The Best Cheap Monitors That Are Easy on the Eyes

We’re in front of our screens with greater frequency so digital eye strain has become a more prevalent and concerning issue for all ages. For better or worse, we’re not about to cut ourselves off from viewing and using our screens, but we can upgrade our work and home (or work-from-home) computer monitors to minimize eye fatigue. These days, monitors come in a dizzying variety of sizes and specifications, but using a larger model with high screen quality may translate to less strain on your eyes.

If you haven’t shopped for a monitor in a while, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that prices for a large, bright screen have become more affordable in recent years. For less than $500, you can score an excellent name-brand monitor with high resolution. There are even some great models at $250 or less. Here are our eagle-eyed picks.

The Best Cheap Monitors

The Expert: As a tech journalist who writes for The New York Times, The Atlantic, and more, I spend an enormous amount of time looking at monitors for both work and fun. I am constantly battling eye strain, so I am always on the lookout for a monitor that is just right in terms of size and resolution. I currently use a 32-inch 4K monitor that I hook up to my 16-inch M1 MacBook Pro as an external display.

What to Look for in a Cheap Monitor

Keep these factors in mind when you’re figuring out which brand would work best for your needs.

Size

Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to monitors, although you’ll want it to be large enough for a comfortable view. The sweet spot for most people is about 24 to 32 inches. Those dimensions allow you to look at two documents side by side or get immersed in a game without overwhelming a desk or compromising sharpness. Be sure to measure the size of your space so you know what size can comfortably fit.

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Refresh Rate

For gamers, refresh rate is a crucial measurement. It refers to the frequency at which the screen updates with new images each second, measured in Hertz (Hz). For most applications, a higher refresh rate means smoother visual quality. But the refresh rate doesn’t matter much for web browsing and word processing. The basic refresh rate for desktop monitors is 60Hz. More expensive monitors are available that offer up to 240Hz refresh rates. Gamers should pick a monitor with at least 75Hz.

Lighting

Some monitor makers are now taking steps to reduce eye strain by limiting the amount of blue light emitted by their screens. BenQ, for example, has some cool blue-light filtering tech in their monitors. Mac users can take advantage of a similar feature with Night Shift. Additionally, monitors that are too bright can also cause eye irritation. While you can adjust the brightness yourself, some newer monitors offer automatic brightness adjustment. It saves you a step and assures, due to built-in light sensors, that brightness is at an optimal level.

Shape

Give special consideration to curved monitors since they can create the illusion that you’re immersed in whatever you are looking at on the screen. Lower-end curved monitors tend to have a lot of glare, though, and they can be more expensive than the flat version.

How We Selected These Cheap Monitors

I researched the specifications and evaluated reviews for dozens of monitors that cost less than $500 and tried many of them out myself. I looked for monitors that offer good color reproduction and a crisp picture while also keeping in mind the overall aesthetics of the display. After all, no one wants an ugly monitor on their desk!