Image: Rob Schultz/Foundry
One of the easiest ways to enhance your PC experience is to get a better monitor. It doesn’t require any upgrades for your desktop or laptop, and it shines up the primary way you interact with almost everything: the visuals. The year’s second Prime Day event is closing in on us, kicking off on October 7th and lasting for 48 hours until midnight Pacific on October 8th. Already, there are plenty of deals to be found on the best and most affordable displays. (Here’s how to get Amazon Prime for free so you can get in on the deep, deep discounts.)
With U.S. tariffs affecting prices, to say nothing of general consumer trends, it might not be the smorgasbord of discounts we saw in previous years. But there are still savings to be had, on OLED monitors, gaming monitors, and standard office designs — and I’ve hunted down the best monitor deals in the list below. Even though the main focus is on Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, some of the best discounts can be found elsewhere on the web, so I’ve included those in the list as well.
- Samsung Odyssey OLED G93SC 49-inch, 5120×1440, 240Hz OLED gaming monitor — $879.99 ($720 off at Amazon)
- LG UltraGear OLED 34-inch 1440p 240Hz OLED gaming monitor — $917 ($383 off at Amazon)
- ASRock 27-inch 1440p 240Hz OLED gaming monitor — $549.99 ($96.99 off at Newegg)
- Alienware 26.7-inch 1440p 360Hz OLED gaming monitor — $571.00 ($329 off at Amazon)
OLED monitors are the cream of the crop for gamers, thanks to incredible color vibrance and contrast, even if they’re not the absolute fastest on the market right now.
For my money, Samsung has the best deal at the moment…but then I’m an ultrawide fanboy and I love that gigantic 49-inch format. If you’re looking for an OLED upgrade at the lowest price, ASRock is leading the pack with a rare 27-inch pick under the $550 mark.
Best early October Prime Day deals on gaming monitors
- KTC 24-inch 1080p 165Hz gaming monitor — $93.99 ($46 off at Newegg)
- ASRock 27-inch 1080p 240Hz gaming monitor — $114.99 ($75 off at Newegg)
- LG 27-inch 1440p 144Hz gaming monitor — $259.99 ($40 off at Amazon)
- LG 27-inch, IPS 1440p, 240Hz gaming monitor — $347.99 ($152 off at Amazon)
For more affordable options for gamers, ASRock once again delivers with a 27-inch, 1080p display at just a hair over a hundred bucks. But I’d say that Gigabyte is giving the best bang for your buck with its 28-inch 4K option. Not only is it using an IPS panel for greater color accuracy, it’s packing a USB-C port for flexible video. It’s a great, affordable centerpiece to a setup that works for both, well, work and gaming.
Early October Prime Day deals on office monitors
- Acer 27-inch 1080p IPS 120Hz monitor — $109.99 ($40 off at Best Buy)
- Dell 27-inch 1440p IPS monitor — $179.99 ($40 off at Amazon)
- Samsung 34-inch 1440p ultrawide monitor — $219.99 ($110 off at Amazon)
- MNN 15-inch portable USB-C monitor — $61.99 ($27.99 off at Amazon)
I can personally recommend Dell’s 27-inch, 1440p IPS monitors, because I’ve been using them for years on either side of my ultrawide center display. It’s a perfect way to expand your desk space, but unless you need some gaming-grade speed, it works great as a primary display too.
For laptop users, there’s no easier way to expand your mobile capabilities than with a USB monitor (especially since they now include power and video). And there are a bunch of affordable options now, too.
Other great early October Prime Day deals
These aren’t the only October Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with the juiciest tech sales, hit the links for only the best expert-curated picks we’ve found.
- Best early Amazon October Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts
- Best early October Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more
- Best early October Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage
- Best early USB flash drive deals for October Prime Day
- Best early October Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs
- Best early October Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers
- Best early October Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks
- Best early October Prime Day deals on Chromebooks
- Best early October Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks
- Best early October Prime Day PC computer deals
FAQ
1.
What size of monitor should I buy?
Monitor size depends on personal preference and location.
A 24-inch monitor is fine for a desk that is around 24 inches deep, or less. Its small size will still be sufficient because the monitor is closer to you.
Most people, however, will want to go with a 27-inch monitor. The added size will make the monitor easy to see. This also opens up a wider range of 4K monitor options, as 4K is very rare on a 24-inch monitor.
Larger monitors, such as a 32-inch widescreen or 34-inch ultrawide, are great for deep desks and people who want an immersive experience. Monitors this large can serve as a TV replacement in a small room.
Displays of even larger size, such as 42-inch or 48-inch HDTVs, are best for home theater setups or an unusually large office. You’ll want to sit four to six feet away from a display of this size.
2.
What display input is best? (HDMI vs. DisplayPort vs. USB-C)
USB-C is the best display input for most people. It works by bundling DisplayPort into USB-C, so offers all the same features as DisplayPort. Yet it retains the features of USB-C including optional support for Power Delivery to charge external devices. This is why we recommend a USB-C monitor for most people.
DisplayPort is generally second-best. It supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI. This input is particularly common on desktop computers.
HDMI comes in third due to lower resolution and refresh rate support. This is improved by HDMI 2.1, but this feature remains hard to find and often adds to a monitor’s price.
All three of the options above handle 1080p at 60Hz, which is the most common resolution and refresh rate available today. It’s also important to buy a monitor that has an input compatible with your PC.
3.
Are all monitors compatible with Windows and MacOS?
Modern monitors are compatible with all recent versions of Windows and MacOS. They’re plug-and-play, which means the monitor should display an image without the need to install driver software or mess with Windows or MacOS settings.
4.
Are tariffs affecting monitor prices?
Yes. Deals for monitors around this sale aren’t as good as they were during Amazon’s last big sale in October, particularly for the largest, most expensive models. That said, we have managed to avoid the complete shutdown of imported stock that seemed likely during the most tumultuous back-and-forth tariff negotiations…so that’s something.
Prices are unlikely to improve later in the year, so if you find a delectable deal on a monitor you’re interested in, October Prime Day may be one of your best bets of the year. Especially if you buy on day one of the event — President Trump says additional reciprocal tariffs will return on November 10, and could plunge prices into chaos.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.
