There are many monitors on the market. But getting the best fit, which delivers great value for money is time-consuming and difficult. At the $400 price point, you will find the perfect balance between the specs it packs and the price it’s sold. That is why we have created a list of carefully picked best monitors under 400 dollars price point in mind. No matter if you are an avid gamer, a professional – content creator, photo editor, etc. and/or a casual user we have all types of monitors on our list. Let us quickly look at the list below to learn more.
List of Best Monitors Under 400 Dollars:
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Acer Predator XB253Q: Best for Gaming
Specifications:Screen Size: 24.5 inches | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Panel Type: IPS | Refresh Rate: 240 Hz | Response time: up to 0.5 ms | Ergonomic: Tilt: -5° to 25°, Height Adjustment Range: 4.7″, Swivel: +/-20°, Pivot: +/-90° | Ports: 1 x Display Port, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x Audio-out & 4 x USB 3.0 Ports | Variable Refresh Rate: Nvidia G-Sync | HDR: VESA HDR400
Picture Quality:
The 24.5 inches screen combined with Full-HD resolution can easily give a respectable pixel density of 90 PPI (pixels per inch). It is just right for the text and graphics to appear sharp and easily visible. It is a very distinctive gaming monitor because there are not many monitors in the market with the advantages of having an IPS panel and still able to achieve such right refresh rate and low response time.
Moreover, Acer Predators XB253Q’s IPS panel can offer wide viewing angles of 178°. It means no color shift when gaming or using the monitor at any other viewing angle. If this is not impressive enough, you will definitely love the vivid, accurate, and consistent color produced by its IPS panel which will provide an advantage when gaming. It’s 99% sRGB gamut and 8-bit color depth produces 16.7 million colors which are impressive.
Besides, the panel has a standard contrast ratio of 1000:1 and peak brightness of 400 nits. It is VESA HDR400 certified meaning it can perform screen level local dimming. it increases the dynamic contrast of the screen.
Performance:
The performance of Acer Predators XB253Q is impressive. It is that rare monitor that has the advantages of an IPS panel and still manages to produce a refresh rate of 240 Hz and an amazingly low response time of up to 0.5 ms. The high refresh rates offer a smooth gaming experience and low pixel response time ensures no ghosting or trailing when objects are moving fast while playing games.
Besides, it supports VRR(Variable refresh rate) with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-SYNC technology. It enables the capability of changing its refresh rate dynamically according to fps, which helps in eliminating screen tearing and stuttering.
What more you can ask. This is the reason it is the best monitor in terms of both performance and image quality. It is the perfect balance that is expected from an ideal gaming monitor.
Design:
The monitor stands on a tripod-like stand which gives a solid base to the monitor. The stand is quite flexible offering a Tilt of -5° to 25°, an overall height adjustment range of 4.7 inches, a swivel range of +/-20°, and a Pivot motion of +/-90°. The look of the monitor is aggressive and surely gives the vibe of a gaming monitor. The monitor is made of high-quality plastic painted all in black.
The Acer logo is on the left side at the back and also you will find a predator logo on the tip of the stand. It also has accent lines near the top of the stand which adds up to the overall look of the monitor. The bezels around the monitors are very slim which makes it more favorable for a multi-monitor setup. Also, reflection handling is on point all because of its low-haze anti-glare coating on the screen.
To sum up, it is the best gaming monitor you can get at this price point currently. The refresh rate of 240 Hz, Low response time of 0.5 ms, VESA HDR400 certification, and on-point color accuracy and consistency of the IPS panel does it all.
If you are looking for even cheaper gaming monitors check out our 5 Best gaming monitors under $300 post.
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Dell U2520DR: Best for Photo or Video Editing
Specifications:
Screen Size: 25 inches | Resolution: QHD – 2560 x 1440 | Pixels Per Inch: 117.5 | Panel Type: IPS | Color Coverage: 99% sRGB, 99% Rec. 709 and 95% DCI-P3 | Native Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 | Max Brightness: 350 nits | Ergonomic: Tilt: -5° to 21°, Height Adjustment Range: 5.1″, Swivel Angle: 90°, Pivot: +/-90° | Ports: 2 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 2 x USB-C, 3 x USB 3.0, 1 x 3.5 mm audio line-out | HDR: VESA HDR400
Picture Quality:
The Overall picture Quality is the key aspect to look carefully when choosing monitor for photo or video editing, especially color coverage. It is the ability of the panel to display different range of colors. Dell U2520DR’s color coverage is astounding. It is rated 99% sRGB, 99% Rec. 709 and 95% DCI-P3 which is just right for professional editing work.
The 25-inch screen size with a high res QHD display translates to a pixel density of 117.5 PPI (pixels per inch). Meaning clear, easy-to-read text, and sharper graphics.
The monitor’s high-quality IPS panel produces excellent colors and is very consistent. Also, the monitor is calibrated out of the box at 99% sRGB, ▲E < 2 for accurate colors right. The native contrast ratio is quite standard being 1000:1. Peak brightness is 350 nits which is okay unless using the monitor under direct sunlight also because of poor reflection handling. It supports HDR10 which works fine. Nothing extraordinary because of the fact it has an average peak brightness rating and decent black uniformity.
Moreover, the monitor is VESA HDR400 certified, a basic level of VESA HDR ratings. As a result, the monitor can dynamically increase its contrast and color remain consistent and rich even at peak brightness.
Performance:
The Dell U2520DR is a decent performing monitor and that is okay considering it primarily for photo or video editing. You can use it for casual gaming at 60 Hz as it has extremely low input lag and an impressive response time (5 ms).
Design:
The U2520DR is a very sleek and modern looking monitor. It has a black finish in front and grayish at the back. The stand is sturdy, minimalistic, and provides solid support to the monitor. Also, it supports a wide range of movements like swivel (90°), Tilt (-5°/+21°), Rotation (180°), and height adjustment of 5.1 inches. If you want to mount the monitor for some reason, you would be happy to know it has VESA 100 x 100 mm mount.
Overall, Dell’s U2520DR provides solid color accuracy and coverage, a minimalistic and modern design, and a wide range of ports.
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ViewSonic VG2755 – 2K: Best for Office
Specifications:
Screen Size: 27 inches | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Panel Type: IPS | Native Contrast Ratio: 1000 : 1| Max Brightness: 350 nits| Color Coverage: 100% sRGB | Ergonomic: Tilt: -5° to 40°, Height Adjustment Range: 130 mm, Swivel: 120°, Pivot: +/-90° | Ports: 1 x Display Port, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 3 x USB 3.1-A, 1 x USB 3.1-B, 1 x USB 3.1-C Ports | Viewing Angles: 178º horizontal, 178º vertical
Picture Quality:
Let us start with one of the important aspect for the office monitors that is screen. It has QHD(2560 x 1440) display and 27 inch screen size which delivers enough pixel density for the text to be very clear and crisp. Also, it features wide viewing angles of 178° both H/V. It helps you easily share your screen with colleagues without losing color accuracy and consistency.
Another essential aspect is Flickr handling. It is because it makes long sessions on the monitor easy to the eyes. Fortunately, ViewSonic VG2755 – 2K has Flicker-Free technology and a Blue Light Filter which does the job well. The monitor also has 100% sRGB coverage means it can show a wider range of color than other standard monitors.
Performance:
The performance on ViewSonic VG2755 – 2K is more than enough for office work. Surprisingly, its low response time of 5 ms and low input lag combined with a 60 Hz refresh rate makes it suitable for decent gaming also.
Design:
The monitor stands on a firm rectangular base stand. The stand itself is rectangular shaped and provides strong support to the monitor itself. Its thin and seamless bezels around make it even more suitable for a multi-monitor setup.
The stand is very flexible. It provides a wider range of movements of Tilt: -5° to 40°, Height Adjustment Range: 130 mm, Swivel: 120°, and Pivot: +/-90°. It can be adjusted accordingly whether you are sitting on the desk or standing at times.
In conclusion, 27-inch QHD display, wide viewing angles, modern look, and flexible adjustments of ViewSonic VG2755 – 2K makes it a perfect monitor for office under $400 in 2020.
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LG 32UD60-B: Best for Movies or Streaming
Specifications:
Screen Size: 31.5 inches | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Panel Type: VA| Peak Brightness: 300 nits | Color Coverage: 95% DCI-P3 | Native Contrast Ratio: 3000 : 1 | Speakers: 2 x 5W
Picture Quality:
LG 32UD59-B’s 4k 32″ screen is best suitable for viewing movies or streaming online. It can produce deep blacks-perfect when watching movies in the darkroom. It has a contrast ratio of about 3000:1 which is about 3 times higher than other LED LCD panels. Also, the monitor has wider color coverage meaning it can show a wide variety of colors and hence improves color accuracy.
Moreover, color reproduction on this monitor is in its league of its own. Once calibrated, it delivers excellent color reproduction. However, the two disadvantages of this monitor are one, its poor viewing angles. Eventually, the color accuracy and brightness as viewing from side decreases notably. Another disadvantage is its lower peak brightness. It is only problematic if you are using it in a very bright room or under direct sunlight.
Otherwise, it is a very impressive monitor for movies or streaming and gives an immersive viewing experience
Performance:
An important aspect many people might be sensitive to is flicker. It is important, especially when looking at monitors for longer times like in gaming or movies. Thankfully, it has no signs of visible flicker. Talking about other factors, it has a very impressive pixel response time of 4ms, which is fast than most other monitors. It also supports AMD FreeSync technology which matches fps to screen refresh rate in the range of 48 to 60 Hz. It can eliminate screen tearing or stuttering in that limited range.
Design:
Nothing too extraordinary in the looks of the monitor. The monitor is made of high-quality plastic. It has this matte black color coating. The bezels around the monitor are okay. Not too thin nor too thick either.
The stand of the monitor is solid and doesn’t let this huge monitor wobble too much. It is also painted in a matte black color similar to the monitor. However, it is slightly disappointing that the ergonomic options are limited. It only supports height adjustment (120 mm) and Tilt (-5° to 40°). But, you can mount it on VESA 100 x 100 mount.
To summarize, it is a very well suited monitor for movies in this budget. It has deep blacks, a wider color gamut, rich color reproduction, high res, and a huge display which says it all.
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Acer Nitro XV340CK: Best Overall
Specifications:
Screen Size: 34 inches | Resolution: 3440 x 1440 | Panel Type: IPS | Refresh Rate: 144 Hz | Response time: 1 ms | Native Contrast Ratio: 1000 : 1 | Peak Brightness: 250 nits | Ergonomic: Tilt: -5° to 35° only| Ports: 2 x Display Ports, 2 x HDMI 2.0 & 2 x USB 3.0 Ports | Variable Refresh Rate: AMD FreeSync | HDR: HDR10 | Speakers: 2 x 3W
Acer Nitro XV340CK is a monitor that does not excel at all the criteria like gaming, editing, or watching movies in particular. Rather it is a monitor that combines the characteristics of all other monitors into one at a moderate level. This makes it the best monitors under 400 overall.
Picture Quality:
Acer XV340CK’s 3440×1440 resolution, 34-inch huge screen translates to a pixel density of about 110 PPI (pixels per inch). This makes everything sharper and immersive whether it is high res gaming, or QHD movie watching experience, or editing photos or videos.
It has an IPS panel which means colors are accurate, consistent, and vivid. Color coverage on this monitor is pretty decent, with 99% sRGB coverage it has enough variety of color. It has a true color depth of 8 bit producing 16.7 million colors. It supports HDR10 which will provide a more dynamic range, bright, and vibrant colors. The viewing angles are great on this monitor. No distortion visible even though it has a flat ultrawide display.
Moreover, the Acer XV340CK has a peak brightness of 250 nits. It is okay for normal conditions, unless in very bright rooms or under direct sunlight as glare would overcome the screen visibility. Also, you might see some backlight bleeding. It is normal with IPS panel and the bleed is not bothering.
Overall it is a good viewing experience on this ultrawide monitor.
Performance:
The Acer XV340CK delivers a very low pixel response time of 1 ms with VRB(Visual Response Boost ) enabled and a lower input lag of about 5 ms. That is extraordinary and improves overall gaming performance.
It packs FreeSync support, which improves gaming performance by eliminating screen tearing and stuttering. FreeSync changes the refresh rate of the monitor on the go to match the fps without compromising much of the input lag.
The AMD FreeSynch works in the range of 48-144Hz. If fps goes below 48, the frames rates are multiplied to give you smoother performance. This is cool. Although Acer XV340CK does not support G-Sync automatically, it can be enabled manually.
Design:
The monitor stands on a circular based stand which provides firm support to this huge ultrawide monitor with minimal wobble. The stands look standard and it is painted black. The stand only offers -5°/35° tilt adjustments. Thankfully, it is VESA compatible mount.
Moving on to the monitor itself, it looks nice overall. It has thinner look with super-thin bezels all around except for than big chin. Both monitor and stand are made of high-quality plastic material and doesn’t feel cheap.
Connectivity options on Acer XV340CK includes 2 x HDMI 2.0 ports, 2 x DisplayPort 1.4, a headphones jack, 3 x USB 3.0 (1 upstream and 2 down), and a dual 3W integrated speakers.
Lastly:
I hope that the above-mentioned list of top 5 best monitors under 400 dollars helped you choose your best fit and helped you in finalizing or at least shortlisting your preferred monitor. Happy Shopping. See you soon. If this post is helpful please share this post with your friends and family. You can find all the sharing options below the post. Much appreciated.
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