Level Up on a Budget: The Best 1080p Gaming Monitors Under $300 AUD

Direct Answer & Analysis

Finding a high-performance 1080p gaming monitor in Australia without breaking the $300 AUD barrier is more achievable than ever. The sweet spot is a 24-inch screen with a high refresh rate and fast response time, perfect for both competitive and immersive gaming. These monitors offer the core features you need—like 144Hz+ refresh rates and Adaptive Sync—without the premium price tag.

Our analysis focuses on three top contenders that consistently deliver the best bang for your buck in the sub-$300 AUD category.

1. The All-Rounder (IPS Panel): AOC 24G2/U or equivalent. Often hailed as the king of budget gaming, models like the AOC 24G2 series use an IPS panel. This gives you fantastic colour accuracy and wide viewing angles, making games look vibrant and cinematic. Combined with a 144Hz (or higher) refresh rate and a 1ms response time, it’s a near-perfect blend of visual fidelity and competitive speed.

2. The Esports Champion (High-Refresh IPS): MSI G2412 or equivalent. For gamers who prioritise raw speed for titles like Valorant or CS:GO, models from MSI's G-series often push the refresh rate to 165Hz or even 170Hz within this budget. While still using a quality IPS panel for good colours, the primary focus is on delivering the smoothest possible motion and the lowest input lag, giving you a crucial competitive edge.

3. The Immersion Specialist (VA Panel): ViewSonic VX2418-P-MHD or equivalent. If you play a lot of story-driven, atmospheric games in a dimly lit room, a VA panel is your best bet. These panels offer significantly deeper blacks and a much higher contrast ratio (typically 3000:1 vs 1000:1 on IPS). This makes dark scenes in games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Alan Wake 2 look incredibly rich and detailed. While they can sometimes have slightly slower pixel response, modern VA panels have improved dramatically.

Pros & Cons

1. The All-Rounder: AOC 24G2/U (IPS)

Pros:

• ✅ Excellent colour accuracy and vibrancy thanks to the IPS panel.
• ✅ Great balance of speed (144Hz+) and visual quality.
• ✅ Wide viewing angles mean the picture looks great from any position.
• ✅ Often includes a highly adjustable stand (height, pivot, tilt).

Cons:

• ❌ "IPS glow" can be noticeable in very dark scenes.
• ❌ Contrast is lower than VA panels, so blacks can appear greyish.

2. The Esports Champion: MSI G2412 (High-Refresh IPS)

Pros:

• ✅ Extremely smooth motion with a 165Hz/170Hz refresh rate.
• ✅ Very low input lag, ideal for competitive gaming.
• ✅ Good colour performance, suitable for general use and media.
• ✅ Excellent value for a high-refresh-rate IPS monitor.

Cons:

• ❌ The stand usually offers limited adjustability (tilt-only).
• ❌ Brightness and colour gamut might not be as high as premium models.

3. The Immersion Specialist: ViewSonic VX2418-P-MHD (VA)

Pros:

• ✅ Superior contrast ratio for deep, inky blacks.
• ✅ Great for dark room gaming and cinematic experiences.
• ✅ High refresh rate (165Hz) keeps gameplay fluid.
• ✅ Minimal backlight bleed compared to most IPS panels.

Cons:

• ❌ Potential for minor "black smearing" or ghosting in fast-paced scenes.
• ❌ Colour accuracy and viewing angles are not as good as IPS.

Verdict

For the vast majority of gamers, the AOC 24G2/U or a similar IPS All-Rounder is the best 1080p gaming monitor under $300 AUD. It provides a brilliant, no-compromise experience that excels at both fast-paced action and visually rich adventures, often with the added ergonomic benefit of a fully adjustable stand.

However, your choice depends on your primary use case:

• Best Overall: Go for an IPS All-Rounder like the AOC 24G2/U. It's the jack-of-all-trades that does everything well.
• Best for Competitive FPS: If every frame counts, the MSI G2412 or another High-Refresh IPS model is your weapon of choice. Its focus on raw speed will give you the smoothest gameplay possible.
• Best for Cinematic Immersion: For lovers of single-player epics and dark, atmospheric titles, a VA panel like the ViewSonic VX2418-P-MHD is unbeatable for its incredible contrast and deep blacks.