I tested cheap monitors for the office – this $80 MSI is one of the few I’d actually recommend

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As high-end monitors reach for the stars with QD-OLED technology and 1,040Hz refresh rates, products on the opposite end of the spectrum can offer better baseline value for less than a hundred bucks. 

Case in point: MSI’s Pro MP243W, a 24-inch monitor for just $84. Budget monitors in 2026 look a whole lot better than they did a few years ago, and after going hands-on with this one, I found it to be a good value for students, kids, and budget-conscious users who use their computers for everyday tasks. 

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That said, there are certainly trade-offs with lower-end monitors, and they won’t come as a surprise: less flexibility, less connectivity, and, most importantly, a less vibrant image. With the right expectations, however, a lower-end display can be a smart buy instead of dropping hundreds on something that’s overkill.

Specs and build

Physically, the Pro MP243W has a minimal footprint and is rather lightweight at 6.8 pounds. The bezels are thin on all four sides, and the white plastic doesn’t exactly scream premium, but it’s neutral and looks fine on a desktop. 

Unfortunately, it only comes in said white colorway, which might be more of a deal-breaker than the technical specs for some. The monitor’s base is just shy of nine inches at the widest part, and the notch offers a convenient place to prop up your phone, a touch that teens will appreciate.

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It features a 23.8-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) matte LCD display with a 144Hz refresh rate and built-in speakers. It’s nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. The fast refresh makes things look smooth, but it lacks the superior viewing angles of higher-end monitors. This is the first big trade-off. 

Sitting directly in front of the monitor will give the best viewing experience, as moving from one side to the other will dim and obfuscate the opposite corner. High-end monitors are very good at projecting an evenly illuminated, bright image across the entire screen, no matter the angle you’re viewing from. Not the case, here. 

The matte surface is also prone to reflections when light comes from a single source, such as a bright window in front of the monitor. This, with the maximum 300 nits, means it’s not the brightest monitor on the market; the second big trade-off. For that reason, I’d recommend placing the monitor facing away from a window or light source.

On the back, the display has a single HDMI port, a DisplayPort 1.2a port, a headphone jack, and a Kensington lock slot. It also features built-in speakers, but they’re low-quality, and I’d only recommend using them if you have no other option.

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The screen itself can rotate up to 20 degrees, but cannot be raised or lowered. On the back of the right side is the monitor’s navigation button, which brings up the onboard menu for visual settings and a range of presets. 

Who’s it for?

I recently tested Apple’s new MacBook Neo, a $599 version of the MacBook with smart trade-offs, and was so impressed by it that I bought one for my mom. It’s perfect for what she uses it for: checking email, casual web browsing, and iPhone integrations like FaceTime and Messages. The one thing she doesn’t like, however, is that the screen is a tad too small. 

My vision: pair it with MSI’s Pro MP243W. This 24-inch monitor could be a great companion for the Neo, doubling the Neo’s small 13-inch screen for less than $100 and creating a dual-screen home workstation in the process.

The 300 nits of brightness and FHD resolution screen doesn’t exactly look better than the Neo’s Liquid Retina display, but it is bigger, and offers a second display — something the Neo handles effortlessly. You’ll need a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter to do this. I recommend this Anker model for $16.

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Of course, you don’t need a MacBook Neo specifically to have an affordable workstation — any laptop will do; I just mention this use case as it correlated with my recent experience. 

As mentioned before, another potential use case for a monitor like this is for kids or teens. It’s lightweight and affordable enough to be moved around, and if you upgrade in the future, it could make for a good hand-me-down if there are multiple kids who want their own workstation. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

MSI’s Pro MP243W is a solid 24-inch budget monitor that gets the job done for $84 — a price you can’t argue with. It doesn’t compete with high-end OLED displays, but that’s not the point. It’ll serve well for kids, teens, seniors, or as a secondary device in a guest room or secondary office. I just recommend placing it away from bright light sources, and keep in mind that you may need a monitor stand.