ASUS has long been one of the most trusted names in the monitor market, and its budget-friendly lineup has improved noticeably over the past year. The sub-£150 bracket now offers genuine IPS panels with refresh rates that would have cost considerably more just two years ago, making this a particularly good time to buy if you are upgrading from an older TN screen or a basic office display. This guide is aimed at PC gamers on a tight budget, students, home-office workers, and anyone who wants a reliable 27-inch screen without spending a fortune. Whether you play fast-paced shooters and need a higher refresh rate, or you simply want accurate colours for creative work and everyday browsing, there is an ASUS option here that fits the bill. We have focused on models that are genuinely available in the UK at or below the £150 mark, and we have used verified specifications throughout so you know exactly what you are getting.
Quick Verdict
Best Overall: ASUS VY279HGE, which delivers 144 Hz, a full complement of ports including DisplayPort, and a crisp IPS panel at a price that is hard to argue with. Best Value: ASUS VY279HGR, which suits buyers who do not need DisplayPort and can live with 120 Hz in exchange for a slightly lower outlay.
The ASUS VY279HGR shares the same 27-inch IPS panel and 1920x1080 resolution as its sibling, but it steps back to a 120 Hz refresh rate and offers a different port configuration. You get one HDMI input and one VGA input, which is a notably stripped-back selection compared to the VY279HGE. That said, the VGA port is actually a selling point for a specific group of buyers: anyone connecting an older desktop PC or a workstation that lacks a modern video output will find it invaluable. VGA is increasingly rare on new monitors, so if you have legacy hardware, this could be the only modern IPS screen that accommodates it without an adapter.
The 120 Hz refresh rate is still a meaningful upgrade over the 60 Hz panels that dominate the very cheapest end of the market. In competitive games such as first-person shooters or racing titles, the difference between 60 Hz and 120 Hz is visible and tangible: motion looks smoother, and fast-moving objects are easier to track. The step from 120 Hz to 144 Hz is considerably less dramatic, so buyers who are coming from a 60 Hz monitor will still notice a significant improvement here.
Like the VY279HGE, this monitor carries ASUS's Eye Care branding, meaning it includes flicker-free backlighting and a blue-light filter. These are genuinely useful for reducing eye fatigue during long work or gaming sessions, and they cost nothing extra. The IPS panel brings the same wide-angle colour consistency that makes the VY279HGE appealing, so you are not sacrificing image quality by choosing this model.
Where the VY279HGR falls short is in future-proofing. With only one HDMI port and no DisplayPort, your options for connecting multiple devices are limited. If you upgrade your PC to a modern graphics card, you will be using HDMI rather than DisplayPort, which caps you at the monitor's 120 Hz maximum via that interface. That is not a disaster, but it is worth noting if you are planning a broader system upgrade in the near future.
The stand design mirrors the VY279HGE: tilt adjustment only, with a slim three-sided bezel and a compact base. Build quality is consistent with what ASUS delivers across its budget Eye Care range, which is to say it feels sturdy without being premium. For buyers who need VGA support or who simply find this model at a lower price than the VY279HGE, it represents solid value.
Verdict: The VY279HGR is the right choice if you have legacy VGA hardware or find it priced noticeably below the VY279HGE, but most buyers should stretch to the 144 Hz model for its superior connectivity.
Pros
- VGA port supports older PCs and workstations that lack modern video outputs
- IPS panel provides the same wide-angle colour accuracy as pricier alternatives
- 120 Hz is a meaningful step up from 60 Hz for everyday gaming
Cons
- Only one HDMI port and no DisplayPort limits multi-device and future-upgrade flexibility
- 120 Hz refresh rate is outpaced by the VY279HGE's 144 Hz for a similar price
How We Picked
Every monitor in this list was selected based on verified specifications from ASUS's official product pages and reputable UK retailers. We focused on models that are genuinely available in the UK at or below £150 at the time of writing, and we prioritised IPS panels over TN alternatives because the difference in viewing angle and colour accuracy is meaningful even at budget prices. Refresh rate, port selection, and Eye Care features were weighted heavily because they represent the most tangible day-to-day benefits for the target audience of gamers, students, and home-office workers. We did not include models where specifications could not be independently verified, and we have not invented or estimated any figures. Price fluctuations on Amazon UK mean the exact cost of each model may vary, so we recommend checking current prices before purchasing.
Buying Guide
Panel Type: IPS vs TN vs VA
At the sub-£150 price point, you will encounter IPS, TN, and occasionally VA panels. IPS panels offer the best combination of colour accuracy and viewing angles, making them suitable for both gaming and everyday use. TN panels can achieve very fast response times and high refresh rates at low cost, but their narrow viewing angles and washed-out colours are a significant drawback. VA panels offer the best contrast ratios, which benefits dark scenes in games and films, but they can exhibit motion blur at fast refresh rates. For most buyers in this price range, IPS is the sensible default choice, and ASUS's Eye Care range delivers it at a competitive price.
Refresh Rate: How Much Do You Need?
If you are coming from a 60 Hz monitor, upgrading to 120 Hz or 144 Hz will produce a visible and immediately noticeable improvement in motion smoothness. The difference between 144 Hz and 165 Hz is subtler and requires a GPU capable of pushing frame rates that high to be meaningful. For casual gaming and everyday use, 75 Hz is a modest but worthwhile step up from 60 Hz. For competitive gaming in titles such as Valorant, CS2, or Fortnite, 144 Hz or higher is strongly recommended. Make sure your graphics card can actually drive the games you play at frame rates that approach the monitor's refresh rate, otherwise the higher specification offers limited real-world benefit.
Resolution and Screen Size
All the monitors in this list run at 1920x1080, which is the standard for budget displays. At 23.8 inches, this gives a pixel density of around 93 PPI, which is sharp enough for comfortable everyday use. At 27 inches, the density drops to around 82 PPI, which is acceptable for gaming viewed from a normal desk distance but may look slightly soft for fine text. If you primarily use your monitor for reading or coding, a 24-inch screen at 1080p will look crisper than a 27-inch one at the same resolution.
Port Selection
DisplayPort is preferable to HDMI for connecting a PC gaming monitor because it supports higher refresh rates more reliably and carries audio without the licensing overhead of HDMI. If you also connect a console, a second HDMI port is useful. VGA is a legacy connection that most modern PCs no longer include, but it remains relevant if you are using an older desktop or a workstation with an older graphics card. Check which outputs your PC and any other devices use before choosing a monitor, and make sure the monitor's inputs match.
Eye Care Features
ASUS's Eye Care suite, which appears across the VY and VZ ranges, includes flicker-free backlighting and a low blue-light mode. Flicker-free operation reduces the pulse-width modulation that causes headaches and eye strain in some users. Blue-light reduction shifts the colour temperature slightly warmer, which can help with sleep quality if you use the monitor in the evenings. These features are enabled via the on-screen display menu and can be toggled on or off as needed.
Stand and Ergonomics
Budget monitors almost universally offer tilt adjustment only. If you need height adjustment, swivel, or pivot for portrait mode, you will need to purchase a VESA-compatible monitor arm separately. Most ASUS monitors in this price range support 100x100mm VESA mounting, which is the standard size for aftermarket arms. Factor this into your total budget if ergonomics are important to you.
Final Verdict
The ASUS VY279HGE is the overall winner in this comparison. It combines a 144 Hz IPS panel with a genuinely useful port layout, including DisplayPort 1.2 and two HDMI inputs, at a price that sits comfortably within the sub-£150 budget. Whether you are a PC gamer who wants smooth, tear-free gameplay, a home-office worker who values accurate colours and wide viewing angles, or someone who needs to connect multiple devices to a single screen, the VY279HGE covers all of those bases without compromise. The VY279HGR is a credible alternative if you have legacy VGA hardware or find it at a lower price, but for most buyers the VY279HGE's superior connectivity and higher refresh rate make it the smarter long-term investment.
