The HP 22er (about $120 (opens in new tab)), also available in 23-, 25- and 27-inch variations, is an attractive white display with a minimal bezel on the front to offer a premium viewing experience. We'll let off the fact there's no VESA mount due to the thin design, but these things would look rather stunning mounted on a bracket. (Come on, HP, make it happen.)The ports on the rear, which include both VGA and HDMI, are easily accessible, and with IPS you'll be able to take advantage of great viewing angles. Response time for viewing media clocks in at seven milliseconds so it's not really built for gaming. The company has also coated the display with antiglare to ensure that reflections and glare don't ruin on-screen content.Bottom line: It's a gorgeous 21-inch display that won't destroy your PC budget.One more thing: The 22er is also super thin.
Why the HP 22er is the best affordable 21-inch monitor
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The first thing you'll notice about the 22er by HP is the lack of bezel encircling the display. And because this is an IPS panel, it boasts some of the best viewing angles available on the market. While it's only at 1080p, it's ideal if you own a less powerful graphics card and need to do a little light gaming on the side.
At just $124.99, it's also not incredibly expensive. Ports are restricted to a single HDMI and VGA, but attach an HDMI splitter and you could have more than one device hooked up without having to switch cables. And you will enjoy the crisp quality and solid colors.
If you need a monitor that doesn't look like all other similarly priced options, you'll struggle to find better at this size than the 22er.
AOC is a solid brand and the e2070swhn (about $100) is an affordable 20-inch screen with a narrow bezel, which comes with VESA mounting options that allow you to take full advantage of stands and clamps. With a latency rate of five milliseconds, it is ideal for not only work and productivity but some gaming on the side, too.It offers VGA and HDMI inputs, which should allow you to connect your PC up just fine.Bottom line: At under $100, this is one affordable display.One more thing: The e2070swhn is not Full HD, sporting a resolution of just 1600 x 900.
There aren't many professional or premium monitors of this size, but the Dell P2217H (about $160 (opens in new tab)) has some great features, including VESA support for mounting, IPS technology, solid colors, and slim design. Ports include HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPort. There's even a USB 3.0 hub for good measure.Bottom line: If you need something with a little more while searching the 21-inch market, the P2217H is a great option.One more thing: This display isn't bad for gaming.
Conclusion
Picking up a 21-inch monitor is rather easy these days as most screens are similarly priced with almost identical specifications. That said, it is possible to find some unique options, which we've highlighted in this guide. You can go down the route of touch, enjoy AMD FreeSync, save some money or even go for gorgeous design. Overall, the HP 22er is our top pick for a budget 21-inch monitor.
The HP 22er (about $125 (opens in new tab)), also available in 23-, 25- and 27-inch variations, is an attractive white display with a minimal bezel on the front to offer a premium viewing experience. We'll let off the fact there's no VESA mount due to the thin design, but these things would look rather stunning mounted on a bracket. (Come on, HP, make it happen.)The ports on the rear, which include both VGA and HDMI, are easily accessible, and with IPS you'll be able to take advantage of great viewing angles. Response time for viewing media clocks in at seven milliseconds so it's not really built for gaming. The company has also coated the display with antiglare to ensure that reflections and glare don't ruin on-screen content.Bottom line: It's a gorgeous 21-inch display that won't destroy your PC budget.One more thing: The 22er is also super thin.
Updated on July 05, 2018: We refreshed this list to ensure we're still offering you the best 21-inch monitors on the market.
