5 Best Budget 144Hz Gaming Monitors in the UK

Gone are the days when you had to splurge on a good gaming monitor. In fact, if you’re looking for the best 144Hz gaming monitor, then you’ve come to the right place. Off late, there has been an influx of HRR or high refresh rate gaming monitors. Naturally, you might be wondering about the best 144Hz gaming monitors that don’t break the bank.

To that end, we’ve accumulated a list of five enticing devices from reputable brands that punch well above their weight in the performance department.

So, without any further ado, let’s take a closer look at the best 144Hz gaming monitors. But first, you might also want to check out-

Now, let’s get this show on the road.

1.  ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A

  • Screen Size: 23.8-inch | Screen Refresh Rate: Up to 165Hz
  • Screen Resolution: Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) 
  • Display Technology: IPS | Screen Response Time: 1ms
ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A 144Hz Gaming Monitor

ASUS’ TUF range of gaming notebooks and peripherals have been the go-to devices for budget buyers for a hot minute. And, the company’s 23.8-inch gaming monitor hits the nail on the head in terms of price and performance. To that end, the VG249Q1A gaming monitor ships with an IPS panel, that should overturn more realistic colours compared to its TN and VA counterparts. 

More notably, the monitor will complement your gaming setup immensely as it sports a futuristic chassis inspired by a stealth fighter. That’s not all, as the device comes with a bunch of other interesting features, including a ‘Shadow Boost’ mode. As its moniker suggests, enabling the feature boosts the shadows in a game without overexposing the highlights. As a result, you will be able to spot enemies hiding in darker areas of a map easily. 

You’ll also get other software niceties with the monitor, including flicker-free technology which reduces flicker. As a result, you’ll notice lesser eye strain seep in when you’re gaming for hours on end. More notably, the monitor’s screen is capped at 144Hz out of the box.

That said, ASUS allows gamers to overclock the display refresh rate to 165Hz, which is bonkers. Add to that an assortment of connectors, including DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI v1.4 ports and the VG249Q1A is among the best 144Hz gaming monitors you can buy at the moment. 

2. MSI Optix G242 

  • Screen Size: 23.8-inch | Screen Refresh Rate: Up to 144Hz
  • Screen Resolution: Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) 
  • Display Technology: IPS | Screen Response Time: 1ms
MSI Optix G242 144Hz Gaming Monitor

MSI needs no introduction and the company’s products are on the lips of every gamer. And, while the brand is better known for its laptops, the company’s Optix G242 gaming monitor is no slouch either. On that note, the monitor is backed by IPS technology and measures 23.8 inches.

The display refreshes at 144Hz, making it a great addition to any gamer’s arsenal. We say this, as you will be able to make the most of eSports games on the monitor. These include FPS titles like Apex Legends and Valorant as well as other competitive games like Rocket League. That’s not all, as the unit boasts a snappy response time of 1 ms. As such, the monitor will react to your inputs snappily as well. 

More notably, the device is backed by a number of software niceties, including a flicker-free display mode as well as Night Vision tech, which enhances the shadows in a given scene. The model’s frame-less design deserves a mention too. To wit, the device ships with sleek bezels that pave the way for a more immersive gaming experience. 

Unsurprisingly, the majority of buyers have left resoundingly positive reviews for the device, with many claiming that the display offers excellent viewing angles and great colours. All said and done, the MSI Optix G242 is among the best 144Hz gaming monitors out right now. 

3. ViewSonic XG2705

  • Screen Size: 27-inch | Screen Refresh Rate: Up to 144Hz
  • Screen Resolution: Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) 
  • Display Technology: IPS | Screen Response Time: 1ms
ViewSonic XG2705 144Hz Gaming Monitor

ViewSonic is a known name in the display space and the brand has a number of high-performance gaming monitors in its portfolio. The company’s XG2705, for instance, ships with a 27-inch display that refreshes at 144Hz. Consequently, buyers looking for a relatively bigger gaming monitor that doesn’t break the bank will find plenty to like here. 

More to the point, the XG2705 is backed by IPS technology, so you will be able to feast your eyes on vivid colours and excellent viewing angles. You’ll also get a fully adjustable ergonomic stand with the device that offers height, tilt, swivel, and even pivot adjustments.

As such, you can align the monitor vertically, if your setup calls for the same. We should also add that the device comes with a bunch of connectors, including but not limited to an HDMI v1.4 slot and a DisplayPort. 

The company even bundles a DisplayPort cable with the gaming monitor, which is great. Lastly, you should know that the monitor comes with an anti-glare finish, which should keep unwarranted reflections at bay. The monitor also boasts a wider-than-standard sRGB gamut at 104 percent. Pool everything together and the ViewSonic XG2705 makes for a compelling gaming monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate.

4. BenQ Mobiuz EX2510S 

  • Screen Size: 24.5-inch | Screen Refresh Rate: Up to 165Hz
  • Screen Resolution: Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) 
  • Display Technology: IPS | Screen Response Time: 1ms
BenQ Mobiuz EX2510S gaming monitor

The BenQ Mobiuz EX2510S has a lot going for it as well. For starters, the monitor is among the handful of budget gaming monitors to be compliant with HDR10. As such, media encoded in the aforementioned format should look better on the Mobiuz EX2510S.

That’s not all, as the device also comes with an IPS display, which offers better colours and wider viewing angles compared to its TN counterparts. BenQ has also furnished the device with a 24.5-inch, Full HD display that refreshes at a whopping 165Hz. That said, you can choose to run the unit at 144Hz as well. That’s not all, as the device also ships with built-in stereo speakers.

Per the reviews, the speakers sound adequate and should suffice for watching movies or videos online. So much so, some buyers even ditched their bookshelf speakers in favor of Mobiuz’s built-in speaker setup. What’s more, the monitor comes with two HDMI 2.0 connectors along with a DisplayPort v1.4 slot. As such, you should be able to route your gaming PC and other consoles through the monitor without any hassles.

On the software side of things, the monitor comes with eye-care tech that should further your gaming sessions by a healthy margin. You can also leverage the system’s Brightness Intelligence Plus feature, which automatically adjusts the display’s color temperature to mitigate headaches and eye strains. Pool everything together and the Mobiuz EX2510S is easily among the best 144Hz gaming monitors. 

5. AOC Gaming Q27G2U

  • Screen Size: 27-inch | Screen Refresh Rate: Up to 144Hz
  • Screen Resolution: QHD (2,560 x 1440) 
  • Display Technology: VA | Screen Response Time: 1ms
AOC Q27G2U gaming monitor

The AOC Gaming Q27G2U is the most expensive monitor on the list. Even so, the unit doesn’t cost an arm and a leg and despite that, comes loaded with incredible features. Display-wise, the monitor gets a 27-inch 2,560 x 1,440 pixels QHD screen. For those unaware, QHD panels offer almost double the pixels found on an FHD screen. 

Unsurprisingly, text and images will appear significantly sharper on a QHD display. Moreover, games running at native 2K resolution will offer much sharper textures and model definitions too. So, if you have a rig that can play games in native QHD resolution, you should definitely snag the AOC Gaming Q27G2U. Do note that the monitor comes with a VA panel. As prefaced previously, VA panels exhibit inferior colors to IPS panels. 

That said, VA panels tend to have the best contrast and reciprocate deeper blacks than an IPS or a TN panel. Moving on, the Q27G2U comes with a 144Hz display, which should be plenty snappy for the majority of gamers.

The monitor also comes with a height-adjustable stand. If anything, we would’ve liked to see built-in speakers with the device. But, with over 20,000 ratings on Amazon, including 79 percent 5-star reviews, the AOC Q27G2U is clearly the go-to choice in its price bracket.

FAQs about Gaming Monitors

1 – Is 60Hz better than 120Hz for gaming?

If you’re playing a game that is capped at 60FPS, then you will not notice any difference when playing the same on a 60Hz screen or a 120Hz screen. However, for uncapped eSports games like Valorant and Apex Legends, the higher the refresh rate, the better. 

2 – Can 144Hz monitor run at 120Hz? 

Yes, most 144Hz monitors support lower refresh rate presets. So, you can choose to run it at 120Hz or even 60Hz. 

3 – Can I play PS4 on a 144Hz monitor? 

Yes, the graphics card can easily drive a 144Hz monitor. 

4 – Can I play PS4 on a 144Hz monitor?

You can play PS4 on a 144Hz monitor. However, note that the PS4 can only output games at 30/60FPS, so you could also use a 60Hz monitor with the console. 

144Hz Supremacy

And, that wraps up our list of the best 144Hz gaming monitors. From where we stand, the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A is a stellar buy, especially if you’re on a budget. That said, buyers looking for a monitor with built-in speakers, or one that can run games natively at 2K resolution should check out the BenQ Mobiuz EX2510S and AOC Q27G2U respectively. 

Last updated on 24 March, 2023

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