We're refreshing our picks
Prices for monitors in this category have moved above £150 since our last review. We track the market daily and will restore the under-£150 recommendations the moment products come back into bracket.
In the meantime, here are the nearest brackets with current picks:
Frequently Asked Questions
Here's the thing: while LG makes brilliant monitors, their budget range rarely hits the £150 mark in the UK. The monitors we've tested here are from AOC, MSI, KOORUI, and Samsung, which offer better value at this price point. These brands deliver similar or better specs than LG's budget offerings, often with higher refresh rates and better panel technology for the money.
The AOC Gaming C27G42E is our top budget gaming pick. You get a 27-inch curved VA panel with 180Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium. For slightly more, the KOORUI G2721E offers 1440p resolution and a ridiculous 320Hz refresh rate, making it exceptional value for competitive gaming.
It depends on your use case. For general work and casual gaming, 1080p at 24-27 inches looks perfectly sharp. But if you've got a decent graphics card and want sharper text for productivity, the KOORUI G2721E delivers 1440p for under £200, which is proper decent value. Just make sure your PC can drive the higher resolution.
Most monitors in this price range come with manufacturer warranties of 1-3 years, plus you get Amazon's 30-day return policy if you're not happy. AOC and MSI both offer solid warranty support in the UK. Always check the specific warranty terms before buying, and keep your receipt.
IPS panels offer better colour accuracy and wider viewing angles, making them brilliant for content creation and multi-monitor setups. VA panels typically have better contrast ratios and deeper blacks, which is why they're popular for gaming monitors. For budget monitors, VA panels often deliver better value, though modern Fast IPS panels like the one in the KOORUI G2721E close the gap nicely.
