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Monitor Radar

Updated Nov 6, 2026

Best monitor for competitive gaming (144 Hz or more and a stated 1 ms) up to $250 dollars today

Today’s picks

  1. The best up to $250
    score 5.5

    Acer

    XV272U

    27″QHD240 Hz

    $230

    No history yet · today

    Amazon: the cheapest today

    Buy on AmazonMore details

    Who it’s for: Competitive gaming · Casual gaming and console

    Pros: Costs 61% less than similar models; Pixel density: 109 ppi, better than most of the list; Refresh rate: 240 Hz, better than most of the list

  2. Best value
    score 5.0

    AOC

    C27G4ZH

    27″Full HD240 Hz

    $200

    No history yet · today

    Amazon: the cheapest today

    Buy on AmazonMore details

    Who it’s for: Competitive gaming · Casual gaming and console

    Pros: Costs 50% less than similar models; Refresh rate: 240 Hz, better than most of the list; Response time (stated): 0.3 ms, better than most of the list

    Cons: Pixel density: 82 ppi, behind most of the list

  3. The cheapest worth buying
    score 4.3

    Acer

    ED270

    27″Full HD200 Hz

    $176

    No history yet · today

    Amazon: the cheapest today

    Buy on AmazonMore details

    Who it’s for: Competitive gaming · Casual gaming and console

    Pros: Costs 41% less than similar models; Refresh rate: 200 Hz, better than most of the list

    Cons: Pixel density: 82 ppi, behind most of the list

  4. Two monitors
    score 4.3

    Samsung

    LS24HG300E

    24″Full HD200 Hz

    $210

    No history yet · today

    Amazon: the cheapest today

    Buy on AmazonMore details

    Who it’s for: Two monitors · Competitive gaming

    Pros: Costs 29% less than similar models; Refresh rate: 200 Hz, better than most of the list

  5. Top pick from MSI
    score 5.2

    MSI

    276CXF

    27″Full HD280 Hz

    $250

    No history yet · today

    Amazon: the cheapest today

    Buy on AmazonMore details

    Who it’s for: Competitive gaming · Casual gaming and console

    Pros: Costs 47% less than similar models; Refresh rate: 280 Hz, better than most of the list; Response time (stated): 0.5 ms, better than most of the list

    Cons: Pixel density: 82 ppi, behind most of the list

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The best monitor for competitive gaming up to $250 today is the Acer XV272U, $230 (score 5.5).

All models: Monitors for competitive gaming up to $250

See the 24 highest-scoring modelsHide the list
Models in the segment, from highest score to lowest
ModelPriceScoreBuy
Acer KG240YGaming (144 Hz or more) · 24″ · Full HD$154at Amazon5.5Buy on Amazon
Acer XV272UGaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · QHD$230at Amazon5.5Buy on Amazon
AOC 25G51ZGaming (144 Hz or more) · 25″ · Full HD$170at Amazon5.4Buy on Amazon
ViewSonic VX2479Gaming (144 Hz or more) · 24″ · Full HD$160at Amazon5.3Buy on Amazon
MSI 276CXFGaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · Full HD$250at Amazon5.2Buy on Amazon
AOC C27G4ZHGaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · Full HD$200at Amazon5.0Buy on Amazon
Acer KG271UGaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · QHD$250at Amazon5.0Buy on Amazon
Sceptre FWT240Gaming (144 Hz or more) · 25″ · Full HD$210at Amazon4.9Buy on Amazon
MSI 245CGaming (144 Hz or more) · 24″ · Full HD$160at Amazon4.5Buy on Amazon
MSI 274QFGaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · QHD$240at Amazon4.5Buy on Amazon
MSI 275QFGaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · QHD$240at Amazon4.5Buy on Amazon
Acer KG241YGaming (144 Hz or more) · 24″ · Full HD$137at Amazon4.4Buy on Amazon
Samsung LS27HG550EGaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · QHD$198at Amazon4.4Buy on Amazon
MSI 274CFGaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · Full HD$200at Amazon4.4Buy on Amazon
MSI 275CFGaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · Full HD$200at Amazon4.4Buy on Amazon
Acer ED300CGaming (144 Hz or more) · 30″ · QHD$235at Amazon4.4Buy on Amazon
Acer ED270Gaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · Full HD$176at Amazon4.3Buy on Amazon
Samsung LS24HG300EGaming (144 Hz or more) · 24″ · Full HD$210at Amazon4.3Buy on Amazon
MSI MP273QWGaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · QHD$240at Amazon4.3Buy on Amazon
Acer KG251QGaming (144 Hz or more) · 25″ · Full HD$146at Amazon4.2Buy on Amazon
MSI 275CQFGaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · QHD$250at Amazon4.2Buy on Amazon
AOC 27G42EGaming (144 Hz or more) · 27″ · Full HD$248at Amazon4.0Buy on Amazon
MSI G242LGaming (144 Hz or more) · 24″ · Full HD$150at Amazon3.9Buy on Amazon
AOC 3-YEARGaming (144 Hz or more) · 24″ · Full HD$150at Amazon3.9Buy on Amazon

Monitors for competitive gaming up to $250 in numbers

How much it costs

Half of the 59 monitors cost up to $192; the range with the most models is from $180 to $200, with 14.

How many models there are in each price range, from $120 to $260. Half cost up to $192; across the whole catalog, the median is $348.4 models between $120 and $14010 models between $140 and $1609 models between $160 and $18014 models between $180 and $2006 models between $200 and $2207 models between $220 and $2409 models between $240 and $260410914679$120$160$200$240
  • half cost up to $192
  • whole catalog: $348 →

Cheapest $120 MSI MP243L rating 3.1

Most expensive $250 MSI 276CXF

See the table by price range
Monitors for competitive gaming up to $250 by price range, against the whole catalog
Price rangeModels in the segmentIn the catalogMedian score of the segmentMedian score of the catalog
Under $1404382.73.0
$140 to $270551883.93.6
$270 to $54002074.0
$540 to $1,10001104.8
Over $1,1000815.2
See these models on the price and score map

What changed

This is the first check with history for this segment. Radar checks prices every day: from the next one on, this section shows what got cheaper, what got more expensive and what came in or left.

Brands

9 brands have a model here; MSI has the most, with 16 models.

and 4 brands more

Confirmed features

Counts only what each model’s listing confirms.

  • 59 of 59 have 144 Hz or more

  • 4 of 59 have confirmed height adjustment

Against the whole catalog

  • −45%median price below the catalog’s
  • −0.1median spec score: 3.9 vs 4.0
  • 9%of the catalog: 59 of 624 models
See the full table
Monitors for competitive gaming up to $250 against the whole catalog
IndicatorMonitors for competitive gaming up to $250Whole catalogDifference
Models596249% of the catalog
Median price$192$348−45%
Median score3.94.0−0.1 ponto
Lowest price$120$90+$30
Highest price$250$4,515−$4,265

How to read these numbers

Pick 1, best score for the price: Acer XV272U, $230 at Amazon, on 06/11/2026. The median price of the 59 models on the list is $192.

How we choose
  • The picks combine a high rating and a price in line with the list: each one fits a way of spending, a use, or the brand that shows up most. The pros and cons come from each model’s spec sheet.
  • Stores: Amazon. We include stores we read every day through an open source or an affiliate program: the Radar collection, the Amazon catalog and the factory price database. A store that failed to load today is left out.
  • The same model in two stores is only merged with a catalog code, GTIN or the manufacturer’s full code. When in doubt, only one store is kept. A price far from the collected one (below 60% or above 150%) is left out.
  • Amazon appears without a price, only with the link: we don’t read Amazon prices in bulk.

Next step

See each monitor on the chart

Open the chart already filtered to Monitors for competitive gaming up to $250.

See monitors for competitive gaming up to $250 on the chart

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best monitor for competitive gaming up to $250 today?

Today it is the Acer XV272U, for $230 (score 5.5).

Which monitor for competitive gaming up to $250 has the best value today?

The AOC C27G4ZH, for $200 (score 5.0).

Which monitor for competitive gaming up to $250 costs less without losing spec score?

The Acer ED270, for $176 (score 4.3).

How much does a monitor for competitive gaming (144 Hz or more and a stated 1 ms) and price up to $250 cost?

In the Nov 6, 2026 catalog, the median price of the 59 models in the segment is $192, and prices range from $120 to $250. The final price is the one at the store.

How does the Radar count the models in this segment?

Included are monitors whose specs or title confirm 144 Hz or more and a stated response time of 1 ms or less. With at least one version at the lowest collected price up to $250. Each model counts once: if it has more than one version within the rule, the price is that of the cheapest version and the others show on the card.

How does the Radar choose the monitors on the "best score for the price" line?

From cheapest to most expensive, the monitor that has a higher spec score than all the cheaper ones in the segment makes the line. Anything that costs more and has an equal or lower score is left out. The line doesn’t say which monitor to buy: it only shows which ones don’t lose on both score and price at once.

How often does this page change?

Every day, with each collection: numbers, chart, ranking and the "What changed" section are rebuilt with the day’s catalog. This edition is from November 6, 2026.

Read next

Monitors for competitive gaming: median of $299Monitors up to $250: median of $180Monitors for competitive gaming up to $200: median of $176Monitors for competitive gaming up to $300: median of $211Monitors for competitive gaming up to $150: median of $145Monitors for competitive gaming up to $350: median of $249Monitors for competitive gaming up to $400: median of $250Monitors for competitive gaming up to $450: median of $269All Radar overviewsOverview of new monitors: price, score and brandSee monitors for competitive gaming up to $250 on the chart
Where the numbers come from

Lowest price seen for the product on Amazon.ca, delivered to Toronto M5V 3L9, on the day it was read, before GST/HST.

The price is the one recorded on the date shown. The spec score doesn’t measure the real calibration or durability.

Data from Nov 6, 2026.