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03Best budget IPS gaming monitor
If you’re looking for the best IPS gaming monitor we’ve got you covered right here with our top picks.
IPS monitors have always had specific strengths. The panel switching technology was designed to allow for incredible colour accuracy and impressively wide viewing angles. However, for a while, they had a reputation for the kind of response and refresh rates that were essentially incompatible with gaming.
There has been major breakthrough since then, however, and all the IPS monitors on this list feature 1ms ultra-fast response times and smooth refresh rates.
While IPS monitors excel in performance, like some of the best mini-LED monitors, they are known to come at a premium price. Because of this we have given you a few picks here, including a more budget-friendly option. This means you can still enjoy the perks IPS panels bring, without having to fork out too much. There’s also a description of each monitor too, so you can get a sense of which one might make the most sense for you. Let’s get into it.
Best IPS gaming monitor
Best overall IPS gaming monitor – Acer Nitro XV282K
Acer Nitro XV282K
Screen size
28-inch
Resolution
4K
Response time
1ms
Refresh rate
144Hz
- HDMI 2.1 support
- Wide viewing angle
- Contrast ratio could be better
This monitor from Acer brings all the advantages of IPS panel technology and pairs them with brilliant specs for gaming. It’s got a snappy 1ms response time and the 144Hz refresh rate is perfect for smooth gameplay in competitive online shooters.
At the same time, it has wide viewing angles and the seriously impressive colour accuracy that has made IPS panels so popular. The colour accuracy makes it a great choice for those looking to play immersive open-world games, ones with vast details views. Meanwhile, the 144Hz refresh rate is great for competitive gaming as it is fast enough to offer snappy and responsive gameplay.
It’s also one of the best HDMI 2.1 monitors you can get your hands on. This is especially good for next-gen console gamers, as HDMI 2.1 permits 4K at up to 120Hz, perfectly matching the capabilities of the PS5 for example. Just make sure you have one of the best HDMI 2.1 cables to go with it.
It is the combination of gaming specs with a beautiful 4K display that makes this one of the best gaming monitors out there, for both console and PC.
Best 27 inch IPS gaming monitor – ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ
ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A 27 inch
Screen size
27 inches
Resolution
2560 x 1440p
Response time
1ms
Refresh rate
170Hz
- Fast refresh rate
- Great HDR performance
- No HDMI 2.1
The monitor’s IPS panel means that colours stay true at wide viewing angles. It is also one of the best HDR gaming monitors, a match made in heaven if you ask us as it allows the dynamic range HDR offers to remain consistent across wide viewing angles, far wider than other LED panel types can boast of. This is all further complimented by the screen being among the best 1440p monitors.
On top of that, you also get a brand new feature from ASUS called ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur)-Sync. This technology is able to reduce the motion blur caused by your eye tracking across the screen. It does through a strobing blacklight, which effectively means the monitor is turning on and off for a microsecond between each refresh.
This is great to see and does have a positive impact on reducing blur, one which is further aided by the impressively quick 170Hz refresh rate. One catch is that there is no support for variable refresh rates meaning that screen tearing can sometimes occur.
Best budget IPS gaming monitor – LG UltraGear QHD 27-Inch
LG UltraGear 27GL83A-B
Screen Size
27-inch
Resolution
2560 x 1440
Response time
1ms
Refresh rate
144Hz
- Super fast response time
- Wide colour gamut
- Black uniformity could be better
This is a fast and affordable gaming monitor from LG that gets you an IPS high performance panel for a low price. Such a low price that you might recognise this monitor from our list of the best gaming monitors under $300.
For this, you get the precise colour accuracy and wide viewing angles of an IPS panel, paired with a brilliant 1440p display and a fast 144Hz refresh rate.
One downside of this monitor is its level of black uniformity. Black uniformity denotes a screen’s ability to display blacks evenly across a screen. While this monitor does not perform awfully here, patches of lighter and darker greys can appear.
Frequently asked questions
When looking for gaming monitors you are often confronted with a tonne of confusing jargon. Because of this, we see similar questions coming up again and again. We’ve tried to answer a few of them here.
What does IPS stand for in gaming monitors?
IPS stands for In-Pane Switching. The pane refers to the layers of glass between which a liquid-crystals are sandwiched.
Are IPS monitors good for gaming?
Yes – IPS panels have some of the widest colour gamuts and viewing angles. This is perfect for immersive open-world games, or for playing co-op on a shared screen. What’s more, you can now find many IPS panels with impressively fast refresh and response rates.
