Gaming · Australia

Best Gaming Monitor Under $500 Australia

Updated 2026-06-295 products reviewedCurated by Bikram Nath

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Quick answer

The LG 27GP850-B UltraGear 27" 1440p 165Hz is the best gaming monitor under $500 in Australia, with a fast Nano IPS panel, vivid colour and low input lag. The Samsung Odyssey G5 27" 1440p 165Hz VA is a high-contrast runner-up. These monitors cost AU$279 – AU$499.

Editor's choice

LG

LG 27GP850-B UltraGear 27" 1440p 165Hz

Best all-round gaming monitor under $500 with excellent colour accuracy and fast Nano IPS panel

Check price on Amazon AU

Under $500 AUD is the sweet spot for gaming monitors in Australia — you get 1440p resolution, 144Hz+ refresh rates, and decent HDR without overpaying. The key decision is panel type (IPS for colour accuracy vs VA for contrast) and whether you want ultrawide or standard 27-inch. Australia's gaming community is one of the most active in the Asia-Pacific region. With local server infrastructure improving and eSports growing, Aussie gamers need gear that performs under local conditions — including reliable peripherals that don't suffer in humid or hot environments.

At a glance

#ProductStandoutBest for
1LG 27GP850-B UltraGear 27" 1440p 165HzLGNano IPS panel with 98% DCI-P3 colour coverage — doubles as a creative work displayBest overall IPSView ↗
2Samsung Odyssey G5 27" 1440p 165Hz VASamsungVA panel with 2500:1 contrast makes dark scenes look dramatically better than IPSHigh-contrast VAView ↗
3ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ1A 27" 1440p 170HzASUS170Hz refresh rate with ASUS ELMB Sync reduces motion blur significantlyFastest refreshView ↗
4Dell S2722DGM 27" 1440p 165Hz CurvedDellDell's 3-year advance exchange warranty is the best in this price bracketView ↗
5AOC CQ27G3S 27" 1440p 165HzAOCConsistently the cheapest 27" 1440p 165Hz IPS monitor on Amazon AUView ↗

How to choose the best gaming monitor under $500 in Australia

  1. 1At this budget, 27-inch 1440p 144Hz is the baseline — anything less (1080p or 60Hz) is poor value in 2026
  2. 2IPS panels have better viewing angles and colour accuracy for RPGs and general use; VA panels deliver deeper blacks for dark games and movies
  3. 3Check your GPU can actually drive 1440p at high framerates — an RTX 4060 or RX 7600 handles 1440p at 100+ fps in most titles
  4. 4DisplayPort 1.4 is essential for 1440p 144Hz — HDMI 2.0 caps at 1440p 60Hz, so check cable and port versions
  5. 5Australian retailers like JB Hi-Fi and Scorptec often price-match Amazon AU — screenshot the listing before buying in-store

Top 5 gaming picks for Australia

#1Top pick
No product image available

LG

LG 27GP850-B UltraGear 27" 1440p 165Hz

Top Pick
Best overall IPS

Best all-round gaming monitor under $500 with excellent colour accuracy and fast Nano IPS panel

Check price on Amazon AU
panelNano IPS
resolution2560x1440
refresh rate165Hz (OC 180Hz)
response time1ms GtG
hdrHDR400
adaptive syncG-Sync Compatible / FreeSync Premium

Pros

  • Nano IPS panel with 98% DCI-P3 colour coverage — doubles as a creative work display
  • 165Hz refresh rate overclockable to 180Hz
  • 1ms GtG response time eliminates ghosting in fast games
  • NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible and AMD FreeSync Premium

Cons

  • Contrast ratio is typical IPS at 1000:1 — blacks look grey in dark rooms
  • Stand is basic with no height adjustment on some revisions
#2
No product image available

Samsung

Samsung Odyssey G5 27" 1440p 165Hz VA

Best Value
High-contrast VA

Best value 1440p monitor with deep blacks and a gentle 1000R curve

Check price on Amazon AU
panelVA
resolution2560x1440
refresh rate165Hz
response time1ms MPRT
hdrHDR10
curve1000R
adaptive syncFreeSync Premium

Pros

  • VA panel with 2500:1 contrast makes dark scenes look dramatically better than IPS
  • 1000R curve is subtle and comfortable for long sessions
  • Consistently priced under $350 on Amazon AU
  • AMD FreeSync Premium for tear-free gaming

Cons

  • Slower pixel response than IPS — some dark-scene smearing in fast transitions
  • No USB hub or built-in speakers
#3
No product image available

ASUS

ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ1A 27" 1440p 170Hz

Fastest refresh

Reliable mid-range option with a fully adjustable stand and ELMB Sync for competitive play

Check price on Amazon AU
panelIPS
resolution2560x1440
refresh rate170Hz
response time1ms MPRT
hdrHDR400
adaptive syncG-Sync Compatible / FreeSync Premium

Pros

  • 170Hz refresh rate with ASUS ELMB Sync reduces motion blur significantly
  • Ergonomic stand with height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustment out of the box
  • IPS panel with good factory calibration — Delta E < 2
  • Built-in speakers for casual use

Cons

  • HDR performance is weak at HDR400 — more of a checkbox than a feature
  • Power brick is external which adds desk clutter
#4
No product image available

Dell

Dell S2722DGM 27" 1440p 165Hz Curved

Solid curved VA panel backed by Dell's reliable 3-year Australian warranty

Check price on Amazon AU
panelVA
resolution2560x1440
refresh rate165Hz
response time1ms MPRT
hdrNo
curve1500R
adaptive syncFreeSync Premium

Pros

  • Dell's 3-year advance exchange warranty is the best in this price bracket
  • VA panel delivers 3000:1 contrast — excellent for single-player RPGs
  • 1500R curve is more pronounced than Samsung's 1000R — more immersive
  • Pricing regularly dips below $350 during Dell sales

Cons

  • Stand only tilts — no height or swivel adjustment without a VESA mount
  • Slight black smearing visible in very dark fast-moving scenes
#5
No product image available

AOC

AOC CQ27G3S 27" 1440p 165Hz

Budget Pick

Budget contender that punches above its weight with a solid IPS panel under $300

Check price on Amazon AU
panelIPS
resolution2560x1440
refresh rate165Hz
response time1ms GtG
hdrHDR10
adaptive syncG-Sync Compatible / FreeSync Premium

Pros

  • Consistently the cheapest 27" 1440p 165Hz IPS monitor on Amazon AU
  • Frameless design looks clean in multi-monitor setups
  • Adjustable stand included — height, tilt, and swivel
  • 3-year AOC warranty serviced through Australian distributor

Cons

  • Colour accuracy out of the box is average — benefits from calibration
  • Build quality feels budget with thinner plastics

Editor's note

The Australian gaming monitor market is well-served at this price point. Samsung's Odyssey G5 and LG's UltraGear lines dominate the $300-$500 range with frequent sales during EOFY (June) and Click Frenzy. ASUS and Dell typically hold firmer pricing but include better stands. Avoid no-name brands on Amazon AU — warranty claims through overseas sellers are a nightmare from Australia. Australian gaming consumers pay the 'Australia tax' — expect to pay 15–30% more than US pricing for the same products. Key retailers to compare are JB Hi-Fi, EB Games, PC Case Gear, and Amazon AU. For peripherals, mechanical keyboards with Cherry MX switches offer the best long-term value, while budget gaming mice from Logitech G and SteelSeries offer competitive performance. Australian internet latency affects monitor choice — 144Hz is sufficient for most online gaming at 20–40ms ping to Singapore servers.

Our take

Shopping for gaming monitor under $500 in Australia means accounting for strong winds common in southern coastal areas — something international reviews rarely address. We'd point most Australian consumers toward the LG 27GP850-B UltraGear 27" 1440p 165Hz as the go-to choice, but consider the Samsung Odyssey G5 27" 1440p 165Hz VA if premium features is your priority. A surprisingly common blunder is skipping compatibility with Australian NBN latency profiles in the research phase. The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ1A 27" 1440p 170Hz also deserves consideration for buyers with specific needs.

Honourable mentions

LG UltraGear 27GP850-B

Nano IPS panel with 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time — covers 98% DCI-P3 colour gamut.

View on Amazon AU

Samsung Odyssey G7

1000R curvature with 240Hz refresh rate and QLED technology for deep contrast.

View on Amazon AU

ASUS ROG Swift PG27AQN

360Hz IPS panel designed for competitive esports — the fastest mainstream gaming monitor available in Australia.

View on Amazon AU

Frequently asked questions

Is a 1440p monitor worth it for gaming in 2026?

Yes — 1440p is now the standard for PC gaming. It offers a significant sharpness upgrade over 1080p on 27-inch screens without the GPU demands of 4K. Mid-range GPUs like the RTX 4060 and RX 7600 XT handle 1440p comfortably in most games at 100+ fps.

What refresh rate do I need for gaming?

144Hz is the minimum worth buying in 2026. The jump from 60Hz to 144Hz is immediately noticeable in smoothness and responsiveness. Going above 165Hz offers diminishing returns unless you play competitive FPS titles where 240Hz can provide a slight edge.

Is IPS or VA better for gaming?

IPS is better for fast-paced competitive games due to faster pixel response times and wider viewing angles. VA is better for single-player story games and movies due to deeper blacks and higher contrast ratios (3000:1 vs 1000:1). At this price point, both panel types perform well — choose based on what you play most.

Where is the cheapest place to buy gaming monitors in Australia?

Amazon AU, Scorptec, and PLE Computers typically have the lowest online prices. JB Hi-Fi and Officeworks both offer price-match policies — bring a screenshot of a lower price from any Australian retailer. EOFY sales in June and Black Friday in November are the best times to buy.

Further reading

Researched, not paid

Rankings reflect specs, expert reviews & buyer feedback — never payment.

One honest rate

We earn the same Amazon commission on every pick, so nothing is upsold.

Aussie availability

Every pick links to Amazon.com.au — no dead links, no fake photos.

Affiliate disclosure: AUPicks may earn a commission from links on this page at no extra cost to you. This never influences our rankings. Curated by Bikram Nath · Last updated 2026-06-29.

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Top pick

LG 27GP850-B UltraGear 27" 1440p 165Hz

Check price on Amazon AU →