Cheap 4K monitor deals

Best cheap 4K monitor deals
(Image credit: ASUS)

The best cheap 4K monitors provide the kind of richness and depth of detail that we expect from 4K, but without that wallet-busting price. And now with Black Friday deals already coming in, November is a great month to get a bargain on a top quality 4K monitor. 

You might be surprised by how affordable 4K monitors can be these days – for a price just a little higher than you' pay for an HD monitor, you can enjoy working, browsing, gaming and watching movies in crisp 4K quality. So, where to begin?

Everything we've selected here has one main thing going for it – affordability. These 4K monitors are suitable for all sorts of specialty applications; there are some for gaming with high refresh rates, some for designers and photo editors that offer large colour gamuts, and some that are ergonomically designed to be comfortable to work at for long periods. Video editors should also look at 4K monitors, as it's getting more and more common for clients and consumers to expect video in 4K, and we've included a 4K monitor specifically for video editing in our recommendations. 

Whatever you need, there should be a monitor here for you, and you can click the headings in the box above to jump straight to a particular application if you know what you're looking for.

If you have a bit more to spend and want to consider more premium options, then we also have a more general guide to the best 4K monitors. We also have roundups of the best monitors for video editing and best monitors for photo editing if your needs are specific to those applications.

If, however, you simply need great 4K monitor available at an affordable price, read on the for best choices available right now, and the best deals you can get them for.

The best cheap 4K monitor deals

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Best cheap 4K monitors: Asus TUF VG289QCB

(Image credit: Asus)

01. Asus TUF VG289Q

This 4K HDR monitor is 28 inches of bargain

Screen size: 28-inch | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Color support: 10-bit

Great price
Flexible viewing positions
Top colour reproduction
Not a great looker

This Asus monitor's clearly aimed at gamers, but what really matters here is its combination of specs and price (although, its looks are pretty restrained compared to other gaming monitors on the market). You'd expect to pay a lot for a 28-inch cheap 4K monitor complete with basic HDR; this one's currently available for just over $350/£350.

It's an IPS panel that delivers a 90% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 1000:1 contrast ratio, along with a 178 degree viewing angle, and you can connect to it with either HDMI or DisplayPort. There are better-looking monitors around, sure, but this one gives you unbeatable performance for your money.

Best cheap 4K monitor deals: Philips 276E8VJSBCB endorsed

(Image credit: Philips)

02. Philips 276E8VJSB

An outstandingly affordable 4K monitor, ideal for photo editing

Screen size: 27-inch | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m² | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Color support: 1.07 billion

Excellent value for money
Good colour coverage
Max 60Hz refresh rate
No FreeSync

This isn’t only one of the best cheap 4K monitors, it’s also one of the best for photo editing at this price point. With accurate, consistent and vibrant colours, it displays your images as you need to see them. It’s got 1.07 billion colours in its arsenal, and a 178-degree viewing angle that ensures colours won’t shift if you’re looking at the screen from a different perspective. 

Having a flicker-free display is also handy for long stints spent editing at your computer, and while the 27-inch display is on the smaller side, you probably don’t need any more than this for images. The maximum refresh rate of 60Hz and the lack of FreeSync means this isn’t one for gaming, but as an affordable 4K tool for getting immersed in editing your photos, it’s an ideal choice. 

Best cheap 4K monitors: BenQ PD2700UCB endorsed

(Image credit: BenQ)

03. BenQ PD2700U

One of the best 27-inch options

Screen size: 27-inch | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Contrast ratio: 1,300:1 | Color support: 1.07 billion

Excellent colour accuracy
Inoffensive design
You might prefer a bigger option
No USB-C

With as many colours as the Philips above, this BenQ is a great option for a 27-inch cheap 4K monitor that boasts excellent colour accuracy. Yes you can get cheaper but it probably won't be up to snuff for design or creative work. 

We do wish it has USB-C on board though - it is a little light on the bells and whistles which make some displays truly compelling. But if you just need it for work rather than gaming or entertainment, it's excellent for the money.

Need a BenQ that's a little bigger? Then scroll further down this list!

The best ergonomic cheap 4K monitor

Best cheap 4K monitor deals

(Image credit: LG)

04. LG 32UN880 UltraFine Ergo

The best ergonomic cheap 4K monitor

Screen size: 32-inch | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 100%

Great design
Top-notch sRGB accuracy
Comfortable viewing
Brightness isn't the best

The LG 32UN880 UltraFine Display Ergo represents an excellent mid-range 4K monitor that will look great at any angle, thanks to its genius stand. Instead of the obvious centralised, static stand, LG offers a far more versatile option. The c-clamp stand attached securely to your desk, and from there you can pull, push, elevate, lower the monitor to your heart's content. And with the super easy one-click mount, setting up the monitor is as easy as, well, one! 

The LG 32UN880 UltraFine Ergo's colour accuracy is excellent, as is the picture quality, and all for well under a grand. A strong contender for one of the best cheap 4K monitors out there. 

The best cheap 4K monitors for photo editing

Best cheap 4K monitors

05. NEC MultiSync EA275UHD

The best mid-range 4K monitor for photo editing

Screen size: 27-inch | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 100%

Good performance
Decent brightness
Needs configuring
Boring design

Sure, the NEC MultiSync EA275UHD's design is a little boring. But it's what's on the screen that matters, and this is an excellent cheap 4K monitor for photo editing. Colour reproduction is very good, and it has its own photo-viewing mode. The screen does need a bit of calibration out of the box to fully realise its potential, but if you don't mind fiddling with the settings, you'll get an excellent 4K monitor for your money.

The best cheap 4K monitors for video editing

Best cheap 4K monitors:

06. BenQ PD3200U

The best cheap 4K monitor for video editing and 3D work

Screen size: 32-inch | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Color support: sRGB 100%

4K resolution
Large screen
Design may seem dull to some
Some features a bit niche

OK, so the BenQ PD3200U isn't exactly the cheapest of this cheap 4K monitor list, but its screen size and resolution make it a savvy choice for video editors, 3D designers and creators generally. It boasts a generous 32 inches of screen real estate, so you can fully appreciate the 4K resolution of your video footage. 

Meanwhile, 3D designers will be grateful for the inclusion of a CAD/CAM mode, and everyone else will appreciate the factory-calibrated colour accuracy and Rec. 709 adherence.

Best cheap 4K monitors

07. ViewSonic VP3268-4K

The best mid-range 4K monitor for video editing

Screen size: 31.5-inch | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Contrast ratio: 1,300:1 | Color support: sRGB 100%, Adobe RGB 77%

Nice large screen
High contrast ratio
Only 77% Adobe RGB coverage
Pricey

If you have a little more money to spend, the ViewSonic VP3268-4K is a top-class mid-range 4K monitor that makes for another ideal choice for video editors, thanks to its large screen size and impressive contrast ratio. It also includes a HDR mode, which many video editors will feel is an essential feature for a monitor, allowing you to edit your HDR footage. It's not the best when it comes to Adobe RGB coverage, but for the price you're getting an excellent 4K monitor, and there are some great deals out there to get the screen even cheaper.

The best cheap 4K monitors for graphic design and digital artists

Best cheap 4K monitor deals: ASUS ProArt Display PA279CV

(Image credit: ASUS)

08. ASUS ProArt Display PA279CV

One of the best cheap 4K monitors for graphic design

Screen size: 27-inch | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Contrast ratio: 100,000,000:1 | Color support: sRGB 100%, 100% Rec. 709

Excellent colour accuracy
USB-C port
12 ProArt preset modes
No Adobe RGB mode

If you’re hunting for a graphic design 4K monitor, the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CV is definitely one to consider. With 100% sRGB and 100% Rec.709 colour gamut, it delivers pretty stunning colour accuracy, with vibrancy and detail. Asus says that it has Delta E colour accuracy of < 2, which makes it a good choice for professional work. It’s perhaps a little on the pricey side for a 27-inch monitor, but there’s a lot for visual professionals to like here. The 12 ProArt preset modes are also handy for quickly optimising the monitor to your preferred working space. 

Best cheap 4K monitors

09. Dell UltraSharp UP3216Q

The best mid-range 4K monitor for digital artists

Screen size: 31.5-inch | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Color support: sRGB 100%, Adobe RGB 99.5%

Top notch colour accuracy
10-bit IPS panel
Showing its age
Wobbly stand

The Dell UltraSharp UP3216Q certainly one of the best cheap 4K monitors when it was first released, but now that it's been out for a few years, there are some excellent deals to be had with this screen – making it our pick of the best affordable 4K monitor for digital artists. You want the colours displayed on your monitor to be as accurate as possible, and, for the price, the Dell UltraSharp UP3216Q's colour accuracy is excellent. Dell is well known for making very good monitors, and its reputation is ensured with this brilliant cheap(ish) 4K screen. It doesn't have some of the features that some newer monitors have, such as HDR, but it's still a top choice if you're looking for a bargain.

Best cheap 4K monitor deals

10. Iiyama ProLite B2888UHSU

A great 4K monitor at a good price

Screen size: 28-inch | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Color support: 10-bit

Very affordable 
Picture-in-picture mode 
Narrow viewing angles with TN panel
Not all video inputs capable of 4K at 60Hz 

Balancing budget and performance, the Iiyama ProLite B2888UHSU is the best cheap 4K monitor overall. While many 4K monitors are expensive, the Iiyama ProLite B2888UHSU does an excellent job of providing brilliant 4K performance for video and photo editors at a competitive price point. It comes with a TN panel, which isn't too hot at viewing angles – but you'll be fine when sitting directly in front of it. And it has a large number of video inputs as well. This is a fantastic pick if you're looking for a cheap 4K monitor, and you'll find the best deals available above.

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Matt Hanson

Matt has been a technology journalist for over 15 years, writing for publications such as T3, MacFormat and Creative Bloq. He's a managing editor of TechRadar, Creative Bloq's sister site, where he can be found writing about and reviewing laptops, computers, monitors and more. He often writes for Creative Bloq, helping creatives find their perfect laptop or PC.