Great gaming monitors can cost a lot, but a good one doesn't have to. The Acer Nitro VG240Y is priced just below $200 and has many of the features that you would look for in a high-end gaming display. It has a superb 144Hz refresh rate, a quick 1ms response time, FreeSync Technology, and convenient connections – in a 23.8-inch panel.
These are the kinds of specifications that just a few years ago were reserved for much more expensive monitors. But today, whether you have a high budget or a more economical one, you can get yourself a fantastic gaming monitor. The Acer Nitro VG240Y is the best gaming monitor under $200.
You can even connect it to your gaming laptop through USB-C or Thunderbolt 3. Here's how to do it.
Looking the part
The best gaming monitor under $200 even won the RedDot award in 2018 for design so you know it'll look good on your desk. It has a "Zero Frame Design" meaning it has an ultra-thin bezel so two of them side-by-side look great. It also has full VESA support, so you can wall-mount it if you aren't a fan of its stand. Its "Game View Technology" offers several quick viewing modes, or full customization, for quick viewing preference switches. At 23.8 inches, its a comfortable size for 1080p resolution so you'll get a very crisp image.
It has a 144Hz refresh rate, which is exceedingly quicker than many other gaming monitors. While that might not matter much while working on the desktop, you'll be at an advantage over all other non-144Hz gamers. That helps avoid screen tearing too, although the built-in FreeSync adaptive sync goes far further than that and works well with compatible Radeon graphics cards and chips.
Contrast and brightness aren't this display's strengths, but they aren't terrible either. With a native contrast ratio of 1,000:1, and a peak brightness of around 250 nits, there's a sufficient difference between blacks and whites. Your picture will look detailed and rich, whether you're watching a movie or playing games.
A gamer's dream
The reason that the Acer Nitro VG240Y is the best gaming monitor under $200 is that it ticks so many boxes for gaming. It's great as a general-purpose monitor, but for this price, it's a steal for gamers.
Along with a good resolution, and excellent refresh rate, this display is also based on an IPS panel, which can be hard to come by for a sub $200 monitor. IPS panels have better color fidelity than TN but typically have a slower response time. Luckily, the monitor implements 1ms VRB (Visual Response Boost) to battle that issue. Despite using an IPS panel, input lag is almost non-existent, meaning you will actually gain a slight competitive advantage with this display compared to slower, older screens. The VRB 1ms response time means there is almost no motion blur whatsoever, guaranteeing that when you click to shoot someone, they get shot. The FreeSync implementation is excellent for those concerned about screen tearing during more intensely visual games, and it supports Radeon FreeSync technology.
What you need to use the Acer Nitro VG240Y
As the best gaming monitor under $200, the Acer Nitro VG240Y doesn't sport the most high-end of connection options. There are no USB-C connections here. There are, however, a DisplayPort, and two HDMI ports.
The best cable to take advantage of the Acer Nitro VG240Y is an HDMI cable (make sure to get the right length). Cable Matters has a number of high-quality HDMI cables that are as affordable as the best gaming monitor under $200. You could opt for a DisplayPort cable too, though, if your graphics card or laptop supports that instead.
If you'd like to make sure you're getting the best HDMI cable for gaming, check out this handy guide.