The Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Sale is here, and if you missed out on some fantastic deals back in July, you’re in luck! This October, Amazon is rolling out another round of impressive discounts as part of its Prime Day event, giving gamers a second chance to scoregreat tech at budget-friendly prices. One of the hottest items on the radar for many gaming enthusiasts is, of course, the gaming monitor.
From high refresh rate panels to ultrawide monitors and even OLED displays, there’s a gaming monitor for everyone’s needs. Thanks to the Prime Day sale, this might just be the perfect time to make your purchase. What’s more, is that with a wide variety of options from top brands like ASUS, Samsung, LG, and Acer on sale, there’s likely something for every type of gamer, whether you’re a casual player or a competitive pro. But the big question is: should you buy a gaming monitor during the Amazon Prime Day sale?
Of course, it’s best to score a deal when you’re able to, rather than wait for a better deal that may never come. The same statement holds in the case of gaming monitors too. However, even though you might fancy a new monitor, chances are that your PC or console might not be able to deliver the full potential of that new display. Further, there are other factors that you should consider before just placing an order for that discounted monitor. Let’s take a look at what we mean.
Should You Buy a Gaming Monitor during the Amazon Prime Day Sale?
Buying a gaming monitor during the Amazon Prime Day sale can be a fantastic decision for several reasons. First and foremost, the discounts available during this event are often the best you’ll see all year. Amazon collaborates with numerous brands to offer exclusive deals that you won’t find anywhere else, making it an ideal time to invest in high-end gaming gear that might usually be outside your budget. If you’ve been eyeing a new gaming monitor for a while and you may find a good deal during Prime Day, then it’s definitely worth considering.
On top of that, the allure of a discounted gaming monitor is undeniable. Imagine buttery-smooth visuals, vibrant colors, and a refresh rate that keeps up with your lightning-fast reflexes. All of that at a price that doesn’t break the bank, at least in most cases. However, you need to approach this sale strategically. The first thing to keep in mind is whether your system even needs a new upgrade or not.
If you’ve been experiencing issues like low refresh rates, poor color accuracy, or lag, upgrading during Prime Day can greatly enhance your gaming sessions. However, there is a possibility that your current monitor is working fine, and you just wish to level up. That said, just because there is a sweet deal on a 240Hz monitor doesn’t mean you should immediately jump for it. The most important thing to keep in mind is to ensure that your system can output enough frames at the desired resolution. Otherwise, you’d be spending money on a new panel that offers essentially the same experience as your current panel.
Another thing to keep in mind is to not buy a monitor solely because it’s at a massive discount. The specifications on paper might be appealing, but you should always research the monitors you’re interested in. For that, you can check reviews, compare specifications, and ensure that the deal you’re considering is genuinely a good one. Adding on to that, make sure to compare the regular prices of the monitor to the Prime Day deal to ensure you’re getting a genuine deal. If that sounds like a tedious task, you can always check outour list of recommended monitor deals.
How to Decide Which Gaming Monitor to Buy During the Prime Day Sale
So you’re absolutely certain that you want to buy a new gaming monitor this Prime Day, but are not sure how to decide which one to buy? Fret not. Here are some crucial aspects to keep in mind.
Understand Your Needs
First, think about your gaming needs and preferences. Are you a competitive gamer who needs a high refresh rate and low response time? Or do you prefer single-player, immersive games where screen size and color accuracy are more critical? Knowing what you want from your gaming monitor will help narrow down your options.
Based on your needs, you’re able to evaluate monitors to their specifications. For fast-paced games, look for monitors with at least a 144Hz refresh rate. Adding on to that, a low response time, preferably under 5ms, will reduce motion blur and ghosting, ensuring you don’t miss any crucial moments in your game.
Acer Nitro KG241Y Sbiip Gaming Monitor
For just $90, the Acer Nitro KG241Y brings a lot to the table. It offers a 24-inch Full HD VA panel, with a 165Hz refresh rate. There’s support for AMD FreeSync Premium and plenty of connectivity options. While the panel is a great buy even at its regular price of $140, the $50 discount during the Prime Day sale makes it an even better deal.
On the other hand, for single-player titles, a 120Hz panel will also suffice. Instead, you’d ideally want to focus more on the resolution, provided your system supports it. While a 1080p monitor is sufficient for many gamers, if you have apowerful graphics card, a 1440p or even 4K monitor can provide stunning visuals.
Panel Technology
Speaking of visuals, another important aspect is the panel type. TN panels offer the fastest response times and are great for competitive gaming, but they often fall short of color accuracy and viewing angles. IPS panels, on the other hand, provide better color reproduction and wider viewing angles, making them ideal for single-player games and media consumption. VA panels strike a balance between the two, offering good response times and better colors than TN panels, though they can sometimes suffer from ghosting.
LG 32GS95UE Ultragear 4K 240Hz OLED Gaming Monitor
At almost 20% off, the LG 32GS95UE is easily one of the best OLED panels on the market with immense value for money. Sure, it’s still expensive after the Prime Day discount, but it offers a 32-inch 4K OLED panel with a whopping 240Hz refresh rate.
Finally, OLED panels are some of the best monitors for gaming, thanks to their incredible display quality and immersive experience. Unlike traditional LED or LCD monitors, OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) screens have self-lit pixels, which means each pixel can turn on and off independently. This feature allows OLED monitors to achieve true blacks and stunning contrast ratios, making in-game environments look more vivid and lifelike.
Additionally, OLED monitors also come with ultra-fast response times. Because there’s no backlight layer, OLED pixels can change colors almost instantaneously. This drastically reduces motion blur and ghosting, providing a smoother experience during fast-paced action scenes or competitive gaming, where every millisecond counts. While they can be pricier, one can score great deals during the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days. That being said, these monitors, even after the discounted price, will fetch a lot more money, so only invest in them if you’re certain about it.
Screen Type and Size
Most gamers opt for standard panels which work well for them. However, if you crave a more immersive experience, you might want to invest in a curved panel. On the other hand, users who also use their monitor for workmay fancy an Ultrawide panel. This gives you an increased screen real estate, without hampering your gaming experience. In fact, some titles like Call of Duty and Battlefield even take advantage of the increased aspect ratio, offering a wider POV.
Owing to that, you should also consider the screen size of the panel you’re opting for. Most budget monitors are around 24-inches, while 27-inches is widely considered the sweet spot for most gamers. Alternatively, if you prefer single-player games, especially at 4K resolution, you can even consider bigger 32-inch panels. If you’re still confused, you can check out our handy guide to help decide thebest monitor size for your gaming needs.
Additional Features
While you’re at it, you might notice that a lot of brands offer similarly specced monitors. This is because, at the heart of most monitors, you’ll find shared technology—many brands use the same or similar panels. However, the differences often lie in the additional features that each brand incorporates to enhance the gaming experience and tailor it to specific needs. As a result, certain monitors would work better for your gaming needs.
For instance, PC users with an NVIDIA GPU should look for monitors that support NVIDIA G-Sync. G-Sync technology synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with the GPU, which helps eliminate screen tearing and reduces stuttering, giving you smoother and more responsive gameplay. Similarly, if you have an AMD GPU, look for monitors with AMD FreeSync compatibility. FreeSync offers a comparable experience, syncing the monitor’s refresh rate to the GPU to minimize lag and input latency, enhancing the overall fluidity of your games.
For competitive players, features like built-in crosshairs can be a game-changer. Monitors from brands like LG and ASUS offer on-screen crosshairs, which can give you an edge in FPS games by helping with aim and accuracy. This feature is ideal for gamers who thrive in fast-paced environments and are always looking for any advantage they can get.
If you’re more into immersive, single-player adventures that showcase beautiful, expansive worlds, HDR support is an important feature to consider. High Dynamic Range (HDR) enhances the range of colors and contrast, making visuals look more vibrant and realistic. This means that every sunset, shadow, and explosion will appear more lifelike, adding depth to your gaming experience. Just keep in mind that HDR quality can vary between monitors, so look for one with a high peak brightness and wide color gamut for the best results.
Setting a Budget
A new monitor can make everything look better, but you need to ensure it doesn’t put a burden on your wallet. Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Don’t get swept away by the sale and end up with a monitor that doesn’t suit your needs or financial situation.
Additionally, think about how long you plan on using your new gaming monitor. While a budget-friendly option might seem appealing now, a slightly higher investment could provide a longer-lasting, more satisfying experience. Unlike PCs, monitors have a very long lifespan, and you can easily use a new modern monitor for upwards of 5 years.
Being a Smart Shopper
Finally, it’s important to be a savvy shopper and thoroughly vet every seller. While some Amazon sellers might offer tempting low prices, they could have low ratings, lack Prime shipping, or provide uncertain warranties. If you notice any warning signs, the deal might not be as great as it seems. Additionally, although Prime Day is Amazon’s big event, many other retailers also join in with their own discounts. Be sure to check out deals on Best Buy, Walmart, and Newegg to make sure you’re getting the most value for your money.
A friendly reminder that all the Prime Day deals on Amazon are available only for Prime members. If you’re not signed up already,new members can try Prime for 30 days, absolutely free!
For more deals, keep an eye on our Prime Day hubs, which are updated timely with Prime Big Day Deals!
