A good 27-inch monitor doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, you can find some amazing deals on quality monitors if you know where to look. And that’s why we put together this post reviewing some of the best 27-inch monitors under 200 dollars.
An affordable 27-inch monitor should not mean a poor-quality display. On the contrary, there are some great deals to be had in this price category.
The average cost of a 27-inch monitor is about $150, while the average price of a 27-inch IPS monitor is about $200. A 27-inch IPS monitor has a 1920×1080 resolution, a 1000:1 contrast ratio, and a 5ms response time. Furthermore, it offers a tilt, swivel, and height adjustment.
Here is the thing: there’s a sea of both big names and newer brands competing for your attention out there in the 27-inch budget monitor space making selection such a tough task.
Well, to help save your time and effort, we have painstakingly narrowed down the best monitors under 200 dollars and reviewed them in this article.
| Monitor | Resolution | Response Time | Refresh Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer G276HL Kbix | 1920×1080 | 4ms | 60 Hz | View |
| HP 27er | 1920×1080 | 7ms | 60 Hz | View |
| SAMSUNG C27F398 | 1920×1080 | 4ms (GTG) | 60 Hz | View |
| KOORUI 27″ Monitor | 1920×1080 | 5ms | 75 Hz | View |
| BenQ GW2780 | 1920×1080 | 5ms | 60 Hz | View |
| CRUA 27″ 4K Monitor | 3840×2160 | 1ms | 60 Hz | View |
| ViewSonic VX2718-PC-MHD | 1920×1080 | 1ms | 165 Hz | View |
Let’s dive in…
Contents
Types of monitors
But before we swim too deep, it’s important that you’re familiar with the various types of monitors that dominate the market these days.
And to put it in a nutshell, your dream 27-inch monitor under $200 is likely to be one of the following display types:
LCD (liquid crystal display)
The key thing to remember about LCDs is that they use a distinctly white backlight.
Bear in mind that they produce images by shining bright white lighting into your eyes as the remainder of the panel changes the backlight into pixels.
Interestingly, all LCD panels are not equal and this brings me to the next ‘type’ of display: LED.
LED (light-emitting diode)
LED panels use light-emitting diodes for backlighting- leading to slimmer products that save energy while providing flawless backlighting.
Unsurprisingly, many LCD screens employ LED technology nowadays.
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode)
OLED – which is an advancement of LED- is the brightest, most power-efficient, and thinnest display technology for monitors, high-ticket smartphones, and tablets.
Sadly, manufacturers have kept us waiting for these monitors for years and even though Dell has finally acted (Sony is also doing well), OLED technology is yet to truly pick up the pace.
Types of monitors: a different classification
Perhaps a better way of looking at the types is going by monitors’ typical uses.
Under this, monitors are most commonly grouped into the following classes:
General use monitors
In general, these monitors are engineered to serve common home or work needs.
This is the best monitor under $200 if you’re into non-specialized chores such as web browsing, Microsoft office (word processing, presentation, and the like), and accounting assignments (think QuickBooks, Xero, etc).
They’re quite inexpensive with some costing well below $200.
Professional use monitors
The market is not short of low-end professional design and editing monitors built for beginner graphic designers, video editors, and photographers.
Though they may not be dashing as their pricey high-spec versions, some of these monitors still pack features such as IPS (In Plane Switching) technology, preferred for its innately high-quality colors reproduction.
Gaming monitors
You can still get fully immersed in a game with ‘gaminglistic’ budget monitors.
We would be lying if we promise you a performance equal to the mouthwatering experience you get from top ultra-HD 4k monitors but you’ll be in for satisfactory gaming fun too with these pocket-friendly displays.
This can be explained by the addition of high-tech (but less costly) gaming technologies that replace choppy gameplay with smooth, artifact-free performances in most of these monitors.
27″ Monitor under $200 Buying Guide
All in all, you may choose an LCD monitor based on underlying tech but more people worry more about factors like desired contrast, color reproduction, viewing angles, etc.
When you are looking for a monitor to buy, there are several things you should consider to make sure you get the best 27-inch monitor for your money.
There are a variety of factors to consider, such as the resolution of the monitor, size of the monitor, and what kind of other features you want the monitor to have.
Here is a quick look into the bare minimums:
Resolution:
For starters, monitor resolution is simply the visual dimensions – width and height- used for the display of images, text, pieces of art, etc.
It usually comprises a given number of pixels (picture elements) and the higher the resolution, the better the picture clarity.
At this level, the maximum you can hope for is 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels, also known as FHD or Full HD, 2K, and BT.709) which is fantastic even for non-advanced gaming applications.
Otherwise, you have to up your budget if you wish to go for greater resolutions (2560 x 1440 -also called 1440p- or the high-end 4K).
Panel Technology:
Back to the issue of LCD and this time we’re focusing on the specific display technologies.
You see, LCD monitors either use Twisted Nematic (TN) panels, Vertical Alignment (VA) panels or as hinted earlier In-Plane Switching (IPS) panels.
Here is a breakdown of the main pros and cons in each case:
| Panel technology | Greatest strength | Strongest weakness |
| TN panels | Extremely affordable | You will notice color shifts when viewing the screen from certain angles. |
| VA panels | Best contrast ratios. | Sluggish response times cause noticeable blurring, for example, in gaming |
| IPS panels | Best-in-class color quality, larger viewing angles. | Susceptibility to ghosting due to the slower pixel response |
Pixel Response:
A faster pixel response – the time the monitor takes to have an LCD pixel transit from fully active to fully inactive- means improved picture quality.
Refresh Rate:
Likewise, the higher the refresh rate (the number of times, per second, the monitor redraws its image), the less the image blurring (and screen tearing) for you.
Function-specific attributes:
You may desire to have certain features depending on the planned use.
For example, you may want extras that are advantageous to gaming if you’re looking for the best 27-inch gaming monitor for under $200.
A thrilling gaming innovation to check for is strobed backlight – it brings lower pixel persistence times minimizing motion blur when playing.
Similarly, touch functionality can be handy if you’ll be using the monitor in a POS point-of-sale system.
One more question: Curved or flat monitor?
Well, there is a lot of hype surrounding curved monitors but the truth is, at 27-inches, you may not always notice much difference in the picture with a curved screen.
But in terms of aesthetics, I have to admit that curved screens appear much more pleasing to the eye.
Best 27 Inch Monitor under 200 Dollars Reviews
We reveal our top picks in the best 27” monitor under the $200 category below:
Acer 27-inch Full HD G276HL Kbix (1920 x 1080) Zero Frame VA Monitor
Acer is known for its excellence when it comes to low-priced monitors and this is arguably Acer’s best budget 27-inch monitor.
Its wonderful collection of features makes it one of the monitors to beat in the $200 range!
Click to View Price and Customer Reviews on Amazon
Features
This widescreen VA (vertical alignment) monitor has everything needed to deliver a dazzling visual performance in casual gaming, office productivity applications, and multimedia.
The highlights are the full HD (1920×1080) resolution, known for its stunning panoramic views, the 100 Million:1 contrast ratio that helps form a crystal-clear picture, and the rapid-fast 4ms response time that makes movie watching cinematic.
You can even optimize the image rendering to taste in different situations at the touch of a button thanks to the Acer eColor Management function.
We also love that it’s pretty thin and unobtrusive and its gorgeous looks.
The best 27-inch monitor under 200 dollars comes with VGA, DVI (w/HDCP), and HDMI ports and an X-shaped stand for mounting.
Pros
- Fit nicely in nearly all spaces.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Intuitive on-screen menu.
Cons
- No HDMI cable.
- Lacks built-in speakers.
HP 27er 27-Inch 1080p Full HD IPS LED Monitor
This is the thinnest LCD display from HP (just 6.3 mm at the thinnest point) and one of the top-selling 27 inches monitors in the market today.
We are in awe of its mind-blowing ultra-wide view from virtually any angle- easily tilt it -5 degrees to +25 degrees for more immersive viewing.
Click to View Price and Customer Reviews on Amazon
Features
You have plenty to be excited about here.
Topping the list is frameless engineering that translates to vivid imagery in widescreen as the entirety of the screen is being utilized.
Next, this uses IPS technology (w/ LED backlight) so you have the best color accuracy to go with the amazing viewing angles (178 degrees vertical and horizontal).
And with anti-glare coating, reflections are not an issue either.
Color reproduction is decent -it has, in fact, been awarded the glamorous Technicolor Color Certification.
The HP monitor matches Acer G276HL’s full HD resolution and refresh rate (60Hz) while its dynamic contrast ratio stands at 5 million:1.
With the best monitor under 200, you get 2 HDMI ports, a VGA port, along with a sturdy stand.
Overall, this is a fantastic alternative to some of the wishy-washy monitors out there.
Pros
- Lightweight.
- Panoramic viewing.
- More customizable settings.
Cons
- Slower response time (7ms)
Samsung LC27F398FWNXZA C27F398 27-Inch Curved LED Monitor
The Samsung LC27F398FWNXZA uses the industry-leading 1800R screen curvature to deliver the ultimate immersive viewing.
We recommend this for those searching for the best curved 27inch monitor under 200 especially if you are after an advanced gaming experience.
Click to View Price and Customer Reviews on Amazon
Features
How you work and play will never be the same with this gem.
Look: because the curve is more pronounced, the content is not only big, bold, and breathtaking but also incredibly comfy to the eye.
Indeed, once engaged, the monitor’s unique eye saver mode eliminates blue light emissions/flickers for unsurpassed eye comfort when reading documents, editing photos, playing games, etc.
I haven’t even mentioned the stunningly vivid colors (Samsung’s Active Crystal Color technology is at play here) and spectacularly smooth images even when viewing the fastest gaming scenes (credit goes to AMD’s FreeSync technology here)!
The other reason why this produces an extraordinarily clear picture during such scenes is the swift 4ms response time (the best among the three monitors).
The cute circular stand adds a contemporary look to your home/office with the help of the classic glossy black finish.
Pros
- Stylish.
- Reduce image tearing/stutter during gaming (game mode).
- Automatically cuts screen brightness to conserve power.
Cons
- Not the slimmest monitor.
Wrap up
With this guide, we wanted to make shopping for the best 27-inch monitor under 200 less daunting and we hope you have found it helpful.
Okay, we have highlighted the key considerations to have in mind but that doesn’t mean that your personal preferences are less important- do include them.
Be sure to add any special brands you have come to trust too and anything else that you feel matters.
Ultimately, you want to make a choice you’ll be proud of.