Top Pick: Lenovo Legion 24-1r Sets the New Baseline
A budget gaming monitor is a display that prioritizes high refresh rates and low response times at the lowest possible price, trading premium extras like advanced HDR, USB hubs, or ultra-high resolution for core gaming benefits such as smoother motion, clearer targets, and reduced input lag that matter most in fast-paced competitive play. For most people, the Lenovo Legion 24-1r is the budget gaming monitor to buy because it delivers a 280Hz gaming display for only USD 99 (approx. RM460), hitting the sweet spot where performance gains are obvious without inflating cost. Its 23.8-inch IPS panel runs at up to 280Hz at 1080p, making it ideal for competitive titles where frame rate and clarity take priority over pixel density. There is also a 27-inch version with the same 280Hz specs at roughly USD 116 (approx. RM540), but the smaller model keeps Full HD looking sharper and maximizes value.
You should treat the Legion 24-1r as the new baseline for competitive setups under USD 200 (approx. RM930). At this price, you are squarely in high refresh rate under $200 territory while avoiding no-name panels or questionable quality. AMD FreeSync Premium and VESA Adaptive-Sync help keep gameplay smooth even when your GPU cannot fully saturate 280fps. The main trade-offs are expected at this tier: HDMI tops out at 240Hz, so you need DisplayPort to reach 280Hz; contrast stays at 1000:1; and there is no DisplayHDR certification, so HDR effects in modern titles will feel limited compared with pricier screens. According to Lenovo, the Legion 24-1r hits “up to 280Hz at only USD 99 (approx. RM460)” and specifically targets gamers with tight budgets.
Philips 27M4N3500PT: Triple-Mode 540Hz Flexibility Under $200
If you want the most flexible high refresh rate under $200 (approx. RM930), the Philips 27M4N3500PT is the smart upgrade from Lenovo’s baseline. Priced at USD 162 (approx. RM755), it uses a Fast IPS panel and offers three distinct modes: HD at 540Hz, Full HD at 360Hz, and 2K at 275Hz. That means you can switch between extreme competitive play at lower resolutions and more detailed, immersive sessions at 1440p while still staying in high-refresh territory. It keeps response times down to 1ms GtG, so motion clarity remains sharp even when you are playing at the top end of its refresh range.
This Philips display targets players who bounce between esports titles and more cinematic games, but do not want separate monitors for each genre. Brightness reaches 350 nits, with wide color coverage of 100% sRGB, 98% DCI-P3, and 94% Adobe RGB, making it a stronger all-rounder than the Legion for content creation or movie watching. Two HDMI 2.1 ports plus DisplayPort 1.4 cover all modes. However, there is no USB hub, so you lose convenience for peripherals. The Fast IPS panel also cannot match Mini LED or OLED contrast, but at this price you are paying for Hz flexibility rather than absolute black levels. This is the best choice if you want to experience what 540Hz feels like without leaving the budget gaming monitor category.
TCL FFALCON Thunderobot 25Q6A Pro: 360Hz Mini LED 1440p Bridge Monitor
The Thunderobot 25Q6A Pro by TCL’s FFALCON ecosystem is the affordable 1440p monitor that bridges budget and premium specs. It uses a 24.5-inch Fast IPS panel at 2560 × 1440 with a 360Hz refresh rate and 1ms GtG response time. The official retail price is 1,649 yuan, around USD 244 (approx. RM1,140), with a subsidized launch price starting near USD 192 (approx. RM900). While that pushes it above strict budget territory, it is still far cheaper than typical 1440p 360Hz options and squarely in mid-range territory for enthusiasts. For lighting, this monitor relies on a Mini LED backlight with 180 local dimming zones, giving it a dynamic contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 versus a standard static 1000:1.
If you want a display that feels premium without venturing into OLED pricing, this Thunderobot is the right bridge monitor. Mini LED means much better black levels and HDR pop than the Fast IPS-only budget models, with DisplayHDR 600 certification and up to 800 nits peak brightness. Color coverage reaches 95% DCI-P3 and 99% sRGB, with factory color accuracy of ΔE < 2, making it suitable for creators as well as gamers. You still get core gaming features: AMD FreeSync Premium, G-Sync compatibility, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs. Downsides are predictable: there are no built-in speakers, and you pay more than double the Lenovo Legion’s price for these extras. This is the monitor to choose when you want both high refresh and strong HDR on an affordable 1440p monitor.
| Spec | Lenovo Legion 24-1r | Philips 27M4N3500PT | Thunderobot 25Q6A Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel type | IPS | Fast IPS | Fast IPS with Mini LED backlight |
| Size & resolution | 23.8" 1080p (also 27" 1080p) | 27" HD/FHD/2K modes | 24.5" 2560 × 1440 |
| Max refresh rate | 280Hz | 540Hz (HD), 360Hz (FHD), 275Hz (2K) | 360Hz |
| Response time | 0.5ms MPRT (claimed) | 1ms GtG | 1ms GtG |
| Approx. price (USD) | 99 (approx. RM460) | 162 (approx. RM755) | 244 retail / 192 launch (approx. RM1,140 / RM900) |
Panel Tech and Refresh Rates: What Actually Matters
These three monitors highlight the trade-offs between Fast IPS, Mini LED, and the OLED panels found in more expensive models. Fast IPS, as used by Lenovo and Philips, focuses on low response times and wide color coverage, giving clean motion at 240–540Hz while keeping price low. Mini LED, as on the Thunderobot, layers advanced backlighting on top of Fast IPS for deeper blacks and stronger HDR effects via 180 local dimming zones. OLED panels in other triple-mode designs improve contrast further but remain outside the “budget gaming monitor” bracket mentioned here.
From a refresh rate standpoint, the Lenovo’s 280Hz gaming display defines a new practical minimum for competitive play in the budget space. Philips pushes the envelope with HD at 540Hz, Full HD at 360Hz, and 2K at 275Hz, while Thunderobot proves that 360Hz at 1440p is now possible at mid-range prices. This gaming monitor comparison shows that once you cross roughly 240Hz, each extra jump in refresh rate brings smaller gains and needs more GPU power to feed frames. That is why Lenovo’s USD 99 (approx. RM460) Legion looks so appealing for tight budgets, Philips wins for flexible high refresh rate under $200, and Thunderobot stands out as the affordable 1440p monitor that adds meaningful HDR and resolution upgrades rather than chasing the very highest Hz alone.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the Lenovo Legion 24-1r if you want the cheapest viable 280Hz gaming display and care more about frame rate than HDR or resolution.
- Skip the Lenovo Legion 24-1r if you need strong HDR performance or sharper-than-1080p visuals for work and detailed single-player games.
- Buy the Philips 27M4N3500PT if you want triple-mode flexibility with 540Hz HD, 360Hz FHD, and 275Hz 2K in one high refresh rate under $200 monitor.
- Skip the Philips 27M4N3500PT if you need USB ports on the monitor or are not interested in switching resolutions for different genres.
- Buy the Thunderobot 25Q6A Pro if you want an affordable 1440p monitor with 360Hz, Mini LED HDR, and better black levels than standard Fast IPS.
- Skip the Thunderobot 25Q6A Pro if you are building on a tight budget and would rather spend closer to USD 99–162 (approx. RM460–RM755) on a simpler screen.
