If you’re in the market for a new ultrawide monitor, but you don’t have an enormous budget, in this guide, we’ve compared six afforable ultrawide displays to help you find an option that suits your needs.
We recently took a look at the best ultrawide monitors overall and today we’re going to look at the top options under $500. The market for ultrawide monitors is similar to the market for G-Sync monitors… the average price of an ultrawide display is fairly expensive. However, even the cheapest G-Sync monitor will set you back ~$350, whereas you can get an ultrawide monitor for under $200.
And, there are a handful of sub-$300 ultrawide options out there as well (something you can’t find with G-Sync monitors.)
In any case, if you’re looking for a cheap ultrawide monitor, we listed six options that all come in under $500 below (with one option coming in below $200). So, if you just don’t want to spend quite as much to get one of the higher-end options out there, one of the displays below should work for you.
Best Budget Ultrawide Monitors
2. Sceptre C355W-3440UN (Largest)
3. Sceptre C305B-200UN1 (Value)
Quick Look at the Top Ultrawide Monitors Under $500
In order to narrow the selection down a bit further, we selected our picks for the top four ultrawide monitors under $500. We’ve made our pick for the best option for gamers, the option with the largest screen, the best value option, and the cheapest ultrawide monitor currently available.
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NAME | SPECS | RATING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
GAMING
|
 |
AOC CU34G2X |
|
/10 | |
|
LARGEST
|
 |
Sceptre C355W-3440UN |
|
/10 | |
|
VALUE
|
 |
Sceptre C305B-200UN1 |
|
/10 | |
|
BUDGET
|
 |
LG 29WP60G-B |
|
/10 |
*To read more about each of these affordable ultrawide monitors, click on “Read Review »” to jump to our overview on that specific display. You can also scroll down on this post to see our Honorable Mention picks.
Best Option for Gaming:
AOC CU34G2X
We chose the AOC CU34G2X as our top pick for the best cheap ultrawide display for gaming. It actually comes in at just under $500 and it offers a huge 34″ screen with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 3440 x 1440.
It also has an excellent 144Hz refresh rate to pair with its higher-resolution display. And, it also comes with Adaptive-Sync technology to help make your games feel ultra smooth.
Furthermore, the AOC CU34G2X opts for a curved panel (1500R curvature) to provide better viewing angles and a more immersive experience
Ultimately, we felt that the AOC CU34G2X offered a great combination of features for gamers and with a 144Hz refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync included, it would pair well with a high-end gaming PC build to deliver an excellent gaming experience.
Largest Option Under $400:
Sceptre C355W-3440UN
If you’re more of a casual gamer, or you just want an ultrawide monitor that has more screen real estate, then you might want to consider the Sceptre C355W-3440UN.
The C355W-3440UN comes with the largest screen size out of all of the other options on this list. And, it’s also cheaper than the AOC CU34G2X. Along with its huge 35″ display, it also comes with a 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratio with a total resolution of 3440 x 1440.
And, while it doesn’t have the ultra fast 144Hz or 200Hz refresh rate of the monitors above and below, it does come with a 100Hz refresh rate. That will still offer an upgraded gaming experience over the standard 60Hz display.
However, for the same price, you can land an affordable 144Hz monitor. It won’t have an ultrawide screen, but if you’re a hardcore gamer, that might suit you better.
In any case, if screen size is your main goal, the Sceptre C355W-3440UN not only has you covered there, but at a little under $450, it is a very affordable display as well.
Our Top Value Pick:
Sceptre C305B-200UN1
Another option that we like—mainly because of its price—is the Sceptre C305B-200UN1. It comes with a 30″ screen with a 21:9 aspect ratio, an insane 200Hz refresh rate, and a total 2560 x 1080 resolution.
So, while it does have a lower-resolution display than the two options listed above, it does boast a much higher refresh rate. The lower resolution will actually be better for serious gamers who need to ensure that they’re getting a high enough framerate to take advantage of their higher refresh rate.
And, with the lower resolution, this display will work better for anyone who doesn’t have an extreme gaming PC and instead has to settle for a budget-oriented system.
The other great thing about the Sceptre C305B-200UN1 is how affordable it is. At just over $300, it is easily one of the cheapest ultrawide monitors currently available.
All-in-all, if you’re looking for an inexpensive ultrawide monitor that will work well for gaming, the Sceptre C305B-200UN1 is the perfect option to consider.
Cheap Ultrawide Monitor:
LG 29WP60G-B
If you didn’t think you could get an ultrawide display for under $300, think again. For right about ~$250 you can land the LG 29WP60G-B. It’s a bit smaller than the other options on this list, but it comes with a 29″ screen with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a total resolution of 2560 x 1080.
So, in terms of specifications, it’s very similar to the Sceptre C305B-200UN1 listed above, but just with a smaller screen size—and, with a much lower refresh rate (75Hz versus 200Hz). This means that if you’re a serious gamer, you’ll likely want to forego this option. And, since the Sceptre display listed above is only ~$50 more expensive, that is probably the better option for you.
However, if you’re not a gamer and you’re just looking for the cheapest ultrawide monitor you can get your hands on, then the LG 29WP60G-B is porbably the right option for you.
Honorable Mention #1:
LG 34UM69G-B
Another decent option for an affordable ultrawide monitor is the LG 34UM69G-B. It comes with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a 2560 x 1080 resolution. It also comes with AMD’s FreeSync technology as well.
It also comes with a larger 34″ screen size and a slightly higher refresh rate (75Hz) than a standard 60Hz display. However, it does cost quite a bit more than the Sceptre C305B-200UN1. So, while it is a decent overall option, its specs are a bit dated for the price it comes in at—especially if you’re looking to game on it.
So, if you want to save some money and you’re looking for an ultrawide monitor for gaming, the Sceptre C305B-200UN1 listed above would likely be the best option for you.
Honorable Mention #2:
ASUS Designo MX299Q
Finally, we have the ASUS Designo MX299Q. While it isn’t a bad option per se, it doesn’t really offer anything that warrants recommending it over the other options on this list.
And, the main reason for that is the price it comes in at. At ~$350 it is the second most expensive ultrawide display on this list despite not really offering any specs or features that help it stand out over its lower-priced competitors. It does come with a 29″ screen that has a 21:9 aspect ratio and features a 2560 x 1080 resolution.
The one thing that the ASUS Designo MX299Q does have that none of the other options on this list come with are built-in speakers. Of course, at the ~$110-$130 premium it comes in over the options mentioned above, you can easily find a set of speakers that will offer a better sound quality.
So, unless the MX299Q drops in price significantly, we’d recommend one of the options above instead.
Is A Sub-$500 Ultrawide Monitor Worth It?
While the average price for ultrawide displays is fairly high, there are some budget-friendly options out there. And, in this guide we’ve compared six cheap ultrawide monitors under $500 to help you find an affordable option that will suit your needs. So, if you’re in the market for an ultrawide monitor that won’t break the bank, one of the displays listed above should work for you.
