Best 24-Inch Monitors (2026)
What are the best 24-inch monitors in 2026?
TL;DR
Top pick: Pixio PX248 Wave (~$160) — 200 Hz Fast IPS, 1 ms GTG, wide color, multi-color chassis at a budget price.
Best value: Gigabyte G24F 2 (~$150) — 180 Hz SS IPS with 95% DCI-P3 and FreeSync Premium.
Best budget: Acer SH242Y Ebmihx (~$80) — 100 Hz IPS with adjustable stand. [src1, src3, src4, src5]
Summary
The 24-inch monitor segment in 2026 spans an enormous performance range, from sub-$100 office IPS panels to $1,000 esports displays pushing 600 Hz. For most buyers, the sweet spot is a Fast IPS panel with 180-240 Hz, Adaptive Sync, and accurate colors for $150-$250. The Pixio PX248 Wave (~$160) is the best overall pick, combining a 200 Hz Fast IPS panel, 1 ms response time, strong color accuracy, and stylish multi-color design options at a budget price. [src1, src3, src4, src5]
For office and productivity use, the Acer Vero B247Y G (~$150) stands out with its 120 Hz IPS panel, fully ergonomic stand (height, tilt, swivel, pivot), and eco-friendly design. Competitive esports players who need every millisecond of advantage have options up to 600 Hz with the BenQ Zowie XL2586X+ (~$1,000), while the Innocn 25M2S (~$280) is a breakthrough offering 1440p resolution and Mini-LED backlighting at 240 Hz in a 24.5-inch form factor. [src1, src2, src6]
Top 12 Models Compared
| Model | Price | Panel | Resolution | Refresh Rate | Best For | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pixio PX248 Wave | ~$160 | Fast IPS | 1920x1080 | 200Hz | Best overall | Check price |
| Gigabyte G24F 2 | ~$150 | SS IPS | 1920x1080 | 180Hz (OC) | Best value gaming | Check price |
| Acer Vero B247Y G | ~$150 | IPS | 1920x1080 | 120Hz | Best office/productivity | Check price |
| ViewSonic XG2431 | ~$250 | IPS | 1920x1080 | 240Hz | Best 240Hz mid-range | Check price |
| AOC C24G42E | ~$130 | VA | 1920x1080 | 180Hz | Best curved | Check price |
| Innocn 25M2S | ~$280 | Mini-LED IPS | 2560x1440 | 240Hz | Best 1440p / HDR | Check price |
| ASUS ProArt PA248QV | ~$179 | IPS | 1920x1200 | 75Hz | Best for creators (16:10) | Check price |
| Acer SH242Y Ebmihx | ~$80 | IPS | 1920x1080 | 100Hz | Best ultra-budget | Check price |
| BenQ GW2486TC | ~$170 | IPS | 1920x1080 | 100Hz | Best USB-C office | Check price |
| Dell P2424HT | ~$350 | IPS | 1920x1080 | 60Hz | Best touchscreen | Check price |
| Alienware AW2524HF | ~$550 | IPS | 1920x1080 | 500Hz | Best 500Hz esports | Check price |
| BenQ Zowie XL2586X+ | ~$1,000 | Fast TN | 1920x1080 | 600Hz | Best pro esports | Check price |
Best for Each Use Case
Best Overall: Pixio PX248 Wave (~$160) — Check price
The PX248 Wave delivers a 200 Hz Fast IPS panel with 1 ms GTG response time, strong color accuracy (close to 100% sRGB), and Adaptive Sync in a slim, attractive chassis available in multiple color options. PCWorld lists it at $159.99 in mid-2026 (street price drifted up from $130 at launch). It matches or beats competitors in image quality at the price, and built-in speakers are a bonus. [src1, src3, src4]
Best Value Gaming: Gigabyte G24F 2 (~$150) — Check price
Reviewed calls it one of the best budget gaming monitors available. The SS IPS panel covers 95% DCI-P3 and 125% sRGB — exceptional color gamut for a sub-$200 monitor. 180 Hz refresh rate (overclockable from 165 Hz), FreeSync Premium, and USB 3.2 hub round out a feature-rich package. [src4, src5]
Best for Office/Productivity: Acer Vero B247Y G (~$150) — Check price
Tom's Hardware's top pick for budget office monitors. The fully adjustable ergonomic stand (height, tilt, swivel, pivot) is rare at this price. 120 Hz with Adaptive Sync means smooth scrolling and casual gaming capability. Above-average contrast ratio for an IPS panel, plus sustainable materials in the chassis. [src4, src6]
Best 240Hz Mid-Range: ViewSonic XG2431 (~$250) — Check price
Blur Busters 2.0 certified for exceptional motion clarity. The PureXP+ backlight strobing technology is among the best in class at eliminating motion blur. 240 Hz IPS with 0.5 ms response time, FreeSync Premium, G-Sync Compatible, and HDR400 support. Fully ergonomic stand included. [src2, src3]
Best Curved: AOC C24G42E (~$130) — Check price
The best curved 24-inch option with a 1500R VA panel delivering a superb 3,000:1 contrast ratio — dramatically deeper blacks than any IPS competitor. 180 Hz refresh rate, 0.5 ms MPRT, and HDR10 support. Three-sided frameless design is ideal for multi-monitor setups. [src1, src3]
Best 1440p / HDR: Innocn 25M2S (~$280) — Check price
A breakthrough monitor that brings 1440p, 240 Hz, and Mini-LED local dimming to the 24.5-inch category. Peak brightness reaches 1,000 nits, making it one of the few small monitors with genuine HDR capability. G-Sync compatible, HDMI 2.1, and RGB lighting on the back. [src1]
Best for Content Creation: ASUS ProArt PA248QV (~$179) — Check price
The 16:10 aspect ratio (1920x1200) provides valuable extra vertical workspace. Factory-calibrated to Delta E < 2 with 100% sRGB/Rec.709 coverage and Calman Verified certification. The only sub-$200 24-inch monitor with professional color accuracy credentials. [src1, src5]
Best Ultra-Budget: Acer SH242Y Ebmihx (~$80) — Check price
At around $80, this IPS panel delivers 100 Hz, 1 ms VRB response, FreeSync, zero-frame design, and a height-adjustable stand. An outstanding value for basic office work, web browsing, or secondary displays. Built-in speakers included. [src1, src7]
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Pixio PX248 Wave vs Gigabyte G24F 2
Both are sub-$200 Fast IPS gaming monitors with FreeSync, but they target different priorities. The Pixio PX248 Wave (~$160) wins on refresh rate (200 Hz native vs 165 Hz overclocked to 180 Hz) and chassis design — multi-color options and slimmer bezels. The Gigabyte G24F 2 (~$150) wins on color gamut (95% DCI-P3 / 125% sRGB) and adds a USB 3.2 hub. [src3, src4, src5]
Pick the Pixio PX248 Wave if: raw refresh rate, aesthetics, and built-in speakers matter most.
Pick the Gigabyte G24F 2 if: color gamut for casual content work and USB hub connectivity matter and you can settle for 180 Hz.
Acer Vero B247Y G vs BenQ GW2486TC
Both are office-focused 24-inch IPS monitors near $150-$170, but USB-C is the dividing line. The Acer Vero B247Y G (~$150) delivers 120 Hz, fully ergonomic stand, and eco-friendly recycled-plastic construction. The BenQ GW2486TC (~$170) adds 65W USB-C Power Delivery, daisy-chaining, and eye-care features but caps at 100 Hz. [src4, src6, src7]
Pick the Acer Vero B247Y G if: you connect via HDMI/DP, want smoother 120 Hz scrolling, and value sustainable materials.
Pick the BenQ GW2486TC if: you dock a laptop via single-cable USB-C and need 65W charging or daisy-chain capability.
ViewSonic XG2431 vs Alienware AW2524HF
Both are esports-tier IPS monitors, but they sit two refresh-rate generations apart. The ViewSonic XG2431 (~$250) hits 240 Hz with 0.5 ms response, Blur Busters 2.0 PureXP+ strobing, and FreeSync Premium / G-Sync Compatible. The Alienware AW2524HF (~$550) doubles refresh to 500 Hz with the same 0.5 ms response and HDMI 2.1. [src2, src3]
Pick the ViewSonic XG2431 if: you play at the FPS competitive level but value best-in-class motion blur reduction over absolute frame rate, and you want to save $300.
Pick the Alienware AW2524HF if: you genuinely run CS2 / Valorant / Overwatch at 400+ FPS and have a GPU that can saturate 500 Hz.
Innocn 25M2S vs ASUS ProArt PA248QV
Both target image-quality buyers but in opposite ways. The Innocn 25M2S (~$280) is the only 24.5-inch monitor combining 1440p, 240 Hz, and Mini-LED with 1,000-nit HDR — built for HDR gaming and dark-room cinema. The ASUS ProArt PA248QV (~$179) is a factory-calibrated 1920x1200 16:10 IPS at 75 Hz with Delta E < 2 and Calman Verified certification — built for color-accurate photo and graphic work. [src1, src5]
Pick the Innocn 25M2S if: you want HDR gaming, more pixels, and high refresh in a compact panel.
Pick the ASUS ProArt PA248QV if: factory-calibrated color accuracy, extra vertical workspace, and SDR creator workflows are the priority.
BenQ Zowie XL2586X+ vs Alienware AW2524HF
Both are pro-tier esports displays, but TN vs IPS is the fork. The BenQ Zowie XL2586X+ (~$1,000) uses a Fast TN panel at 600 Hz with DyAc 2 backlight strobing and a shading hood — purpose-built for top-tier CS2/Valorant pros. The Alienware AW2524HF (~$550) uses Fast IPS at 500 Hz with wider viewing angles and better color. [src2, src3]
Pick the BenQ Zowie XL2586X+ if: you are a tournament player who lives in first-person shooters and DyAc 2 motion clarity is worth doubling the price.
Pick the Alienware AW2524HF if: you want competitive-grade refresh with IPS color, broader use cases (productivity, watching), and half the cost.
Decision Logic
If budget < $100
→ Acer SH242Y Ebmihx (~$80). Best-in-class value with IPS, 100 Hz, adjustable stand, and FreeSync at a price point where competitors cut corners on ergonomics. [src1]
If primary use is competitive esports (CS2, Valorant)
→ Prioritize refresh rate over resolution. At 240 Hz, the ViewSonic XG2431 (~$250) offers the best balance of speed and image quality. For professionals, the Alienware AW2524HF (500 Hz, ~$550) or BenQ Zowie XL2586X+ (600 Hz, ~$1,000) provide measurable input lag advantages. [src2, src3]
If primary use is office/productivity
→ The Acer Vero B247Y G (~$150) with its ergonomic stand and 120 Hz is ideal. If USB-C docking is needed, the BenQ GW2486TC (~$170) offers 65W Power Delivery and daisy-chaining. [src6, src7]
If user wants the best image quality at 24 inches
→ The Innocn 25M2S (~$280) is the only option combining 1440p, Mini-LED, and 240 Hz. For color-critical work, the ASUS ProArt PA248QV (~$179) has factory-calibrated Delta E < 2. [src1, src5]
If user prioritizes contrast and dark-room viewing
→ The AOC C24G42E (~$130) with its VA panel delivers 3,000:1 contrast — 3x better blacks than any IPS in this roundup. [src1]
Default recommendation
→ Pixio PX248 Wave (~$160). It covers the widest range of use cases: fast enough for gaming (200 Hz), accurate enough for casual content work, and priced low enough that the compromise is minimal. [src1, src3, src4]
Key Market Trends (2026)
- Refresh rate arms race: 500-600 Hz monitors are now shipping (Alienware AW2524HF, BenQ XL2586X+), though mainstream gamers see diminishing returns above 240 Hz. The sweet spot has shifted from 144 Hz to 180-200 Hz. [src2, src3]
- Mini-LED reaches small screens: The Innocn 25M2S proves that Mini-LED local dimming and 1,000-nit HDR are viable at 24.5 inches and under $300 — a category that was $500+ in 2025. [src1]
- 1440p at 24 inches emerging: Historically limited to 27 inches and above, QHD (2560x1440) panels are appearing at 24-25 inches, offering sharper text and more workspace without scaling headaches. [src1]
- USB-C with Power Delivery: Models like the BenQ GW2486TC (65W PD, daisy-chain) signal that laptop-friendly connectivity is moving downstream from premium 27-inch monitors into the 24-inch segment. [src7]
- 24-inch declining as mainstream: 27 inches is now the default recommendation for most buyers. 24-inch increasingly serves two niches — space-constrained desks and competitive esports — rather than general use. [src4, src5]
Important Caveats
- Prices are approximate US street prices as of May 2026. Sales, regional pricing, and retailer availability vary significantly.
- At 24 inches, 1080p delivers ~92 PPI, which some users find insufficiently sharp for text-heavy work at normal viewing distances. Consider 1440p options if text clarity is critical.
- High refresh rate monitors (360Hz+) require a powerful GPU to drive frames at native resolution. A mid-range GPU will not saturate a 500 Hz panel in modern games.
- TN panels (BenQ XL2586X+) have narrower viewing angles and weaker color than IPS. They are purpose-built for esports, not general use.
- Response time specs (GTG, MPRT) are measured differently across manufacturers and are not directly comparable.