Are you looking to purchase a 4k gaming monitor and want one on the low-budget side? Do you need help with selecting a cheap 4k gaming monitor? You’ve come to the right place. We have created a cheap 4k gaming monitor list that can serve as a guide for you in selecting the perfect display for your gaming needs.
4k monitors are designed to give you the best and most real image quality you can get. They are great for many other things apart from gaming such as watching movies, and creative work like graphic design, digital art, etc. This is because of their high resolution and image quality which helps to deliver a premium viewing experience.
There are several 4k monitors on the market with amazing specs designed to give you a premium viewing experience. Some even possess unique features which make them better choices than others.
4k monitors have become the preferred choice for many casual and professional gamers because of the amazing immersive viewing experience they offer compared to monitors with lower resolutions.
For the latest console releases like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, you need a 4k monitor or TV to get the best out of them. In the early years of 4k monitor releases, they weren’t monitors just anyone could afford because they cost a small fortune. Although you had deep pockets, getting one was pretty expensive.
Although some 4k gaming monitors or the best ones are still expensive, you don’t need to have deep pockets or break the bank before you can experience 4k gaming. Thanks to manufacturers, you can now enjoy cheap 4k gaming thrills.
But before we move on to our list, there are some important features that make a great 4k gaming monitor which everyone should know before selecting a 4k monitor for gaming. Whether on the high or low-budget end. Let’s take a look at these features.
Features That Make a Great 4k Gaming Monitor
Below are some features that make a great 4k gaming monitor. These are features you should consider carefully when selecting a 4k monitor for gaming.
1. The Screen Size
There’s no need to say much about this aspect. For 4k monitors, bigger is always better.
Many gamers have stated that 4k gaming on a small display screen doesn’t look cool at all. A smaller screen means you have to sit close to the monitor and won’t be so great for shared viewing, but with a larger screen, you can sit further away from the monitor.
Although the screen size of your gaming monitor largely depends on your budget and needs, you should try to get a 4k monitor with a screen size that’ll allow you to enjoy your gaming. Most gaming experts have stated that the minimum screen size needed to enjoy a good 4k gaming experience is 41 inches.
2. Refresh Rate
4k gaming monitors come with different refresh rates such as 30Hz, 60Hz, 120Hz, etc. When selecting a 4K monitor for gaming, be sure to select a monitor with a refresh rate of at least 60Hz, and it should be able to attain a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz or higher.
For game consoles like PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, a monitor that supports 4k gaming at 120Hz refresh rate or more is the best choice for you to get the optimal gaming experience.
3. Panel Type
The type of panel a monitor features determines things such as color gamut, response time, contrast ratio, and viewing angle of the monitor. The contrast ratio, color gamut, response time, and viewing angle of a monitor plays a huge role in your gaming experience. This makes it important to carefully consider the panel type of the monitor.
4k monitors mostly come in three types of panels: IPS, TN, and VN, with IPS being the most expensive and common type out of the three and TN being the cheapest.
TN monitors have the fastest response time with a decent contrast ratio but they lack in terms of color reproduction and viewing angle. VN monitors have the slowest response time out of the three monitors but possess great viewing angles, contrast ratio, and a decent color gamut.
IPS monitors offer the best all-around experience because they have a good response time, great color gamut, and the best viewing angle.
4. Contrast Ratio
Although it might be said that contrast ratio shouldn’t really matter to gamers as it should to people who do video and picture editing, it’s still an important feature that makes a great 4k gaming monitor.
The contrast ratio of your monitor is the ratio of the brightest white and the darkest black reflection your screen can produce. In simpler terms, it’s the difference between the brightest and darkest colors on your screen. If the contrast ratio of a monitor is 5000:1, it means the monitor produces white that’s 5000 times brighter than its black.
The higher the contrast ratio of a monitor, the better. In terms of contrast ratio, higher is always better. A higher contrast ratio means better picture quality in bright or dark rooms. A great 4k gaming monitor should have a contrast ratio of at least 3000:1.
5. Ports
The ports of a monitor affect several things like the screen resolution, FPS, refresh rate, and transfer speed. It generally affects your overall gaming experience. The more ports a monitor possesses, the better.
It’s not just the number of ports that matters, the version also matters a lot. Newer versions mean higher transfer speeds and better image quality. A perfect example is your HDMI port. For you to enjoy 4k gaming @ 120Hz, you need an HDMI 2.1.
Other ports a 4k monitor should possess are Display Port 1.4, USB Type-C 3.0 port, USB Type-A 3.0 ports, USB Type-B 3.0 port, and an audio jack.
6. HDR Support
Another thing that makes a great 4k monitor is HDR support. It’s one thing you want to look out for when purchasing a 4k monitor. 4k monitors with HDR support have better picture quality, higher maximum brightness, and a wider color gamut.
Usually, most 4k monitors including budget ones come with HDR support. However, most budget 4k monitors don’t give the best HDR experience. Budget 4k monitors hardly display true HDR colors and image quality.
The Best Cheap 4k Gaming Monitors For 2024
We have looked at the features that make a great 4k gaming monitor in the earlier part of this article. Now let’s take a look at the best cheap 4k gaming monitors you can find on the market.
1. LG 32UN500-W
Affordable 4k monitor with excellent colors
Specifications
| Screen Size | 32-Inch |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160p/4k |
| Panel Type | VA |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Response Time | 5ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Contrast Ratio | 3000:1 |
| Maximum Brightness | 350 nits |
| Viewing Angles | 178°/178° |
| HDR Support | HDR-10 |
| Variable Refresh Rate Technology | Free sync |
| Ports | 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, Audio jack. |
LG 32UN500-W is a low-budget 4k monitor that delivers a great viewing experience and performance for a price range of $400-$450. It’s a reduced version of the more expensive LG 32UL950-W and LG 32UN650-W.
It’s a VA paneled 32-Inch 3840 x 2160p UHD display with an aspect ratio of 16:9. It has a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz and a response time of 5ms. Although it’s lacking in response time, it makes up for that with a great contrast ratio of 3000:1 and viewing angles of 178/178 degrees. Also, it can reach a maximum brightness of 350 nits.
LG 32UN500-W features AMD free sync support which helps to prevent screen tearing while gaming and also features HDR-10 support with a 10-bit color gamut. However, the HDR isn’t so great because of its 350 nits maximum brightness.
For ports, it comes with 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm Audio jack.
- Affordable 32 Inch 4k monitor
- 3000:1 contrast ratio.
- No USB port
- slow response time.
2. Samsung 32″ UR59C
Best budget curved 4k monitor.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 32-Inch |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160p/4k |
| Panel Type | VA |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Response Time | 4ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Contrast Ratio | 2500:1 |
| Maximum Brightness | 250 nits |
| Viewing Angles | 178°/178° |
| Variable Refresh Rate Technology | None |
| Ports | 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, Audio jack. |
Here we have the world’s first curved UHD 4K Monitor with 3940×2160 resolution. Easily top 5 on this list, Samsung 32″ UR59C is an amazing cheap 4k gaming monitor that features amazing specs that can provide great image quality and an immersive gaming experience.
It’s a VA paneled 31.5-Inch 3840 x 2160p, 1500R curved monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It has a refresh rate of 60Hz and a response time of 4ms.
Just like VA panels would normally have a better contrast ratio compared to other panel types, this monitor isn’t lacking in that aspect either. It has a contrast ratio of 2500: 1 and can reach a maximum screen brightness of 250 nits.
The Samsung 32″ UR59C does not feature any adaptive synchronization technology to help with screen tearing. For ports, it features 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, and 1x 3.5mm audio jack. However, it doesn’t feature any USB port.
- Cheap curved 4k monitor
- Great image quality and immersive gaming experience.
- No Free sync or G-sync support
- No USB Ports.
3. Z-Edge U27I4K 27-inch
Specifications
| Screen Size | 27-Inch |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160p/4k |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Response Time | 4ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Maximum Brightness | 300 nits |
| Viewing Angles | 178°/178° |
| HDR Support | HDR-10 |
| Variable Refresh Rate Technology | Free sync |
| Ports | 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x DisplayPort 1.4, Audio jack. |
The Z-Edge U27I4K is a 4k gaming monitor that offers excellent value for money with its high image quality, and performance. It falls under the $400 budget 4K monitors.
Z-Edge U27I4K is an IPS paneled 27-Inch 3840 x 2160p UHD monitor with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a refresh rate of 60Hz. It has a response time of 4ms and great viewing angles of 178/178.
Also, it has a contrast ratio of 1000:1 and can reach a maximum screen brightness of 300 nits which can be considered decent for a monitor of this price.
It features HDR-10 support with a wider spectrum of color gamut which helps improve image quality and also features adaptive free sync technology support. For ports, it features 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x DisplayPort 1.4, and one audio jack. It also features built-in speakers.
- Excellent value for money
- Great viewing angles.
- No USB ports
- Low refresh rate
4. ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q1A
Specifications
| Screen Size | 28-Inch |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160p/4k |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Response Time | 5ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Maximum Brightness | 350 nits |
| Viewing Angles | 178°/178° |
| HDR Support | HDR-10 |
| Variable Refresh Rate Technology | Free sync |
| Ports | 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, Audio jack. |
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q1A made it on our list of the best monitors for XBOX Series X / S and there’s a great reason for that. It’s an amazing 4k monitor that offers premium visuals at a decent price.
It’s an IPS-paneled 28-inch 3840 x 2160p monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a refresh rate of 60Hz. Just like IPS paneled monitors are known for their great viewing angles, this monitor isn’t lacking in that aspect with a 178/178-degree viewing angle which makes it a great choice for shared or co-op gaming. However, it has a slow response time of 5ms
Also, it has a contrast ratio of 1000:1 which is pretty low, and reaches a maximum brightness of 350 nits.
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q1A features adaptive synchronization technology support for both AMD and Nvidia cards. It has free sync support and is also able to run G-sync. Also, it features HDR-10 with 10-bit color support.
For connectivity, ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q1A comes with 2x HDMI 2.0 ports, 1x display port 1.4, and an audio jack.
- Premium visuals
- Adaptive sync technology support for both AMD and Nvidia cards
- Great viewing angles.
- No USB ports
- Low refresh rate and slow response time.
5. ViewSonic XG3220
Excellent 4k visuals.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 32-Inch |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160p/4k |
| Panel Type | VA |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Response Time | 5ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Contrast Ratio | 3000:1 |
| Maximum Brightness | 300 nits |
| Viewing Angles | 178°/178° |
| HDR Support | HDR-10 |
| Variable Refresh Rate Technology | Free sync |
| Ports | 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 4x USB 3.0, Audio jack. |
ViewSonic XG3220 is an amazing 4k monitor that offers premium viewing with excellent details and brilliant colors at a very affordable price.
It features a 32-Inch 3840x2160p LED monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 60Hz refresh rate. It features a VA panel that produces brilliant colors and contrast for a better viewing experience. It has a contrast ratio of 3000:1 and can reach a maximum screen brightness of 300 nits. It features 10-bit color support which provides a wider color gamut.
Also, it has great viewing angles of 178/178 degrees which makes it great for co-op gaming. However, just like VA panels are known to have a slow response time, this monitor has a response time of 5ms. It might not be a great choice for competitive gaming because of its slow response time.
ViewSonic XG3220 also comes with HDR-10 support and adaptive AMD free sync technology support. Port-wise, it comes with 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 2x HDMI 2.0, 4x USB 3.0, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
- 3000:1 contrast ratio
- Excellent image details
- Great viewing angles
- 5ms response time.
6. BenQ EW3270U
Cheap 4k monitor with great visuals
Specifications
| Screen Size | 32-Inch |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160p/4k |
| Panel Type | VA |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Response Time | 4ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Contrast Ratio | 3000:1 |
| Maximum Brightness | 300 nits |
| Viewing Angles | 178°/178° |
| HDR Support | HDR-10 |
| Variable Refresh Rate Technology | Free Sync |
| Ports | 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x Type-C, Audio jack. |
The BENQ EW3270U is a budget 4k monitor that offers a high level of performance and great 4k visuals for a very fair price.
It’s a VA-paneled 32-inch 3840 x 2160p UHD display with eye care technology to help reduce eye strain during extended gameplay. It has a refresh rate of 60Hz and a relatively slow response time of 4ms.
It has a 16:9 aspect ratio and thanks to the VA panel it features, it has a pretty nice contrast ratio of 3000:1 which gives this monitor nice colors and picture quality. It also has great viewing angles of 178/178 degrees and a maximum brightness of 300nits.
The BENQ EW3270U also features adaptive free sync technology support and HDR support with a 95% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
Connectivity-wise, it features two HDMI 2.0 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4, a USB Type-C port, and an audio jack. Also, it features 2w integrated speakers.
- Great 4k visuals
3000:1 contrast ratio.
- 4ms response time.
7. ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ
Best cheap 4k monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 27-Inch |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160p/4k |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
| Response Time | 1ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Maximum Brightness | 400 nits |
| Viewing Angles | 178°/178° |
| HDR Support | HDR-10 |
| Variable Refresh Rate Technology | Free Sync /G-sync |
| Ports | 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x Type-C, Audio jack. |
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ is an amazing 4k monitor with arguably the best specs on this list. It also happens to be the most expensive monitor on this list which shouldn’t really be a surprise.
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ is an IPS paneled 27-Inch 3840 x 2160p W-LED monitor with an amazing 144Hz refresh rate. Apart from having this really cool refresh rate, it also has a very low input lag and a pretty fast response time of 1ms.
It has a contrast ratio of 1000:1 which is pretty low. IPS monitors aren’t always the best in terms of contrast. Also, it can reach a maximum brightness of 400 nits and has great viewing angles of 178°/178°
In terms of adaptive technology support, this monitor features support for both free sync and G-sync. Also, it has Vesa DisplayHDR 400 support with a 10-bit color gamut.
For ports, it features 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x Displayport 1.4, 3x USB ports, and an audio jack.
- 144Hz refresh rate
- Free sync/G-sync support
- Vesa DisplayHDR 400 support
- 1ms response time.
- Low contrast ratio of 1000:1
8. Dell S2722QC
Cheap 4k monitor with Free sync and G-sync support.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 27-Inch |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160p/4k |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Response Time | 4ms |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Maximum Brightness | 350 nits |
| Viewing Angles | 178°/178° |
| HDR Support | HDR-10 |
| Variable Refresh Rate Technology | Free Sync/G sync |
| Ports | 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x Type-C, 2x USB 3.2, 1x Audio jack. |
Dell S2722QC is a monitor with decent colors, contrasts, and image quality. It offers decent specs that can provide you with the premium visuals you need for a decent gaming experience.
The Dell S2722QC is an IPS paneled 27-Inch 3840 x 2160p UHD monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It features a refresh rate of 60ms and has a response time of about 4ms.
It has a contrast ratio of 1300:1 and reaches a maximum screen brightness of 350 nits. Also, it has an excellent viewing angle of 178/178. IPS panels are known for their excellent viewing angles which makes them great choices for co-op gaming.
Furthermore, this monitor features adaptive free sync and G-sync support which makes it great for both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards. Also, it comes it HDR-10 support which enhances the maximum brightness of this monitor.
For ports, it comes with 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB Type-C, 2x USB 3.2, and an audio jack.
- Great viewing angles
- Free sync and G-Sync support
- Low contrast ratio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best cheap 4k monitor for gaming
There are some really awesome 4k gaming monitors you can get at a cheap or decent price such as BenQ EW3270U, View Sonic XG3220, Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A, LG 32UN500-W, and Samsung 32″ UR59C.
Best budget 4k monitor 32-inch
Our recommendations for the best budget 32-inch 4k monitor are Samsung 32″ UR59C, BenQ EW3270U, and View Sonic XG3220. These are some of the best budget 32-inch 4k gaming monitors on the market.
Best budget 4k monitor @144hz
Our pick for the best budget 4k monitor @144Hz is the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQ. It’s arguably the cheapest 4k monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz you can find on the market. It also features other amazing specs which makes it our top pick for the best budget 4k monitor @144Hz.
What’s the difference between a 4k monitor and 4k TV?
Although they can serve the same purpose, 4k monitors have better refresh rates, lower input lags, and a faster response time than TVs. This makes them better choices for activities like gaming.
Is it better to buy a 4k monitor or TV for gaming?
This all comes down to your pocket as 4k monitors are mostly more expensive than average TVs. However, for an activity like gaming, 4k monitors will serve you better because they are better equipped to have a faster response time, low input lag, better refresh rates, and better color. 4k monitors will give you the better gaming performance you need.
Conclusion
This brings us to a conclusion on our cheap 4k gaming monitor list.
These monitors, although not as great as the 4k gaming monitors on the high budget end, are still good enough to give you the premium viewing and gaming experience you so desire.
Have you got any questions, comments, or contributions? Please ensure to let us know. You should also check out some of our other gear guides:
