improves the experience by eliminating reflections, which may be the source of distraction while playing or working during a sunny day.
| Key features |
|---|
|
LG 27MK400H-B
| Screen Size | 27 |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920×1080) |
| Response Time | 2 ms |
| Producer | LG |
27-inch LG 27MK400H-B is another interesting option among cheap yet reliable monitors.
This model has both VGA and HDMI video inputs, meaning it works well with both older and newer graphics cards. LG 27MK400H-B may be used as a computer monitor or an external display for a laptop. The monitor is FreeSync-compliant – the image is free from screen tearing and stuttering.
| Key features |
|---|
|
Summary
Choosing the right monitor depends on our individual needs and on how much are we ready to spend. If we play computer games a lot, it may be wise to focus on non-glare models running at higher frequencies, allowing us to play at higher frame rates if our computer is powerful enough. If we are professionals, it may be more beneficial to get the one that comes with Flicker Free feature, making it easier to stare at the screen for longer periods of time while we’re working in the office or at home. Image quality should also be concerned, especially if we’re working with graphics, or our priority is watching high-resolution movies.