Gaming monitors | The best under 500 euros
In fact, for to enjoy an experience free of interruptions and visual artifacts, it is essential to buy a monitor equipped with some functions, in particular AMD's FreeSync or Nvidia's GSync, so as to avoid tearing problems and benefit from a more fluid experience. Furthermore, given the insistence of standards such as HDR, increasingly present in the gaming world, buying a panel with a 10bit and HDR certified display is now a must. Penalty, not viewing the games to the best of their ability.
Having said that, the time has come to tell you about our selection and show you which are the best gaming monitors under 500 euros. You will also find the chosen products divided into categories in order to offer you a list that includes all the standards we have talked about up to now. Before starting, however, we suggest that you also take a look at the best desks and the best chairs, in both cases suitable for gaming, so as not to miss anything in your workstation!
Best monitors gaming under 500 euros
LG 32GN650 UltraGear, the best in QHD ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q, the best in 4K LG 34GN73A UltraGear, the best with Itek GGF curved screen, the best with high refresh rate BenQ EW3270U, the best for mixed use General photosLG 32GN650 UltraGear, the best in QHD
General photosIf you usually find out about the best monitors currently on the market, obviously in reference to gaming, you will surely have come across LG's UltraGear line. Models specifically designed to meet the needs of the most hardened and passionate players.
The monitor in question, the 32GN650 model, is characterized by a VA type display with support for HDR technology. The version we have selected is the 32" one, but you are completely free to select another one from the link we leave you below. In our opinion, it is the one with the best value for money, especially considering the frequent discounts. That said, the screen is very suitable for video games, given the presence of a very low input lag (1ms), AMD FreeSync Premium technology, 165Hz, HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4 ports. All this at a very high QHD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels), the most recommended in the PC environment. So, if you love playing at 1440p resolution and are looking for excellent gaming specifications, this is the monitor for you.
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ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q, the best in 4K
Generic photosThis monitor in particular we have selected it for lovers of 4K resolution. To keep costs low and not exceed the ceiling of €500 that we set for ourselves, we necessarily opted for a 60Hz model. Nonetheless, don't think it's unsuitable for gaming: the monitor is in fact characterized by a good general quality of the panel, with support also for HDR and IPS technologies for more precise color rendering and does not give up on gaming features at all.
As evidenced by its appearance first and secondly by the fact that it is part of the Asus TUF Gaming line, the VG289Q is absolutely a gaming screen. The icing on the cake is AMD's FreeSync support, which can also be used on Nvidia configurations, as has been possible for some years now, and, of course, also the HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4 inputs. That said, if you have hardware capable of pushing games up to 4K resolution, this monitor is for you: you'll enjoy ultra-smooth ultra-high-resolution visuals.
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LG 34GN73A UltraGear, the best with curved screen
Generic photosWhat we are about to tell you it is a monstrous monitor, complete with all the specifications necessary to enjoy gaming in a fluid and perfect way for those looking for a screen, let's say ... particular. Well yes, unlike the models mentioned above, LG 34GN73A is characterized by a curvature of the display, which further amplifies the sense of immersion given by some video games. Of course, in order for everything to work properly, it is necessary to maintain a position in front of the screen, which we imagine however is the most popular in the PC environment, considering the usual desk setup.
Having said that, just like for the other screens, the monitor is a QHD, what changes are the proportions of the image, considering the curvature and the fact that it is capable of going up to 21:9 aspect ratio 'appearance. For the rest, as mentioned, at your disposal 1ms as response time, certified HDR, AMD FreeSync, GSync, well 144Hz and the common HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4 ports. If what you are looking for is a screen in which to immerse yourself completely, without distractions, this is the monitor for you.
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Itek GGF, the best high refresh rate
Generic photosWe know, we know, there are monitors that go well beyond 300Hz, but we want to remind you that our intention is also not to make you spend too much; moreover, as the title states, we are talking about the best gaming monitors under 500 euros. Having said that, let's get into the details!
So, this Itek GGF monitor stands out for its high refresh rate, anchored to 288Hz combined with TN technology (always very responsive) and 1080p resolution, the classic Full HD . A screen particularly suitable for lovers of high frame rates, colors who love to play extremely fluidly, in this case also with the support of Adaptive Sync and HDR technologies, and the usual HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4 ports. If your goal is to perfect the frame rate of your games, this screen is unrivaled.
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BenQ EW3270U, the better for mixed use
Generic photosGamers also consume on-demand content on the most popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ or Prime Video , and often do so directly through their console, not having a smart monitor. And they are right, because smart monitors give up some important and indispensable features for gamers, from the input lag reduced to the bone to the most popular technologies such as FreeSync. That's why, although we offer you a monitor designed by BenQ itself for the use of multimedia content, we prefer to discard the idea of smart monitors, in our opinion recommended only for productivity, therefore for work.
Having said that, The BenQ EW3270U features an outstanding VA panel with HDR and 10bit per color support. A perfect profile for enjoying multimedia content, but also for playing, considering the input lag of less than 5ms and the support for FreeSync technology, HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4 ports. What to say? For less than 500 euros you will take home a monitor suitable for gaming and which does not give up a good reproduction of multimedia content at all. All in all, a complete package.
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How to choose a gaming monitor
If you've come this far, it means that you have taken a look at our selection of the best gaming monitors under 500 euros, divided into curved screens, with QHD and 4K resolution, and with support for specifications such as HDR and variable refresh rate. Well, in the following paragraphs we will try to provide you with all the necessary information so that you are able to make an informed purchase and know what are the basic notions for every avid gamer. Therefore, pay attention because we are about to tell you everything!Resolution
Trivial as it may seem, resolution remains one of the most important characteristics to look at when buying gaming monitors under 500 euros since , by itself, is able to significantly increase the cost of the monitor. Therefore, you will have to have the usage scenario in mind and decide whether or not 4K is necessary within your routine. For our part, we can tell you that the choice also depends on the hardware you mount under the body of your computer: to play in 4K, perhaps with maximum graphic details, you will necessarily need a latest generation card, complete with DLSS to lighten the load; a Full HD or 1440p monitor, on the other hand, perhaps allows you to achieve more satisfactory results for your setup, with higher refresh rates and the possibility of playing at an unlocked frame rate that travels beyond 100 fps (again, this depends on the 'hardware, but we understood each other). So, evaluate carefully.High refresh rate, why is it important?
If you have experienced even once a gaming experience with a very high frame rate, well, you will never want to do without it . The feeling of control that such a scenario is able to return is incredible, and the response to the commands also benefits, whether you play with a mouse and keyboard, or play with a compatible controller. Also, high frame rate aside, most monitors when set to the maximum available refresh rate significantly reduce screen response times, the so-called input lag, improving your experience even more. Therefore, also in this case your purchase must take into consideration various elements, above all the conditions of your PC, whether it is more or less suitable for playing at such high frequencies.Dimensions and shapes of the screen
The size of the screen matters a lot and must often be compared to that of your desk. In fact, even before eyeing 27 or 32-inch screens, take the measurements of your desk and keep them in mind. This procedure is important because each monitor, depending on the size of the screen, has a different visual distance, which must be respected not only to view it at its best, but also to not strain your eyes excessively (on this front, take a look at our guide to best anti blue light glasses ).Having said that, beyond the dimensions there are also monitors characterized by a different shape, curved displays, for example. We recommend these screens to all those who usually play video games sitting perfectly in front of the screen. If this condition is met, you will enjoy immersion that is certainly greater than traditional monitors, so keep an eye on these screens because they could give you a lot of satisfaction.
HDR, VRR, FreeSync and GSync, let's clarify
Those we have selected would certainly not be the best gaming monitors under 500 euros if they did not have features such as HDR and VRR. We will try to make you understand the usefulness of these technologies in a simple way. Starting from the first, the HDR, suffice it to say that it is a rendering technique that has made room in recent years in the gaming sector to significantly increase the color rendering of video games by rendering images at 10 bits per color (provided that the screen adequately supports the specs, of course). In short, you will get much deeper and more nuanced images, with super-defined blacks to enjoy your favorite video games like never before.About VRR (an HDMI specification present on most modern TVs), known in monitors like Nvidia GSync or AMD FreeSync, it's a technique that allows your display's refresh rate to synchronize seamlessly with the frame rate of games. In this way, video artifacts such as stuttering and tearing are completely eliminated, and you will enjoy a responsive and always fluid experience. Be aware, however, that this process of synchronizing the frames and the refresh rate may also slightly increase the latencies due to the work that your video card must do in order for you to benefit from an experience without interruptions.
In the past, all this process was managed by the V-Sync option alone, which does nothing but synchronize the screen refresh rate with the maximum frame rate of the game (it does not follow any oscillations). With specifications such as VRR, AMD FreeSync or GSync, however, this process becomes more complete and variable, since the synchronization is constant and does not only concern the maximum output peak (60Hz = 60 FPS, just to give an example).
HDMI and DP, what changes?
As obvious as it may be for many of you, we want to underline the differences between these two video inputs, namely HDMI and Display Port. First of all, we specify that, although there are differences between the two inputs, the basic operation remains the same, that is to allow video connection to devices such as a computer or a console. The main difference lies in the bandwidth of the two inputs and in the fact that, in the vast majority of cases, it is precisely the DP inputs that unlock all the functionality of the monitor. This happens due to an increase in bandwidth.But what is bandwidth? Imagine it as a giant number which, little by little, is subtracted as we increase the load. In traditional HDMI ports found in monitors, there aren't enough resources for high resolution or higher refresh rate than 60Hz and so on. And in these cases the DP input comes to our aid, which overcomes these obstacles and allows us to play at the best of possibilities.
