Lenovo Legion 24-1r & 27-1r Review: 280Hz on a Budget

Verdict: Who This 280Hz Budget Gaming Monitor Is For

The Lenovo Legion 24-1r and 27-1r are budget gaming monitors that pair a 1080p IPS display with a 280Hz refresh rate to deliver high-speed competitive gameplay at prices far lower than typical high-refresh gaming screens, targeting players who care more about smooth motion than premium resolution or HDR features. At USD 99 (approx. RM460) for the 23.8-inch Legion 24-1r and roughly USD 116 (approx. RM540) for the 27-inch Legion 27-1r, Lenovo is very clearly going after cost-conscious esports and FPS fans rather than visual purists. In practice, these screens offer convincing speed, solid color for everyday use, and adaptive sync support, but they also carry obvious compromises in sharpness on the larger panel, HDR and HDMI bandwidth that you need to accept upfront. The bottom line: fantastic value if your priority is frame rate over image finesse, weak value if you want a do-it-all entertainment display.

Specs and Features: 280Hz Without the Premium Price

Both Legion models share the same core pitch: an affordable IPS display with a native 280Hz refresh rate, fast response times, and broad adaptive sync support. The 24-1r uses a 23.8-inch IPS panel at 1920 x 1080, while the 27-1r scales that to 27 inches at the same resolution. The panel is rated at 0.5ms MPRT, with grey-to-grey response adjustable between 1ms and 4ms, which should be fast enough for serious competitive play in titles like Valorant or Counter-Strike 2. Color-wise, the 27-1r’s IPS panel covers 99% of sRGB, offers typical brightness of 400 nits, and uses 6-bit + FRC to simulate 8-bit color and 16.7 million shades. Both models support VESA AdaptiveSync, with the 24-1r also listing AMD FreeSync Premium, and they are compatible with Nvidia G-Sync, making them suitable as a G-SYNC gaming monitor for mixed GPU setups.

Real-World Performance: Speed First, Image Quality Second

In use, the Legion 24-1r and 27-1r are built around one core principle: hit high frame rates without demanding a high-end GPU or budget. Their 1080p resolution intentionally keeps pixel count low so mid-range cards have a better chance of feeding the 280Hz refresh rate, especially in competitive titles where frame rate matters more than pixel density. The quoted 0.5ms MPRT and adjustable GTG figures suggest minimal motion blur and smearing, which aligns well with fast-paced shooters and arena games. According to one report on the Legion 24-1r, “the smoother refresh rate should ensure solid performance for competitive multiplayer games like Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, and Rainbow Six Siege.” AdaptiveSync, AMD FreeSync Premium on the 24-1r, and G-Sync support on the 27-1r work together to limit tearing and stutter, making these monitors credible options for players climbing competitive ranks who cannot justify typical esports monitor pricing.

Design, Ergonomics and the Trade-Offs of Going Cheap

The Legion 27-1r’s design leans practical, with a fully adjustable stand offering height, tilt, swivel and pivot, plus a 100 x 100mm VESA mount for arms or wall brackets. Connectivity suits a budget gaming monitor but shows clear cost decisions: there is one DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 TMDS ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack, yet you must use DisplayPort to unlock 280Hz, while HDMI tops out at 240Hz. That is fine for PC-focused players but weak for console users who rely on HDMI. Image quality includes 400-nit brightness and a 1000:1 contrast ratio, but there is no DisplayHDR certification and the setup is not aimed at HDR movie nights or cinematic gaming. On the larger 27-inch panel, 1080p can look a bit soft at typical desk distances, a compromise you feel in text clarity and finer details compared with higher-resolution displays, though the 23.8-inch option should hide this better.

Buy if / Skip if

• Buy the Lenovo Legion 24-1r if you want a budget gaming monitor with a 280Hz refresh rate and care more about competitive smoothness than resolution or HDR features.
• Skip the Lenovo Legion 24-1r if you mainly watch movies or play visually rich single-player games where HDR, deep contrast and higher-than-1080p resolution matter more than frame rate.
• Buy the Lenovo Legion 27-1r if you need an affordable IPS display with a fully adjustable stand, 99% sRGB coverage and 280Hz, making it a practical G-SYNC gaming monitor for everyday PC use and esports.
• Skip the Lenovo Legion 27-1r if you sit close and are sensitive to pixel clarity, as 1080p on 27 inches and the lack of DisplayHDR certification will feel like clear downgrades from sharper, richer screens.
• Buy the Lenovo Legion 24-1r if your graphics card is mid-range and you want the lower 1080p resolution to help reach high frame rates for multiplayer titles such as Valorant and Counter-Strike 2.
• Skip the Lenovo Legion 24-1r and 27-1r if you rely on HDMI for your main system and want full 280Hz, since both models require DisplayPort to hit their maximum refresh rate.