The price difference between the best OLED gaming monitors and OLED TVs is such that a 27-inch 1440p OLED monitor is comparable to a 48-inch 4K OLED TV. But here's the thing: LCD monitors are still very good and can be had for surprisingly low prices.

For proof, consider the ultra-affordable gaming panels from Amazon Prime Day. Prices start at just $90, and the most expensive option is $250. They all have at least 144 Hz high refresh, and you can choose resolutions and form factors from 1080p to 34-inch ultrawides.

The best all-around bargain of the bunch is probably the Acer Nitro XV271U. This is a 27-inch 1440p model with a 1ms IPS panel and 180Hz refresh, which is sort of the sweet spot for size, resolution, and pixel density for gaming.

It's available from Amazon for just $170. Of course, you're expecting a catch, and if there is one, it's the 250 nit brightness rating.

Now, this is a bit disappointing. But it's worth remembering that in terms of desktop SDR punch, it's about on par with megabucks OLED monitors; it's HDR highlights where OLED technology really comes into its own.

Acer's 1440p panel is definitely a bargain, but my pick is the MSI MAG342CQR for $250 on Amazon. This is a 34-inch ultrawide 3,440 x 1,440 pixel panel and is my favorite of the real-world form factor and size options.

Personally, I find the 34-inch ultrawide mile more immersive for gaming and much better suited for everyday tasks at the desktop. For example, it's perfect for running two browser windows side by side.

Spec-wise, the 144 Hz model, while not the best, is adequate in terms of smooth frame rates and adequate latency. The only time you would need something faster is if you are serious about esports, in which case you would probably need a 16:9 panel rather than an ultrawide.

The 300 nits brightness is less of a problem than a particular selling point, and it is inevitably a VA panel rather than an IPS panel; MSI rates it at 1 ms MPRT, so it's probably not a terrible response. But regardless of response claims, modern IPS panels will usually be a bit faster.

Personally, I can accept a slightly slower response in exchange for the size, form factor, pixel density, and all-around immersive experience of an ultrawide monitor in this class. Also, keep in mind that comparable OLED panels cost more than three times as much, but not three times as much as a monitor.

The two cheapest options here are both 24” 1080p panels. I am not a big fan of this form factor, but it makes sense for two use cases. First, these are very inexpensive, so it would be great to get a 165Hz refresh propore gaming monitor for under $100.

The Acer Nitro KC241Y is currently only $90 on Amazon and offers 165Hz refresh and 1ms response. At this price, VA panel technology is no surprise, and this is about as cheap as proper gaming display technology gets.

That said, I would throw another $20 at the problem and get Acer's sibling, the Acer Nitro XF243Y; for $110 from Amazon, you can get an upgrade to both IPS panel technology and 180Hz refresh.

That's enough refresh to compete at a fairly high level in esports, all for a little over $100. Considering how expensive current Nvidia gaming graphics cards are, this is an absolute steal.