Key takeaways
- Deep discounts: Black Friday brings monitors to their yearly low prices.
- Options for all uses: office, gaming, and secondary-screen picks.
- High-refresh gaming: 144Hz and 165Hz panels available affordably.
- Flexible inputs: HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA cover any system.
What's inside
Black Friday is when monitor prices hit their lowest of the year, but a good deal is only good if the panel suits your needs. From budget office displays to high-refresh gaming screens, the sale season is crowded with tempting discounts, and knowing which specs matter, refresh rate, panel type, resolution, keeps you from overpaying for features you will never use or missing the one that counts.
This review compares a spread of sale-friendly monitors, from affordable Philips and Acer office panels to fast Sceptre and ArcticPro gaming screens. Here is how to find genuine value among the Black Friday noise.
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Watch: Monitor Black Friday Sale: Review & Buyer’s Guide — Video Review
Design & Build
These monitors span a wide range of sizes and purposes. Compact everyday panels like the 19-inch and 22-inch MSI PRO options suit tight desks and secondary screens, while 24-inch models from Philips and Acer hit the mainstream sweet spot for work and mixed use. Gaming-focused displays like the Sceptre 24-inch and ArcticPro 22-inch adopt slim, frameless designs with VESA mounting for clean multi-monitor setups. Build quality is reasonable across the board given the budget positioning, with tilt-adjustable stands and multiple inputs like HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA making them easy to fit into any setup.
Performance
Refresh rate and panel type separate these picks. Office-oriented panels like the Philips 24-inch at 100Hz and Acer at up to 120Hz offer smooth everyday visuals with IPS or VA panels and adaptive sync, ideal for work and casual use. Gaming screens push further: the Sceptre 24-inch hits 165Hz over DisplayPort and HDMI with built-in speakers, and the ArcticPro 22-inch runs 144Hz with 105% sRGB coverage for vivid color. The smaller MSI PRO panels prioritize value and eye comfort at 120Hz. Match the refresh rate to your use, since gamers benefit from 144Hz-plus while office users are well served by 100Hz.
Pros & Cons
- Deep discounts: Black Friday brings monitors to their yearly low prices.
- Options for all uses: office, gaming, and secondary-screen picks.
- High-refresh gaming: 144Hz and 165Hz panels available affordably.
- Flexible inputs: HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA cover any system.
- Budget trade-offs: lower-cost panels may have modest brightness or color.
- Size varies widely: small panels suit secondary use more than primary.
Alternatives to Consider
Pick by purpose. For gaming value, the Sceptre 24-inch at 165Hz or the ArcticPro 22-inch at 144Hz deliver smooth, colorful play cheaply. For everyday work and general use, the Philips 24-inch or Acer 23.8-inch IPS panels offer comfortable, accurate visuals with adaptive sync. Those building a dual-screen office setup should consider matched panels for consistency. If you only need a compact secondary display, the smaller MSI PRO or 19-inch options are inexpensive and space-saving. Decide whether refresh rate or screen size and color matter most before chasing the biggest discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
What refresh rate do I need?
For office work and browsing, 60 to 100Hz is smooth and comfortable. Gamers benefit from 144Hz or 165Hz for fluid motion, which the Sceptre and ArcticPro panels provide affordably.
IPS or VA panel, which is better?
IPS panels offer better color accuracy and viewing angles, ideal for work and content, while VA panels provide deeper contrast. Both appear among these picks depending on the model.
Are cheap Black Friday monitors any good?
Many offer excellent value, especially for secondary screens or budget gaming. Just check the key specs, resolution, refresh rate, and panel type, so the low price matches your actual needs.
Do these come with speakers?
Some do, like the Sceptre 24-inch with built-in speakers. Many budget monitors omit them, so check the listing if you need audio without separate speakers or a headset.
Verdict
Black Friday monitor deals are a great opportunity if you shop by spec, not just price. The Sceptre 24-inch at 165Hz and ArcticPro 22-inch at 144Hz are the gaming value picks, the Philips 24-inch and Acer IPS panels are the everyday work choices, and the compact MSI PRO models suit secondary screens. Match the panel to your use and the discount becomes a genuine bargain.
