Why Lenovo’s Legion 24-1r Is the Default Pick
A budget 280Hz monitor is a high refresh rate gaming display that delivers a 280Hz refresh rate, fast response times, and IPS color quality at a low price, giving competitive FPS players smoother motion and clearer visuals without the usual premium cost. For most people, the Lenovo Legion 24-1r is the right starting point. At USD 99 (approx. RM460), it delivers a 23.8-inch IPS panel running at up to 280Hz, capped at a 1080p resolution for easy frame rates in competitive games like Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, and Rainbow Six Siege. According to Lenovo, “The Lenovo Legion 24-1r will cost 669 yuan, equivalent to USD 99 (approx. RM460), yet offers a 23.8-inch IPS panel running at up to 280Hz”. This affordable gaming monitor targets players with tight budgets while still offering IPS viewing angles and a claimed 0.5ms MPRT response time for responsive play.
Lenovo Legion 24-1r vs. Legion 27-1r: Picking Your Budget Size
Lenovo’s Legion 24-1r and its 27-inch sibling share the same core idea: make high refresh rate gaming affordable. Both are capped at Full HD, which helps keep GPU demands modest so more players can push frame rates up near 280Hz for competitive FPS performance. The smaller 23.8-inch panel will look sharper at 1080p, while Lenovo notes that the 27-inch model, roughly USD 116 (approx. RM540), can look a bit fuzzy at that resolution. Each panel offers 400-nit brightness and a 1000:1 contrast ratio, but there is no DisplayHDR certification, so HDR effects are limited. To reach the full 280Hz, you must use DisplayPort; the two HDMI ports top out at 240Hz. These IPS panels improve color accuracy and viewing angles compared with typical TN options in this price tier, which makes them appealing budget 280Hz monitor choices for players who care about both speed and picture quality.
| Spec | Legion 24-1r | Legion 27-1r |
|---|---|---|
| Price | USD 99 (approx. RM460) | USD 116 (approx. RM540) |
| Panel size | 23.8-inch IPS | 27-inch IPS (same core specs) |
| Resolution | 1080p Full HD | 1080p Full HD (may look fuzzy) |
| Refresh rate | Up to 280Hz via DisplayPort | Up to 280Hz via DisplayPort |
| HDMI refresh rate | Up to 240Hz on HDMI | Up to 240Hz on HDMI |
| Response time | 0.5ms MPRT (claimed) | 0.5ms MPRT (same panel family) |
| Brightness / contrast | 400 nits, 1000:1 | 400 nits, 1000:1 |
| Sync tech | AMD FreeSync Premium, VESA Adaptive-Sync | AMD FreeSync Premium, VESA Adaptive-Sync |
Alienware AW2726DL: QHD Clarity at 280Hz
If you want sharper visuals and a more premium competitive FPS monitor, the Alienware AW2726DL is the clear upgrade. Priced at USD 300 (approx. RM1,400), it features a fast QHD IPS panel running at 280Hz with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. It delivers a 1ms gray-to-gray response time in extreme mode and minimal input lag, giving it the speed needed for high refresh rate gaming. The panel reaches 400 nits of brightness and a 1000:1 contrast ratio, and covers 93% of the DCI-P3 color space for more colorful, accurate images. Both DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 can drive QHD at up to 280Hz with variable refresh rate and HDR support. The stand offers full ergonomic adjustment, including 130mm height travel, a wide swivel range, tilt from –5 to +21 degrees, and the option to rotate into portrait orientation, which is rare at this price.
High Refresh Rate Gaming Without Premium Pricing
Taken together, Lenovo’s Legion series and the Alienware AW2726DL show that high refresh rate gaming is no longer locked behind expensive gear. The Legion 24-1r focuses on pure value, using a 1080p IPS panel and 280Hz refresh to make fluid competitive play accessible to budget-conscious players. Its design keeps GPU load down so more systems can drive the panel’s speed, and FreeSync Premium plus Adaptive-Sync help smooth frame delivery. The 27-inch model follows the same formula with more screen space at a slightly higher cost. Alienware’s AW2726DL adds QHD resolution, better color coverage, and a fully adjustable stand while still hitting 280Hz and 1ms response times. All three displays rely on IPS panels, which provide better color accuracy and wider viewing angles than many older TN-based competitive monitors in this bracket, so you do not have to trade away picture quality to get speed.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the Lenovo Legion 24-1r if you want the most affordable gaming monitor with a 280Hz refresh rate and can use DisplayPort for full speed.
- Skip the Lenovo Legion 24-1r if you must rely on HDMI only and need 280Hz output, since HDMI tops out at 240Hz on this model.
- Buy the Lenovo Legion 27-1r if you prefer a larger screen and accept that 1080p at 27 inches may look slightly fuzzy compared with smaller panels.
- Skip the Lenovo Legion 27-1r if you care strongly about image sharpness at close viewing distances and would rather avoid Full HD on a 27-inch screen.
- Buy the Alienware AW2726DL if you want a competitive FPS monitor with QHD resolution, 280Hz, HDR support, and a fully adjustable ergonomic stand.
- Skip the Alienware AW2726DL if your budget caps near the Lenovo pricing and you do not need QHD or advanced stand adjustments.
