The 10 Best Cheap Second Monitors in 2022
For gaming, work, and everything in between
If you spend a decent amount of time (like most of us do) at your PC, a second monitor is a must.
But that shouldn’t mean you have to fork out the same price tag as your primary screen, it’s secondary for a reason!
That’s why today, we’ll be looking through the best budget second monitors for your setup.
We’re not just including the cheapest we can find, but the ones we confidently recommend despite their lower price tags.
- Overall Best Cheap Second Monitor: Acer SB220Q
- Best Cheap Second Gaming Monitor: AOC G2490VX
- Best Cheap Second Monitor for Streaming: HP VH240a
- Cheapest Second Monitor Worth Buying: Sceptre E205W-16003R
- Best Cheap Second Screen for Laptop: ASUS ZenScreen
- Best Cheap 4K Second Monitor: Spectre U275W-UPT
- Best Cheap Second 1440p Monitor: Spectre E275W-QPT
- Best Cheap 1440p Second Screen for Gaming: Spectre E275B-QPT168
- Best Cheap Second Ultrawide Monitor: Spectre C305B-FUN200W
- Best Cheap Second Large Monitor: Philips 325E8
Acer SB220Q
Overall Best Cheap Second Monitor
SPECIFICATIONS*
Screen Size: 21.5″ | Panel Type: IPS | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Refresh Rate: 75Hz | Response Time: 4ms | Brightness: 250 nits | Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Our Rating: 95%
REASONS TO BUY
+ Incredible price
+ Good screen quality
+ Deceptively thin and well-built
REASONS TO AVOID
Topping the list is one of the most impressive value offerings in today’s market.
The Acer SB220Q somehow manages to pack in some decent specifications at a price point where many rival manufacturers don’t even offer a full HD monitor.
On top of the 1080p resolution (which, at 21.5″, looks very crisp), the cheap screen boasts an IPS panel with decent colors and contrast.
The 4ms response time means it’s perfectly serviceable for budget gaming (we do have a more recommended screen for gaming below if you can stretch your budget though).
We’re pleased to see that the listing includes 24″/27″ model options. These are not just similar in spec, but also in value (of course, always expect to pay a little more for larger sizes). Where possible, we recommend picking up a budget second display that’s the same size as your primary screen for aesthetics and ease of use across different content (that said, a smaller display is also OK for your second screen, which is why we specifically recommend the 21.5″ option as the best cheap choice).
At this price point, you can’t expect everything to be the best. As highly as we rate the SB220Q, its brightness is a tad low (250 nits is quite common in monitors, but if your screen faces a lot of sunlight, you may want to consider a slightly more expensive option). The picture quality is good, but you will certainly find better colors, blacks, and whites at higher prices.
We’re pleased to see the monitor is sturdy and well-built, with the only area lacking being limited adjustability (if you want your second monitor to align vertically, see our top streaming pick).
When we think of usages of a second screen, it’s often work-related, IMs, background video content, and internet browsing.
What we love about the SB220Q is, compared to other monitors at the same price, it is perfectly suitable for al