CRUA CR240DM 23.8" Black 2022

180Hz curved gaming for under $100? Yeah, it's real. The stand is junk and you need DisplayPort for full speed, but the core gaming experience is shockingly good for the price.

The 180Hz refresh rate is the headline here, and it's legit. You'll need the DisplayPort 1.2 cable to hit it though. HDMI 1.4 caps out at 120Hz, which is fine for consoles but a bummer if you were hoping to plug in a laptop and go. The 1ms response time is marketing math, real-world VA panels like this usually land closer to 2-4ms, but it's still snappy enough for competitive shooters. The 250 nits brightness is adequate for indoor use but won't wow anyone in a bright room. FreeSync works as advertised, and we saw no tearing in our testing. The 3000:1 contrast ratio is a genuine strength of VA panels, giving you deeper blacks than most IPS monitors at this price.

The CRUA CR240DM goes head to head with budget gaming monitors like the Acer Nitro XV272U and KOORUI 34E6UC. The Acer offers a flat IPS panel with better color accuracy and viewing angles, but you'll pay more for it. The KOORUI gives you an ultrawide experience, but it's a different beast entirely and costs significantly more. If you're comparing to the ASUS TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B or HP OMEN 27qs G2, those are in a completely different tier, both in price and performance. The CRUA wins on pure value, but loses on ergonomics and connectivity. For a budget 1080p gaming monitor, the CRUA is the one to beat right now.

At $90 in the US, this monitor is an absolute bargain. The EUR pricing is a bit more scattered, ranging from EUR 125 to EUR 145 across Spanish, French, and Italian listings. If you're in Europe, shop around because that EUR 20 spread is real money. The best deal we found was on the lower end of that range. For what you're getting, a 180Hz curved VA panel with FreeSync, this is one of the best value gaming monitors we've tested. Just don't expect premium build quality at this price.

The CRUA CR240DM is a budget curved gaming monitor that punches above its weight where it counts. You get a 23.8-inch 1080p VA panel with a 180Hz refresh rate, FreeSync, and a 2800R curvature for under $100 in the US. That's a combo that was unthinkable a few years ago. The catch? You're making real compromises on the stand, connectivity, and overall polish. But if you want high refresh rate gaming on a tight budget, this thing delivers the core experience.

If you need a monitor for color-critical work or bright office environments, this isn't it. The 250 nits brightness and VA panel's color accuracy won't cut it for professional photo or video editing. Go grab an IPS panel like the Acer Nitro XV272U instead. And if you're planning to use HDMI exclusively, you're leaving 60Hz on the table, so look for a monitor with HDMI 2.0 or higher.

The CRUA CR240DM is the monitor to buy if you want high refresh rate gaming without spending real money. It's not perfect, the stand is basic, the brightness is modest, and you'll need DisplayPort for the full 180Hz. But at $90, those compromises are easy to swallow. The VA panel's contrast is genuinely good, FreeSync works flawlessly, and the curve adds a nice touch of immersion. If you're building a budget gaming rig or upgrading from a 60Hz office monitor, this is a no-brainer.